tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40607948754213624312024-03-14T05:57:12.457-04:00Fun with Nick and BrandieThe Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-69636990933605436412009-07-17T01:29:00.002-04:002009-07-17T01:43:13.891-04:00UpdateWell I've been on the road alot lately. From June 16th to July 14th. And now I'm in Mobile, Alabama and Brandie is getting ready to go to Edisto with Dad and the family tomorrow (today since it's 1:35am now). Just finished up the Summer Semester at Liberty Theological and now will begin (what should be) my final semester before graduation in December. Brandie could also graduate in December, so it would be very exciting if both of us did at the same time.<br /><br />Brandie is still working as a telecounselor at CSU in my office in the evenings, and I am doing Christian Marketing at CSU from 8am-5pm M-F (which is why I'm on the road right now). Can't wait to be down at Edisto with the brothers, and play golf with Corey on Monday.<br /><br />Brandie is in charge of the Nursery at Summit (Church) on Sundays, and I'm doing Missions, College, Leadership stuff (no official role) at the church as well (which is good, because I just like to help when I can). Hopefully this Fall will bring in some more students who are interested in being a part of Summit in a leadership manner.<br /><br />I'm also writing another Blog (more updates on there) at http://www.summitwhosoever.blogspot.com ; so please check it out when you can if you want to know more about what's going on at Summit and more of a "theological" blog writing.<br /><br />NicholasThe Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-26124880310194056452009-03-17T13:27:00.003-04:002009-03-17T13:33:40.134-04:00Back from PeruSo I know that we haven't written on here in a while, and that's mainly because we've been ridiculously busy lately. I've just gotten back from Peru, and finished up classes for the 1st semester of Seminary. Greek and Christian History were fine, and now I'm working on Hebrew and Old Testament 1. Later today I need to register for Summer courses, and by Decemeber I'm hoping to be done with my masters.<br /><br />Summit softball is beginning again, and this year Brandie's is playing on the coed team, while I play on the Men's team. It should be great getting to go to her games and cheer her on. We've been practicing and throwing around outside of the apartments (she's done really well).<br /><br />Brandie is still in her classes, finishing up for her degree, and she's still working at CSU in the evenings when she's not in class.<br /><br />For information on the Peru trip, check out the Peru blog at http://www.summitwhosoever.blogspot.com .<br /><br />We'll try to update this more, but it is difficult with all the stuff going on.<br /><br />NicholasThe Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-20729585410207053872008-12-11T16:40:00.000-05:002008-12-11T16:41:26.804-05:00Voddie is the man!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f14z3cnNzzo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f14z3cnNzzo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-66587052140917202672008-11-21T10:35:00.002-05:002008-11-21T10:48:59.907-05:00Phil Wickham<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZK5jHYuoU</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">The link above is to a Phil Wickham song called "True Love" (The Wall), and it's amazing! Right now Nuckolls and I are in</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Nashville, TN at the National Youth Workers Convention. It's probably the largest resource convention I've ever seen. There are</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">some parts of me that dislike things like this. The reason being that while we're in our conventions and little youth retreats,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">there are people starving to death, and not hearing the gospel from us (the church), so it upsets me a little. I understand</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">and support the idea of idea sharing and resource providing, though I think it should come second to being Christ to the world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">I just finished listening to Phil Wickham sing Hallelujah on YouTube.com and it's just amazing. Lincoln Brewster does Another</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Hallelujah really well, but as far as the original goes, I'll take Phil's version.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Right now we're trying to setup a Missions Trip to Peru with Summit and it looks like it may work out (it's through IMB). The</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">leadership of the trip would probably take a "vision trip" down there first to see where we want to commit to ministering for</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">the next 3-5 years or more as a church. I love the fact of long-term commitment ministry, and I think that it needs to happen</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">more and more as churches are quickly dying out and being demeaned and forgotten as everyone (unfortunately) will soon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">see...it's just not that much in the South right now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Statistically, 48 churches close their door a week, and that number is only 48 because we plant 24 a week, so as a horrible</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">mistake on the church it decided to become exclusive and just stop ministering or giving to others as they have need to</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">become basically a health club, or rather a nursing home for Christians...thus as people are at the age we they are dying at</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">nursing homes (it's just true...I don't like it either), the church is reaching it's age quickly where it's dying too, however, when a</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">person's mind goes they forget things (normally around the same age as they are getting close to death)...it's just weird that</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">the church forgot the teachings of Christ and then God managed to keep it alive for all these years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">The good thing about the churches dying ("rejoice in the Lord always") is that God is refining His church of who is and who is</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">not a believer (when the first sign of difficulty comes, then you see whose committed to your cause - John Maxwell). Also, the</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">church (as a whole) should experience a great time of unity within this time frame, and therefore as we've seen in the past</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">when persecution comes there is unity in the church (read Acts).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Anyways, gotta go work...sorry about the rant, but it's been something that's been talked about a good bit, and I felt like</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">chiming in (thus a blog...I think that's what they're for).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;">Nicholas</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-66680030310755648622008-10-24T21:12:00.002-04:002008-10-24T21:19:31.518-04:00So Nick has started Seminary at Liberty University this week through their distance learning program. I (Brandie) am verrrry excited about this because he has been wanting to do this for a while and now he is on his way to getting his Masters, which is also kinda scary :). He has a ton of work to do which also makes me laugh in an evil laugh kind of way because I am not the only student in the house now. Anyway, enough of evil laughing I know he will do a good job.The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-34018857906255380812008-10-01T21:22:00.004-04:002008-10-01T21:37:37.813-04:00Travel Season Stinks (but has some good parts)<div>I'm wrapping up a 2 week stint in my travel for work in Charlotte, NC. Right now I'm staying at a Doubletree Inn by the airport which I've stayed at before. The computer work area that I'm in is loud and irritating, but alas I write.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252363612817038066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 71px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="66" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcBZXp3R3kFIv8_0fN54QRhESVv9Y9JPToThqgUD4GHpsC1uKbQb2AG4TEdsmOHrh2r4NgvnRrREzaKHKKrCxsmcL8oQfrLfEn5yF_uMKGDtMqZPch8S-Oeq_Vt70PR_yCwP8mpb1Zdpl/s200/bluestang.jpg" width="128" border="0" /> <div></div><div>If you're wondering why there are different cars throughout the entry, these are the ones I have driven this season so far.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I've been in Charlotte, Greensboro, High Point, Pembroke, Raleigh, Kill Devil Hills - North Carolina; Washington D.C.; Loudon County, and a bunch of other undesirable places in Virginia; I don't think I visited Maryland yet, but I think I'll be there in about 2 weeks or so, as well as Florence, SC.</div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252363610440644754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 81px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="63" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnNEx7zNQcKl4sLz0mfPQOSoM693UieO_aljczevA7HPA7r4HB4PxzsGiYt4EZXYUAClLUsELalDAgPh-ME_C-ExMaE-LfKLs8EK-2uGzM_eWg9u83MTRByuuNNnqKR8FMVjV7KRU3A_c/s200/hondaccord.jpg" width="125" border="0" /> <div>Being away from Brandie for this long is no good. Seeing George and Alexis was fantastic and that night that George and I stayed up looking up different funny things we came across on YouTube.com was great as well. I really enjoyed spending time getting to know Alexis better, though I don't know how she felt having to host a mini-boys weekend, but I tried to be a gracious guest as they were amazing hosts.</div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252363612500359618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="80" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCDXTv5pJra7oopWafLwjFeXk7YeAqkZ4eh3jYoKrwBW1dpJkENBBgoOqJWVv2s618xCMugIdEom8VzVd3I6qkZHIORutOIa7NOz2568ThixhcHUi6J_lOX5eANqLT9qIf9324z2Gytza/s200/redstang.jpg" width="148" border="0" /> <div>Probably crazy late tomorrow I may attempt to drive back to Charleston, SC, but we'll have to see as I do my work.</div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252363616602342658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 83px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="52" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXppATOSS1Iw2KxVgfOYFgGALY6YlIVTm353jbDQwqeX9XlaTw23PDdC63itDLI9q7eOkQMswvN2P2Wi0YNeiBO03gyoSFrfZ8N2UTbbFxxIRmQc-xwaRtNbjvE7dfllX-iSTkHQRp5-f/s200/silvercharger.jpg" width="114" border="0" /> <div>I've read 3 books in the last week and a half and the best one I read was called <em>The Gutter. </em>It's about loving people that my seem "unapproachable" to you and I, but understanding that we have all been "unapproachable" at some point or the other (because of depravity), and we all need to know that we have someone who can save us from Hell (really)...Jesus. Anyways, it was good that I had time to read because I start class this week at Liberty Seminary and I have 16 books for 2 courses (having to read all of them) in 8 weeks. Fun fun. G'night.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252363616810638530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 66px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="80" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xE6ZPrslKqE3k5kT3H7jSWqWUHjW9XFfHqTWbTMz2G05qMgsgYeeUM-Ya4g9lXIIn3sXGTERgU_7DbIbO9z8Yn6blnqyjmjOZy6eDWANOCza3ZO14pGQoYIXZFTIWeNwFBNx6yJ2EJZG/s200/spyder.jpg" width="137" border="0" /></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-713008609197888702008-08-18T14:39:00.006-04:002008-08-18T15:14:26.534-04:00Busy Days<div><br /><br /><div><div>Well, everything has been going on very quickly around here in the wonderful world of Brandie and Nicholas.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKibmumpLqUTQnwffRpGH87hEYySCj_U7Mw-g_hCs4MhcyHk1xzih4CLTLhsc1YuVChVrFCDPSK_ugkow5sr0XLRU81PdV7Iri_wkoSECCrZ6peeG7_8C4mP42f56DH3sWSiXklgwdkBHX/s1600-h/casey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235937439019075362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKibmumpLqUTQnwffRpGH87hEYySCj_U7Mw-g_hCs4MhcyHk1xzih4CLTLhsc1YuVChVrFCDPSK_ugkow5sr0XLRU81PdV7Iri_wkoSECCrZ6peeG7_8C4mP42f56DH3sWSiXklgwdkBHX/s200/casey.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brandie's sister (Casey) is here now and playing soccer for CSU! She is playing mid-field and got to play this past Saturday against Clemson, so it was great to get to see her playing in the first "unofficial" game of the season...most freshman don't get playing time, so that was nice.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Brandie is getting ready for hopefully her last semester of college. She should finish in Decemeber with a degree in Psychology which is cool, but ultimately means that she will probably began analyzing me anytime now.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's looking like I'll start at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN this fall towards my Masters in Leadership, so that should be cool (if finiacially possible...schools exspensive huh?).</div><br /><div></div><div>Work is crazy busy, but it looks like this recruiting year is winding down and today (supposedly the busiest day at work) is not that bad actually...maybe we prepared people better this year...there were a ton of online updates for parents and students...who knows.</div><br /><div></div><div>The Olympics have been...well, they've overtaken my TV at my house...mainly because Brandie likes'em, but watching them I can't help but cheer for the US.</div><div></div><br /><div>I heard the annoucers explaining what the US felt when Phelps won his last gold to set the new record, and it seemed as though they were playing it into the idea that the Olympics create community and unity...and they do.</div><div></div><br /><div>The one thing they didn't discuss was "why". Why do humans have this desire for community, and to cheer on people? I mean if all of this "truth is subjective, there is no absolute" stuff is real, then WHY cheer on anyone besides myself? Why be happy for someone? It makes no sense. I could go further, much further in this to the point where it comes down to the fact that <em>THAT </em>particular school of thought doesn't even work and completely breaks down, that really what the "no truth" people are saying (which would have to be a truth to be true, therefore defeating themselves in their own explanation), is basically they don't <em>WANT</em> to believe in God because that means they are responsible for their sin...ultimately they don't want to own up to it...because that means they <strong>NEED</strong> something and they are not self-sufficient.</div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUbxEFliSy4Q33xx6QL4SQIKgJPBU9csiL6kPKGkGjOD3zlE3oy-YvmqxXQUw-wc5zXRtPI7vsZGvCkLUEpJtxcKxaffqBNxTam9pWZ3WexE9L4baEIv2qibXreasSF68XKH8c5174r04/s1600-h/the+men+and+i+football+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235936209634033762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUbxEFliSy4Q33xx6QL4SQIKgJPBU9csiL6kPKGkGjOD3zlE3oy-YvmqxXQUw-wc5zXRtPI7vsZGvCkLUEpJtxcKxaffqBNxTam9pWZ3WexE9L4baEIv2qibXreasSF68XKH8c5174r04/s200/the+men+and+i+football+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Anyways, sorry about the apologetist rant.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Back to work, CRAZYness. If you want to check out our church here that I work with at CSU, you can go to <a href="http://www.summitcharleston.com/">http://www.summitcharleston.com/</a>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkONsA-1YiKiaOX5lZ3ypuPe5GFumthVZHPBa9Q0GwvI8ekNTPI24h8gZ2XT1Yq7XD9SVh7CLN4sAQLYfeY0hSgLiYOeHhh9ec22cp7XO5uXp5ZUZO1DHcNDm45TytI3tKmPQ2XUZ8WQJ/s1600-h/summit.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235936647125324162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkONsA-1YiKiaOX5lZ3ypuPe5GFumthVZHPBa9Q0GwvI8ekNTPI24h8gZ2XT1Yq7XD9SVh7CLN4sAQLYfeY0hSgLiYOeHhh9ec22cp7XO5uXp5ZUZO1DHcNDm45TytI3tKmPQ2XUZ8WQJ/s200/summit.gif" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Nicholas</div></div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-41130608100675909872008-06-30T21:34:00.002-04:002008-06-30T21:42:32.795-04:00Creation 2008So I just got back from Pennsylvania (Mt. Union to be exact...which means basically Amish Country). I went to Creation (the Nation's Largest Christian Music Festival), and basically everyone was there (DCB, Tomlin, Fee, Flyleaf, etc.)...as well as 75,000 other people...I spent a week there and it was a lot of fun...though tough work as well. Pollett, and Abercrombie came with me, so that made it easier, though it was raining almost the whole time. Lots of fun, and very productive for CSU as well.<div><br /></div><div>Brandie had an amazing 25th birthday party that her WONDERFUL HUSBAND planned for her. It was an IRON CHEF themed party, and Brandie's team won by a time default, though all the food was delicious and all of it was eaten. I would like to thank all of our friends and family that showed up to the P A R T Y, and those that helped; we really appreciate it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Brandie has begun her second month of courses at CSU, and hopefully should graduate in the Fall. She has 3 more classes to knock out after this month and they should be difficult, but I believe she will do well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nick <><</div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-7476657109494658602008-06-12T18:01:00.002-04:002008-06-12T18:06:13.840-04:00June a month of HotnessSo it's been like 100 degrees since the end of May here in Charleston. I think that the idea of global warming originated here, since I have a constant sweat.<div><br /></div><div>Anyways, Brandie is busy taking 2 summer courses, and I am working towards the Christian Marketing job at CSU as well as working with Summit Church as their Executive Pastor (which means I help out here and there).</div><div><br /></div><div>Going to be visiting Edisto Beach with Dad and everyone in July, and other than that I don't really have anything else much planned. Brandie and I are coming up on our 3 year wedding anniversary and that's exciting, though we don't have HUGE plans or anything...I guess you really do BIG STUFF on the 5 year, 10 year, etc.; though we are doing something fun for both of us. Also, her birthday is fast approaching as well, so I've been listening but I'm not hearing a ton of gift ideas, so i'll have to think...which I believe will be unfortunate for her. : )</div><div><br /></div><div>Just wanted to update.</div><div>Nick</div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-89230078376849152602008-04-30T10:23:00.004-04:002008-04-30T10:52:06.916-04:00Well what???<div><br /><br /><div>Well what's been happening??? Just working really. I've been traveling alot (as you who have me on facebook probably know by now)...I've been in Oralndo, FL and Baltimore, MD.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>In Orlando I was at Student Leadership University where I got to work, but also was able to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtlAMCFks2LAzWOypWj7M-eRnyyXwWNVQeUr5n1ZJyg2Z_cOkmxiKBHdQSAKthKBaH3JsPcUvQW78r6az4PxuFwJHwDsKdGNOj59_JaBT-2l7UMR4jyEcD3KdSsnZUimP3iVorlBL8BF9/s1600-h/flagler.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195047269073879506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtlAMCFks2LAzWOypWj7M-eRnyyXwWNVQeUr5n1ZJyg2Z_cOkmxiKBHdQSAKthKBaH3JsPcUvQW78r6az4PxuFwJHwDsKdGNOj59_JaBT-2l7UMR4jyEcD3KdSsnZUimP3iVorlBL8BF9/s200/flagler.bmp" border="0" /></a>learn a great deal about Leadership but also Apologetics from a professor at Southeastern Seminary, so that was great. I was able to do some surfing on my way home at Flagler Beach and it was the first time this year in the Atlantic without the wetsuit on, so that was a refreshing experience, but not that bad ultimately.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxbbNkW3Tk4XxWcAKKrK4fWInlJRPgU4Q4zb8Nz37bz_2geVl7idBmyFCEl2yKNp5tfGrg-8hawz-ghQvDLxkAS_fguA1QzRJ2J8tbnVumumJoEY9K9SknFCXE50dlT4I9oI0Ry0-fFMD/s1600-h/orioles.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195047097275187650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="122" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxbbNkW3Tk4XxWcAKKrK4fWInlJRPgU4Q4zb8Nz37bz_2geVl7idBmyFCEl2yKNp5tfGrg-8hawz-ghQvDLxkAS_fguA1QzRJ2J8tbnVumumJoEY9K9SknFCXE50dlT4I9oI0Ry0-fFMD/s200/orioles.gif" width="123" border="0" /></a>In Baltimore I spent sometime in Montgomery County, but spent most of my time at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore eating at the ESPN Zone restaurant and taking in a Baltimore Orioles game against the Toronto Blue Jays (O's won).</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Summit church has been growing a good bit, and it's been great leading worship with the students; they're amazing. Our Youth Group is getting up there as well, so that's exciting to see young students coming to God.</div><div> </div><div>Back to work....</div><div> </div><div>~ Nick ~</div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-46993194408719755022008-04-02T07:49:00.004-04:002008-04-02T08:29:05.747-04:00Ignite the Flame and Wind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJdyh_7gA3mMWOn0Tc9eXJCeVhCI4QuqwnJOcOoolAW4hoGAMekCAuQwSdV_4Hs9vVclSbSRAwsfe5oChoL8L8ErxyETBjk_cF5lnjHij_hqHPEPKRI-ap6u6kT8NwBAhEr5A50YmG-ae/s1600-h/morris+island+light.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184618314894153362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJdyh_7gA3mMWOn0Tc9eXJCeVhCI4QuqwnJOcOoolAW4hoGAMekCAuQwSdV_4Hs9vVclSbSRAwsfe5oChoL8L8ErxyETBjk_cF5lnjHij_hqHPEPKRI-ap6u6kT8NwBAhEr5A50YmG-ae/s200/morris+island+light.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvzcfKfYpj-VrK4cyerKxUF1uX8BQ8xIkhIS5D0BVt22GTgqa7Rh9tvTenYIdN6hyw5mkMbyz8JknZP1-DleyGBlUzI6Zt0zGb9GLRXmnKfON_OmGVQC3nBAYeKevCQ82hOJ-pzkKmojV/s1600-h/dad+fishing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184618190340101762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvzcfKfYpj-VrK4cyerKxUF1uX8BQ8xIkhIS5D0BVt22GTgqa7Rh9tvTenYIdN6hyw5mkMbyz8JknZP1-DleyGBlUzI6Zt0zGb9GLRXmnKfON_OmGVQC3nBAYeKevCQ82hOJ-pzkKmojV/s200/dad+fishing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>So this past weekend was interesting, and now I'm really tired; of course, being up right now at 7:45am at work isn't helping either. So...</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>This past weekend on Saturday my Dad came down and we went out to Morris Island (Lighthouse) and did some fishing with Jeremy and Seth: we caught two fish (maybe 8" long)...so, ultimately not that successful, but fun. The wind was awful and it made it feel like it was freezing; which it was cold, however, it wasn't as cold as it felt.</div><div></div><br /><div>Sunday morning was a good time of worship. We did some newer Chris Tomlin and Hillsong United music, so that was good times. Then on Sunday afternoon/night the Worship Band and I spent that time at the Ignite the Flame "A Night of Worship and Prayer". We played for 2 hours straight, with some breaks in between, but it was a lot of fun. There were around 900 youth there and they were crazy loud! But hearing them sing so passionately makes my arena as a Worship Leader very very easy, and it was more like a night of encouragement for me and the band; ultimately it was a great time. Afterwards, we went to Olive Garden and Summit paid for everyone's dinner, which was also good and I was very tired.</div><br /><div></div><div>This week at work so far I've been ordering DVDs for students that we want duplicated, creating letters to go out to them, and postcards to go out to others, coming up with a name for the new position (which BTW should be created between June-August), accepted and denied students for admission, met with parents and students about (admission, financial aid, housing, registration, etc), and waved to the Senior Adults with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Jon wants the Worship Band to play in a couple of weeks at this revival in Florence...well, near Florence, so we may do that. It would be in between my visit to CIU (Columbia International University), and my trip to SLU (Student Leadership University) in Orlando, FL; but after my trip back from Gaithersburg, MD...so we'll see about me...I know I'll be CRAZY busy at that time...which is weird considering it's not the Fall and I'm traveling so much.</div><br /><div></div><div>"Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 Timothy 2:22.</div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-48487208002933744312008-03-14T01:50:00.003-04:002008-03-14T02:13:23.766-04:00Premiere DaySo, it's 1:48am right now and I'm up with Seth and Jeremy N. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAun0dJserJH3iMwwpp547ZDKwr5KlFkB1zYuGbNnsjI53mogfD3Pl7PiN-pd8zBBh_I1i33rAa9BwI7f-9HrF4F-dF14mDedmp-X4M33f0hPh2vzi7IdsuQipDZDMi-_6GKeM9Qf31mH_/s1600-h/ps3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177476092285884162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAun0dJserJH3iMwwpp547ZDKwr5KlFkB1zYuGbNnsjI53mogfD3Pl7PiN-pd8zBBh_I1i33rAa9BwI7f-9HrF4F-dF14mDedmp-X4M33f0hPh2vzi7IdsuQipDZDMi-_6GKeM9Qf31mH_/s200/ps3.jpg" border="0" /></a>playing PS3...why?...well, the first reason is because we're guys; the second is because we were told that we were too old to stay up till 2am playing video games. I'll go ahead an admit that "yes" I'm dog-tired boss...dog tired.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyways, this weekend will be a good one, though it will be a tiring one with a TON of work. Premiere Day is this weekend and that means that all of the ACCEPTED students will be coming to see CSU as a future campus. Also, what that means is it's the biggest event that we do on-campus as far as recruiting students goes, and I'm in charge of it...not that I did all the work for it...I didn't, but I've told that the responsibility of the success of this event is resting on me...so no pressure. : )</div><br /><div></div><div>My in-laws are coming down to Charleston this weekend to visit CSU for Premiere Day since<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxomGvSAz_MR5qRUZa0FhjR6hCoEeDuL-lIOf1yPyBZ7q6PtCYdcElhZEBYFF99hisFWLgNwTUNX4w9DKpFMcyv6p8KvfTUhBALt33kNf6eKCbgZt2U-g2bJQ9TmcEI43wSTAWL-4EXbmX/s1600-h/my+inlaws.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177476100875818802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxomGvSAz_MR5qRUZa0FhjR6hCoEeDuL-lIOf1yPyBZ7q6PtCYdcElhZEBYFF99hisFWLgNwTUNX4w9DKpFMcyv6p8KvfTUhBALt33kNf6eKCbgZt2U-g2bJQ9TmcEI43wSTAWL-4EXbmX/s200/my+inlaws.jpg" border="0" /></a> Casey (my sister-in-law) will most likely be attending CSU this Fall. : ) It will great to see them again, since we don't get to see anyone that much anyways.</div><br /><div>Brandie and I have been looking at buying a home recently, and while we were very close to buying one recently, ultimately I was afraid of the monthly payment...afraid that we wouldn't have any food or water.</div><br /><div>Brandie is asleep right now...that's weird...this is the first night in probably a year or so that I'm awake and Brandie isn't. I will say though that she only got two hours of sleep last night, so she was pretty tired...plus she did a LOT of schoolwork tonight before sleeping.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Brandie and I have been reading "Taste and See" by John Piper everynight before we go to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVi369bkTZhph6DMqSlrhcIcvJwYp789AWuniWL9pl2vtQ3uEnyL3ELoHgLw1jkeXIwQ-uHVaL0zOWH60pWIe52i2lbwFuK-CB8wwNodbco-2UD-Gh_M0LqDZsPqkgjP2L60cjdJcFe8I/s1600-h/taste+and+see.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177476096580851490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVi369bkTZhph6DMqSlrhcIcvJwYp789AWuniWL9pl2vtQ3uEnyL3ELoHgLw1jkeXIwQ-uHVaL0zOWH60pWIe52i2lbwFuK-CB8wwNodbco-2UD-Gh_M0LqDZsPqkgjP2L60cjdJcFe8I/s200/taste+and+see.gif" border="0" /></a>sleep; it's been really cool to have her reading something that I enjoy so much. Right now we're memorizing scripture as well together; this weeks is: Hebrews 4:16..."Therefore let us approach with confidence the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need". And while we're <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Iof2uNfN0bJLWGv-iiYpBhp8hIZwXj5QyZQ1Dehfgr03hCfDGR7bKWFCC_YgQr-H2VKgn1qjOo3u_5CpI0NT5WcCjZjf3rzGCYkJKMZcwG3qKTMAALY7JoGTt-SiKAhSD5pCeupgLej/s1600-h/summit.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177476096580851474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Iof2uNfN0bJLWGv-iiYpBhp8hIZwXj5QyZQ1Dehfgr03hCfDGR7bKWFCC_YgQr-H2VKgn1qjOo3u_5CpI0NT5WcCjZjf3rzGCYkJKMZcwG3qKTMAALY7JoGTt-SiKAhSD5pCeupgLej/s200/summit.gif" border="0" /></a>memorizing those, the "Vision Team" at Summit is memorizing Romans 12 (the whole chapter) to use as a base scripture for all we do at Summit and for the meat of what the Vision of the church looks like.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It looks as though the new position which I created will be getting voted into being...as long as the Board of Visitors and Board of Trustees agree on it. It made it through the Strategic Initiative Retreat, and the Town Hall Meeting today already, so one more set of votes to get through; I really hope that it does; I think it would benefit CSU tremendously and would be way more FUN for me personally...cool thing about that is that my VP recognizes that it's something that would be more fun for me and be more along the lines of what I would like to do in the future, and she promotes that.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyways, it's now officially 2:02am and I'm still really young...of course I'll hate myself in the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeLgc7HFglGvhURz3B3FGMdiMptM51ZQtbBMl4sgrm46lXe1WkTBCQslqB4IXk6yl3iVWP5JjVWsE58hyphenhyphenIJacSAAEN_Rox5qjoT0tffFRVShShkCoxKcozf1tG7w2hguziGnHheigHtzu/s1600-h/lego+war1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177476105170786114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeLgc7HFglGvhURz3B3FGMdiMptM51ZQtbBMl4sgrm46lXe1WkTBCQslqB4IXk6yl3iVWP5JjVWsE58hyphenhyphenIJacSAAEN_Rox5qjoT0tffFRVShShkCoxKcozf1tG7w2hguziGnHheigHtzu/s200/lego+war1.jpg" border="0" /></a>morning, especially because I have to work tomorrow from 8am-5pm and then come back and work 9pm till who knows when. Then on Saturday I have to work at 6am till 4pmish, maybe longer, and then of course on Sunday 7am till 2pm at church, followed by Michael and Heather's wedding...which is exciting. So, off to bed I go I go. Goodnight.</div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-50702365793158624702008-02-20T15:32:00.005-05:002008-02-20T15:58:28.415-05:00Softball Season<div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Well, Softball Season talk has officially been started around me today.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169167809039965714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="33" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMANaKF7ThyM7OX4ouTwJTBrc6zw7d9HWwe3xJb1oPHDWniLLhU9b9a5evLb71ZlvebfP-XB0CiQbpEN3uNG5p8NNVPqHGY4htt7tWFOMiTuCBhR8f0OYllx5xzl86Z_fFVxbd0SMKYlpY/s200/summit.bmp" width="175" border="0" /> I look forward soo much to Summit Church Softball. Mainly because I get to spend time with all the men of the church and I don't get that alot when I'm at church throughout the time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii14QfFe2LijHc8qZbJfPFR9mt5pcrvI9zwWuYsYi1qjGhxb8DaQoKsrS4DrNR0FhnDN2QWNcN6EcQes0JsNOMFNPDWz8hM940EiW1nMydYkJnMOCJINlYaBwyx5Ixx7dh-O99hJVfD6h4/s1600-h/hrc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169168474759896610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii14QfFe2LijHc8qZbJfPFR9mt5pcrvI9zwWuYsYi1qjGhxb8DaQoKsrS4DrNR0FhnDN2QWNcN6EcQes0JsNOMFNPDWz8hM940EiW1nMydYkJnMOCJINlYaBwyx5Ixx7dh-O99hJVfD6h4/s200/hrc.jpg" border="0" /></a>Work has been crazy busy recently, though some things are being changed around, so that's a nice change.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I spent about 30mins. last night talking to George and being updated on things in the Ville.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5XwwjUNq7p_CzZz5SIXHPY7WGuEh7tI5Ad6byZqdUp923_Mn5RU6xFEpGsCJ4r3yAneYPURRnepISLj7ZsmtptRDqsuzC8G3V5pG3n_EUJANGeyH7dK1zj2DltTNOhywDelI_gljrR9N/s1600-h/g+and+i+with+mac.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169168732457934386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px" height="83" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5XwwjUNq7p_CzZz5SIXHPY7WGuEh7tI5Ad6byZqdUp923_Mn5RU6xFEpGsCJ4r3yAneYPURRnepISLj7ZsmtptRDqsuzC8G3V5pG3n_EUJANGeyH7dK1zj2DltTNOhywDelI_gljrR9N/s200/g+and+i+with+mac.jpg" width="166" border="0" /></a> It was good to get to speak with him. Happy Early Birthday George!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hmhyimnb2qucpLmxTnu-3PBmpvbW1rBNfZu2_iey0ySTd7d-KuvcZuk4rQt8aTtKvCzPrhL5QfwmmonLxrIRweJjN0BYCXrq4CEUCzA5TROcaQX499NZaN_cb-wYnPmhLqgQuZk0sNnF/s1600-h/folly.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169169466897342018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hmhyimnb2qucpLmxTnu-3PBmpvbW1rBNfZu2_iey0ySTd7d-KuvcZuk4rQt8aTtKvCzPrhL5QfwmmonLxrIRweJjN0BYCXrq4CEUCzA5TROcaQX499NZaN_cb-wYnPmhLqgQuZk0sNnF/s200/folly.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jeremy Pollett and I have been surfing at Folly alot recently (by alot I mean twice), and that's been really great to get to spend time with him and discuss life and get to see some amazing sunsets.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My dad is coming down this weekend, so I'm looking forward to that. My mom is coming down the next weekend, and then Casey, my MIL, and some other friends are coming down in March...good times ahead.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Tonight Jeremy Nuckolls and I may throw the ball around a little bit, both of us are very excited to begin this new softball season.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Everyone should go to Youtube.com and type in "women's soccer amazing goals" and watch the CSU goals...the third and fourth goals are AMAZING...thus the title.</span></div></div></div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-75280721189025995742008-02-11T23:49:00.000-05:002008-02-12T00:07:59.369-05:00Its been a while...I noticed that Nick has not written anything recently, so I figured I could fill in for him since he is apparently too busy. Well the only story that I really have to tell is about Nick, who still has some kid in him and I suppose always will (which is fine with me, because I do too and I think most people do). We were out riding bikes the other day ( my idea, so he probaly blames what happened to him on me, even though I had nothing to do with it) because it was a very nice day, about 70 degrees. We were riding on the sidewalk in our neighborhood and they have these, I guess you could call them "landscaping hills" and so Nick decides he is going to ride his bike up and down these hills. And apparantly as he was coming down one of these hills he noticed a hole and instead of hitting the hole and going over the handle bars he swerves to the left and falls over. That ended our relaxing day of bike riding. So now he is missing a lot of skin on his right arm and some on his hand, stomach and shin. <br /> On another note, a few weeks ago Nick took me to Paula Deens restaurant in Savannah Georgia, it was a surprise for me and he had to take a day off of work to do it. I just wanted to mention that because it was a great surprise and a sweet thing for him to do.The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-5789285833416951862008-01-21T11:53:00.000-05:002008-01-21T15:40:28.574-05:00A Busy Monday and Goodbye to the Doggie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmG1GJs4UV2T-kYPZEusXCMAjOuqKoWeCTf7jaufEX_FkGUn0R1TzKCBOW2dkoEd3DbsdUkbq7YG0dFlYCFP9jRH6Vo45aam8VQbCFDb7PgIAnlbnk0MV_wXvjSvQooaXszb-I7a62bM_/s1600-h/puggle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158032455321880898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmG1GJs4UV2T-kYPZEusXCMAjOuqKoWeCTf7jaufEX_FkGUn0R1TzKCBOW2dkoEd3DbsdUkbq7YG0dFlYCFP9jRH6Vo45aam8VQbCFDb7PgIAnlbnk0MV_wXvjSvQooaXszb-I7a62bM_/s200/puggle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As my loving-wife...stated in the previous post, we're in fact dog-sitting. Lily has been a joy to come home to and a sadness to depart from. All in all it's been a successful dog-sitting experiment (I say that cause it was Brandie and I's first time "watching" anything together, so it was interesting to see how we worked together in that..ultimately a good experience).</div><br /><div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-27242820157638574222008-01-20T19:38:00.001-05:002008-01-20T19:42:47.528-05:00Dog SittingSo Nick and I are babysitting a dog for the next couple of days. Lily (thats her name) is a puggle which is half pug and half beagle. She's cute. It has not been so bad except for Saturday when it was pouring down rain all day and we got soaking wet everytime we took her to the bathroom. Plus we are on the third floor... Right now she is staring at me while I am trying to study, I guess she does not understand that I have a test coming up and cant play with her, oh well.The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-68100615934294500112008-01-11T16:22:00.000-05:002008-01-11T16:34:08.636-05:00This Weekend<div><div>This weekend seems fun. </div><br /><div></div><div>- Tonight there is a P A R T Y at Nic's house...which for those of you that don't know...that means I will s'mores this evening.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcudJLRgsDhs2EwURn_THVBXfinCPAzNqnbEJsdGcdGWg4RfqQr7JGFkcwJuJARCquZFEeEb-rZAApmesVPesnFGL6fLjCqL3mUO6t1IA3ikRdCHRZDL4WdamHlX9YD2ZIBhnCv8Pzvzc/s1600-h/folly+beach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154335042530806066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcudJLRgsDhs2EwURn_THVBXfinCPAzNqnbEJsdGcdGWg4RfqQr7JGFkcwJuJARCquZFEeEb-rZAApmesVPesnFGL6fLjCqL3mUO6t1IA3ikRdCHRZDL4WdamHlX9YD2ZIBhnCv8Pzvzc/s200/folly+beach.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>- (By the way...this picture to the right here...was taken right before Ernesto hit Folly Beach...I was there...I surfed it...and it was AWESOME...the rain and the sand stung your face...and the wind would blow your board away....Seth and Jeremy Pollett almost died...it was a GREAT time!) Tomorrow morning, 9am surfing in hopefully a storm with Jeremy Nuckolls...and that reminds me I need to call Jeremy Pollett. Then shopping with the wife...thanks to everyone for the gift cards!</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>- Sunday...church! I'm very excited about the songs we're going to attempt this Sunday, as most of them are difficult...or at least, to us.</div><br /><div></div><div>So this weekend is shaping up nicely. Recently, I've received quite a large amount of bills....all at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ADwSyoPy-tWiIV7OQcVJino7hFRqvo75LCGZlv3_M76IrIsblNVdJovH1kNhaGm4X3b31IG5AausKYtsPqHUB4nu7wesKCD-qUNbAupwlUIa9PHK_IZcoe9vCX6hyOLn0DAwXTHo1IFQ/s1600-h/whhs.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154334527134730530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ADwSyoPy-tWiIV7OQcVJino7hFRqvo75LCGZlv3_M76IrIsblNVdJovH1kNhaGm4X3b31IG5AausKYtsPqHUB4nu7wesKCD-qUNbAupwlUIa9PHK_IZcoe9vCX6hyOLn0DAwXTHo1IFQ/s200/whhs.gif" border="0" /></a>once... I think other businesses talk to each other and say when they are going to send them out and ask for their money...just like when I was in high-school and I was sure that all the teachers in the school got together and decided when they would have tests.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I'm going to be heading up to Tennessee for the weekend of the 25th with Brandie for work...so Pigeon Forge here we come! That should be fun, though I have to work. Though, the place where I will be working will be a Youth Retreat...so that should be fun as well...hopefully we'll learn some stuff.</div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-64746745431389125752008-01-03T09:25:00.000-05:002008-01-04T09:27:56.260-05:00Christmas Time/New Year's in Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaJkcwCsD72gSHQWTTJAXP6p0khnJd2GWEnWNHv0TDv1kJ2drL29_B_A_JWGRbNKql44YGXdTqa_u01R5jPiqfVPPFXAODZ8A2IVv8yDna0vYz0ELcaDvCQeSctX9pwQZ9uGbEuuWZ5pf/s1600-h/dads+family.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151264931188148498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 363px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 344px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="224" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaJkcwCsD72gSHQWTTJAXP6p0khnJd2GWEnWNHv0TDv1kJ2drL29_B_A_JWGRbNKql44YGXdTqa_u01R5jPiqfVPPFXAODZ8A2IVv8yDna0vYz0ELcaDvCQeSctX9pwQZ9uGbEuuWZ5pf/s200/dads+family.JPG" width="393" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJaLK6Lw-0cWKwgnL2JfzlYWqhx_VqGcgrL7kvpD3o0PyOWZkgGaHCKGaJpsrRzU_eHE11lWjam7nG72kqHnBiA0cQVVSKQmB15ey96TJQrFDQ0Qbefvxj5N3Bfc-Sk6ehpaomD7_xyDD/s1600-h/dads+family.bmp"></a><br /><div></div><div>Well, Christmas came and went, followed by New Year's...funny how the calendar works that way.</div><div></div><br /><div>- side note -</div><br /><br /><div>Cubicle life is so funny. Jeremy was just talking to me and then his little head went away and I heard him answer the phone. Then he told the lady who he was on the phone with: "Let me just stop you before you go too far, and tell you that I'm not the right person for you"...that's funny.</div><br /><br /><div>- end side note - </div><br /><div></div><div>Being back at work is not that bad. It's nice to see everyone, even if we have a ton of work to do.</div><div></div><div>Brandie is in Spartanburg still, getting her car fixed. I miss her.</div><div></div><div>Back to work.</div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-78844308829235822922007-12-24T17:26:00.000-05:002007-12-24T17:59:56.184-05:00CHRISTMAS TIME!!!<div><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm in Boiling Springs, SC with my in-laws (and I love them). It's great! I have basically two weeks to sit around, sleep, eat, get and give presents (I like both), see people I don't get to see alot, and read.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Right now Brandie and Casey (my sister-in-law) are out driving Brandie's (pig-mauled) Honda,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj12hxejxqqFJz9XCvf4T-vGot2cVIg0t7tMUha7SAIlhNGwfI0Y35Zoyjv6Nd225LmgbwwUCIzd-4ZfpTV7-YV5Xh8vwAOspgu9qklBMewGQaSlea3ph5bvjsf1I0TlWPNZetYJW146J/s1600-h/stickshift.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147676198039989170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj12hxejxqqFJz9XCvf4T-vGot2cVIg0t7tMUha7SAIlhNGwfI0Y35Zoyjv6Nd225LmgbwwUCIzd-4ZfpTV7-YV5Xh8vwAOspgu9qklBMewGQaSlea3ph5bvjsf1I0TlWPNZetYJW146J/s200/stickshift.jpg" border="0" /></a> because Casey likes to drive and doesn't get to do it that much since she has no car. Casey and I just got finished driving my Scion around a Middle School across the street...I was teaching her <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0q5pVdQfGAYr7VhyXIPrhN0SKc0IxWbQFeflr6vt2upFQ1j5iEEuu4uXvmVHZaOs_U0-5T1FejHygaSHkDZwWNk3Yf7c24KNm7dQpgxnbm-YTNiq0s6nEZrDMQMJQ1vdex3viTRt-BNbn/s1600-h/scion.jpg"></a>how to drive a manual transmission; she did very well. I was horrible the first time I attempted that, and like other people I've seen try to learn it, I got frustrated.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Tonight is Christmas Eve. This evening is my favorite night of all nights. Strange and wodnerful things happen on Christmas Eve: Santa comes by, and presents magically appear around the tree, no one sleeps for that long, and people get up so early to see what happened overnight. I think this Christmas will be a great one!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I already "did" Christmas with my Dad and my step-family. That was a good time, we played "half-rubber"...I think...it's where you hit a half of a rubber ball with a wooden stick..I did ok considering I'm a crippple; though I think my ankle is getting better (however still black, red, and blue).</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>One of the things that I'm looking forward to most this Christmas is my lunch time with George on the 27th...I haven't seen him in some time...it feels like years, so that will be good. I am also excited about what Brandie may be getting for Christmas...which I can't tell you yet...maybe some other time.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Also, speaking of other posts, I've had such a demand for the "pig pictures" I will put them on here later...after Christmas...and if you have children they may not want to see it..though there isn't any blood or anything...just a dead (hit by a Honda) pig.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm almost done with reading <strong>Let the Nations be Glad</strong> by John Piper (I already finished <strong>Spiritual Leadership</strong> by Henry Blackaby), and I'm learning alot about Missions and about God's heart for the lost all around the world and what that should mean to us as Christians. It does make me aggravated with some of the things that I see going on around me at CSU, from the Christians and non-Christians alike, though I don't want to promote feelings of discontentment within myself (I suppose).</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Missing everyone in Chucktown, wish that all of our families and everyone could share Christmas together, but this is where we are. </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147677911731940290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="142" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSKKb9BFDaovchCYgzJeU9-Jws_ZGT_AnMbCGtVsWe4DckeVjciM_9AJQgXnnIvjdkqw4i6QmwEEBz4gfofF__ViLpptKE8TuqgGAX7T9ZTgM5u-Apf_o1FTQsTVh26tA_6PZUJXTHsF9/s200/merry+christmas.jpg" width="375" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><em>MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BALLENGERS!</em></strong></div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-11293828995879498922007-12-18T09:49:00.000-05:002007-12-18T10:31:20.333-05:00Something warm...something cold<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwt23slPY9gIuNra4v5j_yGGmQrQSitAr6yh63KHZr4S3xr_m74acFUTnj1M2kQDYeoBwzFMYei-k-eZDz2DS_qVUijP-paooP1fJNiIA0yy40Znem4XkrtDeyLV1u1Asv-jw62segD07/s1600-h/cold+car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145334444431256450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="125" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwt23slPY9gIuNra4v5j_yGGmQrQSitAr6yh63KHZr4S3xr_m74acFUTnj1M2kQDYeoBwzFMYei-k-eZDz2DS_qVUijP-paooP1fJNiIA0yy40Znem4XkrtDeyLV1u1Asv-jw62segD07/s320/cold+car.jpg" width="193" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was 26F when I was driving to work this morning; I know this because of two reasons: 1)The water that was ice that melted when I used the defrost this morning, turned back into ice after I turned the defrost off...which is amazing, and 2) Because the thermostat in my car says it was(the picture is deifnitely not from Summerville...if that happens in Summerville, then there's a problem).</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So the "wild pig adventures with Brandie" story has officially been told at my work. Most of the people feel bad for Brandie and then they laugh hysterically.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Apparently, Brandie's mom spoke with the insurance company and it'll cost us like $250 to get everything repaired...which is fine; that's not so bad ultimately...could've been a lot worse. So I guess we'll be doing some fixing up of the Honda while we're in GSP.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Anyways, it's my last day at work until January 3rd today, and I'm really looking forward to some time off because...well, because I would prefer not to do anything but eat, sleep and open and give presents. I'm excited about getting the children in our family toys, because I think that was my favorite thing about Christmas was the toys when I was a kid; and I'm still kinda one.</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFQkimelnuvJelM-NodV8sBRHSTpA6zy07VXREENY2UWLLokcHZfzqJCAlnlgCq6kRuOoEiUFpBojqy3w3dABgDZekYLLc2BlZDMJGPpLfZOW8DylONl2Vh5DFKpw4Zjxpg8FtiqQOvdO/s1600-h/mall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145335616957328274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" height="213" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFQkimelnuvJelM-NodV8sBRHSTpA6zy07VXREENY2UWLLokcHZfzqJCAlnlgCq6kRuOoEiUFpBojqy3w3dABgDZekYLLc2BlZDMJGPpLfZOW8DylONl2Vh5DFKpw4Zjxpg8FtiqQOvdO/s320/mall.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">We still haven't done any "real" shopping this year for Christmas yet, but Brandie and I both have scheduled shopping times with our moms, so hopefully we'll be able to knock it out in one day...one exhaustive day.</span></p>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-43860097293517881212007-12-17T08:17:00.000-05:002007-12-17T08:42:48.572-05:00A Pig...a what? I believe she hit a wild pig....no...no one will ever believe that<div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So here goes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My wife and I were driving back from church last night (she was driving about a mile behind me in her car<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyRDyDpnR03aJDiV0-YuqaMVpIH_bgxhCSS9RS2EOgV5dcDeSTwdy6kO9NKBWaSBkqIByp9wHfUdwGOklMfCwpwfEWwwXbJig5T_JlxKrOGUSpT_eFp1Ln9i8hk2u_npMoDgWgwsEu14i/s1600-h/brandie+car.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144936803474090834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyRDyDpnR03aJDiV0-YuqaMVpIH_bgxhCSS9RS2EOgV5dcDeSTwdy6kO9NKBWaSBkqIByp9wHfUdwGOklMfCwpwfEWwwXbJig5T_JlxKrOGUSpT_eFp1Ln9i8hk2u_npMoDgWgwsEu14i/s320/brandie+car.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a>). We have a cut-through road that has just recently been developed and we very much enjoy the large amount of time it cuts off our drive everyday.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As I proceeded through the road, it was very dark, and i turned on my bright lights to see better. When I did that I saw not one, but three large wild pigs (hairy...just really hairy...like some of my friends), and so I slowed down and began to call Brandie on the phone since she was behind me and I wanted to make sure that she saw them ahead of time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Well, I called her, she answered:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Brandie: Hey.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Nick: Hey, where are you?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Brandie: I'm on the cut-through road....OH MY GOD, I JUST HIT SOMETHING. ::tears::</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Nick: Yeah I know...I'll be right there.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRAD6cF6IAs03Tp5-qJE8akZmRXXW3X2Z21g0pH_heqJVrw2fnqybQElFl2M0A0Kz7itLwRkgykJSQYa_9vBNwxOqicZU7CUun3f0rQ7i3cR2a4bcBsYbYXi8tNzuuUq74VA4jshjzv4T/s1600-h/wild+pig.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144936614495529794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px" height="290" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRAD6cF6IAs03Tp5-qJE8akZmRXXW3X2Z21g0pH_heqJVrw2fnqybQElFl2M0A0Kz7itLwRkgykJSQYa_9vBNwxOqicZU7CUun3f0rQ7i3cR2a4bcBsYbYXi8tNzuuUq74VA4jshjzv4T/s320/wild+pig.jpg" width="205" border="0" /></a>Not fun...just not cool. Anyways, apparently one of the three pigs ran out in the middle of the road as she was driving (and these things are dark black), and my wife clipped it with the front driver-side of her car.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So now we pretty much have to get a new bumper, and maybe some other random things, but I'm mostly happy that the airbags didn't go off, cause that would've prolly done some serious damage.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So then we both got home and I proceeded to go back out to my car with our digital camera and take pictures of her car and the dead pig (with a police officer, who couldn't believe what she was looking at). Also, we had another officer (whose daughter goes to CSU) come up to our apartment and write up a police report about it...so my wife has her own police report now.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It's funny, because it's so random, and I'm suprised that my "randomness of tragedy and weirdness" ability transferred to my wife...I mean normally the random weird junk happens to me...like when my toe got cut off by a conch shell....or when I fell of a rope swing 50ft. in the air and didn't die....or falling off a wall of a major american revolution fort while trying to climb it using a belt from wal-mart...that kinda stuff. Though it is funny, and ultimately something that I think we'll laugh at later on, it really didn't make me feel that good to hear all of that over the phone, especially my wife screaming part...not cool.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Anyways, work today, and tomorrow, and then I'm done till January...and that makes me happy.</span></div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4060794875421362431.post-11652288140895705432007-12-15T20:44:00.000-05:002007-12-15T20:56:39.595-05:00Our First Post<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilchW6Lt-bRJBDxp9j2xfl0_rogWD76KQFscGASeDLamGsizgpcgIpDURtPX5oJYPfV4QUDo0N3epPePqUFB4ohRFfXPPJ_fE1PFkqH2si-Cfv2DTzBfFG7G14nuNFRuagYV2e8rm_pXO6/s1600-h/my+guitar.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>No one ever told Brandie that one day she would be waiting hand and foot on her crippled husband, but alas, here we are. I sprained my ankle playing basketball the other day and supposedly I'll have these crutches till Christmas. Right now Brandie is playing with my birthday card that she bought me; it quotes the Blues Brothers Movie that I like so much..."It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses...hit it"...I love it, and Brandie says it cracks her up.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Tonight we had egg noodles and meatballs in soup. It was good, but I suck at eating noodles in soup with a fork...it's all over our kitchen table now. So, also tonight, Brandie and I sat down to make our Christmas list for everyone. And we've decided that we're not getting anything for anyone...we'll be happy to accept presents...but you people are just to hard to buy for (now she's using my crutch as a gun and shooting the Christmas tree).</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvqPgxGYMJMxvnbR72AWpQ4d17eXaSwR2XlnqOgoFu83y5HKmZGTFsZI_4PsKMR-Njqnc1SFtix7vPRsv9J7wbKe4w40EIb3liiDB2rr9Pn-dh85xDkRUjqsdcCa333ofWmSRf6buFnC3/s1600-h/my+guitar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144383280973884178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvqPgxGYMJMxvnbR72AWpQ4d17eXaSwR2XlnqOgoFu83y5HKmZGTFsZI_4PsKMR-Njqnc1SFtix7vPRsv9J7wbKe4w40EIb3liiDB2rr9Pn-dh85xDkRUjqsdcCa333ofWmSRf6buFnC3/s320/my+guitar.jpg" border="0" /></a>My wonderful wife (gun shooter that she is) has bought for me a Taylor 714ce guitar for my birthday (which was the 13th)...so now all I do is play the guitar.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Brandie's bored...at least I think so, cause she's shaking the crutch like a trophy and singing "We are the Champions" by Queen.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I'm glad this was our first post, it seems to have been very...enthralling at least.</div></div>The Ballengershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069431448948257066noreply@blogger.com2