Just a quick note to say that I'm home. Yeah. The storms were bad while I was gone, but no damage to my home or my parents - Thank you, Lord. However, my sister friend from church, Chalice - her home was badly damaged, but still livable. Lots of work to be done on the house. Please keep her, and others, in prayer for quick repair and praise God that no injuries happened. Peace, my friends.
Oh, another thing I need to write is the evolution of Ol' Bess. Stand by. Peace,
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran's Day 2009
Hello, everyone. I am in Carthage, MO at my favorite hotel, Best WEstern Precious Moments Hotel. If you are anywhere in Southwestern Missouri I highly recommend this hotel - a unique building, great rooms, good breakfast with some hot biscuits and gravy (and other things) and a great service. I have stayed here every one of the 4 years I've been coming to this area.
Today is Veteran's Day. A day we honor those who have served our country through the military. A day we thank the families that have been the backbone and support of our military men and women. And, unfortunately, a day where the horror of Ft. Hood becomes more real in our minds. Those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in battle, we often can understand, but those who give that sacrifice when they are in the "sacred halls" of the military post - it's just difficult to fathom.
My father was in the military for 35 years. He retired as a Major General. He traveled the world over and commanded small and large bases and units. He worked in the Pentagon, led a battalion and presided over ROTC, as the first AFrican-American commanding general. He fought in Vietnam, and supported during other times of conflict. He is, and will always be, an Army man.
My mother was in the military for 35 years. She retired as the wife of a Major General. She traveled the world over and lived in small and large houses. She packed all the bags, corraled the children and the pets, was Mom and Dad in times of her husband's absence, and was the epitome of the perfect hostess. She heard the horrors of war through the tapes her husband sent her from Vietnam and instead of asking him about the bombs in the background, she shared with him about the regular goings on in America - a comfort to his heart. She is, and will always be, an Army wife.
I was a military brat for 22 years. I did not retire, but was moved off the 'brat" list when I was out of college. I traveled for years with my parents - Oklahoma, Kansas, Rhode Island, WAshington, DC; Virginia, Germany and Okinawa and Texas. I learned to pack up the boxes and move to another room. I met new friends all the time, but I didn't work hard to keep old friends, preferring to let the loss just be "X'd" out of my mind. I missed my Dad when he was away and argued with my mother, until I realized how much I was like her as an adult. I learned to set the perfect table, be a great escort, was the life of the party, never met a stranger, passionately learned the history of places I visited and became well-rounded. I never knew my father in war (as I remember), and was shocked when as an adult I saw a gun in our house - the sidearm my father carried from the time he was a General officer. We never knew it was there. I still love to travel, still carry the Army in my heart - it is my family - and I love to serve in the way God has given me. I am, and will always be, a military brat in heart.
Hurrah!
Today is Veteran's Day. A day we honor those who have served our country through the military. A day we thank the families that have been the backbone and support of our military men and women. And, unfortunately, a day where the horror of Ft. Hood becomes more real in our minds. Those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in battle, we often can understand, but those who give that sacrifice when they are in the "sacred halls" of the military post - it's just difficult to fathom.
My father was in the military for 35 years. He retired as a Major General. He traveled the world over and commanded small and large bases and units. He worked in the Pentagon, led a battalion and presided over ROTC, as the first AFrican-American commanding general. He fought in Vietnam, and supported during other times of conflict. He is, and will always be, an Army man.
My mother was in the military for 35 years. She retired as the wife of a Major General. She traveled the world over and lived in small and large houses. She packed all the bags, corraled the children and the pets, was Mom and Dad in times of her husband's absence, and was the epitome of the perfect hostess. She heard the horrors of war through the tapes her husband sent her from Vietnam and instead of asking him about the bombs in the background, she shared with him about the regular goings on in America - a comfort to his heart. She is, and will always be, an Army wife.
I was a military brat for 22 years. I did not retire, but was moved off the 'brat" list when I was out of college. I traveled for years with my parents - Oklahoma, Kansas, Rhode Island, WAshington, DC; Virginia, Germany and Okinawa and Texas. I learned to pack up the boxes and move to another room. I met new friends all the time, but I didn't work hard to keep old friends, preferring to let the loss just be "X'd" out of my mind. I missed my Dad when he was away and argued with my mother, until I realized how much I was like her as an adult. I learned to set the perfect table, be a great escort, was the life of the party, never met a stranger, passionately learned the history of places I visited and became well-rounded. I never knew my father in war (as I remember), and was shocked when as an adult I saw a gun in our house - the sidearm my father carried from the time he was a General officer. We never knew it was there. I still love to travel, still carry the Army in my heart - it is my family - and I love to serve in the way God has given me. I am, and will always be, a military brat in heart.
Hurrah!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Leaving Kentucky
Today I leave Kentucky. I've had a blast. Paris, Lexington, Bowling Green, Louisville & Crestwood - all the cities I have visited through this trip. It's been a long trip because I haven't felt well most of the time. However, what I have learned on this trip has been great.
A) Take care of my voice and my health. I push myself hard all the time without much thought or care to how my "getting older" body can handle things. For a long time I have said I need to have a 4 day work when I have evening programs scheduled in the week. Now I need to keep to that.
B) My character when I am sick and not feeling well is to be a complainer. Yet that helps no one, including myself. Watch this area. Remember Philippians 4 - "Do everything without complaining and grumbling."
C) Which brings me to the other part of PHilippians - "Whatever is true, whaever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is anything of virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." - v. 8. I need to change the way I think on a daily basis. When I'm thinking "I'm overwhelmed and I can't", then I do get overwhelmed and I can't. When I think, "ALL Things are possible with God", then even having a lot on my plate is doable.
These were my big lessons this week. Oh, one more. "Seek first the kingdom of God." It was way too easy this week, while not feeling well, to put off Quiet Times and prayer times. I was so tired that I slept in, etc. The effect though was that I was often times always trying to catch up and I didn't have my shield up to ward of attacks of the enemy and didn't have my sword to fight back.
I love my job and I love the travel, and am constantly challenged to live the way Christ wants me live. But, thank God, I am given opportunities to fail tests, learn from the tests and prepare for the next ones with a grateful heart.
Thanks to all my buddies - Mary and Jim Lovell, Linda Ramage, Roxanne Mitchell, Gail Mullins, Barbara and Holly Plunkett, Ben Rankin, Paula Thierl, Amelia Cook (and family :), Cheryl and Rod Adkisson, Carl Willoughby (and family - hope your daughter is doing better), Melissa Messner, Carol, Lisa Cross, Judy Stacy, Pam Holcomb, Buck Creacy (and wife) and my new Kentucky buddy, Mike Lebsock.
A) Take care of my voice and my health. I push myself hard all the time without much thought or care to how my "getting older" body can handle things. For a long time I have said I need to have a 4 day work when I have evening programs scheduled in the week. Now I need to keep to that.
B) My character when I am sick and not feeling well is to be a complainer. Yet that helps no one, including myself. Watch this area. Remember Philippians 4 - "Do everything without complaining and grumbling."
C) Which brings me to the other part of PHilippians - "Whatever is true, whaever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is anything of virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." - v. 8. I need to change the way I think on a daily basis. When I'm thinking "I'm overwhelmed and I can't", then I do get overwhelmed and I can't. When I think, "ALL Things are possible with God", then even having a lot on my plate is doable.
These were my big lessons this week. Oh, one more. "Seek first the kingdom of God." It was way too easy this week, while not feeling well, to put off Quiet Times and prayer times. I was so tired that I slept in, etc. The effect though was that I was often times always trying to catch up and I didn't have my shield up to ward of attacks of the enemy and didn't have my sword to fight back.
I love my job and I love the travel, and am constantly challenged to live the way Christ wants me live. But, thank God, I am given opportunities to fail tests, learn from the tests and prepare for the next ones with a grateful heart.
Thanks to all my buddies - Mary and Jim Lovell, Linda Ramage, Roxanne Mitchell, Gail Mullins, Barbara and Holly Plunkett, Ben Rankin, Paula Thierl, Amelia Cook (and family :), Cheryl and Rod Adkisson, Carl Willoughby (and family - hope your daughter is doing better), Melissa Messner, Carol, Lisa Cross, Judy Stacy, Pam Holcomb, Buck Creacy (and wife) and my new Kentucky buddy, Mike Lebsock.
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