Getting Back Into the Routine

When we hit the ground in the USA Saturday this was our view from the Newark, New Jersey airport. That is the World Trade Center Freedom Tower in the center. Kelly Jo saw the Statue of Liberty on the flight in but I missed it completely.

It was great to turn my phone off of airplane mode for the first time in 25 days.

My Dad and my brother Steve took care of everything at the barn and bus while we were gone as they always do. I appreciate them tending to things. Having the bus in the barn relieves a lot of worry about it freezing up but it still needs a watchful eye when things get really cold. Thanks Dad and Bubba!

Kelly Jo and I had to run to town Monday so we stopped in at Acapulco at 11:00 for a little Mexican food fix. Plus, I needed to see my friends!

Wow! It was delicious! We had not had any Mexican food the whole time we were gone until take out Sunday and dine-in on Monday. We were long overdue! We did see a Mexican restaurant in some country we were in but it was too far from Mexico to lure me in. I tried that in Canada once; bad, bad mistake!

I stopped at my Dad and Mom's Monday afternoon and Odie came back to the bus with me. We are trying to get ready for our Christmas services that begin Friday. We are only doing four and all of them are close to home. I will post those dates here tomorrow.

This is what practice looks like in the BoggsMobile. Kelly Jo is standing by the bed playing her Yamaha and Odie is in the floor. We have spent a few hours like this through the years!

Kelly Jo's parents came by and visited a while Monday afternoon and we enjoyed that very much. We will be able to see them more before the holidays are over but it was very nice to have them here for the afternoon.

Today should be more of the same. We have plans to meet some friends for lunch, but besides that, the day should look a lot like Monday. We are getting back into the routine. Of course by the time we are settled, it will be time to hit the road for a different routine. There is no time to get bored.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Davy

Howdy, Dear Friends

As Odie already told you yesterday, we are back at the barn and the BoggsMobile and glad to have it so. Kelly Jo and I sometimes have a difficult time adjusting to large time changes but so far we have been sleeping at night and able to function during the day. I was awake in the middle of the night for a few hours the first night but it is definitely better than other times.

I sure appreciate Odie taking care of the blog while we were gone. I have not went back and looked at all the posts she wrote, but I will in the next few days. Hopefully she does not follow my grammatically errant ways, but unfortunately for her, she is my daughter and the nut usually does not fall far from the tree.

While I was awake Saturday night, I did take an hour or so to go through my posts from oversees and straighten them up a bit. When posting from my phone or iPad it is not easy to format fonts or paragraphs so they tend toward sloppiness. 

I wish Google and Apple would play nice together but they seem to thrive on making it hard on each other. When I use the iPhone app for Blogger (A Google Product) I can not control any of these things. If I go to the actual Blogger website on my phone or iPad the features will not work there.

The posts look great in the app on my iPhone but they end up very messy in real life. The lines and paragraphs are either jammed together or have three or four spaces separating them with no rhyme or reason. The last three paragraphs end up looking something like this.

While I was awake Saturday night, I did take an hour or so to go through my posts from oversees and straighten them up a bit. When posting from my phone or iPad it is not easy to format fonts or paragraphs so they tend toward sloppiness. 

I wish Google and Apple would play nice together but they seem to thrive on making it hard on each other. When I use the iPhone app for Blogger (A Google Product) I can not control any of these things. If I go to the actual Blogger website on my phone or iPad the features are unavailable there.

The posts look great in the app on my iPhone but they end up very messy in real life. The lines and paragraphs are either jammed together or have three or four spaces separating them with no rhyme or reason. The last three paragraphs end up looking something like this.

Can you see the difference? That drives me crazy. Anyway, I straightened my posts out and added labels as well. I like for the posts to be labeled so it is easier to find something in a post later.

We did wake up enough to walk next door to church last night and today we should be full steam ahead. We have lots to do before we hit the road on the 30th and we have lots of family and friends to hug and enjoy as well. Oh, and I need to drink some salsa!

Odie did send in some pictures from last night including her trip with Lisa and Debbie to drink some salsa after church.

Thank you for praying for us while we were away. I tried to keep you up to date on the good things happening while we were in Nigeria but I will try to write a wrap up post from the trip soon. We also probably have a few pictures yet to be posted. Stay tuned.

God bless you all.

Davy

Dad and Mom are Home

Odie here again.

I enjoyed the last part of the Dodds Christmas dinner last night AFTER I went with my grandparents to pick up Dad and Mom at the Dayton airport. Yes, they are home safe and secure in the BoggsMobile! Hopefully they are able to rest from the trip home. Dad says he should be back to blogging tomorrow. It is great to have them back!

Here are three pictures from the dinner last night.

Have a great Sunday.

Odie

Gaither Christmas Concert 2016 Columbus, Ohio.

Hi, this is Odie checking on this super Saturday. I am excited because my parents are headed home!!it will be great to see them this evening. Please pray for their traveling safety. 

Last night I had a fantastic time at the Gaither Christmas Concert in Columbus, Ohio. The evening was full of wonderful music, extraordinary singing and lots of laughter. I was joined by my cousins Lisa and Deb Isaacs. We had a fantastic time. 

 

The highlight of the evening was seeing my very favorite group The Isaacs!! At a Gaither show you get to see many great artists! Last nights lineup:The Isaacs, The Gaither Vocal Band (Bill Gaither, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles, David Phelps and Wes Hampton), The Martins, Gene McDonald, Russ Taft, Charlotte Ritchie, Buddy Green, and a local choir from Grove City Church of the Nazerine. 

The band included Ben Isaacs, Kevin Williams, Greg Ritchie, Matthew Holt, Kevin Moore Buddy Green and Jeff Taylor. 

I always love attending a Gaither show and it had been a few years since I had been able to catch a show. I am so glad it worked out that we could go last night. I did not get the greatest pics. I just had my iPhone and the lighting was an issue. Here are my pics from last night. I will see if Deb has any better pics and I might post them later too. 

Have a wonderful weekend. With Dad getting back the blog should be back to normal programming. 

Odie

The awesome Mark Capps

Gene McDonald 

The Martins

Buddy Green 

Several artist joined Buddy on a song

Russ Taft

The Isaacs 

Gaither Vocal band

A sea of lights 

The amazing Charlotte Ritchie 

A hilarious attempt at a selfie of our crew

All of the Homecoming artist

Pray for Jeff and Holly Ward

Hi, this is Odie checking on this cold Friday morning. I posted an update from Dad yesterday click here to read it.  I will wait for you to return.

I am up early and headed to an appointment to check up with my eye Doctor. I am reminded  of the morning I woke up to total blindness in my left eye. My world was suddenly turned upside down. The fear and uncertainty left me feeling helpless but God stepped in and carried me through a very long 9 days. The people of God went to their knees and fought a spiritual battle and after 9 days I began receiving my healing. Once again I Thank God for moving on my behalf and giving me full vision! My heart is still overflowing with gratitude. 

I am carrying a heavy burden for some dear friends. I would love it if some of you would join me in shouldering their load. I am living proof that prayer works when God's people bind together. I am thankful to pray on behalf of a brother and sister that are fighting their own battle. 

Bro. Jeff and Sis. Holly Ward attend our home church at Dryden Road Pentecostal Church. Holly's family was good friends of ours during my young years. Holly babysat me a lot and became my hero. I wanted to be like Holly. She never let our 4 year age gap or my handicap get in the way she was and is a true friend. 

When Holly met and married Jeff I gained another friend.  The friendship continued as their family grew to a daughter and 2 sons. Time and miles have separated us a lot over the years but it is so good to know I have them as my friends. 

They have had been a big encouragement and influence in my life. 

You might remember the wedding I blogged about last month, that was their daughter and son in law's wedding. 

The Ward family has had more than, what seems like, their share of sickness and hardtimes. I wish I could take it completely away from them. I do not have their answers but I can pray to the One who is in control!!

I received a text update last night and I felt impressed to ask you all, my blog friends to help me pray for this precious couple and their family! They need a miracle that only God can give. I am praying for miracles that leave doctors knowing that the Good Physician has been at work!

Thanks for reading I hope you have a fabulous Friday. 

Odie

Plugging In Again

Hello this is Odie. I just received this update from Mom and Dad. I hope you have a great day.  Dad you can take it from here. 

Odie 

Kelly Jo and I have been almost completely unplugged from civilization for eleven days. We have been without phone service in Nigeria two weeks longer than that. Saturday night that all changes. 

We should be back at The Lazy OD Ranch with full internet by Saturday night. Although we have no phone signal when the BoggsMobile is parked in the barn, but we are only a few steps away from it.   

We will be immersed in family, friends, church, fellowship, news, email, texting, blogging and all the rest. It will be good to be back but honestly, it has been very good to be away. 

We needed the time. We needed the rest. We needed the space. We needed the seclusion. Our time in Nigeria was absolutely awesome and our days of rest were almost heavenly. 

Now we need to get back to our families, our friends and our responsibilities. 

The next two weeks we have a few bus and barn projects to complete, other special projects, three Christmas services to prepare for and lots of holiday family time.  

I am sure the time will fly by and soon we will be on the road again. December 30th will roll around and the BoggsMobile will make its first stop in Sullivan, Missouri. From there, it will be a wonderful ride. 

I noticed right before we went to Nigeria (Thanks to Bro. Alan and Sis. Tammy Harris) that our schedule needs to be updated. I will get on that right away when we arrive home. Then you will know where the road will take us the next few months.  

We will be in the swing of things before you know it. Yep, it has been good to be away but it is time to get plugged in again. 

Thanks for reading. 

Davy

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas 2016

Happy Wednesday, Odie coming to you from Waynesville, Ohio. It has been a great day. First off was a lunch stop at Alcapulco. It was absolutely delicious! I guess I was so excited to drink salsa and eat food that I forgot to snap pictures. I am so sorry, Dad, I know that is major blog fail. 

I heard from my parents early this morning and they are doing well. I hope they have an awesome end to their trip. 

It is Christmas time, I love this time of year. I get excited about the music, lights, decorations, shopping, food and Egg Nog. Everything about this time of year is exciting to me!

We know Jesus is the true reason for this season. I see a I sign in the store the other day it said, "Christmas is not about presents, it is about His presence." That is a true statement that keeps ringing in my ears. I am eternally grateful for His presence every day of the year. 

I thought today I would share some of the Christmas decorations around me this year. 

Gran and Papaw's House

2016 version of the full tree

A few of my special ornaments 

My first ornament 31 years ago 

Me around age 3

Another personalized ornament on their tree. 

I love the lighted garland on the banister 

 

Mamaw and Papaw's House 

Lastly here is my tree in my bedroom. 

Thanks for checking in today. 

Odie 

California Visits Ohio

Hey Friends, Odie here on this terrific Tuesday. I posted twice yesterday please read both post if you missed them. First I blogged about my cousin Wade's 12th birthday party and the  second post was an update from my Parents. 

I am glad to be back home in Waynesville. I had a wonderful visit with my Hillsboro family and look forward to seeing them  soon. Today I spent some time with my Gran and Papaw Christmas shopping. Now I am settled in to enjoy a quiet evening. 

Before Thanksgiving I had a special treat of seeing Bro. Jared Burris and family. I am always so glad when their visits to family are when we are home too. It was a bummer that Mom and Dad missed seeing them this time around! 

The Burris Family are dear friends and are no stranger to the blog. We love every chance we get to cross paths with them. We are always looking forward to our next trip to California to visit them. 

Last Christmas Bro. Jared and J.C. Burris helped us on a big project at the Lazy OD Ranch. Dad was excited for them to see the progress that He made on the project. Papaw Eugene and Uncle Steve were kind enough to show them around when the Burris men stopped by the Ranch. 

The two times I was able to see our dear friends while they were in Ohio were way to short. I look forward to seeing them somewhere along the road. 

Below are a few pics of the Burris crew. Thanks for stopping by and reading. 

Odie 

Grant and Odie 

J.C. and Odie 

Gunner, Emily, J.C., Odie, and Bro. Jared

Odie, Sis. Valerie and Bro. Jared

Uncle Steve, Gunner, Grant, J.C. and Bro. Jared

Update From Davy and Kelly Jo

Hey Friends, this is Odie checking in for the second time today. Click here if you missed my original post today. I am posting again because I just received this update from my parents. I will let Dad finish this post. 

Hello, Friends and Family. I want to let you know Kelly Jo and I are doing well, feeling good, resting much and recharging wonderfully. We have had no phone signal and very little WiFi. In fact we have only had access to the Internet for short stretches of time when we seek out a restaurant with WiFi. 

During those times we have been exchanging messages with Odie and our families. We have even seen their faces while talking a few minutes with FaceTime on our iPhones with WiFi. That is so cool. 

We should have WiFi Friday evening and we should be back at the Lazy OD Ranch by late Saturday night. We are looking forward to seeing Odie and the whole gang soon. 

We have not been able to read much of Odie's posts while we have been disconnected but I am sure she has done well. Hopefully she has kept our millions of readers informed. 

Thank you for reading each day. 

Davy