Tim had a great time at camp... his coach says the two college coaches there both approached him to express interest in having Tim consider playing for them. He had an especially-good game in the all-star scrimmage with the Gardner-Webb U players... 
Johnny Depp's portrayal of John Dillinger was OK, getting to spend time with my daughter... priceless!
Grace and I got out to Atlantic Beach this morning... these times will grow increasingly more precious as the school year cranks up for both of us! I'm back in Gainesville now; Tim and I leave in the morning for the start of his soccer team camp at Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC); Kara will be in Asheville Sunday-Wednesday for a little father-daughter time... how cool is that?
These two had a friendship that endured 20 years of living in different cities, even countries... so how much of a challenge can it be to get to know Grace when all that separates us are 463 miles of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas? I'll be making that drive after work today (on the way to pick up Tim from Gainesville); she plans to be in Asheville the week before teacher pre-planning next month... (picture: July 2006)
Grace's oldest (Bonnie) and mine (Kara) vacationed together 21 years ago! 
Grace's mom served in China as a missionary right after WWII, was driven out in 1949 during the communist takeover and her children (Jonathan & Grace) were born in Hong Kong; they are pictured in March 1960 headed back to the States...
Tim "monkeying around" on Orlando's oldest tree (estimated to have been a sapling in the 17th century)... it's branches are so long and massive that some now rest on the ground. We also spent a little time in the Orlando Science Center...
Here we are at "Aunt Susie's" in the middle of a rousing game of "golf"... Tim won this round on the last hand. (L2R) Mike, Susie, Tim, Kailey & Nicholas (Mike's kids) and "G-Mom".
These are my sister Betsy, her in-laws, husband (Mike) and children (Ryan and Nicole) in Plains, GA a couple of years ago... 
My apologies to my faithful readers... Tim and I have been in Florida since Friday evening visiting family and friends in Gainesville, Orlando and Jax... Below is our crew at EPCOT this afternoon. 
Dinner with Lana's family last night...
Great service is not as easy to come by these days as one might hope... Tim and I have been delighted with what we have gotten from our dentist, Chad Rinehart. He is professional, personable and available at the time of our scheduled appointments... I recommend him wholeheartedly to all who live in the Asheville area. 
Why the picture of my tub, you ask? Well, it's simple actually... Tim is at a friend's house working on his research paper 'til 10:00, I had a couple of new magazines to read, rarely have a free evening during the school year, have a few bumps and bruises that were crying out for a "warm soak" and hadn't used the tub in months!
You'll have to trust me when I say that the trail was beautiful and peaceful this afternoon... I hike with my cell phone (in case Tim or Kara needs me for anything); tried (in vain) to capture some of that on "film" (does the term still apply to digital photos?)
Pastor Bruce did a phenomenal job honoring the men and women who are currently serving in our armed forces, our veterans, the "founding fathers" of our country, and God, Who has so blessed us through the years... I wonder if living outside the country 16 years has given me a keener appreciation for those blessings or if all Americans recognize them...
Bill & Ginny Pierson host a party for the neighborhood (and a few other invited guests) every Fourth of July, and they do it up right! I counted 50-60 people... great food, fellowship and fireworks! 
My mission team from ACA got to have dinner with him and a tour of his office in 2007! Here he is with recent graduate, Adam Johnson... at the time he was Vice-Mayor of Managua and a most gracious host; he was raised in a poor neighborhood on the west side of the capital, and used his success in the ring to study in the US and become fluent in English. He is considered a national hero.
I mentioned Jim Palmer (pictured here with Lana's dear friend, his loving wife Viola) in the list of my "mission mentors" on Sunday. I don't know that there is anyone this side of Heaven that I hold in higher regard... he is a man of the highest integrity who has lived a lifetime of devotion to God, to his wife, son and daughter (both of whom he raised on the mission field in Honduras and Nicaragua), and to the people God has put in his path. He's also likely responsible for Tim's interest in pacemakers (he's had one in his chest for the past 10 years or so).
