It's hard to believe that Wednesday has arrived already. The week is surely flying by. I'm looking forward to Saturday and the Richmond Highland Games & Celtic Festival (my birthday celebration belated - only because this event doesn't come here until October). I'm hoping for an Indian Summer day.
Walter is going to be taking me to the Urbanna Oyster Festival on the first weekend in November. This promises to be a fun excursion for the day. I should be able to get some really nice pictures of the water and they tell me that the sailboats are out in force that day. I'm hoping for an Indian Summer day for this date also. Not to be greedy or anything. It would just be nice not to tote around a heavy coat for the whole day.
We've have a busy afternoon around here: I've got a doctors appointment then shortly thereafter Sean has an orthodontist appointment. I hope that his teeth are all aligned so that the next visit can be to have them taken off. It would nice to finally be through with the brace thing. The orthodontist says that Sean's bite is lining up nicely and that he should only be in them for a few more visits, which are becoming closer together. Sort of like a maternity visits near the end.
I received a great letter today from a cousin, David Baker, he has sent me some interesting information on the Baker family. I'll need to add this to what I already have, but he was able to confirm some of my previous hypothesis. Yippee!
As the final weeks of the campaign season draws to a close. Let's all remember to support our local candidates. Here in the 7th District Eric Cantor is the incumbent candidate and has done a great job in the past. Let's keep him in office. Remember to VOTE on Election Day.
I got an update from my neighbor on her friend Laurie the one who just got back from Liberia with a new daughter. She just found out today that Laurie is heading back to Liberia to pick up.............3 more kids!! The 2 boys I told you about and a little girl. This will mean 8 total children. She and her husband must be truly amazing. I know that she even homeschools all the kids. I do believe that they have the makings for their own version of Eight Is Enough!.
Email & Newsletter Gleanings:
Thought for the Day: “One man with courage makes a majority.” —Andrew Jackson
A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
"A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her.
Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset,
we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked t o speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can just sit by for; ...have to do something.'
I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy, that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered,quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my so n, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was.
He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know.'
His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and lead him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves.
When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life, so that mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize two things: First - that though it has been five years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. And second - but most important - God is always in control.
We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
I was getting ready for work when I looked out the window and saw the utility company starting to erect a pole in front of my house. They were going to position it directly in front of my picture window. No way, absolutely no way, was I going to permit this. I gulped down my coffee and went directly to the crew supervisor and told him, in no uncertain terms, that I was not going to stand for his crew putting that stupid electrical pole directly in front of my picture window.
He took out a plot map, a map for pole locations and a right of way document. He went on to explain that the chosen location was the best spot for the pole. I told him it was not the best location for me and that when I came home from work that day I certainly did not expect to see that pole in front of my window.
He asked where I did want them to put it and I told him I didn't give a hoot, as long as it was not in front of my window. I felt pretty smug as I drove off to work because I felt I got my point across. I knew he was afraid to put it there now.
Ah, the feeling of power; at least until I got home and found the pole in the middle of my driveway.
A young man, while bringing flowers to a cemetery, noticed an old Chinese man placing a bowl of rice on a nearby grave. The young man walked up to the Chinese man and asked, "When do you expect your friend to come up and eat the rice?"
The old Chinese man replied with a smile, "Same time your friend comes up to smell the flowers."
Walter is going to be taking me to the Urbanna Oyster Festival on the first weekend in November. This promises to be a fun excursion for the day. I should be able to get some really nice pictures of the water and they tell me that the sailboats are out in force that day. I'm hoping for an Indian Summer day for this date also. Not to be greedy or anything. It would just be nice not to tote around a heavy coat for the whole day.
We've have a busy afternoon around here: I've got a doctors appointment then shortly thereafter Sean has an orthodontist appointment. I hope that his teeth are all aligned so that the next visit can be to have them taken off. It would nice to finally be through with the brace thing. The orthodontist says that Sean's bite is lining up nicely and that he should only be in them for a few more visits, which are becoming closer together. Sort of like a maternity visits near the end.
I received a great letter today from a cousin, David Baker, he has sent me some interesting information on the Baker family. I'll need to add this to what I already have, but he was able to confirm some of my previous hypothesis. Yippee!As the final weeks of the campaign season draws to a close. Let's all remember to support our local candidates. Here in the 7th District Eric Cantor is the incumbent candidate and has done a great job in the past. Let's keep him in office. Remember to VOTE on Election Day.
I got an update from my neighbor on her friend Laurie the one who just got back from Liberia with a new daughter. She just found out today that Laurie is heading back to Liberia to pick up.............3 more kids!! The 2 boys I told you about and a little girl. This will mean 8 total children. She and her husband must be truly amazing. I know that she even homeschools all the kids. I do believe that they have the makings for their own version of Eight Is Enough!.
Email & Newsletter Gleanings:
Thought for the Day: “One man with courage makes a majority.” —Andrew Jackson
Truely Awesome Story
A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
"A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her.
Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset,
we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked t o speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can just sit by for; ...have to do something.'
I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy, that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered,quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my so n, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was.
He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know.'
His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and lead him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves.
When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life, so that mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize two things: First - that though it has been five years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. And second - but most important - God is always in control.
We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
Pole Power
I was getting ready for work when I looked out the window and saw the utility company starting to erect a pole in front of my house. They were going to position it directly in front of my picture window. No way, absolutely no way, was I going to permit this. I gulped down my coffee and went directly to the crew supervisor and told him, in no uncertain terms, that I was not going to stand for his crew putting that stupid electrical pole directly in front of my picture window.
He took out a plot map, a map for pole locations and a right of way document. He went on to explain that the chosen location was the best spot for the pole. I told him it was not the best location for me and that when I came home from work that day I certainly did not expect to see that pole in front of my window.
He asked where I did want them to put it and I told him I didn't give a hoot, as long as it was not in front of my window. I felt pretty smug as I drove off to work because I felt I got my point across. I knew he was afraid to put it there now.
Ah, the feeling of power; at least until I got home and found the pole in the middle of my driveway.
Culture
A young man, while bringing flowers to a cemetery, noticed an old Chinese man placing a bowl of rice on a nearby grave. The young man walked up to the Chinese man and asked, "When do you expect your friend to come up and eat the rice?"
The old Chinese man replied with a smile, "Same time your friend comes up to smell the flowers."
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