"Green thumb" is not in my vocabulary anywhere. I have tried to add it but I never made it! So, I visit my mother-in-law's garden and bask in all that she accomplishes! She definitely does not look 88 years old!! Nor does she act like it -- she has as much fun as the rest of us!

Tonight, it was 'have shovel, can dig'! Not me, of course! Me -- I was "have camera, will shoot"!!

I took a mini-tour of the garden and saw this 'little' cabbage -- little? Hardly!! So, I guess you know who has the green thumb!! And she says, "All I do is set out little cabbage plants." But, I can assure you that if I did that -- the little cabbage plants would die! I took the photo below on my cell phone.

So, I am blessed when I visit with great "garden variety", home grown food!! I am pretty spoiled... when I arrived at her house on Wednesday noon, she had lunch already on the table!! Wow!!

We had gone out to eat last evening and were barely in the house when she said, "I'm going to change so we can go to the garden!"

Needless to say, she gives some of her garden goods to family and close friends!!

The cucumber below is almost 18 inches long!!

Celebrating an anniversary!! 25th!

I am in Indianapolis right now -- I didn't realize that I hadn't posted since Monday!! But, it's been a busy week as I flew to Indy and then drove on up to Chicago with two of my brothers and a niece to celebrate Rachel and Allen's 25th anniversary. The anniverary was actually on June 18th and Jene' (their oldest who turned 21 on Wednesday) had put together a reception at their church the Sunday following that date.

What Rachel and Allen didn't know was that we had planned (Jene' and I had talked through -- but she did an awesome job putting everything together and carrying it all out!!) a 25th anniversary celebration for them. They had expressed a desire to renew their vows on a beach but since Florida is a rather long way to go and with gas prices, prohibitive at this point, we thought, "Why not Lake Michigan?" And they also really wanted to go on a cruise and may get that done this fall (perhaps), but a dinner cruise seemed in order. They also just wanted a small intimate group so we only had 20!

The job was keeping it quiet -- but, believe it or not, all six kids kept their lips zipped the entire time -- all the way up to arriving at the Navy Pier and parking the car. It was at that time that I got a text from Rachel saying that she had an idea that something was going on and that "Joel and you better be here somewhere!" We were as was Thad -- Mark and Tim's schedule wouldn't allow them to attend but they were here in spirit!

The cruise was awesome, the food was scruptuous, the entertainment was great -- they had a band on the dinner cruise which played Rachel and Allen's favorite song, "Have I told you lately that I love you?" (No, they didn't dance ...) We went from the cruise over to a part right next to the pier where rose petals had been spread out, a guitar was playing and Joel gave Rachel to Allen once again. They repeated vows and then Shara read a letter I had written to them. I'll include it at the end.

We gave them time to share to each other and while there were tears, they were in celebration of 25 years of love, laughter, difficulties and commitment.

Backing up a little (which I seem to do quite well!), it was quite a feat for us to get to the florists (my job) and then to the pier. You cannot 'get there from here' even though it was right next to you. Fortunately, Thad became the navigator, Joel drove and Jacinta and I just laughed at them -- or they laughed at me -- or whatever!

Just a heads up -- if you ever go to the Navy Pier, parking is $19 no matter how long you stay. I'm glad we were staying several hours so we could get our money's worth -- sort of anyway!!

After the renewal of vows, Jene' delivered Rachel and Allen to a hotel provided by family members and she took the kids to another hotel. She's not old enough to want to be in the same hotel! (lol)

I think it was an awesome day for the whole family - we made it home in just over 12 hours from when we left -- and we covered 400 miles in that time, too! Wow!

And now the letter I wrote which Shara read to them yesterday ...

It has been almost 40 years since you were my miniature bride, carrying a bouquet of orchids down the aisle. I know you have heard the “got my dollar” story more times than you have wanted to, I’m sure. Then, twenty five years ago, I stood beside you as you got ready to go down the aisle – this time you were the bride. I remember how well you had done in making all the preparations and the awesome rehearsal dinner. Then, at the last minute, you became overwhelmed and the tears began to flow. I did the only thing I knew to do – I went and got Dad! After all, he could fix anything! It was my time to go down the aisle and I just told him he needed to do something!!!

Now, twenty five years later and here we stand together once again! It is impossible to share all the memories – from the first crush you had on Allen (including some story about throwing stones) to the Hawaiian cruise we took together to celebrate our anniversaries – our 35th and your 20th. I’ve been able to be with you after the births of a couple of your children and am honored when I hear their excitement that I am going to visit. (Maybe that’s just because they know they can beat me soundly playing video games.)

Your life has not always been easy. From traveling in the evangelistic field for many years through the years of pastoring, you’ve poured your lives into ministry. I am sure there are times when the difficulties have taken their toll on your relationship and you wondered if you had it to do all over again, would you?

Because of those very things and the fact that you complement each other so much, I think the answer is a given. Yes! Yes, you are completely difference personalities and that is probably an understatement. But, God saw this, too, and said, “It is good!”

Your differences balance each other (well, for the most part.. lol!) and as you continue to grow in love, those differences may well become less – until you truly become one. Well, then again, it has been said that if two people agree on everything, one of them isn’t necessary! I don’t think that will ever happen to you two.

Your children knew that your desire was to renew your vows on your 25th wedding anniversary – on a beach. Florida was a little too far away. They also knew you loved a cruise. Jene’ began to put together a plan. What better way to celebrate than to incorporate both of those into one – so here we are today. Celebrating in an unbelievable way but hopefully fulfilling your dream for your 25th anniversary celebration.

Happy Anniversary!

And lest I forget, Happy Birthday to both Jene' (21st on July 23) and Shara (18 today!).

Youth Camp 2008 Slide Show

Reality Check

I know --I think I got lost! But, found my way back -- just kidding! I've been "on the road again" and seem to meet myself coming and going. However, I wanted to post this report on the Youth Camp from Sandi. She read this to our church on Sunday morning .. Linda

Genniser (Cornerstone's Youth Pastor) asked me to share about youth camp. I told him no. And he asked several more times before I agreed. In many ways I don't want to do this. But this week I asked campers several times if they were unable to do something or simply unwilling. I do feel unable to do this but I'm not unwilling - so here I am. This past week at Reality Check was the most intense week of my entire life. Tim and I have been a part of many camps for many years in every way (as a camper, counselor and director).

For the past 5 years we have directed youth camp for our conference of FM churches. We knew going in to this week that we would face challenges but had no idea of the scope of things. So as I tried to figure out what to tell you - I went back to the promise I had each teen make whenever they talked to me - be real. So I'm going to get real and pray that you will see through the tough stuff to the realization that it takes being real to make any progress. None of the counselors this week were aware of all that happened - but Tim & I have endeavored to keep the things that can't be shared between us and God. One of my campers came to me this week and said that what she had to share she couldn't simply say - so she had to write it out - I had to do the same.

So what to share. I could share about the fun we all had - from softball, to volleyball, to basketball, to mini golf, and ping pong, to carpet ball to canoeing, to human foosball, to the petting zoo, roasting marshmallows, going on hayrides, pool volleyball, eating kettle popcorn made over an open fire. I could tell you that major prayer happened in the golf cart I was driving (especially since I'm legally blind and don't have a driver's license.)

It was great to see S.A.C.'s Got Talent and we laughed until we cried as the counselors participated in "America's Next Top Model.) I could share about awesome times of team devotions and workshops like Bible Quizzing and Sharing your faith to Just for Guys and Just for Girls to drama and learning how to build biblical boundaries into our lives. I could share about our theme verses from Proverbs 1:1-6 or share about our themes each night.

I could share how Monday night we talked about being "ink'd" by God and being pierced for ministry. I could share about how Tuesday night we talked about developing spiritual disciplines into our life or Wednesday night how we discovered that we each had spiritual gifts and talents. I could share how Thursday night we entered "The Real World". I could share about the most awesome praise and worship I have experienced in a very long time. How I thought the walls were going to come down on Thursday night as we sang "Battle Cry".

I could share how God used our group to minister to other groups at the camp and to the camp personnel. How we invited a group to join us in worship and were able to pray with one of the kitchen workers in our evening service. I could tell you about how every camp personnel from Lakewood including the director came to us to tell us that they had never experienced a group like ours and tried to figure out "how we did it". How people from the camp were asking where the nearest Free Methodist church was.

I could share that we had over 90 campers and about 30 counselors from churches from St Pete, Tampa, Miami, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, West Palm, and Nassau Bahamas. I could share about the low ropes course and the trust fall. Where in an hour and a half with your team more tears were shed and more walls broken down - than anything else we could do. I could share of the 35-40 of the teens that Tim & I spent individual time with - some lasting 5-10 minutes and others lasting hours. I could share how camp didn't end on Friday at 1pm but that the rest of this weekend has been spent on the phone and e-mail counseling campers and counselors alike.

I could share of the many that got saved - I prayed with at least 15 campers myself. I could tell you of the 2 girls that were called into missions. I could share about the Timothy track and how teens that were identified by their youth pastors as being spiritually mature and exhibiting leadership qualities were able to take part in a special workshop and assigned personal mentors that spent individual time with them each day. I could tell you that every one on the Timothy track came to me personally to tell me that it was the best experience they had ever had. I could tell you that our 15 minutes scheduled for individual mentoring turned into an hour or more each day. I could tell you how proud you should be of Donna Blanton and Brandi Costa who joined with Tim & I and Eddie from our Tampa church as Timothy track mentors. I could tell you of the 3 guys that are off to college to prepare for the ministry. I could tell how one of them came to me to thank me for teaching me this week how to disciple others.

I could tell you that over 3000 "Character Counts" points were awarded this year. I could share that dozens came to know Christ and dozens more rededicated their life to Him. I could tell you all that and it would be true and it would be good. But it wouldn't be all. To be real means to tell you the rest of the story. It means to tell you things that were hard to hear. It is to tell you that the camp flag I am holding doesn't bear 120 names - which means that teens were real enough with themselves and God to acknowledge that their lives aren't "ink'd" by Christ - they aren't Christians. I could tell you that the cross didn't hold 120 nails because there were teens unwilling to let God use the things that pierce them.

I would have to share that although Tim and I have the job of directing - our week was spent counseling and that logistically things fell apart because we couldn't leave the teens we were ministering to. I would have to share that there were teens that aren't there yet - and one cried out Thursday night, "I'm not there yet - but Jesus, I'm coming!" I pray she has the chance.

I would have to share that teens confessed to promiscuity, to alcohol abuse, to drug abuse, to cutting, to violence including some very serious stuff. I would have to share that teens shared their real life and many times that included stories of physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse. I would have to share that we had to stage a full blown intervention and we sent teens home with constant supervision until we can get them into rehab. I would have to share that I had to stay on the phone with a camper as she walked into her house because that is the only way she could do it.

I would have to share that a guy camper came to me Thursday morning with tears and said, "I can't go home - Please don't make me, I'm just too scared." I would have to share that we have a rule that things are kept confidential unless they are life threatening or illegal - and we had to break confidence this week. I would have to share that most mornings began well before dawn and most didn't end till then. I would have to share that teens that "look the part" aren't always who you think they are. That they can hide deep hurt and bad choices.

I would have to share that there are teens in our own church that don't know Christ. I would have to share that it's time to get real. Real with ourselves, real with each other, most importantly - real with God. Tim and I spent months preparing and praying for camp. And this week there were so many times when I cried out to God, "I'm not able". And He only responded, "Are you willing?"

To be real means that we can't think "glad that's not our kids" - because it is. It means saying like I had to this week, "I'm willing for you to hate me - to save your life, to save your soul." To be real means to stop telling people what they want to hear and sharing with them straight talk - right from God's word. It means getting phone calls like I did - when I am emotionally, physically, and spiritually depleted and answering it anyway. Because lives hang in the balance. It means getting real about discipleship. To be real means saying that our teens are too valuable to God and to valuable to us to risk losing them. This IS our great mission field.

To be real means acknowledging for all the successes we had - we failed too. So I stand here - not jubilant. I stand here used up. I stand here unable - but I don't stand here unwilling. I'm asking you to do the same. Pray for our teens like you never have before. Be strong enough to look and look closely and ask and ask deeply and pray without ceasing. I guess this is our reality check!

Youth Camp Devotionals for Thursday

S.A.C.'s Got Talent - Devotional

Spiritual Gifts and Personalities

I. Discover Who You Are
1. An awesome God made us wonderfully
"Psalm 139:14: "Thank you for make me so
wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is
marvelous -- how well I know it."
2. We should thank God for all of our unchange-
able features.
3. We should repent / ask forgiveness for messing
up what God gave us.
4. We should commit our whole self to become the
best we can be in every area. I Cor. 10:31: Do
ALL to the glory of God."

II. We are blessed so we can be a blessing
1. Genesis 12:2: "I will make you into a great
nation. I will bless you and make you famous,
and you will be a blessing to others."

III. Importance of Choices
1. All talents must be developed by discipline and
sacrifice.
2. We can choose to:
a. Waste what we are given (laziness)
b. Spend it on our self
c. Invest it for God and others
3. Only giving to God produces a great return and
fulfillment

Wisdom: "Real" Christians develop their talents; spiritual gifts and character to glorify God and bless others.

It's Time for a Reality Check!
Questions:

What gifts and talents do you have?

In what ways have you used them in ministry?

What is an area you feel passionate about?

How can you use that to serve God?

Is there any special training, etc., that you could take that could help you in those areas?

Is there something you want to do, but don't feel you have the abilities to do?

Is that something God has really put on your heart?

Suggestion: Talk to someone about the areas that you feel passionate about and brainstorm ways you could use those to serve Christ.

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Timothy Track

From Discipline to Character

I Timothy 4:7b-8: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness -- Godliness is profitable for all things."

I. Discipline is only means to an end (such as
practicing for the Olympics -- "to win the prize",
Phil. 3:14)
a. "Flee from these things" (I Timothy 6:11)

(see verses 4, 5, 9 & 10)"
"Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander and evil sus-picions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."
*Use discipline of abstinence

b. "Pursue righteousness, etc." (v. 11);
*Use disciplines of engagement

II. Become Real -- Christlike -- is a continuous
journey; 2 Timothy 2:15: "Be diligent -- to be
approved by God"
a. Don't compare yourselves to other Christians
b. Measure yourself against Jesus

III. Godly Character Qualifies You for Leadership
2 Tomthy 2:2
a. "Flee youthful lusts"
b. Pursuit of disciplines leads to a pure heart

Deeper Wisdom: The journey to godly character is an exciting adventure when we keep our eye on the goal.

Youth Camp Devotionals for Wednesday

Road Rules

Learning to drive responsibly requires:
1. Knowledge and practice on parts of the car
a. Ignition key -- right amount of time to engage starter
b. Steering wheel
c . Pedals
d. Mirrors
e. Instruments

2. Knowledge of the rules
a. Speed
b. Posted signs
c. Traffic lights
d. Conditions -- weather, congestion

3. Knowledge of other people
a. Not being alert
b. Aggressive behaviors
c. Distractions -- "rubbernecks"
d. Yield right of way -- you might be right but you might be dead right

Being a "Real" Christian is achieving "self control", Galations 5:23: "Gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things."

Disciplines which help to break old habits:
* Solitude
* Silence
* Fasting
* Frugality

Disciplines which develop holy habits:
* Study
* Worship
* Prayer
* Service

2 Peter 1:5-9 -- "Apply Diligence"
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins."

1. Faith to
2. Virtue to
3. Knowledge to
4. Self control to
5. Perseverance to
6. Godliness to
7. Brotherly kindness to
8. Loves

Benefits: Useful, fruitful, pure

Wisdom: "Real" Christians live under the control of the Holy Spirit -- mind, affections and body.

Road Rules -- Questions:

Do I understand why "road rules" are necessary in my life?

What spiritual disciplines have I already established? (Bible study, prayer, worship)?

What areas do I need to work on?

What is the hardest thing for me to do? Why?

What could help me to overcome that?

Identify someone to whom you could be accountable.

It is important to your spiritual growth to understand that you must love Christ enough to desire to BE "Christ-like" in all areas of your life.
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Timothy Track
Doing what you love -- Loving what you do!

I Timothy 1:5, "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart." "The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and pure faith."

1. Choose to do what you love

You will ultimately follow your heart (affections), not your head (logic). Matthew 6:31: "So don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?"

What you love you will think about. Proverbs 23:7: "They are always thinking about how much it costs. 'Eat and drink', they say, but they don't mean it'."

You become what you think about and do. Phil. 4:8: "Think on these things." "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

II. Commitment to Daily Discipline

You become good at what you practice:
~Swim to become a good swimmer
~Pray to become a good prayer

Develop completeness through disciplines (list of 17 disciplines at end)

Guard the treasure. 2 Timothy 1:14: "Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you."

III. Loving What You Do

~Make Jesus your hero and stay in love with Him.
~Love the people you serve
~Delight in God - Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires."

Deeper Wisdom: Love of God and others will make you complete and give you a fountain of joy.

Disciplines of Abstinence:
Solitude
Silence
Fasting
Frugality
Chastity
Secrecy
Sacrifice
Watching

Disciplines of Engagement
Study
Worship
Celebration
Service
Prayer
Fellowship
Confession
Submission

Yes, I can ... No, I can't ...

Tyler seemed to be arguing with himself. Kamen didn't want to let him into his room and I told him he had to leave Kamen alone.

I heard him talking to himself, "Yes, I can .. No, I can't ... Yes, I can ... No, I can't .." No, I can't won out but he wasn't necessarily thrilled. Oh, well!!

Youth Camp Devotionals

This may be of no interest but I thought I would include it in case it does -- a long post, probably! But, I'm always so intrigued by the great spiritual growth during the youth camp. Of course, there are fun times, too ... Like last night (during 'after hours' fun -- about 9pm or so) when Sandi said she laughed until she couldn't talk! "S.A.C.'s Top Model" .. and "S.A.C.'s Got Talent"!! (South Atlantic Conference for those who might not know.)

But, thought I would share just the devotionals and the Timothy Track. This does not include the many workshops and the evening sessions. Every year, Sandi has given Bob her theme and her theme verses and he has developed the devotionals from there. The Timothy Track, she developed completely. Already, young people are responding. And I am always anxious, when they get home, what great things God accomplished throughout the week! They are halfway through now -- hard to believe it has gone this fast!!

So ... here are the devotions for yesterday -- sort of behind, huh? Sorry ...


INK'd -- Tattooed on Your Heart

Devotions for Youth Camp -- Tuesday

2 Corinthians 3:3: "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This 'letter' is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts."

Jeremiah 31:33: "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Becoming a Real Christian

Unreality -- temporary (world is passing away -- I John 2:17, "And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.")

1. Getting a label or a tag (barcode religion)
2. Getting new clothes -- dress for id
3. Infatuation -- never lasts

Reality -- permanent

1. Repentence / Humility
2 Corinthians 7:9: "Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way."

2. Letting God Love You
I John 4:10: "This is real love -- not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

3. Learning to Love God
Matthew 22:37: "Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind'."

4. Getting Wisdom Ink'd on your heart
Proverbs 3:3: "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart!"
Proverbs 7:2-3: "Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them on your fingers as a reminder."

Write them deep within your heart!
Learning to think like God -- Act like God -- ReAct like God.

Wisdom -- "Real" Christians are those whose life is permanently "ink'd" by God.

Questions:

It's time for a REALITY CHECK!

*Has your Christianity been based on the "unreal" (temporary)?

*Can you recall a time when Christ was "Ink'd" on your heart?

If so: When was that?
(Describe time / place /
experience)

*What steps have you taken towards spiritual growth? (Bible study, prayer, Sunday School, youth group, accountability, etc.)

*What areas do you need to work on (what separates you from growing in Christ)?

*Find someone that you trust and share these things with them so they can help encourage you and help hold you accountable!

If not:
~Why? (what is holding you back?)
~Do you understand that we all have sinned and that Christ died and provided forgiveness for us?
~If you talked to God right now, what do you want to say?

Are you ready to ask for forgiveness and accept His free gift of salvation?

If so, why don't you find someone to pray with you right now!

If not, why don't you find someone to talk over the questions you have!

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Timothy Track (for those going into ministry or wanting a deeper walk)

Finding Your Mentor

A mentor is a life coach -- one who can train and explain and model - 2 Timothy 1:2,5

"(2) I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace. (5) I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you."

I. Mentors lead by influence and inspiration rather than by control.

Early mentors are:
~Parents / Teachers -- from control (parents) to (teachers) inspiration.
~Peers -- mentors of adolescence and teens
~Heroes -- ultimate mentors

II. We only temporarily follow those who control us but will give our life to those who inspire us.
~Paul became Timothy's life-long mentor.

III.We adopt the character of our mentor.
~Character is "caught" more than "taught".

Birthdays, boys, bugs ...

After Tyler asked me if my son-in-law was old, I was reminded that Tim's birthday is right around the corner -- like two days. So, I'll say an early 'happy birthday' but he won't be paying much attention right now since he and Sandi are off at youth camp. They are having an awesome time and God is doing great things.

In the middle of that, they do have fun times. Tonight was "S.A.C.'s got talent" -- S.A.C. standing for South Atlantic Conference. Okay, so I know that will be funny but when Sandi called to talk to Tyler tonight, she said she had laughed so hard already she could hardly talk. Evidently it had been S.A.C.'s Top Model that sent the entire place into gales of laughter. I'm not sure who did the modeling or what they came up with, but if laughter is the best medicine, those campers will be the healthiest they have ever been when they return home! But, with all the seriousness during the day -- devotions, workshops, even worship sessions, they balance it out with fun, hysterical times. All in good taste! Christians can have fun!!

Okay, so now it is about 11:22pm and my mind is getting foggy after keeping up with Tyler today. Actually, he has been very good (for the most part except when he wasn't too happy with a rule I had given him and he pouted for about 3 minutes). I've actually gotten quite a lot done -- more than I thought I could with a seven year old busy little guy around.

How in the world did I raise my kids? Four of them -- all of them active critters .. all going different ways and not always knowing how they would get back when they left the house. (Sound familiar??) We survived and I'm sure they will, too. It's funny that I only do well (relatively speaking) when it's one on one. Somehow when I get more than one and the dynamics completely change, it's much more of a challenge. So, I'm sure I will have movies scheduled with Kamen and RJ soon .. at least in the next month or so. And it will be over to Winter Haven again to visit the gang there which make up one half of the grandkids!

Someone who is having their first grandchild, "Isn't it great to have a grandchild?" I assured her it was but when I didn't get up and do some type of dance, I'm sure she figured out that I was a seasoned grandmother -- and that could conjure up all kinds of visions so I think I will stop and call it a night for now.

And I'm yawning so much I can't seem to see the screeen -- that's scary. Now I need to carry Tyler off to bed and he weighs a ton, it seems. Now I've gone to ramblin'!

'Nough for now .. oh, the 'bug' thing? If you see the movie, Wall-E .. I think that's how you write it out -- well, he has a pet cockroach. That may be well and good for him -- but for me, I will pass on it, thank you very much!

"Is your son-in-law old?"

I never know what to expect from Tyler who is 7 years old going on 25! He is spending the week with me while his parents direct a youth camp about an hour from here. (That's a prayer request!)

Today, out of the blue, he asked, "Nana, is your son-in-law old?" Knowing he's really into relationships, I knew he was talking about his dad.

I answered, "What do you think?"

He said, "I don't know. That's why I asked you!"