What are y'all up to?
Very surreal day yesterday. We combined my birthday, retirement, and my dad’s memorial service into one day. Actual birthday was Friday, but family was available yesterday. Memorial first, followed by a nice surprise party with family and friends. Folks would awkwardly shake my hand saying “Happy Birthday”, “Congratulations”, and “Condolences” all in one greeting. All went well and I believe my dad was pleased looking down from heaven (military flag ceremony with taps and all). The banner we are holding was designed by Naleigh Kate, my granddaughter on the far left. @BanjoBen, notice that the banjo obsession doesn’t go unnoticed.
Now THAT is good stuff. Well done, friend, and may your legacy to your family be as great as your dad’s is to you.
Listening to The Purple Hulls in Lake Itasca, MN 
The fam and I are headed north and west tomorrow morn at 0500. Will overnight north of Denver, then on to Yellowstone. One night in the park there, then to Grand Teton for another, then upward to Bigfork for Cabin Camp!
I’ll be a little less frequent on the site the next couple weeks, so thanks for watching out for folks and being kind!
Have a great trip! Praying for safe travels!
Home after 17 days on the road! I think it will take 17 days for me to clean my room after emptying the bus today 
Have a great Cabin Camp @BanjoBen! We loved getting to meet your sisters in Minnesota!
I’m not sure if this belongs here or in “Sunday Funnies” but here it goes. I get a text from a loose friend that asks If I a m free to play/pick on Tuesday (the 12th). This is last week, and if you know me (2 of his daughters have worked for me) and my summer are pretty erratic. Anyway, I respond that Yes, I can probably pick with you. I hear nothing for 4-5 days. Yesterday, I receive a text from an unknown number stating "Thanks for agreeing to playing for the Retirement Community we will rehearse at 4:45. My initial thought is no way - this dude has no idea. Then I thought that I’d actually try to listen to God and bless these older folks that are so cool - just have no family close by. Anyway - was awesome to use the banjo that way this week.
Had our first grizzly encounter on a trail this week! It was on a super common trail that should’ve had lots of folks on it, so I violated my firearm-in-grizzly-country policy and left the 10mm in the car. Thankfully it was a amicable meeting between us and the grizz, but reminded me why policies are policies.
Cabin Camp kicks off today! Always a great time!
You need to add Ol Slew Foot to the Cabin Camp Song list… except I think Slew foot was a black bear and not a grizzly.
Tomorrow, my wife & I head to Alaska for 5 weeks as volunteers for Operation Heal our Patriots which is part of Samaritans Purse. Althought I am bummed to miss cabin camp in Montana, we are so exicited to serve really not knowing what (eexactly) we will be doing. We will be in Port Alsworth which is only accessable by plane. https://www.facebook.com/OperationHealOurPatriots/
Wow how big was it?
Well, I’ve been a little bit busy over the past seven and a half weeks! I just graduated yesterday from Air Force Basic Military Training! I’m currently on my way to Biloxi, Mississippi, for Tech School to learn my job. One of the first things I’m gonna do is get a guitar down there, somehow, some way!!! (I was Guidon Bearer for my flight, so that’s me with my MTI during Parade yesterday.)
All the best for a great time at Cabin Camp.