John in Baghdad.  

He's Always Wanted to be King

John during recent trip to Baghdad. 

Sara's puppy Cooper finds adventure everywhere, including playing with the sprinkler in their new back yard. 

John in Kirkuk

John in Kirkuk, one of many places he has visited so far on this tour.

Frodo Visiting the Squirrel

Frodo, Mark and Kathy's Jack Russell, learned to jump into the tree to be up close and personal with the squirrel.

John and Catherine

Since son John was shipping out to Iraq in mid-November, Catherine hosted an early Thanksgiving, Christmas and John's Birthday celebration dinner.

This Blog is like Coffee with Jim

Have you ever been part of a group that meets regularly for coffee? I was part of such a group while in college. Sometime after 10:00 at night, we'd gather up whoever was around and head to a place called the Red Barn for coffee and conversation. The coffee or whatever we drank or ate was never really the point. It was about the conversation and time together.

I know that such groups often exist in small towns. My wife's grandfather was part of a group that met every morning about 9:00 in the farm community of Leuders. The early morning chores were out of the way, and getting together for coffee provided an opportunity for community and conversation.

The world I live in seems to have gotten too busy and too spread out to meet physically for coffee on a regular basis. But maybe this blog can serve some of the same purpose virtually. You're welcome to just listen in, or to join the conversation by posting comments or starting your own blog. And feel free to bring friends along with you.