A Great Weekend

My parents, older sister Cyndi, and niece Kathryn were in town this past weekend. For the short time we spent with each other we had a very good time.

My parental units arrived on Friday via their van. Cyndi and Kathryn arrived at Union Station in Chicago via Amtrak. They walked around downtown Chicago and had lunch at the original Potbelly's. Kathryn works at Potbelly's in Dearborn, MI, and wanted to see how it all got started. When she informed the manager of the original Potbelly's that she was a Potbelly employee, she and Cyndi received a free lunch! Who says there's no such thing?

Saturday saw all 8 of us going to the movie theatre after having lunch at Pizza Hut. Mom, Dad, and Cameron saw Journey to the Center of the Earth; Cyndi and Michelle saw Momma Mia; Kathryn, Chris, and I saw The Dark Knight (which, by the way, was a great flick. Heath Ledger was superb as The Joker!). After relaxing at home we loaded up the vehicles again and went to Silver Cross Field to watch the Joliet Jackhammers take on the Gary-Southshore Railcats. Close game, but the Railcats prevailed in the end. The aftergame fireworks were spectacular. I like things that explode and make colors.

After church on Sunday I cooked some burgers on the grill and we all had a nice lunch together. Then, after picture taking and hugs we said goodbye. We got Chris ready to go to Walcamp. We loaded up the car and drove up to Kingston after stopping in Sycamore to have supper at Culvers. We got Chris to camp and situated him in the treehouse where he'll be spending the week. It's going to be a quiet week around the house. But when he gets back... the chaos will resume! Chris is definitely someone who makes things happen.

At the end of the week, after Chris returns from camp, Chris and Cameron are going to purchase a Playstation 2 and Guitar Hero paraphernalia with the money they have been saving. I'm really proud of those guys. They worked hard helping Michelle and me keep the household running with the daily chores that must be done. With the combination of weekly allowance, getting paid for performing tasks above and beyond the call of duty, and birthday money they managed to save enough for their entertainment wants. They have been dying to have their own Guitar Hero game instead of waiting to play everyone else's.

Yes, I do have a life apart from the world of pastoral ministry and theology!