I just finished cutting up some firewood to take camping next week. We’re going to take a couple of days and do some hiking in Grayson Highlands State Park. We’re also planning to bike the Virginia Creeper trail - 17 miles, almost entirely down hill. Our men’s group camped out and biked the trail last summer. We had an absolute blast! I’ve wanted to go back with the family ever since.

The only down side to our trip is that Emily isn’t going to be able to go with us. She’s still serving down at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, but she’s had an amazing summer! Sarah flew in this past Monday and it was the first time she had been home since Christmas. I’m really looking forward to being away for a couple of days, and sitting around the campfire with Laurie, Sarah and Robert. We’ll be back midweek for Robert and I to finish getting ready to head to Chester on the mission trip. The week after we get back, it will be time to take both girls back to school.

My Dad was a prophet. . . I can’t tell you the number of times, when the girls were little, that he used say, “Enjoy them, Buck, they grow up fast.” Yes indeed!