Vacation Day 1

Here are some pics from the first day of our big vacation this year. We met some friends of ours and rented a condo on Table Rock lake for the week.

Here is a pic of Tom and Kenda:


Here we are in the van ready to go!



Alexis found a wild pig from the Ozarks!



What's a trip to Branson without a little mini-golf?



Today we brave Silver Dollar City. Should be fun.

Happy Birthday

Happy 33rd Birthday to my wife Crystal.



I love you.

Around Town

Last weekend Crystal's brother Eric, his wife Stephanie and their daughter Elly all came to Wichita for a quick visit. So we spent time on Monday afternoon hanging out around downtown.

What is there to see? Well everyone needs to see the Keeper of the Plains. So we had some fun along the Arkansas river. (That's pronounced R Kansas)

Here are some pics:

This is a picture looking up at the Keeper of the Plains:


Alexis and Caden in front of the river:


Quick Shot of Downtown:


Everyone leaving:


And Eric also brought this game with him and I think I'm addicted now.

Thank You Very Much

Yesterday I was at the funeral of a World War II veteran. He was part of the D-Day invasion way back in 1944. He served under the command of General Patton. The burial had the full 21 gun salute, playing of taps and the folding/presentation of the flag to the family. I have to admit that it was really cool.

But during the funeral itself one of the grandkids talked about her memories of her Grandpa. She said he would sometimes talk about his experience in the war and explain to his grandkids and great-grandkids that he hoped his sacrifice and service would keep any of his family from seeing the same things he saw in the war.

I started to think about what he went through in the European conflict. What he saw, what he experienced. I've seen movies like "Saving Private Ryan" but I can't really imagine what he went through.

So at the grave-site service while the Army was doing their presentation it hit me that he did all that for me. I didn't have to go to a far off land to fight. I didn't have to leave my family and friends. I was never drafted. I've never gone through that type of conflict. My generation has benefited from all of their service.

And I am grateful.

I don't want to forget what all of the servicemen and women have done for me. And I know there are tons of deep spiritual applications here. But at that moment it was simple. I was grateful. Grateful to all of those who have served in my place. Those that have served before to make our country what it is today.

So I want to say thank you. Thank you very much. You are appreciated.

Where have I been?

Wow, it's been a little while since I've updated the blog. I'll be back soon...I promise.

And really, I have no excuse.

Speak Clearly

Be careful that you speak clearly.

Grocery Store

I was sent on an errand yesterday to pick up a Sunday paper. Pretty inexpensive trip right?

Well not for me. I can't seem to go to the grocery store and just walk out with one thing. It's almost a sickness.

So back to the trip yesterday. With my daughter with me, we called home to see if there was anything else we needed. Come to find out we really needed some more milk. So we headed back to the dairy isle for milk. On our way to the back we passed a great deal on Gatorade which I couldn't pass up.

So now we're carrying a newspaper, two half gallons of milk and five Gatorade bottles. Luckily we found a shopping cart in the back of the store to help with the load.

On the way back to the front of the store we passed something called a "Baseball snack pack" which my daughter really needed for her softball practice later in the day.

It was time to leave I decided. A simple trip to the store had turned into something a little more. So we headed up to the checkout. And then I saw it. Something I just knew I needed. The official Kansas Jayhawk National Championship DVD. With the commercial free broadcast of the championship game. Plus it has both semi-final games as well! So I can watch Kansas beat UNC anytime I want!



But there's a problem. There are no copies in the display. What will I do? How can I go on?

Luckily I found a copy laying by the check-out registers. So I knew it had to be fate. I put it in the cart and checked out.

So, long story long. I am not allowed to go to the grocery store on my own again. It's just too dangerous. A simple $1.50 trip turns into something a whole lot more.