Father's Day

Today is the day this country, as far as I know, celebrates the fathers that populate our society. Being one of the senior fathers of my particular clan, tribe, family,I have the honor and privilege of giving praise to two of the younger fathers, my two sons-in-law. Tom Hintz, who is married to my older daughter Anne and father to Victoria and Margaret. Tom is a good man, first he loves the Lord and is guiding his family in this pursuit of living a life honoring the ultimate Father. He loves my Daughter and my Granddaughters, and that is a very good thing, he demonstrates patience, and kindness toward his family and serves them with his whole heart. Jason Gregga, the husband of my younger daughter Sarah and father to Isabelle and Sophia is also a good man. First, again, he loves the Lord and guides his family in the Fathers ways. His love for my daughter and granddaughters is without question . He demonstrates gentleness, and goodness toward them and also serves them with his whole heart.

I am so pleased and proud of both of them, I am a blessed father to have the two daughters I do, and the four Granddaughters I do, but with all that, the blessing of having these two men as part of my family as added a completeness.

Happy and blessed fathers day, Tom and Jason

8th Grade is over

Yesterday was road trip day, for Papa, Nana, Sarah and Isabelle. A ride to Jubilee College State Park near Peoria Illinois , the home of our oldest granddaughter Victoria. The occasion, a party to celebrate the graduation from 8th grade. It does not come as a surprise to me that Victoria is now 14 years old, it does not come as a surprise to me that she has turned into a beautiful young lady, it does not surprise me one little bit for I only need see her mother, the gentle, kind, loving, caring mother who has poured herself into this young lady. Remembering the days gone by, walking my daughter down the aisle, remember the days rushing to the hospital to hold for the first time in my life, a granddaughter. I remember the day at the Little Red Schoolhouse when you were dedicated to the Lord outside in the beauty of Gods creation, I am remembering the days of weekly visits watching you crawl, walk, run, and play. I remember you loving Keno, he was bigger than you, I remember that great T-Ball game in Brookfield, and those dinners at the Irish Pub, You might still like those shepards pies, In more recent days I remember a trip to an Indiana State Park to camp out together, Victoria Margaret their Mom and Dad in a tent and Nana an I in the lodge, oh how sweet it is, remembering the rendezvous at KFC to pick you and your sister up to spend a week with Papa and Nana, the trips to Newport Aquarium, and other places. Remember those years of getting updated pictures, Pictures with Floyd. Remember those days when my heart was full just thinking about you, and now I have more days to remember. Congratulations dear Victoria, I am so proud of the young lady you have become.

88

Now I know you just have to wonder why the title is 88 and by no means of the imagination you would have to use. Yes, that is right 88, this was due to for the most part 7 out of 18 holes I scored a par. Now I cannot hardly believe this myself, if I wasn't writing in scores myself, I would of had to question it, but as I kept the score, that is what it is. And I even had my older friend with me today, with little conversation as he has lost one of his earring aids and can't hear very well even in the ear that still has one. So it was a sign language day for me, touching and pointing to a ball, handing him the right club and facing him in the right direction. I guess the wonder of it all, was not a soul was before us now behind us, it was like we were all along out there on the course, which is a real plus for me, not being under pressure from a group pushing us from behind, especially when my friend takes as many swings as he does to get to the green. But today I even scoped up his ball on the way to mine and threw his out somewhere close by.
The difficult part was to see how worse he is getting and that his golf shoes now mark up the greens a little as he shuffles along. But by the grace of God, we had as much time as we needed and I was relaxed in order to plan my own shoots which really came together for me this day. I am amazed that not only did I break 100, which only 10% of amateur do, I broke 90, That I just have to boost about. Will I ever repeat such a performance as that? Only the shadow knows!

Tire Marks

I have been accused of looking sick from cigars or worn out from the energy of the four little ladies in my life. And to be truthful, all people drain the energy from me, I am not a very social being to start with, enjoying the solitude of my own mind has been a great part of my life. Sharing with others, small talk and jibber jabber about whatever is not one of my strong suits, yet just spending time with my girls brings a joy to the inner self, watching them be who they are, seeing them enjoy each other, that is my joy. Oh the drain is still there, it always costs something, and the older I get the cost has a greater effort, you can bet I am willing to spend it, whatever the amount, but never the less if I look worse for the wear, it is by choose not chance.

To blog, is it a bore?

Sometimes it is difficult to blog, sometimes I don't feel clever enough to write anything, sometimes I don't feel compelled enough to write anything
sometimes I don't feel deep enough about anything to write
sometimes I don't care enough about anything to write
sometimes I don't think about anything to write
sometimes I don't want anybody to know what I am thinking about
sometimes I don't even think....a blank mind is a wonderful thing

Yet this is a day in which none of the above apply, today is a day in which a Papa has his four granddaughters in one place, today is a day which a Dad has both his daughters in one place, today is a day to behold and it is the second of four to have and to hold. Of course the "girls" all have those "girl things" to do, and that is also a good thing, sisters and cousins together, spending time, doing and chatting.Me, oh I cooked up a great breakfast, and did stir-fry last night for dinner, Nana was happy to be spending time with her "girls" the six of them in all. This morning I just got a "good morning Papa" , a hug and " I think I hear Victoria and Margaret in their bedroom" from Isabelle as she arrived in her PJs to share breakfast with her cousins, another day, and the "girls" are going to the 2nd street market, at some point, yet here I am just being me and doing my thing the best I know how, I am here to serve..........

The Course

In the course of events we encounter throughout our journey in this life, we have the opportunity from time to time to experience moments of great joy and some of not so great joy. Today was one of the former, a moment of great joy, I was able to spent the morning hours with a dear brother in the Lord who I have become a somewhat surrogate father to. Over the last several years we have spent an occasional morning at Bob Evans talking about issues of life and the Lord, but today we had the pleasure of spending several hours on another course of action, that being hitting the little white orb down the grassy fairways, most of the time, of Locust Hills. Yes,my friends, we were golfing. Now I must confess it was nice to have a friend who could hit the ball and also one that could appreciate a good shot of mine, rather then my old friend who is under the weather with Alzheimer's, not knowing either. However, as good as this was today, a bit of me still wishes that it could have been that old friend, and that his mind was not in as much trouble as it is. Yet a very good day it was, the Lord allowed rain all night and stilled the waters just before "tee time"for us, giving us a complete round of 18 free from showers. Quite an event looking at the sky. Some great shots, some not so great shots, but then we are certainly not Tiger Woods, Ernie Els or Phil Michelson, yes we are but amateurs. The great thing about this type of sport and the people who take their turn moving through the 18 holes of play are a breed of honest beings. The lost and found is full of clubs someone left behind, which brings me to a case in point of the last week, when I without a friend, that is alone, spent the afternoon on the course. At some point I lost my cell phone and man that is a big problem. Yet some young person playing behind me found it and turned it in without any long distance calls on the memory. Honest players, who call penalties on themselves, who turn in lost items, a gentleman's game, a place where no matter how good and not so good you might be , those who play with you, encourage and praise a great shot. Today was good, my young friend wants more of this time together, I am glad.

My Daughter

Today is the Birthday of my daughter Sarah, The age will remind a mystery to protect the innocent(although island mama has let the cat out of the bag)( http://ketorambles.blogspot.com/) However just a word or two about this lady. She is a beautiful person for one thing, I am so proud of who is has become, being a wife to Jason, a mother to Isabelle and Sophia and still being a daughter to her mother and I. She bakes the best cookies, and decorates her home with style. She has a quick wit and a great sense of humor, but most of all I am so pleased to tell you of her faith in Christ Jesus. Sarah loves the Lord and endeavors to live to please him, as do the rest of our family, not perfect that is for sure, but loving God, believing his Word and teaching her children, and what wonderful children she has, a great tribute to the life of a lady is her children.
and if you have met her children, you have met her.(http://peanutsandpumkins.blogspot.com/ if you haven't you can at I love you Sarah and wish you a very happy birthday.