Time is moving so fast!

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since the last time I blogged.  I feel like my life is flying past me so fast I can't even see everthing what's going on.

Since my last post, we finished Vacation Bible School with about 75 kids.  That was really an exciting week.  We had so much fun and I loved teaching the kids new songs with all the motions.  We also had the kids take up an offering for missions that week.  I didn't know until Monday night that the offering was for our trip to Africa.  We collected our largest VBS offering ever with $900.25.  Pastor Tommy encouraged the kids each night by telling them we had enough money to get me and Jean to Africa, but we needed enough money to get us home.  One church member told me he gave the 25 cents so I could come home.  Ain't he just a sweetie pie?!?  Jean and I are going to talk with our team leader and see if we can purchase something like a cow for a family while we're in Africa.  I think that's something the kids will really relate to and be able to understand.  They helped buy a cow in Africa!  How cool is that?

Sunday, July 25, was Pastor Tommy's last Sunday with Center Grove Baptist.  We had a great service that day with a huge lunch afterwards.  Everybody was very emotional as you'd expect since he'd been our pastor for 9 years.  We watched him complete his master's degree; meet, court, and marry his wife; have two children; build a house; and complete his doctorate degree.  Shucks, he practically felt like a little boy who we watched grow up. 

Pastor Tommy and his family did a lot for our church and our body of believers.  I think a lot of people, including myself, are much stronger in their faith now because of his teaching, preaching, and encouragement.  We'll miss all of the Kiker family, but I understand when a call has to be answered.

Mitch and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary Monday, July 26.  29 years!  Where did all the time go?  We were so busy the week and weekend before that Mitch suggested we take that day off from work and just be together to do whatever we wanted.  I still can't believe he took a day off from work just to goof off with me, but he did and we had a great day!  Mitch and I are simple people, so it doesn't take anything extravagant to please us.  The one place we knew we wanted to go was Outback.  Nothing else really mattered, so we spent most of the day in Virginia shopping and looking at things I could use or take with me to Africa.  We found a Dick's Sporting Goods in Virginia Beach that was just an awesome store.  I wound up buying some new shoes to wear on the trip that will be really versatile for any kind of weather or climate, but I am feeling so much buyer's remorse I can't hardly stand it.  I can't justify wearing new shoes to a country where most people probably don't even have shoes.  I think they're probably going right back where I got them because this feeling just won't leave.  God's telling me something!

The time to leave for my trip to Africa will be here before I know it.  I've been walking off and on since the first of the year, but I think I better get realy serious with it now if I'm going to be shape for my trip.  My counterpart who's going with me has been walking for a few months.  She's lost about 40 lbs. and walks every morning at 5:30.  However, she is retired so she doesn't have to rush back home and get dressed for work when she's done.  One day soon.....

Less than 90 days to be exact.  I'm constantly getting papers in the mail from the retirement system to fill out and return, so it's moving rather quickly.  I hope I'll be able to adjust and devote a lot of time to things I want to do instead of rushing through so many things I have to do.  We'll see!!