My Bud's Ticker

My Bud went in for a procedure today. Had a little clog in the pipes restricting blood flow. They got him fixed up and on the mend.
I'm reminded from this day of what a great God we serve. He loves and protects us. He takes such good care and is always faithful.
I'm also very appreciative of the family and friends we have. The people that mean so much. They care and come through in times such as this.
My Bud is my brother. My dad and his brother referred to each other this way.
Until next time ...

Sturgis 2008

I traveled by plane to Sturgis SD for 6 days this month. It was the annual Sturgis Bike Week event. The little town of 6,500 people swells to about 500,000 for this event. It presents a great opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus. I teamed with many people from across the nation to partner with Dakota Baptist Convention & Ronnie Hill Evangelism. We gave away a 105th anniversary model of the 2008 Harley Davidson Deluxe.
I had the privilege of sharing with hundreds and leading many to salvation. I met so many people (co-workers) on this trip and through our work together I learned many things about myself. Other things I already suspected were confirmed for me too. I have found something I love and it just works for me. I enjoy this season and hope it continues. With each event I do, I find that as I give, I am blessed and learn more about my relationship with God.

My next trip is to Nicaragua again in October. I have watched Voice of Hope Ministries calendar and a couple of churches from VA and AR are going. Another person from GA that I met on my previous trip is going too. I will meet up with them and serve again. I am really looking forward to it.

the card arrives

My son Clint gets to vote this year. He pays close attention to the politics going on around us and is eager to do his part. His voter card came a while back. Way to go Clint!

swimming in the canal

I mentioned earlier traveling to CA to see my brother and his wife when I was 16. We took a little weekend trip to the Sierra Mountains & Yosemite Natinal Park. Wow! I didn't know you could see so many spectacular waterfalls in one place. Some seemed so high that the water never made it all the way down. It kind of drifted off with the wind.
Another time - I'm not sure where we were at, but I think near Modesto maybe. It was a hot day and Bro said lets go swimming. We drove to this man made looking very straight creek. I jumped in and was shocked at how cold the water was. It was explained to me that this was actually a irrigation canal where snow melt from the mountains flowed through to water crops in the valley below. At that time "the valley" as they called it, produced a very large percentage of our nations fruits and vegetables. We stayed a good while, enjoyed the water, the sun and each other.
I was told that sometimes people would tie a rope onto a car bumper and ski in the canal. I didn't see any of that but I'm sure it would have been a sight.

The Minicar

I was 16 and it was summertime. My sis, Pam, and I took a plane to visit my brother and his wife in CA. We stayed about three weeks. We met a lot of people and saw some great sites. I hope to share some of those another time.
When it was time to return home, my brother and his wife, my sister and I all rode in my brother's car. We drove straight through from near Modesto, CA to OKC, OK. Then on down to TX the next day. I think it was something like 28-30 hours to OKC.
The car was a Toyota Corona. It was the smallest car I had ever ridden in. I can't believe we fit 4 people plus all our luggage in the car. There was little room. You got in the car and closed the door. You did not move your legs until you got back out. A couple of times we stopped after riding for hours and my legs had to get the blood moving before I could walk.
The dash had a little bitty blue light. It wasn't noticeable during the day. At night was another matter. It would come on when the compressor for the air conditioner was running. Don't get me wrong because I was extremely grateful for AC especially while crossing the desert. But that light nearly drove me nuts. It was so bright that it didn't help to close your eyes. It came through anyway. I tried to turn my head and then my whole body. That didn't work. Sleep deprivation took over. Irritability set in. One of us finally found some clay or chewing gum to cover the light with. Some times little things can be a big pain. I never saw another light like that again. I'm guessing Toyota had some complaints over that light.
The minicar was dependable, safe and much cheaper travel than airfare. Glad I was through riding though. Whew!

learning to ski with Linda and Dad

My family got invited to go camping and water skiing when I was very young, maybe 3 years old. It was several families that went together. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen another group like it. So many people and they all got along so well. The adults had as much fun as the kids.
It wasn't long before we were shopping for a boat. Most of the families had ski boats with 35 or 40 hp motors. We bought one with 75 hp. Then every body started upgrading to 90 & 100 hp. Later on, dad took it up a notch. He bought a 165 hp inboard-outboard 18 ft Cobalt. That was some boat and we sure put it to use. I have been sidetracked and will tell more about this another time.
Back to my story. I was five years old and decided I was ready to try skiing. Dad found some little kids skis. I think we were at Lake Thunderbird. Dad through the years was a really good teacher. He taught many to ski. He always got rookies in their skies on the shore and went through everything with them before getting into the water.
When it was time Dad got in the boat and Linda helped me get in the water and hold the skies in place. Linda, a beautiful teenager with another family in the group, was very nice and I thought I was pretty special to be helped out by her. She helped me until the boat took off and then I was on my on. She was there for many of the next takeoffs. I thought it was with her help that it worked and the only way I could do it.
Once on my way it was kind of funny to see Dad in the boat. He pulled me at seven mph. The boat looked like it was standing on end. Dad would stand up to see over the bow so he didn't hit anything. I know it probably took forever to get around going that slow. I don't remember ever hearing no when I wanted to ski. Dad was great. Thanks Dad & Linda.
Those years until I was about fifteen years old were so much fun. I loved skiing. Many family and friends joined us through the years. If they didn't know how to ski, they learned. We got away from it for a while after we moved away. Those relationships still exist today with wonderful memories. Even with the miles of separation, most everyone keeps in touch.
I am back to skiing again now and passing it on to the kids. I actually got out of the boat the other day and went for a ski. My son drove the boat. It had been so long that I don't remember when the last time was. Many years.
Skiing, the lake, and all that encompasses is a huge release for me. It is a peaceful getaway early and late each day. I enjoy all the action in between too!

the go kart

I remember when ...
I was about 8 or 9 years old. We were visiting Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie. For some reason, dad, me and Roy went a few miles over to Roy's brothers farm. His name was Ralph. In my wandering around the barn I found an old go kart. It was really a frame and motor missing a fiberglass car body. Story was that a grass fire burnt the body.
Ralph said we could have the kart. Dad loaded it in the trunk somehow. We got it home and dad would go out and work on it at night. Dad liked tinkering with motors. This motor was froze-up. It would not turn over at all.
I don't recall how long, maybe a few weeks later I was laying on the living room floor and watching TV. Mom was there with me and all the sudden a motor started up in the garage. It didn't have the muffler on so it was very loud. I ran to the garage and there stood dad over the kart, tuning the carburetor. I could not believe the thing was running. We brought this thing home covered in rust from end to end.
The next night dad had the kart back together enough to ride. We rolled it out of the garage, fired it up and dad sent me down a dead end street and back. Wow! That was fun! I think he got nervous about the police showing up though because we didn't keep riding. Before long, like the horse, the kart eventually ended up at Uncle Roy and Aunt Myrtie's farm. I could ride it all I wanted there. Only problem was I didn't stay there all the time. I still got a lot of riding time in over the next few years.
What great memories.
Thanks to Dad & Ralph