Terry Family

Badgered and beaten back to the blog

2009-08-10T22:59:00.001-10:00

“When are you going to update your blog?”

“Expect the next edition immediately following the Lord’s return!”

“No, really! Get busy and write something.”

“SOMETHING! Satisfied?”

_____________________________________________________________________

Why the hesitation to write? Frankly, I am enjoying myself. That is a preacher’s blog no-no. Ministers traditionally must write of grave conflicts they face or the vast numbers of lost who, upon hearing the preacher preach toss themselves into the saving waters of baptism. Our conflicts are few and minor – to swap the ladies room for the men’s or not? There was a baptism on New Years Eve, but I had little to do with it other than hand delivering the buckets of water necessary to fill the baptistery to immerse our new brother.

Earlier this week, a non-Christian asked THE question: What do you do the rest of the week since you only work Sundays? Great question! The following is a fair example of one day taken from the “rest of the week.”

Sandy rises early, usually between 5 and 5:30. She makes the coffee and I pour myself down the stairs and usually but not always manage to pour a cup into my sleepy mouth. We share breakfast, pray for those for whom we are concerned, check the e-mail, deal with any emergencies, and take Ajax on his morning constitutional. On the village green we meet with others of like interest – God and dogs. We chat for a while return home and I begin working.

“Working? Doing what?”

Letters, sermons, lessons and some days Bible studies.

“Is that it?”

“Is that it? Are you kidding?” (You, see! This is exactly why I have hesitated updating the blog. I just knew someone would come up with thoughtless questions like this.)

We also volunteer at the community center setting up and taking down tables and chairs for the handicapped elderly who meet regularly to fellowship. We go around the village chatting people up and looking for opportunities.

“What do you do for fun?”

“Preach and teach.”

“No, really, what do you do for pleasure?”

“No, really! Preaching and teaching are pleasures.”

The Brandon fellowship of saints is an “E” ticket to a wonderfully fulfilling spiritual ride. Among our number are saints from Africa, Philippines, America, Ireland, Scotland, the Caribbean, England and even Texas. We are learning from one another and growing ever closer to each other in Christ.

Sandy and I have been known to travel a little, attend an auction or two (or 10 or 11), visit used book stores and let no tea room pass unattended. Walks and bike rides are part of every week. See, there’s no drama to validate our service here. It’s all about continuity, one day after another of gentle service in the name of our Lord.

I have four paws and a maw!

2008-11-20T10:40:00.005-10:00

Greetings! If the title was not a sufficient clue then know that I, Ajax, am the author of this edition of the blog. (By the way, for the uninitiated my name has absolutely nothing to do with cleanser. Think of Odyssey, Troy and all that.) My two “children,” Sandy and Phil are both jet lagged and too enraptured to be in one another’s company again to write. So the task falls to yours truly.

As for me, the two flights to England were a breeze. My airborne accommodations were surprisingly roomy and pleasant. That was not true for my bipedal children. Their seats were crowded, noisy and unpleasant. My male biped, Phil, believes the airlines specifically hire the same 400 pound man to take the seat in front of him for the sole purpose of immediately dropping the seat upon Phil’s ancient knees. My female biped, Sandy, accuses Phil of hyperbole. Whether he is exaggerating or not I am thrilled to have my own uncrowded flight through the crowded skies.

At last we are at home in England. My sincere thanks (a large wet lick to the face via the net) to all who have made this move possible through your prayers, your encouragements and your support. England is wonderful! The temperature is perfect (for Border Collies). I can run about the fields all the day through with no thought given to the heat. What fun! The single drawback is that the Brandon church of Christ does not have as many little sheeple as does the Pearl Harbor congregation. I particularly miss the challenge of herding all those young ones.

Another big wet lick of gratitude goes to Larry, Ann, Kenny and Michelle Brabham for housing us during our Texas stay. Their generosity in sharing company, time, space and food is a testimony to their understanding of Christian hospitality.

Of course, the high point of our Texas stay was to reunite with the grand lady of the Brabham clan, Sandy’s 93 year old mother, Modene. She remains feisty and active. Her primary concessions to age have been to grudgingly give up driving and reduce the number of cattle in her herd. Otherwise she is unchanged. Of course, we got along very well, indeed. (On the other hand, cows are HUGE and HUGELY STINKY. Give me sheep or sheeple!)

So many people and so many events filled our Texas stay that to recount them all would take volumes and too much time to type. Besides my paws are tired! (Remember, key boards are species specific and are not designed for us K-9’s. It would be nice if dogs had opposed thumbs. But then it would be nice if humans had tails.) Cheerio, then! My tired paws are taking me to the food bowl to feed my maw!

Loading Up

2008-10-11T10:31:00.004-10:00

Saturday morning, 11 October, from 0800 - 1000 with help from many of the brothers/sisters here at Pearl Harbor the many items that Phil had so diligently been packing over the last two months were loaded into a container for shipping to our future home in Brandon, UK. Thank God that there were no injuries, all the things were packed in with very few difficulties. Our thanks go to all those who were able to help and all those who helped with their prayers. God bless you all!

Now that the container is packed and ready for pickup on Monday (13 Oct) we can take care of the remainder of items on our agenda prior to leaving our home here in Honolulu and begin the trek to our new home in Brandon. We have a couple of last appointments: health certificate for Ajax, dental appointment for Sandy, notary appointment, one last Aloha Sunday ect. Thursday evening we three should be boarding our flight to begin a new adventure and we ask for your prayers.

We have been so blessed in the relationships that God has provided for us here. It will be very difficult to leave so many of our family. We are comforted in the knowledge that God will provide for our family here as he always does - and look forward to being amazed by His mercy and goodness in all our lives.

YMKTB, Friends, Locks . . .

2008-08-25T20:15:00.003-10:00

Delta Airlines kindly returned this old and lonely traveler to his lovely and highly missed Sandy. Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia again suffered my presence. Why visit those venues? Alabama was the sweet home for the union of Brandon Harris and Lacey Fry. They gifted me with the opportunity to participate in their wedding. And what a wedding it was – absolutely beautiful. Indeed, the couple and the families were moved to tears of joy. It was that grand an occasion.

No small part of the joy was reuniting with former members of the Pearl Harbor congregation. The McCoy’s, Courtney Swain (who had wonderful news to share), the Hardy’s, the Gibson’s, Rebecca Carter and her daughter Emily, the Fry’s and of course, the Harris family. It was a union reunion!

Sunday it was on to Tennessee. There Bob and Joann Taylor kindly and bravely put up with me for an extended stay (or so it surely seemed to them). The alleged purpose of the visit was to sort through the contents of our storage room to send worthy items to Georgia for sale. Problem: I did not have a key to the storage room. A greater problem: The storage company irresponsibly sold a highly technical and effective lock to a technically incompetent and ineffective soul – me. The lock defied our bolt cutters. The manager called in her manager and they made no greater headway. So their maintenance and lock wizard was called up from Atlanta. On Thursday the lock was cut and Bob and I sorted madly through the “treasures.” The next morning and after a stressful search we located a truck, loaded it and I was on my way to Frank and Ercy Deal’s peachy Georgia home.

Fay, the hurricane, provided the in transit entertainment as its winds rattled the large, lightly loaded and kite-like truck and its frightened driver. God blessed me with a safe journey and I arrived in Peach Tree City in timely fashion. A blessed group of volunteers quickly unloaded the truck. Frank Deal, an airline pilot and perhaps the world’s most thoughtful heart was not present. Ercy, her wonderful mother-in-law, Ida, and Ercy’s two daughters provided me with a warm welcome. The two Miss Deal’s are a delight.

In Tennessee God blessed me with the honor of gathering with several of the families who participated in the oversight of our Philippine mission effort. Far too much time has past since we last gathered together. The prayers were heartfelt and sprinkled with tears. It was an amazing gift to be among these dear saints.

Perhaps the highlight of highlights was a lunch spent with John and Nancy Mitchell. There have been times when the Mitchells served the Terrys as the shield of last resort. They have always been there for us and shared with us the encouragement of their remarkable faith. John is having a tough struggle bouncing back from a kidney transplant. At the same time Nancy is caring for her mom. She has a double dose of rough duty and yet she conducts herself with admirable grace. What a lady! Please take this splendid couple before the throne of our Father often and with passion.

And now for a crass commercial message: As Sandy highlighted in her last blog entry we are moving to serve the congregation in Brandon, England. If you desire to read more about this effort please visit philsandyterry.org. Paying homage to full disclosure, our move is a bit of a mission effort and the website does contain an “opportunity” to assist us.

We're moving?

2008-08-09T09:24:00.010-10:00

Yes, I know. The fact of moving should come as no surprise to me. But the fact is, I've been in denial and have diligently avoided all details of the impending detachment from what has become home. Well, I can no longer deny the reality - items are starting to disappear from closets, cubbyholes, shelves while the stack of boxes in the aforesaid closets, cubbyholes and etc are beginning to - well, stack up!

I've also noticed, very observant person that I am, that two rooms have veritably disappeared from view under a deluge of open boxes, bins, stuff to pack, and other related minutia. How did all this happen outside my line-of-sight? It's a mystery! Or perhaps it has something to do with the state (or country) of denial in which I've been living.

Blindness no longer seems to be an option. The moving stuff has moved into the living room. Right in my sight every single time I walk into or through that room. There is crate in the middle of the room. How can I believably NOT NOTICE that? It's impossible!

So, yes. We are moving - mid-October is the target date for our actual departure from Hawaii. Although I will dearly miss friends, family, tropical weather and many other aspects of living here, England is beckoning with friends, family, non-tropical weather and many adventures. Thank God for his blessings, even in the midst of the disarray. We ask for your prayers for safe travels.

Shane Came Back

2008-06-21T09:44:00.003-10:00

On May 1st I went into surgery. So did Shane. Mine was scheduled and his was not. Shane and his Sergeant, John, were hit by an RPG. Obviously, the two were not in Hawaii. Both were very badly wounded. Both were evacuated to Germany. John’s family joined him for the flight back to the States. The sergeant's family lost their precious son between there and here.

Shane’s 22 year old wife Hazel, the mother of three little ones, flew with her youngest to Washington D.C. and the Walter Reed Hospital. Her first trip was to visit a mostly unconscious young soul housed in a much battered and broken body. She was with him all day and every day. Tough duty for a young lady not that many years removed from a comfortable adolescence. Hazel returned to Hawaii to spend time with her other children. The report came that Shane was in crises – pneumonia and a blood infection. The prognosis did not lend itself to hope. That was June 10th or so.

A few days ago, the doctors cut me loose to do all the silly things I love to do. Today Shane is being prepped for outpatient status. A member of the Pearl Harbor congregation and a soldier awaiting his third deployment to Iraq just visited us. He was thrilled to have read the e-mail reporting Shane’s recovery. In the course of our discussion Aaron offered a salient observation, “Why are we surprised when our prayers are answered?” He’s so right! Two weeks ago this congregation met for the sole purpose of praying for Shane and other wounded members of this congregation. I know for a fact that members of this congregation have been praying individually long and hard for Shane. Unlike politicians and preachers, prayers work.

That being the case, please pray for Shane and Hazel. The road to full rehabilitation is several years long. This young man and his younger wife are worthy of our very best prayer efforts as well as all of our appreciation.

Dodging Bullets

2008-05-31T19:49:00.000-10:00

The details are irrelevant. It is sufficient to know that my dear Sandy was referred to a surgeon. The initial consultation suggested three potentials were on the table. The first and best alternative was to observe and see how circumstances progress. The second was a bit more invasive and requires modest surgery. The last and most fearful was a complete reconstruction. Which would it be? Prayers went up and then the verdict was handed down. Options one and two are viable. At this time the dreaded number three is not even a prospect.

During the same time period Sandy took a break from work to hike to Cold Stone for a little you know what. Her office parking lot is attached to another parking lot and a mall by a narrow bridge. It was this that Sandy traversed to and from ice cream heaven. As she re-entered her office she heard the sound of a crash. Such sounds are not uncommon and she thought nothing of it. Then she noticed a group of people in her building looking out upon the bridge and parking lot she had just traversed. She stepped out of her office and joined the crowd. There was a body lying in the parking lot not 150 feet from her office and within a few feet of her route from the mall. The deceased was a car thief who attempted to escape by wildly speeding across the bridge and crashing into several police cars and a civilian’s van. The thief would not stop crashing his vehicle into the other vehicles. Thus, a few feet from my one and only the bullets flew and the thief’s life ended in a parking lot and not far from Sandy.

My dear wife takes all this in stride. Her husband of almost 31 years is less phlegmatic and extremely grateful to continue to revel in her delightful company. Keep dodging them bullets, honey.

Christians & Politics?

2008-02-23T20:07:00.000-10:00

John 17:20-23, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

Our Father surrendered His Son for the sake of re-establishing unity or the familial sense among humankind and between humankind and Deity. That divinely inspired unity is only available through the surrender (death) of self (selfishness and conceit) and in place of self substituting Christ (selflessness and humility).

The election cycle has begun. Once more, the electorate is being enticed to invest themselves in a political organization and a candidate. Having lived through as many of these adventures as 61 years allows I have come to several conclusions. These pronouncements aren’t particularly important; however, they add context to the final point, which, taking the above passage to heart, is vital. First, we are no longer (if we ever have been) presented with candidates. The political parties offer us slickly packaged products. Substance is limited to the almighty sound bite. Even taking a stand the good politician equivocates so as not to totally offend a potential voter.

Second, the late Nelson Rockefeller’s observation that “they are just campaign promises” is a insight into the political machine’s integrity. Reflect upon the years and think of the candidate that most attracted your allegiance. What did they really change? John F. Kennedy was a marvelous orator gifted in concept, delivery and particularly extemporaneous remarks. However, review the assessments of his presidency prior to that awful day in Dallas and it is clear he accomplished little. Whether your candidate wins or not, what really changes?

Several brothers in Christ have shared with me their excitement for “their” candidates. The exhilaration is evident. Each brother is investing time, money and effort in their “man” or “woman.” They are ready and willing to debate issues and qualifications with anyone – including a brother or sister in Christ. This introduces the vital issue, discord in the body of Christ arising from human politics: ‘Tis the season. We, the elect of God, are willing to divide the body and in the process destroy our status as the elect of God. This we do for the sake of electing an imperfect human. Politicians want power. Our God has power – that Almighty God thing. He keeps his promises – every single one. He gives His Son that we may fellowship. Candidates unleash upon us torrents of empty promises for our votes. We are too ready to trash the former for sake of the latter.

In his treatise on Old Testament Theology (volume 2, pages 281-2) Walther Eichrodt offers a few challenging thoughts: “…the right political decision is one of the God-proffered help, by which the courage needed for the adventure of faith both can and should be kindled…the individual is called to abandon his protective framework in order to affirm by free self-surrender the new and unexpected will of God in his particular historical situation. Only the conviction of being called and sustained by God himself makes it all possible for men to transcend the limits of merely human potentials (i.e., politics) in order to walk with the enigmatic God of the universe along the giddy paths by which he strides through history.”

Christians we purport to be. Allegedly we are people who rely totally upon our Lord and Savior. A people who by faith have surrendered self that Christ may live in us. A people who are one with Christ and thus one in Christ. Who is my candidate? The One who elected me and you to be together with Him now and forever. Please let not politics jeopardize our vital sense of family. Let us remain united under the umbrella of His enduring love and mercy.

Dawn Patrol pictures

2007-08-26T16:37:00.001-10:00

Dawn Patrol

2007-08-26T16:13:00.000-10:00

Dawn Patrol - Phil alluded to this in his previous post. It is getting to the beach earlier than the dawn and . . . well, patrolling. I'm not sure what all those guys / girls out there are patrolling for - maybe the beasties also mentioned previously.

Anyway - this was Saturday and my first time in a long time to join the action. Not in the water, though! I patrolled from the shore and record the events of the morning from afar. I've never heard of anyone being bitten by a shark while comfortably ensconced in a beach chair forty feet from shore.

I took quite a few pictures so thought I'd share the dawn and beach scenes of Hawaii. Hope you enjoy

Just call me Nosetradamage

2007-08-21T18:41:00.000-10:00

A Twilight Zone experience befell me on Thursday, August 16th. I was awakened by a very powerful dream the crux of which were the words “You need help!” Soon I would! Hurricane Flossie was more of a HoHumicane. It provided a slight bump in the wind and the surf. Surfing buddy and good friend Doyle Smith and I met for some dawn patrol at White Plains beach. The waves were moderate but choppy. The conditions were not inviting. We paddled out and were waiting for the next set when I noticed that a wave a little larger than the rest was coming our way. As I have hundreds of times before I paddled into the breaking wave knowing exactly what to expect – the wave would throw the nose of the board at my face. It did and for that I was prepared. What I did not expect and have not experienced in forty some years of surfing was the breaking wave, much like a large powerful hand, slamming my lovely head into the rising nose of the board. We met underwater and the old sensations (surprisingly, one of smell) of being belted stoutly in the nose were revived. I came up out of the wave and could see the bridge of the nose was already swollen. In fact, it looked broken. Keep in mind that in February of this year this same nose endured significant repairs.

It is also a good time to point out that occasionally we arrive at the same beach to discover signs posted warning of sharks. They are always in the area. So, here I am bleeding from a laceration across the bridge of the nose and bleeding from both nostrils in waters known to be inhabited by blood loving beasties. I immediately surrendered all thoughts of continuing to surf and began the long paddle to shore. Doyle, God bless him, stayed with me keeping an eye out for waves, beasties and to insure that I would not fall off the board and try to breathe underwater. Just like the dream said, I needed help. What the dream failed to mention was that a brother in Christ would provide that help.

The swelling has subsided. The jokes regarding husband abuse are growing. Sandy dragged me to the hospital where a surfer/doctor commiserated with me, found that the nose is not broken and cleared me for more surfing. Thank you, Doyle! Thank you, Sandy! Thank you, Lord!

Overstuffed

2007-07-29T07:48:00.000-10:00

An overstuffed sofa – that is the primo metaphor for our three weeks in Germany, France and England. We were overwhelmed with eye candy. Stuffed we were with food (many miles of jogging stand between me and the restoration of my formerly svelte self.) Most of all, we were filled to overflowing with fellowship. The family of God is alive and well in the Old Countries.

For those concerned for the well being of Bill and KathaLee Harris, don’t be! Their German castle sits atop a mountain where it gazes down upon a lush green valley divided by a gentle winding river. The issues they face are difficulties with deer, fox and decisions about incredibly delicious food will they have to dine upon this evening. Their neighbors are friendly, their congregation is warm and Germany suits them well. Rufus, their four legged son, is every inch a handsome and spirited gentledog; well-within-the-bounds of doggy decorum. All is well! And to Bill, KathaLee and Rufus, thank you and God bless you for the incredible vistas, the gift of your friendship and the spiritual healing that you bestow upon tattered souls

For the sake of good taste we will not discuss any adventures in the MacDonald’s WC in France. It is sufficient to report that ardent prayer works, cheap stall locks do withstand attempted breechings by teenage girls and everything negative reported about French TP is true.

At the airport in England the lovely Linda O’Donovan met us. It is always a pleasure to see her but especially when arriving at Stansted. Thank you and God bless you Linda! Linda and Vince decided we and the congregation at Brandon needed one of those life changing shocks. For the saints it is a big one: The O’Donovan’s are moving to Scotland. Brandon’s loss is a blessing for the churches in William Wallace land. Vince and Linda showered us with their time, taking us to Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick castle. Linda, lady of faith that she is, provided us with the use of her car. Yes, it did survive although my driving on the wrong side almost induced heart failure in Sandy.

Also at Brandon we were reunited with the Powers. To those of you who know Mike, Donna, Stephen and Heather the following litany will be of no surprise. Donna recently had surgery, not to be out done a few months back Heather enjoyed a broken wrist, Stephen got married, their dog was hit by a car and recovered, and Mike broke his knee. Notwithstanding, the painful knee Mike hauled us to Cambridge where we 1) punted on the Cam, 2) ate at Auntie’s Tea Room, 3) purchased official Cambridge University shirts, 4) visited G. David’s used book heaven (A back alley store overstuffed with important and/or arcane books – only one box full this trip) and 5) a quick visit to Rohan’s to purchase a few quality clothing items. (Visit their UK website to appreciate their rugged clothing). That was astuffed day, especially for the dude with the knee issue. Thank you Mike!

Sandy, “overstuffed” with a sense of loyalty and duty, left for the States and I went on to Bristol to inflict myself upon Trevor and Pauline Williams and Vince and Linda’s daughter Marie (She is one of those natural surfers, up and riding waves as though she has been riding all of her life. Trevor and Pauline are what I wish circumstances would permit Sandy and me to be as we were in the Philippines – a true team. To be in their presence is a spiritual gift. Their synergy is palpable. The Bristol congregation reflects much of the goodness that radiates from the Williams. They kindly sacrificed time to take me to experience so much of Bristol’s history. Several personal desires were met including, in the manner of Jane Austin, taking water at the Bath.

Hanging around with “Trev and Pauline” it becomes very apparent that the reach of their service in the Lord’s name knows no borders. Both are serving the lost and saved in Malawi, Africa. What they are accomplishing is heartening – stuffs the heart with joy. One example: Pauline took an idea from one of the African ladies and made it happen. It is common for a child to be orphaned. Placement in an orphanage doesn’t really met the need of a long term extended family so necessary for survival in impoverished nations. Pauline was able to take funds to Africa and those funds are used to support the orphan who is placed with other family members, grandparents are typical. The child grows up within the family, as part of the family. Being in the company of the Williams family for those few days served to “overstuff” my appreciation for the power of God working in the lives of these two remarkable saints.

I also had too few moments with their co-worker Jason. Jason is an American. This young man was extremely helpful. I am grateful for his kindness.

And so our “overstuffed” journey concluded. Now I arrive at a conundrum – I don’t know how to make the following read as though it isn’t just a preacher trying to justify his “overstuffed” paycheck by validating Deity. Be that as it may, the travel itself seemed to be divinely accomplished. One example: Upon arrival at Gatwick airport in London we had to travel to Stansted to catch our next flight. Time was of the essence. Two trains and one tube ride were required. We made all three connections with three minutes to spare. We purchased our tickets and arrived on the platform three minutes prior to departure on each occasion. One slip up and we would probably miss our flight. Thank you, Lord! Then the flight home: Old knees and airplane seats do not mix well. Flights can be painful. However, on the ten hour jaunt from London to Las Vegas I was blessed to have three seats to myself. I actually got to sleep. I arrived at San Francisco while the flight to Honolulu was boarding. The flight was overbooked (“overstuffed”) and my chances for the flight home were not promising. The last name was called and it was mine. When I received the ticket the agent noted that I was traveling to Hawaii first class. Me and my knees praised God for “overstuffing” our journey with His mercies. Thank you, Lord!

A Pig 'n a Poke?

2007-06-25T19:55:00.000-10:00

The above description is slightly in error. The lovely Mrs. Terry and I have been, as of the 12th of June, married for Thirty Years. To celebrate the anniversary in a manner that would share the joy with all of America we are traveling to Germany and England. In Germany, KathaLee, Bill and Rufus Harris will suffer our presence and all the silliness that erupts when “Digger” and “Stitch” are together. Then it is on to the mother country (England) where the two of us will consume as much tea, oak smoked cheese and fellowship with Vince and Linda O’Donovan, Mike and Donna Powers and all those wonderful saints at Brandon. Two weeks into the journey Sandy will depart for Hawaii to return to work. Yes, that means I will be in a foreign country without proper supervision (Pray for the English). Off leash I will attempt to travel to Bristol to visit Trevor and Pauline Williams (what delightful attitudes they radiate) and, hopefully, Marie O’Donovan, Vince and Linda’s daughter and fellow-surfer. The last lap will be to London to catch a flight back to Hawaii and my darling wife.

All this would not have been possible without a pig, a poke and patience. Allow me to explain! In 2003 before our first trip to England the Harris’ purchased, painted (with a union jack) and “fed” a piggy bank (purchased from a road-side vender.) Sandy and I kept feeding the pig untill a few weeks ago. When we turned the change in at the bank the poor teller mentioned that a lot of people bring in change but she had not experienced quite that many coins previously.
The “poke” is a secret collection put together by members of the congregation and just given to us the Sunday before our departure. The funds so generously bestowed will allow us to travel without “fund fretting.” Thank you. And a very special thank you to the elders of the congregation and to those generous souls who are assuming my responsibilities – their patience is deeply appreciated. God bless you one and all.

Mr. Timmons, does this satisfy the need?

April Texas Trip

2007-05-06T17:09:00.001-10:00

Hope you all enjoy the pictures from our trip to Texas.

Buy a nose!

2007-04-03T18:34:00.000-10:00

1963. Late August or early September. Dumont, New Jersey. A high school football scrimmage between Ridgewood and Dumont. A line man grabs a face mask and pulls it down. A back runs up and throws a punch. That was the first of a number of broken noses. Dr. Tomlins straightened it, taped it and sent the nose back into the game. The worst came a year and a month or two later. During practice a team mate caught the running back but couldn’t bring him down. The owner of the oft injured proboscis arrived to assist and was welcomed with an elbow to the nose. The bones shattered and one pierced the skin. The result was a blockage. Through the years the blockage became progressively more pronounced. In conjunction with that progression a night’s sleep became increasingly rare.

44 years later and after almost 30 years of marriage Sandy was inspired to suggest that the old nose receive the attention of the medical profession. Perhaps something could done. It could. The nose was painlessly repaired. Oxygen reached places untouched for years. Best of all, night after night of uninterrupted sleep. Life is so good. Thank you, Sandy. Thank you, doctor. Thank you, God.
This picture was taken after the surgery. The young man is Philip Kingsley.

What was I thinking!

2006-12-16T15:20:00.000-10:00

What a beautiful morning in paradise. 3:30 am Phil and I are off to Ala Moana and Queen Street – the starting point of the Honolulu Marathon. As the name indicates, this is a 26.2xxx mile long race. My first and Phil’s third. So what was I thinking of those many months ago when I first stated my intent to try this “fun” event out for myself? This decision made in the face of many proofs that a race of this length is painful – bruised and blistered feet, blistered toes, lost toenails and many not so obvious injuries to muscles, ligaments and joints.
I’ve stated many times in answer to the question that I was looking for motivation to exercise more – and this did work. But at least a part of the reason has to do with Phil’s description of his experiences, the total circus atmosphere, the people that run, the volunteers and those along the road that take time to provide a little sustenance and many cheers as everyone goes by. At about mile 15 I told Phil that I just had to rest a few minutes, so we stopped along Hawaii Kai and sat in a shaded area. There was a man with a cooler in the parking lot who came over to ask if we were OK. He had water, gator aid, and even ibuprofen for any who were in need. No connection with the event – just a kind and generous soul along the way. We saw this many times along the way – awesome people.
What was it like for a first time marathoner? It was horrible, wonderful, painful, triumphant, humbling and much that can’t be described without more time to get over the pain. I think of the discouragement of Kalanianiole Hwy and its interminable length – seeing all those runners stretched out ahead of me and recognizing that I have to get way up there before I pass the halfway mark. And seeing also all the runners far ahead of me already running back the way I had already been toward the finish line. It was a temptation to just step to the other side and go with them. Do you have any idea of how painful feet can get? If I had to put a word to why I felt so tired it would have to be “discouraged.” Seeing all those people ahead and knowing that to get to the finish line I would have to go all the way to where they were and then about 12 miles more. But that kind soul along the way and my loving husband (his feet were blistered already) gave me the courage to keep on going. So we got up and kept putting one foot in front of the other. Back on the interminable road I decided to put my head down and just keep walking. The pain was still there but unless something broke I was going to keep on going.
I could probably make a lot Christian applications from some of this, but I’ll leave that to you and give a few stats from the race.

Youngest finisher – 7 (finished 14 out of 47 in her category 7 to 14)
Oldest finisher – 88 (finished 1 of 1 in her category)
Shortest time – 2:13 (elite)
Longest time – 15:40:28 (and this wasn't the 88 year old!)
Costumes – here are a few:

Japanese Samurai - ran in clogs (I believe he finished way before us!)
Bride & Groom costume (it could have been the real thing)
Old person costume (whoops – think that was me!)
Robot-type costumed character carrying a raygun
Supergirl and many other weird and wonderful sights.

It's funny but a couple of things stand out (other than the pain). One is sloshing through the detritus of cups & water left by the faster runners. The other is the sound of all those thousands of feet hitting the pavement - not loud or intrusive, but there through most of the marathon. This is written a few days after and Phil and I are almost back to "normal." We haven't received any pictures from the marathon yet but will share a few when we receive them.

From the Doghouse 2

2006-11-28T19:14:00.000-10:00

Ajax here! Your responses are acknowledged, appreciated and are deemed worthy of comment.

Tom: I do not write as Phil writes. Reverse the order please. Phil writes as I write. I taught the boy everything he knows (but not all that I know). Think of it in this manner: As Maggie naps so you nap (I am given to understand that is quite a lot). I do honor your wisdom in changing your vote to me. Thank you for your confidence and regards to Maggie.

The Brumley Clan: Congratulations! As Tom did you are displaying great wisdom (in fact, greater wisdom) in placing your family under the tutelage of a bright and sensible K-9. May God bless you with his long and happy life. Actually, the Border/Yorkie combo, known as “Corkie”, is quite popular in some circles. Thank you, too, for the vote of confidence.

The Davis Ohana: My sincere and heartfelt condolences at the passing of your dear Indy. If unconditional love is the key to Heaven your dog surely awaits you there. Is this not a good reason to pack up and return to Aloha Land?

Anonymous (Donna, I suspect): In a misbegotten attempt to flee your Christian responsibilities you wrote that Phil should find a wife for me. If you read the column you would understand that when it comes to such things my adopted charges are, in the kindest of terms, “weak.” How weak you ask? I want a wife! Easy to understand, correct? So, what do I get? I am currently sharing my home with an 11 year old Golden Retriever with hip displacia, assorted food allergies, skin issues, and a breath that peels paint. Worse, Beau (I refuse to call him Bo – so redneck) is a quasi (used-to-be) male. Do you understand what I am up against? If you have any charity in your soul help me!

Editorial comment: What is it with this fixation to “fix” puppies? When did they start to arrive broken? Indeed, I would argue that your “fixing” is to us “breaking.” Do you really believe God has failed to provide the appropriate hormonal balance for us? It is that delicate chemistry that you are destroying. And for what reason? The underlying issue is not the K-9’s chemistry or the God given drive to procreate. The real issue is that you don’t want to put in the time to interact properly with and discipline your four legged buddy. Instead of time you invest a few dollars and have the vet “alter” them. Yes, I know; dogs are indiscriminate begetters and difficult to discipline. May I point out that is even more true for many teenagers today? Hmmm.

From the Dog House

2006-11-14T19:40:00.000-10:00

Greetings my bipedal friends;

No, your correspondent is neither Sandy nor Phil. They are away visiting the lovely island of Kauai and are, intentionally or otherwise, providing yours truly with a well-deserved respite from the endless bickering prompted by that ridiculous “election.” (See the previous entry.) Neither of my “children” will set aside their pride long enough to type a few words.

Permit me to introduce myself. My name is Ajax. I am a border collie. For almost 8 years it has been my arduous assignment to train Phil and Sandy – house break them, if you will. You laugh and think, “Yeah, right. Like a dog can type.” Indeed we “borders” can type. We can also set your VCR’s to record our favorite shows! Can you? The truth is we are far more advanced and sophisticated than humans. As we herd sheep so we herd you sheeples. It isn’t particularly difficult, just a bit of mind control and my bowl is filled with food or the house gets vacuumed or the windows get washed or “they” purchase plane tickets and get out of my fur for a while. In other words, we run the world. Really, someone had to step in and take control. You should be grateful.

As good as we are at mind control there is one area where I have been unable to make an impression upon Phil and Sandy. (Could the fault lie in the poor material over which I am supposed to exercise control?) I am a healthy and intact male pure bred border collie. If I do say so myself, I am noted for my good looks, keen intelligence (obviously) and a winning personality. Can we cut to the chase? I need a wife! I NEED A WIFE! Fifty plus dog years of chastity is too much! Please help me find an appropriate young lady. I would be ever so grateful.

Fervently,

Ajax

PS: By the way, kudos to Mrs. Sue Timmons! You accomplished what few others have been able to do – shut Phil up! Thank you!

VOTE "no" redux

2006-10-04T17:37:00.000-10:00

For the Christian who suffers from an overwrought sense of their own iniquities politicians and politics are a divine gift. They provide us with an entire class of individuals to whom we can, to our advantage, compare ourselves. What is it about politics and political personalities that permit us to enhance our self-image. Many things! Here is one: A candidate spends millions of dollars for a job that pays but a fraction of that. Immediately, this disparity between money spent and benefits received places a gloomy shadow of suspicion across the candidate’s intelligence or his integrity.

Election season is upon us. This is that brief period when we are inundated with testimonials, promises and allegations worthy of the epithet “mud slinging.” Every candidate has “the plan” while every candidate’s opponent is a disaster in waiting. Our intelligence is brought into question when we, in the face of the experience of repeated election cycles demonstrating the truth that politician’s lie, believe the promises of a candidate.

The names and faces change but not the misrepresentations. Elections are upon us again and so is lying season. Solomon might have been issuing a political editorial when he wrote: Ecclesiastes 1:9, “That which has been is that which will be. And that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun.”

So, after this diatribe why would I jump into the swamp of politics? As is true for all politicians because I have an agenda, a selfish agenda. My dear beloved spouse initiated this blog. She penned several worthy articles and created a modest fan base. And just when she got things really rolling she ceased to write (that fear of success nonsense). Here is the proposition: Sandy will write the next blog article and do so within the next week. Please cast your vote “yes” or “no” (if you are tempted to vote “no” please consider my good friend Guido) via the comment section. I now officially step from the political quagmire to clean myself up and thank you. (vote "no")

10/14/06: Sandy, my dear and precious wife, you are tampering with the election. I am stunned that you would stoop to threaten the electorate. Cease and desist! If you continue this grossly inappropriate behavior you will suffer a purgative tickling. And you voters: What’s with all this offering alternatives nonsense? It’s very simple (Tom): a “yes” or “no” vote. Vote “yes” and Sandy writes the next blog article. Vote “no” and you will suffer my scribal wailings and gnashing of tooth (and the one tooth I have is long). By the way, upon closing of the poll and the counting of the ballots the votes totals will be referred to the electoral high school.

Red Dots!?!

2006-09-07T20:20:00.000-10:00

No, you don’t need a passport to visit Hawaii. Yes, American money is accepted here. No, Hawaii is not in the Caribbean. Yes, Hawaii is actually a state and part of the United States. No, spam is not the state bird. Yes, you can watch American TV in Hawaii. Regarding the latter response, how about a bit of proof? Perhaps you have seen the ubiquitous (Special thanks to Mrs. Hyman, my 12th grade English teacher for that term. You were right after all, Mrs. Hyman, there would come a time when I would use “ubiquitous.” However, I do not employ “ubiquitous” ubiquitously.) television ad where the boss asks, “Who's aggravating my red dots. Are you aggravating my red dots?” Not at the moment, but I am about to aggravate those red dots. It’s only fair! After all, many of them have been aggravating me for months. If you are reading this blog then on the right side of the screen you should encounter a map of the world. Select it and it becomes large and legible and filled with aggravatingly anonymous red dots. Not all of the dots are annoying. Those in Texas, Mexico, Germany, New Zealand, and lovely England are not the least irritating. We know whom those dots symbolize. I am confident that we know the Japanese dots and the dots of the Philippines, as well. But who are you who dot my screen from the West Coast of Africa, Scandinavia, the east Coast of Canada, Lebanon (?), Portugal (We do not know anyone who has flown over or around Henry the Nav’s home), Florida (we have suspicions), all those dots between California and Texas, and who is it living between Georgia and Canada that have poxed our map? Be brave little anonymous crimson dots. Step from behind your little red shields and reveal yourselves to those of us you have been aggravating. Creditors are heartily encouraged to ignore this invitation!

Phi-il . . .!

2006-08-05T16:10:00.000-10:00

Do you have a favorite movie? We have several and among them is the classic Arsenic and Old Lace. The story occurs in a single evening. Carey Grant, the “hero” (if this sort of movie has a hero) believes he is related to two delightfully eccentric old ladies. Adding to the confusion Mr. Grant’s character is also about to marry the girl next door. In his evening of wild discoveries, Mr. Grant learns that these two dear old ladies have for years been dispatching lonely old men with arsenic. Soon after this discovery, Cary’s long lost brother (played by a wonderfully creepy Raymond Massey) and his “doctor” menacingly appear. Quickly it is discovered that the brother is also a serial killer. To his chagrin, Carey’s brother learns that the two old ladies have a “larger” body count than he does. In the end, the two old ladies are sent to an institution, the brother is arrested, the marriage is on and, best of all Cary discovers that he is, in fact, not related to the arsenic lacing old ladies. The film is a truly amusing, if at times, dark comedy.

On to completely unrelated matters. We just received a sad report from Sandy’s mom, Modene Braham. Our favorite equine, Starboy, has passed away. The 34 year old horse was a long time resident and fixture on Modene’s 235 acres of Texas land. On his sturdy back many a visitor enjoyed a gallop across the grassy meadows. On his last day the stately lonely old fellow was hand fed by the 90 year old Mrs. Brabham, who does not wear much lace. Soon after Starboy was discovered to have left this realm for equine eternity. Flowers are discouraged. Teddy Roosevelt was not available to dig the Panama Canal for the deceased. (See the aforementioned movie for clarification if you do not understand that reference.)

Messages from . . .

2006-07-18T19:03:00.000-10:00

Saturday was designated as an informal work day on the church of Christ Pearl Harbor 2.5 acre campus. At 6:45 am, before the tropical summer sun does what it does so well, I was up in the trees cutting back offending limbs. At 10 am a baby shower for Teri Zurn commenced and was fully attended. That brought out the men and limbs began falling in earnest, broken sprinkler heads were replaced and fences were removed for later replacement. Toward the end of the work day activities one of our heroes, Rick Cheney, cut down a rather large branch. I stood it up and tilted it upon my shoulder and prepared to stand up. It is a drill familiar from practice. I began to push with my legs and a message arrived from body central to the brain. “This isn’t happening.” Why not! I’ve done this a thousand times. That is the reason I couldn’t do it this time. Age!

It was the second such message in three days. Thursday several of us went surfing. The waves were large, wind blown and chaotic. One particularly large wave not only separated me from the surfboard it also separated the surfboard from the leash. Back before leashes, when I was, a-hem, younger to lose a board and swim for it was no big deal. Now it is a big deal. I work hard to keep the years at bay. The inevitable encroachment of the years may be temporarily hindered; however, there is no doubt that they will not be denied.

What then? What else? Rejoice! The passing of the years is bringing me (and you) ever closer to life with the family eternal. Each diminution of physical prowess is indicative of the need to change mortal flesh for immortal and the imperative for a life lived in reliance upon our Lord. I couldn’t lift the log and the swim through the surf was severely taxing, so I must be getting closer to home.

Courtyard of Heroes

2006-06-24T16:44:00.000-10:00

The proceedings were conducted in the Courtyard of Heroes. While there are plaques highlighting military bravery mingled among the courtyard’s trees and plants it is the scars on the walls that bring home the reality of heroism. The building surrounding the courtyard was, in 1941, a barracks, the home to American Air Corps enlisted men on Oahu. The deep ballistic wounds that gash the concrete are the remnants of that December Sunday that lives on in infamy. Many young men died here. This is hallowed ground.
This day was not set aside to honor the death of a man but the worthy conclusion of a 27 year military career. Dan Ciufo accumulated almost three decades of service in the Marines and then the Air Force. His numerous and remarkable accomplishments were reviewed. He, his lovely wife Daphne and their equally lovely daughters Leah and Anna were all thoroughly and properly honored. Dan and his family are the Christian’s Christian.
In an era when political correctness permeates all aspects of the American Government it was pleasantly shocking to repeatedly hear the title of God and the name of Jesus invoked during Dan’s retirement ceremony. Why is Jesus important to many in the United States military? The answer was long ago etched into those walls by Japanese bullets and bombs. Our military understands what we civilians fail to grasp: The integrity of a nation or the Kingdom of God is insured by sacrifice. Our military understands and appreciates sacrifice and so it is that they understand and appreciate our Lord. They get it. Dan and his precious ladies get it. May we be as wise!

Dan, thank you for your service to our God and to our country. Daphne, Anna, and Leah thank you for sharing this fine man with us.If the good people of Woodlands, Texas have an ounce of wit among them they will grab hold of this family, hug them and encourage them in all things godly. Should you tire of the Ciufo family send them back home to paradise!

We bought an air ship!

2006-06-03T13:53:00.000-10:00

Yes! We finally did it! The deal was done on line and the aircraft was delivered by, what else, air mail. You are correct in assuming this is not a full size human carrying contraption. This is an inexpensive “easy to fly”(so much for truth in advertising) remote control trainer. We knew we were in trouble when the accompanying DVD containing the instructions for building and flying this winged wonder were entirely in Chinese. (This they drop on a family who has accumulated perhaps 6 semesters of Spanish to complete Spanish II.) Apparently, we have an affinity for the language (all those fortune cookies, no doubt) and the fancy plane came together.
It came with landing gear. LANDING GEAR! NOT TAKE OFF GEAR! Trust us on this one, there is a difference. The one Chinese phrase we did not translate was the warning to be sure to hand launch said aircraft. Attempted take-offs from mother earth resulted in collisions with trees, shrubs, curbs, and a truck (not moving). To hit a moving vehicle or person will take a bit more practice.
We have taken the Terry version of the Predator out twice. Yes it has been airborne – sometimes for extended periods of close to ten seconds. We now know that birds can and do laugh – it’s sort of a mocking sound. Happily, it is a rugged craft and has survived several unique perpendicular “landings” with minor dings. What have we learned so far? While it is far more expensive it is also far easier to fly a real aircraft.

Another Farewell!

2006-05-29T09:32:00.000-10:00

It isn’t every congregation of the Lord’s Body that can boast of its own merry-go-round. Is a merry-go-round even remotely scriptural? It is if we are speaking metaphorically, and that we are. The single negative aspect to this congregation is the constant loss of military members as they move to new commands.
It has been suggested that where the mainland congregations fire their ministers every three years the church of Christ at Pearl Harbor fires the congregation. Or, so it seems. With painful regularity we conduct farewell fellowships - many of those at the beach.

May 27th was the date of our most recent goodbye gathering. Our awesome cooks provided an abundance of fine fodder. Laughter and tears were common. So was the occasional, if unintentional, “baptism.” Six families are preparing to leave. Each takes a hunk of our hearts and our gratitude.

The redeeming quality of merry-go-rounds is that they bring you back to the starting point. And while we bid farewell to some, at least five families have or are returning to us. God’s mercies never cease!

A Preacher's Worst Nightmare!

2006-05-20T19:55:00.000-10:00

What is the preacher’s worst nightmare? I nominate last Mother’s Day at the church of Christ as Pearl Harbor. The plans included flowers for each and every mom and a sumptuous steak feast prepared and served by their loving husbands. And for an added attraction the plans included the installation of two new deacons. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Not a bit of a nightmare in these activities, is there? How about this for a daylight nightmare: No one comes to church. No one! Nada! Not the elders, not the deacons, not the deacons-to-be, not the Mother’s Day cooks, not the mothers, not the children, not the song leader, not the Bible Class teachers; just the preacher, Mrs. Preacher and their ever faithful PD (preacher’s dog). The parking lot was an acre of empty black top. Was the sermon from the week before really that bad?

A phone call by a desperate cook revealed that it wasn’t the sermon. He and everyone else couldn’t get to the church building. In its secular wisdom the Honolulu County traffic deacons decided to close Nimitz Highway for a Triathlon. In other words, other than by helicopter there was no access to the church. Further calls indicated that the road would be opened at noon, 11 am or 10 am. Pick one! The elders set up a conference call and it was decided to conduct the meal at 4:30 pm and services at 6. All the members of the congregation were called and so informed. Apparently, the Highway Department learned of the postponement of the services and, having accomplished their purpose, opened the roads at 9 am. Humph!

The congregation rose to the challenge. The cooks arrived at 3:30. The mom’s arrived at 4:30 and a grand feast celebrated our moms. If you are familiar with the Pearl Harbor family then you know that the level of fellowship is always elevated. However, Mother’s Day proved to be very special. In services, Jesus was remembered, our mom’s were acknowledged and our new deacons were installed. Isn’t that just like our God? Taking the worst moments and turning them in to the best!

Day off in Hawaii

2006-04-19T17:44:00.000-10:00

Last Monday Phil and I took a day off from work. With a whole day to ourselves we had the usual exchange: "What would you like to do?" Reply, "Oh, I don't know, you decide!" This went on for several rounds with suggestions to see what was playing at the theater (nothing) to sitting around and do nothing (that was probably mine). We finally decided to get out of the house, take a hike up Makapu'u Point and take Ajax with us. To get to the start point we took H1 East till it, drove through Hawaii Kai, past Hanama Bay, Blow Hole and Sandy Beach. We parked on the side of the road and started up the trail.
Above is one of the pictures we took of Ajax at the top of the Makapu'u Head where the old lighthouse is located on Oahu. The next picture is at the beginning of the trail. The trail winds up about 500 feet above sea level and is advertised as a two mile walk.
Phil been thinking about running up this hill since Christmas so he wore his running gear. So once we got on the more paved ground he gave me "control" of Ajax and took off up the hill. Ajax found more rocks and bushes to water than he had water to water with (does that make sense?) But he didn't give up. He seemed to enjoy all the new smells and all the other people that passed us on the way up and down.
I mentioned that the advertised length of the trail was two miles. After running it in just a little over 15 minutes, Phil declared that it couldn't have been much more than a mile but the run was a welcome bit of exercise. It took me a little longer and I blamed my slowness on Ajax's desire to investigate each and every bush along the way and I won't deviate from that story. We all enjoyed our excursion to the top of Makapu'u Point and once we arrived back home enjoyed a really nice nap. The last picture included in this post has nothing to do with our day off. It is a picture I took from my office. The ridge rainbow was so beautiful and I just wanted to share it with my friends and family. Enjoy! Here is a link to more pictures of Makapu'u. http://www.pbase.com/aukipa/makapuu

Ford Island Bridge Run/Walk

2006-04-16T13:25:00.000-10:00

Saturday 8 April was a beautiful day to be outside in Hawaii. Although our day began early, unlike most of the events we have participated in, this run actually started after dawn had broken - 7 AM. Arriving at the start area around 6:15 in order to pick up our timing devices, we had plenty of time to take care of last minute details - like a visit to the ubiquitous porta-potties and note the fashionable black raingear seen above.

I had planned to run and walk the course but during the first mile a friend and I crossed paths and ended up walking most of that mile together. After that bit of time had passed I decided to just do a fast walk for the whole course - which I did until about the last two miles. Well, the whole course was only 6.1 miles so my "fast walk" only lasted about 3 miles. What happened during the last couple of miles was that a high schooler started talking to me and I couldn't seems to break away from the conversation. Everytime I started going faster again, she would do a quick run to catch back up again and start talking again. So I just kept to close to her pace and "kinda fast walked" the last mile and a half. She was a nice young lady and it turned out that she only found out she was participating in the event the previous evening. Her uncle was on Maui and not able to get back so her father told her she would use his entry number.

Phil finished the course in just over one hour. A couple of the young men from church also participated in the event and said that "Mr. Phil had just run by them early in the race." Here they are prior to the race. Congratulations to Taylor and Gary for finishing the race in such good time.

The next picture is Gary's mom, Shana at the beginning of the course. It was fun walking with her as we talked our way through the first bit of the course.
This picture if of something called a "sea-based radar" and from what I understand is undergoing some refurbishment or repairs here in Hawaii. Here's a link if you are interested in the arcane. http://www.raytheon.com/feature/sbx-1_05/

One last picture should overfill my quota for this day is of the USS Utah Memorial that we passed on the way around the small Ford Island. Should you want to learn more about the Battleship Utah you can read about her at this site: http://www.ussutah.org/. The picture is just after the flag had been raised on Saturday morning and evoke so many emotions. I am so blessed to be living in this time and place and thank God for the many places around me that remind me of those blessings of liberty.

Rain, rain and more rain

2006-04-06T19:37:00.000-10:00

Hawaii has been blessed with more rain than the ground knows what to do with. After more than 40 days (and nights) of rain we feel as if we should have begun to imitate Noah. Just as those thoughts began to be entertained, the sun re-emerged from behind the clouds. There was a lot of squinting and scrambling for sunshades all around the islands.

For the record, Oahu has received more rain in the first three months of the year than our annual average. Yet, we in the midst of all this water we are still being advised to conserve. It seems that it takes about 20 years for much of the water to seep through the soil, rocks and whatever else is under the ground to the aquifers. We learn the most interesting things!

Another interesting aspect to all the rain is that the ground outside our home has turned from its usual brownish shade to a lovely green color. So instead of wading through water to the car we wade through a jungle of knee high weeds and stuff to the car. It's been too wet for the mower to be used. Life in paradise keeps us on our toes.

Current events - well this weekend Phil and I are running in the Ford Island "fun run." Actually Phil is running, I'm probably going to walk most of the way. The course is around Ford Island (which suffered in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor due to many of our battleships being anchored around it) and is about a 6 mile jaunt. It should be an interesting trip around as we pass by the moorings for many of the ships hit on that day including the resting place of the USS Arizona. We will also pass the historic Battleship Missouri Memorial - on her decks the allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese thus ending World War II. We are both looking forward to the run and to the views offered during the run. Hopefully the weather will be dry!

Well, that's enough of this for tonight. I'll try to post again after Saturday's festivities.

Remembering Electra

2006-03-26T19:38:00.000-10:00

It was about this time last year that our Electra died. More often than I would have thought, her name arises in various conversations that have nothing to do with her. We may be speaking with someone about the new fence by our house and reminisce about how she managed to get all four feet into the post hole - it was so funny. She looked like a long chocolate-brown snake! Cameras are never around when you need them. But we do have a camera on occasion and here one picture that I like.

Electra was a very social animal.
If we sat on the sofa, she would be right at our feet; if I was in the kitchen, there she was, too. What a hole in our home was left when she departed. A sweeter more lovable animal can't be imagined (at least by me). We both still miss that silly, smelly, goofy, hyper, lovable chocolate lab who was known as Electra.

My First Posting

2005-09-21T08:47:00.000-10:00

Well, this is all new to me. But it seems to be such an ideal way to keep in touch with family and friends in our busy world.

A few word about me. I'm a Christian wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, niece, and generally friendly - I live in Hawaii with my sweet husband of 28 years. We've lived here for the past nine years and love being here.

My most recent travel has been to Texas to help in the celebration of my Mom's 90th birthday. She is a very busy 90 year-old that has a few acres for her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids - not to mention a few cattle, horses, dogs and cats. She is also one of the best cooks in the world. When my son and I arrived at her farm she had already prepared dinnner for us and was in the process of preparing three more meals for the following two days. An amazing and wonderful woman is my Mother! Mom is pictured above with her five children. Below is a picture with John, Mom and me.