Even If

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
'Cause I know You're able
I know You can

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

 

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Bart Millard / Ben Glover / Crystal Lewis / David Garcia / Tim Timmons

Even If lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Music Services, Inc, Spirit Music Group

Tragedy

Monday, July 7, 2025

Three days ago tragedy struck in Texas. More than 100 people lost their lives in the wake of prolonged torrential rains. Many of the victims were young children. How painful this must be for the survivors and for the families impacted. 

I read today about a couple who dealt with the devastation of losing a child a few years ago to leukemia. They shared their individual and collective struggles and how they came out on the other side of the agony. This is one of the scriptures they shared.

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
Psalms‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV

I simply cannot fathom the loss of a child or a grandchild. That’s not the “right order of things.” I can only imagine the pain, the loss of purpose or the marital strain. 

So what can we do? Pray.

Some of those who survived will struggle with why they lived and others did not. They will be at risk for depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Pray for their peace. Pray that they will be able to sleep at night.

The families who lost children are now facing the hardest days of their lives. Pray for their strength. The parents will be at risk for divorce. The surviving siblings may suffer any number of problems including guilt, hopelessness and anger. Pray that they will grow stronger together as a family.

Some families may never recover the bodies of their loved ones. They are at risk for never being able to find closure. Pray for God to fill the void in their lives. 

I can’t imagine the pain, the devastation, the grief, the feeling of being trapped in perpetual slow motion. Yet my prayer is that God will heal them all. 

And this might seem a little strange but I pray that people across the country and the world will come to faith in God as a result of this tragedy. May He be glorified through the lives of these victims.

LORD, You hear the cries of the survivors and families. May they seek refuge in you. Fill them with your peace, Lord. Bring them through the devastation even stronger than before. Heal them, Lord.

AMERICA

Alabaster cities glow in the night. 

Majestic mountains are rocky and old. 

Enduring freedom.

Revolutionary spirit. 

In God is our trust!

Conquer we must when our cause is just.

Amber waves of grain flow to the horizon.

 

America is beautiful. 

America is founded on incredible people.

We are kind.

We are smart. 

We are diverse.

We are important. 

We are industrious. 

We are independent. 

We are hard-working.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways—then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

LORD, We thank you for using our forefathers to establish our country 249 years ago. We are not perfect. But we love you and want to bring you glory every day. Give us the strength to turn toward you and away from evil. Forgive us, Lord. Heal us. 

Parades, Baseball, Hotdogs and Fireworks

Friday, July 4, 2025

I had the opportunity to explain the significance of the Fourth of July to two of my grandchildren this afternoon. Since our first Independence Day was 249 years ago, I guess we really can’t quite comprehend its magnitude. 

Today we celebrated with lots of fun stuff. We saw a great parade in Lexington complete with bands and horses and fire engines and motorcycles and the requisite political stuff. We attended a baseball game where we saw 5 home runs, wild pitches, double plays and a bunch of runs and, of course hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, ice cream, baseballs, glowsticks. The cherry on top was an 18-minute fireworks display! Awesome. 

Let us never forget the sacrifices paid by men and women through the years to establish and protect our freedoms. 

Photo by Danielle Rowe

LORD, thank you for our land of the free and home of the brave. May we never take our country for granted. But more importantly, Lord, may we never take you or your love for granted. For it is by your love and sacrifice that we are free from death and will celebrate our spiritual victory one day with you in heaven. 

Proud to Be An American

We have a lot to be thankful for as Americans. This is a wonderful land. Celebrate her this week.  

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DdaqwGRdRIsk%26pp%3D0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjv9s2O4ZuOAxWXHNAFHYQ-OzYQ78AJegQIGhAB&usg=AOvVaw1av5ow1mCbHB67TEb6kza3

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife
I'd thank my lucky stars to be livin' here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.
Well, there's pride in every American heart
And it's time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land (I love this land)
God bless the USA

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land (I love this land)
God bless the USA!

Artists:  Gladness Beard Jennings, Lee Greenwood

Creator: StefanoVenturi | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Copyright: Stefano Venturi

Verse Two

We sing this song quite often in our family, partly because we attend sporting events every time we turn around. But rarely do we see (or sing) the second verse. 

O thus be it ever 
   when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes 
   and the war’s desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, 
   may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made
   and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must,
   when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto:
   “In God is our trust!”
And the Star-Spangled Banner 
   in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free
   and the home of the brave.

Our nation has never been perfect (because it is made up of imperfect people). But it was founded on the One whose perfection surrounds us every day. He loves all of us  throughout the world in spite of our flaws. And He wants more than anything to have a personal relationship with us. He, alone, brings true peace. He, alone, brings true freedom. He, alone, is the true source of love for our neighbors. We owe our lives to Him, alone. 

God, bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above! 

John Bukaty

My America (I Still Believe)

This week we celebrate America. She is a wonderful country — the best. Danny Gokey has a great song I’d like to share. Here are the lyrics and the link to play it. 

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0ei6R3ryIYQ%26pp%3DygUII2FtcmlrYWE%253D&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiU7YrH05uOAxWX38kDHSOUGs8QwqsBegQIExAE&usg=AOvVaw320PUG1osn2JVCzZJ-6kqM

I hear them say, "Our country's far too gone"
Even claim, "Our fathers got it wrong"
But I won't give up on us, and I'll take a stand
'Cause we can overcome, this is not the end

I still believe in us, oh, America
You're still the land I love, though a little bruised up
Stars and Stripes still cry liberty
Over evil over tyranny
Blood poured out for our freedom
They sacrificed it all for this nation
I still believe in us, my America

Our history is full of bravery
Heroes fought for our equality
Now is the time to make peace and forgive our faults
Because united we stand or divided we will fall

I still believe in us, my America
You're still the land I love, though a little bruised up
Stars and Stripes still cry liberty
Over evil, over tyranny
Blood poured out for our freedom
Sacrificed it all for this nation
I still believe in us

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
And crowned thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

I'll always believe in us, my America
This is the land I love, but we gotta heal up
Lady Liberty will always be a sign of hope unto the refugee
The immigrant can find escape from oppression to a better place

I still believe in us
I still believe in us
I still believe in us
My America
Our America

LORD, Bless our country. Bless our people. Heal us. May we be your beacon of light to the world. 

Image Credit: TZIDO SUN/Shutterstock.com

We Are Independent

When we were girls, our parents taught us how to be independent and strong. We learned to do various things around the house like sewing, cooking and ironing. We did things outside like working in the garden and mowing the yard. Daddy showed us how to do calligraphy. They both taught us how to think for ourselves. They helped us learn how to study. They even made sure we were comfortable just being alone. 

And independent we became. 

Independence doesn’t necessarily mean being stubborn, though. It means being able to take care of yourself and knowing when to get outside help. It means standing up for yourself and for others.  It means thinking through problems to find viable solutions. It means learning how to work and live with others. 

Independence doesn’t mean being selfish either. It means deciding for yourself what is best for you, not because you are self-centered but because no one else can answer that question better than you can.

Yesterday we celebrated our independence from King George’s rule. We withdrew from his kingdom and established ourselves as our own country. We learned how to take care of ourselves and when to strike alliances with others to make us even stronger. We became thinkers and problem solvers. And we built a strong network of people who stand tall in the face of adversity. 

We are America. We are strong. We are self-sufficient and yet benevolent. We recognize good opportunities and we seize them. We are thinkers. We are problem solvers. We are human. We stand up for what is right. We are confident. We are independent.

Lightning in a Bottle

When you were a kid, did you catch lightning bugs and put them in a jar?

rjostudio.Etsy.com

Did you call them lightning bugs or fireflies?

I can remember the lightning bugs at my grandfather’s house in the summer. They were everywhere. We used to love to catch them. Sometimes we would let them crawl up a finger to the tip, spread their wings and fly. 

It was a part of what we did in the summer outside after dark — play kick the can, play hide and seek and catch lightning bugs. 

Did you know that they are actually a type of beetle? I think that’s creepy. I would have never allowed them to crawl on me had I known!

And did you know why they light up? It’s the girls’ way of finding a boy — turning their abdomens fluorescent yellow!

I hadn’t seen any around here for quite some time but I hadn’t really thought about it until last weekend when we were out in the country after dark. There they were. They say that all the lights in the city keep lightning bugs away because they can’t communicate well with each other unless it’s dark. Sorry little bugs!

LORD, you sure had a vivid imagination when you created lightning bugs because they are funny looking little things. Regardless, they have brought joy to many a child over the years. And for that I thank you. 

We Praise You God, Our Creator

What is the purpose of creation?

According to Genesis, while God was creating the heavens and the earth and the waters and the dry land and the daylight and the darkness, he also created Adam. But he thought Adam looked lonely. So he made critters for him. Then He realized the animals didn’t really fill the void in Adam’s life, so He created Eve. 

I think God gave us all of creation for our enjoyment, satisfaction and fulfillment. But I don’t think He intended for us to idolize any of it. He wanted us to look at all this cool stuff around us and to be reminded of Him, the Creator. 

Take The Mona Lisa, for instance. It’s an interesting work of art, to be sure. Great hosts of people visit the Louvre in Paris every year in order to see it in person. But they know the Mona Lisa didn’t paint herself. Leonardo da Vinci did. She is his handiwork. He gets all the glory for how wonderful she is. 

Henry Van Dyke penned the words to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” in 1907. His second verse hits the nail on the head:

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and Heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee. 

We see this concept in the New Testament as well. 

And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭RSV

Make no mistake about it. God thought we would enjoy all the things He created. But he wants us to worship Him as a result. 

LORD, thank you for creating the earth and the sky and the sun and the moon and the stars and the mountains and the waters and the plants and the animals and the people. It is all so fascinating. Help us to be mindful of your creation this week and to quickly give you all the praise and glory for its perfection. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

What do you do when it rains on your wedding ceremony?

Stock Photo by Emma Naylor Photography

Some say that rain on your wedding day brings good luck and can actually be very romantic. 

When we married in July 1982, it was very hot. Our ceremony was in the nicely air-conditioned First Baptist Church in Bowling Green. We had our own little wedding shower that day. I don’t believe in “luck” and everything about our wedding was already romantic. But I can definitively say that our lives together started out really “steamy!”

This is wedding season. And rain moved across the bluegrass this evening. So for those who tied the knot in this mess, I have this to say. “Look for the rainbow!”

God created the rainbow as a sign of promise. He made a covenant with Noah that never again would He destroy the earth by flood. He has kept that promise for a very long time. 

Rainbows show us vivid, almost electric colors. They show us God’s majesty. They remind us of His love. Even after a wedding shower rainbows declare that there is hope in the Lord. 

LORD, thank you for giving us your covenant of marriage. Thank you for your well-kept promises for our provision. And when we experience a storm, thank you for your rainbow!

Where is Everybody Going?

My father-in-law used to say this sometimes when we were on the road, referring to all the other vehicles. “Don’t you wonder where all these people are going?”

I had occasion to sit on a bench tonight beside a silo out in the middle of nowhere. I heard several different sounds, none of them made by a human. 

• squawking, cooing and melodious birds
• the occasional honk of a goose 
• buzzing little stinging things, fluttering pesky things (at least there were no cicadas)
• an occasional barking dog way in the distance 
• Jet planes way overhead 
• about 20 cars on the little country road 

As I sat there taking in all the sounds around me, I was jolted back to reality by several cars coming down the lane together. Where could so many cars possibly be going on this remote little road?

It turns out that they were all coming to the barn where I was sitting. Once they all arrived, no more cars came along. And then I started hearing laughter and squeals as those who had arrived greeted each other. 

All these people knew exactly where they were going — to a very specific celebration in honor of a very special friend. 

Will heaven be like that? I know that I’m going there. When I arrive, I will celebrate my very special friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I will never stop. 

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and are interested in learning more about it, let me know. I’ll be glad to explain the simplicity of it. 

Pray for James

I have a friend who told me recently about her brother, James. You should see her eyes when she talks about him. They dance. She clearly loves and respects this man as well she should. 

Growing up he was the man of the house, taking upon himself to care for his mother and his sister. 

Later he joined the military and did multiple tours of duty, just recently coming home to his wife and two young boys. Like many veterans, he shied away from the spotlight when his hometown celebrated his homecoming. Humility runs through his veins. 

He recently started a massive project, building a house out in the country for his family. That undertaking has now been put on hold. 

A couple of weeks ago, James went on a trail ride with a group of friends. I’m not sure exactly what happened but something spooked his mount and he took him for a horrifying run which culminated in James being thrown to the grown. 

His pre-teen son was one of the first to reach his side. And there he stayed until his dad regained consciousness and they loaded him up for transport to a hospital. The accident was in such a remote area that it took medical personnel hours to extract him by placing his stretcher on a side-by-side and walking him to the main highway. His son ran ahead to flag down the ambulance with a flashlight, for by this time it had grown quite dark. 

I can’t imagine getting the phone call my friend received. James had been rushed to the operating room for emergency surgery to remove his obliterated spleen. He had, of course, suffered a concussion and had also broken most of his ribs. 

I also can’t imagine being so far away from my sibling or my son in a situation like this. 

Both my friend and her mother do not live close to him or to his hospital. And what about his wife and children?! She has been beside him the whole time. And the boys? Goodness!

James was initially only in the hospital for a few days and then he was discharged to his home. His discomfort did not subside, however, and eventually his abdominal pain became unbearable. Now after a second surgery he is resting in the hospital until he can get more stable. 

With the approval of my friend, I’m relating James’ story so that I can request your prayers. We are too far away from him to do anything “tangible” to help him or his family. But we can lift this brave young man and his family up to the Lord. Here are some things for which to pray:

• for James’ favorable response to antibiotics
• for his vital signs to stabilize 
• for his strength to return
• for his medical team
• for his wife and his mother as they juggle their time between him and his boys 
• for my friend as she keeps working and waiting for news about her brother
• for James’ two sons

I don’t know James but in my mind I can visualize his helpless 6’6” frame lying in the hospital bed. I can imagine his saying, “I survived 5 tours of duty to be nearly killed by a horse.”

LORD, Bless James and his family. Bless the medical team caring for him. Bless the men who have committed to finishing his house for him. Help us to remember to pray for him. We thank you for his life. We thank you for his future. Grant him health. 

Hope = Joy + Peace

Do you have people in your life who are particularly special to you? Friends. Relatives. Mentors. Do you sometimes wonder how to pray for them? 

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Rome. He loved these people. He had been very involved in their conversions and he really wanted to see them again. 

But since he couldn’t be there to teach them in person, he decided to write them a letter of encouragement and instruction. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭RSV‬‬

I think it’s interesting that the prayer Paul wrote for his dear friends started and ended with hope. 

Paul asks the God of hope to bestow joy and peace through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The result is bountiful hope for today and for the future. 

So we can pray for God to give joy and peace to our loved ones and know that the result will be everlasting hope. 

Is there someone in your life who appears to be particularly hopeless? Perhaps your prayer for them should be for the God of hope to fill them with joy and peace. 

LORD, Today I recognized someone in my world who seemed to be particularly hopeless. May you fill them with your joy and peace through your Holy Spirit so that they may be able to rest in your arms and experience your hope. 

Irrational vs Clear, Logical Thinking

When I was a little girl, I struggled with asthma. Extremes did me in. 

• too much heat
• too much cold
• too far away from home
• too much laughter 
• too much running
• too much scary stuff

I remember having to go to the ER on countless occasions — usually when we were on vacation or were away from home and had forgotten my inhaler. 

I remember getting all worked up one night in the bed at grandmother’s house because I could see a little red light outside in the darkness and I fancied that it was the devil. 

One time we were staying for the weekend at a friend’s home and I got terrified over something (who knows what). Mother stayed up with me most of the night trying to calm me down so that I could breathe. 

That is when Mother introduced me to this verse and helped me to memorize it. 

II Timothy 1:7 KJV

VectorStock

Today I want to look at two components of this verse.

• fear
• soundness of mind

Someone once said that we can look at “fear” as an acronym: 

False Evidence Appearing Real

If someone has you in a chokehold with a handgun to your head, I think it’s safe to say that it is reasonable to be afraid for your life. 

But having an asthma attack over a little red light in the darkness is irrational. 

Having to leave a concert in a panic because an inhaler was left in the car is irrational. 

Not sharing with someone about God because of fear of rejection is irrational. 

For Christians, God’s Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. He goes with us everywhere we go. His characteristics spill out of us onto those around us — His power, His love and His rational thinking. 

And even with a handgun pointed to your head, God can give you the ability to stay calm and to think clearly about a way of escape.

So we have no good reason to be crippled by the unreal emotion of fear. 

What are some things that you have been afraid of that you later learned was unwarranted?

How did you combat the fear? Did you succumb to it. Did God replace the fear with rational thinking?

Did it take a concerted effort to overcome the fear or was it an easy thing to do?

LORD, Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for the fullness He gives our lives. Thank you for giving us the ability to think through things and to approach them purposefully. May you be glorified in us as we show the world who you are. 

FORTRESS (Psalm 18:2)

Once upon a time in the long lost world of kings and kingdoms, there lived a man and his family in a vacated castle on a hill between a bountiful meadow and a large, beautiful forest.

This man cared deeply for his family and provided for them well. They had vegetables from the fields, honey from some hives, eggs from their chickens, milk from their goats and meat from the animals nearby.  

Every day, the man would pray for God to protect them. 

One morning while tending the field the man realized the sky was getting dark. Looking to the west he saw lightning and a curtain of rain headed toward his home. Quickly he gathered his animals and family into the castle grounds. The trees of the forest began to bend in the wind. The rain began to beat against the rock fortress. Darkness enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the grey lifted and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe. 

That afternoon as the man tended the animals he heard a rumble in the distance. Looking to the east he saw the telltale signs of a thundering herd of wild horses headed toward his home. Quickly he gathered his animals and family into the castle grounds. The earth began to quake and the animals began to shake. The choking dust from the horses’ hooves enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the dust settled and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe. 

That night after everyone had settled into bed, the man went out onto the balcony to gaze at the majesty of the stars. Looking to the south he noticed lights in the darkness coming toward his home. Bandits. Quickly he secured the animals and fortified his home. Relentlessly the band of men attacked the man’s home with weapons with axes and with fire. But a point of entry the could not find. Then silence enveloped the man’s home. 

Soon the morning broke and sunlight shone through cracks in the heavy wooden shutters and doors. It was over. They were safe.

The next morning as the man prayed for God to protect him and his family, his young son overheard his father say these words:

I love you, LORD.

You are my ROCK.

You are my FORTRESS.

You are my DELIVERER.

You are my REFUGE.

You are my SHIELD, my POWER and my STRONGHOLD. 

LORD, We recognize that You are our Rock. On you we depend and not on ourselves. Thank you for your protection and deliverance and love. 

Coach Pitch Little League Baseball, Part II

Sunday, June 22, 2025

We rushed home from Somerset after church in order to be ready for Carter’s next tournament game at 3:30. It was hot as blue blazes out there but the guys didn’t seem to care. (Their fans did!)

Unfortunately, the Richmond All-Stars suffered their first tourney loss to Eastern (Lexington) and had to turn around and play a second game against another Lexington team, Bluegrass. We lost that game, as well, and were eliminated from the tournament. 

The Carter Fort cheering section was out in full force with Pa, Aunt Al, Harley and Aunt Tiffany not pictured. 



Sweet girls trying to find a little spot of shade. 

I forget sometimes that this child is only six. 

He’s a good little base runner. 

Our guys did a great job defensively. 

In fact, we had several shortstop-to-second force outs and we turned one double play. 

Nothing cures two losses in a row better than a water balloon fight with the coach. 

You know he’s a ball player when he wants to go home after 5 grueling hours in the heat and throw some more with his Poppers. 

He tossed the ball up and blasted it into the backyard a few times before daddy made him go inside for a shower. 

Well, I’m disappointed that our team didn’t make it to the championship or to state. But I think we did pretty well all things considered. 

LORD, thank you for providing some cloud cover tonight for the second game and for keeping everybody safe in this heat. Thank you for these fine boys on Carter’s team. And thank you that they had a good time.  

Coach Pitch Little League Baseball

Saturday, June 21, 2025

When our boys were little, they played for the Rich Pond Rockies in Bowling Green. When our daughter was little she played softball in Richmond. Now our grandson, Carter, has made the seven and under Richmond All-Stars team. They had their first tournament game today and won 18-7.

Our Carter is the lead-off batter and a good little base runner. He is 6.

“Other” Carter is 7 and played shortstop today. He had some good snags. 

Luke is pretty serious about catching. It was a hot day for all that gear. He’s is also 7. 

He’s a pretty intuitive player, here tossing under-handed to the first baseman for the out. 

Sweet smile from an excited boy!

They did a great job. 

Our family has been involved with sports from the very beginning. Bill played baseball, football and basketball. I never competed in sports but could hold my own waterskiing. Bill brought be into the baseball world before we were married, taking me to my first MLB game and teaching me how to keep score. 

When the boys played baseball, I was the team’s scorekeeper. Now that Carter is playing, I do the books whenever we are the home team. Today, though, I was just a spectator. And a proud one at that. 

I hope to have more baseball pictures tomorrow because the tournament continues in the afternoon. It will be another hot day. I hope we do well. 

LORD, thank you for the talent you have given these young boys. I pray that you will keep them healthy as they play in this heat. And I pray that we will all have fun!

Our Tour Guides

Friday, June 20, 2025

Our Tour Guides for the trip to Greece, Turkey and Italy were exceptional. 

While in Greece and Turkey we had the best woman ever, Anthoula, to see that we got from one place to the next without mishap. And in Italy, Gustavo did the same thing. We got to know these two fairly well. They did a great job of teaching us about the culture and keeping us engaged as we traveled from place to place. 

We had specialists that met us at each of our historic destinations. They taught us about the history, the culture and the Biblical significance of their respective locations. 

I was always a little nosy and would ask them directly about their religious perspectives. Some were Christian Orthodox. Some were Catholic. And some were Muslim. But they all respected our positions as Christians seeking to visualize where Paul had been. 

Imagine Tours did a great job of lining out our schedule and in getting some top notch guides. I was highly satisfied with the quality  of the tour guides, the superb accommodations and the tour from all perspectives. 

We are walking along the ancient wall of Thessaloniki. This is Anthoula and Vasilica.

We are in Phillipi. 

This is Metéora, the place where the monasteries had been built on the rock cliffs. 

If my memory serves me correctly, this is Norj, our tour guide for Turkey including Kusadasi and ancient Ephesus. 

I’m pretty sure this was our guide for Knossos. 

We are on the island of Santorini.

I think this is in the museum in Corinth. 

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t remember our bus driver’s name. He was so nice and could parallel park his beast on the left with his eyes closed! 

I’m gonna miss this woman. She was a riot. She talked about the moNASteries and referred to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” whenever possible. She held the other guides to the schedule. And she knew everybody’s names within a day of our arrival. I think if we lived near each other, we could be great friends. 

Federica showed us around in ancient Ostia. She was funny. At least SHE laughed at her jokes! 

Andreas (on the left) and Armadeus (on the right) took us through various Roman sites. 

Laura took us through the maze of the catacombs, flashlight at the ready. 

Sylvia took us through the Vatican. 

Gustavo was about Patrick’s age. He was born in Brazil but wanted to go elsewhere. So he learned English by watching “Breaking Bad!” He moved to Italy about ten years ago and learned the language and the culture. He married a Croatian girl and they have a very young daughter. He was delightful. 

LORD, Thank you for all the wonderful people you sent to direct our paths and to teach us about the ancient times. I pray that we made as much of an impact on their lives as they did on ours. 

Some Flowers in Greece, Turkey and Italy

Thursday, June 19. 2025

While in Greece, Turkey and Italy we saw enough rock/marble/granite to last us a lifetime. 

Sometimes the unexpected 

splashes of color were a breath of fresh air. 

Farmland in northern Greece

Kitten at the base of two date palms. This was not the first cat we saw nor was it the last!

These trees in Ephesus reminded me of the evergreen-lined road to my grandfather’s house.

Bougainvillea 

Blue Jacaranda 

Prickly Pear

Cathedral Cactus 

Jade Plant

Candelabra Aloe

Spruce? Cedar? It’s an evergreen!

Bougainvillea 

Spanish Broom

Gipsy Rose

I just love this shot through the relatively young evergreens of Delphi at the archaeological site in the valley below. 

Cyprus 

Umbrella trees — Italian Stone Pines

Purpletop Vervain

Oleander

Gazania

Nerium 

LORD, Thank you for the opportunity to see the vastness of your world. And when we were so far away from Kentucky I thank you for the jade plants and the cathedral cactuses and the pine trees that reminded me so much of home.