Here are the contents of our Family Newsletter:

• Family Update
• Publication Update
• HomeLife Magazine article
• Great reviews for The Influenza Bomb continue
• Events of the last month
• Upcoming Events

Family Update
As I write to you, we’re on our annual family vacation. Kate, Barb, and I flew from Colorado Springs to Pensacola to spend a week and a half at Barb’s parents’ beach house on the bay side of Santa Rosa Island. Scott and his wife, Jennifer, along with Anna Katherine and Sarah Elisabeth drove down from Atlanta.
Barb and I have been vacationing here since high school, and at this particular house since Barb’s parents purchased it in 1972. This trip will allow Barb and me to rest and recuperate before the fall season of writing and speaking begins.
After getting a couple of days of rain and clouds out of the way, we woke up yesterday to light breezes below blue skies and a high in the eighties. It’s glorious. And, fortunately, there’s no BP oil or oil residue here!
We’re making fun and delicious meals, having great family discussions, watching movies and reading books, taking long naps and longer walks, and making sand castles and warm memories galore.
Barb and I could not be happier.
Later this week, Kate and I will meet with our dear friend, and my fiction-writing mentor, Gilbert Morris. I look forward to telling him that I’m dedicating my first solo novel, Hazel Creek, to him when it comes out next summer.
Also, I’ll have the chance to visit with a new acquaintance, Libby Kephart Hargrave. Libby and her husband, John, live in Pensacola. She’s the great-granddaughter of Horace Kephart, one of the characters I write about in Hazel Creek.
I’m beholden to Horace Kephart who lived on Hazel Creek and wrote of the people in and around Hazel Creek in the early 1900’s. His observations and writing were an invaluable resource to me. I look forward to learning more about Mr. Kephart when we visit.
Of course, I love the time I have to write here on the beach. Writing is, for me, a most relaxing and enjoyable profession. I deeply enjoy it. And, I’m having the privilege of working on three projects at the same time out here:

1. I’m working on a morning and evening devotional. I’ve been working on it, off and on, for several years. This week I’ve crossed the century mark (100 devotionals written)—with only 630 left to write!
2. I’m working on a book for boys 8-12 years of age, tentatively titled Guys Talk: Straight up answers to your questions about your body. It’s an update of my still-in-print Lintball Leo’s Not-So-Stupid Questions About Your Body, although more of a “from the doctor to the young man” type of book. I’ve just finished organizing an amazing group of experts (youth leaders, coaches, fathers, physicians, psychologists, pastors, and theologians) who will be advising me as I write.
3. Finally, I’ve begun the process of outlining the sequel to Hazel Creek. I’m still flummoxed about the plot line and look forward to some time just to ponder the possibilities at the end of the dock out into the bay.

Have a great summer, everyone … at least what remains.
Publishing Update
HomeLife Magazine Article
I had a feature article published in the August edition of HomeLife Magazine. It’s titled Call the Plays: How to be your child’s health care quarterback. If you pick up a copy of the magazine, you’ll find the article on pages 60-61. I don think it’s online.
Good Reviews for The Influenza Bomb Continue
I’m so grateful my latest novel, co-written with Paul McCusker, continues to be positively received. Reviewers attracted to action thrillers and page-turners seems to be giving it higher ratings than those who like romance and deep character development.
If you’d like a signed copy for you or for friends, they can be ordered here.
Events of the last month

• July 29 – Aug 3, Barb and I enjoyed a wonderful, and all to short, beach vacation in Vero Beach, Florida with our dear friends, Jerry and Jennifer Adamson and their daughter Corrie. I was able to do some fishing. Catching and grilling mahi mahi was a highlight.
• Aug 4 – 5, Barb and I drove to Kissimmee (where we lived from 1985 – 2001) where made a presentation to the National Medical Association on “Natural Medications for Menopausal Symptoms.” The talk went very well and we loved staying at the Gaylord Palms Resort. What a beautiful place. While there I had a wonderful visit with my mentor of the last 25 years, dairyman Bill Judge.
• Aug 6 – 10, Barb and I flew to Baton Rouge to visit with family and friends and to attend our 40 year high school reunion. It was a special treat to see so many friends from our high school days. We really enjoyed our time there.
• Aug 14, I’ll spent all day in Denver at a diabetes CME. It was a great educational catch up for me.
• Aug 28, Barb, Kate and I flew to Pensacola to enjoy a family beach vacation with Scott, and his family. We’re staying on the bay side of the island, which has no oil contamination. We’re enjoying our family time together.

Upcoming Events

• Aug 28 – Sep 7, our family beach vacation in Pensacola continues.
• Sep 15, I’ll fly to South Bend, Indiana, and share dinner and a visit with friends Tom and Marie Felger.
• Sep 16, I’ll be on a live cable TV show, The Harvest Show, discussing my latest health book, 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People: Becoming and staying highly healthy.
• Sep 16-18, I’ll be attending an HCJB Global international board meeting at the HCJB Gobal Technology Center in Elkhart, Indiana. I’ll fly home Saturday evening.
• Sep 28 – Oct 3, Barb, Kate, and I will fly to Chicago. Barb and Kate will enjoy a ladies weekend shopping and playing tourist while I attend an AMA Meeting (the RUC meeting). However, during my down time, I’ll be enjoying time with them – if they let me!

Past Issues

• August 2010
• July 2010
• June 2010

You can get more information on many of my upcoming events here.