Tonight’s picture is of the chicken section of our local Hobby Lobby and is a tribute to the lovely and talented Stephanie Tirman, who is not just a great daughter, but who is VERY FOND of chickens…..just ask her…..but I digress.

Today however, I was able to do TWO very significant things….  One was to drive MY TRUCK down to St. Matthew’s in Nashville, Indiana where I was the Celebrant today and also delivered the sermon.  And since I have only driven it a couple of times since we got it because Scotty needs it to work, it sort of felt like a “date” with my truck……a date that ended far too soon!  Scotty leaves on the 21st and then we will grow to be tired of each other I am sure.

The second thing was having the opportunity to have a personal conversation with Scotty about many different things.  He was on leave for 10 days after graduation and is now working for the recruiter here locally.  But he is a US Marine, and his time is not his own.  Yes, I do know that I will be able to drive him to the airport and see him then, but other than that, there are NO guarantees.  He and the other Marines are told what and when to do what they do and they just do it.  So obviously any time I get to talk or see him is valuable to me.  I had a short bit of it today too.

But now that the day is done and Ben is in bed, I can get the opportunity to talk to my wife.  We live busy lives and they often are driven by circumstances beyond our control.  Soon enough it will just be the two of us, and it is often like that after Ben goes to sleep.  But the kids are all important to us, and like many before us, we struggle with them leaving the nest.

It too will pass though and in time new chapters of life will be revealed.  And I am looking forward to it too…….especially that long-term relationship I intend to carry on with my truck.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+