Week One

Reflections on week one:

- Getting ready to leave on our vacation in one day felt like it took a week.

- Driving across the country with Julie is awesome.

- Getting a sabbatical as a student ministry pastor is a HUGE BLESSING!

- iPod video with every song I own...priceless.

- iPod video with kids favorite episodes of their favorite cartoon shows...even more priceless.

- iPod video connected into minivan DVD player playing those shows...even even more priceless.

- The Olson's car top carrier is huge!

- I am so thankful for my leaders at home who are standing the gap while I am gone.

- Bringing the bikes and scooters along have allowed the boys to play all day.

- Loved watching Noah take batting practice from Spencer Absher.

- Josiah playing croquet was priceless.

- Adah hates sleeping in the minivan and wants to eat the entire time.

- Salina, Kansas Days Inn - The indoor pool was 62 degrees.

- Disconnecting from Southern Gables - had to answer a few questions but truly felt like I spent most of the week not thinking about what I was missing.

- Getting the prayer email - I am getting the weekly prayer email for our ministry and I love it.

- McDonald's - Each kid got a free happy meal gift certificate for their birthday!

- Culver's - so good!

- Buying Harry Potter - Julie and Jen went to Walmart at 12:01 a.m.

- Charlie's Chicago style pizza - simply amazing.

- Miles - somewhere around 1,300.

- Chuch at Northwoods Community Church - My kids loved it and Julie and I enjoyed seeing another church and experiencing worship with the Dean's.

- It was great to see Craig and his kids and hear about what's going on with the Harvest Students.

- Corn in Illinois - I thought there was a lot of corn in Kansas...NOPE! Everywhere we went there was corn in Illinois.