Hi Def, Baby!

Let me just say that my Bride Peggy is the BEST EVER!

Back in June, our TV in the living room died. We got a 50 inch, High Definition TV, our ultimate Youth Group Television. Now, the TV has worked well in our living room, but this week, we stepped it up a major notch. We now have a high defintion package from DirecTv. May I just say that watching a football game in hi def is DABOMB!

As I type this, I am watching Miami and Houston and flipping over to OSU and Iowa, both of which are in hi def. YEAH, BABY!

The hi def package costs $10 extra a month, but I got a call from DireTv after I had scheduled the installation and they offered me a $10 per month discount if I would stay with DirecTv for another year. Well, duh! So, for the next 12 months, I get hi def for FREE! C'mon over and watch some football with me, won't ya?

Banner Day

Emi After
Originally uploaded by blountman.

September 12, 2006, is a banner day for the Blount household! First and foremost, Emily got her braces off. Since she has been wearing braces for 4 1/2 years, it is a monumental moment for us all.

Secondly, we shed ourselves of the Ford Windstar (the last vehicle that made the trek from KY with us), and picked up a Nissan Altima and an Acura Legend. Yes, we now have three vehilces in our driveway and four vehicles on our insurance (Elliott is still on our insurance until December when he weds and is kicked out on his own)! You can see pictures of the new vehicles joining the Blount fleet on our flickr site. That is a banner move for us as well, as we now have a fleet of vehicles I am not afraid to have out on the road. The Acura will primarily be the kids' school and work vehicle, but will also be used for general running around town. The Nissan will carry Peggy to and from Ft. Pierce every day and take us on the in-state trips (like this weekend to the Florida Christian Convention), while the Caravan (Pistin) will take me back and forth to the office and be our main long road trip vehicle. This arrangement should help us keep milage off the van (finally).

Yes, indeed. A banner day for DaBlounts!

9-11

On the fifth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on America, I cannot help but remember how people "turned to God" during this time of great tragedy and terror. I also cannot help but think about how short lived that was.

As time has gone on, Christians have gone back to their regular daily routines and sadly for many, that routine does not include spending daily quiet time with God. We put Him on the back burner, and heat up our rleationship with Him only when times get tough or traumatic. We are so much like the children of Israel in the Old Testament. Christians are God's chosen people today, and we cannot afford to continue repeating the mistakes of the past. As people in America remember 9-11, 2001, today, let us remind them of the need to trust in Jesus. Let us remind them that we cannot expect the United States of America to provide only what Jesus can provide. I pray that today above all days, we help people turn to Jesus for real.

RTU Crew

RTU Crew
Originally uploaded by blountman.

Rock the Universe absolutely rocked! Jordan, Abi, Emily, Elliott, Ian and Turtle joined Peggy and me for the weekend, and we had a blast. We rode many rides (can you say a family Hulk ridefest? Yeah, baby!) We saw many concerts - Peggy and I caught performances by Skillet, MXPX, Krystal Meyers, Kutless, Pocket Full of Rocks, The Newsboys, Relient K, and Audio Adrenaline!

I have posted several pictures from the weekend on my flickr site.

Just let me say that it was a phenomenal weekend, and I am so glad that we got to spend it with the folks we were with. This was the perfect weekend to end what has been the best summer of my life. The cruise, C-I-Y, North American Christian Convention, Alabama vacation and now this. Wow!

Now, if I could just gather up the energy to go back to work this morning...Man I am getting old!

Two Good Days In A Row!

Yesterday was a great day with our annual Labor Day picnic for the church, and with the addition of the three foxes from FCC, it was even more fun. Elliott, Andrew and Tyler came down, and that was the icing on my birtrhday cake, so to speak. After the picnic and boat ride on the Indian River Lagoon (thanks to Capt. Chuck Macaluso who piloted Steve's boat for us), we headed home and jumped in the pool with the college boys. Okay, we literally jumped in the pool. As in jump over a pool deck chair into the pool. The strawberry scrape on my right knee reminds me that I sink pretty fast even in 8 feet of water. It was a hoot! The whole reverse limbo deal (Ian was the unoffiical winner) and the pool baseball wore me out. My right arm/elbow is still sore from playing catcher during the game. Emily and I went out to do one more practice run to prepare her for her driver's test, and when we got back, we ate some grilled chicken and other goodies with the gang. Then it was off to Rita's Italian Ice. Now, Rita's is one of the last bastions of cash only type of retail establishments. This comes in real handy for college boys who "don't happen to have any cash" on them. So, it's my birthday, and I get to treat everyone to some Rita's! That's okay, I love being able to do that!

Today was the day for Emily. On the anniversary of Granny's birth, Emily got her driver's license! She rawks!!!!

Two good days in a row. What more could an old fart dad like me ask for?