So Friday night, while Mat and Charlie spent the night at the Lewis' house, Rand, Seren and I went to Barnes & Noble for the Harry Potter Release Party. Man, the place was a *ZOO*. We got there at 9:30 (the book could not go on sale until midnight). There was a drawing, and some HP word find puzzles, and several costume contests, but for the most party, the three of us just found a place to sit down (between the bookshelves as all the chairs were taken), and read books. Seren found the latest Evanovich book, Lean Mean Thirteen. Rand was reading the Knife of Dreams, I beleive. I picked up an interesting book titles Atlantis Raising. I read the first 4 chapters and I think I'd like to read more.

Anyway, we finally got the book at 1:15 in the morning. My dear, misguided wife told my son that he could read until he passed out. When I woke up at 8:00 the next morning to go to the Single Parent Oil Change at church, sure enough, he was passed out. That afternoon, we went to Martha's wedding, with Rand (and his book) in tow. It was a nice wedding, BTW, but I had allergies and took some Benadryl and Alleve which almost knocked me unconscious. I ended up leaving early and falling asleep in the van. But, even will all of that, Rand finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows by 6:30 Saturday evening, about 17 hours after we got the book. And it is 784 pages. Yeah, the term 'voracious reader' comes to mind. Now Mat and I both have bookmarks in it, and Seren is waiting in line. I should finish it tonight. It is a very good book so far (I have about 100+ pages left) and seems to be a very good end to the series.

Let's see, what else is new... We had Teri Sue, Jason, his three kids, and his parents over for lunch on Sunday. With David and his two kids, it made for a rather busy house. Jason's mother is an interesting character; an older charasmatic. I always thought that was an oxymoron, like black republican or conservative democrat. It was alot of fun having everyone over. There is something nice about having a large group come over and just talking.

It brings to mind my last birthday party. I remember distinctly sitting back and looking at the people all around our dining room table, everyone talking together and having a good time. I really enjoyed that night, and I feel great love and a strong kinship with every person that was there. I mourn what I have lost since then. I wish I could go back to that night. Even just to experience it again. Oh oh, I'm starting to sound like CoCo the Talking Guitar. Calculated Existential Angst. Thankfully, I can't keep a serious thought going for long.

I passed the Cisco QoS test yesterday. One down, 7 to go. Actually the magic number is now 2. That's how many tests my company is waiting on me to pass. It's come down to a race; Can I pass these two tests before Craig passes his MCSE? I'm not worried, the company need to send Craig to a bootcamp.

As for me, I am beat tired. Exhusted mentally, physically and spiritually. PASS class was good last night. I felt the presence and work of the Holy Spirirt to a degree that I have not in a long time. When I got home, I resolved to get to bed early tonight. Too many nights of burning the midnight oil study have caught up to me. However, just I was ready to roll over and drift off to lala land, Seren gets a call from our neighbors. They were having a maritial crisis. So Seren and I went to their house and talked to them, individually, then together for a couple of hours. All I can say is 'Ago Ministro'. At times like that, that becomes like a mantra to me. "I serve". I'm just glad that I don't have to rely on my own strength or my own wisdom to do these things.

Speaking of serving, tonight is the "18-mealer". Boy, I don't like that play on words. But the only alternative I can think of is MEFFGA (Massively Enormous Free Food Give Away). And that has *no* gravitas. Anyway, regardless of what it is called, it should prove to be a good time. At least it has in the past.

So this morning during worship (which, BTW, was lead by Mike and Jen Wall, after a 2 year hiatus), I was struck with an analogy. I saw the Holy Spirit as a conductor of a vast orchestra. We are the instruments. God writes the music. The Spirit calls some of us to rise our voices in worship and calls others to bow our heads in prayer. Through the good times and the bad, the Spirit leads us to follow God's music the way it was meant to be played, in every way bringing glory to Him.

It was really good to have Mike and Jennifer leading worship again. It was great worship.

On a more familial note, Rand and Mat asked us today if they saved up $150, if we would give them $50, so they could buy a second trampoline. Of course we said no. One trampoline takes up enough yard space, thank you. 15 minutes later, Matrim comes in and askes if he can save up and buy the right to save up and buy a trampoline. Oh, man. This kid is gonna be a lawyer.

Wow, has it really been three weeks since I posted?!? So what's been going on... hmm. Let's start with lessons learned:

1) I'm glad I don't live in Iowa, but in Minnesota, where people realize that Premuim Gasoline should cost more than regular.

2) Divorce sucks.

3) Valley Fair is best in small doses.

4) Transformers is a fun movie, but not life-changing.

5) Saw preview of I am Legend movie coming out this Christmas. I hope I do not learn a single thing else about that movie until I see it opening night.

6) Series finale of SG-1 would have made a good episode, but sucked as the finale.

7) God is good, all the time.

8) Summer is hot and air-conditioning is good.

9) Did I mention divorce sucks? I think God hates it for a reason.

10) I can make 800+ sno-cones in 2 hours. Recall Taste of Heaven 2007 for details.

That is all. For now...