A finance story

Yesterday we saw and talked with Greg and Annette, who are also on Joe's team at church and do financial counseling. Annette had a story to share. On Saturday she left a restaurant without her purse and when she went back for it, it was no where to be found. So, she lost her driver's license, other personal stuff, AND $350 cash. Now, those of us who are cash crazy STILL don't regularly carry that much cash, but she and Greg had PLANNED a day of shopping and taken out the cash to cover it. She was sick and also sad to tell Greg what she had done.

Well, I have BEEN there. I once took our food envelope to the grocery store, and lost it. I was SICK to tell Alan that all our food money for the month was gone.

But Greg told Annette the same thing Alan had told me. "Don't worry about it, honey. We have money in the emergency fund. I love you." WOW! Husbands can never understand how secure and loved that reaction makes wives feel. Annette and I marveled at the blessing in our lives and the effect on our marriage of doing our finances God's way. I wish everyone, especially Christians, understood this.

Weather Report

Hot and humid (like that is news from SC in July). OK, a better description. Humid with a hot breeze. Oh yeah, it's 6pm. How miserable is that?

Back a NewSpring today for some great worship. First anniversary of the Greenville Campus. Yeah!!

What did you do on vacation?

Well, Alan fished, of course. Four straight days. Too many fish to count. He was so happy.

My camping accomplishment was reading my friend Linda Berry's latest book - Death and the Crossed Wire. It was my favorite so far, the 6th in her Trudy Roundtree series. (Available for loan to either one of my faithful readers) She says it may be the last, but the campers pushed for #7 - Death and the Pie Iron, a Colorado camping adventure for Trudy.

Now that we are home, I am enjoying my favorite July daily sporting event - the Tour de France.

Camp Hale 2009

See what I meant by GREEN? And LOTS of water in Colorado this year. We left Thursday July 2 for 5 days at 9236ft - Camp Hale. Alan fished in this stream Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Caught numerous brown and brook trout.



A bit of change in our plans. Sarah didn't make the trip this year. Her mom had some health problems and was in the hospital in Arkansas last week, so Sarah flew there on Thursday when we left for camping. Beth and Carrie had been involved in planning all the related group activity, including meals. We fed about 72 Friday night and probably 60 Saturday night. Breakfasts were group projects too. I inherited the role of "Zaccheaus" the tax collector, prepped with my list from Sarah of all who were supposed to come, which nights, and number of campers.

One morning we prayed for syrup, because we started the French toast line with only one bottle of syrup on the table. By the time we cleaned up, everyone had had all the syrup they wanted, and we had a full bottle left. It was like the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000.

Good group of folks. I realized I had not been on this annual trip since July 4, 2005. Some things were the same. Lots of new faces in the group. Fun time reconnecting with friends and meeting new folks too. Seeing how the children have grown and become delightful people.

I especially enjoyed reading than then reviewing for the author, Linda Berry's latest mystery - Death and the Crossed Wire. I've read all 6 of her offerings in s]this Trudy Roundtree series. She says this is the last, but I'm hoping not. The group suggested she write Death and the Pie Iron, about Trudy's camping trip in Colorado.

Lush Green - this can't be Colorado!

It was a snowy winter and a rainy spring, so Colorado is lusher and greener than I ever remember seeing. Our flight on Tuesday was uneventful. Wayne picked us up at DIA and then we had lunch with him, Sarah and David at a delicious new (to us) Mexican restaurant not far from their office. Sarah and I treated ourselves to a manicure and pedicure, so I have lovely nails for camping. Yes, I know that makes no sense. Dinner at the neighborhood pizza place - Big Bill's - with left overs for lunch today. I was ready for bed early, since we had been awake since 2:30 a.m. Denver time.

Alan and I got up about 7a.m. Wayne and Sarah were long gone to work. We took a long walk on the trails in the neighborhood green space and enjoyed seeing all the wild bunnies. No coyotes recently. It's been a relaxing day, a little shopping, some cooking. It's 92 degrees, so after it cools off we will load the camper and trailers to hit the road in the morning for 5 days in the woods. I'm not so worried about it being dry now that I've seen how green Denver is. We are expecting a crowd. The grocery shopping has been extensive. Carrie says they are prepared to serve 500 meals on this camping trip. No kidding.