The Monday after a few days of vacation, especially when I was gone on Sunday, are always an interesting mix of joy at being back at it again and wishing for a few more days away. I think my laptop is having trouble getting back into the routine as well. Maybe because I shut it off on Thursday morning when we left town and didn’t turn it back on until this morning. As for my musings … 

-We went to see and spend some time with my dad, stepmom, brother and sister in law, stepsister and her husband and a few other family members over the weekend. The trip is a little over 6 hours each way.

-It was a wonderful weekend.

-2 of my daughters and 5 of my grandkids joined us for this little family time. One of my daughters came to our place and we rode together with her 20 month old and 5 month old girls. They made traveling a lot more fun. My other daughter and her 3 kids, ages 9, 6 and 4 met us there. Needless to say we were never lacking energy (from the kids) or entertainment.

-My Dad had not met the 3 youngest members of the clan. That was fun to witness. My stepmom played piano at the request of the great grandkids and the 20 month old accompanied her and danced to the tunes. Now that is entertainment. 

-I was able to sit and worship with my Dad yesterday morning. I haven’t been able to do that very many times. He pastored for 44 years before he retired and I have been pastoring for 33 years. The last time he and I sat together in a service was at my son’s Ordination service 6 or 7 years ago.

-It sounds like things went very well here while I was gone. That gives me great joy. I was not concerned one bit and that enabled me to have a very relaxing and refreshing time away.

-It appears that the services went well at both of my churches and that the attendance was reasonable at both as well. I have already gotten 2 unsolicited praises about the message our new Assistant Pastor preached, 1 from each church.

-We are beginning Vacation Bible School at my 10:30 church tonight. The place looks incredible. The VBS is entitled “Cave Quest” and our whole building is decorated to look like caves. We have waterfalls, a boat, rocks everywhere, bats flying, and other critters watching from many of the walls. We also have several adults and some teens who are excited and ready for the students to arrive tonight. 

-My 9:00 church will begin their VBS in 3 weeks. People are furiously making plans and getting things ready.

-It is always interesting to me how visiting another church nearly always makes me miss my churches and people.

-It was different to sit through an entire worship service and not have any part in it.

-I also found that Sunday morning before worship begins is really long when I am not getting ready to preach. I got up 2 hours later than I normally do on a Sunday and still felt that there was a lot of time until church. How do you do that every week? That would take some getting used to for me.

-My son, daughter (in law) and 5 grandkids will arrive in the States in 9 days!!!! After 3 years in Kenya.

-It appears that we are going to have a weekend with all 18 of us together, my wife and I, our 3 children and our in law kids and 10 grandkids at our house for a couple of days. I am really pumped about that and wondering how my wife and I will contain our joy when it does take place. 

Here’s hoping that you find some joy in your day and that you pass it on. I need to go make sure the critters in the building are behaving.

Dennis