Day 72.  It's not really cold enough to keep the fire going for to long.  But, it is nice for a little while.  I really prefer  a natural wood burning fire but the gas logs are so convenient and there are no ashes to clean up.  The kids aren't fascinated by the gas fire like they are a natural one.  They don't pay much attention to the fire in the fireplace, but, get them out by a campfire and they become entranced.  There is nothing like experiencing an authentic, all consuming, soul cleansing fire.  After that everything else just seems fake.

Day 71.  What odd little flowers I found today.  Tiny little purple flowers with what I think is the stigma growing long and curly.  Well, I got locked out of the church today.  While I was waiting for a key to arrive I was walking around out behind the building and found the flowers.  I'm just glad I had my camera with me.  

Day 70.  Seems like it's not just old horses that get put out to pasture.  Even old horse trailers get left out and abandoned.  I hope it was in better shape when it was being used.  I wouldn't even  want to use this one to move in.  Maybe it had been abused and not taken care of, or just plain neglected.  I'm sure it was a good trailer at one time, doing exactly what it was supposed to do.  And, now it just a shadow of its former self.   However,  even this trailer can be repaired and restored back to usable, if someone is willing to spend the time and energy.  All it takes is for some one to want it.  Man I am glad I'm not a trailer, they are a lot of work.

Day 69.  I had to hang fly strips in the church today to try and get rid of all the flies that found their way inside.  As I was hanging a pair at the fellowship hall doors I looked down and found this.  I watched him for a little while and was quiet amused.  He would wait for a fly to land on the floor and then rush over and try to grab it.  He didn't catch any.  He spent his time running in circles trying to accomplish the impossible.  If he would have asked me, I could have knocked a few down, they would have been stunned and he could easily gather them up.  But, he didn't ask.  How often are we too busy running around trying to accomplish the impossible and won't ask for help.

Day 68.  We had a funeral today.  So, I was pretty busy and then waited way too late to take a picture.  Also, I'm trying to get Scooter to pose.  He doesn't like looking at the lens.  This is what I have for today.  No great words of wisdom or sentimental flashback.  Just a picture of Scooter.

Day 67.  Where have all the days gone.  Summer is over ,and it's almost October.  I already miss sitting in the back yard and looking at the stars.  This year has gone by so fast there hasn't been much star gazing.  I used to sit there and watch for shooting stars, and follow the big dipper as it moved through the summer.  Summer is already over and I saw the big dipper once.  And that was because Annie needed to find it for a project.  It was cool when she finally saw it though.  Life gets so hectic and there's nothing you can do about it.  So, we do the best we can to keep up.  However, even Jesus had to go away for a little while.  After feeding the five thousand he send the disciples ahead and he went off by himself.  Then He came to them walking on the water.  I wonder if the stars were out that night.  Imagine the scene, no artificial lights around and a man suddenly shows up walking on the water.  And to make it even more spooky,  the moon and stars are shining down literally illuminating this man so he appears to be glowing.  No wonder Peter said, "Lord if it is you...".   Well anyway, take some time to sit and look at the stars and let the hectic day melt off of you.  You'll be glad you did.

Day 66. I love taking pictures in the dark.  I never know what will show up and what won't.  Sometimes it disappoints but usually it surprises.  The key is to not focus on the darkness, but focus on the light that shines through the darkness.  It's kind of like looking for the good in a person instead of just seeing the bad.  If you focus beyond the surface you just might find something beautiful.  So go ahead and take a shot in the dark.

Day 65.  Don't worry,  he's actually smiling.  He loves to smile but he just can't be still to do it.  Stacy always asks me "Why don't you smile in pictures?".  I do smile.  But, when I look at the picture it looks like I'm growling or something.  I wonder what people think when I smile at them.  Do they know I'm smiling or do they think I'm angry at them?  Some people never look happy.  I don't want to be one of those people.  I'm a happy guy and I want my face and attitude to show it.  So if you see me around and I look upset,  don't worry.  I'm probably just smiling.  

Day 64.  When I was young and we went camping it involved a tent, and sleeping bags, and a good fire.  Camping for Maggie and Annie is going to a motel, laying on the bed, and watching TV.  Here they are satisfied just to stay up late and lay in mom and dad's bed and watch TV.  Gone are the days of sitting in the tent and watching the raccoons rummage through the garbage.  I remember sitting at a picnic table and watching the chipmunks  scavenge for leftovers by the fire, and being surprised at how close the humming birds would get to us.  The best part was that we usually camped near water so there was a lot of swimming.  The motel version has fewer insects and cleaner water, but I like the tent version better.  You can make life so sterile that you never really experience parts of God's creation.   Maybe it's time to invest in a new tent and make time to go camping again.  I thinks the kids will love it.  

Day 63.  This picture proved harder to get than I had thought it would.  This little guy posed great but he wouldn't hold it or be still.  But, that is the nature of gerbils.  They are only still when they are asleep.  They are most active at dawn and dusk.  And during those times they run, and eat, and chew, and see how much noise they can make while they do these things.  They are also very curious.  If they escape it doesn't take much to find them because they come out of hiding to see what is going on.  If you hold out your hand they will come up to see what is in it, even if they know it's not food.  Through out our marriage we have had dogs, cats, ducks, a rabbit, fish, turtles, Guinea pigs, a Pygmy hedgehog, gerbils, and don't even get me started on the puppies.  Ok, I like variety.  That's a good thing though.  If you only like one type, how do you have friends.  Or more importantly, how do you minister to people, because, people are all different.  Some more different than others, and it takes all kinds to make life interesting.

Day 62.  I took Daisy out for a walk tonight.  She doesn't get out much.  She usually stays inside on a shelf.  Rocks don't need a lot of care.  They don't eat much, they don't make a mess, and they live a very long time.  What a great pet.  She will patiently listen to anyone who happens to talk to her.  So she is a pretty good counselor, too.  And, she never gets angry and acts out.  When people say that someone is like a rock, they are saying that person is strong and reliable.  Maybe I should find more of these little pets and have them around to remind me that I need to be like a rock.

Day 61.  And what a day it has been.  Really it started out good.  I knew it would be a busy day and it turned out busier than I could have imagined.  If you remember I just put a new radiator in my jeep last week.  This afternoon I drove Dugan over to get new glasses.  The jeep made it fine with no problems.  After choosing frames, and paying for them, and staying within my budget we went to get some supper.  We noticed a puddle of antifreeze under the jeep in the parking lot.  After a quick look it was determined that some had overflowed from the reservoir.  So, not a problem, right?  We went to get the glasses and the frames we had picked out had a flaw that couldn't be fixed and there wasn't another pair of those frames.  So, they gave us another pair that Dugan had really wanted but were too expensive.  We didn't even have to pay the difference.  It was an awesome blessing.  By the time the glasses were ready it was about 7:30 and we headed home.  We hadn't gotten far when the temperature light came on.  The jeep was overheating.  I headed for the closest gas station I knew of.  By the time we got there, smoke was pouring out from under the hood.  People were staring and calling out to us, "do you know your car is smoking?".   I drove into the station parking lot and opened the hood to find that the upper radiator hose had a 4 inch split and had spewed the antifreeze onto the engine.  That's why it was smoking so badly.  Dugan went in to ask if there was a place we could get water while I tried to asses the situation.  I looked up and just across the street was a parts store and it was still open.  The guy at the store was very nice.  He loaned me the tools I needed and we found a new hose.  From the time we overheated until we had it fixed and back on the road was less than an hour.  Then, as we headed toward home once again, we ran up on a roadblock.  Red and blue lights all around.  A flashlight signaled us through the mess of glass and debris.  Dugan noted that it must have been a bad wreck.  I told him that since the cars were already gone and they were cleaning up that this wreck must have happened about 20 or 30 minutes before.  His eyes got big and his mouth dropped open.  He realized that if we had not had problems with the glasses and the jeep, we could have been involved in that wreck.  We praised God all the way home.  What a valuable lesson God was teaching.  So, tonight I want to say thank you to my dad for teaching me how to change a radiator hose, and now Dugan knows how also.  But, mostly I want to say Thank You God for watching over us and orchestrating this night.  By the way, we had no more problems getting home.

Day 60.  The twins had their first tournament of the year today.  They're not champions yet, but the year is young.  At least they are trying.  That's more than so many others do.  Even if they aren't winning they still play hard.  That makes me proud.  A lot of adults  could learn from them.

Day 59.  I gave Scruffy a haircut yesterday.  It's still not short enough, but he can see now.  He has been such a good dog.  Between him and Scooter I have decided that "if" we ever get another dog it will be one that doesn't need to be groomed so much.  I still need to groom Scooter and now he is jealous because I groomed Scruffy.  It is funny to see him pout about it.  They are pets and we treat them that way, not like they are people.  But, they sure act like people sometimes.       

Day 58.  Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly.  Hmmm, and what do you think happens to the fly.  And yet, how many times does the fly go right in.  As I write tonight I feel a sense of caution. Like the fly is about to hit the web again.  So if your reading this then please stop what you are about to do, think about it, pray about it, then decide whether or not to continue.  Because not everything that looks like a good thing is.  I hope everyone finds a good thing.  

Day 57.  Ok, I took this one yesterday.  The pictures I took today didn't turn out as well as I wanted.  I wanted to include a picture of these guys at sometime anyway.  They are really cool dogs and very photogenic.  Each one has a very distinct personality, just like people.  One very serious, one laid back and one hyper.  Sounds  like my kids.  I think that is what makes people, and dogs, so great.  That no one is the same.  If the whole world was just like me, what kind of world would this be?  I try to make my part of the world as good as I can, but, I can only do so much.  It takes many different personalities and temperaments to make life fun and interesting.  In that case I must be having a great life.  I know a lot of  "different" people. 

Day 56.  I call this "le bel age" or the beautiful age.  This is Stacy's grandparents, otherwise known as Mimi and Granddaddy.  They are the most genuine people I know.  There is nothing pretentious about them.  Mimi turned 94 last week.  That means that they are now both 94 years old and have been married for 74 years.  The first time I met them Stacy and I weren't even dating.  So, that was about 28 years ago.  We had a party at work, Stacy and I worked together, and we took the left over chocolate cake to their house.  I was about to find out about Mimi's fondness for chocolate.  Granddaddy (Dugan) wanted a piece of cake but they hadn't had dinner yet so Mimi said he should wait.  He politely went on and noticed that she didn't follow.  He called out to her and asked what she was doing.  "Muffin" was the answer because her mouth was full of cake.  He went back into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around her, picked her up, and carried her out.  "If I don't get any neither do you" he said.  I was sitting on the sofa laughing so hard my side was hurting.  They have been such a stable and wonderful influence in my life.  At 94 years old, they are still beautiful.

Day 55.  What kid doesn't like Legos.  My kids love them.  Especially the boys.  It's a Christmas tradition that started 18 years ago.  They would get a new set and spend all afternoon putting it together.  Of course it started out small but has grown as the kids get older.  I went into Dugan's room one day a few years ago after he had been in there playing for a couple of hours.  He had gone through the tubs of Legos and pulled out the heads.You see, he picks out the sets by what character is in it.  Anyway, he found all the heads that weren't being used and had stacked them together on a shelf.  It was pretty creepy to see them like that.  It was like looking at a collection of shrunken heads.  So, I told him that one day I would take a picture of one of his Lego creations.  I went into his room tonight to take that picture but ended up taking this one.  I began to think of all the different hats people wear.  You know, how many jobs one person can do.  The problem is that if you have too many jobs you can't focus on the one that really needs your attention.  How many hats are you wearing these days?

Day 54.  Today is the 11th anniversary of the attacks on the world trade center and the pentagon.  Yes, I remember that day.  I remember where I was and what was happening.  I also remember where I was when the federal building in Oklahoma City was bombed.  I remember when the space shuttle exploded.  One carried out by foreign terrorists, one by American terrorists, and one a complete accident.  Does the cause of the tragedy make the event less or more tragic?  I don't think so, but evidently I don't think like others.  Anyway, tonight as I was tucking the girls into bed, I came across a little Shamu toy.  We have several different ones.  Each time I see one it reminds me of the great times we have had at Sea World.  And of course the killer whale show is a highlight.  Did you know that because of the incident where the whale drowned his trainer now the trainers don't get in the water.  How tragic that event was for her family and friends.  So now the whole show consists of the whales splashing the audience.  Yuck!  This summer we were able to go to Sea World Orlando and all Annie wanted to do was sit in the splash zone.  I made sure it was the last show we went to and by the time we were out it had started raining.  The rain washed off the whale yuck, so we were all happy.  The best thing about this little toy is that it is at home and so am I.

Day 53.  I went to a meeting today in another town.  On the way there I saw what I thought would be a great picture but I really didn't want to stop on the highway.  So, I went on thinking I would find something later.  I went on through the day and the meeting and didn't have any inspiration for my picture. Then I stepped out of my room on the way down to the van and there was my shot. Nothing spectacular but I thought it was cool. Anyway, the meeting is going good and I'm getting some good info on being a more efficient leader. Now if I can just put it into practice.

Day 52.  Dugan and Maggie celebrated their 14th birthday yesterday.  I wrote about something else that was going on, so today it's all about the twins.  I can't believe they are 14 now.  They have a very unique relationship with each other.  I hear that is common among twins, but it is cool to see it first hand.  Last night we had a lot of fun remembering things they did as they were growing up.  One of our favorites happened when they were three or four years old.  The house we lived in had a play room halfway between the downstairs and upstairs.  The opening was actually in the stairway and we secured it with a baby gate.  We would put them in there to play and lock the gate.  When they were ready to get out they would stand at the door with their little faces poking out over the gate and start calling out for us.  It was so cute to turn the corner and look up and see those faces, side by side, smiling down at us.  Side by side, that is pretty much how they have always been.  It really has been a challenge at times but it has been a joy all of the time.  They are definitely a blessing.  And next year they learn how to drive. 

Day 51.  Today was the season opener for our district's Junior Bible Quiz.  The team that Annie is on won first place.  And she was the second top quizzer.  Seven rounds and seven quiz outs.  If you are familiar with bible quiz you know that this is very good.  Our family has been involved in Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) for about thirteen years now.  It started with Matthew then the twins and now the youngest.  She really has a knack for memorizing scripture, she just doesn't like to study.  Anyway, she did great today.  Looks like it's going to be a good season.

Day 50.  Matthew came home tonight for a few days.  He is taking Arabic for his foreign language so he brought his book to show us.  It is so cool how they illustrate the letters and even words.  It is a form of calligraphy.  I tried calligraphy several years ago.  I got pretty good but it sure didn't look like this.  Maybe I should try again.  

Day 49.  Bloom where you are planted.  Or, in the case of these cut flowers, just keep blooming.  They are beautiful, but they have reached their peak.  It's only down hill from here for them.  What a sad thought.  I don't want to go down hill.  I want to keep on blooming, keep on growing, keep on learning, and keep on being useful.  The way I see it, as long as I stay in the fertile soil of the Holy Spirit there doesn't have to be an end.  So, bloom I will.

Day 48.  My memory may be a little fuzzy on some things but I remember this day vividly.  Twenty five years ago today I married my best friend.  Seriously, we had spent almost three years just being friends and hanging out.  When I had a bad day she was there to cheer me up, when I was ready to give up she wouldn't let me.  She knew all my secrets and my faults and she still hung around.  We were inseparable.    One day I realized that I was taking advantage of this good thing and had better do something to insure it kept going.  So, I asked her to marry me.  For me, that was the best and scariest decision of my life.  I liked being single, I was never getting married and I was not having children, period, end of story.  But, I couldn't let her get away.  Man how my life changed, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  And, today, she is still my best friend, still cheers me on and still won't let me give up.  Today, we will celebrate our silver anniversary with friends and family, and look forward to the next 25 years.  They will be spectacular!

Day 47.  I can't believe I actually got this shot.  There were a few storms around us tonight.  And, as usual they move to the east and right past our little town.  But, they seem to migrate to right behind the house.  So I sat up the tripod and stationed the camera at the back door waiting for the right moment.  And the moment didn't happen.  Either my reactions were too slow or I had just stepped away when there was a great flash.  Then, just as I was giving up, I hit the shutter button and walked away to take care of something.  When I came back and looked,  this is what I saw.  It really surprised me.  But, what a great surprise.  I really know that it wasn't me and it wasn't luck.  God showed favor on me.  So, Thank You God.

Day 46.  Ugh!  Ok, I can do this.  First of all, thanks dad for teaching  me basic mechanic skills.  I might not be able to overhaul an engine but I think I can fix this.  First it was the water pump, then the thermostat, and today the radiator blew up.  Literally, it blew up.  I flushed the radiator this morning and everything was going good.  When I was finished with everything I took it out for a drive.  On the way home it began to overheat.  I parked and turned off the motor and as I was about to get out, boom, and steam started pouring  out from under the hood, on three sides.  I waited for it to cool down and this is what I found.  So, it's back to the parts store and probably another skinned knuckle or two, and it will be running again.  It's 16 years old but I really enjoy driving it.  Anyway, with so much going wrong I know that something really right is about to happen. 

Day 45.  Just picked up a great watermelon from a friend.  He grew it in his garden and just picked it yesterday.  It is really good.  But, it reminded me of a time long ago when, as little kids, my brothers and I would get to go into my grandparents watermelon patch.  We got to choose and pick our own melon.  And, then we carried it in to the house and all the family and friends there would dig in.  One day I found a huge watermelon and I wanted it.  Every one said it was too big and I wouldn't be able to carry it, but I didn't care.  I picked it.  It was so heavy!  But I was determined.  I tried and tried and heaved and heaved and finally I had it picked up and on the way to the house.  By this time the others already had their watermelon in the house and were back out "cheering" me on.  It was about this time that, well, I dropped it.  It busted and splattered all over the ground.  I know everyone gasped but I didn't hear them, I could only hear the sound of my heart beating in my ears.  That sound was soon replaced by laughter and teasing.  I was devastated.  When I was ready to go crawl under a rock an amazing thing happened.  Papa came over, bent down, and picked up a piece of the busted watermelon and ate it.  "I think that is the sweetest watermelon in the patch, good job."  is what he said.  Soon my dad was there joining in the feast.  It wasn't long until we all, the guys that is, were eating it right off the ground.  It was the best melon ever.  I am now 49 years old and my brothers still won't let me carry the watermelon when we get together.  Some things you just never out grow.

Day 44.  Closed, open.closed, open.  That's what this butterfly was doing with his wings.  Dugan noted that when his wings were closed they matched the bark on the branch he was sitting on.  So when they were closed he was very camouflaged.  When they were open he was very noticeable.  But, when he was quickly opening and closing them it was like a strobe light.  He wasn't trying to scare me, he was trying to get the attention on the other butterflies around.  Some times I stay all closed up because I don't want to draw attention to myself, and sometimes I open up.  I really don't like to be in the spotlight so I don't open up much.  It makes me feel vulnerable.  One thing about ministry that really blesses me is how the Holy Spirit opens me up and uses me.  But, it's not me that is showing off it is the Holy Spirit bringing glory to the Father.  If I show off for myself I don't shine nearly as bright as when He shows through me.  And that is alright with me.