Tuesday: A typical beginning at our Grove getaway. Down to the picnic table for some coffee and deep thinking. :-), Today we started out shorthanded with Kaiser, Tyler, and Preston at the Shangri-La golf course. Max and Ryan Webb rolled me down to the dock. A few hours later, Blake, Bethaney, and Ava Carlisle arrived and brought Haley back. Later that afternoon, the guys headed out for some wake boarding and surfing. I've never experienced surfing, yet, but I think that it will be fun.

Over the years we have experienced many mechanical breakdowns. I can remember 2 flat tires on the on the pontoon trailer, 1-300 hp outboard playing dead all week, a broken windshield, numerous breakdowns on the standup jet skis and WaveRunners, and a few bumps, bruises, and pulled muscles. Many years ago those small problems seemed like mountains, I have personally let a few of those things ruin several days of vacation. Today I know better! Over the years I've learned that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." I also know that " God causes ALL things to work together for good to those of us who love Him and who are called according to his purpose." What used to look like a mountain, is actually several small problems congregated in one particular place. There is an old saying that I like to use as an illustration for conquering mountains. Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.

This year there were some molehills (small problems), but it really isn't that hard to overcome a molehill. Much love, Dennis

Honey Creek Resort Vacation day #1

This was also posted on the Care Pages website.

Grand Lake vacation: Day one

Cheri and I were the first to arrive at Honey Creek. We picked up the key from the front desk and right away I saw Tyler and Marcus, two of the owner's sons.

We pulled up to the cabin and within a couple of minutes our friend and owner of Honey Creek, Max Tillman II, showed up asking if he could help Cheri to unload. I'm a firm believer that God puts people in our path to ease some of our burdens. Max T. on many occasions has donned wings and a halo.

The Carlisles and the Webbs were just a short time behind us. We settled in, and I headed down to the picnic table next to cabin five. This is the place where we make all of the decisions about what we're going to do each and every minute of the next day-NOT!!  We do make some plans, but for the most part we play it by ear every day. It's kind of like when we allow God to light the path that we're on, and being comfortable only able to see one step ahead.

Around seven o'clock the rumblings of thunder became apparent and we were soon chased indoors because of the lightning. The electricity flickered a few times and then quit completely. Fortunately it was only off for about 30 min. The cabins that we stay in are made of cinderblock and tend to warm up pretty fast without the air-conditioner running.

Cheri and I turned off the lights at about 10:30 PM and I'm not sure how well she slept, because I fell asleep at approximately 10:32 PM. And that was day one.

Much love, Dennis

Vacation 2012

Sunday, July 8:

Cheri and I, along with Max and Debbie Carlisle, and Haley Wedel left Fairview headed to Honey Creek resort in Grove, Oklahoma. We were meeting the Webb’s at Grove, but this year our daughter Whitney didn’t get to go and the Willits’s did not get to go.  The skies were overcast and occasionally leaking a few scattered raindrops. We had perfect weather for a leisurely drive. For most of the many years that Cheri and I made this trip, I was driving my pickup and pulling our pontoon boat. Sometimes there were even a couple of stand up jet skis strapped on. The boat was loaded with wake boards, trick skis, air chair, fishing poles, air mattresses and lawn chairs. We used to play hard and then go to the dock and rest before moving on to a different activity. I'll have those memories forever.

Last year we made the trip to Grand Lake, but my health was not good. I was miserable 90% the time and I'm sure that affected everyone else in our group. I'm in much better health this year and I am determined to enjoy every possible minute of this vacation.

Unlike the past, Cheri is the driver and I ride shotgun. I've seen things today that I never saw when my attention was focused on the road. It was a much more leisurely drive. I will elaborate some other time about each day of the vacation, but today I want everyone to know that I enjoyed each and every minute of my 2012 vacation at Honey Creek resort. Honey Creek is a very special place with some very special people, but for the most part what makes for good times are the people that you are with.

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Much love, Dennis