Tuesday, August 23, 2011

OkGo

one of my favorite bands, if only for their insane creativity is OkGo -- and now they've teamed with some of my favorite childhood entertainers -- these make me happy: first the teaser, then the video...



let me catch you up...

when last i wrote, we were preparing to go to West Virginia and then Indiana; Grace had had her tonsils removed and was healing slowly, so Keli had to stay home with her.  the boys and i had great interaction at the West Virginia Campmeeting and then with the Liberty Street Church of God and Pastor Brian Harrel's family and staff in Parkersburg, WV.

the boys and i went on to Anderson where i was able to catch up with a former mentor, Rolland Daniels who is now on staff with one of our partner churches, Madison Park.  we also took in 3 Colts practices and got the boys got autographs from Coach Caldwell, Adam Vinateri, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Jeraud Powers (from their home town), Robert Mathis and more -- it was a real treat and being able to do this in the comforts of Anderson made it all the better.

(i hope to post some pictures soon)

we came back to Alabama and reluctantly re-enrolled the kids in school, which meant school supplies, shoes, some clothes, and the various other costs it takes to put kids in school these days.  we were reluctant because we had been hopeful for a late fall launch to our new assignment, but it looks like December is the next target time frame*.  meanwhile, we are blessed with good Christian teachers who are not only understanding of the unique transition process our children are facing, but also prayerful for us.

* all we want for Christmas is a second Christmas; the eastern orthodox churches (like the Coptic Christians in Egypt) celebrate Christmas on January 7 -- we would like to be settled in Cairo by this date!

meanwhile, there's all sorts of busy-ness here as we continue to travel, juggle schedules of school and soccer, and finalize our service to 6th Avenue Church of God.  our last official Sunday has been set--we will conclude our service with them on Sunday, October 30.  this is a bittersweet process as we begin to walk away from where our heart has been the past 8+ years, but also walk toward where God has been pulling our hearts.

there's been a lot in the news from the Middle East -- from Libya to Syria to Egypt & Israel -- now David Letterman has been brought into all of it; that's right, if you haven't yet heard, David Letterman is on al Qaeda's hit list after jokes about Bin Laden and other leaders.  you can read / watch the CNN report HERE if you're interested; i'll close this post with how he was able to keep even a death threat lighthearted:


"Top 10 thoughts that went through my mind after hearing about the threat."
10. Someone wants to silence me? Get in line.
  9. Nothing says summer fun like a death threat.
  8. Why is the staff in such a good mood?
  7. Save me, Oprah.
  6. Should I wear my Kevlar hairpiece?
  5. And here I thought nobody watched the show.
  4. How can someone be so angry at a time when Kim Kardashian is so happy?
  3. Some people get Emmy nominations; some people get death threats.
  2. This seems like (Jay) Leno's handiwork.
  1. Oh my God! They canceled the George Lopez Show


this weekend, we're with Pastor Holloway and the Central Park Church of God in Birmingham, AL -- thank you for your continuing prayers on our behalf...

Friday, August 5, 2011

July Newsletter

it's newsletter time...
July Oldham MEMO

Please pray for:
- the boys and i as we head to a weekend with the Church of God in West Virginia
- for Keli and Grace as they stay behind (Grace continuing to heal from tonsillectomy)
- for our friends at the Athens (AL) Church of God whose building was struck by lightening 2 nights ago and burned down; Athens was our first official church visit -- pray for Pastor David Root as he leads the Congregation to rebuilding

thank you!