Happy Birthday Sister-in-law Dorothy!

Good morning and welcome to Friday, August 30, 2019. It's a Happy Birthday to The Wife's twin sister, Dorothy, who is 18 months older than the wife. They are called 'twins' because they are so much alike and they both reflect what it means to do their best to be Proverbs 31 ladies. If you are unaware of what a Proverbs 31 woman is, go and read that chapter, and you will not miss the description given. We've been doing life together with Dorothy since the early 1960s, and, we thank God for her, her family, her many areas of serving, and for the testimony she lives out in her daily walk. I know many who think I have been one lucky fellow to have found the wife I have and the family I married into. (Just so you know, my mom thought they were blessed to have me.) Being people of faith means we don't believe in luck, but, we do believe in God's providence, therefore, we thank Him and praise Him for all He has done in our lives. Happy Birthday, sister-in-law, and may God continue to bless. Amen.

I haven't changed my opinion about these girls over the long haul. Here is a blog from six years ago on Dorothy's birthday: ~ FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013 “It's okay to look back at the past - just don't spend too much time staring at it.” (adapted from an anonymous source)

The famous farm girl Rawles Twins, born 18 months apart.

Today is the get ready to rumble day as many prepare for the upcoming three day weekend. It is Friday, August 30, 2013, and folks are ready for the last fling of the waning summertime, the Labor Day Holiday. Today I want to send a special birthday greeting to my wife's sister, Dorothy. You might remember her. She and my wife, Marilyn, are pretty near joined at the hip, having been born as almost identical twins, eighteen months apart. That photo reminds me of their nicknames, Dot and Lil Bit. I got started with this family over fifty years ago and I can say without equivocation that Dorothy is the real deal, a living breathing example of the Proverbs 31 woman. She and her late husband Charles built a testimony of serving the Lord in many different ministries over their long time together. We pause to thank God for Dorothy and all that she has done for our family and for the advancement of the kingdom. Amen.

As many of you read today's episode, I am well on my way to meet the wife and her family over in Winnsboro, Louisiana to attend the memorial service for her uncle, Jessie Rawles. Uncle Jessie was 79 years old and mercifully went on to his reward after discovering that he was suffering from stage 4 cancer. He was retired from the United States Air Force and quite a character. He had a quick wit and could flash a smile that would light up a room. The two girls mentioned in the preceding paragraph will be singing at their uncle's home going celebration. They have done that for many family members over the years. That too is a part of the legacy we have been blessed with. I ask that your prayers for Uncle Jessie's family as they deal with this loss.

Thanks for hanging in there with me this week. Enjoy your Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday, and the Labor Day Holiday on Monday. I will do my best to catch up with you real soon. No. That's not a threat, it's a promise. May God bring comfort to each hurting heart and may He help us all. Amen.   ....More later. ~

I think that said it pretty well back in 2013. See you next go round and may God bless. Amen.

Some days I feel like I am reaching. Surely this is one of them.

In the Star Trek realm, today's edition can be referred to as Star Date 3146. That was a ruse because it's actually the 3,146th edition of my blog posts, but, I suppose I could say who's counting, but, since I brought it up I think I have identified the counter. It is Thursday, August 29, 2019, and I mention the number because I do often think about my postings becoming so repetitive that even something new sounds like we've been there and done that. My synapses may still be generating signals but it's hard to tell how strong they are based on what ends up on the electronic page. I've read enough of some people's stuff I can almost guess how a new posting will unfold and how it will end up. I don't want to be that guy. For lack of a better term, I don't want to become boring. Let's face it, the reader does not have the opportunity to stop me if they have heard it before. Even worse, if they have heard it hundreds of times before. I do wrestle with these kinds of things. I've given thought many times before to when it will be the best time to ride off into the sunset. Especially when I have hit a major milestone, like the 500th blog, the 1,000th, 2,000th, and on and on. I'm just sharing this so that everyone knows I am aware of how things can become stale and rote. I actually search my blogs at times if I think I've told the same story before. It doesn't always cause me not to share it again, but, it is at least done knowing that it is being repeated. As far as the spiritual things I write about, well, they typically reflect my understanding of the truth God has allowed us to know, therefore, I would be concerned if these did not carry a continuing common thread. I never watched the TV show "My So-Called Life", but, I do understand it too ran its course. For now, we trudge forward and as I have always done, I will see what springs forth the next time I sit at the keyboard.

It's been a long time since I've talked about these early computing devices.

While we were on our train ride last week I struck up a conversation with a fellow who is a retiree from Shell Oil Company. I think he put in about 40 years in an engineering capacity. We hit it off because we were both working the oil patch so to speak at about the same time. In addition to this, Shell bought out the assets of my company including my retirement, therefore, I too receive a check from Shell each month. He dates back to the days when business computing was done on punch cards. Me too. We were able to rehearse a lot of war stories about those old days. His wife and the others traveling with them went to explore the other cars on the train, so, that left my wife to hear way too many episodes of our walk down memory lane. These folks travel up to the mountains each year and spend the hot months there. They have been doing that for years. The friends with them are part of the RV travel family. This year, they came up to the area in June, just after getting back from a cruise up to Alaska. They all bring their RV's and camp at the same site each year. It would be easy to think that to be the 'good life', but, I later told the wife I don't think I would trade the things we are privileged to do in serving others through our local fellowship. Yep. Serving does require a commitment that would make taking a few months off each year problematic. He was born in Mississippi. Me, a Louisiana boy. When we got tired of swapping oil company stories, we took on being from the south, sports, and all things downhome country. I'm pretty sure I noticed the wife dozing off a time or two and I can't blame her one bit.

We don't watch that many movies but we did see one on TV while we were on our recent getaway. We just happened upon it on one of the movie channels. It was from the year 2000, "My Dog Skip". It starred several mainline actors, but, the boy, played by Frankie Muniz, was the main character along with the Jack Russell Terrier who played the role of Skip. This was a true story of Willie Morris who grew up in the 1940s. Morris would later become a Rhodes Scholar and an accomplished author. Growing up in Yazoo, Mississipi, he was a frail and often bullied child. The story depicted in the movie is how Skip came into his life and changed everything. I'm not one for syrupy, sappy moments but that movie was loaded up with them. From the get-go. As we got into the movie the wife said maybe we shouldn't watch it because she knew how much I was missing Mr. Bentley. What? Now she is a mind reader? It was gritty and both heart and gut-wrenching. As for whether it impacted me or not, I tried to make it clear that my allergies were acting up. And, I didn't need her trying to hand me a tissue to know that. Just because one clears their throat and coughs a little should not be made into a big deal. Right? If you haven't seen it yet and you like these kinds of syrupy, sappy movies, I would recommend it. One caution: Don't watch it if your allergies are messed up, it could lead to a misunderstanding. Maybe I could get the DVD and show it to Mr. Bentley. I don't think so. We are still trying to get him to pay more attention to the police dogs on Live PD. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ....More later.

Santa has a lot to do to get ready for the upcoming season!

Really? It's Wednesday, August 28, 2019. Already? Time. It, at times, seems to kick into overdrive. Because of what we experienced on our recent excursion, with the amount of fatigue and other things, we really are going to be trying to start a regimen of preparation for our upcoming Santa Season. We may not do more events than before, but, we already know that some of those on the schedule will be very demanding, and, very taxing. Therefore, we will be walking more. At the mall. We became so busy doing other stuff we pretty much had quit going. I went a couple of weeks ago and a sweet lady stopped me, touched my elbow, and said, "Hey, are y'all okay, we haven't seen y'all lately. Not sick, I hope?" I assured her we were okay, but, we do need to get back into a more dedicated walking routine. I noticed at the recent promotional photoshoot that I'm pretty much out of shape in terms of lifting and holding children. It was my first time this year for me to wear the 'big suit' and all the gear that goes with it. If the schedule holds up, there are some days where we will do our best to do multiple appearances. (As many as three in one day.) Many of these are very worthwhile charity events. Yep. I am well aware that we do have the option to just say no. They will get someone else to do it. I don't mind doing that but I prefer to work them if we can.

We are a seriously divided nation regarding political matters. The photo of the Trump family has popped up several times but with a variety of different captions. One said, "Aren't you proud of our President and his family? If so, please like and share." The same photo with a different caption, "These people are taking our country to the cleaners. Don't you agree it's time to get rid of them?" I heard a story about a roundtable on CNN where mental health experts were prompted to talk about the President's fitness for office based on his mental status. (Another round of craziness being pursued based on the removal process outlined in the 25th Amendment.) They obviously had not vetted all of their experts because one of them, (a highly respected former head of psychiatry at Duke University), said doing these kinds of assessments of a sitting President was ludicrous and it had the potential to seriously hurt others who live daily with legitimate mental issues. That was a slap in the face to the host of this party convened to proclaim the President as a certified nut case. When hatred is the prism through which all things are evaluated, you get these kinds of irrational, if not insane, programs. The other side of the coin can be just as wild and crazy. The crowd that says we will stand with this President regardless of what he has done, what he does now, or what he will do in the future, regardless, well, that's not a very sound way to look at the situation. Those two extremes tend to dominate the news cycle making it appear we are even more divided than we are even though the divisions are there and they are significant. That's my take. You are entitled to your own take. We all should at least have a take.

While I watch very few baseball games, I do try and keep up with the Houston Astros. The current ownership and organizational leaders have done a remarkable job in building the current roster and the farm system that develops new talent. I occasionally stop on the Major League Baseball channel to hear what they are saying about the teams who are competing. There is an avalanche of information on the New York Yankees, followed closely by the Los Angeles Dodgers. While they may make a comment or two conceding how good the Astros are and how deep their bench is, they rarely devote full segments to covering what the oddsmakers continue to say is the team best positioned to win the world series. We all know the drill here. Even though the Houston metro-area is close to 7 million in population, the TV market for our baseball team is still considered 'small' by comparison to NY and LA. I remember the last time the Astros were in the World Series where many of the articles written lamented the loss of revenue from what was considered to be a small market team. In a world where being the best is supposed to be what competing is all about, I have always cringed how the so-called 'small market' teams are treated. Yep. That's how capitalism works. I get it. But, and I am unanimous in my own opinion, I don't have to like it. And, in case you missed it, I don't like it. Thank you very much. Now we can all get on with things much more important. Like living for our Lord by touching the lives of others. Amen. ....More later.

Did I miss something, or what?

I should be able to say I'm back in the saddle again, but, I think it might be best to wait a little while to announce anything that strong. Good morning. Welcome. Today is Tuesday, August 27, 2019, and, I saw an ad pop up on Facebook that really caught my attention. You may see it differently, but, to me, the photo in the ad is kind of scary. Is that lady trying to jump? I can't imagine the folks who put this up would invite anyone to climb out on the ledge and let their legs dangle over the edge. I know the price is supposed to be the star, but, to me, this is a terrible ad. I sure hope that fellow had a good grip. I cannot see the wife and I repeating this feat, therefore, I end up being very uninterested. That's how it hit me. My point in sharing it was to show how different others might see the same image. I started to crop out the information at the bottom and add a caption saying: Please don't jump! That's my take, what say you?

On our recent getaway trip, I can tell you that while Colorado and New Mexico are huge tourist targets, (we counted many different state license plates on our walk one morning), this does not mean that everyone who lives in those high traffic areas are doing well. We saw many folks who appear to be barely getting by. Or worse. I know these states are home to many who love the outdoors and champion living in somewhat primitive conditions. While that is true, some of what we saw resembled squalor. Many of those we saw on the streets appeared to be hardened by the sun and struggling to take care of themselves. While we were busy being awed by the beauty of God's majestic handiwork, many of those living in those calendar worthy images appeared to be in need of a good meal and perhaps a place to live. Sad. In the midst of hotels, attractions, and all kinds of craft shops where things cost a lot, all these people walk by with that hopeless far away look in their eyes. Think about it. This is the reality of almost every situation, everywhere, the behind the scenes reality. I don't have a solution, and it sounds like a cop out, but, people really do need the Lord. Amen.

Speaking of the craft shops or the knick-knack joints, while we were in Taos, New Mexico, we happened upon this area built like a town square. There was a covered pavilion in the middle surrounded by all kinds of those type of merchandising enterprises. The pavilion had park benches. I suppose those were provided for husbands. Waiting. That's where I stayed while The Wife went door to door. You know. Similar to the Jehovah Witnesses. It reminded me of a story told by a Canadian comedian we listened to while traveling. The Wife called it up on YouTube and played it through the car radio system. It seems this fellow and his lady happened upon what one might call Knick-Knack Heaven. She had to go there. He tagged along. While in the shop he was walking up and down and a lady came up to him and cheerfully asked, "What she could help him buy today?" He thought about it for a moment and said, "Well, I really like this wicker boat but I'm also drawn to this stained glass hammer." He continued, "I'm torn. On the one hand I love boats, but, on the other, I have this compelling urge right now to hit you with something!" I thought about that little piece of observational humor as I sat there reading the obituaries in the local Taos newspaper. Yep. That's my story and until further notice, I'm sticking to it. May God help us all. Amen. .....More later.

Home Sweet Home

Granddaughter Alesha showing us our Mr. Bentley.

John Denver was right. "A'int it good to be back home again." Hello and welcome to Monday, August 26, 2019. I know many of you wonder how it was for us not to see Mr. Bentley for nearly 6 days. Y'all do remember that I never wanted a dog. Right? Well, I cannot lie. I missed the little dude waking me up at 5 a.m. each morning for me to take him outside. I never wanted to miss a dog. But, life is made up of new experiences and feelings. The wife called our middle son and asked how Bentley was doing. He said Bentley was fine and just for the record if we were interested, he and granddaughter Alesha were okay too. On Tuesday, I asked them to send me a photo of the pup. They did. In fact, they followed up with a video. He was jumping around and acting like he always does. I told them he might need to go outside. My son sent back a note that essentially said, you take care of you, we've got this. Like I say, I never thought I would get attached to a pet of any kind, but, as Pogo in the comic strip used to say, "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

In our recent drive of 1900 miles roundtrip, I think the best I did in my quest for lower temperatures was a 46 degree reading in Taos, NM. I had bought in to the forecast that promised low 40s. I know what some of you are thinking. That should be close enough for government work. Right? I agree. Yet, even though the weather was post card picture beautiful our entire journey, I secretly harbored a desire to embrace at least one 39 degree reading. I am not complaining, just sharing. I hear you. "Bless his heart, he didn't get the cold he was looking for." I send back a 'bless your heart' for blessing mine. Not every detail on our trip was hunky dory. The place we stayed in at Alamosa, Colorado, had some water that had a wee bit of a wang to it. Community Coffee can overcome nearly anything, but, alas, I could still taste it a smidgen even in my coffee. I made sure from that time on to have plenty of bottled water on hand. Community Coffee deserves only the best water available. You do know that I am being a little over the top with regards to my coffee, a little, just a tiny bit. I think you get the picture.

We had numerous responses from folks who recognized us as the real Santa and Mrs. Claus. I wasn't exactly traveling incognito, that is, wearing the red cap and red suspenders. One young guy took my card, went away, and after a few minutes he came back. He said, "That's really you, right?" I told him that was me in the photo. He had that 'now I get it' look. He then gave me one of those questions that kids come up with, "Do you have to have flight clearance across the globe for you and your sleigh?" I gave him my typical come back, "That's a really good question." He kept waiting, so, I then said, "Remember, it is all about the magic of Christmas." He pondered that for a moment, and, finally gave me a big grin and headed back over to his little brother and his parents. Whew! I was relieved. I figured a question might be coming about quantum mechanics or velocity theory. After returning to the depot after our train ride, the wife, as is her wont, went into the train gift shop. I dutifully tagged along. While we were there, Rose, one of the ladies who served us on the train, brought out a little lady who was maybe 4 feet tall. She said this lady was the one who had cooked the meals for us and she wanted her to meet us because of her love for all things Christmas. I shook her hand and gave her a card and she might near melted right there in the gift shop. As we made our way to the car I told the wife what I say so often, "It really doesn't take much to make someone's day." Time doesn't permit me to talk about the counter working ladies at the McDonalds in Taos who had their photos made sitting in my lap. Probably, more about those types of things later. One thing we all might take note of: It would be good if all of us would try that out today, that is, make someone's day. Amen. .....More later.

“The most beautiful moments always seemed to accelerate and slip beyond one’s grasp just when you want to hold onto them for as long as possible.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri

It's Friday, August 23, 2019, and, as they say, all good things typically do come to an end, and so does this trip. We will be on the road to return to the reality of the routine, and, we are happy to be headed that way. We will make a stop tonight and then head home tomorrow, Lord willing, and with His provision. We've seen some wonderful sights, had way too many great meals, and, yes, we did locate and embrace the cooler climate. We had a huge stag slipping along on the hillside outside the patio of our room in Trinidad. I called the wife. She said I should get a photo. I began working on doing just that, but, he was moving. He was a orange tan color and looked to have a sizable set of antlers and they appeared to have moss already growing. I got the camera, but, fumbled a little and he was gone. The wife told me she had noticed me slowing down when it came to doing things like making a photo quickly. Really? I've heard all my life that you learn something new everyday. I suppose that is true. I will add that one to the list. It's a long one. Just in case you were wondering.

Many years ago, (my guess, late 90s), we actually went to this same area for the same reason. I wrote about it in my blog. Here it is again:  FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2007 "Sometimes You Need A Breath of Fresh Air!" ~ The area we live in can be about as unbearable as any place in the world during the summer months. The combination of extreme heat and high humidity makes for some pretty tough days. My across the driveway neighbor who bought Ruth’s place came to us after spending fifty plus years in and around Buffalo, New York. He always tells me when we are in melt down mode that if I shoveled eight feet of snow each winter like he did for countless winters, I would join him in being thankful for the heat and humidity. I guess that’s one of those deals you would have to experience to understand. About ten years ago we had a really bad summer and it wouldn’t budge. It hung around going into September where we were still gasping for air. Towards the end of the month I decided I had to have some relief. I got on the internet and did a check of temperatures across the country. I saw where they were already having mid forties in Colorado, therefore, I determined to drive up there and get me a breath of fresh air.

I had my wife arrange to be off but didn’t tell her anything about what we were doing or where we were going. We loaded up the car and headed out. Fourteen hours later we reached our motel in Trinidad, Colorado. The next morning I was up early and made the coffee we had in our room. I then drug one of the chairs outside and sat there drinking coffee and enjoying a breeze in the invigorating, refreshing, forty degree temperature. I let the wife sleep in but when she woke up I had our day already planned. There’s a Legend’s scenic loop which covers about 100 miles. I let her drive and I stood up in the passenger seat with my head outside the moon roof. Around every curve we found another beautiful scene that  could have been on any calendar. She drove and I took in the air. Later that evening we found a wonderful restaurant in downtown Trinidad, enjoyed our meal, and made our way back to our motel. Next morning I repeated that same routine with my coffee and sat in a misty rain but enjoyed every second of it, but alas we had to bid farewell and head back to where concrete was buckling and the asphalt was melting. We had a wonderful day and one half, spent the night in Amarillo on the way back and then made our way back home. It was all too brief but it was needed because there are some times when you just need a breath of fresh air! ~

See what I mean? I suppose history does repeat itself. This most recent trip was a little more relaxed in that we were here a week. (If you call staying in a different hotel each evening for 6 days in a row relaxing.) However, it did serve the purpose like the one 20 years ago. I again found some wonderful air to breathe. Some wonderful scenery. And, some great time spent with my bride of nearly 55 years. God is good and we thank Him for His provisions. We hope to be back in our place at our local fellowship this upcoming Sunday and we highly recommend that everyone finds themselves gathering to praise our great God on His Day. Take care, and, if, I have anything left to say, I'll try to catch back up with everyone, come next Monday. May God bless. And, thanks for tuning in. Amen. ....More later.

“...what thrills me about trains is not their size or their equipment but the fact that they are moving, that they embody a connection between unseen places.” ― Marianne Wiggins

Okay. We continue the journey. It's Thursday, August 22, 2019, and we are still staying in the elevation level of between 6000 and 7600 feet above sea level. (Trinidad, 6010', Alamoso, 7543' and Taos, NM 6969') The wife said she thinks her sinus issues are in much better shape. Being the realist, I asked her if she thought they would still be doing well when she was on the roof trying to get the snow off before everything caved in. I am always trying to help. Can someone tell me where Falling Rock is located? Everywhere you go there are signs, but, I am yet to find the place. It must be a popular place but maybe only certain folks know how to get there. Another conundrum to ponder. I do think I had the same question when I was driving a rental car through mountainous terrain on the other side of the country. Same deal. Lots of signs but I never actually saw the exit. Maybe this is one for the Twilight Zone.

We did do the train ride. I didn't know what to expect, but, it turned out to be quite an adventure. I had pre-ordered the tickets and purchased the best ones available. I wanted it to be good for the wife. She road a train in Northern England when we were there. There wasn't much to it. We boarded and it ran up and around long enough to serve us what they said was a proper English dinner. Roast beef and some veggies and a hot roll. The tables had nice cloths on them and nice silverware. The food may have been proper and memorable for those who live there, it was very forgettable in terms of taste and quality. On this most recent excursion, I did my best to make sure we got the best available. The coach was in great shape. The brunch meal was very tasteful. We even had a 30 minute rain shower on our way back. And, the train ride itself, well, since I had next to no expectations, I will share my riding partner's thoughts about our day: "It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful!" I'll take that, any day! Amen.

I so appreciate all the well wishes that have been expressed on our behalf with regards to us making this short getaway trip. I am always slightly puzzled by so many who say we really need it or they talk about how much we deserve it. I do know it is sincere and well-intentioned because the folks being so kind are genuinely just that, kind, and sweet. I hope it's not because we look like we are about to go crazy most of the time. I actually hope we don't look that way. You know. Too tightly wound. We don't feel anymore stresses than most folks and lets be honest here, the wife will travel at the drop of a hat. I love to do it but I typically yield to the call of my stay-at-home inclinations. I am a homebody. I guess I actually enjoy my routine. Yes. I am aware how a routine can become a rut which is really nothing more than a grave with the ends kicked out. We are having a great time. We have enjoyed our time together. We've seen some interesting sights and even more interesting people. You will no doubt be hearing some about all of this in my blogging venture. I am so grateful to have such good support from so many wonderful people. As the NASCAR winner always says when asked about the fans, "Y'all are the greatest! Y'all rock!" Or, something like that. Take care and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

"I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair." ~ Evel Knievel

Highway 12, Scenic Route

Good morning folks. It's Wednesday, August 21, 2019. We will be boarding the all day train excursion up into the mountains around 9:30 a.m. this morning. I've written quite a bit about my days of train riding as a kid growing up. I told the wife how I can so remember when the porter would come into the coach with his metal container. He had small bottle cokes packed in ice. For a dime I could have a coke that tasted better than any coke I had ever had. That would have been in the late 50s and early 60s. I know today's train ride is a 'tourist' attraction, therefore, I have no expectations for it to be like it was back then. We will be having brunch in the club car on the train. Yesterday, we made our way from Trinidad to Alamosa. I chose to take the slow road on a recognized scenic route. I think this is the same one we took many years ago when I came into this area for one reason only: To catch a breath of fresh air. In fact, the wife drove the car on the scenic highway with moon roof open and I stood up taking videos with our old camcorder. The temps were in the 40s and it was just what I needed, breathtaking. Yesterday didn't disappoint. Why? God. His creation.

I assume we will be riding in the silver car.

We just missed the lower temps in Trinidad, but, we caught up with some glorious temps here in Alamosa. It is a crisp 50 degrees as I write today's visit. That popular song from a number of years, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for", well, that's not my song. I actually like that song by Celtic Thunder. I never heard it from the original group. That song talks about no matter what this guy pursued including religion, he was still unable to find what he was looking for. Sounds almost like Solomon's testimony as found in the writing of the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes. What the guy who wrote the song needed was a finding of Jesus as his Lord and Savior, then, he could have had a 'new song'. Just sayin, as they say. Some have mentioned that most of the hotels have a little coffee maker in the room. Even my wife reminded me of this. I'm not going to belabor the issue but will only say this about that: I never carry food coloring with me to make the stuff they put in their little machines look like 'real' coffee. Enough said.

We are on a getaway but not from our walk with our Lord. The wife has been focused on studying her Bible study material. I have been reading the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians. (Remember, it is a letter, therefore, it's best read in its entirety as a letter.) That's the next portion of God's Word we will be covering in our Sunday morning Bible study time. I have always believed the first portion of Ephesians, (Chapter One), to be some of the most profound truths in all of God's Word. The Apostle Paul indicated he got this through revelation. I would think so! Please don't ask me to explain it because I'm blown away by it just like everyone else. I will tell us all this. Some parts of our Bibles puts us on our faces before The God who chose to save us. We are in awe. This is where we embrace with joyful fear and trembling truths too precious for us to comprehend. Simply Amazing. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think. Amen. ....More later.

We made it!

Highway coming into Raton, New Mexico. Nice!

Good morning folks. I hope everyone is doing well on this Tuesday, August 20, 2019. We made excellent time from Plano, TX to Trinidad, CO. It is right at 600 miles. We left around 5:45 a.m. and arrived at around 4 p.m. That included a number of rest stops including lunch at the famous Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo, TX. That's the one where you get a free 72 ounce steak if you consume it within a specified period of time. As for the small steaks we had, I give it a barely satisfactory rating. My take. I think we have around 60 degrees this morning which is a whole lot better than what I have been experiencing back in The Woodlands. We are supposed to do better later in the week with some mid to low 40"s when we get to Taos, New Mexico.

I will add one caveat to an otherwise wonderful trip. While I am not too much inclined to conspiracy theories, I do believe there should be an immediate investigation at the highest levels within our government into the prolific use of construction cones throughout the fruited plains. I don't care if you are on the interstate, the feeders, the side roads, and even the George W. Bush Turnpike, there is something sinister going on here. I do not think they can replicate on their on, but, folks, my question is: How long before they actually take over our country? I'm beginning to see them in my sleep.

And, there I was, thinking the Slow Men Working signs were the most honest signs around. Now I'm really trying to decide what they are trying to do with all of these obstacles. Are they trying to keep us all worked up for some clandestine reason? I report. I decide. You can too. Take care and enjoy your day. May God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

On the Road Again

Okay, we are well on our ambitious journey. It is Monday, August 19, 2019, and I'm still reeling from all the kind words spoken and sent to me on my birthday. I would swell up a little if I didn't know that while you can fool some folks, you can never fool God, and He knows me best. Thanks to everyone who took the time to recognize my entrance here on this terrestrial ball. After the great family gathering last Tuesday, on my actual birthday, to top it all off, my sister-in-law, twin born 18 months before my wife, well, she treated me to a fantastic dinner at the steakhouse. Her husband was in the area on business and couldn't get away, therefore, the wife, the sister-in-law, and I went to dinner and had a remarkable time and a wonderful meal. I typically don't call what we are doing a vacation because I think getaway is a more appropriate description. Getaway. From the routine. I started to say grind, but, that would be way over-the-top. From the incessant heat. And, so on and so forth. That sounds slightly better than saying etcetera, etcetera. At any rate, we have a long day of driving ahead of us today. I planned it that way so we could spend a little time with my dear sister, JoAnn, in Plano, Tx. She is one of the most caring people who breathe air on the planet. But, she is plagued with a number of health-related challenges that keeps her pretty much tied in knots. May God surround her with His presence is my prayer. Amen.

Wife shot this one before I left the house.

I did the Santa promotional stuff in the photography studio last Friday morning. This is my 10th year to be Santa and my 8th to work with this particular studio. I've been there and done that many times in the past, however, the kids we had for this particular shoot were nothing short of remarkable. We essentially were able to do four hours of work in an hour and one half. A beautiful little down syndrome girl warmed up to me immediately. Last year we got some incredible shots of her and her sisters, but, she never would sit in my lap. This year she wanted to stay in my lap. Our chief photographer lady was surprised. The girls' mom was surprised. And, I was too. Every sitting went that way. It was one of those eerie kinds of things where you wonder if what is happening is really happening. I'll take it. Thank you very much. When I arrived at the studio location, I was approached in the parking lot by two ladies. It was closing in on 10 a.m. but it was warm already. The ladies looked like they had just finished a yoga session. One of them hollered out to me, "Hey, what in the world do you think you are doing?" I played along, "What do you mean?" She kept it up, "Don't you know it's August?" I said, "Okay, so?" I then explained why I was there. They knew about this studio and said the photos made there were amazing. I knew that already. She asked me to take a photo with her friend. I agreed. The friend was surprised, but, we made the photo. I think she really wanted a photo of herself and me, but, the friend didn't offer, and I was needing to get out of the heat so I didn't offer another one. Another day in the life of the 'Jolly Old Elf'.

If everything goes according to plan we will be in Colorado by this evening. I'm hoping for some '50s in the morning, but, the weather is not within my area of expertise or control. Yes. Thanks for asking. I did remember to bring my little one cup percolator and a bag of Community Coffee. I also brought my own cup. You know. A real cup. It's was the right thing to do. That reminds me of a little story. I've told it before but some of you may have missed it. When our kids were little we were on our way to visit the wife's parents and I was getting a little sleepy so we stopped in Bunkie, Louisiana for some coffee. Cajun country. I went into this little cafe and I told the lady I wanted a cup of strong coffee to go. She said the coffee they serve couldn't be put into a plastic cup. The cup wouldn't hold up. She then fetched one of those old fashioned thick ceramic cups and poured it for me. I said poured, but, it was more like she oozed it into the cup. It was thick. It was strong. I'm pretty sure I had never had any quite that strong. Did I mention it was strong? I did get it down and paid a small amount and we got back on the road. As best I recall, I didn't sleep for three consecutive days. Not really. That's called hyperbole. You know. Something embellished to add a little color. In this case, hot, thick, and very black. Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

Three score, ten, plus three years ago my mom and dad brought forth their fourth child. That would be me, myself, and I. I am thanking God for His provision throughout my sojourn. May He be praised. Amen.

Photo from last December.

Welcome to Friday, August 16, 2019, the 42nd anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, and, the day I officially celebrate attaining three score, ten, plus three years. That's right, 73 years of sojourn here on the planet. We learn from God's Word that every good gift comes from our God. (James Chapter 1) And, I know more than anyone else how He has brought me to where I am today. The sweet singer of Israel, David, wrote a song with this underlying theme, ""If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, ......" (Psalm 124) That's my testimony as I thank God for His unfailing love. I've already written about the wonderful family gathering last Tuesday evening to celebrate my birthday. I repeat myself: Blessed. Blessed indeed! Amen.

Since today is my birthday and to celebrate I will be donning the Santa suit for four hours, I want to share the very first of my birthday stories I blogged about, twelve years ago.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2007 ~ The King is Dead, The King is Dead! In this my 70th blog, on this very day, I mark the 61st year of my sojourn here on this planet. The date is August 16th and for those of you in the know, you will recognize this as the day that Elvis Presley, in 1977, left this life for the next. This year the media will be doing special presentations on Elvis to mark the 30th anniversary of his passing. History records that King Herod the Great actually left orders for several hundred highly respected men to be killed immediately upon his death to make certain there would be mourning throughout the territory when he died. In some ways I guess Elvis dying on my birthday brought more attention to it since there is typically much in the way of remembrances of the King. Prior to this, to mark the 16th, I had to settle for some obscure battle won by the Americans against the British in 1777.

I certainly well remember that very day that Elvis left the building for the last time. That afternoon, as we took our places on our commuter van it was obvious that people were acting very strange. Some of the ladies riding with us were either crying or they had been crying. Those waiting for buses on street corners were boohooing as well. It was a surreal scene and the fellow driving and I commented on how absolutely bizarre it was that Elvis would still have this kind of impact on people. It was maybe not as widespread as when JFK went down but it certainly was in the same ballpark. This was a uniquely strange situation but I had other fish to fry. One of the things my wife had drilled into me was that I should come home ready to be surprised for my birthday. She and our three boys had something planned and I had been warned not to come home all grumpy and washed out like normal. With all the stuff flying around about Elvis this was going to be even harder but I set my mind to psyching myself up for the big welcome. I’m one of those people who enjoy doing big birthdays for my wife and my boys but I do not care for a big birthday being done for me. This is another one of those quirks that I am sure someone from my past is responsible for and as soon as I find out who, they have a lot to answer for. It’s a joke, you can smile now!

In fact, I well remember a big birthday done for me at the big company by all of my employees. I had made it clear that I did not want anything done but they went behind my back and put together a huge deal and invited everyone in the department. I got wind of what was going on and made it clear I was none too happy about it. One of the ladies who had worked for me a long time came into my office, closed the door, and her message went like this: “Now you listen and you listen good. These people all love you. Why I’ll never know, but they do and they have gone to a lot of trouble to do this birthday deal for you. So, you need to get yourself down the hall and into that conference room and whether you like it or not, you need to show them how much you appreciate what they have done for you”. And, that’s exactly what I did! The closer we got to my drop off place I continued to pump myself up to get ready for the big celebration awaiting me at home. I tried to guess what they might have done. Okay, now I was nearing the house. A big smile and get ready for the big welcome. I came to the door and knocked. Nothing. I unlocked the door and walked into the hall ready to have the whole crew jump out and say surprise, surprise! Nothing. What’s the deal? I walked to the end of the hall and could see all of them, my wife included, in the family room glued to the TV set watching the news reports about Elvis. I finally grunted and up jumped our youngest who was six at that time. He ran over to me and shouted out, “Daddy, daddy, the King is dead, the King is dead!” So there you have it, thanks to Elvis for croaking on my day, and happy birthday to me!”

One final thought, God has been good to me in that while Elvis has left the building for the last time, through His mercy and grace He has allowed me to continue in this life and it is my prayer that I will use wisely the remaining time He provides to me. ~

That is known by perhaps way too many folks, and known all too well, as my 'Elvis died on my birthday' story. As you know, I will be away next week. I will have a laptop with me and may or may not be doing my blogs, depending. Since I don't consider doing them as work, I might do some, but, we will wait and see. Have yourself a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday, and, I will see you very soon, Lord willing. May He bless us all. Amen. ....More later.

“Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family. And having both is a blessing.” ~ unattributed

Hello friends and neighbors, it's good to greet everyone with a hearty hello on this Thursday, August 15, 2019. This is my birthday week. Friday. However, because of scheduling, the wife set up a family get together Tuesday evening to celebrate my 73rd. She overdid her typical overdoing by preparing what could be a colossal meal, one for the ages, so good it's hard to even describe. Her version of fried chicken which has never been duplicated, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh field peas and fried okra, fresh farm-raised tomatoes, homemade cornbread, or a loaf of homemade yeast bread, take your choice, accompanied by iced tea, sweet and unsweet, and soft drinks too. To cap it off she made a dessert that took her most of one afternoon. It's called Banana Delight and based on how it was eaten, it must have been amazing. That's my wife. She made it so special. Sure. I got some gifts, but, at my age, they are not that important to me. The real joy for me was having our family with us. The wife, our eldest Chris and his wife Sherrie, their youngest Stefani and her baby, Bella. (Their oldest, our Tiffany now lives in San Antonio and they couldn't be with us, along with their middle, Brittany who is stationed with her family in Fort Riley, Kansas. We missed them.) Our middle Jimmy and his crew were with us, Jimmy Jr., the twins, Alesha and Amanda, and Alexander Benjamin. Our youngest Rodney and his wife Mitzi along with their children, Kyleigh, Lexie, and Brady came too. Even our little pup, Mr. Bentely, participated. He acted like the party was for him. Blessed. That's all I can say. Blessed indeed. And, thankful. I know the wife overdid it and she paid the price in her tiredness with all the aches and pains to go with it, but, I know it was her act of love for me and our family. Like I say, that, my friend, was worth having a birthday celebration, any day of the week! Thanks to them all for making this a memory I will not soon forget. (I better not promise too much at my age regarding my ability to remember, but, this one was a keeper!)

I'll try to come up with something profound to share on my actual birthday tomorrow. Someone landing on my blog no doubt will notice that I mention food quite often. You don't need a search engine to determine that. I can't apologize because food is a part of the human experience and in our particular family, it is one of the focal points of our time spent together. The practice of cooking a special meal for one's birthday is a family tradition. It was, in my family. I think the wife said her mom always baked a cake, but, she doesn't remember them doing a special meal. I don't know how it got started but I sure am glad it's one my wife picked up on. When we married she was not a great cook, but, she was effective in the kitchen. Just think. Here she was, at 17, married, but she had been taught the basics. She could make biscuits from scratch and cornbread too. What distinguishes my wife is her heart for learning. She has always learned more than she believed she could. And, when it came to cooking, she was a student of some legendary cooks, like her mom, my mom, and the grandmothers too. As my mom got up in years she used to tell me that while she no longer could prepare the sumptuous meals she had in the past she was glad to know that my wife, her daughter-in-law could. Folks in culinary circles talk about things like Michelin Stars, the James Beard Award, and other kinds of recognition, but, those words from my mom about my wife, well, in our circle, they are golden. And, we get to enjoy the work of her heart and her hands. I say her heart because Granny Mac always said that good cooking starts with caring. Maybe this helps to explain why food is a big part of The View From Here.

Granny and Paw Paw Mac

I suppose I should ask, "Are you hungry yet?" Speaking of legendary, for our entire family, I think Granny Mac stands out. Plagued with health issues much of her life, she couldn't get around very well. However, she could do her thing in the kitchen. She dearly loved cooking for Paw Paw Mac, and, for her family. She was old school. She saw having her working man a hot meal as her calling and her duty. That will seem draconic to some, but, she did what she did in the kitchen with a song and a love for those who would be enjoying the fruits of her labor. I should know. My last year in high school, I would come home at noon. Let me set the scene. Granny Mac knew I was one of her 'good eaters'. On a cold blustery day, I would come through that back door which opened into the kitchen and the smell wafting on the breeze would nearly knock me down. I would say, "Granny, what in the world are you cooking?" She would say, "Son, I put together a little something for your lunch." That little something was a skillet of cornbread dressing with some link sausage in it. She knew I loved it. She made it for me. I would sit down to eat and she would sit down too. Not to eat. Just to watch me enjoy the food she had prepared. I know everyone has their different cooking traditions and they enjoy different things than those that I might choose. That's a good thing. Yet, I just have to tell you, it must have been good if nearly 60 years later I can still relive and relish those wonderful times. Amen? Yes! Amen!      .....More later.

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” ― Winston S. Churchill

The countdown continues here on this Wednesday, August 14, 2019. The countdown is now at minus 4 days. Vacation. I'm not really fixated on our planned excursion, but, I thought it would be good to at least show a modicum of interest, if, for no other reason than it gives me something to write about. I am well aware of how reality has a way of putting those envisioned calendar views into a more clear focus. I've mentioned many times how easy it is to be immune to the beauty around you. I was at a meeting once outside of Denver and one of the glaring views of the mountains through a large window absolutely took my breath away. I was the only one from out of town and it didn't take long to figure that out since everyone else was pretty much indifferent to the majestic display of God's handiwork seen from their workplace window. It happens to us all. Every single day most of us go about our busy premeditated lives and rarely stop to notice our surroundings. Be it people or places. Preoccupied. I suppose that's the idea behind the admonition that we all should take time to 'stop and smell the roses'. That saying is a cliched way of saying slow down, enjoy life, notice the beauty along the way. That would be a really good thing for some of us to do, especially, yours truly.

That reminds me of the Duck Dynasty episodes where the entire family made a vacation trip to Hawaii. Willie was 100% focused on the itinerary, the program, and the schedule, so much so, he had no time to enjoy the surpassing beauty around him. It's not just a vacation situation. We recently heard someone talking about a fellow who led music at a Church in our area. They said he was acutely focused on the execution of the voices and the instruments, obsessively so, to the extent it was hard for his people to enjoy the worship they were attempting to project. It's the 'can't see the forest for the trees' mentality. Immersed in the minutiae to the point of never seeing anything but the next bit of detail. I was visiting with a lady the other day and she was talking about the current heatwave we are experiencing. She said there appeared to be no relief in sight. What would we do if the power were to go off? Sad to see the yard and plants so wilted. I countered with how blessed we had been this year with enough rain to keep everything so green and vibrant. I told her this too will pass. And, in the meantime, everything still looks pretty good for it to be in the middle of August. I am prone, at times to the same type of negativism. It can be a scene-stealer as we focus on something other than the beauty that God has surrounded us with.

Even KFC gets it. Their current commercial trumpets their full meal deal that is so good it will cause the children to lay down their phones and even look at their lovely parents. Last Sunday evening the youth at our local fellowship rehearsed with us their recent missions endeavor down in Brownsville, Texas. One of the requirements for them to go on the trip was they had to leave their phones at home. These kids were observed throughout their week of ministry doing something unique in our world today. They were actually talking directly to each other, getting to know their neighbors, and, being able to focus their time and attention on the ministry efforts they came to pursue. They did a week-long vacation Bible school in a large apartment complex. They saw 25 kids that week who heard the Gospel and as a result, they came to profess their faith in Jesus Christ. We talk a lot about distracted driving, however, my guess is, distracted living is a much larger issue for us all. Me too. I think I've worn out my confessional for one day, therefore, I'll just say we all stand in need of this reminder. Yep. We do. One last time: Me too! Have a great rest of the day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee in your hand and you start to sneeze?" - Jean Kerr

Good morning. It's Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Welcome. One and all. I am keeping an eye on the itinerary for our planned vacation. Checking on all the things we will be doing? Not even close! Just checking the weather. The closer we get, it follows the forecasts will be more accurate. I would hate to get there looking for morning lows in the mid to high 40's and end up with the overnights in the high sultry 70s like it is here. I know some of you are wondering about Community Coffee up in Colorado and New Mexico. Not to worry. I have pulled out my trusty one cup percolator and I have been checking it out the old fashioned way, using a bag of Community ground coffee. It may not be as convenient as the individual serve cups but I can make it as strong as the circumstances warrant. Carrying the Community and my three feather pillows are on the top of my list. Most of the other stuff is pretty much optional or replaceable. Before you get the idea that I have some strange idiosyncratic quirks, I will not mention how the wife carries her electric warming blanket nearly everywhere she travels. It just goes to show you. Whatever it goes to show. It does do it. Yep. It does.

If it's possible for old people to have a blast, we had one last week when our great grand Madi was staying with us. Her energy and spontaneity were contagious. (Only on a temporary basis.) The aches and muscle pains came with the afterglow. Before Madi came, we had a couple of young college girls come to our house. It was our niece and her friend. They left their car at our house and we transported them to the big airport for their flight to California. They were out on a sightseeing adventure. This was on a Monday. They had just returned the day before, Sunday, from a cruise. Kids today! We went to fetch them this past Saturday evening at 11:30 p.m. They decided they would return to Louisiana directly from the airport so the wife took their car and I was there to bring her back to the house. When we finally got their stuff loaded at 1 a.m., I asked our niece, "You girls are tired, are you sure you want to make this drive before resting some?" My niece immediately said, "Don't worry, uncle,  we are 20 and this is no problem at all!" To be young again. I mentioned how it had been a long time since I had said anything like that. The wife piped up, "Yep, at 20, I was pregnant with our second child." Well, that pretty well summed it up and we got back to bed at 1:30 a.m., feeling blessed. Amen.

As I worked on today's edition, I had a couple of old-time radio programs playing in the background. One was the Fibber Mcgee and Molly Program from 1942 where Fibber was busily trying to tame his quick temper. It was very funny. The other program was a George Burns and Gracie Allen episode where Gracie was trying to set up her friend with a fellow and George got the idea she was leaving him for this guy. It was also funny. It too came from the 1940s. There are literally 1,000s of these programs archived out on the internet. They are like tiny time capsules in and of themselves. I enjoy them. The music. Even the commercials. We have one of those off channels on our satellite system that plays a lot of really old tv programs. I occasionally catch the early Dragnet episodes from 1951. They are quite different from policing in our world today, however, some things really never change. Evil deeds were prevalent back then and they still are today. Law enforcement had a dangerous job in dealing with lawbreakers back then and they still do today. We do have some folks who contend people are not sinners. They believe it is an acquired behavior. I believe the Bible teaches something different than that. From the Genesis account to the closing words of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, we have the Creator's Truths about all people being born with a sin nature and in need of God's provided redemption. The Apostle Paul makes it very clear, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Thankfully, He made a way, the only way, for men, women, boys, and girls to be made right in His sight. (John 3:16) Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ...More later.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV) Comfort in Suffering 3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."

My dad's marker. He actually was born in 1923 but falsified his birth date for an early entry to serve in WW2.

Good Monday morning. It is August 12, 2019, and, I bid you a good start to the generally recognized work-week ahead. Have you ever witnessed something and thought to yourself 'I've been there and done that'? This happened to me not too long ago. I drove into the parking lot of the place where our local congregation meets. Next door to us is a very large cemetery. I saw a fellow standing by a newly dug and decorated grave. He was sobbing. It also appeared he was talking. His body was shaking some. I don't know any of the details, but, I do know exactly that feeling. I've been to our ancestral burying place many times. Often, very early in the morning. No one there but me. Remembering those who were so close and so influential in our lives does produce a response. In my case, several left so soon and there just never seemed to be enough time with them. My point? I understand where that fellow was coming from. Grief. Pain. Sadness. Hurt. Yep. Been there and done that. I always feel better after I've visited 'my people'. I hope he did as well. We've been blessed with a lot of good things in this life. At the same time, we, like everyone who breathes air on the planet, have had our share of difficulties. God can be trusted. And, He sees our tears. ("Go and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.'" Isaiah 38:5) Bolding is mine.

I'm only four days away from suiting up as Santa Claus. The BIG SUIT! Tis the season to be jolly, or, better put, Tis the season to be melting hot. I will be doing promotional photos with some children to preview the upcoming sets in the studio. The folks there are aware of how hot I get. They always crank down the A/C and they provide a fan too. I will be wearing my cooling vest and it will help as I am scheduled to do four hours. Lord willing, if we can, we will be doing a special Christmas program for some Headstart kids the second week in December. The lady coordinating the program said they were willing to pay but did not have much of a budget to work with. When I told her, if we are able to make their schedule, we will donate our time, she said her eyes were filled with tears. I have been wanting to do more charity events and this one seemed to pop up from nowhere. I guess we will learn later how she even got our name. The program will provide breakfast, a gift like a bicycle, and some other goodies to take home for Christmas morning. The lady told me she grew up in an impoverished home and knows all too well how much this will mean to the 50 to 100 kids who will be there. The mission of the Santa Enterprise: To Bring Joy to Children of all Ages.

Here's one for the record book. After the horrific shootings last week, the NY Times, who claims to still report 'just the facts' put up a headline that read, "TRUMP URGES UNITY VS. RACISM". That is exactly what the President did. However, the left went completely berzerk. They didn't like that headline at all. It was too positive. They began to have an apoplectic fit in all social media outlets, screaming about the NY Times selling them out with this headline. The assault was relentless. Supposedly, here we have the newspaper that still calls itself the record of truth, but, they folded up like a wet paper sack when the criticisms came their way. They ended up changing the headline to,  "ASSAILING HATE BUT NOT GUNS." So much for their independence or journalistic integrity. But, we knew that already. Right? Here is the news. We don't like that version of the news. Okay. Sorry. We will change it to make you happy. Where I come from, there are names for stuff like that, but, I had better not repeat any of them here. The left has only one agenda. Blame President Trump. Any nuance of varying from this narrative will not be tolerated. Period. They claim the President is responsible for the shootings. But they do not blame President Obama for the several that happened on his watch. Sadly, many of the folks at home are buying this stuff. Sadly. Okay. That should do it for today. Have a great Monday and may God help this country of ours. Amen. ....More later.