I LIKE KANSAS CITY AND NTS

Going to Kansas City at this time in life brings a multitude of memories to mind. Kansas City was the town that our original family of 7 would take a few days off to enjoy a ball game with the Kansas City Royals. Oh if only the Royals could play baseball. What special memories. Monday and Tuesday of this week it was my privilege to be with students, faculty, staff, and administration of the Nazarene Theological Seminary to share in a special day with members of the Wesleyan Church. The Wesleyan Church recently elected a new General Superintendent to serve the Western area of the Wesleyan Church by the name of Jo Anne Lyon. I knew her best as Jo Anne Close as a child in the Wesleyan (then the Pilgrim Holiness) Church in Hutchinson Kansas. We all were at NTS to explore ways in which we could involve Wesleyan ministerial students in the continuing educational opportunities of the Seminary after graduation from college. It has been my privilege to work with President Ron Benefiel and his NTS team since November of 2004. This years Wesleyan Day event was certainly worth the trip and time invested by those who were privileged to be in attendance.

We are Blessed

Today I carried a heavy burden for members of my family that hurt. We have some pretty amazing things going on right now as far as family is concerned. I have to be one of the most blessed persons I know. I started the day having coffee and donuts with my 93 year old mother. I left my mother's house and met Esther at Starbucks and Harold and Mary from High Point North Carolina met us there. This afternoon we did some serious fall yard work. Knowing the yard is sort of ready for the winter gives us a sense of accomplishment and well being. Our lives seem to be pretty simple and we are praising the Lord for His care and love for us. Our whole family in the midst of struggles is being embraced and cared for by our Heavenly Father. Our family as a whole is really Blessed even in the face of difficulty. We all trust and believe the Lord is who he says He is. We are trusting Him for all our needs and struggles.

Chicago here I am

It is 4:40am Sunday morning October the 12, 2008. I am wide awake and will soon be on my way to watch a bunch of Rovenstines and folks from Bartlesville run in the Chicago marathon. Will I be wide awake 17 hours from now or drop dead tired. I cannot say for sure. What I do know for sure I am ready to get to mile four and watch the troop go running by. What a great day this will be.

We are going to Chicago ready or not

When our family was still at home we wondered what would really define us when it comes to enjoying significant time together. Would it be camping out and swatting mosquito's? Possibly we all could go someplace and do hard work like building a shed, painting, running cement or something like that? There is really no sure fire formula for knowing what brings a family together to enjoy each others unique strengths and significances early in the development of a family. We enjoy two activities that bring fulfillment and challenge to the family dynamic. October 12 in Chicago Allen, Amber, Aubrie, Billy, Nate, Dalene, and Steve will all run the Chicago Marathon. We also have another significant activity that most all love to participate in and it is skiing. We will gather as a family during Christmas of this year at Winter Park. Esther and I enjoy just showing up and watching in awe and wondering where did all that talent and energy come from. Needles to say the next few weeks beginning this week and ending at Christmas will feature some pretty important milestones in our family as we all pull together enjoying the accomplishments of our family in reaching their significant goals. Stay connected to my blog and I will endeavor to keep you in the loop.

Special to us is Junction City Kansas

Friday night after classes at American Christian School Esther and I headed to Junction City. Our desire to make the trip up and back in the same evening comes from a deep love for 2 of our special grand daughters. They both play significant roles in the Junction City High School. What HS wouldn't want to have them in their system. I could tell you about how great they danced and marched in the band during the half time performance at the football game - - - but you already know that. What you may not know is Junction City is a pretty neat place to grow up and get an education so you can make a difference in the world. Young ladies like Breanna and Brittany are the hope of tomorrow and we need more just like them to take responsibility in the world we live in. This is the last year we could go see Breanna at JCHS. Next year she will be in college playing tennis and studying in a new environment. Guess I am overwhelmed with getting to be with 2 of the 16. Oh lest I forget! Friday night was a perfect night for football and JCHS's team is still undefeated.

An Evening in Athens

American Christian School held their annual fund raising event at the Hillcrest Country Club Saturday night October 4. It is called An Evening in Athens. The evening is very enjoyable and energetic. Everyone gets a good overview of what ACS is. When Dalene shared with me her desire put her children in the classical education model I was not overly impressed and thought "whatever". Dalene was one of the speakers and she shared her passion, love and explanation of what a classical education is. There are times in life when you think "How is it I never knew this stuff". She shared how a classical education follows the bent of a developing young mind through the stages of 1. Grammar 2. Logic and 3 Rhetoric.. Thanks Dalene for walking me through what I should have known but really had never figured it out. You really conveyed the concept in a professional and understandable way which in itself is an accomplishment. Share the vision often with passion... It is working.