Happy Anniversary - Forty-one Years

May 11, 1974

Words cannot begin to express how fortunate that I am to have married the woman at my side.  She is everything to me, and without her, I am nothing.   Several ago I posted "What's The Secret."  How do you stay married forty-one years.  It is no secret.  It works like this.

So what's the secret to being married for forty-one years and looking forward to celebrating number fifty one day? All I can tell you is that our marriage is centered around our faith and that the message from God's Word is critical to the happiness that each of us enjoys.

First of all, God loves us and everything He does for us is for our benefit. He created the institution of marriage to be enjoyed by a man and a woman and to bring each of them happiness. The Bible tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His Son to die on a cross for us so that we might, through faith, have eternal live. Christ tells the husband that he is to love his wife with the same love that Christ loves the church and gave himself for that church (Ephesians 5:25). If I love my wife with that kind of love, then everything I do, I do because I love her and I want her to be happy. I want her to be pleased with this relationship. I want my Lord to be pleased with me as a man who loves his wife and realizes that his wife is a gift from God created especially for me and for my happiness.
Secondly, marriage is a partnership. Like any relationship, it takes work to maintain that relationship in peak condition. A happy marriage doesn't "just happen". Both of us are committed to the relationship and to each other because we love one another and it is our desire that our partner be happy in this relationship. No major decision in this relationship is made without prayer and conversation. God is not the author of confusion, therefore He will not give my wife a different answer to an issue than the one that He gives me. Again, God created the institution of marriage for our benefit, not for our demise.
Finally, I married a woman far better than I deserve. I thank my Lord and Savior for her every day. My wife is the most thoughtful, caring and giving person that I know. Proverbs 31:10-12 says, "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." I have found that woman. Proverbs 31:25-30 further states, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and teaching of kindness is on her toungue. She looks well to the ways of her houselold, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." I married such a woman.
So, back to the original question, "What's the Secret?" The answer is, you have to give yourself to the marriage. You have to give yourself to your spouse. Whatever you have within you, you have to "Give it Away."

July 2014 - 40th Anniversary Alaska Cruise

Skywatch Friday

Take Me Out to The Ball Game

One of the benefits of retirement is being able to take in a weekday baseball game.  The local minor league team plays several games in the first couple of months of the season that start at 11:00 a.m.  They are typically played on Tuesday or Wednesday.  These games are almost always promotions for various kids activities so the park is filled with youngsters.  I think it's great and it's cheap entertainment.  Recently my wife and I traveled to Dallas.  Prior to departing I checked to see if the Rangers would be in town.  Sure enough, they had a home game scheduled while we were there.  I looked for two tickets down the right field line about 15-10 rows up.  The two tickets and parking were going to cost just over $150.  Today I spent $16 for parking and one ticket in the first row, behind the third base dugout.  Cheap entertainment.  On this day the local NWA Naturals hosted the Tulsa Drillers. 

Every minor league team has their own special mascot.  The Naturals seem to have three in costume.  The one on the right is the primary mascot.  The other two are supporting characters.

The managers and the umpires meet at home plate to discuss stuff and exchange line ups.  Then it's time to Play Ball!

The second batter of the game for Tulsa got the scoring started with a solo home run.  If you look closely you can see the ball coming off of the bat.  As Kevin Costner said in "Bull Durham", "Anything traveling that far should have a stewardess."  However, that would be the end of the scoring for the Drillers, until the ninth inning, on this day.

This has just got the be the best summer job ever!  Who wouldn't want to be a bat boy/girl for the local minor league team.

I may have had one of the best seats in the house for $13, but who wouldn't want to join this party for only $8 per person.

All in all, it was a great day at the ball park.  I got to see my local team and my home town team play.  The home team won 7-2 and I got a few good Skywatch photos.  I just doesn't get much better than that.  Have a blessed week-end.

Inspiration Thursday

Inspiration can come from a multitude of sources.  The Bible is probably the greatest source of inspiration for the believer.  A great sermon can inspire us.  Taking note of  how God is working in our lives is often very inspiring.  One source of inspiration for me is music.  Gospel music to be exact.  I like all kinds of music, but I love the message in gospel music.  Last week, my wife and I headed to Dallas, TX for a two day gospel music event.  There was a concert each day, and they lasted over four hours each.  I'm already thinking about making the trip again next year.

The event was held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX., a north suburb of Dallas.  The sanctuary seats 7,000.  That's right, a 7,000 seat worship center.  The choir was approximately 200 voices strong.  I know that some of the artists really enjoyed having 200 back-up singers.   For me, sharing a worship experience with nearly 7,000 other gospel music lovers is inspiring indeed. Here are a couple of the artists that performed.



The Nelons are a family group.  It is often said that there is no better harmony than the voices of a family.




Angela Primm is just a walking inspiration.  As the old saying goes, "If this don't light your fire, your wood is wet."


The Booth Brothers is one of our favorite groups and their message is always inspiring.

These are just a few of the groups that performed during the 2-day event.  So why do I like Gospel music and why is it important to me.  Well, it is inspiring.  The hymns of the church are often the first exposure that children have to God's word and many Bible verses are incorporated into the Hymns.  Setting the scripture to music makes it easier for people to memorize and we are instructed to hide God's word in our hearts so that we can call on His word when needed.  Music is soothing.  In times of trouble or sorrow, the music of God's people is comforting to the soul and spirit.  When we think on the home that is waiting for us in heaven, the troubles of this earth seem a little less overwhelming.  Whether it is the Bible, a sermon, or great gospel music, there is no more important message than, "Jesus Saves"!

Hail to the Chief

Last week my wife and I traveled to Dallas, TX for a 2-day gospel concert event.  I'll post a few pictures of that tomorrow.  We arrived a couple of days early so we could do a little outlet mall shopping and visit the George W. Bush Presidential Library.  We have never been to a presidential library, even though the Clinton Library is in Little Rock.  It was a wonderful experience.  The Bush Library is located on the Campus of Southern Methodist University.  Locating presidential libraries on college campuses seems to be a preferred site.  The LBJ library is located on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, and the George H.W. Bush library is on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station.

In the central courtyard there is a sculpture of both "W" and his father, George H.W. Bush.  It is a very popular photo opportunity.  There is also an exact replica of the Oval Office which is the most popular room in the building.  It was far to crowded to get a good image.  I suspect that the replica of the Oval Office is a common feature among most of the presidential libraries.

There are two main galleries in the museum portion of the library.  The larger gallery houses artifacts, interactive displays, and memorabilia from the Bush administration.  These items are on permanent display.  The smaller gallery houses temporary displays.  Currently, the smaller gallery features an exhibit about baseball.  President Bush was a managing partner of the Texas Rangers prior to his term of office as President of the United States.  This exhibit is not limited to his baseball collection, and features items borrowed from other collections.  It is the largest display of baseball artifacts outside of the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown.

Easily the most impressive display in the facility is this piece of steel from the World Trade Center attack on 9-11-2001.  On the wall behind the artifact the names of those who lost their lives are inscribed.  Video monitors chronicle the events of that day.  There is a quiet reverence about this space, and rightly so.

While in office, every president travels abroad on diplomatic business.  Often he and his wife are presented with gifts from the heads of state of the countries that they have visited.  Here is a pretty impressive collection of some of the gifts presented to President and Mrs. Bush. Click on any image to enlarge.

This crystal and gold Baccarat necklace was a gift to Mrs. Bush from the First Lady of France.

 This exquisite turquoise frosted glass bowl, set on a gold and silver stand was a gift from the President of Qatar in 2001.

 These stirrups of silver, with gold, ruby and emerald accents are from the President of Morocco.

Finally, this silver eagle statue was a gift from the President of Peru.

I'm not sure what we give heads of state when they visit this country, but somehow a smoked brisket just doesn't seem to be adequate.  One has to wonder what the federal budget is for diplomatic gift exchange.  I'm sure there is a line item for that somewhere.

After our visit, I can recommend that you visit this museum and library if you are in the Dallas area.  In fact, I think you would be impressed by visiting any presidential library, even if you didn't care for the politics of the man being honored.

Ruby Tuesday Too

One Nation

This display is part of the permanent exhibit in the George W. Bush Presidential Library located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.  The text is from President Bush's inaugural speech, January 20, 2001.

My wife and I traveled to Dallas for a short vacation that included a visit to the Library.  More photos and information will follow later.

Aww-w Monday (Maybe Awe Monday)

WTC

Today marks my 1000th post on this blog.  I had a previous blog that had over 300 posts on it before I moved to this address.  That's another story for another day.
While this is an Aww Monday post, it might be better called Awe Monday.  Recently my wife and I traveled to Dallas, TX for a short vacation.  While there, we visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University.  There will be more about the trip in another post.  Easily the most Awe inspiring display in the library is this section of one of the WTC towers.  On the wall behind the artifact are inscribed the names of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  Most of us can probably remember exactly where we were when we got the news of the events that were unfolding in New York City.  Little did we know that it was only the beginning of a very long and tragic day for our country.
If you are ever in the Dallas area, this library is a must see. 

Wordless Wednesday

Bubble Wands