What's Important

Eleanor

2010-04-25T19:27:00.019-04:00

For some time now I've been waiting for a reason to blog. In my previous blog my heart was broken by the sudden death of our dear friend Aimee Powell. Blogging hasn't entered my mind since Aimee's passing. I honestly didn't know if I would ever have the desire to express my feelings in this venue again. Until now ..... In the Lord's sovereign plan He sent Eleanor to fill the void that I had been feeling. Eleanor is the daughter of my son and his wife. At just the right time, she came into our lives to bring us healing and to restore the joy into our shattered lives. Eleanor's arrival date was to be on March 20Th, but I don't believe our hearts could have waited until then so she came just at the right moment when I needed her the most. Eleanor arrived on February 6Th to set right all that had been undone when Aimee left for her heavenly home. Thank you Carly and Corry for giving us such a wonderful blessing in Ellie. Thank you Lord for once again allowing me to hope and understand that you are indeed in control of all and that you love us more then we can presently understand.

my heart aches - i do not understand

2010-01-24T05:48:00.002-05:00

a few days ago Aimee Powell was taken from all who loved her. as i sit here searching for words and understanding the tears flow unrestrained. MY HEART IS BROKEN !!!!!!!! WHY LORD WHY ?????? i can not understand ???? why have you allowed this? sleepless nights are the norm for me since i learned of Aimee's death. if the pain of my heart is so great, how much GREATER is the pain of her mom and dad and all those who were far closer to Aimee than i? how great is the pain that my own Christina feels at this moment? I CAN'T STOP THE PAIN for her !!! i can't stop my own pain !!! recently my daily bible reading has been in the book of Job. how did Job make it through all the pain and heart ache that he experienced? I HAVE NO IDEA !!!!! THIS I DO KNOW .... THAT THE GOD WHO LOVED US ENOUGH TO SEND HIS OWN SON TO THE CROSS FOR US, KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. did God's heart break as the life left his own son? does he know all the pain that has come since Aimee left us? YES HE DOES! this i must believe! there is no option! Lord in the coming days grant us all rest and comfort as we remember Aimee. we will never understand .... but we continue to trust in the One who can be trusted.

Who do I help today ?

2009-12-27T07:36:00.003-05:00

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." Mother Teresa

For most of us the people nearest us are family. As we look forward to the new year be resolved to begin to prioritize your relationships, and start with those nearest you. Who in your family can you help today and in the future? Who in your family can you bless today and the coming year?

gratitude - uncle dale

2009-11-23T12:06:00.006-05:00

gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. it turns what we have into enough, and more. it turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. it can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. - melody beattie -
my uncle dale lived a quiet unassuming life, yet his life spoke volumes of his love for his savior and his family. like his brother he is now enjoying this heavenly home and rejoicing in all that is now his. enjoy eternity uncle dale, you also were a wonderful uncle and a great example for generations of Robb's to come. ps. tell everyone i said hi

things i would tell my parents .... if i could

2009-11-16T18:13:00.007-05:00

For many of us life passes far to quickly. Here are a few things i would say to mom and dad ... if i could.

i love you .... i should have told you more often

i miss you more than anyone can ever know

i miss seeing you

i miss hugging you

i miss talking to you on the phone

i miss hearing your voice

thank you for loving me ... even though at times i gave you reason not to

thank you for being such good parents ... and good examples

thank you for taking me to church

thank you for taking me to family reunions

thank you for showing me that "things" are not important, family is

thank you for being such good examples of Godly parents

your grandchildren are wonderful young adults

your great grandchildren are wonderful and so much like you both

What words do you need to speak to your parents ?

home

2009-08-02T18:33:00.008-04:00

This past saturday in the early morning hours my Uncle Fred Robb went home. The dictionary defines home as "the place where one lives permanently" . Fred Robb's home was not here on this earth but in a home prepared for him by his heavenly father. Jesus said "In my Father's house are many dwelling places;if it were not so,I would have told you;for I go to prepare a place for you Fred Robb. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. On Saturday morning the house was completed, and shortly after his heavenly father called Uncle Fred home to show him what He had been preparing for him. Enjoy eternity Uncle Fred, you were a wonderful Uncle and a great example for generations of Robb's to come.

family .... balance .... trust

2009-06-15T19:08:00.029-04:00

Balance "an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady".

Without a doubt balance is perhaps one of the most elusive parts of my life, especially when is comes to family relationships. Just as a tight rope walker must constantly shift their weight to remain on the rope, so I find myself constantly trying to balance family relationships to keep them intact. I love all of the members of my family, but many times family members take each others relationships for granted. Understanding and patience sometimes take a back seat and and can jeopardize this balance. I talk with people every day who have families who have been torn apart by misunderstandings and have failed to remain upright and steady. They've fallen off the the rope and can't seem to get back up. How can we maintain balance in our lives ? Spend time with Jesus

Topsy Turvy

2009-06-06T06:42:00.014-04:00

Prior to leaving for Florida Karen and I decided to order a "Topsy Turvy" tomato plant growing tree. In the accompanying photo it would appear that there is a cow grazing on one of the tomato plants, but I can assure you that this is just a optical allusion. "Topsy Turvy" Wow ... Do those two words ever describe your life at times ? We as believers have all been planted in the garden of life. If you're like me, you were nurtured and surrounded by people who gave you those words of life that allowed you to grow and mature. But just like these tomato plants we all at times will be uprooted and transplanted into a different portion of this garden. The gardener knows what He's doing and is placing you where you'll flourish and produce much fruit. Perhaps you've been in your area of this garden for some time and are either growing wonderfully or perhaps "spiritually" you've not gotten the rich biblical nutrients necessary for real sustainable growth. In either case we all need to be fed by the rich nutrients found in the bible. These spiritual nutrients will feed and weed our lives and produce wonderful results. So if you've not noticed much growth, begin now to let the word of God feed you and in no time you'll notice new shoots of growth. Don't resist the weeding ! It's for the good of the whole garden! (2 Timothy 3:16)

Respite - Family - Birthday

2009-05-30T19:32:00.019-04:00

Last week Karen and I were given the opportunity to spend some quality time with my cousins Phil and Sally. Living most of their lives in the state of New York, they moved to Florida about 6 years ago. Karen and I have had a standing invitation to visit them for some time and this year we made the trip. Sally and Phil are gracious hosts and made us feel at home from the moment Phil greeted us at the Orlando airport. This photo shows Karen and Sally doing what Karen loves to do more than anything else while vacationing, spending time on the beach. This beach time gave Karen and Sally some great one on one time to catch up on each others lives. This beach time continued throughout our stay as we visited other Florida beaches in the area. Phil and I were also able to catch up with each other and renew our family bond. On Saturday May 23rd (my birthday) we made the drive to Disney where I was treated to a FREE admission and told "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" more times than I can count, as I was given a HAPPY BIRTHDAY button to wear. Each time a park employee would express this traditional birthday wish, Karen,Sally and Phil would chuckle. Although visiting the beaches and Disney were very enjoyable, spending time with family distanced by many miles made this time a true respite for Karen and I. Whether it was the early mornings enjoying conversation and a good cup of coffee or evening Sally Robb dinner's that melted in your mouth this was truly a vacation that made us thankful for family and wishing that we were not separated by so many miles. Oh by the way .... Going to church in shorts was the bomb !!!!

The Lilies Are Coming ...

2009-04-25T16:35:00.008-04:00

A couple of years ago at a family reunion auction, we purchased two day lilies from Karen's niece. I used a pic of this one in full bloom last year in a blog entry titled "A Pure Heart". Today as Karen and I were working outside preparing the flower beds for the coming summer growing season, I longingly looked at my favorite lily which is coming along nicely. It doesn't look like much now but some day soon it will be a beautiful reminder of God's creative power and His desire for us to blossom. 1 John 3:2 'Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear, what we shall be:but we know that, when He shall appear,we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.'

Watch Out For The Birds !

2009-04-05T18:34:00.004-04:00

After church today I drove to Salem, Ohio to spend the afternoon with my Aunt and Uncle. Fred and Ruth Robb were in church ministry for many years and now reside in a assisted living home in Salem, not far from the last church they served. After arriving around 1:15 pm, I was greeted by both of them as they were waiting for one of their seven girls to arrive for a visit. Today found both of them in good spirits. After a short visit inside, Uncle Fred decided that it would be nice if we went outside to get some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. Although the air was a little cool the sunshine made up for the coolness and provided for a very pleasant temperature. Uncle Fred is pictured here with a lawn decoration left over from a Easter egg hunt yesterday. He ask that I take the picture and send it to one of their girls, telling her that this was proof that they have really big birds in their part of Ohio.

Saying Goodbye To Martin

2009-04-04T07:43:00.003-04:00

Recently I've come to the realization that chronicling the life of my all time favorite church historical figure was a bit more than I could handle, so with a bit of regret I bid goodbye to this blog attempt on the life of Martin Luther. I will tell you that for me this study has been both enlightening and refreshing as I dug into his life. The Christian church as well as our nation owes a great debit to this courageous, focused,unwavering dedicated man of God. Martin Luther's life like so many of the people I respect and admire will continue to be a inspiration as I strive to live a life of dedication and service to our Saviour and Redeemer, who requires nothing more of us than our faith. Romans 3:21-24 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known , to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ". Amen !

Martin's Decision

2009-03-14T08:46:00.011-04:00

Besides the vow he had made that stormy day Martin was obsessed with the fear of what lay beyond the grave. Was he good enough, had he done enough to earn his way into God's Holy presence ? The Holy Roman church presented Christ as someone to be feared and never presented Him as a loving father. It taught that one must not wait until his deathbed to be remorseful for his sins. All of this fear allowed the church to justify the need for remedies such as indulgences and thus fund this religious machine. For Martin the only secure course was to avail himself to all that the church had to offer such as sacraments, pilgrimages, indulgences and the intercession of the saints. Yet foolish was the man who relied solely on the good offices if he had done nothing to insure their favor. For Martin there was no better way to insure his favor than to become a monk. Martin repeatedly affirmed that he believed himself to have been summoned by a call from heaven to which he could not be disobedient. Once the decision had been made two weeks were required to arrange his affairs and decide what monastery to enter. Martin chose the reformed congregation of the Augustinians. After a farewell party given by friends he presented himself at the monastery. Not everyone was pleased with his decision.

Luther - The Early Years

2009-03-03T18:54:00.016-05:00

"If anyone despise my fraternal warning, I am free from his blood in the last judgment. It is better that I should die a thousand times than retract one syllable of the condemned articles. And as they excommunicate me for the sacrilege of heresy, so I excommunicated them in the name of the sacred truth of God. Christ will judge whose excommunication will stand. Amen." Martin Luther spoke these words as he took this unyielding position against the abuses of the medieval church. Now join me as we see the how the Lord transformed, illuminated and emboldened this humble peasant into a bold church reformer.

Born on November 10th,1483 to Hans and Margaretta Luther, Martin entered a very difficult period in world history. Hans was a miner and had prospered until he became the owner of a half a dozen foundries; yet they were not what one would call affluent. Hans prayed at Luther's beadside each night and Margaretta was known as a women of prayer. There were certain elements of old German paganism blended with Christian mythology in the beliefs of these untutored people. After experiencing what was for the time a normal childhood education, Martin attended the University of Erfurt. The studies all had their basis in Theology, and the Master's degree for which Martin was preparing for the law could also have equipped him for the priesthood. In school Martin learned Latin and became highly proficient. All the training at the time was meant to instill the fear of God and reverence for the church. In all this there is nothing whatever to set Luther apart from the other students except that he was extradorinary sensitive and suffered from mood swings, which plagued him throughout his life. I think that much of this was explained by the pressure that medieval religion deliberately induced. Fear was instilled in everyone to drive them to the sacraments of the church. July 1505 as this university student approached Stotternheim the sky became overcast. Suddenly there was a shower, then a crashing storm. A bolt of lighting that knocked Martin to the ground. Struggling to get up, he cried out in terror, "St. Anne help me ! I will become a monk." Martin did survive that storm and was determined to make good on this promise.

Luther - What's Changed ?

2009-02-28T07:10:00.010-05:00

Last summer my work took me to the Charlotte area on several occasions and allowed me to visit our daughter who lives in the Charlotte area. Each weekend that I made the drive from Raleigh to Charlotte for these visits, I also had the opportunity to attend Christy's church. On one of these visits I attended a class that focussed on the protestant reformation. It was during this class that my interest in Martin Luther took root and has continued to grow. Since that class a Uptown Church until now I've been drawn to this reluctant revolutionary. I'm going to begin a series on this great patriarch. Come back often as you and I look into the life and faith of Martin Luther. To prepare for this study, begin to read the book of Romans in the New Testament. Luther said that Romans is "the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel"

All that our parents had prayed for ...

2009-02-25T19:02:00.010-05:00

Karen and I just returned from a birthday visit to the home of our daughter Christy, and soon we'll be headed to the home of our son Corry and our daughter-in-law Carly. As I reflect on our children I can't help but wonder what it would be like if our parents were still here. How proud they would be to see what wonderful young adults their grandchildren have become. Thank You Lord that in spite of us you have blessed us.

A Pure Heart

2009-02-22T07:26:00.004-05:00

He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. (Proverbs 22 :11) Lord help me to love those with pure intentions and may my speech always be gracious. This photo was taken ouside our front door. Day Lily blooms only last for a day. Long enough to remind us of God's desire for us to have a pure heart.

Change ? Is this what you voted for ?

2009-02-19T18:40:00.012-05:00

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." Dr. Adrian Rogers 1931 - 2005

Faith & Doubt

2009-02-05T18:54:00.025-05:00

I'm part of an early morning bible study that meets every Friday morning. Fortunately for me the study meets at my place of employment. While we study the scriptures, we often use books by Christian authors to prompt us to explore those areas of our faith that we might not have considered before. The book we've chosen this time is Faith & Doubt by John Ortberg. Faith defined as the belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Faith is also the firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Doubt is defined as to lack confidence in or to consider unlikely. If you had only one of these two words (faith or doubt) to describe what the passengers on flight 1549 felt toward the pilot "Chesley B. Sullenberger" as he attempted to land his aircraft in the Hudson river, which one would it be ? Doubt for most who knew nothing of Chesley's extensive flying background, while faith for a small group (crew members) who knew of his passion for flying and his character and training for pressure situations. You see there is a fine line that determines when faith or when doubt take over. Faith bringing with it comfort, hope and a reason to believe in the one who is in control and where they are taking us. Doubt not giving a basis to believe that everything will be OK, only leaving despair and fear . Remember that doubt can not exist in the presence of knowledge or faith. We can use the example of light and darkness. One can not exist in the presence of the other. Now think of your relationship with GOD. While we all experience doubt from time to time, doubt can be the vehicle that can inspire us to seek a reason to believe and this is when doubt turns to faith. Thank you Lord for both faith and doubt. Help me to have faith when everything around me says doubt.

SUPER BOWL XLIII / FAITH ?

2009-01-28T19:33:00.017-05:00

This Sunday many of us will focus our attention on two football teams as they play for the coveted title of "Super Bowl Champions". One or both of the teams has faith that they will emerge victorious on the other side, after the game is over. Martin Luther said "Faith is a free surrender and a joyous wager on the unseen,unknown,untested goodness of God". This life we live is only for a very short time. Perhaps it's time for you to place your bet ?

FIREPROOF

2009-01-24T19:03:00.008-05:00

GO SEE THIS MOVIE ...... After a lazy start to our day Karen and I finally got going and ran the usual weekend errands. Earlier in the week we had mentioned that we needed to use the two remaining theater discount tickets that had been purchased over the Christmas holiday. Karen searched the paper only to discover that there really wasn't much to see at the theater where the tickets could be redeemed. I mentioned that maybe the "cheap" theater had something that we could see. After reading the selection from the paper it was decided that we would see FIREPROOF. We had both seen the ads when the movie had first been released but had not been interested enough to find time to see it. So that I don't give anything away I'll be brief with this blog entry and repeat with the words that I started with. GO SEE THIS MOVIE ......

Challenging Times ???

2009-01-24T06:20:00.011-05:00

For most of my 19 + years at my place of employment I've worked 50 plus hours per week. I'm salary plus, meaning that although my wages are set at a fixed amount per month I also enjoy the benefit of overtime for any time that exceeds a 40 hour work week. In the current economic environment all company's are looking for ways to cut expenses. I was ask to reduce my overtime hours by 25% while maintaining the same level of production and quality. This has proven to make an already stressful job even more so, leaving the weekends with time to contemplate how I'm going to get the coming week's work accomplished. The reduction in overtime hours has also presented a budgeting challenge. After living on "x" amount of $$$ for so long we now must purge an already lean budget while watching our retirement $$$ dwindle. While composing this entry and watching the morning news (Fox) I've realized that we may actually be among the fortunate in this country. You may also have these types of challenges in your life. Your situation may be far more dire. There's hope !! God's word tells us " But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into the furnace, howmuch more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! - Luke 12:28. Forgive me Lord ....

Auto Show Highlight

2009-01-18T19:24:00.015-05:00

For the past few years I've enjoyed going to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI with Mark and Spencer. We might have passed on this year's show if it weren't for Spencer asking his dad if we were going again. Spencer's question was all it took to renew what has become some what of a tradition. Each year as Spencer has matured we've been able to see and do more. Here dad and son enjoy a moment in one of the latest models. Before long Spencer will be setting in the drivers seat as a apprehensive mom and dad watch him drive for the first time. Thanks Mark and Spencer for a another great auto show.

Remembering

2009-01-09T20:41:00.013-05:00

As I write this entry I'm recalling my trip to St. Paul, MN this past October with my nephew Mark. A few years ago Mark's addiction to Garrison Keillor and the NPR radio program "A Prairie Home Companion" soon became my addiction. This photo was a happen chance meeting after the show when Garrison appeared right next to Mark and I. Look at the expressions on all three persons pictured in this photo. First the lady on the left who is in the background. What do you think she was thinking as this photo was shot ? My guess would go something like this. "Wow look at the smile on that guys face. I enjoyed the show too but you don't see me smiling like a cheshire cat". Garrison looks w a y excited also. His thought process probably went something like this. "Please ... please hurry up and take your little photograph, I have many others who desire my wit and attention". Now take a look at Mark's face .... PRICELESS !!!

Weighty

2009-01-04T11:57:00.013-05:00

Like most, I've struggled with my weight for all of my adult life. My drivers license indicates that at the time it was issued my height was 5' 6" and my weight was 170 pounds. Most if not all height/weight calculators indicate that for my height I should weigh about 133 pounds. Today as I stepped on my scale I was surprised to see that I've added to that license weight by 9 additional pounds. What to do ? The battle has begun ! Battle ... Oh yes a battle indeed !

This will be a battle like most battles in my life, this is a battle from within.

Seasons / Reasons

2009-01-01T07:49:00.018-05:00

As i begin this new year I've been reflecting on those relationships past and present that have changed,come and gone in my life over this year. I've always believed that people (relationships) come and go and change in our life for very specific periods of time and for very specific reasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Whatever the season of life, attitude makes all the difference and letting go as relationships change is perhaps the most difficult adjustment I've had to make over the years. Perhaps it's an age thing ??? Perhaps we all struggle with our changing relationships ? Don't fear these seasons and changing relationships for God knows what is necessary to mold us to be more like His son.God chooses and God changes the seasons based on three factors: What will bring Him the greatest glory and you the greatest good right now and you the greatest growth. In each season and relationship you need God in a little different way so you get to see and experience a different part of Him that you haven't experienced before. It's part of a lifetime of knowing God better and better.

i triple-dog dare you !!

2008-12-24T13:22:00.007-05:00

3159 west 11th street, cleveland ohio ... For those of you who are fans of "a christmas story" movie this is probably a familiar address. today my daughter christy and i made the 1 hour drive to visit this movie shrine. over the years the home had fallen into disrepair but, about two years ago it was purchased and restored. most if not all of the familiar objects that were part of the movie are there. the famous leg lamp as well as the red rider bb-gun are proudly displayed. a home across the the street has been converted to a museum and there in an adjacent garage is the car that was also in the movie. if you're a fan of this christmas classic you'll want to stop by when you're in the area.

take a close look

2008-12-21T09:29:00.005-05:00

this christmas ... take a close look and you'll discover why ?

thankful

2008-12-14T17:30:00.009-05:00

for some years now my family has had a standing invitation to spend thanksgiving with bonnie. bonnie is part of our extended family and is the sister of my brother-in-law howard. bonnie is pictured here along with our daughter christy, as bonnie was preparing the annual thanksgiving day feast. this year was different !! we were also there to celebrate as bonnie & howard's mom (the family matriarch) moved her residence. as far as i know mrs. mcguirk had lived in cecil county all of her life. why at the age of 92 would you move ? mrs. mcguirk had prepared for this move years before but wasn't sure when she would leave. mrs. mcguirk knew her family would be gathering at bonnie's so this was the perfect time to make her move to her new heavenly home.

work at wilson

2008-10-21T19:18:00.001-04:00

this is a view of my work place here in north carolina.

getting ready to leave ?

2008-10-19T07:34:00.005-04:00

this sunday morning finds me getting ready to leave for the south again. i'll be in wilson, nc next week working at one of my company's

manufacturing plants. i use the term getting ready pretty loosely. each time i travel my wife karen, lovingly packs my suitcase for me. i know what your thinking, WHAT'S WITH THAT !!! the packing of my suitcase is just another way that my wife expresses her love for me, and this husband is very thankful for this display of love towards me. thank you honey .... thank you Lord

family .... trust

2008-10-12T16:38:00.004-04:00

"When you really trust someone, you have to be ok with not understanding some things". Anonymous author

the sun that sets on "my" son

2008-09-23T19:21:00.009-04:00

my son corry and his wife carly live in alexandria, virginia. i speak to corry almost every day as he drives into the city (washington, d.c.) on his way to work. corry embodies everything i could have ever prayed for in a son. i don't have many regrets in life, but one that surfaces every now and then is my regret that my mom and dad died far too early (my opinion ... not my heavenly fathers) to see what a fine young man their grandson has become. i know you've heard this before but "to know corry is to love corry". corry has conquered every challenge set before him in life, and made me as proud as any father could ever be. i think i know how jacob must have felt when rachel had joseph and they discovered what a fine man he had become . i love you son ... thank you Lord

GREAT GOD WHO SAVES

2008-09-12T18:58:00.004-04:00

when our daughter was in college at columbia international university in columbia, sc she meet and became friends with a young lady named laura story. laura was and is a very talented young christian song writer and singer. after leaving college and returning home she renewed a relationship with a young man who would later become her husband. not long after being married martin developed a brain tumor. this cd is a song by song chronicle of their journey through that period of time. thank you laura ..... thank you Lord

uptown in downtown

2008-09-07T19:26:00.003-04:00

today i worshiped with my daughter at her church in downtown charlotte, nc. i decided late saturday morning, after hurricane hanna blew through wilson, that i'd make the 3 1/2 hour drive from wilson to charlotte. i accompanied christy to uptown (the name of the church) very early in the morning today as she had to practice with the other members of the worship team. christy sang"Light of the World" during the offertory today. i had to leave the sanctuary a couple of times during the practices, as i was overcome with emotion, reflecting on days gone by and wishing she were closer to me and her mother. the lord has blessed christy with the gift of song, and this sunday as she has done on countless other sundays she used this gift to prepare the hearts of those at uptown to worship our Saviour.

breathing a little easier ..... it's no big deal

2008-09-02T19:35:00.013-04:00

one again i find myself in the southern part of the country on business. i arrived in wilson, nc this past monday evening (labor day evening) around 11:30 pm. a few yrs. ago i was diagnosed with sleep apnea. sleep apnea is defined as a condition characterized by episodes of stopped breathing during sleep. after my diagnosis, i was given this breathing machine. even though i knew that i needed to use this machine when i slept, i've had a mental block when it came to wearing this sleep mask. a good nights sleep is important to all of us for many reasons. even though i've known how important it is to use this machine, i've not done it. recently my cousin ask if i was using my machine, sadly i had to admit that i'd not. i'm not sure what's changed, but i'm glad it has. i'm now using my machine on a regular basis. i had some concern about traveling (flying) with my breathing machine. perhaps i was embarrassed by my condition and it would be exposed as i went through security at the different airports. the only thing that happened at the airport is that i've learned that it's no big deal.

patriachs .... thank you Lord !

2008-08-31T19:11:00.006-04:00

today karen and i decided to worship with the congregation at my home church in new castle pennsylvania . calvary is pastored by my cousin chuck fombelle. today as i listened to chuck expound God's word (romans 6:12-23), my mind was flooded with memories of days gone by when as a young person i sat in the very same church. calvary has been blessed with excellent pastors over it's rich history and that tradition continues under chuck's leadership. after visiting with friends and family at the church it was off to a local eatery to spend some quality time with my uncle dale, aunt sis and two of their daughters and spouses. while traveling to new castle karen and i had decided that we would also stop in salem, ohio on the return trip home, to visit my uncle fred and aunt ruth. fred and ruth robb had pastored 4 different churches in their 50 + years of ministry. uncle fred and aunt ruth graciously welcomed our visit and we once again had the opportunity to be blessed by these family patrichs.

more than we deserve .....

2008-08-23T17:48:00.020-04:00

saturday morning we headed for the new national harbor area which is located across the river from alexandria, va. in maryland. corry and carly decided that we'd take a water taxi which proved to be a great idea. boarding the boat in alexandria we crossed the potomac and arrived at the newly constructed docks of the national harbor. after a day of exploring this new treasure, the national harbor, and returning to alexandria, we headed for the local ikea store. karen and i have never been inside of one of these stores and were a bit overwhelmed by the number of household items available. seeing corry and carly in their own home and watching from afar as they navigate their way thru life together makes this father realize just how fortunate karen and i are. our children are one of a kind and they're more than we deserve. thank you Lord ...

in the capitol .... counting the cost

2008-08-23T08:16:00.012-04:00

late thursday night found karen and i in alexandria virginia, at the home of our son corry and his wife carly. after a good night sleep we awoke on friday morning to be officially greeted by our hosts for the weekend. their townhouse home sets snugly in a wooded area off one of the main streets in alexandria . after a nice lunch at a local restaurant "noodles" we drove to our nations national cemetery "arlington". we saw this photo that was taken of a small rock atop a fallen soldier's tomb stone. after a great day of reflection and sightseeing, and miles of walking we returned to the home of our children to enjoy a fantastic steak dinner, prepared by our hosts.

mine ...

2008-08-10T19:10:00.006-04:00

it's early sunday evening and i've been reflecting on the weekend and family. karen,christy,carly & corry. i'm blessed .... thank you Lord.

our heritage is secure

2008-08-10T17:56:00.005-04:00

yesterday mark turned forty .... as i pondered the day, i reviewed the pics that i had taken, looking for inspiration. lately i've been drawn to my family heritage, constantly being reminded of our rich past. talking to mark's dad phil, i reminded him of what a great job he and mark's mom sally have done in raising their children. phil said "in spite of us, our children seem to turn out ok". knowing phil as i do, i knew that he was merely expressing what all of us think and feel at times, we know how many times we have failed our children, and yet they seem to over come. phil and sally ... enjoy your children ... you've done well ... you've passed on what your parents passed on from their parents ... i've been observing mark & kristyn as they parent spencer and conner ... our heritage is secure.

just do it !

2008-08-02T16:22:00.020-04:00

i started the day with a couple of hours at work and called home to see what karen wanted to do on our day off. after a breif discussion we decided that we'd head south to "amish country" and browse around in a great little country hardware store, that very well may have every item that you could ever want for your home. when i arrived home i could tell that karen was looking forward to going. before we left, we decided that we would call mark and kristyn to see if they were close to us, on their way back to their home in michigan. kristyn and mark along with connor and spencer had been vacationing in hilton head last week. i placed a call to kristyn but no answer. i thought that perhaps her phone was buried deep in the depths of her purse and that no one in the van had heard it ring. next i tried mark, but once again no answer. that did it ..... karen and i would make our way south to this unique little store. feeling a little disappointed that we weren't able to reach mark and kristyn we began to plan our afternoon. just as we were ready to leave the house my cell phone rang and our day was taking another direction. mark had called to say that they were going to stop and so in just a short period of time we were once again laughing and listening to how much they had enjoyed their time with some close friends in hilton head. what a great gift they gave us as today as they took the time to stop by and share. mark and kristyn always take time for family and friends ..... life is to short not to. today take the time to call or visit a friend or family member. you don't have to have a reason ...... just do it !!

down the street or down the road ? it's ok

2008-07-31T18:36:00.007-04:00

i work for the largest tire/rubber company in the world. my company's presence in akron, ohio goes back a very long time. the buiding that i work in was once used for manufacturing, but was converted to office space long ago. for sometime now the employees of bridgestone/firestone in akron ohio have been working and living with the knowledge that the company was going to move their jobs. would it be down the street or down the road ? tuesday night in front of the statue of harvey firestone our company ceo made the announcement that we were going to stay in akron and build a new "world class technical center". the crowd cheered as a collective sigh of relief was felt by those gathered there. karen and i had long since resigned ourselves that whatever happened it was in God's hands and we would be ok wherever the company decided to go. just think .... our futures are not our own so we don't have to be concerned ...

not far from the tree

2008-07-29T18:49:00.011-04:00

there's an old adage that goes something like " the apple doesn't fall far from the tree". my nephew and niece along with their two boys are vacationing in south carolina this week. i've just finished reading mark's thoughts by way of his blog. my mind is being flooded with thoughts of another very special person much like mark. mark and i have a very special relationship. aside from the blood relationship, mark and i have become the best of friends. i had a very similar relationship with someone very much like mark many years ago. as with mark, i became very close with this person as well. this person had all of the same qualities that mark possesses except one, they didn't possess mark's ability to spell. this person lived in the age prior to computers and spell check. as with mark, i have vivid memories of many conversations with this person. this person knew mark, and spoke with much pride at the mention of mark's name. this person could not have imagined that his grandson would have turned out to be so much like himself.

waiting ...

2008-07-27T10:45:00.005-04:00

today finds me waiting for the time when i need to go to our local airport to pick up my wife. karen has been in charlotte north carolina, where she has been visiting our daughter this past week, while i was working in wilson. i begin to miss karen almost before leaving her. waiting ...

on the road again

2008-07-22T19:39:00.004-04:00

tonight finds me back in the southern part of our country once again. wilson north carolina is slowly becoming a familiar place to be.

new life and the beauty found deep within

2008-07-10T18:32:00.007-04:00

each year at my wife's family reunion we have a auction to raise money to fund future reunions and a flower fund in the event that someone is in the hospital. last year i had the winning bid on two day lily's from karen's niece in iowa. one of the plants died not long after it was transplanted, but the other seemed to be ok. as the summer has been progressing, we've been eagerly waiting on this remaining plant to show us what was stored up inside it's first bud. WOW .... this picture does not begin to adequately show the beauty that we've been blessed to witness this afternoon. karen's niece Joyce loves to raise day lily's and is especially fond of this variety. karen and i met at a local restaurant this evening for dinner. karen arrived before me and was seated talking to our waiter when i arrived. as i approached the booth i was pleased to see that the waiter was the son of friends of ours who had been involved in a head-on car accident in 2006. i remember the accident because i had actually passed the remains on the interstate only a short time after it had occured, not knowing that jay had been involved. jay had been on the way to his appartment in the wee hours of the morning after closing at a local restaurant /bar where he had been the bartender. jay had been raised in a loving Christian family but had not embraced the faith or Saviour that his parents had. i remember talking to his father at the hospital. he explained all that the doctors had told them and that jay's chances of living were very slim. they told him that if jay were to survive his mental capacity would be severely limited. jay would most likely be handicapped and would need to rely on others for the daily necessities . fast forward to today when karen and saw jay and witnessed the beauty within. jay stood before us as whole and complete as any young man could be. jay began to explain all that had transpired since that morning of his accident. i could not begin to repeat all that he told us only to say that jay's life has been transformed by the Saviour to whom his parents had prayed to for his salvation for oh so long. jay has a story to tell, and will gladly share it with all who will listen. WOW .... this picture does not begin to adequately show the beauty that we've been blessed to witness this afternoon.

the Donkey, the Elephant & The Cross

2008-07-06T07:21:00.020-04:00

i knew at some point that i would be using this blog to express my political bent. i grew up in a family that was politically to the right. although both of my parents were strong "union" people they never seemed to struggle with these types of issues. their views were forged by the times in which they grew up, but more importantly by the saviour who redeemed them. when considering which of the two symbols should represent our nation, consider which one more closely represents this symbol .

nothing to do ?? more reflections

2008-07-05T17:10:00.010-04:00

wow ... what a great week-end this is turning out to be. spending time with family, especially those who you don't get to spend enough time with is always refreshing. our visitors left early this morning to meet with mark's sister's family. the reason for the meeting was to pick up michelle and tony's two youngsters for what is being billed as "cousin camp". even though these two siblings are separated by many miles (georgia & michigan) they've made it a priority to maintain close family ties. karen and i have found ourselves with almost nothing to do today. early this morning i took a drive to my sister's farm (about 30 minutes from our home) to check on her and my brother-in-law's horse and mule, and to give the farm a once over since they had been in maryland visiting family and were returning today. after some necessary yard work for me and some necessary laundry tasks for karen we napped, read and now blogged . i started to think that i'd not got very much accomplished this week-end and then i thought again. hopefully karen and i were able to make this part of our extended family feel special, because after all they're family. "family - a person or people related to one and so to be treated with special loyalty or intimacy".

reflections of freedom - family

2008-07-04T12:00:00.006-04:00

this week-end karen & I have had the opportunity to have some of our extended family visit us. with both of our children living in other states and not getting to see them as often as we would like, it's always nice when mark, kristyn, spencer & connor can come. today i'm reminded of my father who served in world war II in the european theater (u.s. army air corps) . my dad served and returned to this country to enjoy all the benefits and blessings that he had fought for. just another reason to admire the man who meant so much to me. today and in the future remember to thank those who serve and who have served .

on the road again - broken glass, just broken glass

2008-06-06T18:26:00.004-04:00

today finds me setting comfortably in a rocking chair in the charlotte nc airport watching the planes and people come and go. it's 6:30 pm and my flight doesn't leave until 8:30 so i thought i'd blog for a moment. i received a call from my daughter earlier in the day while i was at work at our wilson plant. it was one of those calls ...... the type of call that makes a parent wish that they were closer to their child. it seems that sometime during the wee hours of the morning thieves smashed out the front windshields of a few of the cars at the apartment complex where she lives. yep ..... you guessed it ..... my daughters windshield was smashed and her gps devise was taken. the man's car next to her's was also one of those broken into, and his gps was also taken. setting here reflecting on what happened and what might have happened, i thank the Lord for his watch care over my daughter. after contacting the insurance company the glass was replaced within a few hours. broken glass ..... just broken glass. thank you Lord for the broken glass in our lives and remind us of how your always there to repair what was broken.

on the road again - an evening with mama & papa bear

2008-06-02T21:23:00.008-04:00

today i was invited over to the home of a friend of mine here in wilson. jim and his wife cindy have recently installed an in ground pool and i was to be the first guest invited to swim. jim is the person who i'm shadowing here in wilson to back-up in the event i'm needed. when i arrived at their home i was greeted by jim's stepson justin. justin is down syndrome and requires much if not all of jim and cindy's attention. justin lovingly refers to jim and cindy as mama and papa bear. watching jim and cindy as they interact with justin was a wonderful example of unconditional love. unconditional love ?? Lord help me to be more like mama and papa bear.

on the road again - a week-end with my daughter

2008-06-01T16:24:00.006-04:00

early yesterday morning i traveled to huntersville, n.c. to spend the day with my daughter, the youngest of our two children. she teaches 4 grade at a local christian school . i had considered staying put in wilson when i heard that the weather forecast for huntersville called for showers both saturday and sunday. thankfully the weatherman missed this one as both days were warm and sunny. the drive to huntersville is about 3 1/2 hours traveling west towards raleigh then south towards charlotte. i arrived at my daughter's somewhere between 10:30 and 11:00 am. with no concrete plans my daughter suggested a trip to the billy graham library in nearby charlotte. i don't think that she could have picked a better destination . saturday was the 1 year anniversary of the opening of the library and all those visiting the library on saturday were treated to a coffee table size book chronicling mr. graham's life and ministry. (after arriving back at the hotel in wilson i've realized that i've left my copy at my daughter's apartment in huntersville) if you're ever in the charlotte area and have time to pay the library a visit you'll not be disappointed. returning to huntersville we spent the afternoon browsing through some of the local stores with most of the time spent at barnes & nobles. passing the local movie theater and noticing that the newest indiana jones movie was playing we decided to purchase our tickets for the 7:20 viewing . a quick trip to panera bread for supper we returned to the theater for the show. early this morning i followed my daughter to her church which is located in the uptown area of downtown charlotte for the early morning service. after church and a quick stop at a near by duncan donuts we said good by. my daughter traveling to columbia sc to visit a friend for the day and me back here to wilson. if you have to be away from home it's nice to be able to spend some time with your children.

on the road again - missing days gone by

2008-05-29T20:15:00.003-04:00

as i set here alone in the lounge area of my home away from home (holiday inn express), i long for simpler days when life's issues weren't so hard. remember i told you that i love my children.

how does a parent parent, and maintain clarity when dealing with tough life issues with their children and not feel so bad when their going through these tough times and YOU CAN'T FIX THINGS ? i'm confused ... maybe tomorrow will bring some answers and a fresh perspective ?

on the road again - missing home

2008-05-28T19:26:00.004-04:00

for me one of the least favorite times of the day while traveling is between the end of the work day and bed time. for me this time of the evening is when my mind thinks of family and home, and how much i miss both.

on the road again

2008-05-27T19:30:00.003-04:00

for the past few months my work has brought me to the Wilson North Carolina area (about 1 hour north east of Raleigh). i've always looked forward to being in this area, mainly for the local selection of eating establishments. my previous trips back to this area were mostly project related and only lasted two or three days. lately though my travels back to this area have had a different purpose. i've come here at the request of our local manufacturing plant to train as a back-up for one of the technical personal. last year this plant found that they did not have back-up personal in place in some of their key positions. i've also learned that this person i'm being trained to back-up will likely retire with the next year. hummmmm ??? i can only wonder what effect this looming retirement will have on karen and i.

our charge

2008-05-26T17:15:00.011-04:00

i love my children, though there have been times when i've not displayed this love. in times when they've been in need i've thought "why is this child coming to me yet again","when will this child stop coming","when will this child stop calling on me and handle life's problem's on their own?". then in the quiet moments my heavenly father whispers to me ... "my son, have i not entrusted this one into your care"? not once in my earthly fathers short time here did he ever rebuke me or turn me away when i needed him. not once has my heavenly father ever rebuked me or turned me away when i went to him in need. Lord forgive me !

reflections...

2008-05-25T18:35:00.010-04:00

memorial day .... as karen and i have spent time with our extended family in michigan, i've had some time to reflect on the influences that other family members have had on my own life. people past and present who's path's i've crossed if only for brief moments.

birthday

2008-05-24T06:21:00.004-04:00

birthdays ... yesterday marked the passing of another year for me. it seems like only yesterday that i was in middle school, struggling with teen issues and at odds with my parents over just about everything. why i was such a rebellious young person still puzzles me, although perhaps it really shouldn't. teenagers have been at odds with there parents all over the world and for as long as time itself ... i guess i was fairly normal in that regard. as i entered my high school years my associations with classmates who were also in conflict with their parents (perhaps to a greater degree) started to have a more evident influence on me. i was introduced to the juvenile court system in the latter teen years, much to my parents shame. i lived thru those days and struggles because i had a family and faith to lean on. you will too ...

mornings

2008-05-18T21:25:00.005-04:00

early mornings are a great time of the day .... i'm not sure when i started to wake so early, though i do remember my parents being early risers .... my mornings have been some of the most refreshing times of my life. thank you Lord !

the day after .... The Big Snow of 08'

2008-03-09T10:14:00.005-04:00

Sunday found a day much like yesterday and the day before, yet very different. Yes there's snow ... but for now it has stopped falling. The local paper's headline boasts that from this past Friday until now the local community here in Ohio has received 14.5 inches of snow fall. As with yesterday, both Karen and I find that our aging bodies remind us that perhaps we should have taken a few more breaks from snow removal . The property next to ours is owned by friends who live a few miles away. Karen volunteered our snow removal services to maintain this rental property for the weekend as well as our own home. Larry and Jennifer have been friends of ours since we purchased this home years ago. Larry is perhaps the handiest man I know and is always willing to help when called. Helping to keep their drive and parking area clear is small payment for their friendship and help with home repairs over the years. Today we hope to start to put our home back together after getting new carpet in a couple of rooms on Friday morning ( just before the snow started ).

snow .... and more

2008-03-08T22:40:00.003-05:00

Today greeted us as yesterday left us, with a new batch of fresh snow... At the end of the day both Karen and I re-discovered something that at times we forget ...... were getting older and muscles aren't as toned as perhaps they once were. This is also the day I've decided to start this blog. I'm not sure when I'll make it known to the rest of my family. For now I'll be content to try to put my thoughts down here, to help me get a historical perspective on my life and WHAT'S IMPORTANT.