Sorry to the one person who emailed wondering where my blog entry was for the week - I suppose if I heard from more of you I might be more inclined to write - but ONE comment on my last entry - and that was a good one. Maybe I'm just not funny enough.
I'm officially back in the tree business - baptized by deadwood trimming three pines and removing one up at my in-laws place in Williams. It was a challenge getting back into trees by having to climb over 60 feet (without hooks because you can't risk damaging the tree) at 7,100 foot elevation. Made from some hyperventaliting - but the job is done, the trees look great and it only took three days to recover from the aches and pains. Not bad.
Our friend at church, Richard Beck, passed away on Wednesday. He was 75. Richard had been attending our church for the last 6 months or so and really, really loved it. He told me so pretty much every week. He loved the Lord and I know where he is today. I was able to visit him 3 times in the hospital and the hospise - I prayed with him and talked with his family and his confidence in the Lord was overwhelming. He face what all of us must face eventually with a tremendous dignity, courage and faith. He will be missed.
Baby Emily has added "ets o" (translated "let's go") to her vocabulary. She will happily collect the shoes of every member of the family and bring them to you while saying "ets o" over and over again when she knows we're going somewhere. Very adorable. Mr. Nathan can sing the entire Bob the builder song - repeatedly....endlessly....Josiah, Jimmy and Jillian are doing well in Texas and we expect to see Josiah and Jimmy at Future Quest in San Diego next week.
The church is humming along fairly well. Our attendance seems to stay around 50. Our next BIG event is harvest fest - if we do everything right between 600 and 1000 people will come out and every one of them will hear about who we are and what we believe. This is the sort of outreach that changes lives so I hope you'll partner with us in one way or another.
Well - that's the basic update. I'm planning to go to the Glendale Arizona drum corps show on Sunday night - very much looking forward to that. My drum corps friend "disney" from the Velvet Knights 1985 is going to be there - have not seen or heard from him since....1985. Long time. Also - scores show Santa Clara Vanguard beating the Blue Devils. I've been a Vanguard fan for a long, long time and every year I hope and keep fingers crossed they'll sweep up and win it all. This year looks the most promising I"ve seen since 2001.
Well - Ta ta for now.
