Tuesday, August 21, 2012

And We're Back!

Yes, the family and I are back from a nice two week vacation. No computer, no e-mail, just time with the family, traveling, swimming, reading a couple of novels, crossword puzzles, and visiting family. Our journey took us first to Dayton, OH where we primarily visited the Air Force museum (which was great and far too much to see in only one day!). From there we traveled to Champaign, IL for the wedding of my nephew. Then on to St. Louis for a quick stop. Attended the Divine Service at Messiah in Lebanon, IL with Pastor Brian Holle - great! Saw the Arch and went to a place called the "City Museum" in St. Louis. If you're ever in St. Louis (and have kids), go there! It was like a giant climbing, crawling, and sliding playground - on massive steroids! The guy who created this gather old stuff from all over the city and put this together. So much fun! (Tough on the old knees, though!) Monday was a long travel day up to Michigan to spend the week with my in-laws and visit some other family. Went to the Divine Service at Calvary in Parma, OH (just outside Cleveland) and had brunch with some old friends - the former DP and his wife. Then from there to just outside Pittsburgh to visit with my brother-in-law and his family, and then home yesterday. So a LOT of driving, but had a good time. Today is a catch-up day for e-mail and snail mail, pick-up my new glasses, try to get things in order for my school classes (which begin next week), and maybe even work on Sunday's sermon a bit before heading to Florida tomorrow for some meetings!

As for the novels I read on vacation, they were two of Jeff Shaara's trilogy of historical fiction on WWII. Excellent. The first was about the D-Day invasion and the second about the taking of Okinawa and the dropping of the Atomic bombs. He retells the story from the point of view of a few characters - both American and German/Japanese. I highly recommend them. He also has books like this on the Revolutionary and Civil wars. I've read a bunch of them and have never been disappointed.

So good to be home! Looking forward to being with my flock on Sunday. :-)

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