Back from Haiti

Got back last night from 10 days in Haiti - awesome trip! Spent a lot of time mixing concrete, moving rocks, etc., leveling and finishing floors in a farm house under construction. Also introduced Four-square to Haiti - put down a duct-tape court at the orphanage at Fort Liberte and when we came back, the kids there had used the tape as a pattern to paint a permanent court!

Good Friday

This Good Friday probably hasn't been as reflective as it should have been - there's a lot going on. It's not been a hectic day at all, kind of a nice mix of busy and relaxing. We're getting ready to go to Haiti early early Monday morning. I've got a lot of work to do before then - I'll put a post up when we get back. So long for now.

Waning March

I have not been a very faithful blogger lately - maybe I should say ever. Was up until about 3:40 last night with my whole family! Everyone's in to celebrate two of our kids' birthdays and the last of the crowd arrived about 1:30. So all of us are here - my wife, me, five kids, three kids-in-law (one almost), our animals plus three grand-dogs. Our newest grand-dog, Callie, is just being introduced to the family this weekend - she belongs to my daughter and is a blue heeler. And she's in heat which already has made for some...er...interesting events!

I've been very busy with my special judicial assigments around the State - they've been fun - and am still doing the kids' work at the church. However - the church has hired a full-time children's minister effective May 1. I'm thrilled. I've come to enjoy this interim job for the most part but am still glad to move on. The new guy will need my help in the transition, I'm sure, and I'll be happy to do all I can.

As for permanent career stuff - still yet to be seen! For now, the judicial assignments can occupy me full time - I really am expecting at least one of three things to open up for me this summer. Actually what I wonder is, will all of them open up at once? That's how life goes - when it rains it pours. If I've said that on here before (I notice that I repeat myself sometimes) at least I'm consistent!

Looks like March may go out like a lamb - temps are supposed to be mild although it may be rainy. Not so lucky for our friends in Fargo, North Dakota - Red River expected to crest tomorrow about 25' over flood stage. Praying for them for sure-

Fri the 13

A good day and a good week so far. Spent the day in Fairmont hearing cases, the third day this week I was at that. One day in Elkins, one in Sutton. Tonight, we had our Quarterly Judicial Summit - this one in Parkersburg. Always fun but a few friends were missing tonight.

The judge work is getting quite busy and I'm still doing the work at the church. May need to make some changes in that soon - but we'll see.

Randy Travis is on the Tonight Show - I'm watching it and I don't even like country music - I think I'm so sleepy I'm out of my mind so I'd better close and get some shuteye. Write more later.

Time "March"es on

Sorry, couldn't think of a better title for this, my first March post. I've been busy lately - working for the Supreme Court as a special-assignment judge has picked up. Still on board at the church, too. And some of those mysterious things I've been talking about for months are still pending...and are looking encouraging.

Second February Post

Quite a month so far! I've spent three full days hearing Family Court cases for other judges, and have several more scheduled this month and next. Work at the church is going fine - a lot to do there. My only little girl got engaged last week! And - also last week, the windstorm that wreaked havoc in several states uprooted our 60' spruce which slammed into our deck and knocked it off our house! The deck was over a carport and yep, our Uplander van was there. Although it didn't look that bad, the adjuster totaled it - so we're getting a new car! Our homeowners insurance adjuster came today and among other things, we're getting a whole new roof! Annette and I had been talking about work we needed to have done on the house but we weren't focused on the deck - but now, of necessity, we are. We're hoping to replace it and the carport with a garage and a lower covered back porch.

The whole family was home the weekend of Feb. 6-8 and we celebrated Colleen's 21st b'day, which was Feb. 10. That was also the day she got engaged - Cevin, her fiance, asked me for her hand in marriage the weekend before. He's a great guy, we're very happy. He will be our third great kid-in-law! They're planning an August 15 wedding -yikes, that's less than 6 months from now - but we'll pull it off. A lot of plans already in place. Fast work, eh?

Interesting things on the job front - sorry to have to continue to be so obscure but really can't be too disclosive yet - we'll see how it all plays out in due time.

First February Post

Hmmm...much to report, and not that much to report. Work at the church going fine but I'm concerned about the status of the programming I'm responsible for if there's a hiatus between my leaving this interim position and the church's finding someone else to fill the gap. Not that I think I'm indispensable in any sense! Have to be realistic and know that if the gap is not filled and the programming has to be modified, that's all in the plan.

Regarding the permanent future career-wise - much happening, and not much happening. (Yes, I'm trying for parallelism throughout this post - HA.) Actually, it's really not fair to say not much is happening. Better to say nothing to hang my hat on permanently is happening. Not complaining! For instance - had a very interesting meeting on Thursday about one part-time possibility. And, this past Monday, I received confirmation that I've been approved as a Senior Status Family Court Judge and that I've been assigned several cases to hear in other counties, to cover conflicts of interest for other judges. Had to wait for paperwork to get started officially but received that yesterday -- so I am anxious to get started on these 25 cases this coming week. I'm hoping to be able to handle them along with my responsibilities at church - should be able to. I am glad to get back into the law business for sure!