what i did on my summer vacation

woke up several mornings to 60 degree mountain weather...heard will willimon preach twice...saw the braves defeat the reds, 4-1, Smoltz preaching eight innings and giving up only one run...spent some time in Malaprops in asheville (extraordinary bookstore, look for a future link)...completed several gold level sudokus in the asheville citizen times (they shrewdly place the sudoku in the classified section)...mowed the grass at our mountain cabin twice (it takes about ten minutes)...ate at the Varsity in north atlanta with my brother...ate at Butts on The Creek in Maggie Valley...walked around Lake Junaluska (2.5 miles) once or twice each day...had several meals and conversations with good friends...read two really fine novels: Saints At The River by Ron Rash, and The River Why by David James Duncan...saw the Lake Junaluska parade on the 4th, and the fireworks over the lake that evening...spent very little time in front of computer or television screens...took our younger daughter to volleyball camp at Western Carolina University...listened to Terri Gross interview Darrell Scott on Fresh Air...found an abandoned piece of furniture that my wife is restoring...went in Mast General Store and Whitman's Bakery in Waynesville...saw the season premiere of Monk (I give it five stars*****)...talked by phone with our older daughter who is in Beijing...read a really helpful book on spiritual disciplines, The Sacred Way, by Tony Jones...took a few naps...read the first forty Psalms---I was struck with the recurring theme of God's "face"...had very brief conversations with three or four bishops, in passing...gave thanks for faithful staff and lay leaders keeping the church going in my absence...touched the baptismal font in the memorial chapel at junaluska, where our older daughter was baptized...listened to Willie Nelson's new cd, You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker (highly recommended)...realized how fortunate/blessed I am to be at Providence.