The Great East Trip: 1st stop - Golf at Carrie & Ryan's

We arrived at Highland Academy around 4 PM Tuesday after over 9 hours of traveling from Arkansas. It was great to see friendly faces and get out of the car.

Toby met Olivia and Gabby and wanted to PLAY!

Ryan and Ryan hit the courts almost immediately.

'Hey - why won't anybody let me play with these tennis balls!'

Bringing back a little Duck Hunt while watching Wimbledon

Toby's indoor quarters


On Wednesday after breakfast burritos and a campus tour for Ryan K - we headed to KY for a round of golf at Kenny Perry's course. This was my first full round of 18 holes!


Where'd it go? Carrie... Ryan... help!







My man with a golf club in hand - beautiful sight.


Watching the ball descend down to the fairway from the high tee boxes on this hole - we had no idea we had jumped to the wrong hole - we figured it out 2 holes later and had to hike back. Lets just say the back 9 went much faster since we'd already played 2 of them.



Consulting by the beautiful willow trees

Carrie's speeding back to the clubhouse but Ryan is totally oblivious.

6 hours after we teed off - ready to go on hole #18

Feeling blue...

Toby's melancholy hiding place

"Sigh... I'm just feeling small..."

Outdoor fun

This miniature horse is probably as tall as my waist. See the baby getting a drink? This baby horse will run all the way down our street with the cars and then come back and do laps around the yard.

Toby learning gymnastics

Squirrels?

Look out squirrels - here we come!
They do this everytime they go outside striking fear into the creatures around the bird feeder.

Ozark Family Campmeeting

We enjoyed campmeeting on a smaller scale (than Carolina's at Junaluska) this year. The tents brought back memories of good old Ontario days. We were glad we got to finally put them to use since there were 4 tents on various parts of campus for over 3 weeks ahead of time.

Golf carts transported the older people around

Arkla (Arkansas-Louisiana) conference president (who shall remain nameless)







Rear Admiral Barry Black, Chaplain of the Senate and an amazing and inspirational speaker

The evening buzz after the meeting - small though it may be.
The tent was full to overflowing on Sabbath for church and it sat over 1200.

Ryan caught a quick pic of me and Toby taking a nap one day this week - Toby knew Ryan was coming before I did. Its great to have a little nap buddy.

Randy and Mary Jane come on safari

Randy and Mary Jane arrived on Tuesday night after driving over 12 hours from their house! We were their first stop on their "Great West tour" these next few weeks.
The weather held up enough for us to head to the Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari on Wednesday.

This was Ryan's first trip and the first time for both of us that we'd pet a zebra.

My favorite - the kangaroos. See how big the mamma's pouch is? Somebody's hiding inside.

The goats tried to eat our pants.

Everybody met a porker...

What a belly!

The cutest little oinkers - they wag their tails when you talk to them!

Ruffed lemur - another first to pet

This monkey had great gymnastics potential. He put a great show on for us swigging all over his cage and doing somersaults and he answered Randy's calls for over 30 minutes. He got so quiet and dejected when we left that we came back for a second round.

6 week old baby lion

The porcupines want to come out and play

Long horns having a conference while they chew over lunch.

Maybe he thinks he can climb out and get to the horses and goats "mowing" the grass right outside the pen

Lazy lion

White rhino

We played 3 rounds of Settlers - it hasn't been out since Stephanie visited. Mary Jane is trying to tell you that she won the 2nd game.

We sure enjoyed having them here! Now the bed is warm for you if you want to come!

Its all about the kids

Since Stephanie is lost in Europe and unable to philosophize about life... I've decided to take a stab at it myself. As I was watching the seniors during graduation weekend I was struck by the fact that unless I have a child of my own (or invent some great lifesaving device) in the next 5 years or so, I will officially become boring in a manner of speaking... or at least far less interesting than I have been of late.

Let me explain... its all about the kids. Most of life's exciting moments revolve around those under the age of 25. A baby is born - grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, drive hours... days to meet the little one and we'll say nothing of the pictures and presents. Baby grows up and graduates from kindergarten - the church pew is filled with the SAME people saying "Aww!" and laughing when the kid trips over his robe on the way up the platform. Then there's artwork, VBS, little league, piano recitals, Pathfinders... the list goes on. We're now to 8th grade graduation. Then comes the joys of academy - homeshows, awards, banquets, and finally graduation. College... more of the same... (you begin to step up the boring factor if, like me, you graduate from college three times) first job... Then the motherload happens - the wedding - totally self-explanatory. Of course, everyone wants to see those they love, in love starting out on happily ever after. And then... the couple slowly becomes boring... until BINGO - little Johnny or Susie is on the way. Then forget the kids - its all about the GRANDCHILDREN!

Its not just about events either - its about conversation. As I've listened to my colleagues at work here is how their life goes. If you listen to adults talk - all they talk about is the kids. "Hey, guess what Junior did the other day, it was SOOOOO funny..." or "What do you think I should do about coaching my daughter's softball team..." or "You know, my daughter is having trouble potty training, do you have any ideas?" or the BIG ONE:
"So what's going on with your kids?"
"Well, Amanda just finished her 3rd year of college, going to be a lawyer like her dad, great potential, and we're hoping she'll marry this great pre-med student she's been dating..."
The conversation revolves around the kids because who wants to answer the question:
"So what's going on with YOU? (30-50 year old adult with nothing exciting happening and no children currently under age 30)"
"Well... I wake up, eat, go to work... come home... watch TV... talk to my wife... eat... sleep... get up and do it all over again... Oh yeah, and then go see my kids on vacation." BORING...

Too bad the kids don't realize how much power they hold until its too late. Cause if the truth were told; IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM!