Dear Friends,

I tucked my planner under my arm, opened the umbrella, held tight to a cup of coffee, and headed into the rain. 20 feet from the front door, the umbrella inverted in the wind, I dropped my planner on the wet ground, and then sloshed coffee all over my pants. A great start to a new week!

The nice thing about wind and rain is that there is always sun around the corner. By the time I post this blurb, the sun will have returned and all will be right in the world. This is a good thing – because our high school students are on “Intersession” which is similar to a college interim. Students signed up for one class for one week. Here’s a list of what is offered:

Astronomy (on-site, field trips, and a night at the telescope)
Dipped in Chocolate (on-site, field trips, tasting, and learning the art of making…)
Drivers Ed (on-site, required class for a driving permit)
Food, Folks, and Fun (local, cooking with Grant Padmos)
Martial Arts Mania (local, a taste of five different disciplines)
Music (on-site, exposure to music around the world)
New York, New York (off-site, the big apple)
Trekking the Sierras (off-site, winter gems in the Sierra)
Worship Seminar (off-site, major symposium with students across the continent)
Yosemite (off-site, the most beautiful spot in the world)

Intersession week provides an opportunity for alternative teaching and learning. Students expand relationships and get to know the teacher in a new way. It is the type of learning experience that is remembered for a lifetime! Don’t you wish you were in high school again?

I will accompany students to a Worship Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 150 students from the U.S. and Canada will join international students in a symposium of worship!

Not even a Monday soaking could dampen my excitement for this Intersession week. The sun always shines…

Sticker Shock

Dear Friends,

Our oldest, Jacalyn, is engaged and preparing for a June wedding. Before you offer your congratulations, hold on. If your oldest child is not yet married, I suggest you sit down before reading on…..

According to CostofWedding.com, the average cost of a wedding in the United States is $20,398!!!! And that doesn’t include rings and the honeymoon! If you are a parent of a daughter, I suggest you lay down with a cold cloth on your forehead before reading on….

Tradition dictates that the parents of the bride are responsible for most of the costs!!

You can get up now. Jaci is committed to a meaningful and classy wedding event at half the cost. She’s planning a garden wedding and reception. Friends are helping with catering. Her dress will likely be pre-worn. You get the idea. There are literally hundreds of books and websites that offer ways to save money on weddings. Both Jaci and my wife Pat are frugal and creative when it comes to cutting costs. We can do this. We can do this….

Life is full of “sticker shock.” I haven’t bought a new car in 20 years but I’ve always had a car. “Camping Across America” has been our family vacation theme over the years and we wouldn’t trade our adventures for anything. Actually, my family is RICH! All my children experienced quality education in Christian schools. We love each other and love God. We’ve always had enough “stuff.” And Jaci will marry a fine Christian man and I will help to pay for the occasion!

I guess I will accept your congratulations after all.