Tod Bolsinger

Happy, Happy Birthday for me

My son, two buddies and me for two days to celebrate my 43rd birthday on Thursday. 

Thanks Mom for bringing me into this world, thanks Dad for the loving of skiing, thanks Beth for being the greatest gift I have ever received (and for encouraging me to "go out and play"), thanks Ali for being there when I get home to get a big bday kiss. Thanks to my friends for being...well, friends.  Thanks to my staff for taking care of our people while I am out for a couple of days.  Thanks to my church for a generous "occasional day" policy (see you all on Sunday!).

Thank you, God, for all of this sweet life.

Happy Birthday, indeed.  Happy me.

I could probably make a good theological point here...

But instead I'll just let you enjoy it.

We're still cracking up at my house.

Oh Mexico!

Sunrise over the Sea of Cortez.

(For more photos, see the "Baja" album at right.)

A Truly Great Play

From last night's Fiesta Bowl.  Boise State wins on a "Statue of Liberty" Play.  Reminds me of playing two-hand touch in the street on Carbonia Avenue in Walnut, growing up.

What Labradors do...

Scout and one of her favorite fetch toys.

And some people think Halloween is satanic

Saturday With Scout

One of my favorite "creatures of our God and King."

Scout

My blogging has been sporadic the past two weeks because...well...I have a church again.  Coming back from sabbatical has been like a big reunion.  I have had a bunch of meetings with people, reconnected to my staff and have been getting back into the groove of administration and preaching. 

Then...this happened. 

She is Scout.  We named her after the spunky little girl in "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of my favorite films.  She is delightful, but I think my quiet mornings all by myself are going to be thrown off for a while.

Five months after we said good bye to my old pal Huge whom we loved dearly, it is pretty amazing how quickly we fell in love with this pup.  But she's pretty special.  In an upcoming post I'll tell you the story of her earliest days and the breeder who loved her into life.

(More Scout pictures below...sheesh... it's a bit ridiculous how much we like her.)

This is me...

...in my mind...this week. 

The Blog will be light this week because I am spending four days suffering for Jesus with a group of guys from the church on a bike trip through the central coast. 

I'll be biking about 200 miles, leading the devotionals and taking a lot of good natured ribbing from some retirees who refuse to act their age.  (I really do love my job.)

At the end of the week I'll be going to GodBlogCon O5 and then back to the church on Sunday to continue my series on Becoming a Kingdom Community.

Every Preacher Relates...