Are you ready for SUMMER?!

I know I am!  Karen and I returned from the beach from a quick retreat and those 3 days spoiled us!  We’ve been in the middle of an incredible whirlwind of activity with Kara graduating from college, moving to Hawaii and starting her new job (and life) there.  Shane and Shannon informed us we’re going to be grandparents and they moved to Boston.  They both have jobs there now (Starbucks and Edible Arrangements) and are loving it!  They ride bikes with Daniel around Boston most days in their free time and they are really enjoying being back together after a long time of being apart.

Karen with Shane, Daniel and Kara on Mothers Day! (Shannon was in Louisville)

Yea, I’m read for summer!

Here’s what I see summer offers us…

1) Lots and lots of sunshine (preferably at the beach but sunshine anytime works)

The Beach!

2) A little slower pace (gives you time to reflect on your life and mission)

3) Possibilities (for vacation, recreation, meditation)

4) Family (just a visit or a weeks vacation, sounds like fun)

5) Travel (Hawaii or Boston are our options.  How ’bout you?)

6) Growth (time to read the Bible more than normal along with any good book)

Don’t let this summer go by you without taking time to grow closer to Jesus and closer to your family.  I know I need both of these things in my life NOW more than ever.  I get so busy with work and other activities that it is easy to forget the things that are MOST important.

Pray for me as I have a lot going on at work along with 5 weddings I’m doing (love doing these) between June 19th and December 4th.  Life is good – NOW, live it good by…

CAUSING GOD JOY!

I want to go to the beach…

With everything going on in my life right now, I just want to be here….

Me and Kara at Hilton Head

Seriously, you ever just get so tired you need a break?  That’s what summer time does to me.  Going to the beach allows me to…

1) Get a tan

2) Rest up (I think)

3) Play botchie and Lasso golf

4) Eat really good

5) Enjoy family

6) Keep adding to the list – make your own!

Karen and I spoke with Kara this morning and she was going to the beach there in Hawaii today.  All I could think of was that I wanted to be there.  Want want want.  Seems like that’s all I care about – what I want.

I still have work to do, things to accomplish and take care of before I get to the beach – and that’s ok….for now!

But I’m going to the beach – and when I do, I’m doing all those things above and more…SO I CAN THEN GO BACK TO WORK!  HA!

OK – no real content today – I just wanted to get that off my chest!  HA!

GO CAUSE GOD JOY…wherever you are today!

Karen and I are going to be GRANDPARENTS! And I’m proud…

Last Thursday night my son (Shane) and daughter-in-love (Shannon) called us and told us that we were going to be grandparents.  Man, I can’t tell you how excited Karen and I are.  Shane and Shannon are a precious young couple that deserve the best.  I know they are our children, but they really are a young couple doing it right!  They are moving to Boston on May 28th along with 2 other couples to start a church in downtown Boston.  Please pray for them.  We are thinking right now that the baby (little baby Garry I’m sure) will be here sometime in December or maybe January.

Here is how it came down.  I was in our sales meeting last week and was at dinner Thursday night.  Shane and Shannon had Shannon’s parents and Shannon’s sister with them in Louisville, KY.  They skyped Karen, Daniel and Kara and then called me on my cell while at dinner.  Here is them talking to us on skype…

Shannon and Shane on Skype telling us they are expecting...

Everyone (that is already a grandparent) tells me how great it is to have grandchildren.  Our grandchild isn’t even here yet and I’m just besides myself.  This is such and exciting time.  Right now, here’s an update on all that is going on…

1) Kara graduated from Clemson

2) That same week she got a call with a job offer from Hawaii (Dolphin Quest) – Dolphin training here she comes!

3) Mothers Day – had my mom and Karen and all the kids home!!

4) Agilysys (company I work for) Sales Meeting.  Got to do a motivation speech for the group – it was fun!

5) Found out we were going to be GRANDPARENTS! Woop Woop!

6) USC Players Reunion in N. Myrtle Beach this past weekend.  Best weekend in a long time.  WOW!

7) Daniel heads back to Boston today.  He is playing at Martha’s Vineyard this summer.  He’s doing great!

8) Kara moves to Hawaii this Thursday…ugh!

Yea alot is going on but through it all we know that God is in control and like I’ve said before, BUSY TIMES are the BEST of TIMES!

LOVE YA! MEAN IT!

Busy Times make for Fun Times…(see Pics)

I have always found truth in the fact and experience that when you’re busy, you have more fun!  Yea it wears you out and you have to come up for air but it is more invigorating and thrilling than sitting around doing nothing.  Here is a sampling of our past week….

Moving Kara out of her Clemson apartment...never to be in Clemson again! (HA!)

Kara's Graduation! (We're doing the Hawaiin Shaka sign)

Shane and Daniel came for Kara's Graduation. They love each other!!

Kara's boyfriend Travis was in town. Great GUY!!!!

Even found time for a pool party at a friends house - Thanks Pattons!

Graduation Dinner at the Lazy Goat (Mediteranean) in Downtown Greenville.

Nothing like a little Phase 10 with 8 people!

Had to give Travis the Fish Camp (Tadpoles) Experience!

Mothers Day pictures will be coming but we had a great Mothers Day with my mother and Karen.  Karen LOVES it when all 3 of her(our) children are in town and with Kara moving to Hawaii May 20th and Shane and Shannon moving to Boston with Daniel on May 28th, these times will be few and far between.   We will continue to stay busy because those are always the BEST of TIMES!

Disney, Youth and Rest…

Karen and I at Universal Studios

Thought I would start this one off with a picture of Karen and I at Universal Studios.  We had such a great time at Disney.  Went to 4 parks (Magic Kingdom, Universal(MGM), Epcot and Animal Kingdom).  The roller coasters were a blast!

Me, Karen, Brenda Brooks and Connie Elder on the Tower of Terror!

I’m usually not a fan of roller coasters but we rode every one of them at least twice while we were there.  It was incredible.  And of course there was good old Mickey…

We had about 150 8th graders on this trip and they were great overall.  There will always be issues with 8th graders but we felt blessed to have some great girls that we were responsible for. Here is Karen with our girls…

Shaquaila, Samantha, Isabella, Summer, Harley and Karen!

We got to hang out with some good friends while we were there as well…

Me, Karen, Kevin McCurry, Connie Elder, Steve Deriso, Coco Henderson and Brenda Brooks

These are some of the best teachers, coaches and administrators in America today!

Here are some observations about the youth of today…

1) They have energy, and lots of it

2) That energy needs to be focused by mentors

3) Their minds are NOT fully matured yet, they wander

4) They want and need to be loved!

5) They have tremendous potential – they need adult time

6) They have a great sense of humor, they can dance and sing, and are great at DRAMA (if you know what I mean)

7) Did I say that they need to be disciplined in love?  They respond to that

REST…

I needed the rest.  Work has been intense the past few months and still is and it was just good to get away without the Blackberry and enjoy my wife and friends.  Yesterday was my birthday and what a great day it was…

1) My daughter made me a chocolate gonosh(sp?) cake

2) Karen and Kara surprised me with chocolate donuts for breakfast (catch the chocolate theme)

3) I worked

4) Karen had a few gifts for me (loved the clothes baby doll)

5) Karen took me to dinner and surprised me with our best friends, Andy and Karen joining us

6) Watched American Idol together

7) All my kids called me – I AM SO BLESSED!

Here is my point – life is short – live it to its fullest and trust Jesus for everything.  He tells us in John 10:10 that He came that we may have life and have it abundantly.  The key is to live a life of obedience, faithfulness and love.  He is Who He says He is and we can trust Him! So go and CAUSE HIM JOY today!!  Love ya’ll!  Mean it!!!!