Saturday, July 27, 2013
Back to the Basics
Have you ever wondered what your life would have been if you had chosen to do something else from what you ended up doing? Does that make sense? Why am I asking all these questions so early on Saturday morning when I could be doing something else? UUUPPPPS, there I go again!
I was checking my e-mail and Facebook as I usually do when I get to my computer in the morning and found some wonderful items like this from the daily devotional I subscribe to:
I was checking my e-mail and Facebook as I usually do when I get to my computer in the morning and found some wonderful items like this from the daily devotional I subscribe to:
It is about simplicity. All these "things" we seem to NEED, are perhaps keeping us from enjoying the things that God has for us to enjoy. With todays rush to technology and have that easy, laid back life style, I think perhaps we are rushing, pushing, fighting our way to get NOWHERE! Or even worse, to drive ourselves farther from the one most important to us, that loves us beyond belief, and has far more to give us than the worldly hodgepodge of manmade stuff.
So I was browsing through my Facebook and found this:
If you are a regular or at least have graced me with reading some of my thoughts from before, you know how I love music and attempt to share it with others, mainly through church. It got me thinking about "What IF, I had decided to become a musician as an occupation instead of what I actually chose?" What a hard life that would have been physically. Loving music as much as I do, maybe it would have been an acceptable trade for the love of sharing music to a wider number of people. But then maybe what I chose is a good balance with what talents God has blessed me with in other areas as well. You see, sometimes we as humans don't have the whole picture to look at, like God does. Most times, we come across something shiny and vier off course and chase that shiny thing for a while, then find ourselves doing something that God had not intended that we do. That is when we must reassess our real purpose and get back on track with talking to God on a more regular basis (like EVERY DAY...ALL DAY LONG), and things will smooth out again. As the picture above says . . . make a decision . . . you can't do both. Though, maybe, with God's guidance you CAN do both! It seems like I have. I so enjoy playing and leading singing on Sunday morning. I feel that God has given me a gift and it needs to be shared so others can perhaps see God within the music He has blessed us with that morning. Music enhances the message. It is a message of Love and Caring for each other.
I hope that music is a part of everyone's life to some degree. There are some good Christian musicians today, as there have been throughout our history. Today we have more access to it through technology. Enjoy it. For some, they HAVE become musicians and knowing some professional musicians, they really are better off, NOT growing up! Isn't it wonderful that God gives us many ways to communicate with HIM? Music is one of them. It is a simple thing. The birds provide us with music. The gentle breeze provides us with music. A babbling stream gives us wonderful, melodic sounds as well. All we have to do is listen. God provides us with everything we need. All we need to do is accept it and enjoy it. Back to the basics. Slow down. Smell the flowers. Listen to the chorus of music in the air.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,
Blessings,
Gary
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Family is the "Ultimate Important"
I have discovered something I hadn't realized about old people until just recently. They spend quite a bit of time reminiscing. The good thing is when there have been pictures taken along their road to "oldness". It gives them some clues on what to reminisce about!
Through the years, it was difficult to have my Dad in many photos. He didn't like his picture taken for some reason, I never did find out about. He was a good looking man, in my opinion. No second nose or a third eye or anything. Had a great smile. We could tell he really loved Mom too. Just by the way he treated her, actually spoiled her. He would even do the grocery shopping for her...among many things. He put in some pretty long days, as he built his printing business through the years. He always seemed to have time for family picnics though. Even after us kids got our own families and moved out of the house, he would always have a couple family, friends, picnics in his back yard. Always had the yard darts out, and played some volley ball sometimes. When we got older and started playing music, I remember once or twice we even set up our stuff and played some music in the back yard. Dad loved to take family and friends out to dinner or a lunch if time allowed. David Fongs was his favorite eatery for many years. He ate there so often, Mom and Dad became personal friends with the staff there! Dad was a quiet and almost shy man, but when he got to know a person, he was a loyal and trusted friend. It was in his later years, that Dad loosened up some to allow his picture (front on, not just from the back of his head) taken.
Mom was the outgoing one of the family. Quick with a smile and a laugh. I remember her telling everyone that laughed at my jokes to "Stop encouraging him!" Some of my jokes were perhaps not as funny as I thought they were or something....never did figure it out. Maybe if you ask my wife Pat, she may have an answer to that. Our Mom was a mother when mothers stayed home and took care of the house, raised the kids, made their lunches, cleaned the house (whether or not it needed cleaning), did the laundry (wringer washer, solar dryer), bandaged the bumps and bruises and scrapes us kids got, and kissed the ouwee's to make them better. She was always the one to discipline us. There was always the threat of "Wait until your Father gets home!" That usually worked, so it wasn't necessary to bring him into the "character moulding process" very often. She explained how to be courteous and kind to your friends, and when we got older, which side of the girl you were to walk on as you walked down the street/sidewalk. It was important stuff to learn!
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| This is me, Mom, Dad, brother Guy. Not shown in this picture is sister Suzanne or brother Gregg. (Don't know who the photographer was, but they couldn't center the shot!) |
Dad worked very hard and his normal day was pretty long, as he built his printing business. When I was in Jr. High School, I picked metal shop and print shop as my shop classes. Then I was approved to go downtown to Vocational High School and Technical Institute to major in printing. In my senior year, we got to go on the work program if our grades were good enough. I was assigned to the United Fund in-house print shop. Flo ran the little shop of two. . .her and whoever her school printing student was for that year. It was an interesting place, which I really enjoyed. Running a small offset press, plastic plates, and usually something on 8 1/2" X 11" paper. Once in a while we ran two color letterhead paper and the black and the red parts were pretty close together, so it had to be setup just right. It was fun. I also worked some for my Dad while in school too. After school I went on Active Duty Navy for what turned out to be 2 1/2 years and came home with a wife and a new baby boy (David) and went right to work at Dad's shop. He taught me how to produce a quality printed piece whether it was a black and white form, or multi colored brochure. IF it wasn't right, good quality, and consistent, I would do it over. When that happened, I learned REAL fast, what a quality, good looking printed product looked like! It was tough, but I am so glad he took the time and taught me how to be a craftsman. His shop at that time had my older sister, Suzanne, who ran the office, my two brothers who worked in the back shop, my Uncle (Dad's older brother) my wife Pat who worked the front office, and me, who after a while took some sales training, and became the salesman and also worked production when needed (which got to be the more I sold, the more I worked in the shop later in the day) But it was all fun. Our family life was a pretty closed circuit. It was after I moved away for a bit to Las Vegas, then back on Active Navy duty to Vietnam, and moved back to Minneapolis, that I really valued the security of FAMILY. When so many of our men came back home from Vietnam and got abused on their arrival, I experienced none to that. When the ship came in, Pat and the other wives were on the pier waiting for our ship. We drove off the base and basically drove back to Minneapolis and my family, where our new civilian lives were inside the family web of security. It remained that way for quite some time.
More family time stories later. Enough of this for now. Point of this story, and most likely the next time I 'talk' about it, is this: Family is the "ULTIMATE IMPORTANT". If I had my life to do over, there would be only two things I would do different. I regret not having done them, but at the time I didn't see correctly, and would have done differently, if I could go back in time and redo. Do not ever think Family is there just for you. Family is there for everyone's participation and support of each other. Do your part.
More later, so until then,
Keep singing, keep Laughing, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Friends and Lay Speakers
When I was a child, I NEVER would have thought I would be staying up late, chatting with good friends on the other side of this great country of ours via a device called a computer. That's what I just finished doing. I guess I won out, even the time difference is only two hours difference, Rosemary gave it up to turn in for the night! It is 12:12am here right now. Rosemary and her husband Kevin are very long time, very good friends. (Is that a correct sentence?) You get the idea. We did a lot of stuff together in our church in Nevada, and it was a wonderful time of growth for all four of us. My wife Pat is part of the foursome of usually having a good time while studying many things as we developed our United Methodist Lay Speaking abilities. Kevin is the shyer of his couple, as is Pat of mine. Rosemary is gregarious and has a beautiful voice that she shared with everyone many times, and some of the best was during the Annual Mary Powell Talent Show, that the church held, and still does, I understand. Kevin being the more subdued of their twosome, really surprised me when he found his spot proclaiming the Word of God as a pulpit supply person on our list of about six Certified Lay Speakers that had been chosen and trained to preach on a rotating basis throughout the year. His growth in public speaking was a wonderful process to watch unfold. He found his own style of presenting God's Word and did it very well. Rosemary's gift was one of vocal music. She is still singing for the Lord at every chance given to her, and does that with a modest temperament, and still belts out the tunes with a power rarely experienced. Then my partner in crime Pat, the quiet and almost in the shadows, developed a ministry of caring. She was one of the original "Shepherds" that got organized at First Henderson UMC. Their job was to watch over their "flock" of church attendees, and to send birthday cards, missed you cards, thinking of you cards, phone calls sometimes, and the like for the group she was assigned. How important is that ministry? VERY IMPORTANT, because it showed the people who attended our church that they were important as Brother and Sister Christians and that someone cared enough to know when they missed a service, had that birthday, or whatever. We are all in the category of caring for each other as we grow in our respective church families. Our Shepherding program was inspired by someone who put it into ACTION. It is a successful program still in place today.
I was excited about all the people in our congregation that were lead to seek the United Methodist Lay Speaking Program enough to put their gifts in action as leaders of the church. The UMC has now changed the name of Lay Speakers to Lay Servants I guess, because too many people thought that it was just a group of folks that were trained to give sermons on Sunday morning. That wasn't the case though. It was for Lay members to be trained as Leaders of their congregations in such a wide variety of areas to specialize in, not just, and only, speaking/preaching on Sunday morning. The new named program has some new ways of instruction, and new terminology to learn. But this is about the teams that our little congregation in a little town just outside of Las Vegas Nevada developed into something that we are all very humbled but proud of. When Pat and I left that wonderful little church, the membership had grown to over 200+ members, two Worship Services on Sunday, Dinner and Bible Study on Wednesday nights and a Lay Speaking Team of 28 Certified Lay Speakers and one Local Lay Speaker. The one was only because there is a one year "discovery" period for the candidate to feel their way into what ministry they are gifted in. I suppose it didn't hurt that four years earlier, I had been asked to be the North District Director of Lay Speaking ministry, but there was a lot of excited and "Jazzed for Jesus" folks that wanted to DO for Jesus! Kevin, Rosemary and Pat were there at the right time to participate and grow in Christ with all the excitement of learning together, doing together, and sharing the Love of Jesus and His Father, God, as we all grew in the church. I remember it as a time of individual growth, throughout the whole district, which encompassed from Central Nevada, to the northern communities of Arizona, like Winslow, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu, Kingman, and Needles to name a few. There were about 30 churches and our district had developed about 143 Lay Speakers because we had a training team that went out to these remote churches and trained their members how to serve God and His church. What a glorious time we had doing God's work. What was interesting is that the Clergy supported our program with everything they could help, to make things happen. What a fantastic time!
One of the rewarding parts of serving God and his Churches was that we could do it with friends that loved Jesus too! What a team we had. Another couple that were instrumental in this process were Paul and Linda. They were my "away training team", even when I could go with, they were always there to do what was necessary to make it happen. Paul has since gone home with the Lord, and Linda has started her new life serving God as a Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church and has been appointed the church in Caliente, NV, serving as their Pastor. See what God has for us all in giving us all our own special gifts to share His word? Some are preachers, some are care givers, some are hospital and nursing home visitation folks, some are hospitality specialists. Others are Sunday School teachers, and still others are perhaps musicians or song leaders/singers. Who knows what gifts have been given to folks that can be used to share the story of Jesus and the Love that He has . . . or you. Isn't that wonderful?
All this because I saw Rosemary's Facebook page comments and our "visitation". It brings back some memories of friends of many years, of which some have been mentioned in this blog, and others too many to share at one time....maybe more later. I sure hope that you, the reader, have memories and wonderful recollections of the great friends you have developed over your lifetime. They are priceless...each and every one of them. If you can, then you have been blessed by God. And we all rejoice in that. BTW: time: 1:15am Monday Time really passes by quickly doesn't it?
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,
Blessings,
Gary
I was excited about all the people in our congregation that were lead to seek the United Methodist Lay Speaking Program enough to put their gifts in action as leaders of the church. The UMC has now changed the name of Lay Speakers to Lay Servants I guess, because too many people thought that it was just a group of folks that were trained to give sermons on Sunday morning. That wasn't the case though. It was for Lay members to be trained as Leaders of their congregations in such a wide variety of areas to specialize in, not just, and only, speaking/preaching on Sunday morning. The new named program has some new ways of instruction, and new terminology to learn. But this is about the teams that our little congregation in a little town just outside of Las Vegas Nevada developed into something that we are all very humbled but proud of. When Pat and I left that wonderful little church, the membership had grown to over 200+ members, two Worship Services on Sunday, Dinner and Bible Study on Wednesday nights and a Lay Speaking Team of 28 Certified Lay Speakers and one Local Lay Speaker. The one was only because there is a one year "discovery" period for the candidate to feel their way into what ministry they are gifted in. I suppose it didn't hurt that four years earlier, I had been asked to be the North District Director of Lay Speaking ministry, but there was a lot of excited and "Jazzed for Jesus" folks that wanted to DO for Jesus! Kevin, Rosemary and Pat were there at the right time to participate and grow in Christ with all the excitement of learning together, doing together, and sharing the Love of Jesus and His Father, God, as we all grew in the church. I remember it as a time of individual growth, throughout the whole district, which encompassed from Central Nevada, to the northern communities of Arizona, like Winslow, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu, Kingman, and Needles to name a few. There were about 30 churches and our district had developed about 143 Lay Speakers because we had a training team that went out to these remote churches and trained their members how to serve God and His church. What a glorious time we had doing God's work. What was interesting is that the Clergy supported our program with everything they could help, to make things happen. What a fantastic time!
One of the rewarding parts of serving God and his Churches was that we could do it with friends that loved Jesus too! What a team we had. Another couple that were instrumental in this process were Paul and Linda. They were my "away training team", even when I could go with, they were always there to do what was necessary to make it happen. Paul has since gone home with the Lord, and Linda has started her new life serving God as a Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church and has been appointed the church in Caliente, NV, serving as their Pastor. See what God has for us all in giving us all our own special gifts to share His word? Some are preachers, some are care givers, some are hospital and nursing home visitation folks, some are hospitality specialists. Others are Sunday School teachers, and still others are perhaps musicians or song leaders/singers. Who knows what gifts have been given to folks that can be used to share the story of Jesus and the Love that He has . . . or you. Isn't that wonderful?
All this because I saw Rosemary's Facebook page comments and our "visitation". It brings back some memories of friends of many years, of which some have been mentioned in this blog, and others too many to share at one time....maybe more later. I sure hope that you, the reader, have memories and wonderful recollections of the great friends you have developed over your lifetime. They are priceless...each and every one of them. If you can, then you have been blessed by God. And we all rejoice in that. BTW: time: 1:15am Monday Time really passes by quickly doesn't it?
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,
Blessings,
Gary
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Are You . . . YOU?
What a day, or should I say: What a night. Couldn't sleep worth a darn last night. Must be getting a cold or worse yet . . . . allergies. My nose stuffs up and with my breathing mask on at night, it kept waking me up because I felt like I was not able to breath at all! So, when it got to be 6:15 I decided to get up, make up the bed, because Pat is an early riser, and get ready for my appointment trip to the car dealer to get tires and an alignment for 8:30. Being a convicted country boy now, living in a town where rush hour is right after church when there are 5 cars on the road within sight, I figured I needed to leave by 7 to account for the "big city rush hour" on Wednesday morning. Being that I didn't have anything else to do, now that I got out of bed and dressed, I left a little early and wouldn't you know? The traffic was extremely light and I got there at 7:35! I beat the first appointment person there. They were ready for early birds like me and I was served with dignity and warmth that I have found from every visit I have had, with Alan Vines Hyundai Dealership. After getting back home around 9 o'clock, it was wonderful to be where the traffic is lighter and home is always a wonderful place to be. They know me there. Actually, SHE knows me there. I get treated pretty darn good around the house. Pat was in a re-organization mode in my absence, rearranging the pantry, back room and her office. God forbid the cleaning lady see's our house messy! Looking at my office, I cringe if I get the request to straighten it up! ha ha. All three of my guitars are out, AND their cases, my desk has just about enough space on it to put my arms in front of the key board. I was cleaning my closet out for the big garage sale and found a couple 500G external hard drives that had quit working but now seem to be behaving properly again. So now I have super extra file storage space....like a combined 2 terabytes of hard drives! I better find some time to do some more picture scanning, now that I have mucho space to file them! It has been a long day today, but as usual, it is still fun from "get up to go to". What a life.
Tomorrow I MUST get my practicing done. I have another guitar student as of yesterday. The one thing I preach to those that want to learn to play an instrument, is the absolute need to practice at least a half hour every day, at the beginning. Then once your fingers have been toughened up, more practice won't hurt you. Since I got my Dobro guitar I must admit, I have not practiced very much. If I want to play (which I do) I must discipline myself to practice. Same with my Mandolin...that is lacking as well.
I have just finished (for right now) a Fellowship Song book for evening services, etc. that I can play at, and lead the music. I also have a "Meditative Worship"/music worship, to develop for potential use in the near future. To do the best at what is needed, music practice in imperative. So when I have set these goals for myself, I need to get beyond the dreaming stage and into the doing stage. Part of that is practice, like I tell my guitar students. If I do that, then I can have a clean conscience, and that gives meaning to "practice what you preach". You know, that can be true with most everything you talk about and do in life. Are we the same person when we are outside the house, as we are when we are by ourselves? Do we actually do what we profess when outside that we do inside? I know I am working hard at being who I am, wherever I am. It is a lot easier on everything and everyone that way.
So, it is about time to shut down for the night, as my eye lids are starting to make seeing more difficult.
I'll leave this with you tonight: Be who you say you are. It makes your life so much easier to live.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Tomorrow I MUST get my practicing done. I have another guitar student as of yesterday. The one thing I preach to those that want to learn to play an instrument, is the absolute need to practice at least a half hour every day, at the beginning. Then once your fingers have been toughened up, more practice won't hurt you. Since I got my Dobro guitar I must admit, I have not practiced very much. If I want to play (which I do) I must discipline myself to practice. Same with my Mandolin...that is lacking as well.
I have just finished (for right now) a Fellowship Song book for evening services, etc. that I can play at, and lead the music. I also have a "Meditative Worship"/music worship, to develop for potential use in the near future. To do the best at what is needed, music practice in imperative. So when I have set these goals for myself, I need to get beyond the dreaming stage and into the doing stage. Part of that is practice, like I tell my guitar students. If I do that, then I can have a clean conscience, and that gives meaning to "practice what you preach". You know, that can be true with most everything you talk about and do in life. Are we the same person when we are outside the house, as we are when we are by ourselves? Do we actually do what we profess when outside that we do inside? I know I am working hard at being who I am, wherever I am. It is a lot easier on everything and everyone that way.
So, it is about time to shut down for the night, as my eye lids are starting to make seeing more difficult.
I'll leave this with you tonight: Be who you say you are. It makes your life so much easier to live.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Monday, July 15, 2013
Pet People or Not
We have two Mini Schnauzers, Wendy and Sarge.
Wendy being the older and wiser, is also the female and barks a lot. Sarge, named after Sergeant Shultz of and old TV show Hogan's Heroes, that was the German guard that overlooked most of what was going on by saying "I know nothing". An Aunt of Pat's calls Sarge a "Toys R us" dog, he will never grow up. Yesterday they were let outside in the early evening for 10-15 minutes and when Pat called them in, Sarge was acting a little funny and wouldn't look up at Pat as he usually does. Pat closed the door before he could get in and started calling me saying she thought he had something in his mouth. I rushed to the back door and went out side. As I did, Sarge was standing off on the grass until I called him over. There was a couple feathers peaking out from his mouth, so I gave him the command he just HATES . . . "Leave it, Sarge!" a couple times. He did and has now kept up his record of the last four years of one bird kill a year! So once he dropped it, I checked his mouth to make sure it was completely empty and then let him in. I had to pick up the remains and double bagged it and it went right into the trash can. Obviously he didn't get his treat for coming in, like they usually do. Wendy got her's while Sarge and I were doing our thing, so I think she told him about it later. Girls do that you know. ha ha ha Our bird adventure wasn't over though. Later on, I heard Pat calling me again! Raw bird didn't set well with Sarges stomach. So now I had the task of cleaning THAT up. That is a job I don't really care for, but accept because it is worse if Pat does it because then I have TWO to clean up after! The joys of having indoor dogs for pets. We wouldn't trade having them or the pleasure they give for anything.
Now with our newest addition Lucy, the little tuxedo cat, it is a very interesting household. I don't have her picture to show you, as it is on Pat's computer. Granddaughter Kaci has labeled her "Ninja Kitty"because of her habit of streaking across the room and jumping on a chair or the couch, turning around and streaking off, out of sight. She enjoys lurking in one of the living room chairs for Sarge or Wendy to walk by, the pounce on them and run away! Good thing we had her front claws removed, or the dogs would be pretty scared up by now!
So that is kind of like what our house is about, with those that live here. As the dogs get older, they are not as active as they use to be, but then neither are Pat and I. Then Lucy came along and perked us all up a bit. Keeps us laughing.
We love our pets and can't figure out how households without a dog or cat in the house get along. We would have a very boring house, if something wasn't happening...Wendy barking at a car driving by or a leaf blowing across the front porch, or even Sarge thinking he is a bird dog! Then there's Lucy, tromping down the hallway, ready for action. Looking back in time, we have actually cut back on the wildlife in our house. At one time, many years ago in North Minneapolis, I had tropical fish, in a 55 gal, 35 gal Hex, 29 gal, 6-10 gal, and a 15 gal extra high Aquariums filled with fish, plus a dog or two and two cats. Asking if we are "Pet People"? I think we qualify.
We have a good friend in Henderson that has a very large bird as a pet. It doesn't like men very much, so I never got too close to it, but it is a very good looking bird and Miss Vickie sure does love him. So we all have our preferences in our pets, and that is good. My oldest son David had a ball python at one time. THAT was interesting, and now he has two dogs, one which he rescued because she was gun shy, which isn't a good trait when she is a hunting dog! She makes a better house pet anyway. My youngest son Todd and his wife Shannon seem to acquire strays a lot. Beside their own bulldog, german shepherd mix, black lab, a cat, and a couple sugar babies, they have occasional strays staying until their owners can be found, and with their four daughters, I have to admit, it is an interesting and active house! I have found that there is LOVE and WARMTH in homes that care for their animal members.
Let me know how you are doing with your pets in the comment section at the bottom of this article. It would be fun to see the variety and stories you have to share. We are all God's creation, and I think we are our animal friends caretakers.
Keep singing, keep praying, and keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
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| Wendy ( a few years ago) |
 |
| Sarge (a few years ago) |
Wendy being the older and wiser, is also the female and barks a lot. Sarge, named after Sergeant Shultz of and old TV show Hogan's Heroes, that was the German guard that overlooked most of what was going on by saying "I know nothing". An Aunt of Pat's calls Sarge a "Toys R us" dog, he will never grow up. Yesterday they were let outside in the early evening for 10-15 minutes and when Pat called them in, Sarge was acting a little funny and wouldn't look up at Pat as he usually does. Pat closed the door before he could get in and started calling me saying she thought he had something in his mouth. I rushed to the back door and went out side. As I did, Sarge was standing off on the grass until I called him over. There was a couple feathers peaking out from his mouth, so I gave him the command he just HATES . . . "Leave it, Sarge!" a couple times. He did and has now kept up his record of the last four years of one bird kill a year! So once he dropped it, I checked his mouth to make sure it was completely empty and then let him in. I had to pick up the remains and double bagged it and it went right into the trash can. Obviously he didn't get his treat for coming in, like they usually do. Wendy got her's while Sarge and I were doing our thing, so I think she told him about it later. Girls do that you know. ha ha ha Our bird adventure wasn't over though. Later on, I heard Pat calling me again! Raw bird didn't set well with Sarges stomach. So now I had the task of cleaning THAT up. That is a job I don't really care for, but accept because it is worse if Pat does it because then I have TWO to clean up after! The joys of having indoor dogs for pets. We wouldn't trade having them or the pleasure they give for anything.
Now with our newest addition Lucy, the little tuxedo cat, it is a very interesting household. I don't have her picture to show you, as it is on Pat's computer. Granddaughter Kaci has labeled her "Ninja Kitty"because of her habit of streaking across the room and jumping on a chair or the couch, turning around and streaking off, out of sight. She enjoys lurking in one of the living room chairs for Sarge or Wendy to walk by, the pounce on them and run away! Good thing we had her front claws removed, or the dogs would be pretty scared up by now!
So that is kind of like what our house is about, with those that live here. As the dogs get older, they are not as active as they use to be, but then neither are Pat and I. Then Lucy came along and perked us all up a bit. Keeps us laughing.
We love our pets and can't figure out how households without a dog or cat in the house get along. We would have a very boring house, if something wasn't happening...Wendy barking at a car driving by or a leaf blowing across the front porch, or even Sarge thinking he is a bird dog! Then there's Lucy, tromping down the hallway, ready for action. Looking back in time, we have actually cut back on the wildlife in our house. At one time, many years ago in North Minneapolis, I had tropical fish, in a 55 gal, 35 gal Hex, 29 gal, 6-10 gal, and a 15 gal extra high Aquariums filled with fish, plus a dog or two and two cats. Asking if we are "Pet People"? I think we qualify.
We have a good friend in Henderson that has a very large bird as a pet. It doesn't like men very much, so I never got too close to it, but it is a very good looking bird and Miss Vickie sure does love him. So we all have our preferences in our pets, and that is good. My oldest son David had a ball python at one time. THAT was interesting, and now he has two dogs, one which he rescued because she was gun shy, which isn't a good trait when she is a hunting dog! She makes a better house pet anyway. My youngest son Todd and his wife Shannon seem to acquire strays a lot. Beside their own bulldog, german shepherd mix, black lab, a cat, and a couple sugar babies, they have occasional strays staying until their owners can be found, and with their four daughters, I have to admit, it is an interesting and active house! I have found that there is LOVE and WARMTH in homes that care for their animal members.
Let me know how you are doing with your pets in the comment section at the bottom of this article. It would be fun to see the variety and stories you have to share. We are all God's creation, and I think we are our animal friends caretakers.
Keep singing, keep praying, and keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
How many people do you know that are really excited about a new day starting, or a new event to go to? Or perhaps a new experience like a new song to learn, or for those that love to act, a new part to memorize? Maybe a looked forward to all year long a two week vacation to arrive? How boring life would be if we didn't have something to look forward to. If all you did was get up in the morning, go to work, come home watch TV and then go to bed, to start all over again in the morning, would not be a very fruitful life, wouldn't you agree? Then if that is the case, what other "things" do you really look forward to doing that gives you enjoyment?
There are so many things that I enjoy doing, learning, experiencing, that there is not time enough in the day to cram it all in! I love to read. I was email talking to my cousin the other day and we were discussing reading books. I told here I usually have two books going at the same time. One is for when I am at home and find time to pick it up and read a bit, and the other is in my equipment tot that goes with me whenever I leave the house. I carry my electrical plug for my machine so I don't have to rely on the battery, extra hose, blood oxygen meter, medication chart that I am taking daily, and back-up three hour battery PLUS a book! Quite often, I get really caught up in a part and will do some more reading when I get home. But mostly read it while waiting for our food to come while out for a lunch or early supper somewhere. We both enjoy reading. Then there is my music. I am now finishing my first set of 25, Song books for Sunday evening church when it starts up again. They are a collection of music that I know the tunes to and some of them are going to be new to those that come to the Sunday evening worship before Bible Study. The youth seem to really enjoy hearing a guitar played with the music, so am excited to be able to furnish that for them. Being in graphic arts most of my life, I enjoy putting together printed booklets, flyers, etc. Church is where these things usually are produced for. Recently (several months ago) I put a little tract together from an idea I got while visiting my cousin and her husband in Alabama this last year. We went to a Wednesday night meal and what I would call WORSHIP, but don't know what the real name of it would be called. I was so impressed and got really excited about the message that I took it home and wrote a sermon based on Matthew 9:36-38. It became a three part message and I finished the series up with giving everyone a tract to take home and contemplate a while and see if they could come up with a personal plan about their walk with Jesus. The tract was redesigned from what we were given at the Alabama Church, because that's what I do. I love to make things look good. It was called "Laborers of the Harvest". It is nine simple question headings, with two or three specific questions under that main question, designed to make one think of the important things in life and how they live it. For example: Proclaiming Truth We're NOT living Is my private lifestyle consistent with what I proclaim to others? • Now there is a question that hits most people right where it hurts! It isn't only the occasional televangelist that gets caught up in real life of opposite realities, but we as human beings can also get caught up in it ourselves. So, this is what I offered for my congregation to contemplate. What I understand now is that there are varying levels of tolerance when talking about a subject such as this. Where I thought I was making headway in something of value to those I was responsible for spiritually, and which I take very seriously, was a little less accepted than I had hoped. Will it deter me from proclaiming the Word of God as I feel that God is directing me to? No. It is up to God, if that is what HE wants of me, I am listening. I am waiting. I am continuing to prepare myself to be a servant of God and feel that He has been preparing me for something special, and am praying that I am smart enough to recognize what it is, soon enough to act on it. Until that time comes, I will continue to pray for guidance. I am not a theology scholar. I am a man that has many faults, but am trying to overcome to show others that it is God in my life that makes a difference on how I live, how I raise my family, how I treat people that I come in contact with, not just family and close friends, but every one. My job right now is "Retired Printer/retired Military guy", but my real job. . . the purpose of my life that God has been grooming me for, is still to come. I know it. I can feel God's presence every day. It is what I enjoy, because it makes God happy.
I am learning that people come in all kinds of packages. Some are clear plastic...others are cast iron. God is involved no matter what package and what baggage we have in these packages we call our LIFE. I may be waiting, but it isn't a static wait. It is an ACTIVE wait. It is a "doing" wait. I am preparing, by prayer, reading, watching and listening for that whisper.
I am praying for everyone who is reading this today. There are some of you that I don't even know. How cool is that? That statistics have someone in Europe and even Russia reading what I write. I don't know your names, but I am praying that I am somehow making some kind of a difference in your life. May God whisper for you too. In order to hear His whisper, one must be listening for it. It is then that you know what needs to be done. Help your fellow man. Love each other. This is real life stuff here. The days of the Hippies of the Sixty's have gone. This is the real time. Help each other through difficulties and trying times. Then you can share in the excitement of the results. It will make your days exciting! You will WANT to get up in the morning and get going. Try it out, and try to prove me wrong. You will be so surprised!
GOD bless each and every one.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,
Blessings,
Gary
There are so many things that I enjoy doing, learning, experiencing, that there is not time enough in the day to cram it all in! I love to read. I was email talking to my cousin the other day and we were discussing reading books. I told here I usually have two books going at the same time. One is for when I am at home and find time to pick it up and read a bit, and the other is in my equipment tot that goes with me whenever I leave the house. I carry my electrical plug for my machine so I don't have to rely on the battery, extra hose, blood oxygen meter, medication chart that I am taking daily, and back-up three hour battery PLUS a book! Quite often, I get really caught up in a part and will do some more reading when I get home. But mostly read it while waiting for our food to come while out for a lunch or early supper somewhere. We both enjoy reading. Then there is my music. I am now finishing my first set of 25, Song books for Sunday evening church when it starts up again. They are a collection of music that I know the tunes to and some of them are going to be new to those that come to the Sunday evening worship before Bible Study. The youth seem to really enjoy hearing a guitar played with the music, so am excited to be able to furnish that for them. Being in graphic arts most of my life, I enjoy putting together printed booklets, flyers, etc. Church is where these things usually are produced for. Recently (several months ago) I put a little tract together from an idea I got while visiting my cousin and her husband in Alabama this last year. We went to a Wednesday night meal and what I would call WORSHIP, but don't know what the real name of it would be called. I was so impressed and got really excited about the message that I took it home and wrote a sermon based on Matthew 9:36-38. It became a three part message and I finished the series up with giving everyone a tract to take home and contemplate a while and see if they could come up with a personal plan about their walk with Jesus. The tract was redesigned from what we were given at the Alabama Church, because that's what I do. I love to make things look good. It was called "Laborers of the Harvest". It is nine simple question headings, with two or three specific questions under that main question, designed to make one think of the important things in life and how they live it. For example: Proclaiming Truth We're NOT living Is my private lifestyle consistent with what I proclaim to others? • Now there is a question that hits most people right where it hurts! It isn't only the occasional televangelist that gets caught up in real life of opposite realities, but we as human beings can also get caught up in it ourselves. So, this is what I offered for my congregation to contemplate. What I understand now is that there are varying levels of tolerance when talking about a subject such as this. Where I thought I was making headway in something of value to those I was responsible for spiritually, and which I take very seriously, was a little less accepted than I had hoped. Will it deter me from proclaiming the Word of God as I feel that God is directing me to? No. It is up to God, if that is what HE wants of me, I am listening. I am waiting. I am continuing to prepare myself to be a servant of God and feel that He has been preparing me for something special, and am praying that I am smart enough to recognize what it is, soon enough to act on it. Until that time comes, I will continue to pray for guidance. I am not a theology scholar. I am a man that has many faults, but am trying to overcome to show others that it is God in my life that makes a difference on how I live, how I raise my family, how I treat people that I come in contact with, not just family and close friends, but every one. My job right now is "Retired Printer/retired Military guy", but my real job. . . the purpose of my life that God has been grooming me for, is still to come. I know it. I can feel God's presence every day. It is what I enjoy, because it makes God happy.
I am learning that people come in all kinds of packages. Some are clear plastic...others are cast iron. God is involved no matter what package and what baggage we have in these packages we call our LIFE. I may be waiting, but it isn't a static wait. It is an ACTIVE wait. It is a "doing" wait. I am preparing, by prayer, reading, watching and listening for that whisper.
I am praying for everyone who is reading this today. There are some of you that I don't even know. How cool is that? That statistics have someone in Europe and even Russia reading what I write. I don't know your names, but I am praying that I am somehow making some kind of a difference in your life. May God whisper for you too. In order to hear His whisper, one must be listening for it. It is then that you know what needs to be done. Help your fellow man. Love each other. This is real life stuff here. The days of the Hippies of the Sixty's have gone. This is the real time. Help each other through difficulties and trying times. Then you can share in the excitement of the results. It will make your days exciting! You will WANT to get up in the morning and get going. Try it out, and try to prove me wrong. You will be so surprised!
GOD bless each and every one.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,
Blessings,
Gary
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Family Pride
The year was 1966. I had just finished a tour of sea duty on the USS Shangri-la CVA-38. I was a Lithographer (printer) 3rd Class. My next tour was CINCLANTFLT (that is: Commander In Chief Atlantic Fleet) Headquarters. We were down the road from the main base, Norfolk, Naval Station and the Naval Air Station on what they call a "remote station". I guess that was just as well, as the traffic on NOB at rush hour was horrible! We were tucked away, off the main drag, as I recall. Nice and quiet. There were of course the Admiral's office buildings, a couple men's barracks, the Flag (Admirals are called "flag officers") Unit Admin. buildings, a couple security administration buildings and the mess hall. Oh, and the largest all Navy printing plant that the Navy had at the time. I am not sure if it is even in existence yet, the way the printing trade has been taken over with high speed copiers, etc....but that's a story for another time. The plant was a block long and had a good size crew from 3rd Class Petty Officers (E-4) to the Senior Chief (E-8) and a Lt. as the Officer In Charge. It was a highly restricted access, because of what we printed. In other words, no one that didn't have the proper badge didn't get to see beyond the office. It was an interesting place, and I enjoyed working there. I ended up working in the office, which was the best place I could have worked! The Chief's and I got along very well, and I guess they wanted me there, as quite often before they put me in the front with them, they were often asking "Where is Petty Officer Saffell?" I had been assigned a medium size, one man press, and didn't like presswork. I am not all that mechanical, and I was miserable. So I would roam around the bindery department, camera department, and the letterpress department seeing if they needed help. So I ended up in the front office checking in jobs that were coming into the shop. It was a job that required interaction with the unit that was getting their job produced, and it usually involved making sure every piece of paper was accounted for. The Chief's and the OIC liked what I did, and how I was doing it. I really enjoyed the job, especially when the only window in the whole building was the glass front door!
The Shangri-la was in dry dock up in Philadelphia when I left her. I was there over winter and it is COLD in Philly in the winter. If it wasn't that I was already used to it, living in Minnesota and all, I would have been totally miserable. But I had fun while we were in Philly, because I found a coffee house that had folk music jam sessions in the evenings. I learned a few good songs that I later sang to Pat while we were dating and subsequently married. It was a pretty weird experience, as I was about the only short haired guy sitting around drinking coffee and learning the songs. It was the time of the "Hippies". I was treated like one of the musicians which were basically all who were there. It was a wonderful time. Then I got transferred to CINCLANTFLT, and as they say, the rest is history. The fact that I had a four door car made me the "taxi" for my friends. I knew I would be, which is why I bought a four door car, and drove it from Minneapolis to Norfolk on Transfer leave between assignments.
The reason for all this "history" is coming to the front, so hang in there with me. I had moved off base after a while with a couple other guys from our barracks. Can't remember why now, it was so many years ago, but I do remember the New Years Eve of 1966. We couldn't find dates evidently, so we stayed at the apartment (second floor of a house with an outside stairway) until midnight when we heard a trumpet playing close by. We barreled out the door and down the steps and homed in on the music. I guess we scared the kid who was on his front porch playing as we came running down the sidewalk. He dove back into his house and by the time we got to his house he was peeking out the curtains of his living room. We tried pleading with him to come out and play more. He wouldn't so we went back to the apartment, and I cooked some scrambled eggs and minute steaks, which we ate and sat back listening to the music which was on a low volume and guess we drifted off to sleep. Shortly afterwards though there was a loud knocking our door! Stan went and answered the door and it was the Norfolk Police! As Stan opened the door and the Officer was walking into our apartment, I was sitting up from the couch rubbing my eyes, and Wendy was sound asleep on a bed. The cop said to Stan that there was a complaint that a wild party was going on up here and they were called to take care of it. After barely able to hear the music that was still playing, and seeing one guy sleeping and two others obviously just waking, said they must be mistaken, and wished us a Happy New Year and left! We are some real party goers and rowdy bunch of guys!!!!
It was shortly afterwards that I felt the need to take some courses at Old Dominion College (for whatever reason I couldn't imagine). So I went over to the Personnel Office and put in a request for tuition aid as I was just a poor sailor and needed the help. I was shown who I needed to talk to, to get the request forms filled out. That someone was Seaman Patricia Todd. I really liked what I saw, and after a couple false starts, and a couple turn downs, finally got a date with this fine looking and intelligent woman. Our first date was a triple date with Stan, Wendy and their girlfriends from the Air Station. I had forgotten to fill Pat in on that point. When I escorted her to my car, there were two sailors sitting in the back seat! Everything smoothed out when we got their dates and off we went. We went to a coffee house named the Guilded Cage which was having a folk singer, guitarist, that I wanted to hear. Wendy left early because he and his date were going to a unit party. So that left Stan, his date and Pat and I. We closed the the place and had such a great evening that I after I got Pat back to her barracks, I had to get to work as it was my duty day that started at 7:00 am.
We saw each other every day from that day forward until we married at the Base Chapel on March 18th, with a few of our friends which included Stan and Wendy, and a few others....I think 12 all together. That was March 18, 1967. What a life we have shared since then. It turns out that what we did was, started a family tradition that continues now with one of our granddaughters, Jess Saffell. Pat was the first lady Navy member, our Daughter in law Mischell, married to oldest David, and now her daughter Jess. Isn't that was wonderful legacy? I am so proud of them.
Since Jess is still in Boot Camp, and is doing very well, I don't have a picture of her in uniform yet. She is planning to be in the Medical Corps field.
The Shangri-la was in dry dock up in Philadelphia when I left her. I was there over winter and it is COLD in Philly in the winter. If it wasn't that I was already used to it, living in Minnesota and all, I would have been totally miserable. But I had fun while we were in Philly, because I found a coffee house that had folk music jam sessions in the evenings. I learned a few good songs that I later sang to Pat while we were dating and subsequently married. It was a pretty weird experience, as I was about the only short haired guy sitting around drinking coffee and learning the songs. It was the time of the "Hippies". I was treated like one of the musicians which were basically all who were there. It was a wonderful time. Then I got transferred to CINCLANTFLT, and as they say, the rest is history. The fact that I had a four door car made me the "taxi" for my friends. I knew I would be, which is why I bought a four door car, and drove it from Minneapolis to Norfolk on Transfer leave between assignments.
The reason for all this "history" is coming to the front, so hang in there with me. I had moved off base after a while with a couple other guys from our barracks. Can't remember why now, it was so many years ago, but I do remember the New Years Eve of 1966. We couldn't find dates evidently, so we stayed at the apartment (second floor of a house with an outside stairway) until midnight when we heard a trumpet playing close by. We barreled out the door and down the steps and homed in on the music. I guess we scared the kid who was on his front porch playing as we came running down the sidewalk. He dove back into his house and by the time we got to his house he was peeking out the curtains of his living room. We tried pleading with him to come out and play more. He wouldn't so we went back to the apartment, and I cooked some scrambled eggs and minute steaks, which we ate and sat back listening to the music which was on a low volume and guess we drifted off to sleep. Shortly afterwards though there was a loud knocking our door! Stan went and answered the door and it was the Norfolk Police! As Stan opened the door and the Officer was walking into our apartment, I was sitting up from the couch rubbing my eyes, and Wendy was sound asleep on a bed. The cop said to Stan that there was a complaint that a wild party was going on up here and they were called to take care of it. After barely able to hear the music that was still playing, and seeing one guy sleeping and two others obviously just waking, said they must be mistaken, and wished us a Happy New Year and left! We are some real party goers and rowdy bunch of guys!!!!
It was shortly afterwards that I felt the need to take some courses at Old Dominion College (for whatever reason I couldn't imagine). So I went over to the Personnel Office and put in a request for tuition aid as I was just a poor sailor and needed the help. I was shown who I needed to talk to, to get the request forms filled out. That someone was Seaman Patricia Todd. I really liked what I saw, and after a couple false starts, and a couple turn downs, finally got a date with this fine looking and intelligent woman. Our first date was a triple date with Stan, Wendy and their girlfriends from the Air Station. I had forgotten to fill Pat in on that point. When I escorted her to my car, there were two sailors sitting in the back seat! Everything smoothed out when we got their dates and off we went. We went to a coffee house named the Guilded Cage which was having a folk singer, guitarist, that I wanted to hear. Wendy left early because he and his date were going to a unit party. So that left Stan, his date and Pat and I. We closed the the place and had such a great evening that I after I got Pat back to her barracks, I had to get to work as it was my duty day that started at 7:00 am.
We saw each other every day from that day forward until we married at the Base Chapel on March 18th, with a few of our friends which included Stan and Wendy, and a few others....I think 12 all together. That was March 18, 1967. What a life we have shared since then. It turns out that what we did was, started a family tradition that continues now with one of our granddaughters, Jess Saffell. Pat was the first lady Navy member, our Daughter in law Mischell, married to oldest David, and now her daughter Jess. Isn't that was wonderful legacy? I am so proud of them.
 |
| Personnel Seaman Patricia (now Saffell) |
 |
| Petty Officer Third Class Yeoman Mischell (now Saffell) |
I have been so blessed by having the ladies in my family stepping up and taking responsibility to serve their country in the military, which isn't an easy thing for anyone. I wonder how far this line will go, but it has a firm base to go for many years. I salute all women who have served our country in whatever branch they have chosen. I have a friend that was a Col. in the Medical Field in the Army, and many friends over the years in the Reserve Units that I have served. All women of integrity and honor. I thank them for their service.
The point of my story today: A family based in the military is a blessed family because they are grounded in reality of life. Not everything goes well ... all the time. There are difficult times as well as the great times. Being in the military for . . . I think most of us . . . gives us challenges that we go through together and THAT gives us strength to work through it. If you know of or see a lady service member, PLEASE go up to her and THANK her for her service.
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Memories . . .
Why is it that when I should be going to bed at night that I get to do my BEST thinking? Of course BEST is a subjective word in this use! We had our first day of the big garage sale today. Wife Pat is so good at organizing . . . whatever it is, she is excellent at organizing it! It looked pretty dim at first this morning as being 4th of July, with the parade in Dyer then the one in Kenton later in the morning, the customer rate was a slow start. We could tell when the first parade was over as more folks started showing up and it became pretty fun, visiting with the people looking for a good deal. We had them, and are going to be ready again in the morning...and then again Saturday. Looks like we might be doing this again next weekend and possibly the weened after that! The treasures we acquire through the years.
Seeing things that I haven't seen in years brings back memories. I'm sure everyone can relate with that. At one point, a teen ager and his Mom were looking around and we had some electronics out, one being a monitor and a couple printers, that the young man was interested in. As I was showing him the printer, we had, what I call a fairly modern typewriter, he asked what it was. I took the cover off and showed him it was indeed a typewriter. On the underside of the cover was the sales slip taped. It was dated 1987 and cost $189.00. We were selling it for $20. He was amazed at what it was! I guess my age was showing, as disguising my thoughts is not one of my best features. The young man showed that he was brought up in a loving home on how he and his Mother talked to each other. That was refreshing to see. In our visiting, I spoke of my boys and how when they were young, I was busy working and trying to provide a safe, and comfortable home for them. Now that they are grown, and have families of their own, and I am kind of, sort of, retired, I get to finally play games with them on the computer. What a joy it is for me, and what a gift it was from my oldest son, David when he brought the game and loaded it on my computer several years ago, along with a communication program that we could talk to each other while playing. I keep that program on all the time, just in case he and my other son are by their computers, we can visit. Of course the telephone does the same thing, for that kind of talking, but still . . .
With Daughter Amy up the road a piece, we get to visit with her most every day. But with the boys so far away, it is always good to be able to visit via the Ventrilo program or the in-game typing "chat". We are very blessed to have children that have grown up respecting their parents. I get a great deal of pleasure by playing with my kids now that I have time to do so. Before, I am so thankful they understood that I loved them, but providing for them was my focus at that time.
So today when I am seeing some of our history up front and personal, these memories come to the front, and I am strangely warmed. How blessed I am that our children have grown to be excellent providers for their families and are bringing up their children (all GIRLS....but that is another story) to grow in a warm caring family with respect as well. I am praying that the legacy of kindness and respect will be continued on for the many, many families that follow us. We have a good start....starting with my grandparents, now us, then them......etc.
Those are my thoughts for today....I am happy and content. Happy Birthday AMERICA!
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Seeing things that I haven't seen in years brings back memories. I'm sure everyone can relate with that. At one point, a teen ager and his Mom were looking around and we had some electronics out, one being a monitor and a couple printers, that the young man was interested in. As I was showing him the printer, we had, what I call a fairly modern typewriter, he asked what it was. I took the cover off and showed him it was indeed a typewriter. On the underside of the cover was the sales slip taped. It was dated 1987 and cost $189.00. We were selling it for $20. He was amazed at what it was! I guess my age was showing, as disguising my thoughts is not one of my best features. The young man showed that he was brought up in a loving home on how he and his Mother talked to each other. That was refreshing to see. In our visiting, I spoke of my boys and how when they were young, I was busy working and trying to provide a safe, and comfortable home for them. Now that they are grown, and have families of their own, and I am kind of, sort of, retired, I get to finally play games with them on the computer. What a joy it is for me, and what a gift it was from my oldest son, David when he brought the game and loaded it on my computer several years ago, along with a communication program that we could talk to each other while playing. I keep that program on all the time, just in case he and my other son are by their computers, we can visit. Of course the telephone does the same thing, for that kind of talking, but still . . .
With Daughter Amy up the road a piece, we get to visit with her most every day. But with the boys so far away, it is always good to be able to visit via the Ventrilo program or the in-game typing "chat". We are very blessed to have children that have grown up respecting their parents. I get a great deal of pleasure by playing with my kids now that I have time to do so. Before, I am so thankful they understood that I loved them, but providing for them was my focus at that time.
So today when I am seeing some of our history up front and personal, these memories come to the front, and I am strangely warmed. How blessed I am that our children have grown to be excellent providers for their families and are bringing up their children (all GIRLS....but that is another story) to grow in a warm caring family with respect as well. I am praying that the legacy of kindness and respect will be continued on for the many, many families that follow us. We have a good start....starting with my grandparents, now us, then them......etc.
Those are my thoughts for today....I am happy and content. Happy Birthday AMERICA!
Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling
Blessings,
Gary
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sharing...It's a good thing
In these parts there is a TV channel available that is called RFD TV that has shows that are so refreshing and comfortable to watch, especially for an old man that loves music (as y'all know by now). They have shows like Larry's Diner which is a down home show that highlights various music groups and the show host Larry, always starts the show with a Scripture of the day. Now isn't that wonderful? The show is on at 10pm on Sunday. It is preceded by several other shows like the Marty Stewart Show which is fantastic. Marty Stewart has re-runs too, and one is on tonight that I haven't seen. Tonight they have Merl Haggard highlighted. Our Saturday evening is filled with wonderful American music shows even including "Molly B's Polka Party" which highlights Polka bands throughout the country. So it is a night filled with several styles of music and comedy and just "feel good" stuff to take the edge off of every day life.
My life is a wonderful life filled with wonderful things that, as I look back on it, is intertwined with music. I have never been what I would call a professional quality guitar player, but through the years of singing, and playing and trying different styles of music with different instruments, it has been an enjoyable journey. I have a mandolin hanging on my office wall and my new Dobro style style guitar sitting proudly in its new stand, ready for me to practice on it at a moments notice. My Acoustic, Sunday-go-to-church guitar is in the case ready to go at a moments notice. Right now Marty Stewart is playing with Merl Haggard and is playing a mandolin. Makes me want to get mine off the wall and practice it some more.....maybe tomorrow I will have time. There seems to be still so much to do and by the end of a busy day, I have not gotten around to practicing on the new instruments! darn! It seems to be a priority challenge. ha ha
So much enjoyment comes from creating things for personal enjoyment. If by doing whatever it is that you enjoy, will bring enjoyment to others, it makes the effort even better. Music is something that can be enjoyed by many people. When learning an instrument, sometimes to family listening in, can be a moderately painful experience, but time will heal those memories and before you know it, there is actually some recognizable music coming out of the long hours of practice. I feel sorry for Mom when I was first learning to play. I practiced in my upstairs bedroom in an old house. After a very short time of my first practice, Mom told me to put a pillow under my foot! Seems my foot keeping beat was resonating directly downstairs.
I have a good friend that comes over on a semi regular basis so that I can share some things I have learned about guitar playing. Randall is a good student, and is learning several instruments at the same time, so his work is cut out for him. I will shortly be teaching several folks at church how to play the guitar as well. It is going to be a good time! I am excited about sharing what God has blessed me with, and that is the love of music making. I teach the basics of what I have learned about the make up of music, and how to play the basic chords, how normal music is "built" in an order that can be understood and converted to a tone level (key) that can be sung without hurting yourself. So in the next several days, in between helping Pat with the big Garage Sale July 4, 5, 6, I will be busy putting together my study guides for my new guitar players to use. I pray to God that what I do will be to His benefit and praise.
So when you have found a craft or something else that you have developed that you enjoy, consider sharing it with others to enjoy as well. Pat is a crochet person. She has a wonderful talent of making beautiful afghans and has started a prayer shawl ministry at the church I was pastor of a while back. She was teaching others how to crochet, and they had many hours of learning how to crochet and make prayer shawls for others. What a wonderful ministry! So I think that everyone has a gift, a talent. If we are to keep that talent to ourselves, it is of no use to have. We MUST share our gifts that God has provided to us. For some it might be LISTENING. What a wonderful gift to share with others is the ability to visit with a shut-in and sit and listen to them. A lot of times when we are sick or healing from and accident, a visit from someone is just what is needed. Not to be entertained, but to listen, with an occasional word or to to keep the visit going on for a bit. You know what I mean. I remember when I was recovering from a hospital stay and now at home, the church folks took turns coming over with lunch for me. The food was alway great, but I learned that as good as the food was, it was the preparers presence that fed my soul. It was the fact that they had prepared a meal for me and brought it to me and then spent some time with me to visit. So being a listener is a GREAT gift to share.
Whatever it is that you have been blessed with, go out and find a way to share your gift. I know a lot of talented folks that share their gifts with others. My very good FaceBook friend Chuck (Doc) Williams lives in Vegas and I got to see him for the first time on our last trip out there a couple months ago. He is a very talented writer and I have read his books. He shares his life through the printed word. He is very good at what God has blessed him with. Every day I look forward to see what he is up to for that day and what stories he will tell. He uses Facebook a lot like I use this Blog...to share experiences and thoughts. I guess that's what I like about him....not only are we former seafarers, but we are two old men writing about what bugs us and basically whatever we are inspired to talk about at any given moment! So don't be afraid to share what you have been blessed with....it may help someone that really needs to see, hear, or feel your talent in whatever fashion you decide to share it. You will be rewarded, take my word for it...It has for me.
Keep singing, Keep praying, Keep smiling,
Blessings
Gary
My life is a wonderful life filled with wonderful things that, as I look back on it, is intertwined with music. I have never been what I would call a professional quality guitar player, but through the years of singing, and playing and trying different styles of music with different instruments, it has been an enjoyable journey. I have a mandolin hanging on my office wall and my new Dobro style style guitar sitting proudly in its new stand, ready for me to practice on it at a moments notice. My Acoustic, Sunday-go-to-church guitar is in the case ready to go at a moments notice. Right now Marty Stewart is playing with Merl Haggard and is playing a mandolin. Makes me want to get mine off the wall and practice it some more.....maybe tomorrow I will have time. There seems to be still so much to do and by the end of a busy day, I have not gotten around to practicing on the new instruments! darn! It seems to be a priority challenge. ha ha
So much enjoyment comes from creating things for personal enjoyment. If by doing whatever it is that you enjoy, will bring enjoyment to others, it makes the effort even better. Music is something that can be enjoyed by many people. When learning an instrument, sometimes to family listening in, can be a moderately painful experience, but time will heal those memories and before you know it, there is actually some recognizable music coming out of the long hours of practice. I feel sorry for Mom when I was first learning to play. I practiced in my upstairs bedroom in an old house. After a very short time of my first practice, Mom told me to put a pillow under my foot! Seems my foot keeping beat was resonating directly downstairs.
I have a good friend that comes over on a semi regular basis so that I can share some things I have learned about guitar playing. Randall is a good student, and is learning several instruments at the same time, so his work is cut out for him. I will shortly be teaching several folks at church how to play the guitar as well. It is going to be a good time! I am excited about sharing what God has blessed me with, and that is the love of music making. I teach the basics of what I have learned about the make up of music, and how to play the basic chords, how normal music is "built" in an order that can be understood and converted to a tone level (key) that can be sung without hurting yourself. So in the next several days, in between helping Pat with the big Garage Sale July 4, 5, 6, I will be busy putting together my study guides for my new guitar players to use. I pray to God that what I do will be to His benefit and praise.
So when you have found a craft or something else that you have developed that you enjoy, consider sharing it with others to enjoy as well. Pat is a crochet person. She has a wonderful talent of making beautiful afghans and has started a prayer shawl ministry at the church I was pastor of a while back. She was teaching others how to crochet, and they had many hours of learning how to crochet and make prayer shawls for others. What a wonderful ministry! So I think that everyone has a gift, a talent. If we are to keep that talent to ourselves, it is of no use to have. We MUST share our gifts that God has provided to us. For some it might be LISTENING. What a wonderful gift to share with others is the ability to visit with a shut-in and sit and listen to them. A lot of times when we are sick or healing from and accident, a visit from someone is just what is needed. Not to be entertained, but to listen, with an occasional word or to to keep the visit going on for a bit. You know what I mean. I remember when I was recovering from a hospital stay and now at home, the church folks took turns coming over with lunch for me. The food was alway great, but I learned that as good as the food was, it was the preparers presence that fed my soul. It was the fact that they had prepared a meal for me and brought it to me and then spent some time with me to visit. So being a listener is a GREAT gift to share.
Whatever it is that you have been blessed with, go out and find a way to share your gift. I know a lot of talented folks that share their gifts with others. My very good FaceBook friend Chuck (Doc) Williams lives in Vegas and I got to see him for the first time on our last trip out there a couple months ago. He is a very talented writer and I have read his books. He shares his life through the printed word. He is very good at what God has blessed him with. Every day I look forward to see what he is up to for that day and what stories he will tell. He uses Facebook a lot like I use this Blog...to share experiences and thoughts. I guess that's what I like about him....not only are we former seafarers, but we are two old men writing about what bugs us and basically whatever we are inspired to talk about at any given moment! So don't be afraid to share what you have been blessed with....it may help someone that really needs to see, hear, or feel your talent in whatever fashion you decide to share it. You will be rewarded, take my word for it...It has for me.
Keep singing, Keep praying, Keep smiling,
Blessings
Gary
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