Bye-bye California

Well, I'm about to start packing up my suitcase to catch my flights home, in the morning. It's been fun. Today a friend and I took to the streets of San Diego to take in a few sites.

We spent a couple of hours on board the USS Midway. This was really cool. It's a retired aircraft carrier - like my dad was on (the USS RANGER). It was pretty wild - and really big. The flight deck was pretty incredible. It was pretty big, but I'd hate to try to land a plane on it - and if my try at the flight simulator today was any indication of my flying skill, there's no chance of me ever getting the chance!

Next we headed to our 2nd place to visit - the San Diego Zoo. Guess what, they were closing in 5 minutes! It was like 4:00 PM. RATS!!!! So, since I'd never been to the beach, we decided to try to navigate our way to one. After playing with the GPS, we found our way to one! Soon, we found our way to the longest pier on the West Coat - seriously! I took some pictures and video and as we were about to head back, so guy said, "Hey, those guys are fighting with a shark!" We turned and watched as some guys with a big, deep sea fishing pole fought to get control of what turned out to be a shark, about 5 or 6 feet long. They dropped a rope with hooks on it, and after it had hooked, the shark spun and wrapped the rope around it. After another rope and hook, they slowly pulled the big ol' thing up the to the top of the pier! I think they were about as suprised as everyone!

So, now as my internet is about to expire, I will try to load all the junk I've bought at my conference into my suitcases and get some rest. So far, all my flights are a go. After the struggle my friends had to get out here because of wind storms in Dallas, I'm just praying for another easy flight. It's been raining off and on today, and a quite cloudy. Other than, that it's been a fantastic day! Well, gonna run - got some packing today. It's been fun, but I'm ready to be home. The Lord's been working on me this week, and I've got stuff to do.

CPC Coming to an End, a Little Cali Fun

Last full day of CPC, now for some Cali fun!

Well, tomorrow morning wraps up yet another Children's Pastor's Conference. There have been some really great speakers that really have made me think both personally and professionally/ministerially (not sure that's a word). I've taken in some good workshops that have made me rethink my teaching and why things work and what thinks I've done poorly on. Other workshops left me thinking, wow, I'm okay.

Tomorrow I'll hit San Diego for some sight seeing with a friend. I can't say I'm looking forwad to packing up all the extra stuff I've bought here when I fly out. Hopefully all will go smoothly and my flights when work the way their supposed to and all. I'm sure they will.

Another good day here in California. Hope everyone else is just as blessed. Just about time for bed 'cause I've got to be up at 8:00 for the last session. Later.

First Full Day of CPC 2007

Well, today was the first full day of the 2007 Children's Pastor's Conference in San Diego (yep, I'm in California if you didn't know!). Luckily, I came out a bit early - while my friends who planned to come up on Sunday found themselves stuck in DFW airport waiting on a wind storm that closed down DFW and then racing across country to get here! (Yea! Kendra & Alison - ya beat Casey, who did finally show up).

Well, it's been a full day. Things kick off with classes at 8:30 AM and wrap up around 10:30 PM after some magic, music and the incredible ventriloquism of Dennis Lee (Yeah, it's probably not spelled right, be I never said I could spell). One of the great speakers challenged us to teach kids the truth and to insulate them from the world, not isolate them. Otherwise, when they do meet reality, they are prepared and grounded in their faith. And finally, God is so great and Jesus loves you. So tell someone!

That's about it. Oh, I hate having to pay for internet - so crazy when cheap hotels have it free and an expensive one like this charge! But I'm okay.

Yeah, okay so I've got some cool stuff - just wait til I get back! Mostly some really great ideas and a recharge for me and my ministry. Well, hope all is well and Texas has recovered from the wind!

A Day of Firsts

Well, what a day of firsts! Today I flew in my first plane (actually two planes), road around San Diego on a trolley (quiet the experience!) and oh, came to San Diego, California. It's been a good day.

Okay, the hotel room's a little goofy, and it seems like my favorite conference is getting shorter and shorter but it's good to be here. This has always been such a great recharge for me personally and for my ministry and I'd say right now both need some recharging. My prayer is that I come out of this a stronger Christian, a better person and more experienced Children's Minister. Oh, and I really want to have a good time!

Well, can't wait for some of my Wichita/Dallas friends to fly in tomorrow. Things are so much better with friends around. I'm kickin' back in my hotel room tonight. I tried my hand at the San Diego trolley system and well....it was a bit confusing, but kind of got the hang of it, even though I was to late to see the USS Midway like I had planned. I got within three blocks of it, but only had like 30 minutes til it closed, so hopefully I will get down there for a couple of hours on Tuesday and then take in the Zoo. Those are my two goals outside of the conference.

Yeah, my first plane rides went well. No fears, no throwing up at 30,000 feet. BONUS! Actually, it was quite cool! I liked it - except for the turbulence coming in for a landing. Dallas was bad, but California was nuts. The whole plane like dropped a foot or so more than once. It was crazy!

Yeah, and I come to California...and it's warmer in Texas. I'm wearing a coat here...and Texas was nice when I left - though according to Justin, it's starting to storm tonight.

Well, gonna sign off. Couldn't get my video to upload to my laptop tonight - though it was just my room -woo hoo! :) Hope you have a good one!

California or Bust!

Well, in a few short hours I'll board my first plane and head across the country to California for this year's Children's Pastor's Conference. It's one of the biggest highlights and recharges of my year. Yeah, so this is my first flight. I think I'm less nervous of the actual flying and more of all the junk that goes into it. You know boarding passes, security checks, how many ounces of fluids are in the stuff you got packed. All those fun post-911 things.

But with all that aside, I'm pumped! And dead tired. Why in the world am I blogging at this hour! Gotta go. Check back for my Cali-blogs!

A Crazy Few Weeks

Wow, so much has been going on since my last blog, not that it was that long ago. Most of it has nothing to do with each other.

I lost my grandmother this month. She passed away after living 77 years on this earth. Boy did she live! She is sorely missed, but I know she's with loved ones and will never, ever hurt. We love you Nannie!

On another totally random note, I finally got an IPOD yesterday. Yeah, it's cool! I'm totally a gadget guy (but wow are they expensive). I did go for the video pod and am working hard to get all my music on it. I'm a bit frustrated with the whole itunes thing - still got to figure a few more things out! But it's cool!

Apparently I got a virus on an old computer I had networked on to my main home computer and it was sending spam emails out like crazy 'cause now my kidminister addresses are all blocked! FRUSTRATION!!!! I've been working to get my IP off all these spam databases FRUSTRATION!!!

I got two really fun emails connected to my Kidminister website. This is my personal site which is all about Children's ministries. It's goal is to be a resource to other kid ministers. I got an email from someone in Holland and another from Utah. What a joy to know the site is helping others - plus it's really cool to hear from people across the country and around the world. Which means I really need to get that page updated.

Well, guess that's about it. I'm getting primed to take my first flight to California (first time to fly and go to CA). I'm totally ready (okay, not really, but I like to think I am). I guess that's it for this go round! God Bless.