Just So You Know

Here is an update as to why I am not blogging.
Two weeks ago we were in Louisville, KY for the National Quartet Convention. On Friday afternoon, September 18, I got a call from my father telling me that his sister (my aunt) had passed away at the age of 94. Saturday we left Louisville and drove home (approximately eleven hours). On Sunday we reloaded the suit cases and went to Tulsa. The memorial service was to be on Tuesday, September 22, and I needed to assist in making some of the arrangements.
My dad has not been feeling well and has been losing weight for the past few months, so I had made an appointment for him on Monday, September 21 to see see his primary care physician. To make a long story short, by 11:00 p.m. Monday my father was in the hospital with potential kidney failure. Tuesday, I went to the memorial service for my aunt. Tests were run Tuesday and Wednesday and a rather large mass was discovered in my father's abdomen. Friday the tests confirmed that dad has a form of lymphoma and it is preventing the kidneys from functioning properly. Radiation treatments begin Monday, September 28.
Soooo, I have been in Tulsa all of this past week. My wife came home Friday to take care of some business. Today, she returned to Tulsa and I came home because I MUST get back to the office to take care of business. Along with a cousin, I suppose we will be tag-teaming the visits to Tulsa for the next couple of weeks.
So there you have it in a nutshell. I have NO idea where this is going, or how it will end, but I do know that we are already tired and it has just begun. Blogging is an outlet for me and I will try to post from time to time, just to keep my sanity.

Pardon The Interuption

This blog has been temporarily interupted by life!
I don't know how long I will be dealing with some issues that have come up, but blogging will not be happening on a regular basis for awhile. Maybe a couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months. I will check in with my regular reads when I can and I will post if and when the opportunity presents itself. I apologize for any inconvenience, but my absence from blogging really doesn't impact very many people.
Visit among yourselves and I'll be back when I can.

Preview of Coming Attraction

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Road Trip

We're bound for Louisville, KY and the National Quartet Convention.
See ya next week.
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Ruby Tuesday

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Here are a couple of photos that were left over from the car show in July. Enjoy.

This will be my last post for a week. While you are looking at this, my bride and I will be heading to Louisville, KY for the National Quartet Convention, featuring most of the best Southern Gospel groups in the country. We have a side trip planned to Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger factory. I am sure there will be plenty of photos and posts next week when I return. In the mean time, visit among yourselves and have a wonderful week.

Friday Thoughts

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Since fall in just around the corner, I pulled this out of the archives. I took this last November. It was taken in the Ozark National Forest, on highway 23, between Fayetteville, AR and I-40. I actually used it as my blog header for a few days last year. I may do it again.

Last week-end we took the oldest grand daughter to Tulsa to play in a soccer tournament. She was playing as a guest player for a team from Joplin, MO. They are a team that is small in numbers, so Scooter and one of her team mates played for them in order to gain a little more experience. They played for the Pink Panthers. Scooter HATES pink! Therefore, she was NOT thrilled with the uniforms. I took some photos and when I got home to download them, it brought back a few memories. Here is Scooter in one of her first games ever in 2002, playing in an under 8 league. She was not quite seven at the time.

Now, at the age of 13, she is playing on a U14 travel team. You've come a LONG way baby!!

Well, next week is the big week! My bride and I will be traveling to Louisville, KY for the National Quartet Convention of Southern Gospel Music. We will be leaving early Wednesday morning, so there probably won't be a Friday's Thoughts or a Looking at the Sky post. I'll be too busy enjoying some of the best Southern Gospel music and best groups in the world. We are also planning on visiting the Louisville Slugger factory and picking up a REAL wood bat for the grandson. We would like to tour Churchill Downs as well. I just don't know if time will permit many excursions. You can bet on one thing, the following week will be filled with posts related to our trip. Speaking of which, it is time for our weekly inspirational song. Here is another group that will certainly be at the convention with a great song, enjoy Crabb Family Revival singing "Runaway Train".

Wordless Wednesday

September Blooms
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Ruby Tuesday

We were in Tulsa this past week-end for our grand daughter's soccer tournament (stay tuned for an update) and I spotted these in the flower bed at my dad's house. There had be a very light shower overnight and it put a little extra glisten on the leaves and blooms.

Friday Thoughts

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I know, you're getting tired of looking at sunsets from my favorite fishing spot. I can't help it. God just continues to paint a perfect end to what is often a very stressful day. I NEED this place and I NEED these sunsets. Really, I do.

I fear that this week was worse than last week, and last week is a week that I would love to forget. What do you do when personnel issues at the office become more that you want to bear, but the burden in yours because you have been charged with that responsibility? Don't try to do it alone. I have spent some time in prayer. I have spent some time by myself. I have spent some time reviewing the issues. Monday evening I spent some time watching a Gaither Homecoming Video, Amazing Grace. There is comfort in the old hymns of the faith. There is peace in the old hymns of the faith and there is wisdom in messages. In order to make the right decisions, I must first, surrender it all to the Lord. That brings me to our inspirational song of the week. Again, this is a group that will most likely be at the National Quartet Convention in a couple of weeks. One of my favorite groups, The Issacs, singing "I Surrender All". Enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday

Trouble & Troublette or "Double Trouble"