It is now officially summer

OK, where did the week go? :) As I shared with my buddy-since-second-grade, David Vander Laan, I started the week in first gear. Put in the clutch and slid into second gear on Tuesday. Third gear on Wednesday. Fourth and fifth gear on Thursday...
Well, you get the idea.
It's officially summer. I bought a few ears of sweet corn at the Mankato Farmer's Market on Tuesday. And tomatos! And new potatoes. And more. Luke and I found some more sweet corn today at the Lake Crystal Farmers Market and it was even better than what we had earlier in the week. So bring it on! Fresh sweet corn means it's finally summer!

Finally

Finally, nearly four years in the planning, comes the online version of the weekly column which amazed and confused the good (and other) Dutch folks in Pella, Iowa. And beyond. If I were you I'd expect more, but this is it. Like the sign on the path to the castle: "I'd turn back if I were you." I'm kidding. Anyway, just as I wrote the original Still Up in the Air many years ago as some sort of a wild and futile attempt to keep my sanity as an accountant, now I write it to keep my sanity as a pastor. And to remind myself of what I've always believed: "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

True to form...
This first post was originally NOT my first post, but rather the description of the blog. But, oh, bother, the blogger gods will only allow 500 words or less as a description. At least I'm smart enough to cut and paste... Big Eight CPA work at least taught me a few useful skills. :)

Anyway...
We just returned from our longest family vacation since our move to Minnesota. Actually, longest since 2001 when I started seminary. Actually, longest ever. We had a great time, and if I was more savvy I'd share some of our photos. Maybe later, if that's alright with you. (Heck, it's my blog, what am I asking YOU for?) Must be I've gotten so darn Minnesota Nice over the last four years. (I'm smiling, I'm kidding, I'm laughing out loud and refusing to use the abbreviation.)

But as I was saying, the vacation was great. Cruising from Seattle up to Alaska and back including Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Victoria. And 4+ days in Seattle with two road trips through Mount Rainier National Park, a visit to (and up) the Space Needle, two great walks through Pike Place Market, a day at the zoo, watching the sunset over the city while eating dinner at the Golf Club at Newcastle, and much more! Stay tuned for details.