To Fly or Not to Fly

At Doreen's cousin's house, we were having a good time visiting, when my phone rings.

It's an 800# I didn't recognize, so I just about ignored it - then answered it.

It's our airlines, a computer voice says, "Your flight has been cancelled. You have been automatically rescheduled on a flight leaving Thursday, yada, yada, yada. If you accept this change, please say 'yes' now."

Pause,

Pause,

Pause,

Pause,

Pause,

Pause,

Pause.

Yes, the pause was that long. "If you reject this change please say 'No' now." So I HOLLER' "NO!"

After being on hold, I get a ticket agent. Explain that we need to get there on Wed and please work it out.

So she finds a flight for us that we can transfer to on Frontier Airlines. She askes me to hold for one moment to make the transfer, so I say yes - not knowing I would be listening to their bad music for 26 min...

...then the call disconnects.

I then call back, get someone else and find out that the first ticket agent, did get us scheduled on Frontier, but instead of leaving it an 'E-ticket' issued us a set of tickets. Sending them to our home - 2 1/2 hours away that miraculously we were to receive in time to make the 3pm flight.


So she goes through this whole process, and we have to arrive a minimum of 3 hours early to get this all straightened out at the airport.

Then next day we arrive and wait momentarily and get an agent. I explained the situation to them and 35 minutes later, two agents on the phone with two other agents were able to rectify the problem. THEN we had to walke down to Frontier and check in. We waited another 20 min and got checked in smooth as silk.

On through the security.

We all removed our shoes and walked through. Doreen and the girls were passed through, I was put in a glass cage and waited until summoned for a pat-down.

We're in. No more problems right? Right!

WRONG!

We watched a movie and had lunch while we waited. Boarding time arrived.

In line we went, and when we got up there the gate agent told Doreen her boarding pass and that of the girls had not been stamped by the TSA at the security check-in and she's got to run back to get it stamped. Off she ran with the kids. Then the check-in agent realized she'd coded the girls tickets as adults, so she quick-like printed off two more boarding passes correctly coded and the three of us were ready to go. I called Doreen, let her know, while the TSA agent is saying the girls needed to return to the security check-in, and we finally get it all figured out. Doreen gets on-board and we're in the air.

Big sigh of relieve, the drama is over. Right??

DOUBLE WRONG!!!

Fifteen minutes into the flight, the flight attendant comes and asks me for the other two tickets I brought on board with me. Pardon me?

Turns out the TSA agent kept the girls old boarding passes with the ticket attached. So we get that figured out and he'll let the Nashville agents know.

Now, all done!

Nope - not yet.

Fifteen minutes be for arriving in Denver, the same flight attentand walks over to me and says, they didn't understand and now that they can talk to Denver, they are still missing the tickets. Would I go explain it to the gate agent there!

Oh MY WORD!

Yup, I explained it in a super short version, then the full blown version and I think she got it.

Down to the next gate for our quick commuter flight to Grand Junction and to my folks.

Now, the flight drama is officially over!

Now we're in Colorado!

Thank the Lord!!!! :)

Heading West

We were SO ready for our vacation. In fact, the morning we were to leave, we still had an hour or so to kill and the girls were up and had their backpacks standing outside ready to go!

I understood and was wanting to be out there with them, but had some last sec things to do!

They picked us up and we headed to Nashville, the origin for our flight.











Once there, because we forgot we drove over the central/eastern timeline, we got there earlier than we had anticipated and had a bit of time to kill, so we headed over to the Opry Land Mall, just to wander around a bit.

Then the time arrived for us to meet up with Doreen's cousin, Laura Jean, for lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory. YUMMY!






After finishing our meal we headed over for a bit more walking and seeing of the most awesome indoor sights. We took LOTS of fun pictures more you may see later!











Then over to Laura's house for the evening.

We had a LOT of fun visiting with Laura and telling stories and meeting Max, Laura's 'friend!'

Later on we had a bit of 'excitement' over our flight later on, but I'll get to that in the next post!

Great start to our trip!

"Colorado or Bust"

Today our trip to Colorado begins! Man, we are all so excited. The girls were going nuts yesterday wanting to help pack. It's been lots of fun getting ready.

It's been over two years since we've been back to my folks place, and it's been a lot different now the girls are two years older. Their excitement is contagious - not that I needed anymore myself! :)

A bit later this morning, we're gonna head to Nashville with my in-laws and go eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and show them the Grand Old Opry Hotel - beautiful, then spend the evening at Doreen's cousin's house.

Then early Wed morning - up and to the airport to fly to CO!

More later...

:)

My Girls!

I've been blessed with two precious girls! Here they are at a friend's b-day party, climbing, bouncing, running swinging and sliding! Doreen said they had a ball. (Pun Intended!)









Downtown Chattanooga has some nice places for kids to play in water. We were headed out of the Aquarium and had to head home, but the girls wanted to climb for a moment. Course had to snap this perfect Photo Opportunity! :)

Too sweet!

A Day of Memorial

Today, Memorial Day, commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

My cousin just sent these to me and I thought they'd be a perfect tribute for us to remember today!

You could have heard a pin drop . . .

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
'empire building' by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond
our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return was
enough to bury those that did not return.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer replied quietly, 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 6,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U..S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. 'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically.

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.

'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.'

The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.'

'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !'

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Is a Veteran?

A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.

THANK You all very, VERY much!!!

Head Sitting

You've heard of a head-butt, that's where someone walks up and wacks someone with their forhead. Their is also something called a but drop. That's where someone will run up and jump on a person (mostly freshmen) and wack them with their rear.

Well today, we have now added the 'head sitting!'

These two are too cute!!! :)

Proud of My Aunt!

My Aunt Jane has been thinking about making a change in her career. We've been praying for her and what she should do.

Just got a letter from my Grandma with news.

She got a job! An awesome one that she will tackle with gusto and will fantastic!

Here's a copy of the page from her new position as Principal of Newbold College in England.

Congratulations Aunt Jane. We're proud of you!

God bless!!!

Appointment of New Principal




A Christian political scientist with an interest in human rights

On 11 May, the Newbold Board of Governors appointed an American professor of political science as the College's next principal . Since she earned her doctorate in 1999, Dr Jane Sabes has been teaching on the campus of Newbold’s sister institution, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she has researched and taught out of her particular interests in the relationship between religion, politics, and human rights. She recently received the 2008 Spiritual Life award in recognition of her ‘ever-strong spiritual influence on students and colleagues alike’. In 2005, she was voted 'Teacher of the Year'.

Dr. Sabes brings the experience of an international curriculum vitae to the job. She has served as director of health services for the Seward Peninsula in Alaska, and has international work experience in China, Libya, and Indonesia. In the 1990s, Dr. Sabes worked as Director of the Wyoming Department of Health, having a staff of 2,000 and managing a biennial budget of $600 million.

She has a broad experience of teaching and educational administration and has worked in educational administration and curriculum planning at both Kettering Medical Centre, Kettering, Ohio, and Clinical Faculty at Wright State University, School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr Sabes received her Bachelor of Science from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD, her Master's in Public Health from Loma Linda University, CA, and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming. In 1999 she earned her doctorate in political science with emphasis in international public policy and public administration.

Dr Sabes succeeds Dr David Penner who resigned last February after six years as principal. She is expected to visit the campus in June and, subject to visa arrangements proceeding smoothly, will take up her duties at the College in August. She will be the 29th principal in Newbold’s 107-year history, the 12th American, and the 2nd woman.

Dr Keith Mattingly, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Andrews University, describes Jane Sabes as an energetic woman of many talents who combines tenderness of spirit with a clear calling to accountability . ‘She is,’ he says, ‘one of those who looks at challenges and creates new and creative ways of doing things.’

Dr Bertil Wiklander, Chair of the Board of Governors said: ‘Jane Sabes brings to her new leadership role a rare combination of gifts which we believe will serve Newbold well. She combines an open outlook on the world with a deep involvement in the life and witness of the Church. We wish her and the Newbold staff well as they begin this new and critical phase of the College’s history.’

Joelle Lost a Tooth today - one of her front ones!

One of Joelle's front teeth have been loose for quite some time. We've tried pulling it a couple of times, to no avail!

This evening, Joelle was messing around with it and POP there it went. The 5th tooth that's made an exit from Joelle's mouth.

She was SO excited that she got it out all by herself. She is getting to be such a big girl now! How sad!

Well, another step of life I'll cross when we come to it! For now, I just gave her a clean piece of papertowl and lots and lots of hugs!

Tennesssee Aquarium Member Night OR the Year of the Frog

We are members at the Tennessee Aquarium. Ever month or so, they have an evening where one section of the Aquarium is open to Members Only.

They have cool things like videos, presentations, quizzes, tattoos, games and prizes for the kids

We'd been wanting to go to one for a VERY long time, but never got 'round' to it. We did today and man was it a ball!!!

This year is the year of the Frog, so Joelle and Natalie are posing with Tad the frog!

Precious!



Here's Natalie mimicking the little 'froggy' craft they did!











After we finished and headed back out to the car, the girls saw this 'piece of art' and wanted to play on it. So we let them. Of course Natalie got the idea for a 'pose' and I had to oblige and snap a pic! CUTE!!!!

Last Day OR Water Day

Today was my girls last day of school. And really, it wasn't a 'day' per-se. It was a half day of playing in the water. They had slides, an icee machine, cotton candy machine and nachos. Sounds like a FUN day! The girls had a ball!








It was kind of cool for what they did today - but it was enjoyed by all!!!

Cholesterol & Triglycerides Update

Well, as I wrote in a post a couple of weeks ago, my HDL, LDL & Triglyceride levels are not where they should be.

Had a check-up with my Dr. today. After a lengthy discussion, he wrote me a prescription for Zocor. To get those levels in line.

Don't need blood pressure or heart attack problems if I can avoid it!

Oh well, I've now joined the land of the regular druggie!! :(

How SAD!

After School Organizing

So yesterday, the girls came home with all their stuff from school.

ALL THEIR STUFF!

Doreen had a great idea. Let's organize their stuff. We're keeping some of the really cool things they did at school and tossed the rest. Great for memories.

Then we got it all organized nicely! The containers will go onto the shelf of their closets and stay there until we add too it next year.

Man, we sure felt like we got some good stuff accomplished!

Today, I got some Dr. appointments and some other things to get wrapped up and then off to Colorado! Yeah hoooo!

Pester Tow Service

Yesterday, as we were getting ready to leave the pool party, Doreen got a call on her cell. I forgot about it cuz we were wrangling little wet rug-rats to get everyone back to school.

On the way she told me about the call from Larry, my father-in-law. Turns out his pick-up just quit on him. Luckily, Sandra, my mother-in-law, decided not to go on that trip. So she picked him up, and since they were a stones throw away from our place ran over there.

We met them there, I hopped in my pickup, and went to where he broke down. We threw the tow strap I had and pulled him to the repair shop.

The mechanic thinks it might just be the fuel pump, and so does Larry. Hope it'll get it fixed up quick so they've got it back. I HATE broken down vehicles! :)

On a side note - it was AWESOME working with Larry towing that vehicle. Going down a hill, I didn't even have to tap the brakes, he slowed us right down. We we pulled up to a stop sign, again I didn't have to use the brakes. It was a great tow tandum. I've towed other people and they didn't quite get the concept of the front vehicle pulling the towed vehicle stopping them both. Keeps the tow strap taught and both vehicles under control. Cool!

Final Field Trip!

Today was Natalie's class party, and one of her classmates has a really nice home with a pool and stuff, it was the perfect place to have it. We all had a ball. We swam, played on the swings and rock-climbing wall, played a few games, ate some pizza, had some cake and ice cream and just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Here's just after we arrived, right before we got the rules laid down and started playing!








Natalie LOVED the diving board. She jumped forward, backward, sideways and "twisty-ways."













Later on, Natalie and I just kinda chilled a bit!

It was a very good day!

Can't vs Can!

On the field trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad with Joelle, they took us through the maintenance shop where they maintain, repair and refurbish all those pieces of American History.

Hanging on the wall was this sign. Had to snap a quick shot of it because if everyone lived by this slogan, what a 'wonderful world' this would be!!!

Yes, we all CAN! We just have to choose to!

Things that make you go 'hummmm!!!' :)

More Train Shots from the TVRR

Just wanted to share a couple more pics I took at the Tennessee Valley Railroad where Doreen, Joelle and I went on a field trip. Here's the front of the diesel engine that pulled the passenger cars in which we rode.












Just a closer shot to see how 'gianormous' that thing was. Most awesome!











There were only another 18 to 20 people on the whole train with us, so we had the freedom to wander and explore as we rolled down the tracks. This is the back, looking down the rails we just rode.

What a fun experience!

Tennessee Valley Railroad - Field Trip

Man, I have been blessed. This week, my trips are falling perfectly so I can be home for important stuff at the end of school and right before we leave for our vacation to Colorado.

Today, I got to join Doreen and Joelle on her field trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad.

Coolness!

Yeah - we didn't let the kids hang out the windows while the train was moving. This is a setup for a pic! :)

(Course I wouldn't have minded throwing a couple of 'em from the train! He, he, he!)

They had a set of cars setup we could tour through to show how trains operate today and how they ran in their hayday. Couldn't pass up this photo op!
















Joelle and Doreen relaxing in style right before we got rolling. The really interesting thing about the car we were in was divided into two parts. One was marked 'colored' and the other 'white.' What a sad commentary on how people treat each other at times.






The trip was relatively short, only 3 miles I think. We crossed 4 bridges and went through this very LONG tunnel and inside it was pitch black. Extremely cool!















Got this shot just for fun hangin' our camera out the door at a long bend in the tracks.











They have a train turn-table. It is completely functional and they actually turned the engine around on it. Man, that was cool to watch. I don't ever remember seeing that done before. I asked him why they don't just put the engine in reverse? He said they can - but in the old days when these were prevalent, it was the steam era. Behind the engine was a car loaded with wood or coal and they engineer couldn't see ahead - so they made these to turn the thing around!

What a totally awesome day!!!

Garage Sale Memory

Yesterday, we had the 2nd half of our garage sale. I'll post more on the actual happenings later.

But it brought a memory back to mind.

Long time ago when we lived in Ohio, my sisters and I wanted to go to the amusement park Kings Island.

I was wanting to go to ride 'The Beast.' A new ride that had just opened there. To this day, the Beast is the longest wooden coaster in the world at 7,400 feet (1-3/4 miles); travels at speeds approaching 70 mph and has a ride length of nearly four minutes. It features two incredible vertical drops (135 and 141 feet) and has three dark tunnels, plus a spectacular 540 degree helix turn at the end. Of course that was something to an earliteen.

So one day, mom and dad had us go through all our stuff and get rid of a bunch of it. We did the same throughout the house. Then we loaded it all up one Sun and went to the local flea market - in a drive-in. We set up and started selling.

From what I remember, we made something over $60 that day. Not a bad haul in early 1980's cash.

It was enough the 5 of us could go. It was a blast and I LOVED the Beast!!!

Hum. Interesting the things that will help jog one's memory!

Cool!

Glad to be Done with that Trip!

I am SO glad to be done with the trip I just came home from.

Since Volvo has gone on strike, and we need new tractors at the yard, they've ordered some new ones from Peterbilt, Freightliner, International and Kenworth.

I've been in one of the the Freightliners and didn't like that tractor at all! Felt like I was driving a tank, no turn radius and it shook ya to death.

Last Thur I was scheduled to take a Pete out, and talked a coordinator into giving me an older Volvo. Thank heaven.

Well, last night they scheduled me for another trip in a Pete. I tried getting rid of it. Even offered a coordinator $10 to give us a different tractor - no deal. No one would take it - so we had to!

Oy vai! Rode nice, the bunk was comfy, but my foot kept slipping off the clutch the way they have it set up, a claustrophobic person would be extremely uncomfortable in it, and the view out the windows were limited.

What an uncomfortable ride!

Glad it's over.

Can't wait to take out one of the new KW's! :)

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails, that's what my little girl is made of.

You know that poem,

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That's what little boys are made of !"
What are little girls made of?
"Sugar and spice and all things nice
That's what little girls are made of!"

Well, I've got two little girls and one is made of 'Snips, snails and puppy dogs tails,' and the other is made of 'sugar, spice and everything nice.' :)

Joelle had a field trip to the Zoo last week and when I got home from my trip all I heard was "Daddy, I got to pet a white snake, a chicken and a chinchilla."

Just look at that pure joy in her face as she's about to touch that snake.

The good Lord gave us two totally different girls and it is definetly interesting!!! :)

My Little Girl is a NUT! (Wonder where she gets it from?!!)

The other day I was finishing cleaning up from breakfast and my little girl starts calling for me. She has somethign she wants me to see.

I dry my hands, walk out of the kitchen and see this. She'd taken a pair of my work pants and climbed into them! Too incredibly cute!

I laughed my hiney off!

Funny little girl!!! :)

Darn Cholesterol and Triglycerides!

Today, Doreen and I got the lab results of the fasting blood work we had drawn last week.

I was not pleased with the results - not at all.

Two years ago, April of 2006, I had a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) done. Blood pressure was great, Blood glucose was moderate at 97 as well as my Triglycerides at 191.
Doggone cholesterol though was at 214. A bit high, but my HDL - the good cholesterol was low, at 33. High risk! (My LDL was 143)

Didn't do much after that HRA. Just kinda floated along.

So last year, had another HRA done. Glucose, was a bit better at 92. Still got to get it under 84. Cholesterol had got up a bit though 220. May have been expected. Didn't do anything. HDL up a bit to 34 but so was my LDL 156. Triglycerides had gone down some - to a closer to low risk number of 154. (Needs to be under 149.)

This year, I tried eating a bit better and EXERCISED a lot more regularly. I was hoping for a small change for the better and would have been ecstatic with a huge change - not so though. Aarrrgggghhhhh!

Triglycerides up to 158 - up doggone it!!! Cholesterol up to 225. Up again! LDL down a point to 155, fine and HDL up 4 points to 38. (LDL should be below 130 and HDL should be above 40.) Crud! That's hardly any change at all. Of course for some reason my Glucose climbed back up to 96. Double crud!!!

I tell ya, that had me bummed most of the rest of the afternoon. I figured - obviously really incorrectly - that trying to do a little better eating and a LOT better with exercising would have really helped.

WRONG!

Triple crud!!!!!

Back to the 'ol' drawing board! :(

Mother's Day OR Trying to Catch Up

This week has been an absolute mess. We're getting close to the time of our vacation and responsibilities just seem to 'ratchet' up right before a trip. So we're trying to get everything in before we go. So I've not had the time I'd like lately to keep this page up to date.

Anyway, last Sunday was Mother's day. We didn't do much on the actual day because we'd been out to eat earlier in the week. (HATE fighting Mother's day crowds at restaurants!!!)

One thing I did though was dip my dear wife, and my kids wonderful mother, a generous helping on ice-cream!

Yummy!!!! :)

Goin' to the Game!

When the Denver Broncos schedule came out this year, I was looking it over and the week of November 16 caught my eye. The Denver Broncos will be in Georgia playing the Atlanta Falcons. Coolness.

So I talked with Doreen and we're going to the game. Just bought the tickets today. 'Course, we're sitting up in the nosebleed section - but we're just going for the experience!

Man - I can not wait!

I've got a grin on my face just thinkin' about it! :)

Me Hyperextended Hand

Yesterday I was on a trip to Salisbury, NC. I was running with a fellow named Boyd. Nice guy.

Anyway, as we were unloading, our 'wonderful' shipping department decided to stack some big heavy boxes on some smaller light boxes. I reached up to pull one of the top ones down and the smaller light boxes crushed and they all came 'a-tumblin' down.

I couldn't get my right hand out of the way fast enough. One of the big ones caught my right thumb and hyperextended it backwards. Man that hurt!!

Got through that door and had to have Boyd throw the rest of the cases off and I caught 'em. Couldn't grab the higher ones and it just plum hurt. Catching was no problem-o.

After we finished that warehouse delivery, I called in and 'reported' the injury, then took some Advil.

It's feeling better today. It's probably just a bad sprain - but yet a pain. I go to grab something and I have to do it, gingerly! :(

Oh well, only 3 more trips I have to take before we 'jet' off on vacation to see family in Colorado!

Yippeeeeeeeeee!

Personal Scattagories

Scattergories--it's harder than it looks!

Use the first letter of your first name to answer each of the following:(you cannot use your own name for the boy/girls name in #'s 5 or 6).

What is your name ? .......... Steve
4 letter word ...................... Suck
A vehicle ............................ Suburban
A City ............................... Silverton
A boys name.................... Sam
A girls name ....................... Shelly
Alcoholic Drink................... Screwdriver
An Occupation.................... Silversmith
Something you wear ........... Socks
A celebrity ........................ Steve (grin) Martin
A food ................................ Steak
Something Found in a bathroom .... Stool
Reason for being late......... Stuck
Something you shout........... "STUPID"
An animal............................ Sloth
A body part.......................... Sinus
Word to describe yourself .... Super

Have fun!

Bring It On...

You know, I wonder how many of these 'brilliant' minds we have in leadership realize how important it is to have trucks moving materials, foodstuff and produced products around this country? Then I wonder if these same brilliant minds realize that 'stuff' is going to cost more because it costs more to ship?

Hummmm!

Things that make you actually think!!! :)

Yup, We Dun Did Grad-e-ate!

We've had these things stored in a plastic container, in a closet underneath our steps since we moved here. Recently my in-laws needed theirs for something or other and we got to talking about how important these documents are. We've had a fire-proof safe for quite some time and talked about putting them in that safe, for safe-keeping, but never got 'round-to-it.' Well we did finally! Before the transfer though, just for fun, I scanned them in. (Been scan happy lately!)

Collegedale has become a ghost-town again for the summer because of Graduation. Kinda made me think of my own graduations.

Well, here's the proof that we were once edu-ma-cated!! :)

Ok, Doreen graduated from Chisholm Trail Academy in '89.








I graduated from Campion Academy one day later in '89 than she did.









We both graduated from Southwestern Adventist College (now University) in '93. I put hers first for a number of reasons. #1 - Ladies first. #2 - D comes before S alphabetically, & #3 - Most importantly she's got that little yellow sticker on the bottom left of her diploma that says "Suma Cum Laude." Yes, my wife is brilliant!!!



I just graduated college, "Thank the Laud!" :)

Happy Mother's Day 2008

Happy Mother's Day Ma!

This is photo circa 1987 when I was in Campion Academy. It was my Sophomore year and I'd been home for my first homeleave and was getting ready to go back to school! Mom and taken me to the church, where the bus would stop to pick us up and haul us back over to Loveland, CO.

I love ya ma!

Mother's Day Weekend

We had a good weekend. LOTS going on, yet it was all pretty much excellent family time, perfect for a Mother's Day Weekend!!!











On the local greenway, we enjoyed the wonderful spring weather and posing for pics in various places.












LOVE this photo of the girls and Mocha. Got it as my desktop screen! Precious.












Of course I had to give my dog a hard time and have her go down a slide. She went twice and wasn't too freaked out about it! :)

Wonderful weekend!

Two Tooth Removal

So, we're planning for the future. This week Joelle had two teeth extracted so that her adult teeth may grow in straighter and more properly. She'll still need braces we think, but maybe not to the extent that Doreen did.

Here she's getting 'gassed' to begin the whole process. See how still she's sitting.




Dr. C is doing a great job on her. Of course, it helps to have a patient 'patient!' Joelle came through like a champ!

Happy Birthday Baby!

So today is my precious wife's birthday. Yup - they're a day apart. Actually we were born a year and a day apart, so she never quite catches me - a fact she is extremely proud of, I might add!!!

In fact the 1st year after we got married I got a birthday card from her that actually said, "Happy Birthday 'Old Man.'" ;)

For one day, I get thoroughly razzed about being an old man, since on that day I am technically 'two' years older. Thankfully it is only one day on which she can say that. Then we're back to our year apart deal!

That day has passed and today she has caught back up to only one year behind, for the next 364 days!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!

Love ya!

My New Life Motto!!!

Happy Parents Day

Today, 38 years ago, right at this very minute, my parents became 'parents' for the first time! Little did they know what they were getting into when they brought this little bundle home! He, he, he!












My 'parents' are very special people. Not only did they have me, but they also added a suprise of a set of twins 3 years later that really added to the mix. Wheew! What a mess. Yet they still had time for us and raised us well with a strong foundation, realistic outlook on life and the opportunity to make quality people of ourselves in this life and to be prepared for the one to come!

Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

(Pssst - Dad, you're supposed to be looking at the camera! He, he, he)


Me and my Papaw! Now there was a special relationship between a Grandfather and his Grandson!

Happy Parents Day!!! :)