Well this will be the 10th summer that we travel up to friends for a long weekend of relaxing, do-nothing, completely self focused rest. With the exception of one busy summer, the fam and I have visited wonderful friends who open their home and treat us like resort guest for a few days. Lounging around the pool; gourmet dinners; golf at NJ National Country Club; endless DVD movies to watch; an occassional Yankee game; a few rounds of billards and I could keep going. God (and I don't throw that around lightly) gave us these friends -- I believe to "care for the shepherd." They really love to encourage and provide a time of rest and mindless fun. They provide the break from pressures and busyness that you find in the ministry. I love what I do and love NewSong and all the people!!! Yet it is very theraputic to walk away for a few days and talk about something other then ministry and the particular issues that I maybe dealing with. The net result is that when I come back on Monday -- I am excited about getting back to work. Thanks Cremas for being a haven for this shepherd and his family....everyone with a heavily emotionally, relationally and spiritually intense job needs to have a respite from it yearly. You have served our family well.