The Road to Omaha

Not many of you know what CWS refers to but it is the baseball equivalent of the Final Four. And of all places it takes place every year in Omaha, Nebraska. I have been wanting to go for a long time and even had reservations 2 years ago, only to have to cancel due to some minor heart surgery. So this year Luana and I packed our bags and headed up I35 and drove the 700 miles to Omaha. We had a really fun time and watched a ton of baseball which for me is like heaven. Luana was a true trooper and did not complain at all. The city is awash in baseball for two weeks and it is a big part of their economy. The people in the city were very nice and we met a lot of people from all over the country and everyone was really nice. I guess baseball people are just like that.
The other thing we saw which was not related to baseball was the flooding. When you are from Texas, flooding is like another language but it is a serious problem there and they take it seriously. I did not realize that Omaha sits right on the Missouri River and it has beeen flooding big time. Our hotel was actually across the river to the east and actually in Iowa. I took some pictures of some of the flooding and levees so you can get the flavor.

The beach balls in the bleachers is a tradition at the CWS.

Sandbags filling in the levee where the train tracks go.

This stop sign speaks for itself.

The first floor of this parking garage was under water.

Submerged sidewalks and more sandbags.

Sandbags, levees and flooded areas.

Omaha really is a big city.

This was a wonderful pedestrian bridge near the park and over the Missouri River.

Day 4-5

The Ravenel Bridge View of the Charleston bay from the bridge

Lu and me at Magnolia

Magnolia plantation

Typical flat boat used to go from Magnolia to Charleston

Large cypress trees

Great blue heron

An alligator in the swamp

A green heron

A couple of snake birds on their nest

Oaks in Savannah

Small house in Savannah

A little park in the city

Old boat on the Savannah river

Sunday was a really fun day. We got up and took a long walk up to the Ravenel Bridge which is a two mile long, 200 foot high, 1/2 billion dollar bridge across the Cooper river and was right outside of our hotel. We took some pics from the top of course. Then we drove out to Magnolia Plantation. It is the backdrop for a lot of movies, including the Patriot. It is an incredible place. We got to tour the house and then their extensive gardens. Next we took a tram ride over the whole 500 acres with a guide telling us about the whole operation. Then we took a boat ride around the land and former rice fields. Lastly we took a walk through the swamps on a boardwalk. It was really neat with lots of alligators and shore birds such as herons.

On Monday we drove the two hours down to Savannah GA. It was very similar to Charleston but without the charm. We walked all around the city and down to the river and got a good feel of the old city. Then Tuesday morning we packed up to leave. Unfortunately our flight had been cancelled and we had to scramble to get home that day but we made it. All in all it was a great time for Luana and me. It was totally relaxing and we did not get tired of each other.

Day 3-4

Myrtle Beach

Charleston - the four laws on one corner (law of God, a church; law of the city, post office; county law, courthouse; state law, statehouse)

Typical home with porch

Carraige ride - not ours.

Williams home

South of Broad, on the Battery

The next day we went to old Charleston. It is a beautiful city with lots of old southern charm. We started with a carraige ride through the old city which was fun and then we went walking all around looking at all of the old homes.

The following day we took a driving trip to Myrtle Beach which is very commercialized with one hotel after another but the beaches are nice and we sat out and did some body surfing. It was very relaxing and a lot of fun.

Nothing could be finer.....

Ft. Sumpter Cannons firing out

View of the fort from the sea

USS Yorktown

Boone Hall Plantation - the row of old oaks!!!

The Plantation house

Luana resting on an old oak

There is an old song that starts out "Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning; no one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her...." and that is how I feel after my first visit to South Carolina. Luana and I went to Charleston last week for a much needed vacation and to see a little of Luana's roots (she was born there). There was so much to do so I am going to show pictures in several segments. Hope you enjoy!

The first day we walked around Patriot's Point which was near our hotel and where the USS Yorktown is resting. The next day we went to Boone Hall, the oldest continuing active plantation in the south. The view down the entrance with the old oaks with moss you might recognize from "Gone With The Wind". After that we took the ferry out to Ft. Sumpter where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. It was interesting.

Life on the lake

There is an old saying that the two best days in the life of a boat owner are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. Well I have experienced both of those in the past, and now I am still in the exhilaration of the new boat ownership. Yes we made the plunge and took it out on Cedar Creek Lake for the first time where we have a lakehouse. It was a lot of fun and we look forward to a summer full of riding, tubing, skiing and wakeboarding.

Jayden, Duncan and EK
Campbell really did not like her lifejacket

Sweet Mollie with Luana and Aunt Kiki

Jayden

The Bobsey twins, EK and Duncan. Could cousins love each other more? EK loved the boat even when it went fast.

Amy!

Christy!

The Ogden clan.

Lesson Learned

Sometimes if we are observant enough we can learn a few things just from the everyday things in life. That happened to me just this week. I had been bemoaning the 98 degree heat in early May and lack of rain and getting down about it. Then we had a cool front and two inches of rain and I was running around praising God. Then I got bummed out because Luana's car died and wouldn't start. I took the battery in to get tested and sure enough it was dead and I had to get a new one. But then it turned out the battery was still under warrenty so I got a brand new battery for free. Again I was praising God for His blessings. I had lost my I phone about a month ago and never did find out where it went. I got a new one and did not think any more about it until I got my bill and found about $250 worth of international calls that I did not make. Obviously it had been stolen and I did not lose it. I called AT&T to see if they would waive the charges, but since I had not reported it as stolen they would not. Again I was bummed out but resigned myself to pay the bill. A few minutes later I was on the phone with AT&T again to try to get my bill transferred from my work to my personal account. I got that done and just happened to mention the international charges and what had happened. The sweet lady asked me a few questions and then waived all of the charges. I was back on the cloud praising God and ready for a wonderful weekend. Not five minutes later I went to get into Luana's car with the new battery and it was dead again. My spirits sank.
So what did I learn from all of this? The main thing is that my joy in Christ should not be dependant on what is going on around me. He is good all of the time, whether I am receiving His blessings or I am experiencing the difficulties of life. And since He is good all of the time I can praise Him for who He is and not whether I receive good or bad things or good or bad news. And since He is available to us at all times I can commune with Him all day and walk in His presense no matter what is going on around me. I know this is not new and it is not some great revelation but sometimes it is good to be reminded of the simple truths once again.

Happy Birthday

Today is Luana's birthday (I will not say how many) and I wanted to take this opportunity to honor her. We have been married for 34 years and I continue to love her dearly (those who know her will reply duh - how can you not love someone like her). She is my best friend and I still love spending time with her. Now even in the empty nesting years we do not get tired of each other.
She has been a great wife, always supporting me in whatever I do and going along with my decisions. She has tirelessly cooked meals, shopped for my clothes, washed my clothes, ironed my shirts, gone to baseball and basketball games with me and so much more.
She has been an awesome mother to our four kids, both when they were young and even now as they are adults. Even when I was gone all of the time she did all of the work and never complained (at least to me). And now she is an even more awesome grandmother. All of the grandkids love their "Mimi". She is so patient with them and gives them her undivided attention, which I think is her greatest quality.
She loves the Lord and I can truly say that as in Matt. 25 she has been one of those who has done it to the least of these.I could go on and on about her qualities and exploits but she is shy and humble and it would only serve to embarrass her, so I will end by simply honoring her for who she is and thanking her for spending her life with me. I am truly blessed.