Happy Birthday Mom

Halloween is a bittersweet day for me. It is always fun to see the little ghosts and goblins parading around town seeking out the best homes for Trick-Or-Treat. Seeing the anticipation in their eyes of what kind of candy that is going to be dropped in their sack is priceless. Besides, we always seem to have candy left over at home, and that means sweets for me too!!

On the other hand, it reminds me of early passing of my mom from cancer. Her birthday was on October 31, so it was always easy to remember. The youngsters in our little community used to love coming to mom's house for trick-or-treat, because oftentimes we weren't home, doing the trick-or-treat thing ourslelves, and she would just leave the basket of candy on the front porch with a sign that said "help yourself"!! Cancer took her in 1995 at the age of 58. She would have been 70 today.

I'll take a rose and a Milky Way candy bar out to the cemetery today and place it by her headstone.

Mom, until we get to meet again and share hugs and kisses, I wish you another Happy Birthday, and God Bless.

De Colores

All Out, All The Time

Well, the Warrior JV finished out their season on a high note, beating their oponents 28-0. It was an interesting season, to say the least. Due to low numbers in the upper classes, many sophomores had to play at the varsity level. This left our JV with mainly freshman players. Most of the schools we played against had lots of sophomores and even Juniors playing on their JV teams, so we oftentimes found ourselves out-manned.

Despite this inequality, they managed to win 3 games, and were in all the other ones they played. Our coach kept after the kids every play of every game, reminding them to give their best effort, and never give up. He expected the kids to adopt his "all out, all the time" philosophy with each down. When they played as hard as they could, they were pretty much equal to any team they faced, even when they were out-manned by kids a couple years older than them. They know that this attitude will help them as they get to be upper classmen.

Wouldn't it be great if we Christians lived our lives "all out, all the time for God"? Just think what we could accomplish!! The world would be a much better place.

De Colores.

Matter of Mind

Today, I turned 48. Nothing special, no big deal. Just quietly another year older. The old body is still holding up fairly well, although for some strange reason, my whiskers and hair on my head keep getting grayer and grayer.

An anonymous philosopher (because I don't know who it was) once said "Age is a matter of mind...if you don't mind, it don't matter..."

That's my philosophy for life, at least today.

De Colores

600 miles and still going!!

Today I passed another milestone in my running. 600 miles!!!!! I feel kinda like the Energizer Bunny; I keep going, and going, and going.............

I was running the other day, and as I went by a group of people, one of them hollered "Run Forrest, run!" I don't know if he said that because he thought that I looked like I could run forever, or if he merely thought I looked like an "old guy" that should be pitied...........

De Colores

Frosty Morning

I woke up this morning to an unbelievable reminder of God's creation. The sky was clear, the wind was calm, the air temperature at my house was 34 degrees, and a blanket of frost covered the grass down through the valley below. There were 2 deer grazing in the meadow, and a flock of turkeys were making their way out of the trees to look for breakfast. Looking at the scene, I couldn't help but think that God was probably also watching, sitting in heaven with a cup of morning coffee, more than likely with a smile on His face.

How awesome and wonderful He is!!!!

De Colores

21 Day Challenge

I am currently using a daily devotional called "Men Of Integrity". It tackles issues that we men face in our every day lives.

One of the devotionals last week dealt with being thankful in everything that happens in our daily lives, both good and bad, positive or negative. The writer challenges the reader to devote 21 days to praying the following prayer at the beginning of each day.

"Heavenly Father, you're in charge of everything that's going to happen to me today--whether it be good or bad, positive or negative. Please make me thankful for everything that happens to me today. Amen."

Praying this prayer for the next 21 days won't change anything on the outside, but it should change how I feel on the inside. Circumstances won't change, but hopefully my attitude towards them will.

Ecclesiastes 5:19b says "To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that indeed is a gift from God."

I'm going to give this a try. Will you?

De Colores