Back from Travels . . .

Just got back from two trips and two weeks away.

First was a drive to Detroit, Mequon WI, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and then home again. This was to take my daughter back to school at Concordia University, Wisconsin. On the way there and back, we stopped at my in-laws in Detroit to visit my mother-in-law (in Memory Care) and help my father-in-law with the house and other things he needed to get done. On the way back to Detroit, we stopped in Grand Rapids to visit a pastor who I knew but never met before! So we stopped by for dinner to meet him and his wife and had a nice time. And Shirley, the blueberry pie so so good!

Then it was off to Florida for the Lutheran Haven Board of Trustees retreat and meeting. That was a long three days! Much discussion about the future of the Haven and how to move into the future. Had a tough time getting home. We tried to depart before storms moved in at the airport, but didn't quite make it. We sat on the plane for about two hours, after which we had to deplane due to "tarmac rules" about how long they can leave us there without actually leaving. So we sat in the terminal a while longer, then back on the plane and finally departed about four hours late. But I did get home! And now I'm here for a few weeks until my next couple of trips in September.

Re-elected

One thing to update you all on is that I was re-elected to serve on the Synod's Board for International Mission for another six year term. Elected on the first ballot, so no drama. ;-)  Last convention, there were some very close votes (3-4 vote margins!) with one of our incumbents being unseated and one just barely getting re-elected, so I didn't take this for granted. But I enjoy serving so was glad to be chosen. Now it's back to work.

Update?

Yeah, I haven't posted again for a couple weeks . . . Not that I haven't been thinking about it! Just nothing newsworthy, I didn't think. Just got my nose to the grindstone, trying to get things done, especially since I've got a couple trips coming up. I'll try to post about them a little. 

As for our gardens, the blueberries are done. We did get a good crop this year, even though we were late getting our net up and the birds got a lot at the beginning! The tomatoes are coming in now. Some big zucchinis, purple peppers (?), and some watermelon. The first watermelon wasn't quite ripe - hopefully the next one will be better. 

We're taking my daughter back to school. Her junior year! Time flies. She had a good summer. Worked a lot and made some good money. She'll be happy to be back with her friends. We're helping more with my wife's parents now, too, as they are getting older. We'll stop and see them and do some things for them while we're out that direction. 

Been trying to ride regularly and stay in shape, though it's been a challenge with so much going on. I think something I'd like to do is ride Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah. It's approx. 105 miles. Hilly. I could try to do it as a fundraiser - for LFL, missionaries, something. I think it might be a fun ride. Before that, though, I have the hiking competition with my daughter in November. Ultratrax. We're going to try to win the "Wolf medal" by doing four loops (28 miles) in the ten hours alotted. I think we can do it, though maybe I am underestimating how hard it will be. We'll see. 

That's it for now, I guess. Stay tuned for updates!