It's been awhile. The last time I was drawn to contribute to CTT, it turned out to be a disaster! I typed it up. Edited it. Was prepared to post. Then, POOF! It was gone! The platform indicated that the piece was "saving" throughout the process. But it was gone. No where to be found. A google search indicated that this phenomenon had only happened in about 172 million other instances, so I just wrote it off as getting what I pay for from a free platform.
I think about CTT occasionally. Usually its when I'm wallowing in depression, self-pity oozing from every pore. That's certainly the case this morning. So, why not? I wore my "I Don't Even Like the People I Like T-Shirt" Sunday and got a tremendous response. So, naturally, the thought occurred to me this morning to put some thoughts down and blast them into the world wide inter-web and get them off my chest. No doubt to offend a few of you. Get over it. Grow some thicker skin!
I'm treading on dangerous ground because, as you remember, Stainless told me years ago that "the biggest difference between me and God is that God never wakes up in the morning thinking He's me!" The very nature of this piece supposes that I know what God must be thinking or am at least convinced that God is being besmirched. Neither of these are probably true. But there's nothing like a "Force Majeure" or a couple of them in a short span to get the juices flowing!
I'm not going to address the existence of God. I've never really met an atheist. Oh, I know a few folks who claim to be atheist. Bless their hearts. If they would only use that dusty Library card in their sock drawer, that could so easily be changed. So, the premise of the piece assumes that God exists. That He exists and man oh man, look at how His name is getting run through the mud.
The "Force Majeure" or "Act of God" is how these natural disasters are described by the legal types in contracts, insurance policies, and the like. Folks who don't recognize God, believe in God, acknowledge God, or want anything to do with Him decided to call these horrible weather events "Acts of God." I find that almost laughable, while at the same time very sad.
Now, with that as a basis, let's look at the oh so delicious next step! All weekend, we just heard Mayors, Police Chiefs, Governors, Vice Presidents, and Presidents call on everyone to PRAY! No, you cant make this up. We are supposed to pray to the God that created this thing in the FIRST place!
But WAIT!, There's more! This is more exciting than an infomercial! Evidently, God answered those prayers and the forecast damage from the latest storm dropped to $50 Billion from $200 Billion and I have not heard ONE person give God any credit. As a matter of fact, the only credit I've seen was assigned to the "Bermuda High." I don't recall any Mayors, Police Chiefs, Governors, Vice Presidents, or Presidents asking us to kneel in prayer to the Bermuda High!
It is just SO exhausting! Blame it on Him. Asked Him to intervene and change it. Then, when He does, completely deny that He had anything to do with it!
So, all I have are two words, QUIT IT!
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Butterfly Kisses
My daughter, Jentry, could not have been more than 8 or 9 years old the first time she heard Bob Carlisle sing "Butterfly Kisses." And after hearing it that very first time, she said, "Daddy, on my wedding day, you and I are going to dance to that song!"
Last night, at her wedding reception, she kept her word, and when the Father of the Bride and the Bride were called to the dance floor, "Butterfly Kisses" was the song of choice. Fortunately, for me, we laughed and talked during most of the song and I didn't have to listen to the lyrics.
I am fairly certain that it's too soon to be addressing the events of this last week. There will, no doubt, be more in the weeks to come. But we made our last of three trips to the airport a few hours ago and it is eerily quiet around here. Let me assure you, that has NOT been the case for the last week as the house became "millennial central", beginning around Midnight last Wednesday night/Thursday morning. It was loud. It was chaotic. It was borderline insanity a time or two. But it was absolutely awesome! And I would not have changed a thing!
Everything culminated last night at The Orchard in Azle, Texas. Jentry and Chad had chosen the venue a long time ago. Jentry SO wanted an outside wedding. And why not? The global warning alarmists had convinced everyone that the Earth was on a "slow bake." It was only logical to assume that we would have a mid December day in the high 60's to low 70's. That was not the case. North America is evidently experiencing record breaking lows. And we've had lows in the "teens" all week. We were forced to move inside. So, please let me express my gratitude to you Climate Changers!
With the exception of one glitch, everything seemed to come off perfectly. It was a magical night. And I could not be more happy........or RELIEVED!
I was blown away by the wedding party. Six bridesmaids and six groomsmen joined Jentry and Chad and I will forever have nothing but fond memories of each and everyone of these kids. They each exhibited such a penchant for service and there was no request that they did not take on and fulfill.
My Angel Baby was absolutely gorgeous! The smile never left her face! I cannot even begin to explain how, to my very core, I wanted all her expectations to be met. After all, she had told me many years ago what this night would look like.
I did not tag Chad in the post. But yesterday morning, I linked the song, "I Loved Her First" to my Facebook timeline. There was no need to tag him. Chad's a sharp dude. He knew exactly who that song was meant for!
And just a few hours later, I put her hand in his and gave her away.
And then, just a short time later, my Angel Baby and I danced.
Last night, at her wedding reception, she kept her word, and when the Father of the Bride and the Bride were called to the dance floor, "Butterfly Kisses" was the song of choice. Fortunately, for me, we laughed and talked during most of the song and I didn't have to listen to the lyrics.
I am fairly certain that it's too soon to be addressing the events of this last week. There will, no doubt, be more in the weeks to come. But we made our last of three trips to the airport a few hours ago and it is eerily quiet around here. Let me assure you, that has NOT been the case for the last week as the house became "millennial central", beginning around Midnight last Wednesday night/Thursday morning. It was loud. It was chaotic. It was borderline insanity a time or two. But it was absolutely awesome! And I would not have changed a thing!
Everything culminated last night at The Orchard in Azle, Texas. Jentry and Chad had chosen the venue a long time ago. Jentry SO wanted an outside wedding. And why not? The global warning alarmists had convinced everyone that the Earth was on a "slow bake." It was only logical to assume that we would have a mid December day in the high 60's to low 70's. That was not the case. North America is evidently experiencing record breaking lows. And we've had lows in the "teens" all week. We were forced to move inside. So, please let me express my gratitude to you Climate Changers!
With the exception of one glitch, everything seemed to come off perfectly. It was a magical night. And I could not be more happy........or RELIEVED!
I was blown away by the wedding party. Six bridesmaids and six groomsmen joined Jentry and Chad and I will forever have nothing but fond memories of each and everyone of these kids. They each exhibited such a penchant for service and there was no request that they did not take on and fulfill.
My Angel Baby was absolutely gorgeous! The smile never left her face! I cannot even begin to explain how, to my very core, I wanted all her expectations to be met. After all, she had told me many years ago what this night would look like.
I did not tag Chad in the post. But yesterday morning, I linked the song, "I Loved Her First" to my Facebook timeline. There was no need to tag him. Chad's a sharp dude. He knew exactly who that song was meant for!
And just a few hours later, I put her hand in his and gave her away.
And then, just a short time later, my Angel Baby and I danced.
"I know I've got to let her go,
but I'll always remember
Every hug in the morning and
Butterfly Kisses at night."
Saturday, December 10, 2016
A Quiet Man's Life Speaks Volumes
I witnessed a scene this morning that touched me deeply. From across the room, I watched three men stand with their Mother and look into the casket of their Dad, and her Husband, as they said their final farewells. The man was Billy Smith, my wife's Uncle. He passed away this week and his funeral was this morning in Paris, TX.
It was a wonderful service and I was humbled to assemble with family and friends and celebrate this man's life.
Billy was one of the good guys. A kinder or gentler man, I'm not sure I've ever known. But I really didn't know him like his family and close friends did. You see, Billy was a quiet man. He was always sitting off to the side. He didn't seek to be the center of attention, nor apparently did he need it. I can only imagine what he thought of me when Teresa started bringing me around. And even though he might have been thinking, "Who is this loud-mouth blowhard?", he never found it necessary to say it out loud.
I remember being at his house several years ago, when almost without provocation, he said, "Now, Kevin, there is some store-bought cake in the kitchen." I found it interesting that he wanted me to know that it was "store-bought" and not from the skilled cooking hands of his dear wife, Carol.
On another occasion, I remember Billy giving a plate of chicken bones to their dog. As I understood it, that's the biggest no-no one can do and I'm certain that I'm the one who mentioned it. But Billy said, "Aw, I've fed chicken bones to dogs my whole life and I've never seen it hurt one of em." I was cracking up. I've told that story dozens of times.
Billy owned an Appliance Repair business for over four decades. Evidently, he had been in every home in Paris, TX. Wherever you went in Paris, everybody knew Billy. We were together at the world famous Fish Fry in Paris one Saturday night and it was like ELVIS WAS IN THE BUILDING! Every person in that restaurant knew Billy and they ALL spoke to him. Even this morning, prior to the funeral, Teresa and I were having breakfast in town. I struck up a conversation with a group of runners who had come in. I mentioned that we were in town for a funeral. The locals asked who died? I said "My wife's Uncle, Billy Smith." Immediately, they gave their condolences, spoke highly of Billy, and said that he had fixed their refrigerator.
The Funeral Home was packed this morning. And I'm certain that the attendees were not all family. That's what happens when a good man dies. People show up and pay their respect.
I've never heard one bad word about Billy Smith. And to my knowledge, he never uttered one bad word about anyone else.
He leaves a wonderful legacy. An example that I sure wish I could learn to follow. Elvis has left the building. But the memories of this quiet, strong, yet gentle Man will never leave any of us who were fortunate enough to have known him.
It was a wonderful service and I was humbled to assemble with family and friends and celebrate this man's life.
Billy was one of the good guys. A kinder or gentler man, I'm not sure I've ever known. But I really didn't know him like his family and close friends did. You see, Billy was a quiet man. He was always sitting off to the side. He didn't seek to be the center of attention, nor apparently did he need it. I can only imagine what he thought of me when Teresa started bringing me around. And even though he might have been thinking, "Who is this loud-mouth blowhard?", he never found it necessary to say it out loud.
I remember being at his house several years ago, when almost without provocation, he said, "Now, Kevin, there is some store-bought cake in the kitchen." I found it interesting that he wanted me to know that it was "store-bought" and not from the skilled cooking hands of his dear wife, Carol.
On another occasion, I remember Billy giving a plate of chicken bones to their dog. As I understood it, that's the biggest no-no one can do and I'm certain that I'm the one who mentioned it. But Billy said, "Aw, I've fed chicken bones to dogs my whole life and I've never seen it hurt one of em." I was cracking up. I've told that story dozens of times.
Billy owned an Appliance Repair business for over four decades. Evidently, he had been in every home in Paris, TX. Wherever you went in Paris, everybody knew Billy. We were together at the world famous Fish Fry in Paris one Saturday night and it was like ELVIS WAS IN THE BUILDING! Every person in that restaurant knew Billy and they ALL spoke to him. Even this morning, prior to the funeral, Teresa and I were having breakfast in town. I struck up a conversation with a group of runners who had come in. I mentioned that we were in town for a funeral. The locals asked who died? I said "My wife's Uncle, Billy Smith." Immediately, they gave their condolences, spoke highly of Billy, and said that he had fixed their refrigerator.
The Funeral Home was packed this morning. And I'm certain that the attendees were not all family. That's what happens when a good man dies. People show up and pay their respect.
I've never heard one bad word about Billy Smith. And to my knowledge, he never uttered one bad word about anyone else.
He leaves a wonderful legacy. An example that I sure wish I could learn to follow. Elvis has left the building. But the memories of this quiet, strong, yet gentle Man will never leave any of us who were fortunate enough to have known him.
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