The Difference

Tough Going

I have not posted recently because I have been a bit distracted with work, or the lack there of lately. When I started my Company almost 5 years ago it was on a VERY slim budget. See my extended family does not have a lot of money therefore any money I had, which was not much, had to come from me. The Lord was more than gracious to us and we have been successful for 4 years now. Well, this year is a bit different, as it is for many, many people. I have watched friends lose jobs. Long standing companies go out of business, and many people much, much more established than me call it quits. Recently we have been hit with a "lack of work". It is a VERY tough market right now. Many people are acting scared and just trying to hang on and are doing some very foolish things which will only hasten their demise and possibly take some other people with them.

All of these things have forced me to re-look at my company and the direction it is going. I have not particularly enjoyed the type of work we were doing but it has made money. That is not the case any more. Times are tough and Uber-Competitive. So I have decided to essentially totally change my company. Like someone once stated as the definition of insanity: " Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." It is a little un-nerving, but this much I know. I may succeed or I may fail, but I know the Lord will look after me always. As He always has.

Spring is Coming!!

It has been a particularly long, wet, cold, and yes even snowy winter here in North Alabama, but I have to say that this past Friday and Saturday were absolutely BEAUTIFUL. You could not have ask for better weather. It was between 70 and 72 degrees both days and not even the white puffy clouds could be seen. It was as clear as it could be. It was such a beautiful day Saturday that I actually got out in the yard and did some Pre-Spring chores to get the yard ready. If you know me, you will know that yard work is NOT one of my favorite chores to do. Many of my friends love it and say that working in the yard is their hobby. Well good for them. I am not one of those guys, but I did get the necessary pruning and the like done.

The boys and I also washed all three cars on Saturday. We have done this many times before but Saturday had a somewhat special meaning for me. You see Alex (16) just got his first car. A Jeep that we got from his GrandMother. He is so excited over this '98 Jeep with almost 100K miles on it. It was almost as exciting for me to see the time and detail he spent in cleaning up this car. I bet he spent an hour and a bottle of Armor-All on the inside of that Jeep! It took me back to when I was 16 and how long that I would spent cleaning up the family car before "date night". Alex wanted to know everything. Where is the oil dip stick? How do I check the Radiator Fluid? He even made me go buy him an Emergency Kit to put in the back of the Jeep, which I gladly did. Even Andrew (14) got into the action by doing a REALLY good job of cleaning the Family SUV both inside an out. He washed, vacuumed, and even Windexed the windows.

It was a bitter sweet moment for me. In one sense, I still see them as the helpless infants that could sleep on my chest at night. Totally defenseless and totally reliant upon me for everything. In another light, I see them slowing growing into the young men that I hoped that they would become. I still have plenty of parenting to do. I know that I must do all that I can with the short time that I have left with them to be sure that they grow into the Men that they need to be. God grant me the strength and the Wisdom to do that.

All in all, it was a good Spring Day.

A Man Died Today...

Actually he was more than a man. He was a friend and he was a mentor. His name was Bob Harber of Madison, Alabama. He was a long time member and Elder at the Gooche Lane Church of Christ in Madison. Bob lost his fight with Cancer at age 78. I will not attempt to eulogize Bob. His Family did a much better job of that today than I ever could. In the end the Cancer had ravaged his earthly body to where he was not the same man as his Air Force pictures showed. It was there where he was given the Bronze Star for bravery during the War. That gives you just a small glimpse into his character and life. Even though his body was not the same, I know that his Spirit was still strong for he knew that a new body was awaiting him by the Lord. That thought is what gave peace to all that knew Brother Bob and came together today to remember him.

The last joy that he left us all with, is we can say with confidence, that if we live our lives as he did, Christlike, we too will have a new body and we will too hear the words of our Father say "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of thy Lord"

Learning as I go.

This is the very first post of the very first Blog I have ever attempted to start. I am not really sure of what I am doing yet , but I hope to learn as I go along. I have started with some simple links and sites that I visit. There are several other sites and links that I will attempt to add as I learn more of what I am doing. I am also sure that the overall look of this Blog will change as time goes on as well, so please bare with me.

My intent of this blog is just to share brief moments, happening, or even revelations that occur to me throughout any given day of my life The topics will range from Religion, to Tech, to Jobs, to Vacations, or whatever happens to inspire me on any given day. I hope that it will be mildly entertaining and some-what thought provoking when the opportunity presents itself.