Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Walking Her Home

Today is my moms birthday. 93 years ago today she was born.  She passed away May 28th of 1996, Sometimes it is good to look back and count our many blessings- this video may not mean much to you- but it is full of rich memories for me and the song talks about a thing called Marriage. As much as I miss her, I know she is far better off in Heaven.  Mark Shultz wrote the song called  "Walking her Home"-(some call it Looking Back) I added some photos of my mom and dad; as they had celebrated over 50 years of marriage before both of them went to their eternal home. I miss them both and am so thankful for the example they set for me and what true marriage is.
Myself, My Mom, Dawn, and my Grandma in late 70;s

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sanctuarian Rhapsody

Its been one year since Jan retired as children's pastor.  I think she is busier now than before- so that is why I am not in a hurry to retire- hopefully 5 more years or more for me.  Jan started teaching Children's Church at Evergreen, in Olympia, in the early 80's. We actually  worked together as a team back then.  One of her students is not only a childrens pastor, but was speaker at Lost Lake Camp a few years ago. She started teaching children's church in Wenatchee in the late 80's- now many of her children are now married with their own kids in childrens church now.  She has had some great helpers who have been so faithful. We have so much talent in our church and its great to see how great Childrens Church has become and urge you to check it out. I made this video several years ago that I hope brings back memories or a smile to you.



Sunday, June 21, 2015

My Fathers Eyes

Its fun being a grandpa, but no one can replace the importance of fathers! (and I do not try) Ever notice a Miss America Contest when a camera is in their face, the girls will usually say "hi Daddy" while the big football players, when a camera is in their face, men will usually say "hi Mom"?  I am proud of the dads of my Grandkids and know how their kids look up to them! I am also blessed with a daughter who likes to take photos and lets me use her photos.  I made this video several years ago, the words of the song speak to me. My goal is people can say at my funeral- he had his Fathers Eyes....
"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."

On the first day of school, the Kindergarten teacher said, "If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers." A voice from the back of the room asked, "How will that help?"

Dear Dad,
$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Your $on

The Reply:

Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.
Dad

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wish I Was 18 Again

Can You Believe its been years since we graduated in 73?  I attended my final two years at Lake Roosevelt in Coulee Dam, and Janice was a 12 year veteran there. My Dad moved there to work on the 3rd powerhouse. We have lost five from our class, including my best friend in high school. Those 6 included John Smith, Mike Butte, John Manley, Dan Hearne, Randy Bjorkland and Randy Webley. I am real proud of our class, some have overcome difficulties and I think I can say we are still learning. Most of our old high school has been replaced with a new building, just a year ago, or so. I made this video just after our 40 year class reunion. We are heading to Coulee Dam today to Paint The Town one more time!
53 Graduates Signed in out of 105
 
A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off, he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday. "I'd like to be six again", she replied, still looking in the mirror.
On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M and M's. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being six again?' Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "I meant my dress size, you idiot!"
The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is gonna get it wrong.  
This is the class of 73 on 8-5-16 at Coulee Dam Class Reunion

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Heaven is The Face

On May 21, 2008, Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman lost his five-year-old daughter Maria Sue Chunxi in a tragic accident. Her brother's Toyota Land Cruiser accidentally hit Maria when he was pulling into the driveway of their home, and she was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital. Beauty Will Rise was Chapman's first album since the tragedy and this first single released from the set eloquently addresses the topic of loss. His daughter would be around 12 now and I cannot imagine how he felt or dealt with that issue. I added some photos of my granddaughter Caitlyn to this song a few years ago. What a blessing children are and I am so thankful each of our six grandkids. They are growing up too fast.
PRETTY INTERESTING FACTS OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE!!
God's order may be observed in the hatching of eggs. For example:
-the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-those of the canary in 14 days;
-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;
-those of the mallard in 35 days;
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.(Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)
God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant.. The four legs of this great beast, all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God ordered that this animal would have a huge body, and for this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.
The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!
God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of fruit, vegetable, and grain seed sections and segments, as well as in the number of seeds/grains.
-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.
-Each orange has an even number of segments.
-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.
-Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.
-Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.
-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.
All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers.
God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!
Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can arrange the life that is entrusted to His care in such a way that it will carry out His purposes and plans, and will be fragrant with His presence. Only the God-planned safe life is successful. Only the life given over to the care of the Lord is fulfilled.
The lives of each of us are ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if we will only entrust Him with our lives. If you try to regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure.
Only the One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide us to a Glorious and eternal end



“Heaven doesn’t make this life less important; it makes it more important.”
“The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in heaven.”
“Heaven is a wonderful place and the benefits for the believer are out of this world!”

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I Can't Stop Loving You

Ray Charles died on June 10th, 2004. Ray Charles early life story is kind of sad. He watched his brother die in a bathtub accident when he was 4. He started loosing his sight at 5 and He was blind by age 7. His dad died when he was l0 and mom died when he was 15. At age of 31; he said he was hooked on drugs since he was 16? In 1947 he moved to Seattle, the farthest distance from Florida he could find. The song I can't stop loving you was #1 for 10 weeks in 1962. Ray had numerous wives and children. Charles gave 10 of his 12 children checks for one million USD in December 2002 at a family luncheon, while the other two could not make it. He died on June 10th, 2004 from liver cancer. He may not be your hero, but I certainly give him credit for ending his life on a lot higher note than he was dealt with in his youth. One of the photos are of him with Ronald Reagan- that is far better than most can claim. I added photos of Jan to it about 5 years ago-It is my 7th most viewed videos on youtube.com with over 16,000 views.The last I looked, it had 15 likes and one dislike. I am thankful for my wife! I love the memories and can say even more boldly; “Jan- I Can’t Stop Loving You!”

Saturday, June 6, 2015

You Are the Best Thing

I first met Janice in History class when I moved to Coulee Dam back in 1971, We started dating when we went to state Basketball playoffs since I had a car and I also took her to the prom. she went to Eastern state college and I went to Northwest college after we graduated only to discover how we missed each other so much and I figured it would be cheaper to get married than pay all those phone bills and postage stamps. We were married April 13th, 1974 in Coulee Dam. Its hard to believe we have been married over 41 years- they have gone too quickly and are some of the best times of my life. I added some photos to the Gladys Knight song called "The Best thing that happened to Me". that song came out about the time we were dating and got married- Gladys Knight is 71 years old now....

It's great to see the many anniversary's this month on facebook! I hope my friends do not mind if I share some of the advice posted from their posts regarding marriage and anniversary's.

This is from one married 33 years- any surprise- with rules like this?
my rules for a happy marriage🙏
1. GOD
2. Put each other first😊!!!!!! Always!!!! After God🙏
3. No one is ever sent to the couch unless you both want to go there together‼️
4. Work at Being in love and staying in love - in every way!!...
5. Go ahead and disagree just know you have to finish it and make up before going to sleep!
6. When saying goodbye for the day or anytime - make it passionate enough as if it was your last‼️‼️‼️
7. Spend quality family time!
8. Take care of each other when the kids are little - so when you are empty nesters you are more in love than ever!!!
9. Each one gives 100%‼️‼️
10. Put God first in everything🙏
11. Love PASSIONATELY


This is one for another couple, married 39 years;
Love is not Romeo and Juliet dying together, its Oma and Opa (or Gramma and Gramdapa) growing old together. Love is about the journey, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, for ever and ever....happy aniversary!

And someone posted this photo;

Thursday, June 4, 2015

You'll Be In My Heart

I enjoy making video slideshows of my grandkids- here is a video I made a couple years ago called You'll  Be In My Heart.  The song was #1 in 1994 for 19 weeks and appeared in the Disney Movie Tarzan. I also posted below a page from my Clean Humor Joke Book called Angels explained by Children.

Angels Explained by Children
· I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold. Gregory, 5
· Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it. Olive, 9
· It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes. Matthew, 9
· Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else. Mitchell, 7
· My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science. Henry, 8
· Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!! Jack, 6
· Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead. Daniel, 9
· Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter. Sara, 6
· Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.Jared
· All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it. Antonio, 9
· My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth. Katelynn, 9
· Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it. Vicki, 8
· What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them. Sarah, 7
· When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado. Reagan, 10

Monday, June 1, 2015

Old Friends

"If wealth is measured in friendship you are truly a weathy man" one of my facebook friends posted that last week and it reminded how rich indeed I am. My mother taught me to choose my friends wisely- I hope my grandkids know the importance of that advice- again, I am so blessed to have friends who have helped and supported me. Bill Gaither wrote a song years ago called Old Friends- the words are pretty powerful and true. I hope you don't mind if I added a few photos of some of my friends that I am so thankful for. Please do not sue me for calling you an "old" friend or be insulted if I left your photo out- I quickly  threw this together- yes there should be a song for releatives as well- but today,  I just want to say "thank you" to all my Friends and dedicate this song to you even if your photo is not in it.
Mary and Jane are old friends. They have both been married to their husbands for a long time; Mary is upset because she thinks her husband doesn't find her attractive anymore. "As I get older he doesn't bother to look at me!" Mary cries. "I'm so sorry for you, as I get older my husband says I get more beautiful every day." replies Jane. "Yes, but your husband's an antique dealer!"

A week after John bought a bull, he complained to his friend, “All that bull does is eat grass. Won’t even look at a cow.”
“Take him to the vet,” his friend suggested.
The next week, John is much happier. “The vet gave him some pills, and the bull serviced all of my cows!” he told his pal. “Then he broke through the fence and bred with all my neighbor’s cows! He’s like a machine!”
“What kind of pills were they?” asked the friend.
“I don’t know, but they’ve got a peppermint taste.”
It takes a long time . . . to grow an old friend. (Version #2)
Senior citizens have taken to texting with gusto. They even have their own vocabulary:
BFF: Best Friend Fainted
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered by Medicare
FWB: Friend with Beta-blockers
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!
You Can’t Make Old Friends You Either Have Them Or You Don’t
Retirement is the best thing that has happened to my brother-in-law.
"I never know what day of the week it is," he gloated. "All I know is, the day the big paper comes, I have to dress up and go to church."