What stresses me?

Not much - but every August I have my hands full keeping Ann from stressing too much over going back to work. She too would like to win the lottery - not so much for the money - but for the security and comfort of staying home. I heard something about a 4 day work week recently - wouldn't that be great? I do get a bit stressed about keeping Ann from stressing so then we're both stressed. The kids pretty much go about their business and can't seem to tell that we're stressed which makes me wonder??? Maybe we're not that stressed------or maybe we're more stressed than we know all the time and August is nothing new for them.

We just came home from Bayfield. We spent a day sailing and a day sightseeing - okay so it was window shopping - and of course we had ice cream as an afternoon treat - okay so it was dinner, but we were on vacation. Do you ever wonder why I'm so quiet? It's because there's a lot to listen to - no - I'm talking about more than listening to Jeanie - there is nature of course, but even more than that. I really don't have a hard time making a decision - sometimes I just be quiet and listen and the right thing comes to me. Just recently it came to me that Ali is NOT going to date that 17 year old, Adam is NOT going to get Hannah Montana tattooed on his stomach, and Ava is NOT going to start her own "MySpace" page.

Kidding--------I can be funny though.

The girls and I are leaving tomorrow for our annual Dads and Daughters trip. We've been going for 5 years to a friends cabin in Grand Rapids. This year there will be 5 dads and 11 daughters. Maybe you've never noticed or known this, but I am easily drawn to nature. I loved John Denver's music because some of it brought me to some far off place where the world was easy and happy and peaceful. I can't wait to go up north again and "listen".

Psalms 46:10 "Be still - and know - that I Am God"

Try this sometime - I did this in Glacier National Park on a youth event years ago - Memorize that verse - go far away into nature and sit alone and repeat the verse to yourself. The first time emphasize the first word (BE)- the second time the second word (still)- and so on for seven times. Pause, though, after each reciting and really think about the word you emphasized and what it means. Pretty powerful.

By the way - Ann and I were talking around a campfire one morning - about all the passwords we're required to have at work and how we can't remember some of them sometimes. I decided that I'm going to try using biblical references like psal-46:10 - Our passwords have to have combinations of letters, numbers and special characters like the punctuation characters. I should now have an endless supply to choose from.

Rich