The BRICKYARD

Well, one thing is for sure... Alabama doesn't have the lock on summertime heat. Indianapolis was a great time but man it was HOT! Gary, Shannon and I decided to leave out Friday night instead of Saturday morning and we drove to Louisville and then drove in the rest of the way on Saturday... great call.

The Saturday race activities were a great time but for me the best part was on Sunday. We walked around for a while before the race, watched the live filming of Speed, the race day program, and walked down to the infield and got to see a personal favorite of mine perform... Charlie Daniels. CDB cranked the tunes and finished his set list with a sweet version of "How Great Thou Art" followed by "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Nice combo if I have to say so myself.

The race was so stinking hot that we left before it was even over in order to beat the traffic. Way too many caution laps to really enjoy it live. Anyway, as I said in a previous post... sometimes its not what you do its who you do it with.

Talladega... here we come!

Where does the time go?

Its been almost three weeks since I posted last and have been blasted by several close friends because Ive given them nothing to read... just let me remind you that I really am not that important.

Anyway, I still LOVE my somewhat new job at The Foundry. I have hosted several youth groups in the past few weeks (from Baltimore, TN, Chicago & Tampa) through our volunteer office. Its been fun... I get to play youth pastor and all the kids go home at 5. In case you don't have teens... just know this, when traveling as a pack they have a very distinct smell... one that Ive been away from for several months now. But really, I loved it.

Karie, Olivia, & Ella are nearing the end of yet another summer. As I have a new work schedule I have not been around quite as much but we have had our weekends together and every night. It has been a very pleasant change of pace for the Andrews family. Summer vacation... where does the time go?

We have also made a decision recently to move. We've been on Dolly Ridge Road for almost 9 years now and it is time. Karie has done so much painting trying to get our house ready to put on the market. What an incredible mother and wife! We've decided to move to Trussville (here we come D & C). Ella starts to school this year and since all three of the ladies in my life are traveling to S'ville... we decided to put them closer. We are excited. Please pray for this one... its a big deal to me.

Lastly for this post... my redneck upbringing has once again influenced my decision making process. Shannon, Gary and myself are leaving out this afternoon to Indianapolis to the Motor Speedway for this weekends Brickyard 400. Yes I am... NASCAR to the core. Actually, its a lot more about hanging out with great friends that watching some of the nations most loyal sporting enthusiasts scream as there favorite car/driver ride in big circles all afternoon. But anyway, lets go JUNIOR 88!

Be sure to laugh today, smile as often as you can, tell everyone that is special in your life that you love them, and talk to Daddy... He knows.

The Bucket List

Alright, I know I'm a bit behind on my movies but I just got to watch this one over the weekend. The girls were with my sister and Karie and I spent the entire day on Saturday doing absolutely nothing... except rent this winner of a flick for $1.08 from Bruno's. I have known since this movie first came out what the premise was... a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket.

I had even begun a simple list that included trivial things like watching the Red Sox play in Boston and a few more non-eternal likes that I'd really enjoy before my time is up. But there was a theme within this movie that messed with me. It served as a great reminder to a fact that I know well but often mis-prioritize in the good old day to day.

One of the characters made a statement that went something like this... "It's not the what but the who..." Without sounding like a great line of philosophy from the dear Dr. Suess... I was reminded that it is not nearly as significant of what we do as who we do it with. My list is currently under revision because I had a brief list of things I'd like to do, places I'd like to visit and even a little bit of crazy stuff as well. The truth is... I now have a list of people that I'd like to spend more time with. It really doesn't matter what we do as long as I get to talk and listen.

It's all about the WHO!

4th of July @ Homewood

Wow! Another exciting night of fireworks... but tonight turned out quite different. This is about the tenth or eleventh year that my family has gathered to watch the fireworks in Homewood. There for a few years we were forced to alter our plans while the good old Vulcan was receiving a little nip & tuck. Anyway, we do it every year we can in the same place... right in the middle of the street in the curve in Homewood.

This year we were all there except for my brother Joel who has just moved to San Francisco and will be watching the fireworks from the Golden Gate Bridge I imagine. As we piled out of the caravan into the land of Patriots we made our way to the all familiar spot just above the ice cream man. Only this year, I barely got my stuff in place (chairs & cooler) before literally being mobbed by some of my students from Metro. There was Jessica, Mia, Caleb, Jacob & Jaida & Jim, Katelyn & Caroline, Nick, Scout, Logan, Aaron, Lucas, Hannah (x2), Emily & Elizabeth, the Potter trio, and others that I have surely forgotten unintentionally. It was awesome to see every one of them. It makes me swell with pride to see them maturing in their faith and in their ability to just not be so dang goofy.

Anyway, as the night progressed my stomach began to hurt almost unbearably. I cooked pizza quesadia's for the girls today and had two myself... coupled with way too much BBQ for dinner and I was brewing a small un-natural disaster. Literally just as the fireworks began I took off in a dead sprint for the closest bathroom I could find. Every store in downtown H'wood was closed right on the dot at 9 o'clock. Finally I ran into my friend Darrell who was outside Starbucks and I begged him to shoot me in the head, heart, or lower abdomen... any way I could get some relief would be perfectly acceptable at that moment. And wouldn't you know it, Starbucks was flipping closed. I grabbed the door with all my might only to be gravely disappointed that the door fought back. In the distance I could hear the bang of the fireworks that I was missing because of the fireworks in my belly. Finally someone opened the door to come out and like a sly lizard... I slithered my way in, past the counter, and down the hall where I met temporary paradise in the men's room.

So, without the details... let's just say that I will not forget this 4th of July... I did however miss almost the entire fireworks show. Good thing we went Wednesday night. I do want to take a moment to say thank you to all of the men and women around the globe that make sure day in day out that I remain a free American. And to all of those who came before me so that I might benefit from their sacrifice... Thanks and God Bless America!

4th of July @ Highlands

Wow! Tonight me and Karie and the girls witnessed one of the best fireworks shows we've ever seen... and it was at church. It was not revival or campmeeting or a good old pentecostal free for all but it was an actual fireworks show. Church of the Highlands went all out to provide an incredible show coupled with free food - hotdogs, popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy(rumored to have been 4,000 hotdogs... which were gone in no time).

We sat on the interstate in traffic and down the main entrance for almost 55 minutes, we missed the entire service because of traffic and if I had to guess I'd say more than 5,000 people were there.

It just fired me up that all of this first class family entertainment happened at church. I have at many times in my life stated that church wasn't the place for entertaining but let me just say that after a full-blown service all of this took place on the lawn. I really don't care what church hosted such an event but the simple fact that any church could have such an evening amazes me. Literally it caused a major traffic jam on the interstate! I wonder how many churches had that kind of problem on a Wednesday night?

Yea God.