You Might Be Wondering...

In case you're wondering, I didn't buy an iPhone yesterday.

That doesn't mean I don't want one. It's just the $500-600 and the 2 year contract with a carrier I can't use. But I have had fun watching all the hype. My favorite part yesterday were the people that got to the stores around 8pm and just walked up to the counter and bought an iPhone, with no waiting. Had to make all those people who spent hours and hours in line feel a little mad.

All the Apple stores in Florida are still showing iPhones available for purchase. We have two in our area: Coconut Point Mall and Waterside Shops in Naples. You can also pick one up at any official AT&T store. Let me know if you get one.

By the way, did you hear that Steve Jobs bought every Apple employee an iPhone? Pretty cool.

Random Thoughts:

• Today is the last day of our vacation. It has been an awesome time of relaxation and tons of quality time with Macy. We even got a few things done the last couple of days.
• I got five runs in this week - best 3 mile time this week was 25:00.
• It sure has been hot lately. Worked out in the yard and was useless the rest of the day.
• I'm looking forward to teaching Sunday morning.
  
• Don't forget to check out the latest Mark & Miller Show podcast.
• I can't wait to get back and engage in what I love doing, serving in the local church.

Anniversary Brunch

Yesterday, June 27, 2007, Macy and I celebrated 20 years of marriage.

Instead of having a fancy anniversary dinner, we chose to have an elegant anniversary brunch. During that brunch we reflected on a question someone had asked us the day before: "What are the highlights of your 20 years of marriage?" Great question. And it got us thinking. We had fun reminiscing about some awesome experiences and relationships God has blessed us with over the past 20 years.

God truly has blessed our marriage in so many ways. Not only do Macy and I have this incredible relationship, but we have been blessed by so many other people along the way. We committed our lives together to follow Christ wherever He leads and we have been blessed every step of the way.

Macy, it has been an awesome 20 years, and you have blessed me in so many ways. It's great being married to your best friend. You bring me joy, laughter, and tons of love. I can't wait to see what the next 20 years bring!

Don't Worry About Us

We're okay...in case you were worrying about us after watching the local news this evening. Several of the local TV stations had reporters on the site here in Naples where we're spending our getaway celebration. We actually had a 10 acre fire located on the property here. Smoke filled the area and is still pretty thick, but management had a letter slipped under our door when we returned from dinner this evening assuring us the fire was contained and posed no threat to the hotel.

Don't worry about us...we're good!

Doing Little...Accomplishing A Lot

I'm accomplishing a lot by doing very little. That's right. That's the goal of a vacation. Here's all we've accomplished since the last post.

• Wonderful dinner at PF Changs. My new Chang favorite (thanks Miller) is Shrimp and Candied Walnuts. Wow!!! I've had it twice now and it's the real deal.
• A late night, romantic dessert and coffee in the lobby of our hotel. Very nice ambience and incredible desserts. Coffee was served from our own french press. Another nice touch.
• Have completed about 8 Sudoku puzzles now.
• Got a great run in early this morning.
  
• Discovered that I can't read a book and listen to a podcast at the same time. In a moment of trying to kill two birds with one stone, I got this great idea. Now Dr Powell could probably handle the multi-tasking required for this, but not me. Oh well.
• Another awesome lunch poolside.
• Another almost 4 hours by the pool.
• Tons of quality time with Macy!
• And the day is still early!

If only life were like this every day. Getting lots done by doing so very little - ah, a great anniversary getaway!

FYI: All pictures included in the posts this week are from where we're staying.

Sudoku & Podcasts

While away this week I want to catch up on some reading and other things I never seem to have time for. I'm hoping to finish up the book The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson and start, and hopefully finish, Small is the New Big by Seth Godin. Macy also gave me the Jumbo Book of Sudoku right after we got here. I love doing Sudoku puzzles and can spend a lot of time working those (already have done 4). I also have several podcast to catch up on listening. One of my favorite tech podcast is Buzz Out Loud produced by CNET. I listened to an episode poolside this afternoon (actually fell asleep listening to it).

Speaking of the pool, it was beautiful today outside, especially in a lounge chair under an umbrella poolside. Macy and I spent 4 hours today at the pool. Even enjoyed lunch poolside. Now we're cleaning up, getting ready for an early dinner. Looks like PF Changs will be our dinner destination.

Gotta go and finish another Sudoku before dinner.

Superfoods

I know I said it yesterday, but I can't wait to hit the road for our anniversary celebration. The morning has started off good so far. Got up early, had my quiet time, and then ran 3 miles. Saturdays I push myself a little running and I had a pretty decent time (25:15) considering I have been struggling with bad allergies now for almost 2 weeks. Now I am enjoying a bowl of blackberries and strawberries , both superfoods (I learned this last night while hanging out at Borders with Macy). By the way, hanging out at Borders makes for a great inexpensive date night.

Enough typing, I got to go get packed.

But first, as promised a couple of weeks ago, here's the video of Men's Synchronized Swimming routine by our very own Steven and Andy from VBS:

Getting Ready to Celebrate!

Tomorrow morning Macy and I leave for a few days of celebration. That's what I'm calling it - a celebration. We're getting away to celebrate 20 years of incredible marriage. The cool thing about our getaway celebration is it does not matter where we go. What matters is we're together. I can honestly say that the destination on any trip with Macy is secondary. It's all about being with her!

I am especially looking forward to this getaway for several reasons:

• 20 years of marriage is a pretty cool milestone. I was talking with a couple this past week who have been married 61 years. I told them my 20 years was not very much compared to their 61. She said "20 is a very good start." I agree.
• I personally need some down time away. Read my post from 6/20. This is true for all of us. We run hard and we need some extended times of rest. I'm thankful where I work and serve believes this also.
  
• Right now I can't wait wait to spend the next 6 days with just Macy! I know I am so blessed, but it so cool having your very best friend in the whole wide world as your wife. I love being with her. I could keep on writing, but I think I'll save that for another post.

FYI: The picture above is from where we'll be spending our celebration.

Overwhelmed

overwhelm (ō'vər-hwělm', -wělm'): to affect deeply in mind or emotion

This morning I was reading in my Bible in 2 Corinthians and I came across this passage:

we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength —so that we even despaired of life. (2 Cor 1:8b)

Do you know who said that? It was Paul. Wow! It made me feel better immediately to think that Paul, the spiritual giant, felt overwhelmed at times. Then I begin to consider the intensity of his feelings based on his statement "even despaired of life." Paul was struggling.

We probably can relate to Paul's struggle at one time or another in our lives. I know I have felt overwhelmed lately in my life. So what do you do? If you want to see how Paul dealt with his sense of overwhelmingness (not sure that's a word) you have to read the next few verses. It's pretty cool and it gave me boost as I started my day. There is hope and it's in Jesus.

If you're feeling overwhelmed today, take some time and read verses 8-10.