Ocracoke

Here are a few pictures from Ocracoke Island and the trip down. I didn't get as much photography done as I has intended. I rode my bike more. I will always take my bike from now on. The main highway, Route 12, through the island is a little congested, but there are always bikes and motorcycles on it so people watch pretty well. And there are a number of back streets on the village end of the island to bike on. The biggest hazard are the mosquito's. If you bike, walk or linger outside you better put on some strong repellent.


This Keith. That is my truck with 4 bikes. Keith rode down with me but mostly drove on the way back. We had a great time.










This is Carlos and me deep in discussion about who knows what. This was taken at the ocean end of the life saving station boat house.










Carlos and me IN the boat house.












A house right beside the Ocracoke ferry dock. I am presuming rental. Nice place, huh?











A shot on the lower east side, at the end of the road. Calmer water here.












This is the Ocracoke lighthouse as seen from across Silver Lake. Silver lake is at the extreme south end of the island, and has a large opening into the Atlantic Ocean for boats and ferries.

Ocracoke

The Harrisonburg, VA First Church of the Nazarene Men's Group went on their 14th Men's Retreat on Ocracoke Island, NC on the Outer Banks April 23 through April 26. The best I remember there were 91 men and young men on the retreat this year.

We briefly stopped at the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station in Rodanthe, NC on the Outer Banks to help do some maintenance work. I referenced the web site link I my earlier post, so I won't get into that again.













We had a baptismal service in the hotel's pool on Friday afternoon. This is Josh Montanez just surfacing from his baptism performed by his dad, Pastor Sam Montanez on the right and Pastor Roger Dove on the left.

This is Richie Testa. Richie is on the worship team and has several committments at the church. Richie said something this retreat that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It was a statement of bravery, boldness, and transparency. I trust he won't be upset with me posting this here.

Richie told us simply this: "My name is Richie Testa, and I am an addict."

Richie has been able to beat his addiction with God's help and many of our prayers. My prayer is that he keep Christ inside so that there will never be a relapse.

Richie, you touched our hearts deeply and we pledge our continued support to you.

Out for a few days

Tuesday evening and late. I am going to the North Carolina Outer Banks tomorrow with close to 100 guys from church for a men's retreat. We will arrive at the southern end of Ocracoke Island tomorrow evening and be there until Saturday morning. This is the retreat's 14th year, my 3rd, although not in a row.

We are stopping at the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station in Rodanthe, NC to do some painting and other work needed. This life saving station is a historical site now, and very a very nice place to visit. This will be my third time there as well.

If you want to explore the site via the Internet, use this link: http://www.chicamacomico.net/.

This is where we stay on Ocracoke: http://www.theanchorageinn.com/. The entire motel is ours for the end of the week each year. More info about Ocracoke can be found here: http://www.ocracokevillage.com/.

See you when we get back. I'll try to take a couple of good pictures that show off the island.

This was about the last picture I took in Oklahoma on the day of Phillip's funeral. I wondered if it was the last time I'd see this bit of my family history. Life moves us all on. Reminds me of my favorite Dickinson poem. I leave it here with you.

Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played
At wrestling in a ring;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then ’t is centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses’ heads
Were toward eternity.

Emily Dickinson 1863

Home again

Some of Phillip's wonderful coworkers helped us fly emergency standby so we could attend his funeral on Thursday. We were very fortunate going down on Wednesday and did just as they expected us to do on the way home today, Friday.

We only failed to make one flight we were wait listed for. A particularly good showing during this frantic time for American Airlines. We saw LOTs of people who were not doing nearly as well.

We arrived in Tulsa in time to be at the funeral home in Collinsville with the family. Then stay through the public viewing. The small chapel was packed out. Probably fits about 100 or 125 and it was filled.

The funeral was moved to Owasso, about 5 or so miles away to a very nice funeral facility that has a chapel that holds I was told around 350. It was packed and about that many were standing down the sides, behind the chapel in a glass vestibule, and outside.

It was the most beautiful funeral I have ever attended. A large mixed young peoples choir accompanied a duet singing "Thank You for Giving to the Lord."

Phillip was a very giving person. We were taught to give of ourselves by Dad who gave of himself his entire life. Phillip organized and facilitated a number of large youth meetings and always seemed more at home with the youth than folks his age. Phillip never wanted to grow up. But he was wise beyond his years, and I look at his life with a sense of envy in that respect.

The heavens opened just as we were headed to the cemetery, and it was a muddy quagmire.

It was a blessing to see my extended family again. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces and beyond.

I discovered while I was there that my theological positional statement has raised some concerns in those who feel somewhat responsible for my spiritual direction. And they should. I have admired my uncles and aunts lives on both sides of my family. And I know that some of my thinking is in part a result of ingesting things I've heard from them and things I've seen in their lives.

I hope my positional statement won't cause anyone a lot of concern. I am still learning and growing. And long ago I found myself believing that no one has all the answers, and my answers will be fluid until I cross into timelessness as has Phillip.

Thanks to each of you who kept us in your thoughts and prayers. The funeral was my most difficult so far. I lost a rediscovered friend and time is not likely to substantially heal my heart.

Travel plans

American has grounded nearly it's entire MD-80 fleet for inspections. MD-80s are the main AA carriers out of Richmond. We are flight listed for a 7am flight out of Richmond on an ER4. Land in Chicago @ 8:15. Out of Chicago @ 11:35 on a CR7 landing in Bentonville, AR (Wal-Mart ville) @ 1:15. About a 2 hour drive to Collinsville. Viewing is at 5pm. No other aircraft types were affected in this grounding, and those flights are wide open. We should be fine.

All aircraft are supposed to be back in service by Friday morning. Return trip should be less exciting.

CR7

ER4

Questions with no answers

With more information we are beginning to find out more about the accident that took Phillip away. It seems it might not have been his impulsiveness entirely. The truck seems to have not stopped correctly at a stop sign or traffic light. I don't remember a traffic light at that intersection, but it was one or the other.

None it changes the outcome, and we certainly won't grieve any less whomever was at fault. We all have made grievous errors in our lives, some just come at more crucial times than others. If the driver of the truck bears any responsibility we won't think any less of him. It could have been one of us. I am sure he is suffering entirely as much as us. I hope he, too, will find grace to see him through this.

Plans for our family right now are to fly out of Richmond on the first available flight Wednesday morning. That will be Bruce, Georgiann and Todd. Chad is feeling like he can't face the emotional stress. Chad is a very tender hearted person, and is blessed with the ability to be touched more deeply then most men will allow themselves to be touched.

I found it interesting today when I thought about the grandchildren ages. Jill, our youngest child, has the oldest grandchild. Chad, our middle child, has the middle grandchild. and Todd, our oldest child, will have the youngest grandchild.

All that gets real complicated if our adoptive daughter, Deborah, gets brought into the mix. Her and Randy's adoptive daughter has a new name that I heard for the first time today. Sgt Kaili. I had to laugh. I can only imagine how in charge that young lady is.

Mari is extremely mobile now. Madi is extremely mobile now. Both still on all fours. Mari is standing on her own and should be walking soon. Look out world. I don't think Madi is far behind her. I got to hold both of them on my lap on Saturday evening for a short while. A true thorn between beautiful roses.

Check out their blogs for more info and pictures.

Sad Day

Today is most likely the saddest day of my life so far. I received word this evening that my only brother, Phillip, died in a motorcycle accident this afternoon just west of Owasso, Oklahoma.

Phillip was 46. He was by every account our mother's favorite, although she loved us all as equally as she knew how. But Phillip was where her hopes of having a pastor as a son was realized. Phillip was a good boy, for sure. I left home when Phillip was just 7 years old, but I stayed in close enough contact to know that he never gave anyone trouble and most of all not his parents.

Phillip married a wonderful person, Susan, and with her had 4 children. Stefanie is the oldest and is married and lives not far from where she spent most of her years growing up. Matthew is still at home as is Luke. Susan moved a short distance away pending a divorce and their youngest daughter, Echo, is living with her.

April 2006 our mother, Ruth, passed away. April 2007 Frank, our sister Yvonne's husband passed away, and now, April 2008, Phillip leaves us.

The family had lost Frank and Yvonne's oldest son, Frank III in 1999, and our dad, Fred, passed away in 2003.

I suffered a large blow when our dad passed away. I miss him still most every day. But Phillip and I had entered a new phase of our relationship in the last year that was a delight to me. I won't go into detail, but to lose him at this juncture is harder than even losing dad.

There is no understanding why all this has come about, 3 of the 5 deaths so untimely. But we understand that life is not in any way limited to this short period we call time. We rest assured that these that have gone before are in eternity where they will never again die.

As for seeing them again, we have been raised to believe that we will. And without evidence to prove or disprove that teaching we accept it.

The loss cannot be mitigated, nor filled. We simply move on as well as we can.

Our family will appreciate your thoughts and prayers while this fresh wound hurts so much.