First thoughts

Sitting at my computer this 3rd day of January 2007 my mind is mostly wrapped with thoughts of the year just ending. 2006 had some very difficult moments.

It actually started out on a high point, my return to Kenya in February to tweak the computer lab at Kima International School of Theology (KIST). It was a great blessing to see the ministerial students using the computers that were made possible by the Augusta County Schools through the the agreements of the technology department, the Director of Maintenance, Ron Houser and the Director of Business and Finance, Mark Lotts; the diligent cleanup work of my wife Georgianna and myself; and the transportation and installation efforts of my great friend, Rick Portlock.

In April, in fact on 04/05/06, my mother passed from time to eternity. She had been very ill for a while and had actually begged my brother and sisters to pray that she would just go on. I think part of it was missing dad, her companion for 55 years, the dependence she had become to others, the pain and weariness of body, and the desire to see the Lord she had lived for for just short of 60 years.

In June I believed I was being crushed to death by a tractor trailer. By the grace of God I only suffered only fractures of the pelvis and evidently strained and possibly torn muscles. I may live with the effects of that brush with death the rest of my life. At some point in this blog I may post two other brushes with death that I had in my life.

In August I was falsely accused of misconduct on the job and subsequently left the county school system. It was a tough blow, especially the underhanded way it was handled and especially because of the person that made the accusation. But he, not I will stand in judgement for his actions. My motives and actions were innocent and pure. I wish him no harm and hold no malice at all. I just pray that he will some day find peace. He obviously is a very troubled person. The others involved had their own agendas and it is not interesting enough to me to ever want to know them.

Another very high point in the year was a 15 day trip to Pilar, Argentina. Pilar is just about an hour northwest of downtown Buenos Aires. I will have to post more about that trip some other time, but I did keep a blog of the entire trip and it can be viewed at http://naznsa.blogspot.com/. It has a fair selection of pictures by team members and a running dialog of each day's activities.

Returning from Arentina I landed a job at Lowe's in Waynesboro. I have now been there 7 weeks. It is easily the most difficult work I've done on a daily basis, but also the most fun I've had on a job in my life. I am so happy to be out of technology and especially away from self proclaimed professionals.

A third very high pint was Todd and Diana's wedding. Most of you know that our middle child, Chad, and Lesa got married September 24, 2005 in Bemus Point, NY. Todd and Diana were married in the Maryland Inn in beautiful Annapolis, MD October 14th. (Yes, Lesa, Bemus Point is beautiful, too. You know I know that). Todd and Diana are living in Weyers Cave, VA just a couple of minutes from us. We love our daughter-in-laws like our own children. They are both beautiful, resourceful and intelligent. Of course they married the boys for their money.

At the same time as the wedding we learned that Chad and Lesa will be expecting the first grandchild in early June. She will be the prettiest girl in the family we know.

I was able to go to Charlotte, NC with Jeff Arbogast with a Nazarene Work & Witness team to help at the Charlotte Operation Christmas Child for 5 days after Thanksgiving. That was more fun than a Christian ought to have, but we had it any way. Thanks to the entire group that went. It was a blessing, a learning and a wonderful experience because of each of you.

On December 7th I made the most costly mental error of my life to this time. I was working on my table saw at home alone and lost the ends of my left fore finger and middle finger. I was and remain very thankful that it was, in the words of a wonderful pastor and friend of mine, only fingers and not a hand. It has been a tough 4 weeks to this point but they constantly improve and I hope to be using my left hand fully in a few weeks. Now to relearn how to type!!

I ended 2006 with a renewed sense of God's presence in my life and his continued love and care for me, my family and my friends.

As 2007 ramps up I hope to explore a host of thoughts and to speak honestly and openly about my theological positioning. To my family and friends, remember as you read my sense of humor covers a whole range of levels. Take my musings as they are, and try to not read too much into them.

I would be remiss in closing this without mentioning Jill. Jill continues to work diligently in the ER at Augusta Medical Center and care for her Bijon, Ollie, and two huge cats, Micky and Sam. Our dog, Daniel loves to see Ollie.

Two people that I especially want to thank for pushing me into this format, my dear and closest friends, Deborah and Matt. The two of them will remain in my heart, my thoughts and prayers. If you want to know more about them, I'll check with them and perhaps post their blog addresses as well. Matt and his wife Nell had their first child in 2006, a beautiful boy named John. Deborah and her husband Randy went to China and adopted a beautiful girl they named Kaili. No, I'm not prejudice.