It's good to be home. I hear from Cristie that Isaac wasn't all that ready for the shark!

Over dinner one night on my Arkansas fishing trip, one of the Merck guys from Mississippi said in response to some dumb thing my friend from Illinois did, "And to think the South lost the war!" You know, these southern boys still have a chip on their shoulders about the civil war! They honestly think the world would be a better place had the south prevailed. I've read it before, but witnessed it first hand for the first time.

Happy Birthday Melissa. Boy, are we glad Sam married you!

Ed, do you ever blog?

I make an awful confession here. I bait fished all day today. I caught over 40 trout, all on power bait and corn! It was horrible! To make matters worse, the guide made all kinds of jokes about fly fishermen all day long. Not exactly my preferred method of trout fishing. When in Rome.......

I got many silent chuckles today. According to the guides, Northern Arkansas is the "poah paht o' the state." It appears that the first thing neglected by poor folk is their teeth! Lots of gaps and weird colors in these here smiles.

I missed my family all day today. Fishing with my boys is a lot more fun than fishing with these guys....in fact, there's no comparison. I miss my sweetheart's smile and laugh. We saw some beautiful country, but it's not the mountain West. But, I took Cristie's suggestion; I got a good laugh when Fred got a speeding ticket right in front of me.

I was sorry to read about George being so alone. I'm hoping (and praying) that he finds peace and comfort from the true source of peace.

I love you all.

Time marches on but seems soooo slow for my dad. I drove out unexpected last night and Liz and I found him crying and reading "Oh My Father" from the hymn book. His second week at church last week...two in a row...I'm not sure what to make of that, but I hope he feels peace and comfort from attending. He was pleased to see us and escorted me from closet to closet urging me to collect any old clothes that belong to me. I took home a parka that he bought for mother while she visited him in Montana...he seemed pleased for me to take it. We ran out of things to talk about, he was quiet, I asked if he wanted to go for a walk but he told me he had been walking behind a lawn mower all day...too hot for him...too hot for all of us. He turned on his air conditioning for the first time yesterday. He is lonely for his heartbeat. I ache for him and feel blessed for my life of love and children. Only an orange peel in the trash; I doubt he's eating much. As Liz and I drive away, the shadows are long and he is waving on the porch walking back into a dark house.

Jerry, I miss you. I am so happy that you can be in such a beautiful part of the country doing what you know and love so well. I hope you get some good laughs from you friends. We are anxious for your return.

Laurel is off to court today. I hope the outcome is positive. My allergies are in full swing and I think the Allegra is knocking my energy down a few notches...maybe. I love you all. ccc

I'm in Northern Arkansas this evening, just below the Missouri border about to begin a two day fishing trip with some guys at work. I'm very homesick for my sweetheart tonight.

The drive up here was very interesting. As I've already written, I've never been to this part of the country before. It's pretty, rural, very green with rolling hills. It's much like the country around the Brasher lodge in Missouri, but with even more trees. We stopped at a store in one of the towns for some fishing stuff and I noticed there were no blacks in the store. Northern AR, I'm told, is almost all white folk.

I listened to talk radio as I drove, and was entertained by the host's comments about all the junk coming out of Hollywood. He said "people on the East and West coasts just think we're just 'fly over' country. They have no idea, nor do they care what we think in the heartland." Later, I heard a commercial about a "Christian HMO". Send in a monthly fee and if you get sick, payments will be sent to you in behalf of all the other Christians who send in fees. Plus you'll get cards and letters from other Christians all over the country wishing you well. Never heard of anything like that before. I was also surprised at how many Christian talk shows were on the air (along with Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey).

I love you all.

Greetings to all from Little Rock Arkansas. Interesting place. I had a connection through Dallas yesterday, and as we flew over neighborhoods in the suburbs, they looked much like our neighborhood in Denver; big houses, all much alike, organized tracts, everything you'd expect. As we flew over suburbs here in AR, it was a much different view. Few organized developments, and the ones that were had smaller, simpler homes. Less maincured yards. A few junked cars, deteriorating outbuildings. I had the feeling that I was descending more into the real south. The confederate flag flies in front of my hotel.

Pray for Laurel. She needs divine help if she's to succeed in pulling away from old friends where she feels accepted and finds new ones that are a better influence on her. This time she's really trying. Pray that she'll be guided and given strength. Fast Sunday is next Sunday. I suggest we all fast for her.

I love you all.

That was fun yesterday! Thanks Elizabeth for watching all of our kids. You really are a BIG help!
Hope everyone is having a fantastic day!

I loved going to the movies with you yesterday! It felt good to laugh. Our trip to Farmington was uneventful and mom's grave looked as if she had plenty of visitors. We went over to the Steed's which seemed to be a meeting place for all. It was good to touch bases and eat some of their tasty leftovers. The little girls worked out a dance on the lawn for us and it sure reminded me of the days when Katie and Alison were putting on the shows. Your little ones are growing up so fast...it is a real joy to see what wonderful parents you are. Anyway, the beat goes on. Liz, thanks for making the weekend so much fun for all of us :-)

Hello it is nice having all of the boys home! babysitting at katies house was pretty fun last night there were a lot of little kids out on that playground playing and Issac wanted to go outside and play with is new basketball hoop or how he would say it basketball "poop" but we had a nice time and thankfully Eli didnt wake up and Isaac was pretty delightful he just wanted alot of popcorn!