off to Southern California...

...Susie and I headed out last Wednesday with our 18 year old and youngest son to SW Oklahoma where he was meeting up with two others, to drive out as he moves to Southern California...tough to say the least...however, the purpose of this note is to mention my other children and how they were concerned about their brother who they fight with, may not talk to alot, and sometimes even argue with and get mad at....they certainly asked about Kramer but two of them blessed me...I was certainly touched as I walked into the kitchen the morning we were leaving...saw a note there with his name on it that one of his sbilings had written...assuming it was from his younger sister, when I asked him about it he said it was from Cooper, our 21 year old son...needless to say my heart was pleased (with a few tears) that Cooper had taken the time to write and share with Kramer his heart...don't know what it said but I know it was kind and thoughtful...our 17 year old then called to see if we had left...she was crying and ended up coming back home from school to say goodbye...tough on her as well...we miss having him around the house...on the other hand we are proud of Kramer, we know that he will do well, make wise decisions, and have fun...better do it now because as you get older and have more responsibility it is more diffcult to just go and do...we will go out in a month or so and see what he is up to....a bit more difficult to let Kramer go as there seems to be somewhat more of a finality to his moving, not the same as sending one to college knowing they will be back in the summer...Kramer is probably our most sensitive child, takes our hearts with his humor and joking around...glad that he is confident and secure that he can take this step of faith and move 1300 miles from home....we hope he does his laundry...

FCA at the house!

last Wednesday night we had the Jenks High School FCA at the house...Quincy is an officer in FCA and had asked if she could have FCA at the house, they have a gathering every week during the school year...of course she said, they would be outside and would only need to come inside to use the restroom...no problem, just no horseplay and you cannot be throwing people in the pool, do not put the trampoline by the pool and try to, well you know plus do not try to get 38 people in the hot tub...anyway, we have been out on Wednesday nights and by chance a few times in the last few years have driven by the location where FCA is held and the cars are parked for several blocks...anyway, we were expecting 75 to 100 high school students...then what happens it rains...Dad, "is it okay if we have it inside." "what?" "there won't be that many kids there." "okay, I guess"...if you have been to our neighborhood you know the streets are pretty narrow and you cannot park on both sides of the street or you run the risk of someone hitting your vehicle trying to navigate through and there is certainly no way that an emergency vehicle could get through...Wednesday night is here, where do I find myself?...outside in the drizzle, directing traffic... "you cannot park there, everybody has to park on this side" "straight in there please" when I said this, what did I hear? "yes sir" "thank you" "not a problem" got everybody parked then I headed toward the house...walked in the door, what did I see? shoes and more shoes as you see in the picture...what did I hear, approximately 80 students in our living room and kitchen sitting then standing shoulder to shoulder (picture to the left) with very little room to move...they had moved a couple of pieces of furniture out...as they stood I heard a mix of voices singing praise songs that literally almost brought me to tears...I was touched and blessed!...one of those WOW moments, it was sweet...then Andrew Money from Tulsa K-Life shared for about 15 minutes encouraging these 15 to 18 year olds to fall in love with Jesus...they were quiet and attentive...good times...I did not hear any complaining, negative comments, or any foul language...as they left, they thanked us and were very polite...I saw a group of students that as a bystander I was proud of, as a parent I glowed, and as a believer they touched my heart...thanks Jenks FCA students, you blessed my wife and I..we are proud that Quincy is involved with FCA, surrounded by many who will grow to be great leaders of tomorrow...Jenks FCA..you are welcome back to our home anytime, and yes, you can come inside...we already knew it as many of these kids and others have always been welcome in our home...but Jenks High School has halls full of great students....parents, teachers, and administrators alike should be proud...I am!

up to a buck eighty

yep...a week ago Satuday running with Lucy and chasing Susie...after we finished, Lucy, my 4-legged girl friend and I were walking across Riverside to Starbucks and I found the most mangled, bent penny that I have ever picked up...$1.70 now...then last Friday, Derrick and I were running east on 91st between Mingo & 169 and I found a dime (easier to find coins when you are running in the middle of the street, some call it the turn lane..we think it is a running path), I was grateful that Derrick got up early and ran with me on his day off...I appreciate him...now sitting at $1.80...I need someone to drop some paper so I can get this number up a bit higher...before I started keeping track of the running coins I did find a five dollar bill in the middle of the trail just off of Riverside under a bridge a couple of years ago as I ran...a five dollar bill at the car wash at about 80th & Memorial, IMO best car wash in town...one thing I do is, walk through and look for coins that have been left accidentally above the coin drops, I know I am cheap but I do it and have found quite a few coins, mostly quarters at various car washes...and yes I pick up pennies, especially near the vaccums...again, at the car wash at 8oth & Memorial here in Tulsa quarters will often be dropped in the drain that runs the length of the car wash but they will get stopped up on dirt or debris that is visible through the grate...FYI, you can lift these grates off and get the coins...yes, I lift the grates and get me a quarter(s) then replace the grate...have not figured out how to do this without getting my jeans wet on the knee...go ahead, laugh at me I can take it...