beyond the pale

family and friends gathered today
it seemed the only gloom in the room
came from the paid mourners
we visited
gave our last respects to her still form
we enjoyed each other's company
i overheard a pastor comment on the laughter among the lot
he said it was good to hear in a time like this
there was laughter
hugs and cheek kissing
life's collection of loved ones
coming by to say goodbye
to someone already gone
as always
nothing remains but the remains
only the outer shell emptied
of a beautiful creature now gone
flown away
beyond the pale
later we carried the box to the hole
quietly praised our Creator for her life
her gifts
her love
we acknowledged eternity
we acknowledged salvation and death
death and salvation
as i peered down into the red clay depth
pondering this final cradle
two saints spoke
saying there is more
we do not do this for the dead
we do this for the living
we do this to give God glory
that there is more to all this
than mortal toil
there is more
more than breath
more than earth
but rather more beyond
i hope that when i die
that more people will come to laugh
over those that come to cry
i hope that when i die
i leave enough stories behind
for my collection of loved ones
to laugh and remember the time
and beyond all hope
that God is glorified
another soul leaving mortal bonds for glory
i know that there is more
in me
about me
beyond me
that will live beyond the grassy hill
beyond that red clay cradle

finally!

Well what do you know - an authentic candidate. How I wish it were Sarah Palin running for President rather than Vice President. Who knows, she might just be Prez one of these days.

McCain turned my head a few weeks ago during the Rick Warren interview. McCain gave a straight forward and to the point conservative stance. Obama tip-toed around the edges of his pro-abortion stance and McCain came right out and said that life begins at conception. It was at that moment that I decided to give him a chance. John's let us down in the past - but if he'll make a stand for the unborn - then I'll take my chances with him and toss my vote his way.

But today I am up on Sarah Palin. She's a genuine breath of fresh air. It's going to be interesting to see the media try to tear this woman down. The Republican Vice-President candidate has more qualifications and experience than the Democrat Presidential Nominee Barack Hussein Obama. Things just got interesting folks.

my aunt millie barina

I came home from school tonight and Gina gave me the news. My aunt Millie, mom's older sister, died earlier this evening. I don't have much to say. I guess I am still in shock. Millie has had all kinds of physical problems during the past decade but always seemed to bounce back with vigor. She was a real fighter and loved life - a selfless giver - a beautiful soul that loved laughter.

There was a time in the mid to late eighties, before Gina and I married, that I spent a great deal of time with Millie. She lived a full life from the start and she could tell you countless stories of her life experience lived here and abroad. Millie was just as colorful and bright as all the wonderful paintings she created. Millie will be missed and always loved. I will look forward to meeting her once again on the other side, where sickness and death is but a faint memory. Thank you God for letting us have Millie for this time.

gscc or bust

I had orientation for the Gadsden State Community College Massage Program. I got to actually put some faces to the unseen folks who I've been communicating with online and over the phone throughout the past Summer. The classes will be challenging but I already like the teachers and the overall atmosphere. Gina and I are trying to figure out how life will be now that I'm a night student Dad. Gina has such busy days with the clinic as it is and will be taking on more responsibility with the girls. I came in from my first night of the second semester and everyone was in bed asleep. I guess I'll need to get used to that.

It's been a wild week with the tsunami of change coming with school. Katie likes the bus ride and now doesn't mind the idea of being picked up in the morning. She gets to spend time with some of her friends who are bus riders as well. Kelsey loves kindergarten - she jumps out of the car and makes a b-line for the front door. Gina and I are glad we kept her with us at the office last year. She never was in the way and always kept herself busy. We are glad we had all that time with her and now miss her during the day. I am glad that she loves going to school. God bless my sweet daughters.

I remember riding the bus to and from R.A. Mitchell. I remember being a wee tot and accidentally got on the wrong bus one day after school. The neighborhoods we passed were strange and all the kids eventually exited the old green city bus. The driver never stopped in front of my home sweet home. I was eventually the only fare sitting in the back. I remember the gruff looking bus driver eyeing me from the wide rear-view mirror. I was scared because I had no idea where buses went after making all their stops. I could imagine a huge dark hanger like complex full of empty buses...empty except for one lone Finlayson sole.

Gina let me stay home this morning. For some reason after coming home from orientation, my right foot gave out on me. It was a good thing I was heading for bed. The pain had moved up to my ankle when I awoke this morning. Gina told me to stay off it. I had to come to the office a little this afternoon after picking up the girls. While at the downtown post office my knee (same leg) started hurting. I am a sad looking puppy today. I don't know why pain is traveling up my leg. Maybe it'll go away by tomorrow morning.

He Is Yahweh

Tommy sent this my way today.
Thanks Tommy!

1199

It's been a very busy day today. I've been in my sauna-mobile most of the day. I sure could use a nice cold shower and drop off to sleep for a few hours.

Gina's letting me take my birthday off tomorrow. That's nice. Tuesday night I'm going to try to get someone to watch the kids while Gina and I use that Red Lobster card that Tommy and Prissy gave me. That's nice too.

A strange thing happened a few minutes ago. Gina and I were working up a deposit. I was entering the names, check number, and amounts into Quickbooks when I thought I made a mistake. I thought that I had entered a wrong check number,1199, for a client's payment. How did I do that? I looked at the check number of the previous check and it's number was 1199 too! Both checks were patient payments and came in the mail today. They were the only patient payments that I picked up today. What are the odds that they both had the same number?

Another funny thing about the checks. They were the same check design - no flowers or kittens mind you - just plain grey with a thin black line as a border. Strange little moment nevertheless.

My cherry banker's chair is on the floor at home. They sent me a cylinder to replace the faulty piece that came with it. I called the manufacturer and the guy instructed me to hit the bottom of the bottom faceplate with a very large hammer. Of course the faceplate got all beat to hell but I discovered the wooden seat bottom had been damaged in the process. After contacting the company again, the fellow said that he would send me any parts that I needed to repair the chair. He called me Friday and said that there were no parts in stock and that the chair was made in China. Guess what - the factory is closed due to the Olympics! Last Saturday night Paul Smith told me that the reason for this is because of the smog problem over there. Just another reason to not like the Olympics. I WANT MY CHAIR!!!!

my old friend doug

Doug and I go back a very long time. If you know me, you've probably heard me talk about Doug Moore. We used to hang together and sing together decades ago. I miss him - I miss his music. He is a very dear friend.

Doug shared with me a blog he wrote that is posted here. Whether you've met him or not, you find the post interesting. I don't know how long it will be posted there. Doug has a heart for missions as long as I have known him. For the past years he's focused on building a "tent-making ministry" to fund his missionary work. Doug's a bonafide entrepreneur with a heart for serving God. Keep him in your prayers.

He wrote me an email that I posted at the (now pop-up riddled) abandoned Christian Brother's site. You might like to read his testimony and about his years while living here in Gadsden among the strange Christian Brother's folk.

surprized by joy

today

a pre-birthday celebration

of my 50th coming on the 19th

born in August of 1958

the day was filled with family

and friends

all loved ones

every one

a feast, hugs, laughter

and conversations

catching up on every one's present

sometime looking back at where we came from

i am blessed

enjoyed every moment of the day

enjoyed seeing you all

appreciated the wishes

i am home finally

and kind of wishing the day didn't roll by

as quickly as it did

kind of wishing i had a little more time with you

but that's life

isn't it

burning bright and fast

like birthday candles

on a birthday cake

i was a little taken back

lost in the glow

glad to be loved

grateful to have you all in my life

thanks for the wishes

thanks for the love

it was you

that made the years getting here

so much richer

The Hokes Bluff Tech Show

Cousin Red demonstrates how to make an All Wheel Drive vehicle.

for michael

A long time ago in a Ford Galaxy far far away