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WARNING: If seeing dead animals or blood makes you squeamish, you might not want to scroll down the page as there are a couple of pictures of my most recent harvest.

The setting? Last Tuesday evening on the Chapman Ranch about 20-25 feet up in a tree overlooking a small alfalfa/clover field. The past three times I’d been out in that stand (just a few days before) I’d seen a deer every time so I felt good about the spot and the timing. The only hitch was I’d been seeing them late in the evening, right around 6:30 o’clock with just a few minutes of shooting light left.

Sure enough, tonight wasn’t any different. At 6:30, I looked behind me and saw two does coming down the ravine just behind me and to the right. I thought they’d come along the fence line through a hole in the fence, but to my surprise, they jumped the fence and came in straight behind me RIGHT UNDER MY TREE! The trailing doe immediately looked up at me, I mean right at me. If you’ve never been in this situation before, it’s a pretty intense feeling of adrenaline and uncertainty. I thought I was busted, but she slowly worked her way around me into the field, all the while looking at me, so I couldn’t budge! When she rejoined the other doe, about ten minutes had passed and being in the woods, there was very little shooting life left, so I decided to draw back and try to sneak a shot in at 14 yards. Of course, they looked right at me and started to bound off. I quickly grunted at them twice, and they stopped 35 yards away quartering to me. I let my arrow go and it was a great shot in one side and lodging in the other shoulder blade making a loud POP!

She took off running North, then up a fenceline to the East where I saw her fall and expire! It was the first deer I had gotten with a bow since I was 12 years old! I was pretty flippin’ pumped and immediately gave thanks to the Lord for an awesome opportunity and blessing. I had been hunting hard several evenings a week and a few mornings here and there for approximately a month, and had already hit an 8-point buck that I never found a week before, so I felt really rewarded with this one. Hopefully, this is just ONE of many more, including that bull elk I’m gonna take down in less than 2 weeks out in Colorado!

Hangin’ out in Indy this week for the fall youth leaders gathering at Wesleyan HQ. Here’s the newest promo video for our next Wesleyan Youth Convention. COUNT ME IN!

This Sunday we had Ruthi’s dedication to the Lord in the second worship service. It was awesome because tons of family members came out and enjoyed the day with us as we all got to share dinner together afterwards and take turns passing Ruthi around. All in all, she was a great trooper and didn’t mind being passed around ALL day.

While the dedication was going on, I had a tremendous peace that somehow in some way, God’s going to use Ruthi in powerful ways. It was a great time to share with family! Thanks to all who came to support the most beautiful and smartest baby ever!

Okay, enough sappyness, here’s a few pics.

Thanks so much to Sharlla for taking the pictures for us on short notice, we really appreciate it!

Check out Tom Wilson sing about what it’s like being “Biff” from Back to the Future!

Thanks to each of you who helped us reach 10 comments on the last post. It truly showed me that you are there looking and listening to what we put out. So, in honor of your success, and as a gracious “thank you,” I have an extra special treat for you today. RUTHI PICTURES! (Thanks for the chant, Bethie!)

Here you see Ruthi with her Mamaw Wiegand. Hi Stacy! We got to go to Brandi’s Dad’s work cookout and fun day in Cave Springs, MO a couple weeks ago and had a great time. Ruthi was quite a trooper as she was passed around ALL day!

Here’s Ruthi with Papaw Wiegand. Though he looks tough, John’s got a super-soft heart when it comes to his granddaughter. He was pretty proud of her that day!

This one is of Ruthi with my sister, Kayla (Aunt Bertie). Kayla’s been home for a couple of months now and is doing great. Thanks to those of you who have been praying for her. Once she gets hold of Ruthi, it’s hard to get her back!

We call this one “The Birth of Cool.” Ruthi shows us from time to time her taste in fashion is already there. We can’t seem to keep her out of her mom’s accessories. Not only do they shield her eyes from the sun, but they also make her look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

Last Thursday night Brandi and I got to go out to the Old Spaghetti Factory in STL, and Mamaw Ruth, Papaw Marty, and Aunt Bertie got to babysit. Here is Papaw Mart proving that just because she’s a girl, doesn’t mean she won’t be in the woods stalking deer and calling coyotes and turkeys!

Pensive, with an open mind.

That’s right, she knows she’s adorable.