Anniversary Weekend in Kansas City

Last weekend we had a great anniversary trip to Kansas City. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza and played a round of golf.

Anniversary

29 Years ago on July 25, 1981, Debbie and I were married at the Broken Arrow Church of Christ in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, by one of our best friends our Educational Minster at the Church Kent Hall who now lives in Nashville. It was a hot day! The temperature reached 108 degrees. When they threw rice at us it cooked on the pavement. It was a very special day with many great moments and memories. Debbie was simply beautiful! I looked pretty good in my white tails and tux, looked like the good Humor Ice Cream Man! Deb, thanks for putting up with me the past 29 years. Looking forward to the next 29.

Locked Out Mike?

Fair Week

The Cherokee County Fair is this week in Columbus. Plenty of good food and family fun. I love the pigs!

Weekend

We took Craig to Tulsa to visit the grandparents and fly back to New York City over the weekend. We had a great time. Craig started his new job yesterday.

Craig Leaves for NYC

We have enjoyed having Craig home for the past week. He heads back to NYC to begin his new job and finish his senior year of college. Craig we love you!

Famous Dave's

Great to be Dave at Famous Dave's!

Storm

The storm that went over Cherokee County last night was a huge system. We saw the funnel cloud driving south of Baxter Springs. We headed north to Crestline then to Columbus. We got home before the 2 inch rain began. Deb and Craig were taking pictures.

Craig is Home

We picked Craig up at the new Branson Airport on Saturday morning. We enjoyed our day in Branson and Silver Dollar City. Craig has a busy week planned.

Prediction

The Miami Heat will NOT win the NBA Championship in 2011.

Craig Arrives Saturday

We pick up Craig on Saturday morning in Branson. He is flying in to the new Branson Airport from New York City. He will be here about a week then fly back next Sunday.

Brian and Allison leave tomorrow morning for Garnett.

The Weekend

Columbus had a great fireworks show last night around 9:30. Brian and Allison arrived right at the start of the show. Since the trees have been removed south of our house we have a great spot to watch the festivities. Deb had chicken enchiladas ready to eat and we enjoyed the cool weather as we watched the show and several in the area.

The concert on Sunday was cancelled in Branson so I decided to continue painting on my new shed after church. I washed the vehicles as well. And cut the grass. Also took a load of brush to the burn pile. I Slept pretty good.

Today, we fixed Lon's BBQ Smoked Turkey from Topeka and his famous cheesy potatoes. Corn on the cob, baked beans, fresh peaches, home made ice cream and home made cherry cobbler. The cherries came from Frank Merseman in Osage City.

A movie tonight in Joplin with the kids will end the fun weekend.

We sure missed Craig, mom, dad, Mike, Doreen and Emma. We hope to have a Back to School Bash at the end of the summer.

Happy 4th of July

Painting Supervisor

4th of July Weekend

We have a busy weekend planned. After work today, I hope to finish painting my new shed. We have experienced some great weather this week. Saturday, if I get my mower back (oil leak), I need to cut the grass and trim some trees. I hope to powerwash the house as well. Sunday after church I'm taking Debbie to an afternoon concert in Branson. We will drive back to Columbus that evening and wait for Brian and Allison and celebrate the 4th. Monday we eat and hopefully have some time to fish. Wish mom and dad, Craig, Mike, Doreen and Emma could join us but it has been a different kind of summer with dads surgery and Debs as well. We hope to have a Back to School Bash the end of July.

Year One

Today marks my first year anniversary in USD 493 Columbus. It has been a difficult year with decreased budgets, but one that we hope have made a difference for the better. We look forward to year two and the positive changes we hope to accomplish as we help the children of Columbus.

Thought for the Day

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind.

Psalm 33:11-13

Happy Birthday Allison

Happy Birthday to a special young lady. We love your heart and laughter. May God continue to bless you in everything you do.

Debbie Eye Surgery

We are in Lawrence this morning for Debbie to have eye surgery. We would appreciate your prayers.

Budget Workshop

My Board Clerk Susan Wells and I leave at 6:00 a.m. for Topeka to attend the annual Kansas State Department of Education Budget Workshop. It's hard to believe another fiscal year is about to begin.

More Vacation Pics

Pics of Cherokee Trails in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Happy Father's Day

We enjoyed visiting with both our father's on Saturday in Broken Arrow. We really love them and appreciate them.

My dad is improving daily. We enjoyed walking at Walmart on Saturday morning and taking a drive to one of our favorite courses for a little site seeing. I'm looking forward to fall when dad and I can play golf once again. That is priceless!

Happy Father's Day!

Vacation

We enjoyed our summer golf vacation. It was hot, dry and high humidity. Just how I like it.

We left Eureka Springs on Thursday morning and headed to NW Arkansas to play a course that I have heard about for a long time. We played golf at Farmington, Arkansas, at Valley View Golf Club.

It was a nice 18 hole course set in the Ozark Mountains. The front nine was a links course and the back nine was played in the hills and canyons. It was a difficult back nine but enjoyable.

After the golf we headed to the Illinois River to cool off. Debbie and I had visited the Illinois about 25 years ago. It brought back some great memories. We stayed in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Thursday night.

Friday, we played golf at Cherokee Trails a beautiful nine hole course on the Cherokee Indian grounds in Tahlequah. We really enjoyed the course. It had rolling hills and large fairways that were well irrigated. We enjoyed visiting with the golf pro about the history of the course.

After the golf we headed to Tulsa for dinner and the night at my parents.

Vacation

We are in Day 5 of our summer vacation.

Day 1 of our vacation was spent in SW Missouri. I had always wanted to visit a couple of areas close to Joplin but had not had a chance to see. After a trip to Walmart in Joplin we were off to the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri. It was a beautiful place. We enjoyed the mile hike around the trails. We toured the lake, the house and cemetery. The Visitor's Center gave a great history on Carver's life.

The next stop was Roaring River State Park. We enjoyed the tour of the fish hatchery and walking the river. The spring and cave was impressive as well. I bet there were a thousand people on the river fishing on Saturday afternoon.

Our next stop was Branson. We enjoyed some shopping and a late movie. I took Deb to see "Letters to Juliet", a chick flick. She enjoyed it.

On Sunday, we enjoyed our usual trip to the Branson Church of Christ where Brian and Allison met us for worship. After worship we went shopping and ate a great Italian meal at Florentinos. It's a new restaurant on Green Mountain Road behind the Radisson Hotel. We then went to see the Haygoods' show. It was very good. After the show Brian had to have Maggie Moo's. Wish I hadn't ate all that chocolate. The caffeine kept me up all night.

Monday we spent at Silver Dollar City. It wasn't very crowded and not too hot. After we left we had pizza by the pool and the played mini golf before turning in for the night.

Debbie and I got up on Tuesday and headed to Berryville, Arkansas, to play golf at our favorite course, Carroll County Country Club. We played 36 holes. Brian and Allison hit the Titanic exhibit in Branson before heading home. We spent the night at our usual motel in Eureka Springs, the Apple Blossom Inn.

Today we played golf again at Berryville then hit Bubbas BQ for dinner. We played 40 holes of golf before a rain shower came through cooling things down.

Tomorrow we head towards NW Arkansas.

Dad is Home

Good news dad was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. He is recuperating at home. Getting stronger every day.

Update

Dad is finally improving. He hopes to be released from the hospital over the weekend. My mom is still hanging in there. She has been a great support for him. I can't wait to play golf with him in about 60 days.

On another note, please pray for my former college basketball coach, Dale Neal, who had a heart attack on Memorial Day. He is recovering in Tennessee.

Update on my Father

The past two weeks have been difficult and very busy. With my father having heart bypass surgery on May 21, and then having stomach surgery yesterday afternoon, the past 2 weeks have been agonizing for the family.

On a good note, dad was able to leave ICU this afternoon and go back to the fifth floor at St Johns Hospital in Tulsa. According to Debbie he even sat up in bed and watched the news. Watching the world news right now would make anyone sick! Especially if you have BP stock!

He has a long road ahead. No food for a week. Then about 2-3 weeks recovery time in the hospital. We appreciate your continued prayers on his behalf. God has really been with him throughout this entire challenge.

Prayers Needed

My dad is having more surgery at this time. I am in Tulsa sitting with mom. Please pray for him.