What a summer

I have not updated my "Blog" nearly as much as I thought I would.

But I will try a "catch up" post and perhaps I will stay up to date. (time will tell)

June

This was a full month of itineration in both Michigan and in Pennsylvania.
We met many new friends and got to visit with some other friends we have known for some time.

I also turned 41 on June 15 - then we had a great Fathers day with Pastors Dennis and Bonnie Saglimbene in Prudenville Michigan. We had a great missions service that morning then we went to their home for a cookout and a full day of Boating and Tubing. (most of the tubing was done by the kids - actually ALL of the tubing was done by the kids) That made me very happy!

July

This month started with Family Camp at Lost Valley - I was the Activities director for the camp and we all had a blast - I can not remember better weather for Family camp! This was a very busy time for the Thomas family but the activities and the services were Great and we got to see friends from all over the state.

Before we even got unpacked from our week of camp we went on another Pennsylvania trip

This trip included a Family wedding (My cousin Sue's daughter Gayle got married) It was a great service and reception - and we got to visit many of our cousins and family who are spread out all over the country.

We also Packed up my Mom and Dad's house in Pittsburgh and made the Big Move North. Mom and Dad had lived in that house for 34 years. Great memories. We picked a hot one to move on - well over 90 degrees. Some folks from the church came to help and we put them to work.

After we loaded up we took off to get some miles under our belt but we had a problem with the U-haul. This was a loud buzzer that kept going off for no reason.

We stopped sooner than we wanted in a less than "nice" hotel but it took dogs (mocca) so it was OK. They sent a mechanic about 5 hours later and they did not do much - so we ignored the buzzer for 10 hours the next day.

We moved Mom and Dad in on our 20th Wedding anniversary Rhonda and I have always been Flexible about dates and celebrations - so we celebrated later in the week and are still planning our 20th anniversary celebration - maybe by 25 we will do something big.

August

August 5 marked the first time we had Sunday services in 3 churches on one sunday.

10 am === 1:30 pm === and 6 pm

What a crazy day - but we made it and still yet drove home that night.

Planning for General Council -

It was Wednesday morning I got to thinking - "I should go to the gym and play basketball" then I thought - not before I travel to Indianapolis = I should just take it easy -

Then I went any way - that 41st birthday is always something that I am aware of - unless I see a "lane" - I saw a "lane" and I am sure that whatever move I thought that I was making would have looked really great - but somewhere between what I thought would happen and the floor of the gym I "sprained" my knee. The same knee that I had 2 surgeries on already. Painful and inconvienient at the same time.

I got an appointment with our Doc's office - and they pulled and poked to make sure that I could not hurt it any worse but traveling to Indianapolis.

This was Wednesday - I had to be at the airport in Grand Rapids - 100 miles away at 7am on Thursday.

The trip would have been really great - had I listened to myself - and stayed home Wednesday.

It was hard but worth it to hobble around -

Thursday - I need the brace and a cane
Friday - I just needed the brace
Saturday - Traveled back to GR - with brace
Sunday - no brace and no cane - but still not moving fast at all

It is getting better every day - there may be a tear in there somewhere - but we will let it go and see what happens.

Also in August

Bobby started Football - Pop Warner - this is fun for all of us - he is learning the game and having fun.

Bethany is playing Volleyball for CHCS = she started practice today

Rhonda is filling in for the Secretary at CHCS while she recovers from surgery.

It has been a busy summer - and this is just a bit of what has been going on.

more later.....................