This was a good week. I worked off Monday afternoon and only returned to work this evening. Tuesday I stayed home with the little boys. I cutgrass and spent time with the boys and our dog (a Labrador retriever). That evening Lisa and I went out to eat with Gary and Liz Johnson.

We went to the special wine dinner at Johnny Carino’s. It was awesome. The food was great. Three of the four wines were good, but one of the wines was very good. That wine was from Argentina and it is the first Argentine wine that I have ever had. It was wonderful. The wine was a Terrazas Malbec. I will be looking to buy several bottles of this wine. (BTW: You can drink all the wine you like at these dinners at Johnny Carino’s.) This was the fourth one of these events that Lisa and I have attended and each one has been excellent.

Wednesday I spent the day at home with the boys again. That evening I grilled some Ribs, pork steaks, steaks and dogs. It was Mike’s birthday and so Lisa invited the Seeps over. We enjoyed some good food and good wine. We also gave Mike a nice bottle of wine as a gift.

After eating supper Mike, our wives and I all went and sat on the front porch to talk. Mike brought a Scotch that he had heard was a fine whisky. It was a 16 year old Lagavulin (of course we only had two fingers each). Wow-- That is a fine Scotch whisky. It was like sipping on silk. We had a very nice evening sitting on the porch in our rockers (the men sipping whisky) and talking.

On Thursday Morgan, the little boy’s and I went to Longville. We visited with my folks for a while. I bought food for the kids on the way up there (I was not planning to eat). When we got there Mom had been frying pork chops, so I had to eat. It was so good.

It was good to visit. I spent time with Mom, Dad and Anne (my brother’s girlfriend). The boys played with their cousins. After a good vist and several cups of coffee, I loaded my crew, and Bailey my niece, in the Jeep and we went to my sister Sandy's place to swim in her pond. All the kids had a great time. I swam with them for a while, but then I got out and found a place to watch them from the shade. I don’t get much sun and it was a good thing I got out when I did.

I hope to repeat this trip when I am off next week, except next week I hope to do some fishing too.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I’m at work. Back on my regular shift, and glad to be here. Since then I’ve only had two full days off since the last half of May. Next week I should have three whole days off. I’m hoping to take the kids fishing for at least one of these days.

The last few days at work have been really busy. We first had instrument problems on a heater, then we had to deal with a plugged line and yesterday Steve Wood, Ron Metoyers and I spent about 8 hours on the side of a tower working on a level problem. Steve and I were back up there this morning. We’ve also had a couple of other problems this morning, but I think we are getting to a point where everything is lining out and (hopefully) the rest of our Saturday will be quiet.

We have a guest pastor coming to Bethel tomorrow. The Seeps, and Lisa and I are supposed to be taking the pastor, his wife and daughter out to eat tonight. We are going to Chili’s.

Our guest pastor is Rev. Duane Garner, he is associate pastor at Auburn Ave. PCA in Monroe. Sad thing is, I will not be able to attend worship services tomorrow because of work.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Two years ago today my brother Gerry passed away, after a three year battle with colon and liver cancer. He died at his home. I was working at the time. Mike Seep, my brother’s doctor (and my best friend) called me at about one in the morning and told me that Gerry had passed away.

I rushed from work to my brother’s house. Mike was still there as was the whole family. I cried, sat next to Gerry’s bed, stroked his hair and told him goodbye.

I love him dearly and miss him terribly, but I am confident that I will see him again in glory. The Lord was gracious to my brother.

Cancer is a terrible thing. It slowly and painfully took my brother from us, but it gave him time to reflect and make things right with our holy God. Gerry made sure of his salvation and redemption in Christ while he was suffering.

I don’t know why the Lord took him. God keeps those secret things to himself, but He is sovereign and He blessed us with Gerry for forty-two years. In all things we are to give God honour and praise, even in a time like that, when our heart is broken and seems to us beyond mending.

Gerry I love you and miss you.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Kenith

I’ve had one day off since my work on the turnaround ended on June 26. I was off this last Sunday and was able to attend Church with my family. Sunday school was taught by my friend Chester. He did a great job on an overview of the Abraham to Christ.

Lisa pointed out to me how good Chester did. She said he did not get bogged down in attempts to get into too much detail. This was a hint to me I do like to get into the minutia of a subject. I am supposed to be teaching this Sunday on the Old Testament Canon, and will try to follow Chester example, but I can make no promises.

After Church Sunday, the little boys and I drove up to Longville to spend the day. My folks were barbequing and so we spent the afternoon there. My brother, Terry’s children are down for the summer (they live in Oregon) and we had seen them since last summer. It was good to meet with them again.

With the turnaround over I have had more time at home. I’ve been able to get home between thee and four in the afternoon (instead of 7:30 at night). This gives me more time with the family. Last week I began reading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to the little boys.

I read this book, and the rest of The Chronicles of Narnia, to my older children when they were young, and I’m excited about reading it again to the little boys. The Chronicles of Narnia is such a great series of books. CS Lewis did a brilliant job writing them.

Yesterday, after working until 2 pm on the 4th of July, Lisa, the little boys and I went to Woody’s house for another barbeque (it too was very good). We spent the afternoon there and had a good time. There was plenty of good food and cold beer (always a winning combination). There were also several high dollar Bourbons that were that three of us brought for a taste test. The bourbons were Basil Hayden, Van Winkle Special Reserve, and Jefferson’s Reserve. All three of them are great bourbons. The Jefferson’s Reserve seems to have been the favourite, but I was most fond of the Van Winkle.

When we got home, Lisa found that the ceiling in the boy’s room was leaking. Our upstairs air-conditioner was leaking condensate and it messed up a small section of the boy’s ceiling, I will have to buy a sheet of sheetrock when I get off work today so I can fix the ceiling.

Coram Deo,
Kenith