We're back in action from our vacation in Minnesota. Several highlights from the vacation:

1. Dinner with Rich and Memie Kao. They've left Minneapolis on July 29 for Vancouver to plant a church. You can check out Rich's website at www.richkao.com.

2. Visit to City Hill Fellowship to see friends.

3. Riding jet skis with Chad Aleshire for an afternoon up and down the St. Croix River. Giving Nana, my mom, Kendrick Jr, and Joseph rides. Chad and I got seriously drenched by Jordan's jet ski (ooops - yeah right)

4. Spending a day at Mall of America with the kids as they did the rides. They had saved money and each bought something from Lego Land.

5. Watching fireworks out the bedroom window with my wife.

6. Sitting on the deck at Steamers hearing Chad tell his internet date story. If you haven't heard it, you've got to ask him or me about it. This one is publishable.

7. Going downtown with Aliesha to get a freezie during Lumberjack Days.

8. Up north at Breezy Point Resort with my parents, my sister and her family.

9. Shooting a 79 in golf for the first time in my life. (see previous post) We had lots of fun rounds with my dad, Kendrick Jr., Joseph, Brad, and my mom.

10. Staying up and playing buck euchre with my parents and Nana.

11. Fishing with Joseph and Kendrick Jr. We caught some serious sunfish.

12. A Walleye and steak dinner with Nana. She's the best wife.

13. Lunch with Jim and Mary McCracken. Great connecting with them.

14. Shopping at Southdale. I do miss the shops and restaurants in Minnesota.

15. Card party with the guys at Chad's house - Jim E., Kurt, Dan Kral, Jim McC, Stu, John Powell, Jordan, and John Weber.

16. Staying up until 4:00 a.m. with Chad and Jordan. Toasting Russ at 3:30 a.m.

17. Ice Cream at Nelson's (my favorite place growing up) with my kids. Wow, am I getting old.

18. Meeting with John Piper. Okay, this was seriously awesome. He's had an incredible influence in my life. I had 45 minutes to talk with him. It was so fun.

19. Flying home with Kendrick Jr., Joseph, and Aliesha. I love my kids. They are so cute traveling through an airport and on an airplane. Nana and Gabriela went home a day early as I had to bump my flight back a day to meet with John Piper.

- posted by Kendrick @ 10:08 PM