I Am A Grandpa

Yep. that's right. On March 14, 2010 little Ivan William Thomas made is world debut, and what a debut. He weighed in at 8lbs 13oz and was 23 inches long. He now weighs in at about 11lbs and Grandpa measured him at 24 1/2 inches long. He is a beautiful boy. I was amazed at the transition from living in fluid that gave him life, to breathing air, and fluid would cause him to drown. It made me think of our Savior and that through his blood(fluid) we have life. I never expected to feel the way that I do. My wife and I often comment on how we couldn't love a little one any more than we do Ivan. He has made such an impact. I pray that this "little man" will see Jesus through his Grandpa and that the transition from the things of this world to the things of Christ's kingdom will be an easy one for him.

That is my heart's desire. To model for him a man after God's heart. May you grow in that my Little Man!

Love,

Grandpa

So I'm Going to Be a Grandpa!

Yep. I am going to be a Grandpa in 6 weeks. When I was a kid Grandparents were old! No offense, but my Grandparents on both sides would never have joined in a game of "bags", or play volleyball much less go camping. They always just sat. I wonder if that is why they seemed to die at such young ages? Today I look at my in-laws who are grandparents 8 times over. This couple will still out work, out play and out eat any other Grandparents in the world. They are 78 and 75 and still going strong. Yes, thay have slowed a bit, but they will still be the first to show up for a work day or to help. They still enjoy serving their family and now extended family. My point? Being a Grandparent is not about being old! it's about enjoying life. Enjoying the life that God has chosen to bless you with through your family. I am looking forward to this stage in my life. I look forward to taking my Grandson and my son fishing and camping. What a thrill! I am even looking at new campers today! God has blessed me beyond my comprehension and more beyond what I deserve. May I walk worhty of this new calling.

Happy New Year

Its January 16, 2010. Only 1 month until the pitcher's and catcher's report to spring training!!!! That's right, B A S E B A L L. The crack of the bat, the smell of hot dogs and beer, the lush green sight of the field with the freshly chalked lines. I tell you there is nothing better. Except.........this baseball fan is mad! Not at the game, but at the business that it has become. I am a baseball purist. This "game" was meant to be played outside. This game was meant to be played without the designated hitter. This game was meant to be enjoyed by young and old. This game was meant to be a game. But, like most games, people figured out how to make serious money with it. Now, i am not mad that money can be made, that is part of the free enterprise system we have. I am mad at what the money has done to the game. Let me explain. You have a little boy today who loves to play baseball. In my day he dreamed of being the best on his team , of being Hank Aaron or Ernie Banks, and just having fun. Today, that same boy still dreams of being the best but with a twist. You see, today, players HAVE to be bigger, faster and stronger. You name the sport. The kids nowadays have no choice but to look to alternatives to "help" them get to the pro level. Enter- steroids. I listened to the new conference last week of Mark McGwire and I was appalled, no ANGRY!! This man cheated us, cheated me the fan. I was robbed of the joys of watching him hit L-O-N-G homeruns and I was cheering for him and Sammy Sosa as they chased history and finally caught and passed Roger Maris. I was cheering for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens to name a few, then it dawned on me. This baseball purist was robbed! I was cheated! I spent much of my life cheering and rooting on these guys. Keeping stats and watching the papers for the stories of the dramamtics. I, the one who loves baseball. I, one of the greatest fans of baseball. I, the baseball purist was robbed. I was cheated. They took from me the pure enjoyment of watching records being chased and surpassed, of long home runs and strike outs. It was all a fake. These guys were JUICED. Unfortunately the records will stand, and some day these guys may even be in the Hall of Fame. But to this purist, the true champions are Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams and Nolan Ryan. Don Kessinger, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente just to name a few. I still l ove baseball and I will be watching, but there is a sadness in my heart.......I was robbed!

Ok,



I love to go camping!!! I also enjoy fishing!!! If I could combine the two, what a happy man I would be. This past Labor Day weekend we spent at the beautiful and under utilized Kankakee River State Park. My reason for this post is to just say that I am the most blessed man in the world. We were able to spend some time with two of three kids (who happen to live in the area). We aslo got to spend time with my in-laws on Saturday. They came down and spent the afternoon and evening with us eating chili cheese dogs on the grill, beer bratwurst and watermelon. We also played "bags" well into the night under the romantic glow of the "Malibu Lights".



The weather could not have been better, and to top things off.....my wife, son and I were able to go to church with my daughter and her husband. What a treat!



So..DO I like camping? Yes, but maybe it's all of the fringe benefits that go with it that makes it so enjoyable.



Just a thought.

I've decided to "BLOG"

When I was a kid, the word "blog" (if it was even a word back then) would've most likely been associated with feeling ill. I admit that I don't always get the 'lingo" correct in this electronic age. To tell someone that you are going to write on their wall was absurd in the sixties, that usually meant graffiti. Today , people look forward to getting something on their wall. go figure. Well how about bits and bytes of information. What is that all about? Or better yet, all of the acronyms. TCP/IP, SMTP, SMB, FTP, what???? It can be very confusing not to mention so exhausting.

I do however find this very ironic. I teach basic computer skills, isn't that funny? I write this not to bash the computer age but to just help us remember that maybe, just maybe, less is more.

Think about it.

Pre-50

As I sit here contemplating turning 50, I am struck with many thoughts. Some good, some not so good.



I have seen many changes in this brief period of time.



Just in my lifetime we have been to the moon and back! Just think about that. The moon, that was a distant futuristic thought when I was a kid. There was no way this could happen, yet I remember that warm July night in Florida, 1969. My dad pulled the car over and made us look up at the moon as he explained "there really is a man on the moon". Unbelievable!



I remember computers that took data cards, and were as big as a garage, and yet now we have them in the smallest of devices. They are in the smallest of devices and powerful beyond comprehension.



I have seen a young boy, who had traveled all over the United States with his family, who was wild at heart and untameable, not only settle down, but raise a family that has far exceeded his dreams for them.



I have also seen the bad side of life in this short time as well.



I Have seen the Vietnam war start and end, and how we as a country treated those soldiers which such disdain as they returned.



I have seen the assassination of a President (JFK), his brother(RFK) and Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. The attempted assassinations of two other Presidents(Ford and Reagan)



I have seen the World Trade Towers fall at the hand of terrorists. Something i thought would never touch America.



These are just a few observations that are running through my brain. I will save the others for another blog.



The one constant through all of these thoughts listed above is that my God is still control of the good, the bad and the ugly. Amen