The Summit of things...

This week, I'm spending 2.5 days at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. It's a yearly conference hosted by Willow Creek Community Church (www.willowcreek.org) in Chicago, but then sent live by satellite to 80 locations and about 50,000 different leaders around North America. I'm having a great time being challenged, sharpened, and getting to hang out with some terrific friends. I always look forward to this time of year.

I do tend to ramble on this blogger. Believe me, I have a lot of important things to say, I'm just not ready to say them yet. Ever felt that way? Sometimes life is like that.

Right now, I can tell Allie is like that. She has so much to say, but at only 7.5 weeks old, she really can't say any of it. What we have here is a failure to communicate. If you've seen the pictures, you know she's cuter than all get out, but she sets a new standard for "cute" every day. That is, except when she cries incessantly, which we knew would happen with our little angel. She seems to be quiet whenever we go out somewhere, which is amazing, but returns home to a world of noise.

We've got to pray for Florida right now, Hurricane Charley looks pretty incredible. Amazed to hear of a friend's relatives who are having to relocate right now, and all the chaos that is going on down there. When you see a movie like "The Day after Tomorrow," the weather effects are cool, but when it's reality, it's obviously terrible. I've always said I would love to see a real Tornado live someday, but I doubt I'd really mean it if it happens.

They are evacuating Myrtle Beach right now.

I like Columbus. Have I ever mentioned that on the blog?

Have I mentioned that this site for my journal is free, but now I have found one that might be even better? Xanga.com is very cool, might be easier to use, and is also free. I love doing Gary and Jennie.com, so we'll keep that.

I haven't written in a while, and life has been pretty busy. This past weekend, I was asked to be the "relief preacher" at The Chapel's Akron Campus, if needed. Well, I was needed, and spoke four times on Sunday. Loved every minute of it. Exhausted the next day. Stopped including subjects in my sentences.

When I write, I sometimes feel this humorous need to express myself. Sometimes, though, I wonder if my life is all that interesting. I mean, who do I think I am to have people read these random thoughts online?

But bloggers like this are becoming more and more popular, and are easy ways to keep in touch with people. Less personal, perhaps, but somewhat of a journal therapy too. I've been doing this for five months, and it is fun to look back and think about each part of the journey we've had.

Jennie is doing great as a mom. You can tell that "Mom knows best" isn't just a saying. It's amazing the connection and burden of love that a mom feels for her child. Never underestimate it. That goes for Allie, and for the child we lost last year, Laura. Allie is such a great gift, and every minute of every day is very special and just loaded with fun moments.

Like today, when I held her for the first time, and she threw up all over my dress pants. Uh, I mean, like the time when she hears my voice over the phone and broke out into a huge smile. Yes, that really did happen.

I am looking forward to the start of football season. Is there any surprise in that?

Lots more to say in future blogs, when I feel creative. Sometimes I just ramble. It is funny to find out who is reading these things. Have a great weekend!