Greetings again from Minnesota. We have less than 48 hours left before we return to Texas. It is a good trip so far. The weather is cooperating as the high today reached a blazing 81 degrees. Our last trip was during an authentic heat wave so we are taking full advantage of this weather. This is a beautiful state in the summer. Everywhere you look you see farms with crops getting close to harvest. The grass is still green due to the regular summer rains. We made one trip in winter years ago. That is one mistake that I will not make again.

Today we rode up to Wabasha where my father was working at the clinic. It is a wonderful drive if you are ever up this way. The glaciers cut out valleys and mountains way back yonder in the Ice Age. They are not huge mountains like the Rockies or Sandias but mountains nonetheless. We ate supper sitting outside looking at the Mississippi River. That isn't something you do everyday. The towns are all clean with an abundance of flower gardens along the streets. Minnesota also earned the name of "the land of lakes." We sat at the edge of an enormous lake where we could gaze across and see Wisconsin. It is hard to picture all of this summer glory covered in several feet of snow come winter.

We are ready to get home. No matter how beautiful it is here nothing replaces home. I miss the sound of my youngest banging away on his latest Xbox game. I even miss puttering around the house trying to keep the grass alive. Should I ever retire I cannot imagine being away from home for weeks or months at a time. I like my stuff. There is something to be said for the familiar. We too often take such things for granted. Take a look around you sometime and see how your surroundings are a reflection of you. It's a good thing. Let's learn to appreciate and be grateful for all our God gives us. Let's be glad we enjoy our place called home.

Bro. Trey