I was trying to think of a way to express this post. Then I remembered driving through a few large cities in Texas this month, and seeing some pretty crazy freeways like you see in the picture. It was pretty awesome to drive up the largest of them and look down on all of the crazy traffic. When writing this post I feel like I am standing in the middle of the busiest of all of them, on the busiest and most confusing day of the year.

What is it like to be self-employed and trying to finish too many projects, working a few hours per week with our church, traveling across the country with our family for the 52 Zoos project, going to our girls’ soccer games, having a previous employer approach me about doing freelance work, trying to stay focused on the Digital Disciples ministry here in Ohio, attempting to get back on track with our podcast at GodsMac.com, consulting organizations and friends on various technologies, not exercising like I should, etc. etc. etc.

After returning from those busy freeways in Texas (and some very lonely roads in the middle of nowhere), I’m struggling to get back on track. I’m getting there. It will take time. But my soul needs to get there first. Realizing in Jeremiah 29:11 that my God is there for me. Thanks to Kaye over at EngravedEuniques.com for our family plaque that reminds me of that verse today! Continuing to be insanely thankful for having any work at all coming in, when others are searching for work. To think of the engineers that built those chaotic freeways, and the amazing control their finished product now has over our busy schedules.

I write this to remind myself that I serve a God who engineers every second of my days. He will control, provide and stretch my life how He chooses. It’s my prayer that I hand over each day to Him, and give Him thanks when the sun sets. That’s the joy of following where He leads. It sure is taxing, but I wouldn’t sell this life for anything.

PRAYING for you and the hard days that you go through. I know I’m not the only one! PRAISING God for continuing to get my attention. That shows me He loves me even more.

We made it! After driving a total 3,687 miles, taking a whopping 3,109 pictures, visiting a total of 9 zoos, and making countless memories….we’re back home in Ohio. We met some great people while stopping in Oklahoma and Texas. We made a few stops while traveling from Ohio through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. You’ll see in the pictures that we stopped at the Arch while going through St. Louis. That’s a city we have to return to this summer for one of the 52 Zoos (we do have to backtrack a bit to get them all in and not make the girls miss too many school days).

We also toured the Alamo and the River Walk while in San Antonio. It was neat to be in town while the Spurs (their NBA team) were hosting Dallas in a playoff game. That city sure likes their team. For some odd reason, the women seem to be a huge fan base for them.

God’s really shown up through each of these trips. Those are the memories that will last in our minds forever. People, some who might not even realize it, being Jesus to us. It’s becoming less normal for people to interact these days. It’s also not normal to give gifts, meals, a place to sleep, or many other things to strangers you’ve never met (in person). This tour sure has allowed those things to change for the good. We have recognized that there is an attitude / mentality shift as we travel further south. There’s definitely more pride shown, but I think that’s because things like these are more normal there. To me there just seems to be more of an emphasis on people and friendliness in some parts of the south.

I’ll blog every now and again about the trip, but just wanted to stop in and give thanks to God for guiding and providing as only He could.

PRAYING that God will continue to work in the life of a new friend. PRAISING God for providing even in the smallest of details.

The trip to Oklahoma and Texas this week has been a bit more than I can handle. Not the driving. It’s now normal to hop in the van and drive for thousands of miles on our way to 52 Zoos and to see new friends. What’s too much to handle is the care, guidance and love we have felt directly from God. It’s impossible for me to list everything and every different way He has blessed us, but I can say that the blessings couldn’t have come any other way. That’s what we love most about these trips. That God shows up every time, and on time. I’ll list a few quick ones so you don’t feel left out. I know how annoying that can be…..visiting a blog and being left out on hearing the good stuff, LOL.

Yesterday was the prime example of the entire tour. We usually get up and leave for a zoo in the morning, but the new friends we met were really a joy to be talk to (and we had a bit more time). We had a great morning chat, and were blessed by those new friends in ways we definitely weren’t prepared for. Off we went to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, TX (a smallish drive). Met the staff at the zoo, who were thrilled to host us and welcomed us with their words like no other has. Got through a beautiful zoo a minute before it started pouring rain.

It worked out perfectly to meet another new friend for lunch on our way to Houston – many thanks to him for buying our lunch! Got back in the van and drove for over two hours on the way to Houston, with most of the drive being in the middle of nowhere. Just before getting onto the freeway we got a flat tire! While putting the spare on a lady pulled up and informed us she’d call her husband who had worked in a tire shop in town. He arrived in maybe two minutes, we followed him to the shop and twenty minutes and $12 later we were back on the road! Pulled out of the garage at the shop and it started pouring. Thanks God! The precise control of allowing us to change a tire without getting soaked, the timing of the lady leaving the school and being married to a tire shop mechanic.

That kind of stuff brings tears to our eyes. And here we sit with new friends in Houston. You are a great God. Inexplicable for sure.

PRAYING that God provides ways that we can bless these new friends in return! PRAISING God for every detail of this trip. Even a flat tire!

It’s been too long. Our last zoo for the 52 Zoos in 52 Weeks tour was in Miami on January 2nd. At least after this week we will only have 20 more to go to hit the 52 mark on August 1st! The girls are a bit excited to get back on track and have a fun spring break week off of school. God’s been good in giving us three daughters that ride well (being careful not to say “great” and sound like one of of those with the parents of perfect children syndrome). We have a blast, and unless it’s a massive day (like the picture shows after Disney’s Animal Kingdom) they all get through without falling asleep. It’s almost a routine now that we’ve done it so much.

It’s good for Marla and I, since we’re not just married but also office mates every day, to get away from the desks and eyes off of these computer screens! I’ll probably do some short blog posts while on the road. But I’m looking forward to meeting some of the individuals that I’ve connected with online while on this tour. Folks like the staff at LifeChurch.tv, Kent Shaffer, and many blog friends of Marla’s! It’s great to actually connect, enjoying time with them and the time we get alone with our family. The best part of the trips? Trusting God more and more each day, and seeing Him provide and clear our path in ways that only He could. Hopefully you had a great day celebrating the empty tomb of our Savior, Jesus Christ today! Thanks for reading!

PRAYING for travels, health and everything else that comes into play on trips like these. PRAISING God for the friends that are letting us stay at their houses. And others / the work God has provided that have helped make the trip possible!

As you can tell (from my intermittent blog posting), this month has been insanely unique / crazy. It started off with the trip to Seattle for the BibleTech 2009 conference. The past two days included a drive up to Chicago with Marla (speaking engagement and an evening alone – thanks to Mom).  Next comes Easter, and early the following morning we will head out on the biggest 52 Zoos trip of them all. We’ve completed 24 of the 52 zoos, and have until August 1st to complete the other 28. If you’re not familiar with the book project, head over to 52zoos.com and view info, our itinerary, a map, and some photos from the visits so far.

This next trip will include a first visit to Oklahoma (Tulsa – Oklahoma City), then to Texas (Dallas – Fort Worth – Tyler – Houston – San Antonio), and a stop in Memphis, TN for our family. We’ve seen God provide in ways that only He could. People to stay with, places to go, and everything that it takes to get there. Just today one of Marla’s friends (husband works for FCA) must have gotten in touch with a friend of theirs (Gary Smith – who works for FCA in another part of Texas). They were working on a place to stay for our family. Then I got a message tonight from an online friend (Reed Smith) who I’ve been in touch with for a few years, and the “friend of Marla’s friend” was his father! And to sit back and wonder what God thinks of all of this! It always amazes me when you let God make the connections, thinking you’re moving into unfamiliar territory, and He’s been aware of what’s about to take place for quite a while. You ever see God show up like that?

PRAYING for a very big / secret project we are sending out as a proposal tomorrow. I can’t wait to share the details. PRAISING God for making His plans known and our paths straight. Even when they wind for thousands of miles into new territory.