Ty Bass

If you read my last blog entry about "Golfing and Traveling..." well that's not going to happen now. My dear friend Travis Bass, who was flying in from Seattle to make this trip with me, tragically lost his brother, Ty Bass, yesterday. Ty was young (I believe 30) but lived a difficult life. Ty had many health complications as a young boy and never fully recovered from many of them. In fact, I have heard Travis say that they never thought Ty would even make it to adulthood. Ty was a fighter, however, and lived for 30 years. I only knew Ty through Travis and was able to spend little bits of time with him when I would visit Seattle. Ty was gentle, friendly, kind and very generous. He would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it or asked for it. I recall one trip Travis and I made down the Oregon coast and Ty heard we were there and insisted we use some of his travel reward points to stay in a condo on the Pacific Ocean...that's how he was. He was very compassionate towards people and had a very special relationship with his sweet mother, Sheila. I'm sad for the Bass family but in an odd way rejoice with them because Ty was always in great physical pain...and we know he's not anymore.

Please remember the Bass family (Randy, Sheila and Travis) these next few days as they will be difficult ones. I believe they will come together and love each other in new and special ways as times of pain and grief usually do that.

It's such a relief to know we serve a God that in the end remains faithful to his promises. He was madly in love with Ty and I believe he's now resting comfortably in His gentle and warm embrace.

Golfing and Traveling

I'm taking a short trip this weekend. My dear friend Travis Bass is coming up from Seattle to play in a golf tournament with me this weekend. We are going up a day early to do some sightseeing in northern MI. As most of you may know, MI has an "upper peninsula." My parents would never take me there as a child (we were only allowed to vacation in beautiful Tawas City). However, the "UP" is absolutely beautiful. It is full of national forests, elevation change, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and of course surrounded by the great lakes. We are going to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore which is in Lake Superior (the largest body of fresh water in the world). We are going to take a ferry boat tour of the lakeshore (see below, beautiful) and then we are going to take another ferry boat ride out to view some shipwreck sites. The ferry boat has a glass bottom so you can see the shipwrecks below!!!

Knowing Travis and I we will probably even find time to ferry over to Mackinac Island and do some hiking!

Eventually, we will end up just south of Traverse City, MI at the Crystal Mountain ski and golf resort for 90 holes of golf in 2 1/2 days!!!

There is nothing I would rather do in the entire world than travel this beautiful country with a dear friend (except of course, travel it with my dear wife and precious daughter!).

Pictures below are Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and some of the golf courses we will be playing.

Abbey