DonB! in Georgia & Alabama

I only have about an hour to compile all of this stuff, so I'll have to keep it short. Here goes...

On July 19th I left to start driving to Georgia to teach and perform at the TNT Christian Clown Retreat. I performed on Wednesday night, and taught 3 or 4 classes throughout the week.

I had the privilege of meeting up with some clown friends from around the country, as well as many folks that I now consider my clown friends, whom I had never met before.

I took many pictures from my vantage point, so you should go and see if you can find yourself. To see the entire album of photos from the trip, click HERE.

After camp, I stayed 2 days in Montgomery, Alabama, and took a couple of trips to Hobby Lobby (why don't we have one of these in the Twin Cities?). While at Hobby Lobby, I ended up showing a family at the other check-out counter a magic trick. As it turned out, when I headed down to Selma, Alabama (about 40 miles away), that same family goes to the church that I was to perform in! It's a small world isn't it?

In Selma, I presented two programs for their family VBS-type event. The first night was the "DonB! Variety Show" with a basic message, and the second night was the "Dr. of Merriment Show" with an evangelistic message. It was two great nights of fun and messages. I've already been invited back for next year!

While in Selma, I wanted to learn the history of the town, so a young man from Selma named Robert, took me around and showed me all of the Selma historical sites. Selma is the historic site of the mass demonstrations of African-Americans trying to achieve the right to vote in 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led protesters across the Edmund Pettus bridge, where they were attacked and beaten by police officers, and caused to turn back and flee over the bridge. This event led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, giving all Selma, and then all people across the United States the right to vote, regardless of race. Selma is a city full of history, and I found it very fascinating to see the sites I had only read about in history books.

As I headed back to Minnesota, I received a phone call from my wife, Debbie, asking me if I had heard the tragic news. As all of you know by now, a main interstate bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, leaving at least 5 dead, 79 injured, and many still missing in the river. Pray for all of the people of Minnesota, that we can use this as a time to draw close as a state, and that the families of those missing or dead will be comforted in this time of tragedy. It is almost surreal when this happens so close to home.

Well, I leave tomorrow to do a show in Woodbury, MN, and then up to northern Minnesota for 5 days to teach at a circus camp. I will return to my office (if only for 2 days) on the afternoon of the 11th, and then 12 days touring with the Cirque Imaginings tour in the Midwest.

I will talk to you all when it starts to settle down around here.

Take care, and may God bless you as much as He has my family & me.

DonB!

Round, round, get around, I get around...

On July 14th, my friend, Randy Christensen, invited me to perform at Sonshine MusicFest in Willmar, MN. On the bill were Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Toby Mac and about 30 other bands.


Over in the Kid's Tent, Randy did a few shows, his son, Ben did a few shows, and I did one show. But it was great. I met up with some other Christian friends that I haven't seen in years, as well as met a few more that live close to Mora.


Here's a few photos:

Ring Juggling...and on a unicycle!


A view inside the tent


During the message


What a crowd!



Kelly, Corey, Kaisha, Shane, Ben, Don, Karen, Randy
(not pictured, Brooke)




Don with Curious George

Some photos from California

Back in June, while I was in California, Nicole & Romulus Portwood took a lot of photos from my show on June 12th. Here are a few of my favorites:

5 Rings

The Egg - - - - - - - -Jonah inside the whale

Timmy...going wild! - - - - - - ball juggling

Before Jenny Craig....and after Jenny Craig

Going right up to the edge of the stage

..

If anyone reading this newsletter has any fun pictures from one of my shows, I'd love to see it/them. Drop me an email at

donb@donbministries.com

Take care, DonB!

DonB! describes the last KLove Cruise

I was online today, and found that my comments describing the cruise last January are posted for all to see. Click HERE to see them with the posted picture in their original place (scan down towards the bottom of the page), or look below to read just the comments without the pictures.

The Comments

“This was our first cruise, either as a performer or a guest, and nothing disappointed us at all! It is the first real vacation I've had with my wife in 13 years. It was great.

‘That's a BIG ship!’, a window room, hanging out with Bibleman and his family, wonderful hospitality hosts, Newsong in concert, lobster AND shrimp (in the same meal!), melted ice cream as an appetizer, escargot (ick), dinners with Bibleman and his family, getting lost 3 or 4 times on the ship each day, snorkeling on the coral reef, SONICFLOOd (how does the drummer NOT get a headache?), meeting Rick Heil at dinner, 24-hour ice cream, spending time with Bibleman, Carnival cameras everywhere, juggling at the autograph session, the amazing service of all the ship's staff, standing at the front of the ship on Windy Thursday and being blown across the deck, the great families that brought their kids (we'll bring ours next time too), food everywhere, towel animals each day, riding the unicycles on a swaying ship, John Glenn's space capsule, the ice dragon, dinner with David Dean, running around the ship with Bibleman, and being surrounded by so many great Christians!!! What a blast!!!” – Don B!

Maybe you can join us on a Christian cruise in the future. Click HERE to go see the other upcoming Christian cruises that I'll be on.

Take care. -DonB!

I Love a Parade

Back on June 23rd, our family rode unicycles in our first parade since we all learned to ride.

In the picture, you see Logan Arend (a friend from our church) riding his unicycle and pushing some handlebars, Dale riding his trials unicycle (made for bouncing and hopping), Debbie on her Miyata, me on my 6-footer and Deanna on her brand new unicycle.

We are one of the few families that ALL members ride unicycles. I know of others that MOST members ride, but not all of them. Believe it...or not!

Segue into other things

On June 26th, I walked my stilts at Nicollet Island in Minneapolis for a corporate party for General Mills employees. One of the other "displays" they had there were Segways, 2-wheeled personal transportation vehicles. I so badly wanted to try one with my stilts on, but they politely declined my offer by saying that "their insurance wouldn't cover someone on stilts". Whatever. Do YOU see anything wrong with that picture?!?

I then went over to Grindstone Lake Bible Camp in Sandstone, MN. It was a group of about 150 people, and the part that made me the most nervous was that 1/2 of the audience was made up of teens. They did great, I did great, and we all lived happily ever after.

The next day, my daughter, Deanna, and I attended a workshop for Mannequin in Motion/Osprey Productions. Both Deanna & I already have our first bookings as "human Mannequins". It looks like I will be at the MN State Fair, and Deanna will be a human flower for a trade show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Stay tuned for more developments with Mannequin in Motion as the year goes on. I wonder how long I can actually stand still without falling asleep. Hmm...

On July 3rd, I returned to one of my favorite places to perform, Camp Lebanon, in Upsala, Minnesota. Way back in 1989, when Debbie & I started utilizing our shows in ministry work, Camp Lebanon, and its director, Bill Abeler, gave us the opportunity to do our various shows at the camp. Well, 18 years later, I think I have performed at Camp Lebanon more than any other place. I believe I am somewhere around 40 shows for them! 40 shows, and "Bobber Bill" has seen them all! Strange thing is: he still laughs at the show.

If your family is looking for a quiet place to spend some time, be sure to look into Camp Lebanon. Tell them DonB! sent you.

Last weekend I flew to Salisbury, North Carolina, to perform and share the Gospel for the opening night of Vacation Bible School for Calvary Baptist Church. Misty Sells, the director of VBS, found my name while searching the Internet. She called, we talked, and then booked the event.

Kirby Sells picked me up at the airport, and drove me all over the place while I was there. The program went really well. I presented the Gospel for the approximately 220 people in attendance, many from the neighborhood. I wasn't asked to do an invitation, but the teachers are doing one each night in their classroom time. Kids really are the way to get new people into church. Calvary is doing it the right way.

The day I was to leave, the pastor, Dr. Rick Cockerham took me to the famous North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. It has the largest roundhouse in the world: 37 stalls. It was a treat to see some of the local sites other than just the airport. Thanks Pastor Rick.

I flew back to Minnesota on July 9th, my 19th wedding anniversary! Take a look at that wedding photo from 1988. Look how much hair I had! Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

Last, if you live in the East Central part of Minnesota, and Curious George (the monkey) is coming to your library, please stop and say "hi" to him. You see, he's being played by someone very close to me, someone that has been married the exact same amount of time I've been. Here's a hint: look at the photo to the right. Curious George is on the left. What a beauty.

DonB! is all over the place!

---------------------------------
Well, it's been a while since adding info to this blog, so here's what's been happening:

Woodcrest Church

On June 3rd, I presented two programs at Woodcrest Church in Eagan. It was my second time there, and once again, the programs went really well. I even met a couple that were on the cruise last May to Jamaica. What a small world we live in.

Plate Spinning

On the 9th, I went downtown Minneapolis, to the 12th floor of Macy's department store, and spun some plates. I was told it "was a big stage". When I arrived, it WAS big, but only from side to side. The depth, from front to back was only 4'. And, the front row of people, including the man that threw the party, was seated about 24" in front of me.



Usually when I do the spinning plates, I ask for a "buffer zone" of at least 12' from me to the front row of audience members (I don't want anyone getting broken plate in their forehead). In this case, I was given only 4', by moving the head table back 2 more feet. It was a good thing too, as one plate fell and landed on the bench in front of the stage.

The event was a party for about 200 people, and the party was Old Vaudeville themed. Hence, you'll see the picture of me with "Ed Sullivan", brought all the way in from Las Vegas.



I want to thank Loren Daniels, from Mannequin in Motion for inviting me, and Carol, at Moore Creative Talent for thinking of me for this event. It was fun!

California here I come...

On June 11th I flew out to Sacramento, California, for 3 shows. The first two were for Sunset Christian Center's 10th Year Anniversary of camps at Sky Mountain Christian Camp (about 2 hours away). It seems that of the performers they've utilized over the last 10 years, I was voted as one of their favorites. So, I was invited back for this event. Both shows went very well, and I met some great kids and staff while there. Because of the limited space at camp, I slept on the top bunk with some of the staff in a warm, tiny cabin. Some of us snored at night, some talked in their sleep, and someone rolled over and grabbed my leg during the night and made me jump. I didn't get a lot of sleep, but the camp experience was great. Plus, it is one of the most beautiful camps I have ever been to in my entire life. Miles back in the woods, on a steep hill, with a crystal clear (and cold) lake, it was very majestic and awe inspiring.



I want to thank Pastor Sean for the invite, Rob T for the initial contact, and Continental Airlines for not losing my luggage.

I forgot to mention something: This was the first time I have ever flown to a show on an airplane, complete with all of the unicycles. It was an experience, and I loved it.

I rode the Amtrak

After driving back to Sacramento, I then took the Amtrak to Hayward, Ca. On the ride, I looked out the window, and there in the distance stood about 6 huge battleships (see photo). I guess the Coast Guard uses them for training. Interesting.



On the 12th of June, I did a program for Creekside Community Church, the home church of one of my best circus friends, Nicole Portwood. Nicole, along with her gracious husband Rom, and their two kids Tim and Elizabeth, let me stay with them for two days and run around Castro Valley eating In & Out Burgers and ice cream (after all, June 12th was my birthday).

While there, I had the opportunity to go see Nicole do a library show. It was neat to see another 1984 Clown College graduate still performing after almost 20 years of lost contact.



I then flew back to Minnesota, arriving around midnight. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep on this trip, but I don't mind a bit. It was great times of ministry, great times of visiting friends, 2 smooth air flights, a train ride through northern California, a HUGE ice cream sundae on my birthday, and In & Our burgers "animal style" (with everything on it).

We all rode in a parade...
On the 23rd of June, our entire family rode unicycles in the Rogers, Minnesota, parade. Logan, a friend of ours from church also rode with us. We had a great time. As soon as I have the pictures from the parade, I will post them here.

I haven't been in this place since I was 4 years old
Then, that evening I did strolling entertainment for 6 hours at the Minneapolis Depot. It was a surprise birthday party for the owner, and 240 of his friends. It was State Fair themed, so I thought up the brilliant idea of trying to juggle while riding a mechanical bull. From the 3 pictures below, you can see that at first I did fine, but as the bull started spinning and bucking faster and faster, it became so difficult that I eventually just tipped over and fell off.

Back to Rogers, MN

On the 24th, I did a show for High Point Church (they are the reason we rode in the parade). It was an opportunity to share the Gospel with church members and anyone else that showed up after receiving a flyer from the parade. I know some community people showed up, because they told me so afterward. That's the goal of DonB! Ministries: get people into church to hear the Gospel.

That's it for now. But after looking at my calendar, I will have plenty to write about every week through September.

Stay tuned...

Praise for DonB! Show

On May 9th, I presented the "DonB! Variety Show", also referred to as the Professional Goofball Show, for Grace Chapel in Bagley, MN. The coordinator of the event, Cheryl Fultz, gave me some comments I'd like to share. Here is a summary:

"DonB! really loves what he is doing & he really loves his audience, enough to share with them the love of Jesus through a wonderful avenue of entertainment. This was great for an outreach program of any kind!

DonB! is wonderful to work with, and very entertaining. The whole audience enjoyed participating too! Very clear Gospel presentation, not just once but several times throughout the program."

Thank you Cheryl for your feedback and comments.

A Short Family Vacation

On June 4th, our family left for a short 4 day vacation to northern Minnesota. It was cut even shorter by constant rain and stormy weather on the 6th.

We took the trip, along with my parents and Debbie's parents, to Duluth. On the way up there, Deb's parent's boat trailer had a blow-out, and blew the tire right off of the trailer, taking the entire wheel bearing with it. We found the tire, with the bearing still in it in the ditch about 3 blocks back. Everything was calm until we started finding woodtick after woodtick on us. All in all, about 20 ticks, from only 3 minutes in the long grass.

On Tuesday we launched the boat into Duluth Harbor and rode around the harbor for a few hours. Duluth is a beautiful city, built on the side of a gorgeous hill. It also has the famous Duluth lift bridge.



We then headed to Tower, Minnesota, and camped there. On Wednesday we visited the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. It was very informative, and we had the opportunity to view some wolves up close through the glass.

Due to the rains, we strted back to Mora Wednesday afternoon. It was a short vacation, but a really fun one. And, it is one of the first vacations I've taken that wasn't a working vacation. All play this time.

Jim, Lynn, Don, Deanna, Debbie, Dale, Deanna, Dean

And now, back to work...

DonB! as Uncle Sam?

Last night I was asked to walk my stilts as Uncle Sam for the NAFSA International Conference Closing Ceremonies here in Minneapolis. Being 9 feet tall, I had many people asking for photos with them.

NAFSA is the International Association of Educators. Their 60th annual conference will take place in Washington DC next year, so the theme for the closing party this year was "Washington DC". Uncle Sam is a political figure, without being particularly political I guess.

It was a fun evening of meet & greet, with people from all over the world. I met folks from The Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, the Ukraine, The United Kingdom, and of course a few from the United States.

The Entire Bursell Family...on Unicycles!

Debbie, Dale, Deanna, Don

I mentioned in my last post that Deanna learned how to ride a unicycle.


Well, here is a photo, taken today, of the entire Bursell family riding our unicycles.


Very cool.

DonB! goes to the East Coast

On May 23rd, I picked up my friend, Mark, and we headed out on the road to Maryland. We encountered no traffic jams in Chicago (that's a rarity), so we arrived in Maryland on the night of the 24th.

The morning of the 25th, we drove about 80 miles to Bethany Beach, Delaware. Mark had never seen the Atlantic Ocean before, so I figured it would be fun. The water was freezing (about 48 degrees I think), and my ankles started getting numb after only 15-20 seconds in the water. Mark, insisting that he had to actually swim in the ocean, really did. He was crazy, and he only stayed in for 8 or 10 seconds. I considered it necessary to point out to Mark that every other SANE individual in the water that day had a wetsuit on. It didn't phase Mark.

We then headed back to Sandy Cove Ministries and presented my first show, the "Professional Goofball Show". This was the first time Sandy Cove has had a family camp on Memorial weekend. They had over 500 people there! I think it was enough of a success that they'll do it again next year.

On Saturday the 26th, Mark and I left Sandy Cove and drove to Washington D.C. Mark had never been there; he grew up in Iowa (pray for him). We saw the US Capital, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the White House.

Being that it was Memorial weekend, we also visited the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. There were 1000s of motorcycles there, because the group, Rolling Thunder, puts on the Memorial Weekend events at the capital. The war memorials were very humbling,when you realize how many hundreds of thousands have given their lives so that we in the United States can have the many freedoms we do. It really bothers me when I hear U.S. citizens grumble about the U.S. and its "many faults", yet they grumble while driving to the good job they have, in the car that they paid for with the high wages that they were able to earn, on the way from the home that they are allowed to own, after kissing their 3 children (that weren't limited by the government), listening to the free radio waves that are not solely political channels, driving by the capital that houses the offices of the elected officials that they voted for, that work alongside a president that they don't even support. Sometimes it feels as if we live in the "Divided States of America". Pray for unity for our country and all of its citizens at this time. Let's concentrate on the "United" part of the United States. ---(getting off my soapbox now)---

Mark & I then headed back to Sandy Cove to do my second program, The "Doctor of Merriment" show. It went so well. The entertainment was fun, and I really felt as if the message was as clear as it has ever been. It's amazing how God can use each one of us to minister to others, usually in ways that we can't even imagine. This whole weekend was a great time of doing touristy things, performing, ministering and visiting with friends.

Saturday night after the program we drove to Mount Airy, Maryland, to stay with my good friends Dave & Rachel. We didn't get much time to visit, but it is always good to see them and their family.

You never know what you'll find on your trips, but click here to see an odd one.

I dropped Mark off at his house around 2 PM on Monday, and I headed home to a BIG SURPRISE:

Deanna was riding down the street on a unicycle! Why is that so BIG? Because until yesterday, she was the only one in our family that didn't ride one yet. Now, our entire family rides unicycles. I foresee a cool addition to some of the shows, when all 4 of us come riding out onstage on unicycles. It has become a total family affair. Now THAT's cool! I'm so proud. I'll post a photo as soon as I can. And, remaining true to my promise, that if/when each of our kids learns to ride a unicycle, I will buy them one of their own, I ordered Deanna her own unicycle. When I think about it, this trip keeps costing me more and more...

Thanks again to all of you for your support in this ministry. I never imagined the amazing doors that would open for me over the years. I can ONLY imagine the new paths that still lay ahead. God is amazing me, day after day.

DonB!

A beautiful theatre. A great show.

Yesterday I had the privilege of performing in a beautiful theatre, with a wonderful cast, for a great cause. The show was "A Gift of Grace...", presented by Grace Episcopal Church of Menomonie, Wisconsin.

First, the theatre. The show was in the restored Mabel Tainter Theatre. If you've never been there (and I hadn't until yesterday), try and get there to see it (or click on the 2 photos below). It's a very old vaudeville theatre in Menomonie, being completely restored and renovated. The interior was absolutely gorgeous. Wood scroll work, velour draperies and curtains, even elevator trapdoors built right into the stage (oh how I wish I knew the famous magicians that had passed through those trapdoors over the years).

The cast of the show included myself as the first half of the show, and Warren Petryk as the second half. Warren is from Wisconsin, and has been performing for more than 30 years on his own, and as part of the musical group, The Memories. He sang, played piano, and "dueted" with one of his voice students (whom I neglected to get her name). They did patriotic songs, Gospel songs, and songs from famous musicals. Together it was really, really nice.

The MC of the show, and also my very gracious host, was Mr Steve Russell, of In Capable Hands. Steve tried out some new, and funny material. The hit for the audience was the fact that Steve had forgotten his shirt. While making his shirt magically reappear back on himself, he succeeded in losing the rear end of his pants. Thank heavens for funny boxer shorts! It was a riot. Steve, and his wife Kobi, travel around the U.S. with their variety shows, including a recent appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. (Quick note: Steve & I first met way back in 1986 while working at Disneyland. Over the years we sort of lost touch with each other, and just recently got back in touch. AND, Steve & Kobi met each other while both were involved in Ringling Brothers' Clown College! There's a unique story for ya.)

The reason for the event was to raise money for the Interfaith Food Pantry of Dunn County. Local sponsors paid the costs of the show, so that all ticket money, and bakery sale goods, would go directly to the food pantry.

Grace Episcopal Church is a growing congregation of people filled with a spirit of service, community involvement, and love. They are preparing to move into their new, larger facility in Menomonie. Pray that their growth is continual, and that they will be able to continue offering the community events such as these. I'm thankful to have been offered a part of this fun event.

Please pray for those I mentioned in this entry, that they would continue to have a great impact on not only the Menomonie area, but around the United States and anywhere else they get the opportunity to perform and minister to.

The Grin Doctors...again!!!

Some of you know about the Grin Doctors, but for those that don't, here is a quick synopsis:

Mike Norton, of the Musical Magical Menagerie, and myself, put a show together combining the best of my shows and the best of Mike's shows, to be used as an evangelistic event for churches. We presented it for the first time about 3 years ago. We revived it again twice last year, and then were asked to do so again for an event here in Mora last month.

The difference this time, was that it was presented simply as an entertainment event for the community of Mora, Minnesota. Buzz Venhuizen, from the Grand Event Center, asked Mike & I if we would present it at his new venue. We did, and it was a lot of fun.

For the ticket price, every guest had free pizza and pop, plus the full 90-minute show! That's a great deal. There were a few small hitches, but nothing the three of us couldn't deal with. Overall, it was another great night of entertainment, right here, within our own community.

Thanks go to Buzz for all of his work getting the word out about the show, to Mike for going the extra mile, including with his lighting and staging work, and to all the folks that came out to be a part of the show. We look forward to doing it again in the future. Stay tuned...

DonB!......as a butler?

Last weekend, both Debbie & I were in the community play, The Importance of Being Ernest. a play by Oscar Wilde. Debbie played the part of Gwendolen Fairfax, and I played the smaller part of Merriman, the butler.

We had a fun cast to work with, all folks from the general Mora area. We performed the play three times last weekend, and it was a lot of fun.

As soon as I get the pictures of the cast, I will post one of them here.

Stay tuned...

DonB! Music Boat Journal

Get ready folks, this is a long entry. Because of the amount of pictures, I have had to post them separately. Click HERE to view the photos with captions.

On April 29th, my daughter, Deanna, and I boarded a plane headed for Miami, Florida. We spent the night in a Miami hotel, ate at Taco Bell, and headed for the Carnival cruise ship, the Fascination.



I was invited, at the last minute, to perform for all of the families with kids on board the cruise, and was given the only available performance slot still open. With only one performance, I wanted to really meet folks on the cruise, so I did some strolling magic for the hundreds waiting to get on the ship. While I was strolling, Deanna took our luggage on board the ship, and was invited to have lunch with former Survivor star, Austin Carty. Of course, as soon as lunch was done, Deanna quickly called my wife, Debbie, at school (Deb is a Survivor fanatic, and almost got onto the show (a story for another time)) to tell her who she just had lunch with. Deb was feeling a little jealous, but insisted Deanna get an autograph. She did.

I also did some strolling entertainment, including magic and napkin roses, for the audiences waiting for concerts to start. It was a great time for me to meet with people face to face, since I was a "no name" on the cruise of many famous people.

As for music artists on the cruise, there was Third Day, Salvador, Tree63 (great concert), BarlowGirl (a surprise hit for both Deanna & I), By The Tree (another great concert), Nicole C. Mullen (the star of this cruise), Mark Harris (whom I talked with at dinner), Shaun Groves (who had a very funny sense of humor), SONICFLOOd (our favorite), Todd Agnew (who made the winning serve in our volleyball game, by sending it careening over the net and right through my legs), and Building 429 .

There were also some great speakers on the cruise, including Austin Carty, Lisa Whelchel, and a wonderfully gifted marriage speaker, Dan Seaborn.

Then, there were 7 Christian comedians aboard, who used their two performance slots to film their next two DVDs. They were David Dean (another parent that likes making fun of his kids), Bean & Bailey (a straight man/ funny man team), Rich Praytor (GMA Best Comedian of the Year), Cleto Rodriguez (makes wonderful light of his Mexican heritage), John Branyan (a high-energy, Mr. Bean-like character), and the ring leader of them all, Mike Williams (search out his inspiring Eagle Song on the Internet). Watch your stores for the soon to be released DVDs. Deanna & I were in quite a few shots, so you might even see us in there somewhere.

The destination of the cruise was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When we arrived, we tried to do a little shopping, and that's where we met the "Muffin Man". Do YOU know the Muffin Man? This "retailer of Jamaican goods" offered us some of his "healthy" muffins. As he lifted them out of the shallow box he was carrying them in, he made it very clear what he was REALLY trying to sell us. For just below the muffins was neatly wrapped parcels of what could only be Jamaican marijuana. We passed him by, to instead shop at the flea market, purchasing a few smaller, more legal items for our family back in Minnesota.

As we were leaving the Jamaican port, Deanna & I tried our hand at mini-golf on the ship. Well, on hole #9, Deanna decided she wanted to take a new route from the tee to the hole. After 16 tries off of the tee, 2 innocent, injured people at a nearby table, some other laughing passer-bys, me running for cover, and Deanna's golf ball almost going into the ocean, she finally was able to sink her ball into the hole. When it finally went in, I think I heard a cheer go up from the folks on the upper deck that were watching.

One of the funny things we enjoyed while on the cruise, and were able to convince other cruise guests to try, was to ride the elevator down to the main floor just as the concerts were getting out, and as the doors opened, we took pictures of the folks waiting, in a startled manner, for the elevator. I have chosen not to print any of those pictures here (to protect the innocents from seeing their own surprised looks), but whenever I look at them, I still laugh out loud.

During my show, on Tuesday, Deanna took quite a few pictures, but due to the lack of bright lights, only a few turned out. If you haven't already, click HERE to view the cruise photos.

On two of the evenings, Deanna & I went into the VIP dining area to quickly eat dinner and get over to stroll before the concert of the evening. I met two wonderful wait staff, Marko (from Bosnia) and Aysu (from Mesopotamia). Marko showed me some magic tricks he knew, and I taught them some I knew, as well as how to make a napkin rose for future guests. Please pray for these two folks, that they would continue to meet other Christians in their travels, and that God would provide for all of their needs.

I would like to finish this entry out by mentioning to all of you that have kids, as well as a digital camera, that our kids love to take pictures of just about anything. Deanna especially loves to take pictures of herself. So, I have posted a few pictures that were taken on the cruise, just to show how much fun it is to hang out with my daughter for a week on board a cruise ship.

The performance times went well. The times of ministry were inspiring. The people I met were very gracious. The staff on board the ship were more than accommodating in every regard.

I am scheduled to perform again next January on the KLOVE Friends and Family Cruise, heading to Cozumel, Mexico. If you are interested in joining us, scroll down to the bottom of my blog and click on the banner you see there.

May God bless you as much as He has me and my family. There is joy in the journey.

DonB!

Music Boat Cruise entry in a few days

Well, I returned from my work on the Music Boat Cruise last Friday evening, but I have not had a day to sit down and write out the details. So, until next Monday, when I think I'll have the time, here is a picture of Deanna & I, taken on the cruise.