DELAWARE TRIP August 2009

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Flanked by mom and dad outside his home in Wyoming, Delaware

A sharp looking Airman dressed for duty on the flight line

With our son fixing to ship out overseas, we wanted to spend some time with him before he leaves. With the blessing of the Lord we set out on a trip to Delaware to see him. The Lord sure has made a beautiful land to travel in with so many wonderful sights on the way. We traveled through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Delaware our destination. Thank you Lord for your created beauty. We arrived in Dover, Delaware on a Friday evening. We had dinner that evening before turning in. It was a time to catch up on things. On Sabbath we arrived at his place about 9am and just hung out together all day. We took pictures together and got a tour of his living quarters. Rebecca cooked dinner for us. One of her Mexican specials. We went back to the hotel around 9pm. Jonathon stopped by on Sunday morning to say bye as he went to work. We were back on the road toward home around 7:30am. We took a different route home traveling through Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and finally God's Country (Oklahoma). It was a great trip to see our beloved son. Thank you Lord for allowing us to do it. Thank you Jonathon for serving your country and honoring your parents. We love you very much.

A MOMENT LOOKING BACK

Our honeymoon at Lake Tahoe in 1982. Dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Our honeymoon at Lake Tahoe in 1982. Lake Tahoe is behind us.

Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Sometimes in a moment while thinking of other things, you end up taking a trip back into time. That was what I was doing this morning as my mind was wondering. I ended up back at our honeymoon in 1982. When I saw this picture, I decided to post it and make a comment about it. We were having dinner at an Italian restaurant. We had wanted to have a steak, but the people at the other restaurant were so discourtious that we got up and left. Good decision! Because this was some of the best Itaian food I have ever eaten.

I thought of the verse above because of where I am today in life. As I look back over the years I can see the Lord's hand at work. He has blessed me beyond what I could expect. A family, Christian Brethren, and great Friends to name just a few of God's many blessings. He gave me a future and a hope which even today keeps me looking forward toward what He yet has instore for me. Thank You Lord for all you have done. I'm retired now (maybe semi-retired), but I realize with the Lord my future is very bright.

MAKAILA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

Having her cake and eating it too.

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What a joy it is to watch our little grand daughter grow. She has now reached her first birthday. She is almost able to walk, and is beginning to show signs of talking. It melts my heart to see her in church looking around, taking in everything that is going on. She attentively watches and listens to us sing hymns of praise to the Lord. Lord willing she has many more birthdays ahead, and we have many more years to watch her grow. We love this little gal. She is the prettiest little Okie here in God's country that you ever did see.

ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

My Grand Daughter Taylor

My Daughter-in-Law Chrystilinn

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Life is good. The Kingdom of God got a little bigger this past Sabbath day in the march against the kingdom of darkness when our daughter-in-law and grand daughter were buried in baptism. They accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so baptism was the next step. After being submerged in that watery grave we brought them back up into a resurrected new life in Christ, Rom. 6:4. There was joy in heaven, Luke 15:10. Praise the Lord. What a wonderful event for all of us to be able to see. Also as a part of the worship service I presented a special reading titled "Three Little Trees". You can read it below for your enjoyment. We broke bread together at lunch and had a good time of fellowship. There is nothing like Christian family. The love, worship, fellowship, interaction, and being God's kids can't be beat by anything else on earth, not even our blood families. For me it far out weighs any non-Christian relationship. There is no comparison. Now our daughter and grand daughter are part of the greatest family on earth.

THREE LITTLE TREES

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to be when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold great treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!” The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years passed, the rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe the first tree fell. “Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!” The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of the shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s ship. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered in gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to the ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God…”

Many, many days and nights passed. The trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and study wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awaked. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One morning, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But late on Sabbath evening before the first day of the week, when the Son of God arose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So next time you feel down because you think your life is insignificant, just sit tight and be content, because God has great plans for you. Anonymous

THANKSGIVING 2008 IN OKLAHOMA, GOD'S COUNTRY!

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

As a believer in the Creator God of all things and having a personal relationship with Him as my Father through His Son Jesus Christ, I thankfully acknowledge Him and His Son to be the greatest blessing I have. To be known of Him as a son and to know Him as my Daddy and His Son as my Elder Brother, and that I will spend eternity with Them, does not compare with any thing else I have in this life. In a world that is full of troubles and perflexing problems that are beyond man's ability to solve, great peace and security come from knowing I and my loved ones are safe in the loving arms of our loving and benevolant Father Who just happens to be the Almighty God and Supreme Ruler of the entire universe. He answers to no one! He has no equal nor is anyone above Him.

We sat down to dinner with family from San Antonio, Woodward, and Midwest City knowing the presence of the Lord. We were thankful for the time together as we enjoyed a feast of fellowship and turkey with all the trimmings, James 1:17. God is good all the time. David had to work and of course Jonathon is in Delaware. We missed them not being here this year. Jonathon was invited to a fellow Airman's home, along with a couple of others to spend Thanksgiving with his family. We were thankful for that. It was nice to be able to talk with Jonathon on the phone for a feww minutes. Also, we were able to talk with Danny who is in Iraq for a few minutes too. He is just a few months from completing his second tour in Iraq and will be stationed in San Diego once he comes home. What a blessing and a special treat it was to hear his voice from halfway round the world. He knows the Lord is with him and said he is doing well even though he wished he could be with us on Thanksgiving. He is ready to come home. Lord please continue to take care of Danny and his fellow buddies in Iraq. Bring them all safely home to family and loved ones. We love Danny and want to see him soon.

Thank You Dear Father for Your benevolence to us. Thank You for giving Yourself to us which is the greatest Gift of all. Thank You Lord Jesus.