A Nephew's Wedding

O God of Light and Love,

Tonight we rejoice and give thanks to you for Nathan and Ingrid, for the laughter, art, and poetry of their lives. We rejoice because you loved each of us so much that you allowed us to know them as friends and family, and in that way have graced each of us beyond measure.

We thank you because of who Ingrid and Nathan are and who they are becoming. Thank you that they came into each others' lives at just the right time. And thank you for their open hearts and adventurous spirits.

Let their love for each other remind them of how much you love them and how much you want their life together to be filled with joy and purpose. Bless them in the commitments that they express here tonight, so that those commitments can last and so they can face any difficult together...and with overcoming love.

For I pray these things in the name of the One who embodies your love, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hot Hiking!

Paul & I have wanted to hike together this summer, but other things kept interfering -- jobs, appointments, etc. Because of the heat, he worked an earlier shift (5 a.m.-1 p.m.) on Tuesday, and we agreed to go hiking that afternoon . . . on the hottest day of the year! Sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do.

We thought we were pretty tough until marathoner Kara Goucher blew past us two times!

A Varied Weekend

After working on our yard Saturday morning, I headed to Eugene/Springfield. That afternoon I enjoyed seeing Grant Giraldi play a great game in the Little League State Tournament (11-12s). After supper I enjoyed a "sentimental journey" as I hiked the north side of the McKenzie River, viewed the new baseball stadium outside Autzen, and surveyed all the changes on campus.

Sunday morning I worshiped with Harvest Community Church and ran into Brian & Amanda Bird and their daughter. They were members of our church for a short time before doing two years of missionary work in Central Asia. Later that morning I was at Eastside Baptist in Springfield. Two elderly members remembered me from 30 years ago, and Wayne Strong, the church's music leader, proudly showed me their plans for a new facility. I had lunch with Corey Zanotti, the pastor, and his beautiful family. What a great weekend!

My Mom

Leona Langston -- "Mom" -- is a very young 92! And today she told me, "I'm just so happy."

And that made me happy.