Wow, what a week we've had!  All sorts of stuff going on.

First, it was a real blessing to be able to see Bros. Troy and Lupe for a couple weeks.  They're both back to the war now, but it was good to see them during their two-week break.  They both were able to go to Conference, so that was very cool!  I love how God works stuff out.

Conference itself was a blast, as usual.  There was good, encouraging preaching and lots of friends to go eat with and catch up with.  I got to see my friend Vanessa's baby again, which was wonderful.  She is my bud for life, and I always look forward to seeing them (her, her husband, and two kids).  They are newly arrived in Corpus Cristi, TX to help start a church there with another Reverend and his family.  So keep them in your prayers.

We also got to see Chevon and Bro. Kendrick and their daughter, Andrea.  They are on their way to Columbia, SC to start a church there.  Woo-hoo!  Those are kind of my old stomping grounds, so I'm really excited about that. 

Besides the eating, sleeping, and worshipping we normally get to enjoy, there was also a music workshop.  I learned some real good stuff, and was inspired to pick up the guitar again.  But I think it would be better to continue to focus on the piano.  Joy.  I was telling my Dad that switching from flute to piano is like moving from New York to France.  I feel like an exchange student who is totally removed from my native tongue and submerged in a foreign one.  I guess that's good.  It's a fast way to learn, anyway.

So Conference was a time not only for a physical break, but also a spiritual refreshing.  I got some questions answered and some things ironed out in my own spiritual walk.  It's just good stuff.  I felt a lot more relaxed this time.  While we did fellowship with a lot of people, I didn't try to cram every minute with activity.  You know how you try to get as much in as you can in certain things?  This time I just went with the flow.  I walked around the fellowship hall one night and just talked with anyone who cared to have a conversation.  It was cool.

I got to see Bobbi, too.  There are some people that you just click with.  She's one of them.  I remember the first time I met her, I thought she was someone else I had met before, and I kept insisting she had three kids, etc.  She just gently kept saying no, that wasn't her.  Turns out she and the sister I mistook her for have very similar hair and skin coloring.  But at that first meeting, I felt like I would really like to get to know her better.  Now, six years and many shopping trips later, she's someone I look to for encouragement and a good dose of reality every now and then.  Thank God for our friends!

So anyway, that's about all for now.  We're looking forward to Kristy's visit next week.  We're planning to spend a day in NYC, so please pray for us.  Especially for my driving!  Ack!