Well for the life of me, I cant seem to figure out what happened to my Title. Seems I am locked out of it now and can't add anything. Oh well - I am title less from now on unless I get it figured out. But I guess its a mood point - kind of like judging a book by its cover right?

Well I had a good work day today. Hated the alarm clock this morning but a good day afterwards. Lots of things going on but I look forward to getting them done and moving on to the next thing. Kind of like enjoying my ministry for God and serving those around me. I look forward to each opportunity to serve our God in these opportunities that He is opening for me, my family, the loved ones in my life and my church family.
Our church mission trip to Daytona is underway. Please keep the leaders, guardians and the kids in your prayers this week. Pray they all are led by what God is doing through this ministry - our church and under our care of our awesome pastors.
I am off to Honda tonight to get some work done on the "E". I hate the wait but enjoy looking at the new vehicles. I will bring my Ipod and get a sermon in - I know "Geek".
I have been thinking about 2 things the last few days..... one to challenge my Rock Group members to carry God with them everywhere they go for a week. Bring your bible - your Ipod - a Christian book to read at lunch time - a Christian magazine - whatever that includes God's word in it. When we carry Gods word with us, I think we will have a better understanding of where and how God fits into our lives each day and in each circumstance. I would love to hear what God does that week you do this. The other thing I am thinking about - is a Rock Group for new folks at our church. Maybe having a Startup Rock Group that meets like 3 times or so over the course of a month and half..... and introduce them to Rock Groups - Rocky River style. If they like it and want to join - they can get plugged into a group or if they are led to lead, I am sure they can do that. If they can't at the time commit - well thats fine also.
Just some things rolling in my head......
I also wrote 3 letters today to some of my kids from Kyles class last year. I am very excited to hear back from them. With Carol taking special care to invite all the kids from the class that she has contact info for - I hope VBS at church this year will be lots of fun! With lots of smiling faces... including mine. Thats something neat I am really praying for.
Well - almost done with work today..... a good day back at it. Glory to God - even at work -MY Mission field. I have accepted that........and love it.

God's Best,
Randy~

Well back to work tomorrow. In many ways I am looking forward to it. I am not looking forward to hearing the alarm clock going off but getting back into the groove is ok with me. I have a busy week this week coming up with many projects happening and also putting in some serving time. Tonight our rock group minus Mike and his family all went to University Place and listened to the music there. They had a band playing some good music and by the time we left - the place was packed. Guess when the sun goes down - thats a song I have heard somewhere!

Anyways - it was lots of fun being with everyone. Enjoy the picture!

The Lord has put this family together to enjoy times just like these - to remind us that we don't have to do things alone - there are people around us who love us and pray for each other. Their kids are my kids and there is nothing I would not do for anyone in this family. My Rock Group - what a blessing to take part in something so COOL!!!!

Today's message about honoring our parents really hit home for me. Pastor JImmy had some great things to remind us with and to also teach us something new. One thing I realized is - Yes I have not forgotten my promises to my mom - but I need to do a better job with my dad - my brothers - my aunt Sharon and Uncle Buster - my Sister Patty and her side of the family. I have yet to even meet the love of her life already!!! Whats up with that? Anyways - my grandmothers wont be around forever and I need to sit with them more - pray for them more - and listen to them more. Its hard being 2 hours or so away from everyone - but I know I can do better at phone calls and emails than I have been doing.

So that is where I am today.... God showing me so many things and reminding me of others.

Like I said ~ busy week ahead. God will lead the way... and I am sure He will show me something along His path.

Love you all,

Randy~

Saturday night. Wow how things have changed over the years. Carol and I used to be tearing up the town but tonight - Kyle is up the street at his friends house - Carol is on the phone with my dad and I am feeling more blessed than anyone right now! I have to share - I got a letter from one of my KIDS today!!! I wrote her a letter a few weeks ago after praying over what to write for over a week and she wrote back to me! How exciting is that? I hope to write all my kids before the summer is over and to also include our R2C2 VBS program with an invite in there - that way I will get to see them as well towards the end of the month. I am looking forward to the plans that Carol puts together with Kyles friends this week. I look forward to seeing both Madisons this week!
Well - vacation is almost over - but its been a good vacation! I am serving 11:00 Sunday school tomorrow with Carol and serving breakdown. I so much look forward to seeing everyone. Catching up with Dawn, Heather and David and seeing how their vacation was the week before. I look forward to hearing from Dan and his family on their vacation to Disney World and I hope I see Mike and his family tomorrow. We have a special evening planned for Rock group over at University Place with the music in the park. Hope we can all go..... well anyways - life is good and I am especially excited that folks want to go to the cabin - we have shared with a few folks that they can go to our getaway place - because God has blessed us with such a great place and Carol and I are both excited that good friends - people we love - are going to take us up on the offer to go and stay a few days with their families. May the Lord bless you all during this time guys!! Carol and I are so excited about this that you can't even imagine.
Church will be awesome tomorrow.... Honoring Your Mother and Father! I can feel a tear already with the message because my mom is with Jesus and my dad is slowly coming into things as he finds himself. Its because of my mom - I am where I am today - Jesus uses circumstances and people in our lives to get our attention. My mom was my attention getter..... my life changed direction..... and Jesus saved me. How can I not feel blessed? Passing along those blessings to those around me... that BUZ I keep talking about?
I had it today........and got caught during it! Still pretty cool :)
love you all,
Randy~

Up and Down the creek...

We have had a great couple of days at the cabin. Vacation finally - I can sleep past 8AM! You know I am rested and relaxed - even the dogs sleep in and lounge all day. Last night we took both dogs down to Ostin Creek and Payton actually went swimming. Adger still wants his feet on the bottom but I dragged him across the creek anyways - it was right up under his neck! Too funny..... yesterday we did something we have always wanted to do. We took the canoe out to the lake and ventured into the Ostin Creek basin of the lake. There are some pretty houses there and we actually canoed all the way to the bridge. Wilderness at its finest through there. Pretty neat looking up at the house from the water - we even canoed right up on a deer that was getting a drink. We didnt catch much fish but we swam - laughed - got to see a bald eagle - swam some more... it was lots of fun. We spent about 6 hours on the canoe and even ventured past the Ostin Creek basin and further down the lake. Furthest we have even been. Still have not seen the entire lake but its pretty none the less. Glad the batteries held out. We are the only ones in the state probably with a motor on our canoe! No way we could paddle that far!

Tomorrow we head back home - going to get a morning start and get the grass cut - stop and see our friend Donna and her 2 girls hopefully - get a chance to hang with them a little and enjoy the last of vacation! Big serving day Sunday at church and I am pumped about being back. I have missed everyone - but glad God has given me the rest and relaxation this week. A recharge of the batteries for all of us.

Love you all,
Randy

Looking forward....

Happy July 4th everyone! Enjoy the day today with celebrations - community fireworks~ friends and family cooking over the BBQ.
Today is a day we celebrate our freedom. Many though around us are not free. They live in places that keep them locked down and from enjoying their freedom. Freedom to live, to choose and to go places. They live outside the US but they also live in the US also. They are people we all know and they are people who don't know Jesus. Jesus has given us freedom. Freedom of our personal chains that are tied around our necks - freedom of sin - freedom of guilt and worry - freedom of shame and hurts. Jesus has taken all that from us and lets us LIVE!!!
So even though we celebrate today the freedom of our country - Pray for those around you today that are not totally free...... so that one day they too may enjoy true FREEDOM.

Love you all,
Randy~

The last few weeks - and today at Lake Adger...

We are wooped today! Not used to this cabin life and nonstop moving. But we are having some fun. This afternoon we took the big tube down to the lake and jumped in - Kyle and I swam across Lake Adger and back. Dang that was hard or I am getting old. Anyways - we are looking forward to a fun day tomorrow with the 4th - there is a big fireworks show tomorrow night in town and the parade of boats on Lake Adger is tomorrow at 2:30. Looking forward to some fun time.

Here is what we have been doing the last 2 or so weeks. A few pictures from the concert - Taylor, Morgan and Kyle going to see Bella at UNCC right before the big "Stink". Also including the swim meets with the 2 Madisons and their families - we have been blessed to do life together with these folks..... Life is good!

Still no fish tales - I think the fish know we are coming before we even get there. Bummer......

Fun trying though...

Randy~

First day of VACATION!

Well, the first day of vacation today. After little sleep from staying up late on Saturday night from the Faith and Freedom concert - which was pretty awesome - Half worship and half music! We were pretty wore out this morning and slept in until 8:30. There is nothing like praying with 12,000 people around ya and everyone just having fun~ Salvador, Todd Agnew and then MercyMe..... the place was really happening by the time MercyMe came on the stage. We really thought the rain was going to hit but it held off until the fireworks started so that was cool. I will post some pictures as soon as we can get them off the camera - hey I am on vacation!!

Well today we didn't get to go fishing but that is on the hit list for tomorrow for sure. We ventured into Spindale NC today to find a mattress~ after waking up this morning with a stiff neck and our backs hurting - it was time to throw out the mattress. Not only did we find a mattress but we found a dining table! We have been looking for a table for like 3 years and have not had one until now. The place feels like a home now especially with a place to eat instead of our laps!
Well - we have an easy night planned and look forward to getting a good nights rest up here at the cabin. Let the vacation begin!!! Talk tomorrow, Lord willing :)

Randy, Carol, Kyle - Adger and Paypay.