The Three Minute Grandparent

The night is dark, in fact it is so dark that I cannot see my hand flapping in front of my face.  I try walking in one direction and nothing is reached, so I change directions and walk...still nothing to touch.  It is SO dark.  I begin to imagine something in the distance, or so I think.  Is there a light up ahead or is it just my desire for light.  Am I beginning to hallucinate?  Do I want light so badly that I will create my own version of light?  Am I going light crazy? Then it happens, a voice calls my name in the dark..."Ken".  I stop, ears strained to hear sounds, hoping a friend is near, wanting to believe that someone who cares for me is nearby and calling my name.  The silence is deafening but I continue to look, and now listen. Again, I hear..."Ken,"....  This time, I turn toward the sound coming from behind me, anxiously searching for the source of the sound, wanting to see the one calling my name.  The night is silent,...

Children grow up and leave home.  Friends said that when we were deep in the throes of child raising many years ago.  We didn't believe it!  Guess what?  They do grow up...and they DID leave home.  We have been empty nesters for several years and find it nice, if a little lonely at times. Our  number 3 child visited us recently.  The time with Him was wonderful; watching his grown-up actions, listening to his mature words that originated from well thought out concepts, and just viewing our handsome son.  His Faith in Jesus is growing by leaps and bounds.  It was a joy being around him....and further, he is an excellent cook!  Even with his kitchen prowess, he wanted to know how I made bread, which was quite a compliment. Number 4 child is not available for a visit, she is in New Zealand on a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) training, and will be gone through next Christmas.  We talk with her on SKYPE or Google Talk every third day or s...

The time is ripe for another blog from the pen of Ken.  Last night I spent time with my lovely daughter in law and son in Atlanta.  Number one son knows that I have a passion for smoked BBQ so in trying to add to my happiness, he and number one daughter in law took me to Thompson Brothers BBQ in Smyrna, GA for some authentic Southern BBQ.  The restaurant is located in a strip mall with dozens of other stores and eating establishments.  The frontage is only 30 feet across and 100 feet deep...what I would call a hole in the wall...no negative intended.  The people were friendly and the food....oh, the food.  This is the place for YOU if you like real smoked Southern BBQ.  I had the chopped pork and sliced beef and tried food from the other plates.  My favorites were the smoked sausage and smoked ribs...which I will order next time. Thanks, Thompson Brothers for a wonderful supper, and I will return in December while in Atlanta for our company confer...

Seat belts fastened, maps within view, time machine activated.....the hum and vibration increase to monumental proportions...the view changes and suddenly, we are viewing......Garnet.  The travel time was actually 1 hour and we never left 2010, however we suddenly are in the presence of the past.  Garnet Ghost Town was an active mining town on Bear Creek, founded around 1895 as Mitchell and quickly renamed, "Garnet." A fire in 1912 devastated much of the town...log cabins, bars, and hotel.  The town was inhabited in 2 separate time periods, each interrupted by World Wars 1 and 2.  Gold, Silver and Garnet stones were the searched-for items.  Some of the original cabins and store buildings are standing with much history attached.  We wandered in and out of the buildings, absorbing the history, allowing the voices from the past to speak, touching the historical surfaces and trying to imagine....what would it be like........ I took pictures....of everything.......

Missoula to Glacier National Park...a short drive...well, it is actually 150 miles or so.  The drive is lovely with sights of mountains, lakes, colorful trees among which are cherry and maple, and time in the car with family.  We made such a trip yesterday and had a great time. Our drive was in and out of rain showers as we passed Evaro Hill, the Mission Mountains, Flathead Lake,  thousands of Flathead Cherry trees and the scenery on the East side of Flathead Lake.  The drive...ahhhhh, the drive.  It is always lovely and relaxing...well,.... as relaxing as driving will allow.  The Montana scenery is always worth the drive, however, the fun was inside our car.  Our oldest son, Sam and our Daughter-in-Law, Ashley were with us as we drove.  As confirmed empty-nesters, we are thrilled when family comes to town.  Both were with us for the visit to Glacier Park....and we had fun!  Several hours in the car are sufficient to catch up with grown ...

According to a winning coach, winning becomes a habit.  Perhaps this coach is on to something.  We have many football teams in and around our city...high school and college and winning seems to be the goal. The high school of our 4 children's history is experiencing a winning year...so far.  The crosstown rivals are not, in fact one team has yet to win.  The college team in our lives has a win and a loss with another game today.  Our thoughts are toward winning the game, however a red herring has arisen....literally the opposing team has red turf.....yes, the playing field is RED. Playing football is a sport which uses a grass playing surface.  In recent years, some teams have switched to an artificial grass or turf which looks better on television and is easier to maintain.  My team's football rival for today's game has gone one better and made a switch to red turf.  After viewing a news video, I have come to the conclusion that the turf in ...

Win, you have to WIN.  Winning is everything.  No one loves a loser! Have you heard these chants?  Have you been part of a team when one of these chants was hurled at you?  Have you ever lost and felt like a loser?  If so, you're in good company, because everyone has lost at some point.  Is it fun?  Definitely not....but it is part of life.  (Don't you hate those cliches?) My team lost tonight and I feel ____________(fill in the blank). Vince Lombardi said, "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?" Lou Holtz said, "I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it." I agree with both statements; they come from the mouths of knowledgeable men who have both won and lost.  So, where does my team go from here?  Back to the practice field, back to the basics, perhaps sweating to the oldies? The team will be back next week as will I, cheering for them, su...