Bits & Balderdash

Just a few quick thoughts to get all caught up on the past few months!

Benjamin 1st Birthday:

Lynn and I along with Susan and G'ma Carol made the trip to Grinnell for Benjamin's fist birthday party.

Daniel & Maggi reserved a shelter at a park in town and we grilled hotdogs and had chips, fruit and baby carrots. The real highlight was seeing Benjamin tearing to his birthday cupcake! Cupcake and icing everywhere! it was fantastic!

Got to see Mike and Debbie Gilliland and their families again; always a good time when we can get together with them! Fun day! 

Iowa State Fair:             

Lynn and I took some time to venture out to the Iowa State Fair. It was a very enjoyable day that lasted just about as long as we could stand! At one point Lynn looked at me and said ... "OK! I'm ready to go home!" we had only been there for about 2 hours and we figured out she was just hungry - a huge salty pretzel and a lemonade shake-up and she was ready to go again!

Highlights: We really like to do all the FREE stuff so the things on our agenda were the Cultural Center, 4H Building, Varied Industries Building, the Agricultural Building and walking through the varied barns looking at the livestock.


Food: At the agriculture Building I always stop at the Iowa Honey Producers for a glass of honey sweetened lemonade! At just $2 it may very well be the best value on the grounds! Other good eats ... pork chop on a stick, turkey leg, root beer and the famous Italian Sausage Grinder!

Free stuff and good food; makin's for a great day out with my best girl!

Emmanuel Baptist Church Retreat:  

Some months back I was asked to speak at the family retreat for the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Des Moines. The retreat was held at the Wesley Woods Retreat & Conference Center just South of Indianola. Absolutely a wonderful facility and accommodations.

The theme of the retreat was "Knowing God & Making Him Known". I was to speak 5 times in three days ending on Sunday morning. A somewhat grueling schedule but very rewarding. These folk were wonderful to preach to and they were very responsive to the Word.

Lynn & I have a bit of history with the church. This is the church that we were married in and the church we attended when as first returned to the Des Moines area and began to attend FBBC. Many of the same folk are still around and many of the little kids at the church are now grown, married and with families of their own. We had a great time reminiscing.

Another highlight was a Saturday fishing outing with John Roth. John is a man who has had an incredible impact on my life and it was fun to just be able to spend time with his relaxing and fishing in his boat. Not to leave anyone out ... Isaiah Roth and his wife were with us as well and it was fun to get to know them as well!

I Remain,
Pastor Steve