Note: The red jersey's are there only to qualify the photos for Ruby Tuesday. The object of the photos, and the post, is the player in the white jersey.
The oldest grand daughter played one of her final soccer matches of the junior varsity season on Friday. She scored two goals in a 7-1 romp of an outmatched opponent. The following sequence is the first goal that she scored late in the first half. She's playing left wing when the ball is passed to her.
She gathers the ball and dribbles once to set up the shot. She's got speed and a long stride. Look how much space she has put between her and the defender from the photo above in just one full stride.
Now it's just a matter of getting back on the ball and taking the shot.
She loads up the right foot and the goal keeper will have NO chance at stopping the shot. The two defenders can do nothing but watch, since they couldn't catch her earlier.
Easter Sunday has taken on a special significance around the Driller home. It has always been a special day for Christians. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. My previous post gives a brief outline of the plan of salvation. For the Christian, salvation and eternal life can only come from one source, Jesus Christ. Christ said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me." He further reminded us that, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The apostle Paul tells us that, "
"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9-10. As a nine year old boy, I was saved on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday morning. Last year, our daughter came to the realization that she was not saved. She invited Christ into her heart on Easter Sunday 2010. Today, Easter Sunday 2011, the eleven year old middle grand daughter accepted Christ as her Savior. It was a glorious day!
Jesus Saves!
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." John 14:6
"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9-10
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17
May the God of all creation make His presence known in your life and live in your heart. Have a blessed Easter.
Sunrises and sunsets always remind me of the grace of God. The Creator has given me another day to live and serve Him. Most of the time I don't do a very good job of that. Still, He gives me another opportunity the following day. Sunday is a very special day. It is Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. It is more than colored eggs and chocolate bunnies. It is the day that Christ rose from the dead. One of these days, all of those who are called by His name will rise to meet Him and live forever in a place prepared by our Savior.
There are a lot of songs that celebrate the rising of the Saints. Here are two of my favorites. Enjoy, and may the God of all creation live in your heart.
It's been a long time since I posted a flower of any kind on this blog. Last week I was on a business trip to Atlanta, GA. I was privileged to stay at the Chateau Elan in Braelston, GA, about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta. It is a resort/winery. There is a very large atrium with some beautiful plants, but this one particular bloom caught my eye. It just kept saying, "Look at me, look at me, I'm Ruby Tuesday material." I have no idea what type of plant this is, but it is pretty.
Need a new Ruby Tuesday badge? Over the past couple of years, I've created a few of my own Ruby Tuesday Badges. Feel free to use one anytime.
There are a lot of things in this life that bother me. People do a lot of things that I find objectionable, however I typically keep my thoughts to myself. I have major issues with most politicians, on both sides of the aisle, but I almost never mention it here. I find much of what is on television to be less than entertaining, but I don't bring that to this blog either. However, I saw something the other day that disturbed me.
I was in the Atlanta airport waiting to catch my flight home. It was around 9:00 a.m. I was sitting in a waiting area working on my laptop. There was the usual airport commotion going on around me, multiple announcements, people with rolling luggage, and the airport television monitors tuned to CNN. It all seemed harmless enough. There was a story about an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran who had committed suicide and how this is an ongoing problem with servicemen. Since this young man served in 2009, his act was not counted among military suicides. The question being asked was, how many suicides are the result of serving in these war torn countries. The story seemed to go on for several minutes...too long. What bothered me was this. As I looked around the area close to me there were young men and women, in uniform, going about their travel. Do they really need to be exposed to this story? Mind you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the news story itself. It was just the time and the place where it was being broadcast that bothered me. I can't really explain it, but I just wanted to find a way to turn it off and not put this in front of those who young men and women, who proudly serve this country, in an airport. Some of them are probably going home on leave to see loved ones. Some of them are returning to their duty station and will soon be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. They have plenty on their minds and it just seemed inappropriate for them to have to endure this type of story. It was uncomfortable for me and I was uncomfortable for them. Maybe it's because, as a veteran I didn't want, or need, to be reminded that the horror of war often follows the soldier home and lives in their heart and mind forever. I certainly didn't think it was something that these gallant young men and women needed to be reminded of every 100' down the concourse. Like I said, there was nothing wrong with the report, but I truly wanted to find a way to change the channel.
I've found a new place to view sunsets and it's just down the road from the house. I will be visiting this spot quite a bit in the future.
What is your desire? Have you ever thought about what you desire in life or what you desire to get out of life? It's an interesting question. As far as this life goes, I suppose many aspects have exceeded my expectations. I don't know about my desires. I never truly desired to be famous. I once desired to be able to really sing well and to play an instrument, but that was not to be. I had a desire to become an architect and that did happen, although I don't know if it is what I was truly expecting. Now, I desire to be close to family and friends. I desire to slow down a little bit and enjoy the rest of this life. I am making plans now. Our daughter and her family all live close by, so that is accomplished. I am busier at work than I have ever been, so that will have to change, but plans are in the works...so to speak. As I grow older, I find that my desire is to have a closer relationship with my God, the one true living God, the God of all Creation. That is a journey in itself and a quest that many of us never under take. However, it is God's will that we have a close relationship with Him. And the only way that can happen, is to spend time with Him. A relationship with God is not unlike any other relationship. It is only as close as you allow it to be. Your friends are only as close to you as you allow them to be. God is only as close to you as you allow Him to be. I need to allow Him much closer to me. This song by Jeremy Camp expresses it better than I can. The lyrics are printed below. Enjoy and have a blessed week-end.
You want to be real
You want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the King
You want to be whole
You want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind
You want to be set free today then lay it all down before the King
[Chorus:]
This is my desire
This is my return
This is my desire to be used by You
You want to be real
You want to be emptied inside
And I know my heart is to feel You near
And I know my life
It's to do Your will
It's to do Your will
I wonder if their pizza tastes as good as their truck looks. I found this little gem in Fayetteville, Arkansas while at a seminar. I was on my lunch break, but didn't have time for a pizza, otherwise, I would have given them a try. Maybe next time.
Saturday morning I got up around 6:00, loaded up the boat and headed to the lake to do a little bass fishing. What you have here, is a little bass. A very little bass. The lure is only about four inches long including the hook and feather. Thankfully, this was the smallest fish I caught this morning. Well, to be honest, you can't get much smaller than this little fellow. I did catch four others. One weighed around three pounds. The other three were barely keepers, although I practice catch and release when it comes to bass. When it comes to crappie, I practice catch 'em and eat 'em.
It was a good morning. The wind came up and made it hard to keep the boat in the right position, so I came home around 11:00. Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. There will be a lot more of this activity in the days ahead. Just wait until I go and do some big bass fishing.
A couple of weeks ago the two younger grand daughters came out to spend a couple of nights with us. Anytime that happens you can be sure that there will be quality time with Nana. This trip included sewing lessons, which I failed to capture, and cookies!! The best part of making cookies is picking the shapes you want to bake, then decorating them. Here are a few examples of their work.
Little brother couldn't be there but he wanted a plane and a rocket ship. He has his own cookie cutters that Nana bought him. He's going to be a regular Renaissance Man when he grows up.
Since Easter is right around the corner, a bunny had to be in the mix (no pun intended).
Finally, I think the the train engine is in memory of their great grandpa. He worked for the railroad.
After all of the baking and decorating was done, it was time for some cold milk and, you guessed it, cookies!
