Touring Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After an unforgettable Fathers’ Day in Janesville, the family and I enjoyed a wonderful day here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We arrived last night at the grand old hotel we used for our wedding (the Marc Plaza is now a Hilton Hotel!), and saw the fancy Monarch Ballroom which we used for our wedding reception. Laurel’s parents gave us a much treasured memory there!

Today started for me at 5:00 AM, when I got up to send Andrew off to the airport (he flew to California to visit with a friend). Mid-morning, the rest of us toured several places where I grew-up, learned to ride a bike, walked/rode a city bus to grade school, the beautiful Milwaukee lakefront, and, the church where Laurel and I were married 26 years ago this week! Lots of stories for the kids to hear….

We spent the afternoon at a the Milwaukee County Zoo — a world-class zoo, which we almost had all to our selves! Great animals and good weather. And, we saw a little of the Miller Park (home of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team) after that. Lots of fun — and tired feet!

I am very thankful to a gracious God for the past, and for the present.
pdb

On Wisconsin!

Hopefully you know the famous fight song, “On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin!” If not, I’ll be happy to teach it to you when we meet… or you can start online here as played by the mighty Wisconsin Badgers marching band! (Woo, go Badgers!)

The family is enjoying a wonderful, slow-paced vacation here in southern Wisconsin visiting my parents and siblings. (I say “slow-paced” for a few reasons – we are on a leisurely schedule, and everyone out here walks and drives very slowly!). It rained while we drove in on Monday/Tuesday, but we’ve had perfect summer days of sunshine so far. My parents are in good health, and the grandkids are drinking up lots of stories — and love. I am so thankful we are able to make this trip and reconnect. These things do not happen unless we plan and act.

I wish you were here — here’s a postcard for you from a site of a guy who is collecting such cards from all 50 states (click through for his link). You can spot Janesville at the bottom-center of the state. I’ve lived in a lot of towns (Beloit, Mosinee, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Middleton, Eau Claire, Watertown), so this definitely feels like home!

I am not able to get online much (so far) so very few blog or Facebook updates, but can update on Twitter (as ‘dbissett’) from my cellphone.

My reading progress has really slowed, but I am being greatly helped reading excerpts from Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor, now published by the Banner of Truth as a mini-book. One good example is this, which particularly struck me as vacation means living in such “close proximity” with the kids (the boys and I all share a hotel room together!)….

“One proud, surly, lordly word, one needless contention, one covetous action, may cut the throat of many a sermon. Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine.”

Yes, life is where the rubber hits the road — with real (even eternal) consequences.

Thanks for your prayers as we travel.
pdb