Pushing It

I have a child in my care that pushes everything to the limit. I'm thinking, really? Oh my goodness, I just wish once that you would comply. Well, actually, he does comply occasionally.

I get to my wits end very soon in the day, and this is frustrating.

So in my daily thoughts I'm wondering if God is the same way towards me? Does he get frustrated with me? I don't always do my best. I argue a lot (with him). Well, maybe not a lot but some. I don't always comply. Hmmm....

I'm not sure I'm treating my heavenly Father any better than this child is treating me as his houseparent.

I must try harder.

Mirror Images -

Just what does that mean?
I was getting on the elevator at Cook's Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, the other day and while waiting on a lady to enter before me I glanced up to see my Daddy standing in the elevator.  Well, since my Daddy has been "gone" for 3+ years, you can imagine my surprise!  There he was, staring right at me and my heart took a leap for just a second before realizing I was staring straight into a mirror at the back of the elevator.
It took a minute to catch my breath, but then I spent the rest of the day thinking about why that shocked me so.  I see myself every day in the mirror.  I don't see the same reflection every time.  Why is that?  Am I not always the same person?
The Good Book says that God is the same "Yesterday, today and tomorrow".  If I am to try to imitate Jesus in my life, then that should be what I strive to do also.
Now I know the mirror image is of my outside appearance, and the scripture is talking about our inward  appearances, but wouldn't the same concept apply?  Some days I look like Eddie, some days I look like Dale, some days I look like ???  Some days I look like a Christian, and some days I look like I'm not???
Just a thought.
Thanks Daddy for the "jolt".

Wow, it's been so long that I didn't even know how to get here.  I've been prompted by the spirit to blog, and by my preacher.  Haha.  I want to talk about the spirit and how I (we) can live by it.  I've decided that I haven't been living by the spirit, just with it.
The scriptures say we are to live by the Spirit.   Hmmm....It wasn't until today that it has dawned on me that I have only been living WITH the Spirit.
I will let you know how things progress

End of week ONE

So I'm reporting in....and I'm elated......
Had a good week, cheated a little, ate a lot of "good for you" foods.
Did a little exercise but not much, i really need to do more....
Loss for the week? 9.2 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!!!!!!!
thanks everybody for your encouragement....can't wait for one more week

Eddie, 70-9=61 to goal

It's that time again!!!!!!

Now I know you are wondering what is he talking about? Well, I am talking about losing weight, what else!!!!!!!

I just thought i'd blog about the new me and the transformation that I intend to come about. I hope this is not boring for you, but then this blog is not just for you, it is for me also. I will not tell you the starting weight, that's just too revealing, but I will tell you the goal. The goal is to lose 70 pounds.

WOW, you say. Well, yes, me too. I said, HOLY CRAP!!! I weigh what? You have to be stinking kidding me!!!!!!!

Well, as they say in the weight watchers and biggest losers world, "the scales don't lie".

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!

Okay, so. There you have it. My new life. Counting points and getting moving.

So I will check in weekly and give you an update so that I have a record of my loss and also I'll have a you to slap my hand and keep me on track.

TATA for now, until next week!!!!!

Eddie (70-0=70 to goal)

Lord, Just Take Me

Sitting in Granny's room, sitting by the bedside, it's intersting of the transformation that is taking place. We've all said it. We've all said, "Lord, just take me, take me today, I'm ready".
Are we? I sat by my Dadddy's bedside 'til his dieing breath, and today I sit by Granny's. We are here saying, she's ready, Lord, just take her and let her rest in your arms. At times when someone comes in Granny seems to know that someone new has come to see her, and I wonder if she is waiting on that someone that hasn't come. We tell her every time someone calls.
All of you who are not here, I write this to inform you , not to pour guilt on you. We can't all be here. You saw the numbers the other day. There are 123 of us directly kin to this wonderful woman, and that's just on Mamma and Aunt Del Rae's side of the family. That's not counting all of the numerous Phipp's that spread the globe. We love you all and she does too. You can't all be here, it just isn't physically possible.
I sit in her room and think of all the times that someone hangs on to life for as long as possible. Why is that? Why do we do that? While we are alive and well and things get tough we ask the Lord to take us, so we don't have to deal with all the stresses that life throws at us. However, when I see someone in the condition that Granny is in and the condition that Daddy was in, I think that they just find it hard to leave us.
It must be harder to leave than we think. It must be hard to leave the children, the grand children, the great gandchildren and the great great grandchildren, the nephews, neices, and grand nephes and neices, the in-laws, and the friends. Love is powerful. Love speaks profoundly, when you ask, "Why doesn't she just go?" Even when she knows she is tired, she knows she has the permission from we who she is leaving behind, it is hard to let go.
I'm of a mind that it is not that easy to leave this world and enter the spirit world. As awesome as it may seem, it's hard to leave the ones you love behind. We won't know until it's our turn. It makes us understand the scriptures even better when He tells us to let our light shine daily.
Granny, it's okay, we love you and again we say, it's okay to go and be with our Lord and wait for us there. We'll miss you, but we can't wait to see your smiling face again. It just gives us one more reason to live the life that is intended so that we can get that chance to be with you and others who have passed on before us.
Good bye Granny, Love you

Friends

I just want to say Hi to all my friends. It has been awhile since i posted something and I intend to get back into the swing of things. So, this is just a note to say, I'm back, and thanks for reading my posts.
Until later,
Eddie

Blessed

I have a former boss who when asked how he is always says "Blessed".
Blessed, just what does that mean? And what does that say about him? I have always just answered "Fine". Or worse, I have been known to say something like, "you don't really have time" . Of course meaning, if you really mean it when you ask how I am then you really don't have time probably for me to answer you because it would take a while to get all of the griping out that I really want to impale upon you at this very moment.
So, what kind of person does it take to always be Blessed?
I thought of this at length today, because he called me to see how I was doing and just randomly checking on me, and quite honestly, I can't remember what I said. I think I said the patented "Fine" of which is somewhat true. I am fine, but along with "fine" am I not Blessed also?
We are blessed daily in all that we do and in all that happens along the way. I have been so blessed this last couple of months that I can't even begin to relate it in words.
I asked him of course, "And, how are you?" and I am certain it was not a patented response of "Blessed".
BLESSED
Aren't we all blessed?
We tend to dwell on the bad things in our lives. We tend to dwell on all the negatives in our lives. I could go on and on about all the blah blah blah blah blah......are you already asleep from hearing it? Nobody wants to hear all the "STUFF" that's been going on unless you are willing to let them have a say in how you fix them .....Honestly do you really want help in where you are or do you just want to whine about it?
I propose that we are Blessed.
BLESSED
Yes, if I can remember, the next time someone asks me how I am, I will say "Blessed" and MEAN IT!!!!!!!

skeletons in the closet

I don't know a soul that don't have a skeleton in the closet so to speak. Some worse than others? Is there such a thing? I mean really, where do we draw the line? I am certainly not any different than anyone else.

I think sometimes that my problems are worse than others. But actually problems are problems and we need to deal with them, however it comes. I have been reading extensively this past weekend and have read the seven penitent Psalms about 25 times in the past 36 hours. I get something new every time I read them. For those of you who would like to know them they are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. They have been very enlightening.

In my reading and study I also have jumped over to Paul's writings. Paul asked the Lord to relieve him of a thorn in his side that he was so tired of fighting. Well, you know, I may have added that part. I'm not sure how tired of it he was, but I am relating this to me and I am very tired of the thorn in my side. I want it gone and I have prayed for years for the Lord to just take it away. Well, it wasn't until yesterday that I noticed that that was exactly what Paul was asking the Lord to do, to take away the thorn in his side.

"No" was the Lord's answer. Why would the Lord tell Paul "no"? To make him a stronger man, he was told. Here I have been getting weaker and weaker as I asked the Lord to remove this thorn in my side and all along I realize now that I am down, down on the ground and on my knees that God is not going to take it away. It is there for a reason, and that reason is to humble me and make me a stronger person. So, now I see that God wants me to have this "problem" and that he wants me to use it in my life to help others. I can't get any lower, and it took this to wake me up.

I pray Lord that whatever happens in my life from this day forward, that you will use me to further your kingdom. I know that my thorn is there for a reason now and that I have to learn to control it and use it to keep me humble. These things are not given to us to torment us, they are given to us to see how we will respond to them. Will we be overcome by the evil one or will we learn to overcome these issues and while "still there" let them help us to be better and stronger Christians.

I have never thanked the Lord for my trials. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but today I will praise God for my trials and the strength that it has given me. God is on my side and even with a thorn in my side, I am a better man for it. Thank you Father for my trials and forgive me for giving in to the sinful nature of the thorn in my side.

Will You Shake On It?

Let's shake on it.

Have you ever been there? I mean is my word not enough? It's so common to say "Yes, I'll do that" and then do you really have to? I mean, really, if you don't shake on it or "promise" is it really binding? Today I had to shake on something. It was like, "really" ? I have to shake on it? And then I got to thinking....yes I do have to... it's just really not binding until you do something to "seal the deal". I really don't ever remember not following through with my word on anything, but I do think I remember saying at one time or another that ....well....it's not really binding, after all, I didn't shake on it or I didn't promise. Have you ever backed out on something because you didn't "promise"?

This got me to thinking. On my word I said that I would follow Christ, I stood in front of a lot of people and said that I believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of the Living God. I said that I would follow him and stay true to him till my dying day. Was that enough? Is it just enough to say that you will? I propose that it is not. We have to "shake" on it. We have to "Promise" on it. We have to be baptized and "seal" the deal. This really puts the seal on the whole event.

Now, I know that nothing that I have said here is scriptural. There are enough scriptures in the Bible to explain baptism and why it is so important and necessary. But, sometimes a "human" or "worldly" approach just helps us understand a little better.

I just have a harder time breaking my word when I've promised or "shook" on it.

About Daddy

I may need to first explain "Daddy". I've been asked many times by friends as I was growing up why I still call him Daddy. That sounds so childish. When I write it down, it does sound very elementary. However, when I say Daddy to his face, it's the most appropriate for me. I think it is just a "me" thing. I have always called my Daddy that. I've wondered, what is the definition of a "Daddy"?

He is loving, kind, hard-working, always there when you need him. He rules with an iron hand, but is as tender as needed when the time comes. He tells it like it is. He's not just a father to me, he's not just a dad to me. He is my Daddy. And that is special.

He had no problem saying to me "I love you son". I've heard him tell my siblings the same thing. He loves us all. A Daddy loves all of his children equally. It's not possible for a Daddy to love one child more than another. His main goal in this world was to raise his family as loving Christians. To provide for them as best he can, and see them to adulthood. And then....love them and be there for them when they needed him.

It's time to let God have him back. His plan appears to be that we can make it without him now. I don't understand that plan. It's not my place to question it. Our Father in heaven can see the master plan, the complete picture, and this is where I have to just believe, live my life as taught to me by my Daddy, and watch the plan unfold.

This blog was started as a place for me to place my thoughts on paper. I began quite a while back and have let it just sit. I never thought I'd be writing about the pending passing of my Daddy. This is just too much...too much. I know from my reading and studying that the good Lord will not put more on us than we can bear. And that is my safety net.

I have learned through this entire ordeal so far that I have not been supportive nor sorrowful enough for people, friends and relatives, who have lost loved ones. Oh My Goodness!!!! How did I not know that it hurts so much!!!!! I am so sorry for you who have already lost a loved one. So, so, sorry. This really hurts my heart so much.

I'm sure I'll write more later, I've just got to get some of this out and on paper. Thanks for carrying me through this. I have an entire host of family going through this with me. It's not all about me, this time. haha. I know that we are all hurting so much. We are here for each other and we'll get through this. My Mother says this is a "win-win" situation, and I'm doing my best to adopt her attitude. Thank you Mother, I love you.

Just Me and My Thoughts

I would like to just ramble if I may. I've been wondering what makes us think we are immune to some things? I will never do that. That won't happen to me. Things like that.
I once told my Mother that I always felt that if I thought about something, then it wouldn't happen. Like, if I thought about my being adopted then it would never be true. Well, that worked. She assures me that I am not adopted. (Not that there's anything wrong with that) You know what I mean, what makes me feel that things won't happen to me?
This thing with Daddy getting cancer, I immediately thought, wow, I just didn't think that would happen to me. Why not? Why am I special? I should have things happen to me just like anyone else.

There are no answers to this blog. Sometimes I just ramble and honestly if you want to stop right now and go on to something else, I'd understand, because there is nothing in this blog that will answer a question.

I'm not asking, "God why me, why me?" I'm wondering where I got the idea that something like this wouldn't happen. I guess we just can't go around in constant fear that something may happen, so we just don't dwell on it.
Let me explain right away that I am not writing off my dad. He is a fighter, he will fight this thing and he has already said that he will beat the unbeatable. I am with him one hundred percent.
What I'm saying is that I am beating myself up for not being ready for this, or something like this. My mom is a warrior and she and dad both have great attitudes about this.
I am really ready to fight.
But I'm gonna have weepy days like today.
Several times someone asked me today, "How are you"?
Well, I'm not well, that's for sure. I'm weepy like a little girl.
I'm not happy. My Daddy's in pain and I don't like it one bit!!!!
However, on another note.
I have an entire host of family and friends praying for Him.
It's a wonderful feeling. They are praying in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, and if I didn't mention your state and your are praying, well, forgive me. Those are just the ones that I can think of. Wow what a response it has been from all over, people pouring in the encouragement and prayers.
Thanks so much and I just want to say that my attitude has changed tremendously about this entire ordeal that we are about to go through.

I'm still weepy...looks like that's just the way it's gonna be.
I love you all

New Year New Me

So, it's a new year. I want to start out by saying happy new year to all of you out there in "blogworld". My motto this years is "A New Year - A New Me".

What does this mean? I intend to write more, read more, work harder, call more, visit more, exercise more, and EAT LESS!!!

This will result in a new me.

For starters, I received a new Bible from the Church when I graduated from ACU this past month. This is a Bible that I have been wanting for a long time. I know, I've always said that I wouldn't ever want a knew Bible because I write in my Bible and I'd have to start all over on notes. However, this Bible is an Archeological Bible and the coolest ever. So, since I broke my "law" and got this new Bible, I will just have to transfer everything over. And that is just exactly what I have started doing, page by page, I am transferring all of the notes over to my new Bible. Quite a task, but doable.

I want to just say that I am committed to this blog and recording my year, here so that I can recount what has gone on during the year.

The first Big event of the year started out with Emily's wedding. Britany and I went to Decatur without our spouses because they had to work. It was a great occasion and we got to witness a beautiful wedding.

I'll have more as the month progresses, but right now, it's late and I've got to get some shut-eye.

adios!!!

Sometimes I don't want to see Jesus

I just want to write. Sometimes I catch myself just wanting to write. Then how come I can't seem to make myself write my paper that is due Monday? Here's what I have been thinking.

Jenny has been away to Arkansas for the past couple of days. When someone is missing in your life your really get to missing them. You know, that first few hours or possibly day, you really don't miss them. Then the hours and days just drag and drag on and on. Oh my goodness, just shoot me! Well, to say the least, I really am missing her and wish she were here. But, she isn't and that is that. She'll be home tomorrow. I can't wait to see her face!!!

We sing songs about longing to see Jesus face to face. You know, I don't know how much I really want that. Am I just crazy or what? I long to go to heaven. I long to live my life without any pain, misery, unhappiness. But, to see God or Jesus, ooohh, my goodness. It's like seeing your Dad after you've broken the window, or gotten a speeding ticket or wrecked the car. You know you have to face him, but you don't want to. I want to see Him, but I don't want to go through all of the guilt I will feel when I see him.

Grace is what I need to focus on. Grace and forgiveness. I know that all will be well, and I can try, try, try to do the right things while I am here on the earth. My goal is to get to heaven and take as many with me as possible. But along the way, I know that I have faltered and strayed off the path and I know that I have disappointed my Father in heaven. I need to concentrate on the forgiveness that he affords me and the grace that abounds in Him.

So, here I go again. I am going to strive to live the life that God would want me to live. I want to do right by Him and let my light shine. These are just some thoughts that are going through my head right now. That is after all what this Blog is all about. Writing down my thoughts and keeping a journal of my daily thoughts. Thanks for taking the journey with me.

Now that's better

I heard Obama making a speech and I don't even know why he was speaking but he was being asked what kind of puppy would be coming with them to the White House. Something about it had to be a dog that would not interfere with their allergies and would have to be from a shelter, you know, a rescue dog. Then he commenced to say that it would probably be a MUTT. After all, he said, "I'm a MUTT".

Okay AMERICA!!! He finally admitted that he is not just African American!!!!

Okay, I just had to get that off my chest. I want to say one more thing about our new President Elect. I honestly believe that he will do a good job. At least he will work at trying to do a good job. Unlike the current President, which I voted for and have a picture of him shaking my hand on my bulletin board at work, he hasn't had everything handed to him on a silver platter. He has had to work for it. He rose from the bottom to the top with no celebrity or wealthy parents behind him ie. the Bushes the Kennedys and the like. So, it will be a great adventure to see what happens. I can imagine him making a statement like my Dad always says like "We're gonna do it, even if it's wrong". So, it's now a wait and watch game I guess.

I will write later about more thoughts, but right now I have to leave and get some other things done. Then of course there's that paper that must get written hanging over my head. Oh, well, it's not due until Monday. I have a whole 'nother day to go!!!!

have a good day
God Bless

Post Election Thoughts

Well, folks, here it goes. I knew that someday I would get to give my opinions on the election turnout of 2008. What an election it was. I, for one, knew what the outcome would be. I have been preparing myself for it for a long time. People have been asking me what I thought about the election and I have an answer for you now.

I am VERY EXCITED about the future!!! Are you surprised? Well, for starters, I voted for McCain. I really feel that he was the best candidate for our country.

Now, with that behind us, the reality is here. MCCAIN DIDN'T WIN!!!!!!!!!

So, we take what we got and make lemonade. I am looking on the bright side. We have a very positive politician in the White House now. We have a man that the public is excited about. (Something that we haven't had in awhile.) This man alone cannot make changes without a lot of political help. The voice of America has spoken and OBAMA is the President now.

I have, for a long time, been an advocate for Republican views. I've been quoted as saying that we made it through eight years of Clinton, we can make it through four of Obama. The fact is that if we had to have a Democrat in Washington, Obama is a good one. Well, from what I can tell, that is. CHANGE is what we need as a country and while I think we could have gotten that from a Republican Candidate, the fact is we didn't get that, we got Obama and we will deal with it. I for one will pray hard for him and his leadership. (I am guilty of not praying for Clinton. Don't really like that man, never have, never will.)

But this is not about the Democratic Party. This is about America and how we stand united always. I do not like what I hear our new President is planning on instigating in our laws, such as taxing and anti-terrorist views. But, I'm a firm believer that once he gets behind the desk and is reviewed on all of what is going on and why, some of his views will change. I heard a radio announcer say that he believes Obama will get better attention from Republicans than Democrats in his day to day runnings of the Country. This may very well be true. Only time will tell. I'm glad that the Democrats are going to get their shot at Washington. It's their turn.

Now, I want to discuss everyone's haste to the "race" issues. The fact that this man is Half Black is not a big deal to me. For ever and ever I have been taught that color is not an issue. The man is responsible for his actions, now matter the color of his skin. We teach our children this, we teach it in school and church. It's the nation's motto that color isn't a factor. EVER. So why are we so excited to have this Black man as President?

Well, I guess that since I am not, or can't prove, that I have any Black Heritage, then I can't fully understand the extent of this event, or fully feel the blessedness of this to the black culture. But, am I understanding this correctly? If, just say IF, a person has any "blackness" in his ancestry, is he African American? Here the media is so bent on this African American man becoming president and then showing him with is white grandmother that just passed away. ???? I'm confused. I thought he was Black. The laws of, well, the laws of anything say that if something can be thought of as "one way" then they can also go the "other way" as well. Am I correct? Could not Obama be white as well as black? His mother is white, as I understand. Does she see her son as a black man?

I know that I sound racist here. But let's look at it a little differently. Couldn't he have come at this as, maybe, something like this?

.....I know I look black, and while I am proud of my African American heritage, and my white mother, as well, I see myself as an American. I am a true, full-blooded, American. This is what America is about people. Blacks and Whites, living with each other, amongst each other, getting along, loving each other as one, equality at its highest. I am the perfect example of the true American.......

Now, would that have gotten him the votes?

The fact is he is our President now, and we, as Christians, have prayed to our Father God above to deliver us a President to lead our nation. We now have Obama and we need to give him a chance to lead our nation. No, he's not the one I voted for, he's not the one I prayed for, however, I did pray the Lord's will be done. I am excited for a change in our nation, a change that will unify these American Peoples of all color and nationalities into One Nation Under God.

I said earlier that I knew what the outcome would be, and that I had been preparing myself for it for awhile. I knew that if I prayed hard enough, and if Christians around the world prayed hard enough, the Lord would deliver us who we needed in the times that we are in right now. We can't see the big picture. We do not know what lies in store for our future. But, it seems that God has a plan and we need to Praise Him for knowing more than we do, for knowing what is best for our Nation, for knowing what we need right now, even if it's not what we think we need. I prayed for our Nation to have rest and peace, that we haven't had in awhile. I prayed that God would see that our Nation has been in pain, and that we need His help and His intervention in a time of war, financial crisis and racial problems.

Okay, this is my longest blog yet. I'm likely not done. But, then, I have other things to do than just writing down my thoughts. Thanks to those who made it to the end of this piece. I congratulate you!!!

Weekends are for rest?

Says who. I don't really feel like I got a rest. However, I do feel like my weekend was blessed. Empty nest? Not around my house. We stay very busy, very, very busy. And it doesn't stop when the weekend is over. Jenny and I have lots to be thankful for and sometimes we just enjoy the quiet of the house to realize how blessed we are. Then we are up and running again. Kelley may come home this weekend with the boys!!! If this does not happen it won't be the end of the world, but if it were the end of the world....woohoo!!!!!!!!!

It'll be my first Saturday off in three weeks. I'm stoked!!!!

I had a paper due and I got it written and e-mailed to my Prof. Sunday afternoon. This was a blessing also.

I know that I have not written in a while. I have lots to write about, but I can't seem to get it down on paper just yet. My thoughts are not always legible. Have you had a dream that the words just weren't audible? I mean everything is going along just fine and then, BOOM, just when you really need to hear the next sentence someone is saying, you can't understand what they said? Then the rest of the dream is spent trying to figure out what was said? What? What did she just say? I really just want to know what was said so I can go on with my dream? Did she just say ;alsdkfjo0iw0mnc0w? Because that's what I heard. Well, sometimes, that is what my thoughts are.

Some of you have been cheering me on with my quest of running. Well, I am here to tell you that I have been running even more and a little swimming. Swimming is great, however, I stopped seeing any results, so I'm back to running. As long as my knees and hips will let me anyway. When I started I couldn't get around ACU's running trail at all. For those of you who don't know it is a two mile run to get all the way around ACU. I felt good to get half way around jogging without stopping. Half way was at least a mile. Well I've worked myself up to twice around. On Friday I jogged my inaugural two laps around the trail. FOUR miles. A dream come true for a fat boy.

That's it for today. (I can't always jog that far at one time. That week I had jogged two miles on Tuesday, three miles on Thursday and then four on Friday.)

It'll get better.

Good day to you and I hope your weekends are as restful and blessed as mine. LOL

5K

My thoughts.... Sometimes my thoughts can't be written down. But, my day's events can be. I should think about changing the title of my Blog.

I've started running. I know, I know, sure Eddie, you've started running. I have and I don't run every day because I can't. Not because I can't physically, but because I can't ... timewise... I have errands I have to run during lunch and today is one of those days. I have to get the title to Jessica's car switched so I can get tags for it. I figure if she's going off to college, she needs a car with current tags. You can only go so long with 12/07 tag splashed on your windshield. Apparently in Hawley, a long time, but San Angelo is probably a little more updated with their police force.

At lunchtime, I go and I run or walk or jog. Mostly I jog. I was talking to someone in the locker room the other day and telling him how proud I was that I had jogged all the way around ACU, virtually a two-mile stretch, and he said that I was ready for a 5K run then. I laughed and said "yeah, right".

I am the math minded numbers freak in the family and I'll have to admit that all these years I have seen 5K runs advertised and talked about and blah blah blah and I always thought they were 5 miles. No stupid, it's 5 Kilometers. Duh, K K K K K. What did I think the K stood for all these years. It's actually 3.1 miles. WHAT!!!!!!! Just 3 miles. Anybody can go 3.1 miles. He said that nobody runs to win. They all run to beat their own time and stay fit. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! How cool is that. A race where nobody cares who wins!!!!!!!!!!

Well, since I have started running at work during lunch, I have met at least a couple of people who are very supportive of my new endeavor and I have even been invited to two different races (which are really not races remember) but I haven't been able to go because of prior commitments. However, I do intend to go to one some day. I can jog all the way around ACU, and I'm sure that soon I'll be able to jog around twice, and that's further than a 5K run.

Now, I know all of you are picturing me all slim and trim and handsome as ever, and true enough all of my "new" friends who are runners are slim and trim, however, I am not at all. I still have lots to lose. But I do feel better, and that's what counts.

Well, I really gotta run. Ha Ha, pardon the pun.

Hope this brightens your day.

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!

I've been receiving e-mails by the bagful, (1), from all of my glorious fans, (Kim), that say that I should get back to writing words of wisdom on my blog.
First of all I want you all ,(Kim), to know that I am deeply honored that I have been missed.

I could go on and on about how I haven't had time to write, ...about how I have been getting my last child ready to graduate from High School. ...how I had to go through two weeks of an absessed tooth, but now it is better, actually, gone. ...how I have been so busy with my extra job of building trophies and how when I took on this business I had three children at home that helped me at my command and now I have ..uh..zero. ...about how for ACU it's the end of the fiscal year on May 31 and that is more important than anything else you can possibly imagine. ...about how it doesn't seem to be in the cards for Jenny to get a full-time teaching job in the public school system and that is a constant worry or bother. ...and my oldest and her children and husband having decided to further her education at Harding in Arkansas and while that is awesome, well, to be frank it is a downer on the grandkids leaving the State, and I want to help in all the ways a Dad can help so I am arranging to be off to help them move and stuff like that. ...what else???? ...surely something else has stopped me from blogging.

Yesterday I was catching up on some e-mails and along with that came some facebook cleanup and answering etc.

I came upon a really cool picture that a friend of mine took of himself and he has it on his facebook page. Well, the picture is of him sitting and his arm is on this really large rock here on campus that says "The Lord" on it. Well it is part of the Jacob's Ladder area here on campus. I have walked around this place several times. I have just not been so intriqued by this rock until I saw this picture. Can you actually imagine being able to carry The Lord around with you, or lie down in the grass and put your arm around The Lord? It was so symbolic, this Rock that says The Lord. Why as humans do we need something symbolic? Of course, we don't, we just think we do. The Lord is all around us. In all that we see, in all that we do, in our workplace, in our home, in our children. We don't need a rock. But how cool was that large, bold, massive rock that said "The Lord".

I thought about it all day. I'm still thinking about it. I do need the Lord with me at all times. I thank the Lord that He is not a place that I have to go to when I need Him. He is just there, always, actually even when I don't need Him, or think I don't.

When Jesus was walking on the water on the Sea of Gallilee and he nearly passed up the boat with the deciples having all kinds of trouble rowing during a storm. He must have just waited and waited and waited, actually it tells us until the 4th watch he waited and finally decided to walk out there. This just tells me that even when we take FOREVER to call on the Lord in times of need, he will be there, patiently waiting, possibly walking by and hoping that we'll see him and call on him so he can help.

He's there, a large, huge, rock that is possibly labeled "The Lord" just waiting for us to call on Him.

Cisco Family Retreat

This past weekend I had the pleasure of 3 devotionals at key times of the day, three different days. It was awesome. We had our annual Cisco Family Retreat this past weekend and I hadn't been in quite a few years. Things got in the way, and one thing after another, I just hadn't fit it in my schedule. It was so much fun that I'm really sorry that I didn't go the last few times.

I arrived first on the scene around 1:00pm to unload the food items and set up my camper. Why the camper you ask? Well, it's a really long story and I really shouldn't get into it here. After unpacking and setting up the camper, I began on supper. I made two roaster pans of lasagna and then I had help putting together the garlic bread and green beans, tea and coffee, and salad. Everyone was there by 7:00ish and we ate and had a great time.

I must have played 50 hands of 42 throughout the weekend. Also, I played one game of scrabble, a little horseshoes, and visited a whole lot.

I also just realized that if I give a blow by blow account of this it will be a very very long blog. So, I won't. We had a midnight devo on Friday evening. We had a sunset devo on Saturday evening and a sunrise service on Sunday morning.
The Sunday morning service was so great. The sun came up over the horizon and we were singing and I just can't describe it. People were snapping pictures, and you would have thought it was the first act of your kid's play at school. Everyone thought it was great. We really, really had a good time.

All of the people that were there had nothing but good things to say about the entire weekend. We had a fully cooked breakfast with sausages, gravy, bisquits and eggs and then for lunch on Saturday we had sandwiches. Then we pulled out the grill and had hamburgers and hotdogs for supper. After the sunrise service on Sunday morning we had muffins and cinnamon rolls and bisquits and jelly.

Oh, my I can't say enough about how good it was. We rested, we played, we hiked and we fellowshipped. Did I say I had a good time?
Well, I'm gonna close for now, I may just have to write more later.

see ya next year!