TONS more photos from the trip here.

We are back home, now, in Mukwonago after a speedy trip to Naperville where my sister – Sherilyn lives.

We had an hour-or-so of relaxing before Sher and I took the train downtown to hop another train North to the Blue Man Theater (Briar Street Theatre). Sherilyn had received tickets to the BMG and gave ME the other one! What an honor!

I was extremely bummed that the theater-workers were adamant about NO PHOTOS being taken inside the theater – even calling me out for breaking the rules before the show even started! I behaved and settled in for a great show.

The Blue Man Group blew us away – seriously. The humor, the talent, the amazing rhythms – and especially the visual “eye candy” that surrounded the performance – everything was incredible and well-worth a trip into the city with my Sis to enjoy together! Thank you Sherilyn for allowing me that opportunity.

We missed our 9:40PM train back to Naperville, so we roamed a bit of the city waiting for the 10:40 to get us back. Of course I snapped tons of photos and enjoyed the sights, sounds, and smells of Chicago for that time. It was an exhausting day, but so much fun!

What a blast Pastor Gerry and I had at breakfast this morning in Brookfield!

Gov. Huckabee and Janet entered the Original Pancake House to the sound of applause from Huck-a-fans from all over Southeastern Wisconsin. He made his rounds and did a few live interviews with some folks on the other side of the restaurant. Pastor Gerry and I both got to speak to him personally, I asked him to autograph my copy of his “Character Makes a Difference” book and also told him that I joined him at the rally on Wednesday night and that he allowed me to take his photo with my daughter, to which he replied that he remembered – and even told me where we were standing that night! How cool!

With Romney’s endorsement of McCain yesterday, the road to even a Brokered convention seems difficult, but nonetheless Huckabee is unwaivering AND will forever be a voice for the True Conservatives.

I’ll be checking again tonight to see if my picture or interview made it into any news-sources.

We’re safe-and-sound in Naperville (made it here in just-over 1.5 hours!). Sherilyn and I head to the train station around 4:30PM and the Blue Man Group show starts around 7!

More pictures of the breakfast this morning are here.

Tonight was amazing!

Mike Huckabee – in person – is as genuine and selfless as I imagined. His words were eloquent, his demeanor – charming (but not in a two-faced cheesy way).

We arrived at the Hotel in Pewaukee right on time, hustled through the entrance to the indoor waterpark and rushed down numerous hallways to the banquet hall lobby to wait with a few hundred other Huck-fans.

When the doors opened moments later we were ushered into the Grand Ball Room and quickly made our way to the front. I stood at the front barricade and Jess and Ella in the stroller were just a few steps behind me to the left against a wall.

Huckabee was introduced by Senate-hopeful, Tim Michaels and was quickly brought out on stage to give a 40-minute speech.

The air was electric. This man is NOT standing down – and he’s hoping for an opportunity to debate on the Republican Convention floor about where he stands as a True Conservative.

It was an honor to witness him in person and listen to the sincerity in his voice. After the speech we waited in the pressing crowd for an opportunity to shake his hand and/or get an autograph. What we received was even better.

After I asked, “Governor – would you take a picture with the most beautiful baby girl in the world?” I was pleasantly surprised with a pursuit on his part to get closer to me and Ella who was in my arms. I quickly handed her over and told him that I had to forge a similar picture a few weeks ago and that I appreciated the opportunity! A couple quick snapshots later his wife Janet took Ella out of his arms and passed her back over to me with kind remarks. I shook Governor Huckabee’s hand and he signed my poster and I told him that I was a minister here in Wisconsin, that I appreciated him and that I was praying for him. He looked at me and thanked me.

Great experience. Great pictures. In all, I took over 150 digital photos from the evening. Just under 100 “made the cut” and a few less are online for your viewing pleasure!

Here are a few:

The rest of the photos are here!

I’m still stuck in a chair with a heating pad warming my sore back-muscles and I’m popping Ibuprofen every 3-hours or I’d be readying myself for an afternoon of sledding! I did get out early this morning and did some snow-blowing to clear a path from the house to the church. The snow is beautiful! More pics here.