Some Traditions....

Some traditions seem odd in the eyes of the outsiders. On of ours ... Christmas Eve at Denny's. As my ever-so-brilliant daughter has reminded me, "It is the one 'constant in a series of variables." How true that is!

Having been in The Salvation Army for 25 years and now in education, we have lived in many different places. Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, California, Washington... and our responsibilities to the effort of both, Millie and me right up until the wee hours of Christmas Eve. Who has time to cook? Instead, our tradition has become to go look at the lights (or the boats when living by the water), then chill out at Denny's Restaurant.

We love "family", and this is one time when we are able to get away from the busyness of the season and just relax together.

If you think that tradition is weird, you should hear about the latest pool we all were involved in: "What color of sweats will grandpa show up in?" I think Bear won that one. Gramps showed up in Maroon.

Blessings!

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Winter Extremes

We have lived in the winter extremes. In the tropical paradise of Hawaii, as well as the frozen land of Alaska. Each has it's beauty and benefits.

Hawaii is beautiful, but we wondered when winter would really get here. And in Alaska, we wondered when winter would go away. The fluffy white snow of Alaska arrived in October and stayed until well into April (of course that changes from year to year). And in Hawaii we had to go to the top of Haleakala on Maui to find cold weather.

Today we live in San Diego ... the great in-between. Snow in the mountains and warmth, a few miles south. Storm damage in our neighborhood meant there were too many leave fallen on the lawn in one day.


Either way, winter is here. To me that means that the days are starting to get longer again and Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas to me is the remembrance of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and a family coming together to celebrate that.

Have a great winter. Celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Interests in Marriage

To quote Bob Wiley (WHAT ABOUT BOB), "Ahoy! I'm sailing."

After 28 years of marriage, you become aware of your spouse's interests and she becomes aware of yours. Some things that interest her do not interest you. And some things that interest you are of no interest to her.

My wife and I have several of those types of interests, but there are many things we enjoy together. One of the many things we share a common interest in is being on the water - sailing. When we were younger it was a ski boat, or a kayak. In the future there may be a cruise ship or two ... (no ownership in our future there, though).

I am quite surprised when I hear about couples that don't spend a significant amount of time with their spouse. It is in those times that you learn how to grow closer together. Perhaps that is why a lot of couples grow further and further apart - until there is nothing holding them together. According to the Bible, it's all about love and respect.

"Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5:33)

"A day that shall live in Infamy!"

Having lived in Hawaii for 3 great years, I have gained a new respect for the remembrance of 7/7/41. Granted I lived there in the 90's (50 years after the attack) there is still a sense of awe and sadness reflected in the Hawaiian population. It was their homeland that was attacked. It is their homeland that still has the scars. It was many of the residents that were placed in interment camps. It may have been 3000 miles across the Pacific, but it was America none the less.

Times have changed and Japan is now our friend. They are our business partner. And many new Americans are of Japanese decent. I wonder if the same will be said about the Iranians and Iraqis in 50 years?

Kids

I'm not really sure how to start off a blog but I do know you have to start somewhere. So...I'll start here.

• I'm a teacher

But I have a lot to learn.

• I'm a learner

But I love to teach.

• I teach kids.

But kids teach me.

• Kids are funny.

I need to laugh more.

• The youth are our future.

But the youth are influential now.

That's it for now.