Greeting to all:

I never though it would be this long before I got back to write some more, but it has been a busy winter. The weather has really been "bad" but the time has gone pretty fast as I have been preparing for retirement. I just have 18 more days of "work" and then I have two weeks of vacation before my retirement is official on April 30th. Praise the Lord!

The first thing that I have to do is finish getting the house, particularly the outside, ready to sell. Fall came in so early last year that I did not get done outside what I wanted to and needed to. So as the nice warm sun comes I have a lot power washing and yard work to do. I have already been able to roll the yard once, however that has not been done for a couple of years, so I hope to do it again. I also have some areas along the tree lines that I really need to replant with grass seed. I don't look forward to that task! The kids came about a month ago for a week-end and did some painting inside. It was great to have them all here and even greater to get the amount of work done that they did in such a short time. It was and is indeed a blessing. Praise the Lord! I have no idea how long it will take to sell the house, but we will get it ready, on the market, and put the rest in God's hands. It will sell when my ministry here in Peru is completed according to God's plan and I will move on. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

I look forward to continuing with my community ministry of law enforcement and fire service chaplain for the Sheriff's Office, ISP Post 16, and the city of Peru. In fact, I have talked to the State Police Chaplain in Indy who is paid and responsible for the entire state and I plan to help him as much as possible. He is doing an awesome job and is really overwhelmed. So we will see if I cannot do a little to lighten the load for him. I am also planning to go to the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 with ISP this year. Last year the 500 was really great and I am looking forward to both races this year. There are also two community projects - Community of Character and EGG House of Miami County - that I helped to started that I want to continue to work with as long as I am here. I believe, and the community has affirmed in different ways, that these are good programs. I will tell you more about them later.

Buddy and I are also looking forward to the good weather so we can ride the motorcycle and go camping. Buddy is indeed looking forward to that, he will go over and jump up on the bike seat when we are outside, and he loves to get in the motor home any time that he can. Again, once the house is on the market, I will starting looking at where we can go. In the mean time I am sure we will be spending some nights at the local state park to just get away from it all.

When I sat down here I was not even thinking about looking at the blog, let along writing on it. I have washing to do, dishes to wash, bills to pay, and lots of "Monday" ("day off") things around the house to do. Besides that I have some grant papers to fill out that are due tomorrow for the EGG House. Bottom line is I have better get going and get some of those things done.

It is good to share with you all again, and I am sorry it has been so long. I am doing fine, just really busy. We still have the grief support group going at church, and God continues to lead me in the direction of putting into print Marty's blog and my travels with "grief." I believe it is still a few years away, but remain open to God's plan.

Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.

Jack
Romans 8:28