Rick Nier...Woo!

Wow! What a weekend! I got away for a couple of days with the family. We went up to Amish country and found, of all things, a hotel with a water park inside of it. I guess no one told the Amish what they were gonna do with that old pole barn once it was up. For one night's stay, we took the kids into the water park twice. Slides and hoses and a lazy river. The kids loved it. We loved it. Here were the highlights. 1. There was this giant bucket that dumped when it filled with about 150 gallons of water. There was a bell that would signal it was about to dump. Luke became like one of Pavlov's dogs. Every time he heard the bell he ran for cover. 2. I was videotaping Jacie cross a small pool that had several lily pads for kids to hop across on. When she saw me taping her, she stopped, posed, and the proceeded to miss the next jump. Watching her hit the padded edge of the pool and go backwards made me laugh. Later, when I showed Jen, we watched it several times, laughing each time.

I gotta tell you, it's been quite a weekend. I wasn't aware that weekends should be that late, or that full of stuff. Let's see how succinct I can put it. setting up an internet site finsishing prep for youth group on Sunday night lunch with two way cool college freshmen handing out root beer floats 3 hours of church on Sunday morning, another 5 that night That doesn't even count bouncing children on a trampoline and catching some football games and a late night episode of House. But it's not like I get a cape or anything like that. I just call it a day. Just a day.

Busyness is not next to godliness. I've never believed it. Yet somehow, I find myself saying, 'perhaps on another day' to things that I desire to do. Playing tennis, taking days off, reading a novel.... It is an interesting dichotomy when you find yourself knowing how to manage a life and yet finding oneself unable to actually apply the knowledge. Oh well, I've got more thoughts to describe, but no time now....perhaps on another day.

Yesterday was Jen and Jacie's birthdays, so on Friday, Jacie invited over 5 friends for a princess slumber party. 3 stayed the night. We figured we'd let them stay up until 9pm, then put in a movie, and they'd fall asleep during the movie. (We're so very foolish.) That didn't happen. So, after the movie, they talked and they giggled and Jen and I took turns hushing them and explaining it was late. As if they didn't know. They informed us of their plan to stay up until midnight. (Why did we teach them to tell time?) we told them no (dramatic pause) So, at midnight, we decide to put in another movie. At least they'll close their mouths, right? The house was finally quiet by 1am...and then they woke up at 7:30am! What do these princesses live on? Oh well, the weekend is over and we now have peace once again. Peace should not be taken literally since this is still my house with 3 crazy children.

Lately, I cannot seem to get Psalm 118:24 out of my mind. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I've had some long days recently. Who hasn't, right? But each day is a new gift from God. I think it helps that Lincoln Brewster has a high-speed song out right now that uses this verse for a hook. But whatever, it has served as a good reminder to me. Here's to today! Thanks, Jesus, for this gift.

Yesterday we celebrated the past year at our church. I have lots of weird memories, of which stripping in church has to top the list. But overall, the memories are good. This is despite certain disappointments and things not moving as quickly as I think they can. I think Robert Benchley was right when he wrote “Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.” But I also think it’s more than that. I look back and I can see where we’ve come from. So I look forward with hope, knowing that all is possible with God. But here’s what I said I will remember most from this past year; Most of all, I remember a senior class from this past year. The first class that I saw from the start of their youth group career, to the end. I remember late nights spent talking and listening to them. I remember early mornings at Prayer Breakfast. I remember praying that they wouldn’t make certain choices, and then helping them fix it when they did. I remember seeing the light bulbs click on

Have you ever thought about the phrase, 'I had a long day'? Aren't all our days 24 hours long? It's really all about how we feel about how much we've stuffed into them. But the length of day doesn't change. I have days that I fill from top to bottom...it lasts 24 hours. I have days when I do nothing productive...for 24 hours. I think much wind pours from our mouths without us thinking much about what we are actually saying. Having said all that...I've had some really long days lately. I hope I can make it to the light at the end of this tunnel.

I don't know who came up with Labor Day. I don't need to know. But here's to you. There is something about not actually accomplishing anything tangible. Yes, I played with my children. That's a great blessing. Yes, I beat a couple of teams on NBA Live '06. All in a day's non-work. But, now what am I supposed to do with tomorrow?