Off to the Beach

A lovely view of Gulf Shores, Alabama where I am headed in the next five minutes. Ahhhh...See you in about a week. Maybe. If I decide to come back to Texas. Or not.

San Diego in Photos - Heading Home

Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial

Looking out over a very hazy San Diego

The band left the group and headed to the airport via Anthony's Fish Grotto. Oh my goodness, the week-long wait for seafood was worth it! We had shrimp cocktail, fried fish, fried shrimp and coleslaw with creamy pineapple dressing. My mouth is watering just thinking about that food.

Me and the guys in the band

Steve - drums, Jono - bass, Phil - director, Mike - guitar
Love these guys!

San Diego in Photos - Concerts

Alas, since I am in the band, it is very difficult for me to take pictures during concerts. I will have to beg some from friends. Our first concert on Wednesday at The Bridge Church in San Marcos was fantastic. The kids sang so beautifully! Here they are eating "on the road."

Here's a little after concert celebration --
dancing to "California" by Hawk Nelson.
First line of the song says, "Let's pack up and move to California!"

This is my view during each concert. Exciting, huh?

Here's our wonderful tech crew moving the stage
for probably a 3rd time, due to the crazy antics of California red tape.
This was before our first Thursday concert.

There was also a concert on the beach, somewhere, that I did not go to because electronics were not allowed. Well...!(said in a huffy voice) Our final concert in Cali was at College Avenue Baptist Church, our home for the week. Cool breezes made it a very pleasant outdoor event.

We had several concerts canceled due to previously mentioned red tape and other issues. And the band missed the first one due to airport delays. However, the ones we did were GREAT! And, we have one more left on Sunday, July 26. Can't wait to rock the house at Wedgwood on Sunday night.

San Diego in Photos - La Jolla Shores, Tuesday Afternoon

We spent a fun afternoon at La Jolla Beach. Most everyone went kayaking, while a few of us sat on the beach and enjoyed the sun. The water felt cold to me, so I only dipped my toes in briefly. As the sun started to go down, we enjoyed a barbecue picnic on the grassy lawn. We actually had to pull out our jackets before we got on the bus. Yea! Finally some of that cool California weather we had been hearing about.

San Diego in Photos - Monday thru Thursday Mornings

Monday through Thursday mornings found us on the road by 7:30 a.m. with lunches packed and heading to our work assignments. We partnered with two churches, Fellowship of San Diego and Pacific View Church, to host sports camps. I spent the week at Upward Soccer and Cheerleading Camps while Rebecca coached at Upward Basketball Camp.

As you can see, it was a rough four mornings for me,
supervising soccer and cheerleading in this location.

San Diego in Photos - Sunday, Monday

Our home away from home

These gorgeous flowers were everywhere!

During downtime on Sunday night,

Katherine set up a tattoo shop and made a little money.

Rebecca played ball.

View of downtown from the van on the way to the beach

Coronado Beach

Glittery, golden sand
(enlarge picture to see sparkle)

The water was so cold! Rebecca got in.

We ended the evening with two bonfires, grilled hamburgers,
roasted marshmallows and praise songs.

Planes, Buses and Kayaks...Or, A Week in San Diego

I've been thinking about how to summarize the mission trip to San Diego. There are so many pictures to choose from and I can easily see myself sitting at my desk spending hours on just one post. In words, it was a crazy, hectic, non-sleeping, frustrating, exciting, hard week. In pictures, it was much better. Many things that were hoped for/planned simply didn't happen. Many things did. All in all, 24 people accepted Christ as their Savior, one of them from our group. We give God the glory for that, and ask you to continue to pray for San Diego. They seemingly have everything in the world (money, things) and yet are so lost in their sin.

Here's a little schedule recap:

7/9 - 7/11 -- Buses left Fort Worth and arrived in San Diego, via Odessa, TX and Tucson, AZ

7/11 -- The band was delayed at the airport and missed the first concert.

7/12 -- Worship at Fellowship of San Diego -- Awesome! Evening plans canceled, so downtime at College Ave. Baptist Church, our home away from home. Worked in separate groups to plan the week.

7/13 - 7/16 mornings -- 7:30 a.m. head out to various activities of the week: Upward Basketball Camp, Upward Soccer, Upward Cheerleading, Recreation Camp, and two work groups.

7/13 - 7/16 evenings -- beach, kayaking, concerts

7/17 - Clean up church, pack and visit Mount Soledad, a memorial to veterans, and the highest point in San Diego, then band heads for the airport and buses start out for Tucson. Band arrives home around 11:30 p.m.

7/18 -- after 18 hours on the road, buses arrive at Wedgwood Baptist Church at 2:30 a.m.

7/26 -- Home Concert: Wedgwood - 6 p.m. Don't Miss It!

Salt and Light in San Diego

San Diego, California -- What I know about this city could fill a thimble; however, I do know this one thing. On Saturday afternoon, July 11 this city is going to be invaded by a group of about 90 teenagers from Fort Worth, Texas who are excited about being salt and light in the world.

I put Katherine and Rebecca on a bus today headed to San Diego, via Odessa, Texas and Tucson, Arizona. On Saturday, I fly out to California to join them. We have a full week scheduled: indoor and outdoor concerts, soccer camps, basketball camps, cheerleading camps, recreation camps and work activities. We could definitely use prayer coverage from today through July 18 when we return home. Specifically:

1. Our witness would lead to many accepting Christ.
2. We would help churches reach out to their lost communities through our activities.
3. Pray for all technical aspects of the production: sound, lighting, equipment
4. I have an injured pinkie finger that is really hurting. (I am the keyboard player and every now and then I need that finger.)
5. Protection from sickness and distraction of our purpose.

Also, Abigail is travelling to Kerrville with the LIT's on Saturday. Pray they would be a light to the children there as they serve in apartment ministries with backyard Bible clubs.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Champs!

And, in an even bigger win on July 6th, Rebecca's volleyball team took home the Pantego Summer League championship. They fought hard to claim the title, and they did it with only five players. Way to go!

Sunday Night at the Ballpark

It was a lovely night for baseball on July 5th. We had free tickets to see the Rangers, and no church scheduled, so we headed to The Ballpark in Arlington. There were a few drops of rain while we were eating, but then the clouds parted and it was perfect. The temp was 80 degrees at gametime. We stuffed ourselves full of hot dogs, french fries, pretzels, cotton candy, and $1 ice cream. Ahh...the good ol' American pastime -- stuffing yourselves with food full of preservatives and artificial flavors. Yum!






And, the Rangers won. How about that? Thanks to Katherine for the great photos.

Heavenly Hydrangeas

Their perfection astounds me. Each tiny detail woven artistically together to create a vision of beauty. If I lived in a part of Texas where hydrangeas actually grew well, they would cover my yard. As it is, I manage to eke out a few small bushes with a few flowers every year. If I could grow them lavender blue, I would probably weep with satisfaction. Alas...I have never successfully changed the content of my soil to change my pinks blue. Maybe one day...

In their many stages of growth, each shade of pink delights me.

NEW GROWTH

FADING COLOR

COLOR ALMOST GONE

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect. ~Adabella Radici