Nice Racks

Memorial Day grillin' of two racks of pork ribs!

Close up of the ribs. They were delicious!

I bought a new flag today for the front of the house, so I could appropriately remember the meaning of this day. I am so grateful for the men and women who have given their lives so I could live free and grill ribs after swimming in my pool. I am so blessed to live in this country. On this Memorial Day, I salute the members of our armed services, and I am humbled by those who shed their blood for my freedom.

More importantly, I am humbled by the knowledge that Jesus shed His blood to provide my ternal freedom from sin. Today, I am also in a state of mourning for a dear Christian Brother who has been asked to resign from his ministry at a church that is growing numerically and spiritually, but is being "led" by a small group of men who are more interested in their own personal power than seeing the Kingdom expand. Satan is alive and well. He stinks.

Blah, blah, blah

Okay, so it's been two weeks since I last blogged, and most of my recent posts have frankly been pretty boring. Yeah, we got hail in our yard a couple of weeks ago, and I got pictures of it. Wow. It's not that there hasn't been plenty going on in our lives, it is just that I have been less-than-inclined to want to write about it. Motivation has been hard to come by lately.

This weekend, I am in the full blown effects of a sore throat, sinus infection funk. I preach tomorrow. Should be fun. I slept in until nearly 10 this morning, and feel like someone is pounding my head with a sledge hammer. Enough of the whining party.

I have had to do some serious soul seraching over the past several weeks. I have felt betrayed and ambushed. I have felt alone and abandoned. I have brought much of that on myself. In the struggle known as life, I constantly need to be reminded of the love of Christ which should motivate me even when all other motivation seems to have vanished. As Peggy constantly rmeinds me, it is God Whom I serve, and the way I am supposed to serve Him is to serve people. I have a tendancy to isolate myself when I am feeling "down" and that only further complicates matters.

So, as I reassess my life, and as I try to get re-motivated, I will gladly take the prayers of those who love me much more than I deserve. I believe that God has placed me where I am, doing what I am doing, for His purpose. If I believe that, then I must break out of the blah, blah, blah, and get back to what God wants from me: my best every single day.

All Hail Broke Loose

hailflowerbed
Originally uploaded by blountman.

I went out to pick up Emily from work at the Outlet Mall, and missed out on all the fun at the house. We had a fierce thunderstorm blow through today, and in our neighborhood, we got pelted with hail. This photo was taken with my camera phone about 20 minutes after the hail storm had passed. Emily and I experienced heavy rains coming back in from the west, but no hail on us. I have several more pictures of the hail storm on our FLICKR site so check it out.

Ian and the Prom

Ian 016
Originally uploaded by blountman.

This picture, taken at Charles Park in Vero Beach just before the VBHS Prom on April 29th, is Peggy's favorite. Ian and Amber enjoyed their time at the "Red Carpet Romance" after a heartly meal at Bono's with the rest of us 30 Hour Famine folks. I am so proud of Ian for not backing out of the Famine because of the Prom. He continues to grow in Christ, and is always willing to put Jesus first in his life. Yeah, he has his shortfalls, like the rest of us, but he is doing so much better!

Ian & Amber Prom

Ian & Amber Prom
Originally uploaded by blountman.

Ian and Amber pose in our Kitchen because the lighting is better there and this picture was taken with my camera phone. Oh we had "real" pictures taken by a friend, but as of this writing (10:20 p.m. of the night of the prom), I don't have those pictures yet. Don't worry, when they get here, I'll post them on flickr.

After

After
Originally uploaded by blountman.

See? It worked out just right! Ian stopped by the church to let us ooh and ahh at his transformation as he prepared to go to the prom. One of the stipulations he gave to his date, Amber, was that if she wanted to go out to eat with him before the prom, she would have to go wherever the 30 Hour Famine group was going to break our fast. We went to Bonos BBQ, and it was delicious!

Before

Before
Originally uploaded by blountman.

Why should the girls be the only ones to get hair and makeup done before the prom? Ian started his makeover on Friday night during the 30 Hour Famine. He got off to a great start, didn't he?

He was one of about 19 participants in the Famine this year, and he was of course, the most beautiful one of the participants.

Looky!

Looky!
Originally uploaded by blountman.

Oh they didn't want me to take this photo, but I did anyway. Elliott and Abi pose with "the ring." They came down at 2:30 this morning, and then got up to see the sunrise at Humiston Beach. Peggy, Emily and I joined them at the beach after dropping Ian off at work. More photos can be seen on the flickr site. As I type this note, Elliott and Abi are on the way back to Kissimmee, and Elliott will then head for Taveres to work tonight. Me? I'm gonna do some yard work and some calking in the master bathroom. Exciting stuff, eh?

Pop Goes The Question

BlountUniversityCouple
Originally uploaded by blountman.

Not that this picture taken at Christmas was prophetic or anything, but it is official now. Elliott has asked Abigail Pardue to be his wife! After an adventure in getting the engagement ring, Elliott popped the question last night after they had watched the Disney Fireworks Show. Even that proved to be more of a challenge than Elliott had hoped. The Fireworks Show was delayed nearly an hour, and Abi had to be at work at 4:00 a.m. today, so she wanted to go home before the show began. Elliott talked her into staying, and then when the fireworks began a couple of kids came and sat at their feet, and someone else sat on the bench next to them. Elliott dutifully waited until the end of the fireworks and after everyone else left, and then took the knee signifying the beginning of the end of his Bachelorhood. One of the first things Abi said to me on the phone last night was, "are you sure you guys can put up with me for the rest of your lives?" To which I replied, "oh we can handle it, the question is can you put up with us?"

Peggy and I are very happy for Elliott and Abi, and feeling a little older today as well. So goes life, eh?

You Could've Been Here...But You Weren't

Ian and Emily were with us, however, as Peggy and I did something we haven't done in way too long...go to our favorite beach at Round Island! Yes, we actually went to the beach today. It is a shame to live nine miles from your favorite beach (not the closest beach to the house even), and yet never go! We have truly become Floridians! Well, we did enjoy our trip and Peggy and I already have a date for our next beach excursion (sorry, no advanced notice for you). I sent this picture to Elliott and Abi just to rub it in for them. I also took a picture of Peggy talking to her sister Terri and emailed that to Terri, but alas, that picture shall not make this blog. I do want to sleep in the same bed as Peggy tonight!

Chomp, Chomp!

Well, many folks in Florida are quite happy this morning in wake of the University of Florida's dismantling of UCLA in the NCAA basketball championship game last night. With former Marshall University Basketball Coach Billy Donovan at the helm, the Gators demolished the Bruins 73-57. I am not a huge Gator Fan, but I am an S-E-C guy all the way, and since Donovan has Marshall ties, I root for Florida when they aren't playing my beloved Kentucky Wildcats. So, I join with those in extending my congrats to the Gators. Job extremely well done! Weren't the six losses Florida suffered this year all at the hands of UK?

Spring Break Blast

What a great time we had at the Fabulous Blount Mansion on Thursday, March 30th! 15 students and 3 "adults" helped splash the water of of the pool, enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs (along with chips, drinks and brownies), played all kinds of games (can you say "Skip-bo"?), and just relished each others' company on the Thursday of Spring Break Week. "Lord Vader" had the gals beating him with Fun Noodles, the Marco Polo game got pretty wild, and Scott proved to be the "War" king. Ha!

On a more serious note, the C-I-Y Summer Conference costs will be $350, and all of the money must be in by Sunday, May 14th. Payments to your account are being accepted now. Summer Conference is one of my favorite trips each year, although I have to admit that it takes me longer to recuperate from those trips each year. This year should prove to be very interesting because the Blount family leaves from Milligan College to head to Louisville, KY, and the North American Christian Convention. Since Elliott will be part of the worship band for the adult sessions at this year's convention, how could we NOT make the trip? So, our recovery from C-I-Y will be at the NACC. Whew!

The 2006 Florida Christian Youth Convention promises to rawk your socks off. This convention takes place Dec. 1-3, and features Bart Stone as the speaker, the Atoned worship band, and my dear bud Phil Luckeydoo to emcee! Yeah, baby, come on down for this convention!

Oh yeah, and our youth group is once again this year participating in the 30 Hour Famine during which we raise money to feed hungry children through World Vision. If you would like to sponsor me, please send checks made out to "World Vision" to me at the church (796 20th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL, 32962). It takes only a dollar a day to feed a child, and I would love to feed at least one child for one year. Can you help? Thanks!

The Life

I have spent way too much time stressing over things that I cannot change lately. Today was one of them, as I spent an hour and a half in a meeting dealing with the various complexities (read "Catch 22") involved in our church building project. I am still stinging from from some other personal matters, and the fact that we are driving a rental car while Vatland tries to fix Elliott's car (I emphasize TRIES) just adds to my general sense of frustration. So, this afternoon after dropping Ian off at work and before going back out to pick him up while dropping Emily off at work, I decided to read a book by the pool. I got in my swim suit, pulled a chair out into the sunshine of a March afternoon in Vero Beach and did some reading about the shame of the cross. I also did my personal devo reading and journaling, all thanks to my iBook and the wireless Internet connection at the house. I love that combination. Sitting by the pool listening to the water churn and feeling the light breeze as the sun warmed my ever-increasingly large body was just way beyond relaxing. Even with the heavy subject matter of the book I am reading to help with sermon prep. Yes, I was working, but my office was my pool deck. Just gotta love that. I may have to spend most of the day tomorrow out by the pool, reading and enjoying the benefits of living in Vero Beach, Florida. Time to stop stressing and start relaxing in the love of God. After all, He could have me somewhere up north where it is still freezing cold, gloomy and generally yucky. Yes, this really is the life, isn't it?

March Out of Control-ness

Well my NCAA brackets bled out long ago, but I must say that I am totally impressed with LSU's performance over their past two games. The fact that Florida also made it to the Final Four just goes to show the pundants don't have a clue. The S-E-C is down this year eh? How many Big East Teams made the Final Four? Zero. How many ACC Teams meade the Final Four? Zero. How many Big Ten Teams? Zero. HGow many S-E-C teams? TWO. May Florida and LSU meet in the National Championship Game. Yee-haw (Juntion).

Seminole Trail

This is a picture of my childhood home at 519 Seminole Trail in Danville, KY. The huge Oak tree in the front yard was a sappling we planted when we first moved there in 1969. It is massive as you can see. It was good to be back in my hometown and see some friends. The occasion was stinky...burying my childhood best friend, Mike Wilson. It was the toughest thing I have ever done in my ministry, but it was also rewarding to know that I was able to fulfill Mike's request and that the family was more than pleased with my words at the funeral service.

Anyway, it was wild to see the Oak at 519 Seminole Trail. Childhood memories. Hmmmmm...

David Michael Wilson - Oct. 2, 1958-March 1, 2006

It's been a long day. I just got word this morning that my best friend from childhood passed away after a long battle with medical complications stemming from lymphoma. Mike Wilson was the best man at our wedding. He was the only guy from Danville, KY, that I kept in regular touch with over the years. Mike lived in San Diego, but ten summers ago, the two of us met in Danville for our 20th High School Reunion. That was the last time I saw Mike. We talked on the phone often, but not nearly often enough. Mike was fiercely loyal, a big family man (he loved being a grandpa...that's right he was a grandpa!), and he had a heart of gold. Even while battling his lymphoma over the past five years, he did pro bono legal work for other cancer patients to help them through the legal and insurance mazes they had to travel. Yeah, he was a good guy lawyer.

We often talked about growing up in the small southern town of Danville, and we both agreed that we lived a charmed childhood in that little town. It was always his desire to be buried there. Next Friday, that wish will come true. About four years ago, when Mike was having several medical problems all at one time, he asked me if I would preach his funeral. Of course I told him that I would, but I also told him that I didn't want to do it for at least another 20 years. Well, Mike did his best, but he fell short of that goal. Mike was one of the most courageous men I have ever known. He was the kind of guy everyone would want for a best friend. Although he took second spot on my best friend list after Peggy, he never complained.

A flood of memories has come my way today, most of which will remain mine, several of which will be shared with those who attend the funeral in Danville next week, and all of which give me great comfort in this time of loss. While Mike was not perfect, he did come back to Jesus over the past five years. Nothing else matters. Mike, you have fought the good fight, you have finished the race. Now take your crown of righteousness and save a seat for me, will you?

Covered Up

Okay, so we opened the doors to the Oslo Oasis yesterday. I spent the day covered up in last-minute details including a fruitless search for the air hockey paddles. My day was a dead sprint from the time my feet hit the floor until the time I finally laid down last night. Ian had the morning off from school (thanks F-CAT), and he helped me do the last minute moving of stuff around at the Oslo Oasis. I then took him to school, ran to Wal-Mart to get some stuff like trash cans, light bulbs, etc., ran back tot he Oslo Oasis, ran back to the office and then back to the Oslo Oasis again. I got there two minutes after we were supposed to open the doors.

I had plenty of workers, but no Oslo Middle School kids showed up for our first day. Not entirely unexpected, as we are still getting the word out. Meanwhile Emily called needing a ride to go in to work. She's not on the schedule for Mondays, but they needed some extra help, so I took her. Ian went along too, and helped in an unofficial capacity at the Bible Sale store in the outlet mall. I then stopped by Sears because another sporting goods store employee had told me over the phone that Sears carried air hockey equipment. Yeah, right! One package of pucks, and no paddles. Oh, they'll have some in at Christmas time.

Flying back to the Oslo Oasis, where my workers were diligently making copies of flyers, and doing some more cleaning at the place. They are such a good bunch of folks. I wrestled with one of the computers that suddenly decided it didn't want to talk to a monitor, and never did convince it to play nice. It now sits unplugged and may wind up in the landfill today!

At 5:30, I headed home just in time to see Peggy take Ian and Emily to the high school for chorus practice, and fix Peggy and me some salad for supper. My first meal of the day (unless you count the candy bar I bought at Wal Mart earlier in the day). I collapsed on the couch for about 20 minutes before needing to get ready to go to an Elders' meeting at the church.

While sitting in the Elders' meeting, my right arm started itching just below my armpit. I thought nothing of it, scratched without even looking and tried to pay attention to the discussion in the meeting. My neck itched some too, so I tried to sooth that itch. After I got home (just in the nick of time to watch "24"), I started paying attention to the fact that I was itching in several places. I started examining myself and found out that I had broken out in hives! I mean I was covered in red, blotchy patches, from my feet, up both legs, from my waist up to my neck front and back! My arms, my wrists. Lovely. Took a couple of benedryl and went to bed. This morning, my blotches are fewer in newer and small in size, but wearing shoes today will be a LOT OF FUN. Still have major blotches on my thighs, feet and wrists. Today is going to be a swell day.

Oslo Oasis

It's taken much longer than I had hoped, but the outreach center we will operate on Oslo Road is about to open next week. This outreach center is targeted specifically at students from Oslo Middle School who live in the general area where the center is located and where our new church building will be constructed. I have secured the services of several members of VCC to operate the facility on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and while I don't expect a stampede of students next week, I hope we can get things up and running and show the community that there is a safe place for their Middle School Students to come hang out after school. Thanks for your prayers for this outreach effort. I'll try to keep you posted on how things go.

Gran - Nov. 30, 1912-Feb. 7, 2006

blounts-gran
Originally uploaded by blountman.

On Tuesday, February 7, Gran went home to be with the Lord. We knew it was coming. Gran was ready. It still stinks. We are SO glad that we got to go to Ashland over Christmas Break and spend time with Gran! He was alert and knew us and enjoyed the visits almost as much as we did. We saw him every day while we were up there. That was the main purpose of the visit. It was one of the very rare times that the five of us have gotten to travel and vacation together since Elliott started his college career.
Peggy is up in Ashland for the funeral, while the rest of us make due in Florida. Emily is sick and hasn't been in school since Wednesday morning (when she had to come home early). I am so glad that we were able to get a flight for Peggy and that she will get to spend some family time. I am also so glad for the example Gran lived for all of us. If I could be half the man of God that Gran was, I would be twice the man of God that I am now. Thanks Gran, enjoy your rest in the Lord, you deserve it!

Basketball City, Baby!

With the serious rain storms over the past 24 hours in Vero, what better to do than to watch as much basketball as possible. With the ESPN Game Plan, we can watch our choice of college basketball from all around. We saw the Lousiville-Notre Dame Game along with most of the nation, but then watched Bama whup up on LSU, and Tennessee (boo) continue to roll. Then we headed to the Whitt Gym at VBHS to watch Florida Air Academy and Vero tangle. One of our youth group guys plays for Florida Air Academy (Jayvee team), and it was good to get some of the group together to support Zach. Zach's team won, but the varisty lost to Vero (go Indians) for their first loss of the season!

Of course I then made it back home tonight in time to watch the Gators chomp all over my beloved Kentucky Wildcats. I was afraid that would happen. Ah well, we need to regroup and whup the snot out of the Volunteers on Tuesday night. Since tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday, and since I preach in the morning, guess I should shut this thing down and go to bed, eh?