August 31 - john got a head start on September. Actually, it is still August 31st today. Late this afternoon, Janice and Neil Lewis, from Jamaica, and seven of their ten children will be visiting zenpond. john and joyce have not seen them since 1988 when Neil attended the International Officer program at the Fort Leavenworth Command and Staff College. They had three children then. Those three are now attending military academies in the U.S.. They are stopping by zenpond on their way to see their third daughter in the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.

September 1 - zenpond set several records last night and this morning. Neil and Janice Lewis and their family arrived on time, after driving 800 miles from Atlanta to Overland Park. Dinner was hamburgers on the grill with all the trimmings. When it was time to crash, john and joyce were not sure they could find sleeping space for everyone. Fortunately, the Lewis family was quite flexible and everyone found a place. That was the first record. Never have ten people stayed overnight at zenpond. The second record occurred while everyone was eating breakfast. One of the children noticed some ducks eating their breakfast too. The children counted seven or eight ducks. Then more flew in and the count went to sixteen. Then ducks started landing in waves! Before it was all over, there were a record-breaking thirty-one ducks eating breakfast at zenpond! So records were being set inside and outside at the same time! Normally, the ducks fly away whenever they see john or joyce, but not this time!

john and joyce were very pleased to see Neil and Janice again. Really there was no zenpond when they were here in 1988, just an 18 inch fiberglass pond and a concrete patio. What impressed john and joyce so much was how well behaved all the children were. They ranged in age from 16 to just under 2. They each had a partner to look after and to look after them. Janice had home schooled the children until recently. They would help without being asked. They were very nice to each other and others. They never grumbled over anything and always had a pleasant smile and disposition. They were highly intelligent. john and joyce learned that the oldest three (not present) had won scholarships to the military academies. The United States government awards two scholarships each year to International Officer children. All three had won in past years!

Neil is no longer with the Jamaican army. He retired a number of years ago. He rather accidently got a job with a large poultry company in Jamaica where he slowly gained respect for his ability to manage. He worked there 10 years. Meanwhile, he and Janice have been active in their church ministry and now Neil is head of that ministry. john and joyce remember them saying when they left in 1988 that one of their goals was to strengthen the family unit in Jamaica. They feel they have been successful in doing that. One of the cards Neil gave john and joyce reads: "Director, Operation Save Jamaica".

One of the children made an observation just as they were preparing to leave. She looked into the sky and saw a jet going over. She observed that "the plane had made a cloud go straight".

September 3 - joyce counted 40 ducks eating breakfast at zenpond this morning. There are a exceptional large population of dragon flies at zenpond this year and very few mosquitoes.

September 5 - john and joyce received an email from their friend Basso in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa this morning. He often will visit a cyber-cafe on Sundays. He has spent a lot of time watching the Olympics. It is always fun hearing from Basso.

john is achieving another milestone today. john can now get into the spa this afternoon. john's surgeon would not allow john's surgery to get wet until today. Perhaps getting into the spa will help get some of the soreness out. It has been two weeks since john's double hernia surgery.

It has been awhile since john has mentioned anything about the tuckmeister. He, of course, is taking an extended cat nap right now. Did john mention that "tuck", a Maine Coon, is now 21 pounds! john currently can only lift a maximum of 20 pounds. Fortunately, tucky knows the command "hop up". Sometimes, tuck will even practice the command without john verbalizing it. Smart cat.

September 12 - john and joyce was happy to have a new great-niece on September 9. Here are some pictures while Tessa Rose Collar was only one day old: