busy boy

it's funny how i always think that next month will be the quiet month...i'm always telling friends who want to visit or want me to visit them that this month is really busy but next month seems WIDE open...then the month arrives and i wonder what sort of drugs i was on when i made that nonsense prediction...i knew september would be crazy because it's sorta like the restart of local youth ministry...all the new kids move up (and there is a BUNCH of the bright eyed bushy tailed this year) and everyone settles back into school...PLUS this fall the SAYW (www.syracuseareayouthworkers.com) are attempting to help launch about a dozen Youth Alive clubs on syracuse area high school campuses...this is a major undertaking and we've had a couple events to help get it going but it is also an extended commitment on our end as we 'coach' the campus missionaries...chuck klinger from northside baptist and i are the coaches for liverpool - talk about a HUGE missions field - wow...
september is also the month of many fantastic birthdays now INCLUDING my beautiful new niece abigail grace (pictured above)...also erin's mom is basically in labor now and will probably have their TENTH child, another september bday...and mine was this month too...i'm not that big into celebrating my bday - i mean, i'm no party pooper but i just dont like making a big deal out of it- i must prefer make a big obnoxious deal out of others - i guess i dont shy away from being the center of attention when it is necessary, i.e. leadership, youth group, etc...but i dont like being it just for being it's sake...make sense? ah, whatever
PLUS football begins in september (GO EAGLES!!!!) and baseball is wrapping up (PLEASE WIN YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
it also seemed like i was in one meeting after another this month all concluding last night at the new hope banquet where i was the giver of the benediction (aka closing prayer)...it was nice night - over 600 people there, rooey stroman sang (did great) and a real powerful speaker who used to work at a hospital that allowed full birth abortions -it was stirring to hear her story and encouraging to know that a law has been passed against that...they asked all the pastors to stand up and i stood up and the two old ladies sitting next to me were so pleased...it's funny, when you say that you're a pastor there is ALWAYS some sort of a response - either positive or negative...well, these ladies were thrilled which came in handy BECAUSE...for dinner there was a salad bowl with cherry tomatos in it...i put one in my mouth and but down - yes, you know what happened next - cherry tomato EVERYWHERE ..on the table on my sleeve ON THE LADY'S HAND ON HER PLATE!!!!!!!! i was horrifically embarrased but she took it in stride - all i could manage to say is: "you allright?" (as if i had poured acid on her) - she said yes and i said (as if she didnt know by then) it was a cherry tomato - to which she replied, "well, nothing you can do about that"...HAHA - NOTHING?!?! how about i eat like a grown adult?!?! actually, cherry tomatos are weird because you can have your lips glued together and they'll still find a way out...sheez -so meetings, meetings, awkward dinners...
and fall is here which i adore -this weather makes me one happy boy...
BUT october was NOT supposed to be this busy - i leave for boston this monday, for the adirondacks next tuesday, pittsburgh the following friday and belfast, northern ireland the wednesday after that..yikes!!! granted i will enjoy thoroughly all those trips it's just gonna be tough being out of the office for half the month especially with the youth group growing a ton and all that needs to be done to prepare for november...
oh well, atleast november will be quiet...er...