Whew...

I am not sure what "whew" means exactly, but what I am hoping it means is something that is hard to put into words, let alone a blog title, is something like the words "Wow, what a full week" as you fall effortlessly onto the couch. I think you know what I mean. We were so busy (how busy were you?) that I don't think I blogged a whole week (gasp...) So, I'm back with stories and pictures for all...

The beginning of the week we had a Sigafoos Family reunion on Sunday and then stayed and spent a couple of nights with Stephanie's parents and her brother and sister-in-law. What fun we had. They are so great with the kids and are good friends of us as well. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. What a refreshing time. Stephanie's mom Carol makes Martha Stuart look like an amateur and Jay is about the coolest father in law a guy could hope for. So, we enjoyed our time with them a lot.

Than we left and came home on Tuesday and then left for Bellevue on Wednesday for a wedding to officiate and friends and family to see.

On Wednesday, I had a great meeting with Doug Nichols, the founder of Action International, and Bruce Ingram, the director of Pastor Leadership Development International arm of Action. There is so much to write about that I think I will wait for a separate email. But, part of it was around www.equippastors.org, the new website that I have developed for this ministry that I have been doing in Africa and than am helping in its beginning stages worldwide while I am home.

I played some golf that afternoon with my brothers and my dad. My brother Doug who lives in Houston was in town for business, so we had a little family golf time. After all was said and done, I ended up winning. I had more points than anyone else, actually by a lot. We had an Allen family dinner, complete with cousin's acting and singing for their audience, good food and nice conversation.

Thursday... I hung out with my good friend Matt Chapman, probably one of the last before he heads off to New Orleans. What a blessing that a student I mentored since he was in sixth grade has become one of my best friends. We had a rehersal and then rehersal dinner for the Swope wedding which I am officiating. The wedding was on Friday evening, after another full of day of seeing friends and having kids belated birthday parties with their friends.

The wedding was really fun. Here is a great picture but I will let you see the rest of the pictures at this link

It was a great wedding and it was such a joy to be a part of it... The girls loved being "the" flower girls and when we got home, Kamryn said, "I can't wait to get married. It is soooo much fun!"

Saturday was a Allen extended family reunion and some more time with friends...

We got home Saturday, went to church and then Stephanie had a shower today with friends from Northlake... It was a neat time and the Collin's family sure blessed us by hosting it.

So, I think you get the idea that we had a full week. We have this week in Bellingham, the following week I am teaching at a camp and then 08-07-08, our little baby will, Lord willing, be entering into our world...

Thank you for your continuous prayers for us, our ministry and our growing family...