Our Home's Anniversary

Nine years ago today, we moved into our home.
Joy did a great job of designing it.
It has a wonderful floor plan and the landscaping is beautiful.
We have about 21 trees - my favorites are my apple tree and the willow tree that my children gave me for Father's Day 7 years ago.












The house is on the market.

Someone is going to be blessed by purchasing this beautiful home.
We have had a wonderful life in this home.



Happy Anniversary to our home.

Life Is Good

"Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old."

Mary Waldrip

Full of Themselves

Have you ever met people who are just "full of themselves"?
Now, that is a dumb question... because if you have ever been part of a church, attended school, worked at a job... somewhere you have met someone who is just "full of themself."

The Bible describes that as "PRIDE." Also as a "haughty spirit" or a proud look.

A story that came over the news wires this AM proves that this world continues have people that are just..... well, you know.

Angry flier uses emergency slide to leave plane

First-class passenger was upset because others got to leave plane first

updated 2:47 p.m. CT, Sun., July. 6, 2008

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Authorities in Guyana said a first-class airline passenger was so angry at seeing economy passengers leave a jetliner before him that he yanked open an emergency hatch and slid down the chute.

Police say the Guyanese man appeared to be intoxicated after the Delta Airlines flight from New York. Local police arrested the man, but he was quickly released on bail after the Friday incident.

A spokesman for Delta says the carrier plans to file charges against the man for interfering with flight crew members.

Can you believe it! Mad because he was not first off the plane!
Can you imagine what it was like for the air carriers staff trying to serve that guy on that long trip?
How about giving him someone's backpack, while over the Atlantic and telling him it's a parachute.... "hey buddy, you can be the first off!"

Proverbs 16:4-6 (NIV)

4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Proverbs 6 (NIV)

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes, (Amplified Bibles says - A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others],)
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

So when it comes to dealing with the proud, haughty, full of themselves.... just get out of the way and let them "slide" right on by.

Applying The Weed Test

Joy and I were on a trip a couple of weeks ago and stopped by a restaurant chain we remember fondly from our days in North Dakota.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I had a bit of a sense of apprehension...
the landscaping looked pretty rough.

Not only was there trash laying around, there were substantial weeds growing in the mulch and landscaping.

I was really experiencing mixed emotions about walking inside. My thoughts were, "If the manager doesn't care enough, hasn't been paying enough attention to the exterior (weeds, parking lot and landscaping), our dining experience might not be to great."

We walked into the lobby and there was several college age employees standing and sitting around. They jumped up when we walked in and promptly seated us.

Fortunately, the young man who waited on us was a champ. You'll have to check Joy's blog to get more information about his great service. (http://www.joythornton.org). By the way, Joy has been posting some great stuff on her blog.

So, what are the lessons?
Keep the weeds out of your life and relationships.
There are certain things that should not be tolerated.



I remember hearing sometime ago, "the best fertilizer for the soil are the footprints of the gardner."



David Hume said, "The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest of weeds."

I have seen some that are anxious to plant all kinds of flowers, then do not tend to those flower beds. The beauty is short lived and rather than draw attention to beautiful flowers, instead shows the lack of follow through, discipline, and caring. They want to look good for the moment... but there is no lasting impression.


The applications and implications are replete.

I must stop... I could go on forever... there are so many lessons.

"A man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season."

"Happiness must be cultivated. It is like character. It is not a thing to be safely let alone for a moment, or it will run to weeds."

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps

Great Quote

Life is not about

waiting for the storms to pass by.

Life is about.. Learning to
dance in the rain!