I got up this morning, and Tina and I went into Lexington to buy our papers. We get the Statesman, the Chronicle and the Eagle (Bryan-College Station). All over the front pages of each of these papers were images of the LATE Saddam Hussein. He has been executed two months after his conviction. Hmmm, maybe we can learn something from them.
I also noticed, on one of the following pages of the Eagle, they had listed other men who have left their mark in History for their diabolical and murderous leaderships. Among them were Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Manuel Noriega and Idi Amin, all among the world's most hated people.
Shakespeare wrote, "The evil that men do lives after them." I'm not much on Shakespeare, but I suppose he was right about this particular issue. The Bible says, Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before the fall." That, I put a lot of stock in!
I remember when Saddam challenged the U.S. by refusing to allow the U.N. inspections as agreed upon when he dealt with Bush, Sr. He must have thought he was untouchable. His was a power of absoluteness and infiniteness. He could not be removed from office! I read today he fell apart when U.S. soldiers came to his cell to deliver him to his executioners. His pride got in the way of his reality, that proved to be fatal!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thanks to all for a great Christmas!
Well, Christmas 2006 has now passed us right on by. It was a great time for me and my family. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who made it such a great family gathering. The food was great, the fellowship was bliss and memories are worth more than words can express. It was worth it just to be present when Jeremy was crowned the Gingerbread Engineer of the Year! Good job Jeremy! I really appreciated everyone, that was able to, participating in the gingerbread house building. My family really enjoyed do it, I hope that all of you did too. I thought maybe we might discuss some guidelines for next year if everyone is on board with doing it again. Please, we are not trying to run the whole thing, we want everyone to give there thoughts or if you don't want any rules then please feel free to say so. Here are some things we thought about.
1. The day after Thanksgiving is the first day in which you can began the actual construction of your gingerbread house.
2. You are allowed one non-edible item for structure support and three additional non-edible items. You can use two or three non-edible items for structure but if you do then you loose an item that can be use for decoration. If you don't use any structure items you still can only use three decorative items. I think for those who are traveling structure support is going to be an important issue. This does not include your platform or whatever you use to cover your platform.
3. The platform size we thought we would increase to 20" x 20" this year and set a maximum height of 24" as well.
4. If you use a kit, you can not spend more than $20 on the kit, but you can add as many add-ons as you would like.
5. Edible add-ons are limited to three mass-produced items. Basic cookies and candies are unlimited, of course. What I mean is, if you buy your snowmen, like we did, instead of making them, like Jeremy did, then that would count as one of your items. You will also loose points for using them. That is why the Jeremys beat us! Ha!!
If you have any other suggestions, please speak up and let us know, or if you don't like any of these ideas let us know as well. Thanks again for the great day yesterday! Love you all!
Jeff
1. The day after Thanksgiving is the first day in which you can began the actual construction of your gingerbread house.
2. You are allowed one non-edible item for structure support and three additional non-edible items. You can use two or three non-edible items for structure but if you do then you loose an item that can be use for decoration. If you don't use any structure items you still can only use three decorative items. I think for those who are traveling structure support is going to be an important issue. This does not include your platform or whatever you use to cover your platform.
3. The platform size we thought we would increase to 20" x 20" this year and set a maximum height of 24" as well.
4. If you use a kit, you can not spend more than $20 on the kit, but you can add as many add-ons as you would like.
5. Edible add-ons are limited to three mass-produced items. Basic cookies and candies are unlimited, of course. What I mean is, if you buy your snowmen, like we did, instead of making them, like Jeremy did, then that would count as one of your items. You will also loose points for using them. That is why the Jeremys beat us! Ha!!
If you have any other suggestions, please speak up and let us know, or if you don't like any of these ideas let us know as well. Thanks again for the great day yesterday! Love you all!
Jeff
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Merry Christmas to all!
Well, for the last two weeks it has been rather warm around here and though I prefer the colder weather for the sake of nostalgia the warm weather brings some very nice memories of Christmas day football games in the front yard and even the sweat which accompanied the breaking in of a new bicycle; So, this week, I have gotten up several times and turned on the old AC. It really has not met my level of anticipated expectation for an appealing Christmas season, but it still leaves little room for me to say I have been overly disappointed.
Today though, the weather is much cooler and the rain is falling. It is as much like Christmas as I could hope for here in Austin, Texas. I love it!! I have stood in my front yard several times today enjoying the feel of the chill, the sight of frozen breath as it escapes with exhaling and the cold drizzle that makes my face both miserable and smile at the same time. There is just something about it that makes me laugh for no real reason. Jolly, jolly, jolly is the season. Christmas brings about an attitude around our house that only exist from turkey to turkey. It is a wonderful month that brings memories and good food. It is a time in which most of the worries that we might have for the rest of the year seem to greatly diminish in light of the smiles of enthusiasm and the promise of family reunions.
What a wonderful time of the year. I hope that all of you get to enjoy it to its fullest. I know that I have and will continue to enjoy it until the return of normality in January.
By the way I am very thankful for normality too!
Jeff
Today though, the weather is much cooler and the rain is falling. It is as much like Christmas as I could hope for here in Austin, Texas. I love it!! I have stood in my front yard several times today enjoying the feel of the chill, the sight of frozen breath as it escapes with exhaling and the cold drizzle that makes my face both miserable and smile at the same time. There is just something about it that makes me laugh for no real reason. Jolly, jolly, jolly is the season. Christmas brings about an attitude around our house that only exist from turkey to turkey. It is a wonderful month that brings memories and good food. It is a time in which most of the worries that we might have for the rest of the year seem to greatly diminish in light of the smiles of enthusiasm and the promise of family reunions.
What a wonderful time of the year. I hope that all of you get to enjoy it to its fullest. I know that I have and will continue to enjoy it until the return of normality in January.
By the way I am very thankful for normality too!
Jeff
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Some stories are just worth hearing!
Outside, the night was still, cool and very dark! There were great numbers of men who must have wanted to hurry the action of their inevitable circumstance. Inside, stood, by far, fewer men who knew that the morning light would bring almost certain doom. Men who knew there were greatly opposing odds lurking in the darkness surrounding their small gathering; however, no matter their chances their duty was clear, at least to them. It was to hold their position for as long as possible so that others, who shared in their dream, could accomplish a more significant purpose.
One man stood at the front and looked into the faces of his God-given comrades. I am sure their eyes were seeking with apparent want of words to encourage, words of confidence, confidence there was still a chance they would walk away from this nightmare and once again be with their families and spend their remaining years at home planting their crops, attending their churches and enjoying their dreams. But as their noble and brave leader stood there, he simply drew a line in the sand with his sword and announced that any man who wished to escape into the darkness this last night could do so by simply remaining where they stood. The alternative, cross over to the consequential side of this line of fatal choice. The man had no words of false hope, no promise of avenging troops that would arrive at any moment with swords drawn and the roar of a lion but rather, he made the choice unmistakably clear, if they chose to stay and fight with him, they would die! All but one committed to honor and death and the one who did leave, Moses Rose, (I'm not absolutely sure about the last name) was chosen to go and proclaim to the rest what had taken place at this historical and unprecedent moment. In the day that followed, They did perish, all but women and children, they too were spared so that they could tell of the tragedy that had befallen them.
This amazing event is summed up by one statement that lives across the lands and oceans of this world and proclaims, like no other, an unyielding spirit to accomplish a common goal. It is the one phrase that children use in their make believe wars to symbolize their unity and desire to win. It is the phrase that no doubt many soldiers have echoed through their mind when the battle is raging and their fears are so revealed as to seem so very unreal. It has most certainly been the inspiration of many a policeman or fire fighter. It is recognized by almost all that hear its poetic announcement of absolute resolve . It embodies an emotion and determination of which no others three words are it's equal.
"Remember the Alamo!"
It is just one of the reasons I am so proud to be a Texan!!!!
One man stood at the front and looked into the faces of his God-given comrades. I am sure their eyes were seeking with apparent want of words to encourage, words of confidence, confidence there was still a chance they would walk away from this nightmare and once again be with their families and spend their remaining years at home planting their crops, attending their churches and enjoying their dreams. But as their noble and brave leader stood there, he simply drew a line in the sand with his sword and announced that any man who wished to escape into the darkness this last night could do so by simply remaining where they stood. The alternative, cross over to the consequential side of this line of fatal choice. The man had no words of false hope, no promise of avenging troops that would arrive at any moment with swords drawn and the roar of a lion but rather, he made the choice unmistakably clear, if they chose to stay and fight with him, they would die! All but one committed to honor and death and the one who did leave, Moses Rose, (I'm not absolutely sure about the last name) was chosen to go and proclaim to the rest what had taken place at this historical and unprecedent moment. In the day that followed, They did perish, all but women and children, they too were spared so that they could tell of the tragedy that had befallen them.
This amazing event is summed up by one statement that lives across the lands and oceans of this world and proclaims, like no other, an unyielding spirit to accomplish a common goal. It is the one phrase that children use in their make believe wars to symbolize their unity and desire to win. It is the phrase that no doubt many soldiers have echoed through their mind when the battle is raging and their fears are so revealed as to seem so very unreal. It has most certainly been the inspiration of many a policeman or fire fighter. It is recognized by almost all that hear its poetic announcement of absolute resolve . It embodies an emotion and determination of which no others three words are it's equal.
"Remember the Alamo!"
It is just one of the reasons I am so proud to be a Texan!!!!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Just an old pair of boots.......
About three weeks ago, I was at work and it just so happened that I wore my Old Boots that day. I normally wear my tennis shoes because of having to be on my feet for 12 hours, it's just more comfortable; however, on this day, I wore my boots. A co-worker noticed them and said to me, "I think it's about time to retire those Old Boots." The statement resulted in a modest chuckle from both of us, and I replied, "I suppose they have seen their better days."
This morning I got up a little later than normal, around 6:30 AM. I went down stairs and it was pretty cool down there. We have tile floors and the ceramic, well.... it was more than just a little cool, it was freezing. I hurriedly grabbed my Old Boots and made my way over to "my chair" where I took my place and, one at a time, I placed a sock on each foot. As I picked up my first boot, I saw, for the first time, just how worn they really were. I realized that though my co-worker was the first to have said something about my boots, many before him must have noticed them. I am sure that he won't be the last to say something, if I don't replace them soon. I thought, man, I have several other pair of shoes and boots, I wonder why I don't wear one of those pair instead? I looked at them closely, I mean that literally. I picked them up and brought them close to my face and looked at the paint, the scuffs and scratches, the horse manure on the bottom and the sides and the oil soaked spots. My mind began to drift back to an earlier day.
I bought these boots when we lived in Austin before we bought our home here in the country. My boys were much younger then and because we lived in the city and in a house that we didn't own, they didn't get many opportunities to do a lot of the things that I believe every boy should know a little about. It wouldn't hurt the girls to pick up some basic knowledge and skills too. Just as it would serve the boys well to know how to peel a potato and soap up a pair of jeans and a shirt. Another topic entirely! Anyway, we soon moved out to where we now live and we began to do some things together that I have and will cherish until my dying day.
As I closely observed my boots and looked at the paint on them, I remembered the large building out back that my boys and I built. A building that came out pretty well and will stand sturdy for years to come. The oil on my Old Boots reminded me of the work that we have done together on our vehicles, changing the brakes and replacing hoses, belts and batteries, dropping the gas tank and replacing fuel lines, electric components and brake callipers. My youngest son changed out the alternator on our truck by himself, here about a year ago. He was proud, but not near as proud as I was of him for doing it. I looked at all of the scuffs and cuts on my Old Boots and reviewed in my mind the fences we've built, the water lines and electric lines we've laid and all of the trees that we have cut down, the shrubs we have pulled up and replanted, the ground that we have tilled up and then placed new seed into the broken earth. I thought of the barn we built and the sunburn I got while we did it. I considered all of the small things we have built together in our shop. I thought of how they have learned to use the various tools that we have and how they have learned to improvise when we didn't exactly have the "right" tool for the job. I looked at the manure on the bottom of my boots and pondered the first time I watched my young son ride this huge 1200 lbs. Christmas gift they had received from their Granny and Poppa. I have seen him ride through the years and I realize just how comfortable he now is in doing that. (Thanks Granny Helton for the gift. It was just what Seth needed while discovering himself.)
The old boots reminded me of a poem my oldest son recited in kindergarten, "I want to wear my father's shoes." I am proud of the fact that this is the one pair of shoes my sons and I wore together!
Yeah they are worn, but they are worn with love and wonderful memories! I suppose I will retire them soon, but it will be with great reluctance and somewhat of a sorrowful heart, when I set them aside.
I am excited though! I know with a new pair of boots there is an arena to be built and we are planning on fencing our entire property with wood rail fencing. I can't wait! The new memories we will build with a new pair of boots.
This morning I got up a little later than normal, around 6:30 AM. I went down stairs and it was pretty cool down there. We have tile floors and the ceramic, well.... it was more than just a little cool, it was freezing. I hurriedly grabbed my Old Boots and made my way over to "my chair" where I took my place and, one at a time, I placed a sock on each foot. As I picked up my first boot, I saw, for the first time, just how worn they really were. I realized that though my co-worker was the first to have said something about my boots, many before him must have noticed them. I am sure that he won't be the last to say something, if I don't replace them soon. I thought, man, I have several other pair of shoes and boots, I wonder why I don't wear one of those pair instead? I looked at them closely, I mean that literally. I picked them up and brought them close to my face and looked at the paint, the scuffs and scratches, the horse manure on the bottom and the sides and the oil soaked spots. My mind began to drift back to an earlier day.
I bought these boots when we lived in Austin before we bought our home here in the country. My boys were much younger then and because we lived in the city and in a house that we didn't own, they didn't get many opportunities to do a lot of the things that I believe every boy should know a little about. It wouldn't hurt the girls to pick up some basic knowledge and skills too. Just as it would serve the boys well to know how to peel a potato and soap up a pair of jeans and a shirt. Another topic entirely! Anyway, we soon moved out to where we now live and we began to do some things together that I have and will cherish until my dying day.
As I closely observed my boots and looked at the paint on them, I remembered the large building out back that my boys and I built. A building that came out pretty well and will stand sturdy for years to come. The oil on my Old Boots reminded me of the work that we have done together on our vehicles, changing the brakes and replacing hoses, belts and batteries, dropping the gas tank and replacing fuel lines, electric components and brake callipers. My youngest son changed out the alternator on our truck by himself, here about a year ago. He was proud, but not near as proud as I was of him for doing it. I looked at all of the scuffs and cuts on my Old Boots and reviewed in my mind the fences we've built, the water lines and electric lines we've laid and all of the trees that we have cut down, the shrubs we have pulled up and replanted, the ground that we have tilled up and then placed new seed into the broken earth. I thought of the barn we built and the sunburn I got while we did it. I considered all of the small things we have built together in our shop. I thought of how they have learned to use the various tools that we have and how they have learned to improvise when we didn't exactly have the "right" tool for the job. I looked at the manure on the bottom of my boots and pondered the first time I watched my young son ride this huge 1200 lbs. Christmas gift they had received from their Granny and Poppa. I have seen him ride through the years and I realize just how comfortable he now is in doing that. (Thanks Granny Helton for the gift. It was just what Seth needed while discovering himself.)
The old boots reminded me of a poem my oldest son recited in kindergarten, "I want to wear my father's shoes." I am proud of the fact that this is the one pair of shoes my sons and I wore together!
Yeah they are worn, but they are worn with love and wonderful memories! I suppose I will retire them soon, but it will be with great reluctance and somewhat of a sorrowful heart, when I set them aside.
I am excited though! I know with a new pair of boots there is an arena to be built and we are planning on fencing our entire property with wood rail fencing. I can't wait! The new memories we will build with a new pair of boots.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Today. Hmmmmm What about it?
If only I set my mind on task, think of all the things in life I could accomplish. Continuing fervently in my efforts, I remain relentless while reaching for the goal until it is realized by the reward of my grasp.
I have read the stories of many great men, and the one thing they all have in common is determination! Their undying determination to do what they believe needs to be done. I am presently reading "Mighty Stonewall." By all accounts he was not a man apt to learning, but in spite of this, he was a graduate of West Point Academy and graduated number eleven overall.
Now you may think that being number eleven isn't all that great; but many times, success is not measured by the comparison of others to yourself, but rather the comparison of what you have done, in spite of the opposition and the obstacles that befall you. Stonewall Jackson. Stayed up past "lights out" EVERY NIGHT and burned the midnight oil going over and over the material of which he was given to study. Those, who were at West Point with him at the time, said he was the most determined man of his studies they had ever known. Jackson started way behind in his ranking of every subject he took; but by the end of his fourth year, he had moved to number eleven. His final ranking took into consideration his first years, of which he struggled tirelessly just to make the grade. Most people of that time were of the opinion if Jackson would have had two more years to attend West Point, he would have graduated with the number one ranking.
Jackson's motivating force????? Not to be number one, but rather personal achievement and to get the most from this educational opportunity; Jackson, not allowing himself to be detoured by his lack of natural ability, concluded West Point with extraordinary accomplishments. His ranking was just a side benefit of which his determination merited.
General Patton once said to a graduating class, of a school in which I cannot remember the name, "Never, never, never, never give up!"
If we could speak with these great men today, I am sure they would tell us, having goals are a necessity, but achieving those goals are accomplished on a day-to-day basis. Never quiting or never giving up isn't done over a period of a year or two, but rather, doing all you can today and starting tomorrow with the determination of doing what you can today in order to accomplish your life's goals.
Today......what about it? What will you do? Will you stay the course in spite of the narrow road ahead that may lead to the destination of your ambitions or will you quit and hope that tomorrow will reveal an interstate of luxurious travel to the same destination. If you choose the latter, I am afraid that you will find yourself unable to move out of the state of which you are in, for the road ahead is the road you must travel to find your way.
I have read the stories of many great men, and the one thing they all have in common is determination! Their undying determination to do what they believe needs to be done. I am presently reading "Mighty Stonewall." By all accounts he was not a man apt to learning, but in spite of this, he was a graduate of West Point Academy and graduated number eleven overall.
Now you may think that being number eleven isn't all that great; but many times, success is not measured by the comparison of others to yourself, but rather the comparison of what you have done, in spite of the opposition and the obstacles that befall you. Stonewall Jackson. Stayed up past "lights out" EVERY NIGHT and burned the midnight oil going over and over the material of which he was given to study. Those, who were at West Point with him at the time, said he was the most determined man of his studies they had ever known. Jackson started way behind in his ranking of every subject he took; but by the end of his fourth year, he had moved to number eleven. His final ranking took into consideration his first years, of which he struggled tirelessly just to make the grade. Most people of that time were of the opinion if Jackson would have had two more years to attend West Point, he would have graduated with the number one ranking.
Jackson's motivating force????? Not to be number one, but rather personal achievement and to get the most from this educational opportunity; Jackson, not allowing himself to be detoured by his lack of natural ability, concluded West Point with extraordinary accomplishments. His ranking was just a side benefit of which his determination merited.
General Patton once said to a graduating class, of a school in which I cannot remember the name, "Never, never, never, never give up!"
If we could speak with these great men today, I am sure they would tell us, having goals are a necessity, but achieving those goals are accomplished on a day-to-day basis. Never quiting or never giving up isn't done over a period of a year or two, but rather, doing all you can today and starting tomorrow with the determination of doing what you can today in order to accomplish your life's goals.
Today......what about it? What will you do? Will you stay the course in spite of the narrow road ahead that may lead to the destination of your ambitions or will you quit and hope that tomorrow will reveal an interstate of luxurious travel to the same destination. If you choose the latter, I am afraid that you will find yourself unable to move out of the state of which you are in, for the road ahead is the road you must travel to find your way.
Monday, December 11, 2006
My big announcement!!!
Tina and I have been talking about this for awhile and I have now decided. Starting in the fall of 2007, I will be cutting the hours back at my job to only Saturday and Sunday; so, I can attend Texas A&M University to get my degree in Engineering. It makes me a little nervous but I believe it will be a good direction for my life, even at my age. Actually, I will be going to Blinn Jr. College in Bryan for as long as I can and then transfer to A&M. I want to do this in 4 years on schedule. There are many concerns that we have in undertaking this but we will have to work them out as they come. I would appreciate your prayers in this matter. I will continue to learn the machinist trade and then hopefully find a job in which both skills can be utilized after graduation. Tina is very glad I am doing doing this. She has wanted me to go back to school for some time now. She believes it is a waste for me not to use such magnificent intelligence. :) I guess I will do my best. I am really looking forward to it, that you can absolutely believe!!!! I love you all very much and appreciate each and every one of you as a unique and vital part of my family! Thanks for reading this. This is the only place I have made this announcement; so, if your reading it, you are getting it from the horses mouth.
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