Mid-Summer Highlights

As I drive around I see that farmers are topping and oiling their tobacco now. As we get into hotter weather the cicadas (the annual kind) are starting to sing in the trees. I'll never forget the summer I spent as a summer missionary in Seoul, Korea. I was getting a little homesick when the cicadas began to sing in the trees there. Funny how I felt a whole lot better just hearing something familiar like that. I have always looked forward to hearing that insect every summer since then.

CLEAN UP. Aunt Mar hired a fellow to come work on her yard on Thursday, Will Haggard Chatman for those of you who know him. Vicki, the kids and I went over there and worked that afternoon after I got off work. Will had put in several hours of work and only gotten the back yard cleaned up. We helped him finish that up before dark. We came back the next afternoon and cleaned up everything in the side yard (toward the mailbox) and then today for the front yard. We are simply having to rake the entire thing and load all the twigs and stuff on my truck to haul away.

LITTLE FISH. Jenna and Ben have simply come a long way with their swimming lessons. Jenna can dive/belly flop off the diving board and swim to the edge of the pool very well. And Ben is is becoming more confident. He has always been happy to go in the water alone at the YMCA where the shallow end is essentially a concrete beach but now he is willing to walk around in the shallow end of a normal pool by himself. Swimming is a totally different picture than it was two weeks ago.

FULL STEAM AHEAD. The 35th Annual Thresherman's Show was held this weekend. I went both days to visit with Jackie's family and help out. The engine and separator were there of course and except for throwing a belt once it all ran very well (I hope I'm running that well when I'm 60-70 years old). We had really good weather for mid-July and there were lots of people at the show Saturday including Vicki, the kids, Mom and Pauline.

While I enjoyed seeing the equipment and helping out I had the most fun visiting with family. Jackie and family, I just want to say to all of you again how blessed I am to have relatives like you. I wish we lived closer together where we could see each other more frequently. In case we don't run into each other sooner I will look forward to seeing you next July.

MORE VBS. Jenna and Ben are attending Hero Quest at Cross Plains Methodist every evening this week. They seem to really enjoy it. I just want to know how it is that we can be free of two kids from 5:30 until 8:30 and the evening still gets away from us like sand through your fingers.

Joe