Oldmanatcrystallake

What a time I had

2006-06-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

For many years now and probably longer than I want to remember, I have had to use a portable tank of o2 when getting around. Last year when my family and I came out to Seattle to visit I did rather well going out there because according to United Airlines you could not bring o2 on board according to FAA rules so I decided to try to get out there without using it and then when I got to Seattle I could fill up my empty tank and be on my merry way. But on the way home as we were flying to Chicago I had a bit of a problem. My peripheral visiopn started to go and my breathing became very shallow and I began to fight for air. Now at this altitude there is not much that can be done, so I took it in stride hoping that we would soon touch down. To say the least I was quite happy when we did. The flight from Chicago to Bradley went a lot better because we didn't have to get up so high. Also it was a smaller plane and we had a lot more leg room.
This year coming out was a more harrowing experience. My wife and I booked our flight to come out to see our new granddaughter back in February. She had not even been born when we booked the flight. Tate was born on Monday morning after Easter and so with the way we had everything booked that it would work out fine with our son and daughter-in-law that would allow them to get back to school while we could stay and watch Tate Rose while they were teaching to finish out the school year. Every thing was fine and because of what I had understood the airlines people to say was that it would be ok for me to bring my o2 portable on board the flight. I e-mailed the AA who we had booked with on the Friday a week before we were to leave just to be certain. They had a form that had to be published and then signed off by your doctor stating you needed o2. I was having a big problem with my computer in getting that off so in talking to my son, he copied it and e-mailed it to me. When I ever read the copy it stated that the only way was to use a portable concentrater and that you could not use a portable liquid o2 tank, well my heart just about dropped.
I then decided that oh well I would try to do this without the tank, with the hopes thatI would be able to do this because of the flight that I had from Chicago to Bradley.
As we approached the day I became increasingly apprehensive about this. When we left Sunday morning I was sure that this was not to be one of my greatest ideas that I had ever come up with. Boy, wasI right. When we took off and started to climb to 35,000 feet I knew I was in trouble then. A bit later the pilot came on and said that we were going to go to 37,000 feet I thought that I was going to cry.
So here we are at 37,000 feet and I am running out of breath. My fingers are turning dark blue and my breathing is starting to be come more and more shallow. I began to pray and really thought that this was my end. Cindy, when she saw me said are you ok.The first few times she asked I said that I was but I really wasn't. On about the fourth time I said "no" "I can't do this". She said do you want me to tell the stewardess and I said yes.
Well both flight attendants came up and one was carrying a portable o2 tank. They quickly administered the o2 to me and then, that quickly I started to come back around. We landed in Dallas/Ft.Worth and we had to make out a report. Then we were not able to get our transfer until I got approval from my doctor in Vernon Connecticut on a Sunday morning to let them know how much liters of o2 to administer to me on the plane, what a day it was. To say the least when I talked with my doctor she lit in to me like there was no tommorrow. I know that she was mad when she said she wanted to talk to my wife even. Well all is well that ends well and we did get into Seattle a couple of hours later then we originally had planned but now we are here and enjoying our new little precious life. So as this life begins to fade which it is doing I begin to look at the new lives that God has shone me in Jacob, Aislinn, Susan and Tate RoseI say thanks to the God overall things who does know the beginning from the end. The Lord Jesus who has every hair on my head counted. I am not sure after this trip thatI may ever fly again. But I tell you the truth now that I am so glad that when I fly with Christ I will not need any tanks of oxygen to fly with. This old will put on new and I will fly with Christ Jesus.

Just doing what I do best

2006-04-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

According to the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Butch is the guy that does all the thinking. So my wife has always told me that is what I do best because my nickname is Butch. I am supposed to do all the thinking. Well today I am sitting here thinking of how much blessing can one person endure. After spending Easter with the grandchildren in Rhode Island we were told that my son in Washington and his wife were ready to deliver their first in Everett, Washington. They already knew the sex of the child so we knew that Tate Rose was on her way. My son was going to definitely keep close tabs with us to let us know the outcome as soon as it happened.
Upon our arrival home to Ellington later that evening we were surprised to hear that our other granddaughter was also to be born soon for her mother was in the hospital to deliver. Early Monday morning I found out that Tate Rose was born at 1:00 Pacific time in the morning on Monday and that Susan had already been born at 11:30 pm Eastern time the previous evening.
So here I am thinking [which is what I am supposed to do best] of how can one man be so blest in the same day. I have looked at and looked at the pictures of these two precious lives and say what an awesome God we serve. I just want to take these little lives and hold them and hold them to shelter them from a large world out there. Only what I will do is pray that God will hold these little ones in his Everlasting Arms.
So with all this thinking that I have been doing I am not accomplishing much else. So as I am thinking now that it is time to start to get somethings done around here. My wife and I are planning to go out west in June and I will not be able to contain myself till then . I am so looking forward to seeing little Tate and her mom and dad. I am also looking forward to holding little Susan and as always hugging my Jakey and my "Munchkin" Aislinn. How blest I am to have four grandchildren can you "think" about that.

Good

2006-04-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

I have long wondered why it is called Good Friday? Why is it different from any other Friday? What makes this day so important that schools would be closed and offices would be shut down and even bussinesses at one time were closed? What if any chance that the greatest event in the history of mankind never took place? Think about what you would consider the most important event in the history of mankind is? Some might say, man walking on the moon. Some might think of a great battle that was won. Some may think that the first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Some of these events may have even taken place on a Friday, but yet we don't call it Good Friday. So what makes this Friday, Good Friday?
We can look at all the monstrous things that are happening in the world today. My thoughts go out to those who have lost loved ones and have even given testimony in the Moussai trial and how this man has shown nothing but contempt for those that lost their lives in the 911 murders on the Twin Towers in New York. It is so hard for me to believe that there are really whackos like him. But despite all these scenerios and all the other situations and the murders and the mayhem going on in our world today,we have Good Friday
What greater event has ever taken place then Good Friday. The God of the Universe allowed His Son to die for us. I replayed again the DVD of Mel Gibsons the "Passion of The Christ"last evening. This movie should be seen again and again. This historical event should be embedded in the minds of all. I know that there are some who don't believe it, but look up the Roman Historian Josephus [Antiquities of the Jews;Bookxviii chapter iii;section 3] account of it and see what took place to make Good Friday what it is. Whatever or however people think about Jesus they should never forget what he did. This is why they call it Good Friday. Only for Him suffering and dying on a cross which was the Roman form of torture and death at that time could we ever have a Good Friday. It certainly wasn't a good Friday for Jesus. What He went through that day, he did for all of us . Yes even you Moussai and yes even me. You see none of us are any better. We all deserved to have the same form of punishment that Jesus received. There is a song that says that, While He was on the cross that day,He looked ahead and saw. You and I were on His mind. Yes He did it for us. All we need to do is say yes to Him.
As I look at this Good Friday, my thoughts go out to all that need to understand and accept why it is called Good Friday. If you accept what took place on Good Friday you will definitely have a Glorious Easter. As Paul Harvey used to say"and now the rest of the story". Easter is the fulfilment of Friday. Jesus just couldn't die because the purpose would not have been served. The purpose of His dying was to rise again. Which is exactly what He did. So I say to you today I hope you have a Good Friday and a joyous Easter to remember what God did for you.

Again

2006-04-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Well here we go again. Another year of as Spring blooms eternal for the Red Sox. At the begining of this new season of baseball I again believe that the Red Sox have put together a dominant [ahem] team for this year, and that at the end of the baseball season we as Red Sox Nation will cheer on to the World Series our favoite team from "Beantown".
Now I will be 61 years old this summer and for the past 58 years have said the same thing and that not until 2004 did I actually realize my dream. I have taught my sons and daughter well for they too are, or will be rooting hard for the "Nation". One thing that I have taught them is not to give up because it can happen. Last night as I saw the opening of the season with the White Sox and the Indians I began to fantasize that once again this could be the year. I remembered back as a kid to how I used to take my baseball cards and put together the most fabulous Red Sox team ever. Those were the days of Jackie Jensen, Ted Williams, "Pistol" Pete Runnels and continued down through the years. I can remember my Dad taking me to Yankee Stadium to see the Red Sox play doubleheaders and actually being able to see these great stars along with the greats of New York even though I hated them. They were the "Evil Empire" even then. Mantle would usually hit one out or Maris .And I can remember back to the days of Clete Boyer, Gene Woodling, Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, Yogi Berra along with that great manager of all time Casey Stengal and actually having the priveledge of watching these players.
Well so much for the nostalgia. This year the pitching we should have. We still have the good hitters in "Manny being Manny" "Big Pappi" "Trot' and "Tec"and so with all that Red Sox should once again make the "Nation"proud. As I said before "Hope springs eternal"

They are OVA

2006-01-02T08:45:00.000-08:00

Well like they say in Boston, They are O.V.A. ova. The Holidays are ova. Surprisingly enough I did a good job of getting through the Christmas holiday and really enjoying them this year. I don't know any reason why they were different this year than in past years except that the grandchildren made it that much more enjoyable for me. I actually enjoyed going out shopping for my wife and doing the wrapping. If you ever saw how I wrap a gift you would totally understand why people may even normally pay someone to wrap for them. Although again I did enjoy it.
As we start out on this brand New Year I am quite anxious to get back into my routine of going to help out at the school with my Sister-in-Law. It will be exciting to hear all their stories from Christmas and the other holidays that were celebrated by the students. I also look forward to what God has in store for me as I travel through this journey that I am on. It is amazing how we began last year with the same hopes that I had at the beginning of 2005 that I start this 2006 with. Maybe they aren't the same for others and in some respects for me they can't totally be the same. My hopes this year will include two more grandchildren. Isn't God wonderful!
What more is in store for me ? It will include another trip to Seattle for a new grandaughter who will be named Tate.
So much to look forward to. The best is yet to come for me. As I go to Rhode Island each week to see Jake and Aislinn I continue to enjoy these visits more and more. Just to see how they grow and are developing it truly astounds me. What more could a man ask for than to see these children progress through their own lives. So I say as this year begins with excitement for me my prayers are that your New Year will be not only an exciting time but even more that that, that this year will be filled with lasting memories and that as we come to a New Year in 2007, we can look back at 2006 and say that the journey has been a great event.
Blessed New Year

Just sitting here

2005-12-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

I am just sitting here at the computer and kind of reminiscing about past Christmases. The older that I get the harder sometimes it is to remember about the" good old days" as we have called them. I have often wondered why it is that when my children had to be roused from their sleep to open gifts so that we could go off to church when my brothers children were always awake at 3:00 am to get a head start on their gifts. Maybe it was that they might have already known what they were getting because they peeked or maybe that they were tired from the evening before of going to their grandparents house on both sides. But I often wondered about that. We had started a new tradition last year of going to Rhode Island and staying over at my sons house which we will again be doing this year but in some ways I will miss the old traditions of going to my moms house on Christmas eve and listening to the old old stories of the "Green suited Santa Claus" that I saw one year or how as kids my dad would always make us sing carols doing what he called pop-ups. Pop-ups were when you started singing, the oldest which was my sister Karen would begin with Silent Night and the I would join in with her and sing together Holy Night and so on through the family.
Over the past few years things have changed of course and we sometimes painfully look back at those memories. As Mom has gotten older and long since my Dad has passed away two days before Christmas in 1977, I begin to wonder will the grandchildren talk of such things as don't you remember that Christmas when.
My prayers are that when they do talk of Christmas that once again they will remember the really good times of Christmas past. That they will fondly look back and think oh that one, what a great time we had.
As I think about this Christmas I am again waiting out the days and reminiscing that once again we will be celebrating what Christmas is really all about. Thank God that Jesus was born. Thank God that he grew up to become a man and thank you Jesus for going to the cross and thank you for ascending to the throne and I can't wait for your return in all your power and glory.
As the Angels declared that first Christmas "for unto you is born this day in the City Of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord". So let me get back to my reminiscing.

Dreary Days

2005-10-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have written anything and being that it is another dreary Saturday and I really can't find anything to do , I thought I would post a blog. It has really been some trying times of late although things really haven't gotten quite out of hand as of yet. Two weeks ago we were in New Hampshire for my brother-in-laws 50th Birthday which was a real treat. I have only been to his house twice since he has been there and never really understood the meaning of "Red-Neck Country" until I went there for the second time. I will get to that later.
We arrived on Friday night and it began to rain when we arrived and it continued to rain all evening and it continued to rain all night and it continued to rain all day and into the next night.
What really was interesting is that they were going to cook two turkeys by using what they called a deep frying method. Well I have never had turkey cooked that way before because I am of the "old school" where a turkey was roasted in the oven for six or seven hours. Well Saturday morning they got up all the paraphenallia that they needed ,two gas tanks and these large homemade pots that they had and turned them up waiting for them to come up to temp. After they take the turkeys which they inject with this seasoning and throw them into the pots.
After that they grab a brew and put their one hand in their pocket and with the beer in their other hand. That is where the "red neck" part comes in because this is quite a sight. Out in the garage with four guys and one girlfriend of the other cooker and two others standing around. I had to laugh.
By the way the turkey cooked that way was excellent. We came home Sunday from the party and it continued to rain the remainder of the week.
With all the good times that we had we were to face another situation which we were not all that ready for. My wife's grandmother who was 94 years old took a turn for the worst prior to our going to N.H. On Wednesday night we received a call that she was slipping fast and that we should probably go to see her. When we arrived at about 9:30 pm we could see by the look on everyones face that was there, which was Cindy's mom and dad and her brother and sister-in-law from Alaska that it would probably not be long. Well I have never really been at the bedside of someone who was slipping into eternity recently and that I could see that this was probably going to be the case here. Cindy after some urging by her mother and I left at about 11:15 pm knowing that this would be the last time we would probably see her alive. Surely enough in God's infinite mercy Grandma passed at around 4:15 am Thursday morning. What was good for all that were at her bedside that evening was that we got to pray together and to sing a hymn before she passed.
So with all that rain that we had it sure was an eventful week. The funeral was on Saturday at the funeral home and my Son did the officiating of the service. Not just because he is my son, but I believe that Keith did and excellent job and that I was just so proud of him. And it continued to rain till we got done with the graveside service and just like that the sun appeared.
Now mind you in some spots it got over 14 inches of rain during the week and rivers were swollen and basements including mine were flooded what a horrible week it was.
Now I sit here again on another Saturday and as the rain is now beginning to pelt off the roof, dare I wonder not another dreary weekend. But once again this gives me time to reflect on the past two dreary weekends and remember the good and the hard and still to know God is in control of all the situations.
One last thought in remembering is that my brother-in-law and his wife and son went back to Alaska and just before they left I watched an elderly gentleman whom I love dearly began to cry.
I am not sure what all brought those tears to his eyes, but I do know that it made me began to well up inside and tears began to come to my eyes as well as the eyes of the son who was leaving to go back home. Maybe it was the fact of all that has happened over the past couple of weeks or maybe it was the man seeing his son go away again or maybe the thought of not seeing him soon or even God forbid ever again but I do know that on Tuesday it was a dreary day for Mr. Bill Livengood.

Why oh Why

2005-09-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

Why is it that whenever there are senate hearings on anything that we get to hear Mr. Ted Kennedy with some disdaining remark about the person who is going for some position? Of course I am referring to the Senate hearings on the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. Mr. Kenenedy of all people should not be commenting on anyones past situations for surely Mr. Kennnedy has had his own problems ie; Chappaquidick. Everytime there is a disaster he comments with stupid sayings that try to take down an effort of humanitarian aid trying to blame it on the Republican Party. What has Ted Kennedy done for New Orleans? Most importantly why is it even his bussiness. We have in this country for a long long time put up with the Ted Kennedy's in the senate and frankly I am getting tired of hearing him and others who have been in the senate and congress for too many years. We mandate a president to serve for as much as eight years why oh why do we need senators for twenty and thirty years. I believe that term limits is the only way for us to go. I don't know about any one else but it gets boring to see the same people saying the same thing for that many years. Connecticut we are no better, Tom Dodd and Uncle Joe have been there to long. I am not just voicing my oppinion against the democrats but also republicans as well. Will in the end it all prove out right, I am not sure. But this one thing I am sure of, why oh why is it always Ted Kennedy?

Hello

2005-09-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

Many times when we answer the telephone it inevitably comes out of our mouths the word "hello". Other times I have heard many a preacher ask after some profound statement to the churchgoers they will say "hello". As if to say are you awake out there? Now I don't particularly like that to be said to me but I in many cases upon answering the telephone I will always say "hello". So in essence the word can be used as a greeting or as a part of getting someones attention.
Putting this great astounding information all together my thoughts have turned to the Gulf States which has seen some of natures most devastating weather ever in this country. Now all these things can be attributed to the low lying areas and all that but, I am wondering as I see all the lawlessness going on around there that we in this country must turn ourselves around. Now I don't want to start a problem and the thinking that God has done this to set America straight although I don't know that He hasn't. Rather I would like people to think that it is that "hello time"as to getting peoples attention. New Orleans has long since been the "Sodom and Gomorrah city". Just at Mardi Gras time we can see that. Would it be better even now to take that city and to level it and then to rebuild. To much has happened there to try and reshape whats left. My thoughts again go back to the Bible when it says that Lots wife looked back and turned into a "pillar of salt". America can not look back. We must look ahead not to reshape New Orleans but to rebuild with fresh ideas and a covenant with God. It is going to take time to do that.
So today I say "hello" to greet you but I also say "hello" to get our attentions focused on what God can do if we ask of him.

Excited

2005-08-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Why when things don't often go our way that we raise the roof. We get so excited that the only thing that is on our minds is the one thing that is causing us to get excited. We get frustrated with everything else going on around us so that we can focus all of our attention to that excitable thing. I always thought that I was able to do many things at one time, kind of like talk and chew gum at the same time type person. May be it is that I am getting up there in years and have forgotten all the things taught me at a younger age which was you have to stop and smell the flowers. Or you need to see the forest through the trees.
As things have turned out over the past few days I am beginning to once again realize that it is necessary to stop and look around before getting so excited. Gods word says" dont be anxiuos in anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". Someone already knows what the problems are and is already dealing with them. I have instructed my wife to tell me the next time I get excited, is to stop what I am doing and know that it will all get worked out if I go to the right source instead of getting so excited. Besides to much excitement can lead to a lot of sleepless nights.

Fifty years

2005-08-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

I actually remember them getting married. I was an altar boy at the time along with my brother Jack. I can still remember Ed coming over to us with our uniforms on and giving us a tip for being at their wedding. I can remember going to the Kosciusko Club in Rockville and watching my Uncle Clarence who was a great Polka dancer doing his thing there and my being able to have as much soda as I could drink. We all loved Uncle Clarence who once he had a few pops was the life of the party. I can remember that day well yet even though it was fifty years ago.
Joan and Ed will celebrate 50 years of marriage today in Manchester. My Uncle Bruno [Joans father] Aunt Ruth [her mom] my own grandmother and grandfather. A lot of those who were there have long since gone on. But their memory will still live on to me as I remember those days back in the fifties when things were different. White coats for tuxedos, beautiful wedding gowns, plenty of flowers a lot of dancing and celebration. These all take place now but we looked at things differently then. My eyes were younger and certainly wide open to the things that were happening. Fifty years is certainly a long time and for some it is a complete lifetime. Ed and Joan have seen much change in their fifty years of marriage I am certain of that. But for those fifty years since they took that vow at their wedding ceremony, they have stayed true. They should and are, a shining example to others that for fifty years they are still one.
So today I would like to say ,GodBless Ed and Joan as they celebrate fifty years of marriage and may it be an example to all who come after that we know it can be done.

Being away

2005-08-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

A lot of times we say that we are away. It may be that we are away from our desk or that we are away from our home to go to the store or just simply away from the day to day things that some how occupy our time on earth. Although it seems that I may have a boring and dull life, I somehow manage at times to get away. This past week has been such. I have been away with family which I love dearly and went out west [go west young man] to visit more family which I have done in the past but now has seemed like ages since I have been there. We were away to Seattle area and again I marvel at the vast space in this country just looking from some thirty thousand feet or so to see the landscape of emptyness from sea to shining sea.
Just the state of Washington alone which is huge, with a lot of forrest and mountains and great splendor in the majestic lakes and water falls and mountain ranges that have peaks that even in August have still not lost their snow covering.
It is always good to see these things although you may have seen them a multitude of times before. But even larger is to see the faces of those who are seeing them for the first time. Such was the case this past week that I have been away. You can definitely lose yourself into looking at these beautiful sights and then going back into the city to see the sights and sound there also. Even in the city with people coming and going and being able to go to the top and look out at the all around sights because of the Space Needle and then to see the vastness of Puget Sound with the hustle and bustle of that harbor atmosphere says thanks to the Almighty that once again I was able to get away.
Just to spend time with family was the greatest for my wife and I. But that we were away together is my greatest joy. I am so greatful that God has provided the means for all of us to be able to go there to Seattle.
So with being away for this short time I do look forward to our next time of going out west and once again being away.

Friends

2005-08-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have had many acquaintances who have in many ways touched my life. Some have touched our lives more than others of course and those are the ones that we call friends. Friends are the ones who stick by you through thick and thin and don't ask a lot of questions why. The name friends can be misused also for there are, what we call friends who just take from you and don't want to know anything else. Now I know I have a friend who sticks closer than a brother in Jesus and I know that at times I have taken from him and not wanted to give in return that human nature.
I have said all that to say this. I have a friend who had a masssive heart attack a couple of weeks ago and although for some reasons, mostly because of my involvment with the things of God we have gone our separate ways over the years. So upon hearing that they had actually lost him for approximately four minutes and revived him to take him to the hospital, I proceeded to go there and to visit. I was shocked to find him in a state of unknowing things that we should or would normally take for granted. He wasn't able to do those things. After I told him who I was he did remember me being at the lake and all but proceeded to tell me things that were quite bizarre. Although my visit wasn't all that long , due to doctors and nurses coming in, I did get to talk about some of the better times that we had as we "hung together" in my younger years.
As I left though after our time together, I began to weep outside the room and going to the elevator to leave as I did recall those earlier years when Peter and I were almost inseperateable.
He lived on Bond Street in Hartford and we had such a common bond between us. I even remembered that we were such Rolling Stones fans that I named my son after Keith Richards and He named his son after Brian Jones. Oh so long ago.
Today I still think of my friend as that close friend but now even more realize that I must stay true to the One that sticks closer than a brother and that being Jesus Christ.
I don't know if Peter will recover or not, but I do know this, he needs more than anything else a close friend.

Another Saturday

2005-07-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

Ah!! Saturday. I remember back when I was working this day actually meant an awful lot to me. I wasn't rushed as on the other days of the week and could just kickback put my feet up and have that morning cup of coffee. Just to read the newspaper pretty much in its entirety was a good break. I could look out across the lake and feel that either it was going to be a good day weather wise or a bad day just by seeing the chop on the lake. I used to look forward to getting done the things that I needed to do so I could go to Manchester to see my mom and spend some time with her. I would bring her a cup of Dunkin Donut coffee and her favorite muffin. After that I could look forward to my usual Saturday afternoon snooze.
As this thing with me not working anymore has progressed I find that no longer are Saturdays the same any more. I find myself in some instances more stressed because my wife is still working and would enjoy her company. Also the trip to Manchester doesn't quite seem as rewarding because now I can go spend time with my mother during the week if I so desire. The longing for the nap is no longer there because I can nap any time I want to, just need to go out in the U.S.S. Butchie. That also adds stress to my life believe it or not.
With all this stress that I have in my life now I wonder what will keep me going. I have prayed about this and God tells me that I need to draw closer to Him in this time. Its all this freedom to be able to do things that will please Him. I need to study His word closer. Just because I am out of work God doesn't have something in store for me. I was so pleased to go see the grandchildren and my son and duughter-in-law the other day. I need to do that more. I need more time in prayer for the family, the world, and the body of Christ. As I told my son the other day maybe God will have me put this show on the road. I have a story to tell.
Then maybe just maybe I can get back to the Saturdays I really enjoyed.

2005-07-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

I went to Rhode Island yesterday to visit my son and daughter-in-law [who is actually like my own daughter] plus the greatest part was to see the grandchildren. On my way I stopped to pick up a couple of Chocolate covered doughnuts with sprinkles on the top for Jake and Aislinn. Upon my arrival "Slinny" when she saw me just became so excited and threw her arms up to me to pick her up and just to give her "Pa" a big hug and a kiss. You know my heart just melted of course.Later in the day as I thought more about that free act of just reaching out to her "Pa" and throwing her arms around me once again brought to mind that simple scripture which says we must become like little children if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Daily just throwing our hands and arms up to God to say "Pa" here I am once again. I need You to hold me. I need You to hug me. I need you to once again tell me You love me and that I love You. Just that reassurance that everything is all right. I believe that you touch the Heart of God when you call out to Him. Sometimes we make the simplest of things the very hardest because of our own selves and our unwillingness to do the very thing God has asked us to do or what the scriptures have told us to do.Being a "Pa" has so many rewards to it. One of these days I will write them all down for this blogging thing.

Sparrow

2005-07-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I sat out on the picnic table in front of the lake, I saw this sparrow[we used to call them chickadees] trying to pick up this large feather. It looked as though it were a duck feather or goose. As I watched this small tiny bird attempt to pick up this feather I thought to myself aren't we the same as that little bird. All through our lives we take on these jobs or projects and try to do them in our own strength. We struggle as that bird was doing and keep trying and trying and trying and not getting anywhere. Finally after a while, the bird gave up and flew off. Our we not the same. After all this struggling to meet deadlines and get this project done or that thing done we realize that in and of our own we can't do it. When we finally turn it over to the One who can thats when those heavy jobs are completed.
I looked back out to see if the feather was still there this morning and it was gone. Now I don't know whether or not the bird came back or if someone else got the feather. But this I do know.
Struggling will not get it done. Things will come in good time if we trust the One who can get it done for us.

Rambling

2005-07-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

This is my first time doing anything like this before. My sons who presently are bloggers and now my daughter- in -law have me thinking that maybe in my old age, I should journal the remaining years of this sometimes dull and sometimes very exciting life. As I have pondered the idea of saying a lot versus saying little, I still feel that little is the way to go. I feel truly blessed to have been a father to my three sons and my daughter and to have been the husband of the most caring and wonderful women any man could have for a wife. As we approach our 37th anniversary in August I am still as grateful as the day I married her to have this women love me as she does.
One last thing before I go is to say My Children "stay the course." Although sometimes it seems long and arduous, the end is still better.
As I have written in a comment earlier to my Daughter-in-law Rita,she is the best mom my Grandchildren Jake and Aislinn could have. I love her as my own daughter. Jake and "Slinny" you make me happy to be a "pa". God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family.