Every night when we sit down to eat dinner we ask the kids to share the best and the worst thing from their day. You just never know what you’re gonna get. The other night Kate told us that the best thing from her day was spilling her drink a few minutes earlier. Why? Because it gave her a chance to see the “magic tablecloth” (scotch guard is magic to an 8 year old!). She couldn’t think of the worst. The next night her best was falling down the stairs. Hey, it was fun! Emily’s worst was Kate falling down the stairs because she was on the stairs and got kicked in the head. Emily had her best and worst all wrapped into one: 1st grade homework starts in a week. Best, she knows she’s not supposed to want homework; worst, she really likes it and was disappointed that her sisters have homework and she doesn’t.

Best and worst is all a matter of perspective. July 19 was one of the worst days I can remember. To those of us who know and love Scott Kemp, our lives will never be the same. Every day lived without him makes us realize how much of an impact he had in our lives. For him, it was the best day he could ever imagine. He came into the presence of the Lord; he reached the goal and received the prize for a life lived serving Christ. I am so thankful that we have a heavenly perspective that makes the worst days more bearable and the best a glimpse of more than we can ever ask or imagine.

I got this video in an email from my brother in law Matt and then found it on YouTube for you all to enjoy. There are so many things that could go terribly wrong, but I have to say I think it would be soooo much fun!

Shelley isn’t a huge fan of rap music, so maybe the next time I sing LL Cool J’s hit song “I Need Love” I will need to change it up and do this version!

Something tells me Shelley would NOT be swept off of her feet!

Scott Paschall Kemp of Mesa, AZ passed away on Saturday afternoon July 19th, 2008 at the age of 63. Scott was born in St. Joseph Missouri on April 3, 1945. The only child of Joe and Doris Kemp, Scott moved to San Diego when he was a young boy. There he attended Sweetwater High School and San Diego State University. In May of 1967 his life would change forever when his mother introduced him to a beautiful young cashier at Leader department store. Betty Jane Barber and he were married on March 30th, 1968. Scott served in the United States Air Force from December 1967 to March 1973 serving as an F-4 Pilot in the Vietnam War. While serving he earned the National Distinguished Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon.

Scott and Betty began attending Central Christian Church of Mesa, AZ in 1974 where Scott served as an elder and teacher. He did not just attend Central Christian, he served with a steadfast desire to see the Kingdom of God expanded.

Scott was an exemplary father to his six daughters who were known around the church as “the Kemp girls”. The tremendous pride he had in his family was well founded, his girls have grown to be fine women and have shown themselves to be excellent wives and mothers. His family is a testament to the kind of man he was.

The character, integrity, and honor he displayed in his life were only overshadowed by his tremendous faith in Christ. He truly lived his faith and is without a doubt experiencing the rewards of a well lived Christian life.

He is survived by his wife Betty Kemp; children Steve and Lori Hutchins, Matt and Kirsten Lunsford, Sean and Shelley Smith, Jon and Stephanie Howard, Mike and Davina Baird, Cade and Candice Fassett; fourteen grandchildren, Gregory, Trevor, Amanda, Ella, Olivia, Allison, Kate, Emily, Claire, Anna, Sam, Abby, Kenny, and Scott who is expected in September.

We have packed so much into the last three days. We have walked many miles, I wish we would have brought a pedometer to stick on the kids so we could know how far their little feet have carried them. They have been great!

Yesterday we visited the U.S. Capitol and took a tour with one of Senator Jon Kyl’s interns. It is amazing to walk through and know that some of our countries greatest statesman have governed there. We were especially fond of the the air conditioner they had put in the floor: A big hole with a metal grate over it and a tunnel going to the outside to let air in. They would put ice in the hole and the air would blow in from outside over the ice and cool things down. The kids didn’t think this would work in AZ.

We also visited the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and drove over to Old Town Alexandria. There is so much history here it’s hard to take it all in. We got an ice cream cone and walked along the docks of Alexandria and I think the kids were more impressed with the fact that we were eating ice cream than the beauty around us.

If your taxes go up any time soon it may be our fault. The U.S. Government may need to raise taxes to increase the budget for printing since our children have found it necessary to take so many brochures from every place we visit.

I want to be a marine! Last night we went to the Marine Barracks Washington evening parade. This is where the “Presidents Own” marine band, the “Commandants Own” drum and bugle corps, the Marine Silent Drill team and about 300 other U.S. Marines show their best. It was great! The Marines look great in their dress uniform, and these are the best of the best. It was a highlight of our trip.

We are having a great time in Washington D.C.! Our feet are tired; we’ve walked a ton. Does anyone give good foot massages? We have seen so much already…the White House, Museum of Natural History, National Archives, Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum (kids section), Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Castle, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and more!

Let’s see…

Allison keeps trying to commandeer the map and reroute us (she likes to be in charge (I think she gets this from her dad)). She loved the Washington Monument, which surprised us, since heights are not her thing. She was disappointed to find out that the National Mall was only a big grass field (ah, she does have some of her mother in her). She surprises us with her history facts – where did she learn that? She is really looking forward to seeing all the monuments up close.

“Come on, Kate,” has been said quite often. She is always stopping to look at squirrels, flowers, and birds. She just wants to “sit under one of these big trees.” She loved the rock section of the Natural History Museum (I prefer the Hope Diamond). She was giving Allison and Emily a lecture at lunch yesterday on how it wasn’t smart to spend their souvenir money on ice cream. She is still in search of the perfect souvenir (the girl has a lot of will power). She cracks us up with her comments. She loves journaling every afternoon on what she has seen.

Emily. Wow. Her money is gone. She is perfectly happy to spend it all on ice cream. We held her off until yesterday, but we were getting tired of her begging to stop at every souvenir stand. (Please note that they are everywhere and they all have the same stuff.) She is happy as can be with a D.C. sweatshirt just like her friend Karlee and a big pink “diamond” with pictures of the Capitol, White House, and Washington Monument on it (yes, just like Amanda’s – they are definitely girls!) She gets most excited when she sees something she can eat or jump off of. My favorite quote from her is “We’ve seen enough…now let’s find the gift shop.”

We are so thankful to Rich and Heather for letting us stay at their cute house. It is such a fun place to be. By the way, the girls love Harris Teeter (the grocery store). First, for the name; second, for all the samples. I think the highlight of the trip is riding the Metro. They love sticking their tickets in, seeing them pop up, and walking through. Once we get on the train, they like to stand so they can try and keep their balance (Emily and Kate don’t even hold on). I think people think we’re crazy!

We have so much more to see…Today we are touring the Capitol building and Emily really wants to see the Library of Congress (I have no idea why, it’s not edible). Thanks for praying for us. We narrowly missed death from a crazy taxi cab driver. We love you all and will talk to you soon!

It has been almost one and a half years since we stopped serving in full time ministry. It has been a long and challenging process, but one that God has used to develop and stretch us. I have sent out many resumes during the last 18 months… one thing I haven’t tried is this…

Churches Find Pastors on Ebay? Ala. Pastor Hopes So
07/09/2008

An Alabama pastor is looking for a church home – and he’ll go to the highest bidder on eBay.
CBS-42 TV in Birmingham, Ala., reported that Pastor Chad Smith put himself and his family on eBay as he looks for a new church congregation. “We’ve gotten quite a few e-mails just asking, you know, ‘Are you as crazy as we think you are?’ I say, ‘Yeah, we are,’” Smith told reporters.
The auction began Monday, and interested churches have until 10:22 p.m. EDT Thursday, July 17, to make a bid. Contact information is available on the family’s eBay listing page.

Interesting… but then again he is from Alabama… take that for what it’s worth.

Shelley and I have noticed that Emily is always upside down lately! Everywhere she goes she is either standing on her hands, doing a cartwheel or hanging off the couch with her head touching the ground. I was thinking today that when she is upside down she sees things from a different perspective. We should all be challenged to try and see things from a different view.

So… this morning I headed outside to mow the lawns.  If you have seen our backyard you know that this is no small task… it is kind of like mowing a park… and I don’t even have a self propelled mower.  I have noticed that when I go outside to mow my lawn it is sooo much hotter and I get soooo much sweatier than when I spend an entire day outside painting or working at another persons house.  I think it is like this in many areas of life.  It is always easier to clear the table and do the dishes, or to fix a broken toilet, work on a computer or do some yardwork at someone elses house.  These things that I despise doing at my own house I don’t mind at all doing for someone else.

I think this is the difference between service and work.  At home it is work… I don’t want to do it, I need to do it.  To do it for someone else changes the category from work to service…

For some reason I think Shelley would like to change the address on the outside of our house so that I can “pretend” I am doing it for someone else… and get some of the stuff done around here that has gone undone!

We visited the Grand Canyon recently and had a great time. We drove up to Williams and from there we rode the Grand Canyon Railway the rest of the way up.  The train ride was a lot of fun and witnessing the beauty of God’s creation was amazing.  Aside from having a great time on the trip I learned a few things about myself.

First, as we boarded the train and found our seats I reached over to open the window, Shelley sat across from me and pointed out the sticker on the window: “please ask for assistance to use window”  I have to admit I had seen the sticker but of course assumed that I opened the window and would have volunteered to help anyone else who was “asking”…. then when we had traveled about 45 minutes from Williams the train had some “mechanical” problems.  Apparently the engineer had smelled something strange and had to stop the train to check it out.  The first stop was ok… but by the fourth stop we were getting a little restless!  What I noticed about myself is that I had a huge desire to exit my seat and make my way to the front of the train to see how I could help.  I don’t know anything about trains!  I know they have huge wheels, loud whistles, and that they run on tracks… but even with this limited railroad knowledge I KNEW I could help in some way.  What is it that makes me that way?

Secondly, as we walked along the pathway admiring the Grand Canyon I just had to make my way to the very edge and look over… I came to the conclusion that I did not feel like I had fully experienced the canyon unless I stood on the very edge and looked out.  While even thinking about the “edge” makes Shelley’s knees weak and her stomach wad up in knots, I couldn’t imagine visiting the grand canyon and not stepping up to the edge.  I even climbed over one little part to take a picture of just my head coming out of the canyon!  What is it that makes me this way?

I don’t know the answer… but I do know that we had a great time on our trip to the Grand Canyon!