Life

Having to say GOODBYE!!

I just returned home from a trip where I got to spend the final days with my Uncle who was more than a relative he was a true friend. He is in Heaven with God right now I'm sure. I would like to share with you the eulogy I delivered to give you an Idea of the kind of man I was lucky enough to have called Uncle and more importantly Friend.

I am truly humbled and honored to say a few words about a GREAT MAN
My Uncle Bob was one of those people that just made you feel GOOD! You couldn't’ be around him for five minutes without smiling from ear to ear. He had that shining light from the inside out thing down pat! He walked in a room and it lit UP! He didn’t just shine… He GLOWED! He loved to laugh and loved LIFE! He KNEW about JOY and peace… he KNEW what was important.

I once heard it said that “death begins with life’s first breath, and life begins at the touch of death.” If Uncle Bob has anything to say about it at all… He will make that true. I’m betting right now he’s up there, in heaven, looking down on us all joking and smiling, that big old warm smile of his. He loved to heckle and have fun….He’s probably up there telling the angels stories about how he and his brother, my Uncle Harold, taught us all to become excellent snipe hunters. If you don’t know about snipe hunting… it’s a long story see me after and I’ll pass on some of Uncle Bob’s best tips.

Uncle Bob wasn’t just smiles and laughs…. He had amazing character too… a heart so big there was room for all of us … He was strong… AWESOMELY so…..and he had NERVES of steel! I think he was the designated driving instructor for the whole family and then some! How many of us did he teach to drive? How many of our parents are grateful he did? After all, there aren’t too many people in this world who can toss the keys of a brand new car to a kid who doesn’t even know how to drive. That’s a man with an incredible ability to trust, an incomprehensible level of patience, and a real capacity to love. That was my UNCLE BOB! He was the first to come running when you needed help. He didn’t just share this with the family…. He was a non-preferential helper. He’d help ANYONE he crossed paths with! If someone needed help he was Johnny on the spot…. It didn’t matter if you were family or a total stranger. He’d do what was needed and then some. And MAN oh MAN was he a great listener! If you needed someone to let it all hang out with… or you needed some wise counseling and good advice.. He was it. He never judged you…. And always had the right words to say to make you feel better. His “can do” positive attitude was a true inspiration. He wasn’t just my Uncle… He was my friend.

In the last few days I have looked back on all the times I got to share with him….. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to have know him and have him be a part of my life… to call him Uncle Bob. The passion he had for life is a great example for us all to follow. That IS his legacy and it will live on forever. He set a great example as a husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend. His life’s greatest work was in us, the people who he touched, and that will pass down … generation after generation. From snipe hunting to living life out loud every day…. His light will live every time we use what he taught us through his life.

To honor that light… the life that Uncle Bob REALLY LIVED….. We should be celebrating… of course there is sadness, our loss was so great… my heart aches…. But my soul rejoices…. Because I KNOW he is in a place where there is no pain… no disease…. Uncle Bob doesn’t have to fight or endure anymore… not one more second. My Pastor says that he lives his life hoping one day to hear God say to him “well done, my good and faithful servant, well done” I’m betting that when Uncle Bob arrived at the pearly gates he heard those very words and heaven threw him one heck of a welcome home party!

Today we have a chance to give back to Uncle Bob…. He wanted his life to be celebrated….. So let’s wipe away our tears and give him the kind of celebration his life deserves!

And to Uncle Bob, …. It’s not Goodbye but I‘ll see you later… Thanks for being YOU! We Love you we miss you.

SALUTE TO VETRANS GAVE ME CHILLS

Follow this link to video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2953385971575885252&hl=en

God truly blessed Carlos Garcia (hope spelled right) with talent. As I stood listening I had goosebumps all over. What an Awesome tribute to our Veterans. I asked if he would allow me to post this video and he graciously allowed me to post it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

It was a true honor serving my country, I am very proud of my service in the United States Navy. I would like everyone to lift up the Men and Women who are sacrificing so much right now to keep us safe. If you never served you have no idea how much they give up to give us the freedom we so often take for granted. So please keep them in your prayers.

Sorry video a Little shaky as I walked down some steps.

AN AMAZING HONOR

Has anyone ever said to you when you get a minute we need to talk. Then when the moment comes and your sure you know what they were going to ask you. Then BANG they ask something way bigger than you could have ever imagined. That's what happened to me this weekend.

I was asked to step up and become the Director of the Usher Ministry. I felt so many emotions run through me as it sank in what was being asked of me. Honor is the one that sticks with me the most. I'm not sure if it's my military background or why this emotion hits me the hardest but that is the one feeling that returns the most. OK I'd be lying if I didn't admit fear is running a close second in the emotion race. I believe that is the enemy at work trying to place doubt in my head. I have the abilities I just don't want to let this calling down or those who believe in me.

If you go back in my blog to early October I blogged about a call to arms, my wife and I have been praying hard that God would show us where to help hold up Troy's arms and the vision of Flamingo Road. Sometimes when our VERY BIG GOD sends us a message it can be pretty strong. We just need to be willing to trust in him and go where he takes us. I truly feel blessed that God wants me to help out in this very important part of the First Impression Team. And feel so honored that the Leadership of FRC would ask me to do this.

Please remember to wave smile and acknowledge the Men and Women and children who give so freely of themselves serving in all the different ministries. Without them we are just another church going through the motions. With them we are making a kingdoms difference.

Hey my Blog friends another weekend is upon us and you know what that means for me... yup more time to work on the house and more time to spend at Flamingo Road. The plan for the weekend is to return to the upstairs bath and put in new vanity and sink.. I also have custom built a vanity for my wonderful bride that I hope to finish up this weekend.. We are all growing weary of trying to find things in boxes.. If the sink goes well I might even get to hang some more dura rock I really miss my upstairs shower. I have to get a few more walls up before I can finish putting in the shower and build the tub surround.

I was looking through some photos and came across some photos of Easter morning when Tami (my bride) and I were baptized on that cool cool (OK cold) Easter morning. One of many steps we have taken this year on our journey. It is so cool looking back to where we have been and where we are today... Unbelievable how much you can change in a 18 month period we have met so many great people and have made so many Awesome friends. If someone would have told me 2 years ago I would be where I am today I would never have believed them... But wow am I glad that we continue to take the steps to a much better life. So HI HO HI HO it's off to work I go..
Come on whistle with me..

My Brides Birthday

Hey everyone sing out for Tami it's her Birthday today. What a great women she is, I have been reflecting back to when I met her almost 9 years ago. What a lucky day it was for me. She is Beautiful, Smart, and an Awesome cook. A great MOM and a perfect friend.

I Love Ya Babe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KITCHEN OR BATHROOM?

The Enemy continues to try and hold me back but I continue to fight on. My stomach continues to be a HUGE distraction in my life. I'm trying to remodel our kitchen but seem to spend more time in the bathroom.

Update on remodel both sides of the sink now work. Dishwasher installed garbage disposal installed tried to finish electrical connections last night but the enemy decided to drain the battery on my work light before I could finish so hopefully today we will have a functional kitchen.

Just looked back I ended up in the ER on September 27 so I guess it's been almost a month since I tore out the old kitchen, the plan was 10 day's without a kitchen. To say I missed the mark is a severe understatement but my loving wife and child have taken the set back well. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful wife and TWO AWESOME children.

Really excited about attending my first Promise Keepers event I have been praying that GOD will bring a big turnout from FRC so we represent our Flamingo Road Church Family. And THE VISION Pastor Troy has for the church. Also my new friend Arnold is starting a ministry to help single women in need of handy man type services how cool is that, my hat goes of to Arnold for seeing the need and stepping up. I will help when ever I can and however I can. I hope and pray those in need will not be embarrassed to ask for the help this team will be able to bring them. Just think of the many talents we have in our church. Pastor Troy reminds us a lot that we think we picked Flamingo but on the contrary God brought us there for a purpose. So we can, if we choose, MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in the world.

Trunk or Treat is right around the corner looking forward to seeing and hearing what GOD will do with the new taking it to the streets theme. Well blog world it's back to work on the Kitchen say a prayer for me and hope to see ya in church.