Santa Fe

There are two places that words and even pictures can't do justice; Sedona and Santa Fe. They are both incredibly beautiful towns, and filled with history. Santa Fe is preparing to celebrate it's 400th birthday next year. Names like Coronado, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and the Trail of Tears, bear some of the history that is centered on this town.

This is where the Santa Fe trail, that starts in Olathe, KS, ends. Guess you don't have to be a brain surgeon to figure that out. This is where the army came over the Santa Cristo range and drove the Navajo nation into what might have been the first concentration camp. 90% of the Navajo people died in that camp.


One of the oldest missions is here, and it's surrounded by incredible scenary. It's just a great place, full of a wide variety of people. This is one of the places we would like to return. The picture show you why.


Not much from me over the next couple of days, just some hard driving. Home on Thursday. I'm ready for regular life to kick in. Happy trails.

Flagstaff to Santa Fe

Yes, that's a really big hole in the ground!

Being true to our "catch phrase", we made a 5 hour drive into a 10 hour adventure. We decided at the last minute to go to meteor crater in no man's land Arizona. We had already planned on going to the petrified forest and the painted desert, but made the crater an extra stop. We also drove through "Winslow, AZ," where the Eagle's sung about standing on the corner, and some chick in a flat bed Ford checking them out. I know those aren't the words, just didn't want to sing the whole song, you get the point.

What we discoverd was the crater was worth the trip, Winslow wasn't. The petrified forest was worth the trip, and had the painted desert not been included, we probably could have done without it, especially experiencing the drive through the valley between Gallup and Albequerque, New Mexico; never get tired of looking at the mountains and those incredible red rocks.

We were tired when we arrived in Santa Fe, but had a blast, as you can see. Day two, one more to go before our trip changes gears.

Payson to Flagstaff

Terry and I started our journey home after working on her mother's home in Casa Grande, AZ. It has been quite the journey, I might add. We're spending three days playing on the way back, with our catch phrase, it's more about the journey than the destination, then changing gears and playing from the other side of that coin, making it more about the destination then the journey. We want to be home by Thursday, the 30th. Then life kicks in.

I'm a couple of days behind, so bear with me. We'll pretend like today is Sunday, with our trip from Payson to Flagstaff, AZ. By the way, Arizona is much more than dessert. It's quite the state. And for the record, Sedona is B-E-A-Utiful!! Terry and I have decided that much beauty in one place is just not fair.

Check out these photos, and come back tomorrow to check out some more on our trip from Flagstaff to Santa Fe. Have I told you it's hot out here? Oh yeah, but it's a dry heat, sorry, I forgot.

Hey, made me laugh. Two posts in one week, beggars can't be choosey.

In Dallas this week for Terry's Mary Kay Seminar. We head to Phoenix arriving on Thursday to get her mom's home ready to sell. Meeting her sister and one of the brothers there to work on Saturday, then head home on Sunday for life to get as back to normal as it gets.

Had a great couple of days playing with "Bubby", that's Brayden if you're not aware of the nickname. He is talking up quite a storm, and Kristin has done an incredible job holding the fort together with Luke in Iraq. They sold their home this month, so Terry was there the last couple of weeks helping Kristin move into their new/old rental home until Luke finishes his four years of service to the army.

I'm very proud of my daughter, and my son-in-law for the sacrifice they have made for country and freedom, whatever you think of this war. He has served well, and she has lived well. He'll be home in the next three weeks, and then life gets back to normal for them as well, or as close as it gets when your husband is in the army.

Hey, what's up?

I was scolded today by one of my friends, reminded that some of you actually come to this for, whatever; comic relief, information, ranting, etc.  Well, there has been a lot going on in my life over the last month, as their has been yours.  I'm currently on my way to pick up Terry in Killeen, TX, to take her to her Mary Kay convention, then go to Phoenix to get her mother's home ready to put on the market.  Not my idea of fun, especially driving through west Texas and southern New Mexico and Arizona in July.  

What's been going on the last 30 days:  Kristin and Luke have sold their home, and we've re-listed ours; General Assembly has come and gone, with one of the most eventful ones in the history of our church, with Dr. Bowling elected, accepting, and rescinding the nomination.  It was truly one of the most courageous things I've ever seen done.  I can't help but admire a man that has the integrity to remain true to who he was created to be and do.  Way to go!

I was also honored by being elected the Global President for NYI, one of the greatest honors of my life, next to marrying Terry, the birth of my two daughters, their marriage and gaining two sons, finally, and the birth of my grandson (think I sufficiently covered the family).  It will be an absolute honor and privilege to serve the young people of the church for the next four years.  I get to stay around, and I'm thrilled with the opportunity.

I was able to reconnect with many friends, and be a part of the best NYI convention ever, with 7 sites outside the US, with full voting and floor privileges.  It was incredible.  

Well, I'm driving the other half tomorrow to see my wife, Kristin, and Brayden.  Excited to be with them, but already thinking of what is waiting for me when I get back home on the 30th.  

To the four of you that read this, I'll work on being more consistent, and more substantial.  For now, know that I'm alive and well.