That fresh ocean smell...

There's no way, technically, to photograph the aroma of a crisp West Texas Autumn morning, but it's safe to say no one is going to seek to bottle it as the next great cologne.  A healthy scent of manure greets the nostrils most mornings prompting me to announce, "FEED LOTS!"

I miss the fresh smell of the ocean and the clean Rochester air. 

Not complaining... Just saying... 

End of the Summer UPDATE... and, THE BEACH

Delivering Meals in the NeighborhoodCamp Como, Colorado

 Jesus Loves You Celebration

Today, my family and I have been in Amarillo, TX for a month and a half.
Summer is a whirlwind of a time out here in West Texas.  We deliver lunches on Bikes during the week and host groups from all over who are looking to minister to the children and families of the inner city of Amarillo.  Every day, we host VBS in our Park.  We caravanned (or rather, Van-avanned) to camp with our Teenagers to Colorado and we travelled to a more local Campground for a getaway with our Pre-Teen children.  We ministered to the families in our Neighborhoods through an annual Block Party we host called, God Has Not Forgotten You, Jesus Loves You Celebration.  I know, the name is long, but it best conveys what we are trying to get across to our friends and families in our neighborhoods.  In the midst of it, we surprised our kids by spending a week in Orlando having a blast at the Disney Parks.  They were initially pretty concerned that we had to lie to them to keep it a secret, but I think they are well over it by now.  Blythe captured the prize of having to get stitches at the youngest age of our kids on day 1 in Orlando... You'll have to ask Leighton about that one.  While we were in Orlando, all our stuff arrived at our home in Amarillo, so we've been slowly unpacking boxes from our garage.
Dawn has kept the kids busy swimming at the pool each day, but now, the pool is closed for the season.
We have been getting settled into our home, and the kids have now started back to school.
Gibson is pumped to have just started football.  He's excited to report that he is now a Wingback and a Wide Receiver.  He's learning more each day.
Brady is in the second grade.  He is turning Teddy bears into Link and creating wherever he can.  He has an imagination that doesn't quit and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with him.
Leighton will start Pre-K soon.  In the meantime, we constantly have to keep our ear open to make sure he has not escaped out the front door.  He is just as active as ever!
Blythe's a sweet little princess.  She's beginning to communicate more and more.  It's fun to watch that unfold and exciting that we now have more of an idea what she's thinking.  She's tough, too... Guess you have to be when you're the youngest of four and the only girl.

We miss y'all back East.  I posted this photo here, because I have really missed the beach.  Not the sand in the suit and your hair (no jokes), but the smell of being at the ocean and playing in the waves and even the taste of the salt on your lips.  There's nothing like it here in West Texas.

Keep praying for us and the ministry that God is doing here at City Church in Amarillo.  He is faithful every day and continues to show us glimpses of His amazing love and life changing Power in His TRUTH!!!  Pray for God's powerful provision on this Ministry as we Follow Jesus and Make Him Known here in Amarillo.  

Blessings!!!

Old friends...

Tuesday night after my softball game I had a great visit with a old friend who is my best my best friend all growing up Derek Churchill and his wife Jennifer.  We were best men in each other's wedding And it was really nice to reconnect!

I'll miss you, My friend!

Good luck on your hike!

Last full day in New England...

Last full day in New England (sigh).  I am tidying up all the loose ends cleaning out our house- unbelievable!

We realize that we won't be over take buddy this time around so I will miss our dog!

This is us on our way to taking Buddy back to his owner's former owner To take care of him for the summer.

WE WILL MISS YOU BUDDY!!!

Hazy hot and humid...

I tell you what I won't miss- this hazy hot and humid weather!

Amarillo will be hot… But it'll be a dry heat.

A Cape Cod summertime staple...

Last night I had Kool Kone... fried scallops and onion rings.  Butter Crunch ice cream (my Grandfathers favorite flavor) to top it off ... delicious.

Lisa Williamson Introduced us to Kool Kone when we were teenagers. We would watch the bugs fly into the bug zapper outside.

I'll miss Kool Kone... No one does onion rings Quite the same.

4th of July Parade in Marion

I will miss our annual 4th of July tradition with the Knudsen's, the Frink's, Tim and Abby Browning, and Kyle.  Marion's 4th of July Parade which has such a patriotic hometown feel.  Makes you feel proud to be an American.  Then breakfast afterwards with some of the best people on the planet!!!

The Beach...

Today, my family and I spent a near perfect afternoon at Silvershell Beach in Marion, MA.

I will miss the beach.  The smell of the salt water, the feel of sand between my toes, even scraping my foot on a barnacle covered rock.  I will miss the very friendly middle aged gentleman who works the quaint snack shop.  I'll miss watching the perfect white sailboats glide peacefully in and out of the tranquil waters of Marion Harbor.  I will miss bouncing my baby girl in the salty water and watching her squeal in glee as she splashes the water with her hands.

I will miss the beach and the ocean!!!

Last day at Embrace Home Loans...

Today's my last day at Embrace Home Loans.  This is an AMAZING company to work for.  This is a PHENOMENAL family to be a member of.  It's been 10+ years. I'll miss the friends I have made.  I'll miss the routine of coming to Newport every day serving at this incredible company!

What a BLESSING it has been to work here!  

Many more years of successfully helping families all over the country!

I'll never forget you, Embrace!!!

Friends with PHENOMENAL Camera Skills... Who also adores my kids.

We will miss our friend Alison who, not only is a terrific friend, but who has also blossomed into quite the photographer over the years.  I have benefitted greatly as my kiddos have been among her best shots. 
She has a great photo blog where she posts one of her original photos each day for a full year.  Today, she's up to Day 127.  http://alisonnoyce.blogspot.com/
She also has a wonderful blog about her family that would be a blessing to you. http://theyreallmyown.blogspot.com/

Here are a few of my favorites she's taken of my kids.  Great job, Alison! 

CIP Softball...

For the last number of years, I have enjoyed playing softball with a terrific group of guys every Tuesday night during the spring and early summer.  We aren't a top team in the league, but we sure have a BLAST together and we have gotten better every year we've competed.  I will miss playing with these guys and playing for the Lord!

"HUPP"

It's how Leighton refers to Mr. Hupp.  Simply, HUPP.
Leighton LIVES for visits to the Hupp home.  HUPP, Tractor Rides, Horses, Emma, Jake... It's ALL BOY for him.
And then, Emma and Jake babysitting... Oh man, our kids just LOVE that time!!!
Thanks Brian and Esther and Jake and Emma for loving my kids and us so much!!!
Your faith and your commitment to Christ is an example to us! 
We love you!!!  We can't wait to have you come out and visit us in West Texas!!!!!

Dennis and Callaghan on WEEI this morning...

INot that I will miss Dennis and Callaghan...
But they had former New England Patriots Wide Receiver, Wes Welker on their program this morning as a guest.  They must be reading my blog.  Their question to Welker was, "What will you miss about Boston?"
His response was the atmosphere... 
I would agree.  The atmosphere of a city so rich in history and tradition.  The atmosphere of a region so passionate about their sports teams.  Last night, I was in Boston with my two oldest boys and Kyle Nelson for the Red Sox game.  We got into the city early because Gibson wanted to see the Old North Church and Paul Revere's House.  So, we walked through the North End.  Gibson asked why everything seemed to be Italian there... and arrived at the scene of the Old North Church.  It's tucked back along one of the narrow North End streets, the spire stretches into the sky where on April 18th, 1775, the Signal Lanterns of Paul Revere warned of the march of the British troops to Lexington and Concord. 

Then we followed the Red and Brick line of the Freedom Trail for a spell arriving at Paul Revere Mall which showcases a statue of Paul Revere on horseback sporting a 617 Boston Strong Bruins "Jersey."

Then, we made our way back to Fenway.  The Sox game at Fenway started at 7:10pm and the Bruins dropped the puck at TD Garden at 8pm.  The city was abuzz with the Stanley Cup fever with Bruins jerseys everywhere.  Oh, and the Red Sox were playing, too. 
A GREAT night in the City...  In spite of both home teams posting losses.

Fenway Park... Boston Red Sox...

I will miss the last truly great ballpark, Fenway Park.

Every child who grew up going to Red Sox games remembers the sights, the smells, the cramped seats... And we LOVE IT!!!  Go Sox!  Long live Fenway Park!

Boston traffic... NOT!!!

Tell you what I won't miss about New England - Boston traffic!

BEST SPORTS FANS / TEAMS in the WORLD!!!!!

Ok... So we aren't rabid fans with Hooliganism running through our blood like some Footballer fans across the pond, but we're close!!!  We have some of the most AMAZING fans in the history of Sport.  From the Celtics to the Bruins to the Patriots to the Red Sox... The fans of New England sports celebrate a rich history that is unlike any other in Professional sports, anywhere.  It's that History that sets us apart.  That history that is passed down from generation to generation.
I remember the Red Sox and Celtics games my Dad took me to when I was a wee lad.  We ate pizza at the Halftime Pizza across the street from the Boston Garden before going in to see Bird and the 1980 Celtics play the Dallas Mavericks.  Even now, whenever I go to a Celtics game (which is not that frequent), I make it a part of the routine to visit that same pizza spot.
I love the Red Sox... I always have and I always will!!!  I imagine tomorrow's post will be while sitting along the left field line at Fenway Park.  Once, when my oldest was a little over a year old, we flew to Seattle to scout out a location for our summer mission trip.  I spent a good chunk of one of the flights whispering to him, "The Yankees are Yucky."  For a long time, whenever I asked him what we thought of the Yankees, he would immediately respond, "Yucky!"  My opinion of the Evil Empire in the Bronx softened a little after the events of April 15th, 2013.  Don't get me wrong, I am still a Yankee Hater, but how they responded to the tradgedy that struck their "enemies" that fateful Marathon Monday gave me pause to appreciate them and even consider them Classy... okay, I said it, don't ever expect me to say it again.

The Boston Bruins... One of the Original Six.  Joined the NHL in 1924.  The rich tradition of players down through the years.  It has been a thrill to be a part of this year's ride to the Stanley Cup Finals (if you can count watching on television at home, "being a part").
You know, maybe that the thing about Boston Sports.  We love our teams and we feel like we as fans play a great part in the success of the squads that take to the gridiron and the court and the ice and the diamond.  If it wasn't for us... Well... who knows if there would be the tradition we have had without us... THE FANS!!!!

My carpooling buddy and fellow worship leader... The Prodigy, Billy Monty.

Billy... I've been blessed to have you as my carpooling companion.  We shared stories, stupid thoughts, (I loved the Hulk Gloves Airbag idea... We should really market that), prayed together, rocked out and critiqued music together.  Those hour long rides to and from Newport every day have been a blessing to share with you.  I'm going to miss those.  I'm also going to miss watching you continue to grow as a worship leader.  I am so at ease leading praise with you knowing that if one of us messes up (usually me) we are comfortable enough with eachother that we won't miss a beat.  Stay focussed on Christ and lead from the overflow of your relationship with Him... in all areas of your life, brother! 

Natural beauty...

For the last ... well just about all my life I've had the privilege of living in one of the most naturally beautiful corners of the United States... New England.

From the lush countryside to the rocky coastline to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Then there's Connecticut which to me is beautiful but lacks personality.  New England will always be home and I will miss her...

I took this picture this morning at the Eastover Farms Reservation on my way to meet with Pastor Joel at COSI.

Brother from another mother, Andy MacLeod...

Honest, hardworking, principalled, trustworthy, fiercely loyal, reliable, wise... I could go on and on about my dear friend and brother from another mother, Andy MacLeod.  Thanks for your friendship, Andy!  Thanks for partnering with me in the work with the Youth.  You have sacrificed to be a part of what you feel God is calling you to do and be.  Thanks for your example and for leaving a legacy!  I will miss you, tons, my friend!!!  Proverbs 17: 17

My Aunt Patty and Uncle Steve...

My Mom grew up with 1 sibling.  A sister named Patricia.  All growing up, I remember many Sunday afternoons spent at my grandparent's home that my Mom and her sister grew up in, eating together, throwing the baseball with my brothers and my cousin and my grandfather, or playing basketball in the yard.  My grandfather passed away on Good Friday in 1995 and my Nana also went to be with Jesus about 10 years later.  But, I'll always remember with fondness growing surrounded by the love of my parents and grandparents and my Aunt Patty and Uncle Steve.  I

Uncle Steve is a car buff and I have learned so much from him about classic cars.  I appreciate his outlook on things and his wisdom.  My Aunt Patty is consistently the most considerate and thoughtful person I have ever met!  You all have been there for me more times than I could ever recount or repay.  Thank you for everything, Aunt Patty and Uncle Steve!  We will miss you!

Our Tuesday night and Thursday night fast food rituals...

Every Tuesday night at Cosi is buy one get one free small flatbread pizza night- I will miss this.

Also on Thursday nights after youth group we hit Qdoba for the mango chicken salad or a burrito I'll miss that too.

Kyle Nelson... man, myth, larger than life legend...

I will miss Kyle Nelson... I appreciate how our friendship has grown over the years.  You love to torment my kids, but they will be stronger for it, and I know you do it because you love them.  Thanks for your faithful serving with the Youth Group as both a "semi" and then a full leader as you have been these many years.  You have grown so much over the years and I have been blessed to be around you.  We will miss you, bud!