Just Checking In

Yes, we're still alive and haven't forgotten about the blog. To say that we've been busy would be an understatement. One more week of the hectic busyness and things should calm down. We are more than ready for a break.

Good ole Missouri...

With regards to Missouri weather, they always say if you don't like the weather just wait a day. Well we got a large dose of that reality yesterday, unfortunately it was in reverse. Friday we enjoyed a beautiful sunny day with temps in the mid sixties. Saturday we felt yet another winter blast leaving us with 6-8 inches of snow.

This has been a rough winter for northern Missouri. Apart from one nice weekend, the weather over the past month has certainly not been condusive to accomplishing much on the Airstream. Hopefully this will be the final blow.

Old School

Here are a few 'outtakes' from a recent photo shoot we had for a sermon series at church. These aren't the actual photos used in the series, just some fun shots they snapped before and after the shoot. We're lucky to have some very talented photographers at LifeConnection (www.meetthehendersons.com). Enjoy!

The crack of the bat

Spring time is starting to show its face here in Kansas City. With the rising temps and greening grass comes the fresh hope of a new baseball season. For the poor souls that call ourselves Royal's fans, it's been a rough twenty years. I'm 26 and I have yet to watch the Royal's play in a post-season game. Sad. Very sad.

None the less, I am one of the KC faithful who excitedly looks forward to each new season. The prospects, the free agents...you just never know when lightening might be caught in a bottle. Despite the tough times, one of my favorite summer pastimes is listening to the Royals radio broadcast. Denny Matthews and company are familiar voices around our house. If you've spent much time around me in the summer you've probably heard a game or two.

With the impending move I knew it may be now or never for me to experience what every fan should. Your team's season opener. Outside of postseason play, I don't think you will find a game with more excitement, anticipation, or energy than opening day. So, as of 9:23 this morning, I'm happy to say we will be a part of that experiece on April 5, 2010.

Today we joined the ranks of the crazy people who stand in rediculously long lines to purchase opening day tickets the morning they go on sale. We even went the night before to get a wristband that would get us closer to the front of the line when we came back this morning. It was a fun experience and in many ways felt like an early extension of the opening day drama.

The game will also mark the final event for us in Kansas City. As of now, our plan is to depart KC the following day. Gradually making our way towards Arkansas, hopefully via Texas, but we'll have to wait and see. Win or lose, I'm thankful for the opportunity to depart Kansas City on such a high note.

Go Royals!

M

Yesterdays...

Tis a somber night around the Leiboult household. Tonight, for the first time in almost 11 years, I no longer own a red 1997 Chevy S-10. Arriving as a major surprise for my 16th birthday, it's the only truck I have ever known. Much like a close friend, we've been through thick and thin together. A daily driver to the very end, it was a reliable and steady truck.

As I drove home from work for the final time today I couldn't help but think back on some of the wonderful memories I've had with this truck. Of the many stories I pondered, the ones which stuck out the most are the countless number of high school camping trips I took to Chadwick. For hours on end we would roam around the woods creating all sorts of mischief and memories. (Just doing what teenage boys do.) Yet for some reason, no matter how crazy we had been, no matter how many of us overly ego-conscious high school jocks were there, we almost always ended the night listening to the same two songs on the S-10 stereo... The Dance and The River by the one and only, Garth Brooks. I can vividly remember drifting to sleep as we lay on our sleeping bags in the wee hours of warm summer nights. And if we hadn't fallen asleep counting stars by the end of The River, an encore of The Thunder Rolls was always on tap.

It was a great truck for me. I owe a huge thank you to my parents for giving me the privilidge to own this truck. I'm a guy who doesn't get attached to much and rather easily buys and sells.

With that being said, I'm going to miss her.

M