Florida Bound...

So, the day has finally come. No more introspections or reflections. No more analyzing how surreal it will be to be to take our boy to his new home in Florida. Tomorrow, we make the journey...guess its the journey he's been on since the day he was born. We're just blessed to have been along for the ride.

Please keep us in your prayers... See you all soon.

"Czech" it Out...(ouch!)

Sam off to the Czech Republic...











So, here's the final packed suitcase...just so you know it was 8 lbs over the limit. Thankfully a friend was about 10 lbs under, so we made some quick switches. Thanks Shanelle!!












Sam all checked in, getting ready to go (yeah, that's her brother making faces behind her...what are brothers for???)











Alex & Sam say their good-byes. Do they realize they won't be seeing each other until Christmas?? I don't think that sunk into Sam's mind yet...too much else to think about right now.











Some of Sam's best friends....Pat, Dan & Austin. Can you imagine traveling to Europe with THESE guys???



The team....please keep all these beautiful faces in your prayers.

Thank you!

Celebrations & Farewells...

Today we're celebrating my son's "almost" 20th birthday (since his birthday isn't actually until Sept., but he'll be long gone by then). How can he be turning 20 when I'm only 30??? Must be some kind of space continuum physics phenomena... Anyway, we are also taking today to say good-bye to Alex as he prepares to head down to college to continue his education down in Florida. We're driving him down next week. I know I've blogged about the incredible speed in which they grow, but seriously its warp speed! So, in honor of the 20 years we've been blessed to have him, today we will celebrate....and then say good-bye.

But he's not the only one we're preparing to see go. My daughter will be leaving early Monday morning for the Czech Republic. She, along with a group of teens & leaders from her youth group, are headed for a 2-week missions trip to the Czech, working with children at a youth camp. Sixteen years old & she's going to the Czech Republic. What was I doing at 16??? Well, that's another blog... I'm extremely proud of her. She raised her money, got herself organized (with a little help from Mom) and is excited now for these next 2 weeks to do what God has asked her to do. Again, we're very proud.

Please keep my family in your prayers over these next few weeks. Lots of transition. It will be odd to not have my son in my home, but I'm excited for him as he heads into this next phase of his life. Will I be able to hold off until Christmas to see him?? Time will tell.... I'm going to miss both my "kids" tremendously over the next few weeks & months....so again, please keep us in your prayers. Pray for God's protection on them, for His graceful direction in their lives & for direction in mine as well. I have this feeling that this next year is going to be quite interesting.

But today, we celebrate...the rest we'll trust Him with. Have a great weekend my friends...

Fresh Approach...

So, here's another way to approach "church". This Pastor, Dan Smith, uses rap music (more specifically, reworked rap music) to reach the unchurched. Maybe you've seen one of his videos "Baby Got Book", its hilarious! Its a parody on the rap song "Baby Got Back". If you haven't seen it, check out a recent article I found on Yahoo News - you'll find the video included. Don't be offended!

http://potw.news.yahoo.com/s/potw/20253/jesus-laughed

Smith says this about the church he runs in a local movie theatre in Cleveland, "We're not trying to reach other Christians. If you love your church, stay at your church. That's awesome. But for people who haven't gone in ten years — or all of their lives — I think there's a lot of people who might need to hear the message of 'maybe this might be the church that I can go to. The same church, Smith says, that welcomes people who cuss, watch R-rated movies and smell like cigarettes; the church where "Baby Got Book" is always in rotation and whose services are available by Podcast if you just happen to sleep in some Sunday.'" Now, I'm not saying that this would be the church for me necessarily, but I do appreciate people who are trying to examine what church really means and how they can best reach God's children. I also appreciate a fresh approach. If its making people laugh, having church in a movie theatre, creating Christian music videos, then so be it. I don't believe there's any one right way to worship God. I have read a few blogs recently about what true Christianity is. It isn't necessarily easy to define. Sometimes I think its as individual & personal as our relationships with Him are. It's not HOW we worship, just that we worship. Its not WHERE we choose to connect with Him, its that we do. Its not a style, but more importantly its finding ourselves being followers of Christ, or more to the point, Christ "imitators". I really want to find a place again that I can call my church home. I want to be surrounded by a church family again. I know He will lead me there, eventually. But, truthfully, that isn't what defines me as a Christian. How I live my life on a daily basis, how I strive to be more & more Christlike, how I put others ahead of myself, how I love...that's what makes me a true Christian. I'm not always fond of the word "Christian" either. Its a muddy, discriminatory, even derogatory term these days. It can suggest anything from weekend attender to "bull horn man". I prefer the term "Christ-follower". The implication is not a label as much as a way of life. It implies action. I don't want a label on my chest pronouncing "CHRISTIAN" like some well-worn badge. I'd prefer that my actions would speak for themselves. That how I choose to live my life shows that I am a follower of Christ. Its a daily choice, not to mention a daily struggle. Not an easy target to hit & I often miss the mark (by alot!). But its in the striving, and knowing that He knows my heart; it's in the knowledge that I am His dearly loved child, even when I don't get it exactly right.

Family, Fireworks & Foul Weather...

Despite the lousy weather on the 4th, we managed to have some fun with family. The weather even cleared so we could check out some fireworks. I just love this odd tradition! Looking around at my fellow revelers, it occurred to me that we've gladly immersed ourselves in the crazy American culture. It is what it is....and it's only once a year...

These are just some shots from the day. Hope yours rocked too!

Hey...we did our best....

Dad & Jeff grilling in the rain. How sad...










Sam & Jesse escaping the rain - watching TV










Grandma & Grandpa with the grand kids - Sam, Alex, Adam, Jesse & Sophia











Me & my "big brother" Dave...love him!!











First cousins...Sam & Sophia!











Grandpa & his "little pupka"....Sophia!











My "baby sister" Amy & her husband Jeff.











Dave & his lovely wife Barb











Me & my beautiful sister Amy. Yes...I'm older...











Me & my Mom...she's the sweetest woman on earth!











Me & "Stormin"....cute, huh??

Hope you had fun, wherever you are
& whatever you did.
And I hope that you were as blessed with great
people to celebrate with as I was!
Even if the hot dogs got wet....

Freedom...

Humility

at the lives
the heroism
the bravery
the sacrifice
the love
the honor
the absolute integrity

of those who fought...
and died

so that I,
and my children...
may be free.

God eternally bless all of your souls,

gratefully yours,

(By Greg Duggan Copyright 2005)


Enjoy your day with with friends & family!

I Love You & God bless you all...

Spoiled Americans?

I'm told that the author of the following commentary was none other than Jay Leno. Now I can't actually prove that he wrote this and I do find it hard to imagine a liberal performer in Hollywood having these types of opinions...but, hey, you never know. Even if it wasn't actually penned by Jay, its a great thought. Now I'm not one to use another's words on my blog, but I really liked this. So, here goes....think what you will.

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The Commander in Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed peoples on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno