Summer goes fast...

I promise I keep trying to get back to this blog every day; but, something keeps getting in the way, like summer!!!

Last night we had the Africa group and family over for a cookout and we watched some of the Face the Nation videos from Botswana. Face the Nation is a group started by Open Baptist Church in Gaborone focusing on character development through Christ to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana. We will be working some with them when we are in Old Naledi, which is now only 8 weeks away. Wow! I am starting to get excited and nervous about all that we still have to do. The ADBC Youth just came back from Old Naledi and I am planning a conference call with the youth pastor, Nathan, who went with us last year. We need to get the "inside scoop" on the travel details and what's going on at the site. Please pray for our preparations and travel to go smooth.

Mom is doing much better. She had to spend the night after the surgery due to pain and oxygen levels. She went to the surgeon for a followup yesterday. The drains are out and the pain is much more tolerable, just sore now, she says. The pathology report for the 2nd surgery was clean. Thank you God! Thank you for your prayers too. My sisters have been down there taking care of Mom. I know she's in good hands.

Got an iPhone this week and all I can really say is "Wow!" This is an amazing device that really stands hands and shoulders above the rest of the smart phone pack. The web, media functions and email are so easy to use and navigate. Thanks to Iatric Systems for helping out on that too! I will be testing a good bit of our portal applications on the device, so it's more for work (that's my official line right now). I have an Otter Box Defender case in the mail right now and I look forward to getting that so I can stop treating it like "Precious". It gets finger prints and smudges pretty easily. Dylan is fascinated with it too and really, really wants one ;-)

On the music front, Miles and I are going to see Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellancamp here in Greenville at the new Heritage Park Ampitheatre later this month. My pastor and good friend, Cliff is going with us. It should be a lot of fun. Miles and I saw the Bob and Willie show in Charleston back in 2004. This will be my first time seeing John Mellancamp (my 3rd Bob and Willie show, Myrtle Beach 2005 was a solo venture) and I am really looking forward to this show. Although the date is Dylan's birthday, we are going to be at Camp McCall that morning and he told me it was okay if he didn't go because we are celebrating his birthday that following weekend. Tricia really didn't want to go and kids under 14 get in free, so Miles goes for free and you KNOW he wants to go! Dylan would probably be WAY too tired to have fun for very long after 3 days of camp. I was glad when Tricia said she and Dylan would stay home. Saved some money and stress for all of us.

Tricia's room exchange is coming along very nice. Her office and hobby room looks perfect for her and the boys are very comfortable with the 1 big bedroom. Nice to have a dedicated guest room as well. We shall see how this works when they are teenagers. Tricia is enjoying her summer break and getting a lot accomplished. Miles is even working as a volunteer media assistant at the library at Crestview this summer. If you know Miles, then you know that is something he is enjoying to the max. The boy loves books! They are also watering the plants and yard for our neighbors while they are on vacation and really excited to be making extra money too.

This weekend, we are going to the lake on Friday with our friends Steve and Amanda. Then on Saturday, Greer is having a big 4th of July Family Fun Day at the new City Park. The Clemson bar band, Cravin' Melon, is the main music act and a big fireworks display is scheduled. Should be fun and HOT. Enjoy your holiday and stay cool and safe!

See ya!