Heavy Snows, Heavier Responsibilities.

It's winter in Colorado. The temperature went as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. I checked Whitehorse, Yukon, and it was 34 degrees. We seem to be the cold spot in North America. The snow was beautiful, but heavy and broke a lot of branches. As many as 15,000 were without electricity last night and still today. Otherwise, beautiful.

We are having a birthday party for one of our doctors today. Dr. Cherne is 85 and going strong.

I went to Washington DC this week. Had an invitation to a North American Division meeting with the Supporting Ministries of which ASI is one. We were a group of about 20. The meetings were very interesting, but I don't know what was accomplished except perhaps to make friends and to spread goodwill toward one another. I did see Pastor Orville Parchment, and a host of other long time friends.

Better still was that I got to visit with John, Janice, David and Arwyn. That was great. The whole trip was worth it on that account. We met at David's new house, cozy and good for David. I read Calvin and Hobbes to Arwyn. Endearing. Did you know that there is no point in debriefing Calvin--he doesn't wear briefs.

We visited for several hours. It is all interesting to us that within the last year we all-John, Jason, David and I are saddled with heavier responsibilities. (You can add Janet to that, except that her responsibilities she's carried for some time now.) For some of us, John and I, the responsibilities were totally unexpected. David is now in management in the Communications branch of the Risk Management Dept. of the GC. We all praised the Lord for the honors, and are praying for wisdom to execute wisely our tasks.

All is well. God is good and the future is bright.

Love it

Someone reminded me that I hadn't blogged lately. Yea, I know. Not enough hours in a day.

I did run to Chattanooga this week. I hope I haven't already told you. Steven Grabiner, OCI President, Wilbur Atwood, the President of Wildwood and I had a scheduled meeting with David Gates. All I can say here is that the meeting was productive of great good . . . I hope. Time will tell.

I also met with Rusty Mckee of Little Debbie fame. I was blown away. The man was so congenial that I felt like we had know each other forever and that we were the best of friends. My purpose was to raise funds for our new Lifestyle Center. I believe, true to my nature, that I did a soft sell. He assured me that I couldn't have come at a better time. Mckee's Little Debbie had a slump in profits since 2008 and now they seem to be recovered. Besides, we are getting close to the end of the year when these folks need to donate for business purposes. We'll see. For me, the friendship is worth everything. (A people oriented person am I.)

We had a cooking school this week. Breads. It was great. The people didn't leave till 9:30 PM. The people were genuinely grateful for the experience.

Our Lifestyle guests are just the grandest people ever. Eleven women and two men. The laughing-est bunch you ever met. All suffering terribly, yet full of godly joy. I think they'll live forever.

On Sunday, I need to fly to Washington DC. The General Conference of the SDA church has invited me to attend an all day meeting on Monday. They are paying for everything. David Fournier heard I was coming and offered me to stay with him. Love it. Too bad I already had a hotel room. I'll be sure to find time for Davey regardless.

Everyone asks how I am doing with my new ASI responsibilities. Truth is, I'm loving it. I'm way too busy, but I prefer that than having too little to do. So far, I'm keeping out of trouble and I am praying double time so I don't. I have lots of help from my two VPs and my Executive Committee and all the former ASI Presidents. Love it, plain and simple.

Sometimes I get invited to eat with the Lifestyle guests. Oriental day. Super good.

Same table.

Every evening I go to the mountains to pray.

Later.

Always Rushed.

Since we last talked EVI had its yearly convention. In may respects it was the best ever. We had a great speaker--Chester V. Clark III. The convention was better attended than ever. Leasa sent out invitations to many of our friends and a good number came who would not have thought of it.

The board meeting was done in two and one half hours. Try to beat that. Kevin Hogfeldt was our board chairman this year because Steven Grabiner couldn't make it. Kevin did a great job of it.

We then traveled to DayStar after the EVI board and got there around 9:30 PM. The DayStar board was very, very encouraging. The Lord is blessing them tremendously this year. I am truly pleased with what is going on there. They have 33 students, aiming for at least 35. There farm is on track to profit about $150,000 this year. They have awesome farmers.

We got back home at 9:30 PM that night.

The next day I nearly spent till noon on the phone with various ASI people. In the meantime, I am trying to write an article for ASI and I must start on our Faith Ventures also.

Tonight we have a reception for Philip and Dayna Smith. They were married a few weeks ago in CA., but being as they are staff at EVI, it is only fair that we celebrate with them also. Sorry, no pics. Maybe next week.

Visitor Convention Morning. Not the least nervous.

Aspen gold on the way to DayStar

Sunflower by the side of DayStar road

Castle Rock at DayStar

Ignacio Perez is my farmer. Great Year.