Summer, 2011

It seems beyond belief, but Zanne and I have FINALLY sold the property! Yes, the closing is done. The money has been wired. The adventure is concluded. We are so grateful to God. A five year sojourn that feels like a hundred years is over. Woot!

We have budgeted carefully and prayed and considered various scenarios and courses of action. In the end, we have decided to spend part of the proceeds on making our home into what we envisioned some years ago when it was first being framed. We are: (1) building a library; (2) putting on the decks; (3) installing an in-ground pool; and (4) finishing the basement. If possible, we will put hardwood flooring in the family room, and we are also furnishing the morning room. When it is all done (July?) we will have a substantially different home and will have still used a good part of the proceeds on savings and managing our mortgage.

Our prayer is that God will use our home as a base for evangelism and blessing for our many Christian friends. Nothing in this world will last...it will all burn some day. We don't want to place our affections upon anything in the devil's world. So we are trusting that God will bless our investments and make use of our beautiful home while it lasts.

Joe is in Marine Corps basic training at Paris Island, SC. We have received one letter so far and have sent him (as requested) 18 days supply of protein bars. I can only imagine that our Joe will come back a huge, strapping Marine that can lift all of us with one arm! I am so proud of my youngest son (well, all of my kids!), and we are looking forward to seeing him graduate this great adventure in August!

Rachel has been staying with us, and she is a great cook. We had incredible chicken fajitas tonight.

Kadey is headed to Costa Rica soon, and she's very excited.

Eva Gabor gave birth to quadruplets--named Mitch, Stanley, Blanche, and Stella. Her sister Zsa Zsa is due on Monday.

All is well. I took a week of leave and worked my buns off cleaning up and organizing the garage and took three truck loads of junk to the dump. Back to work tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'm concluding a nine week seminar course on Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel next Sunday. I don't especially like teaching seminar courses, because there is too much material and too little time. But any opportunity to teach Bible class is welcome.