The Bush Family Year in Review: Retrospect for the Holiday Season

It's strange, this time of year.

Strange that it's generally the only time of the year when we slow down long enough to take a look at what's transpired, and to pause (even if only briefly) for contemplating what lies ahead.

Who said you HAVE to wait until Christmas to reflect on the days gone by or the ones ahead?

Think about this for a second.

Your past and your future are constantly present.

How's that for a conundrum? And don't try to argue the point, saying that the future is not the past. Because as soon as you try, it already is.

[pause and reflect]

Now that I have you thoroughly distracted, let me make an admission of guilt. Maybe you'll miss it.

We didn't send Christmas cards last year.

It was my fault ... the ball dropped from the juggling act. I vowed to get back on track this year. As we have in the past, I thought it would be nice to send out a note. But as I started reviewing the events of the year, I realized it would fill up pages and pages. Nobody sends a family Christmas BOOK! The traditional media ... a card, photo, or sometimes a letter. And that's good. I love getting them. We all do!

But there's so much to share! Hmm ... a quandary.

Then it hit me (perhaps from a medically-induced fog as I sit here on the 21st of December recovering from the crud) ... "Why not capture the year somewhere online, and just include the link in the letter?"

YES.

A stellar collision of the traditional mailed piece, stamped and all, with the efficiency and perpetuity of technology!

YES. YES. YES.

So some of you have wandered here because you got a piece of paper in the mail. These days, that's like the winning lottery ticket. Congratulations. Savor it. For it may be your last. (Just kidding.) Well, savor it ... just in case.

If you didn't get the memo, please don't be offended. Even though our network of friends and family has grown larger ... to be honest, if we sent out something to everyone that we'd like to send to, we'd be in the poorhouse! We have so many extended friends through church and on places like Facebook and via other outlets.

It's my hope that this Year in Review provides you with a glimpse into our zany world. So that you feel connected with us ... and that you know we truly do wish you a very Merry Christmas. From our home to yours. And that our prayer for you is a bright and blessed 2015!

So let's get started, shall we?

January, 2014

My car is on the right. Other abandoned vehicles
were scattered along the hill.

Atlanta gets sucker-punched in the face on the 28th during Snowpocalypse. I left work a little before Noon, because I tend to be a little more leery of weather. Leah was stranded within a mile of the high school and had to take shelter at a friend's house. Eight hours later, I left my car abandoned on the wrong side of the road ... on a slippery incline where it just decided it had enough. I walked the last mile. My story was nothing compared to what some went through. Never again, that I can assure you. Never again.

February, 2014

A relatively quiet month, compared to what we experienced in January. I traveled to New Orleans for a IABC event, Leah was gearing up for winterguard season, and Chaz and Amy were rehearsing for Honk! And as usual, Veda was the glue holding us all together. I'll foreshadow this point. She held us together ALL year. I am truly thankful to have her by my side "doing life" together. In addition to keeping the kids in motion, she still works from home and sacrifices for us all. Another batch of snow swung through in February, but a walk in the park compared to January.

March, 2014

Leah's winterguard squad won top honors for their class at Kennesaw Mountain, and were automatically promoted to the next highest class. That was two class promotions in the time she was at Hillgrove, which is amazing. To get a sense of what the retreat (after the awards ceremony) looks like, and the camaraderie of a team that comes together to celebrate their victory, just take a look.

We also enjoyed Amy and her friend Kelly performing at the Kemp Elementary School talent show. What did they sing? "Let It Go" from Frozen, of course!

Wrapping up March was the honors banquet at Hillgrove, including Leah's selection into Who's Who for the senior class. So proud of her accomplishments!

One quarter of the way through ... are you still with me? It just gets better and better. Let's keep going!

April, 2014

First up ... a fantastic family cruise to the Bahamas. It was relaxing and energizing all at the same time, and we truly had a blast.

We were able to "extend" the family and had Mom and Dad Moore with us, along with our "third daughter" Allison!

But we had to get home ... as Amy and Chaz were preparing for their performance of Honk! What a talented cast and crew.

JayBird and Rooster

Amy played JayBird, a very intelligent reporter, and Chaz portrayed one of the best roosters I've ever seen! We had a challenge with allergies, and Chaz eventually had to sit out one performance with strep throat, but it was a fantastic production with our extremely talented neighbor playing the lead role of Ugly (the duckling.)

A few days after Honk! closed ... we let Amy be part of an audience ... at the Fabulous Fox Theater for a showing of The Lion King. Amazing theater. Amazing show. (And a pretty fabulous dinner at Chow Baby before it all got started!)

May, 2014

The countdown begins to graduation. Leah introduced one of the speakers at the baccalaureate service. Then we hosted one of most epic graduation parties in the history of graduation parties ... three families collectively throwing a block party in our cul-de-sac. It was so much fun ... and we only had one real complaint about the noise! I don't have any photos from the party, because I was grilling! And line dancing. Of course! We had yard games, firepits, makings for sundaes and S'mores for dessert, and a photo booth for general craziness. And twinkly lights.

Going to be in 6th grade!

Veda and I attended the year-end recognition for Amy, who was "graduating" from elementary school and moving up to middle school in the fall. This girl is going places, for sure! What a gift she is. At this stage, she was taking piano lessons (there is a YouTube video posted of one of her recitals) and just doing a phenomenal job with her school work. It's hard to believe that a short decade ago, Trudy and I were picking her up in China! And now, she's just a Southern girl at heart. And managing to fit in some of Leah's old clothes. Two words. No. Way. Ummm ... two more words. Yes. Way.

Graduate with (um) some honors!

We wrapped up the month with the Hillgrove High School graduation ceremonies in the convocation center at Kennesaw State University. One down, two to go! Leah is such a joy and a blessing to our family, and we were extremely proud of all she accomplished in high school.

June, 2014

Do we start to slow down yet? Nope. We enjoyed some family outings, such as hiking Kennesaw Mountain and visiting the Etowah Mounds. We're fortunate to be surrounded by some great natural opportunities for getting out and enjoying some activities like these. By mid-June, it was time for Veda, Leah and I to head to Western Carolina for colorguard auditions and for college orientation.

Juney Whank Falls, Deep Creek, NC

Veda and I took the opportunity to explore the area on the day Leah had her audition, and we found a wonderful hiking spot near Bryson City called Deep Creek. COLD water!

We returned that evening to find an exhausted daughter who was not feeling great and had concern about her audition. A trip to a local restaurant got her mind off it ... until we discovered that results had been posted on Facebook and that Leah made it on the Pride of the Mountains Gold Line!

During orientation for the next two days, we met some very nice band families and are still in contact with them to this day. Sticking together ... it's what band families do.

Leah leaving for England

It was only a week or so after that when we took Leah to the airport for her international mission trip to England with our church. Of course, she loved the trip and got to see some amazing things and work with kids to share the Good News. Ask her about it sometime!

With Leah across the pond, Veda and I then took Chaz and Amy to meet Mom and Dad Moore for the start of "Camp GG" for them. We met at the Peach Park near Clanton, AL for the exchange, and had a yummy lunch and took in all things "peach." Leaving there, we savored the brief moment of what "empty nesters" is all about. Some benefits, but you sure do miss them!

Meeting Hudson

We took the opportunity to visit with Veda's nephew and we got the opportunity to meet Hudson Edenfield! Both he and Lila were so much fun that day and we extended our visit so CJ and Carla could have a night to themselves. We wrapped up June with a date night to Shakespeare's Tavern to see our neighbor Bryce Payne in action. Such talent. And that was the first half of 2014! Wake up! No winding down yet!

July, 2014

Nothing says "Happy Birthday, America!" like a trip to the beach! Complete with fireworks over the lagoon at Gulf Shores. I love summer. It was a great visit with Mom and Dad Moore and a chance to pickup Chaz and Amy. Also experienced my first time ever of running out of gas. Car died just as we rolled into a gas station. YIKES! Once we got back, we prepared for Leah to return from her mission trip around the 10th.

Celebrated my 25th anniversary with The Coca-Cola Company in this month as well. Hanging in there!

Jasmine and the Sultan

Chaz and Amy were once again on stage ... this time in the production of Aladdin at Due West Methodist Church. Amy was a stunning Jasmine and Chaz ... her father, the Sultan! Oh, how we laughed at that arrangement.

Believe it or not, that's about it for July. But here comes August ...

August, 2014

Let's start the month with an early back to school for Chaz and Amy around the 4th. Then we have to get Leah up to Western Carolina for band camp around the 7th. We connected once again with the Smiths and the Blades (other freshman band families) during the trip. Honestly, August really just became a blur. But apparently we did it all OK. Kids were in school, and Leah was at college. Now do we get to slow down? Apparently not.

Oh, and a note here ... Amy takes up violin in the school orchestra. Does extremely well.

September, 2014

I opened up the month with a trip to Austin, TX to meet with the new installment of the IABC Southern Region board. What a fun group to work with! It was my first time in Austin, and I learned how to deal with an extreme number of access roads.

Hiking during WCU Family Weekend

This month would also bring about the WCU Family Weekend. It was the first time Amy and Chaz had to visit Leah at her new school. We certainly enjoyed our visit, including the football game surrounded by our WCU families decked out in purple, white and gold. The two younger kids, Veda and I even made the WCU Flickr feed (click to see it, but come right back) ... I guess we had just the right amount of WCU spirit wear going. Or maybe it was the oversided purple finger? It was a beautiful day in the Whee.

And it was SO good to see Leah and spend some time with her. We stayed at a beautiful townhouse in a golf club in nearby Whittier. The kids seemed to have a great time reconnecting with each other. They especially seemed to enjoy watching their Dad fall in Deep Creek while he was trying to cross over to the waterfall on the opposite side. Good times. No photo.

Gabe, Chaz, Will and Diego.
And their chaperone.

At the end of September, I had the opportunity to chaperone the entire fifth grade to Rock Eagle, and was responsible for four young "men" including Chaz for a few days.

It's trips like this one that remind you of how blessed you are and how all kids are different. It was fun to see their strengths and weaknesses and how they played off each other. My little group was like hosting the cast of The Breakfast Club ... they each had a little personality to reckon with.

I hadn't been to Rock Eagle since I was a kid, and my young wards were astonished when I pointed out things that were still there that I could remember. "Dude ... he said this pavilion thingy was around when he was a kid. It must be ancient or something!" Nice, kid.

We made it on the lake!

While we had plenty of activities, my favorite was getting to go canoeing with Chaz. I wasn't sure I'd get him off the shoreline (and he wasn't sure, either) but he dug deep for the courage and ended up having a great time!

Once we were out on the water, he immediately went into triage mode for another kid who was panicking in another boat ... shouting over to him that it was going to be OK ... that they both were going to be OK. Just love his heart!

I'm watching you, Red.
Or is Red watching me?

And I can't wait to go canoeing with him again. It was so peaceful on the lake. We immediately called Mom to puff out our chests just a little at our accomplishment (his and mine!)

October, 2014

Leah was home and we took a family day over to Stone Mountain. It was a little disappointing because the Great Lawn was closed for all the construction to make the ramps, etc. for Snow Mountain. Ah well, we found a spot on the side of the lawn for the laser show. Always fascinated at how they do that. I made a repeat trip to Austin for the Leaders Summit of the IABC Southern Region conference.

Veda and her parents went up to Cullowhee to see Leah in action for one football game, and then I took my parents up the following weekend. Unfortunately, it snowed on "my" weekend, we couldn't get to our rental. Yikes!

A selfie with George Bush. Be jealous.

Dad and I went to the game and sat in 30-degree weather with snow flurries flying by. Not to mention, WCU lost 55-0 that weekend! But at least it was to the eventual conference champs, and WCU did finish with a solid season and tied for second in conference play. And it was nice to spend some time with Leah and introduce our families to her school. My parents and I taught her how to play Rook. That was extremely fun. Three teachers, and one student. You can imagine.

Peter Pan and Humpty Dumpty

November, 2014

It's time for another show! Chaz and Amy were once again on the stage at the Mable House Amphitheater ... this time for the musical production of Shrek. Amy was cast as Humpty Dumpty and Chaz was cast as Peter Pan. It was very entertaining and we thoroughly enjoy watching them sing, dance and act. They are quite the Thespians!

Kempy the Cougar in action!

It was also in November that Chaz was selected for a great honor ... to be Kempy the Cougar mascot at school one morning! During an activity, he was to go about and interact with the students while they were waiting in line, etc. He was supposed to do it with another student and trade off halfway through the morning, but the other student was ill and couldn't make it.

So Chaz did it the entire time, and he was an absolute NATURAL! Giving out hugs, high fives, and posing for pictures. Honestly, he's got the making of a college-level mascot. And if you knew him personally, I think you'd agree. So proud of that young man!

NYC-bound

We're still rockin' November, and now it's Thanksgiving. We hosted Veda's family at our home, and crowded around the TV to see if we could spot Leah during the WCU performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 500+ members were chosen to lead the parade! As the opening credits were finishing up ... right after Al Roker's name went by, we saw the tail end of the band as they were a few blocks away from the "NBC Moment" in Herald Square.

And you guessed it ... there was Leah on national TV! A quick glimpse ... but friends sent us still shots from their DVR. She spent the entire week in NYC and had a once-in-a-lifetime blast. We're so happy she has made connections and friends through band and through her classes at school. I'll give you a sneak peak into the end of this year's story ... she's going to be on the Dean's List. Booyah.

December, 2014

Are you still with me? Bully for you! We've made it all the way to the end of 2014.

Maxwell, Dixie, Brother Sam and Alice

For three nights early in the month, I appeared as negative whiner Maxwell Q. Seldon in our church's production of The Christmas Post.

What an extremely fun time we had in our rehearsals and preparations leading up to the show. It's my hope that someone in the audience during those three nights got to understand the truest meaning of Christmas ... that's it's not about the shopping, the gifts or the food ... it's about THE Gift ... the Child who was born to save us all. The fact that we had fun in the production was icing on the cake.

Veda and the kids headed down to Gulf Shores for the merriment and celebration with her family mid-December, while I stayed back recovering from some type of crud (as a precaution not to share it with anyone). Tough decision ... NOBODY wants to miss any of that kind of present-swapping and food-eating! They are a very loving family and I'm blessed to be a part of them, even when I'm apart from them.

So now what? There's no sequel to this yet ... you'll have to wait until next year. Perhaps you'll be thinking of how to chronicle YOUR year in review ... we'd love to read it! Until then, I leave you with one of the best moments in television history:

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them!

And they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not!

For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all my people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David,

a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you:

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”

And suddenly, there was with the angel

a multitude of the Heavenly Host

praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the Highest,

and on Earth peace,

good will toward men."

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

The Perfect Storm

So it's been a while ... I started blogging years ago and attempted to constantly have something to say. But then I found myself in a season of life where the quiet introspect was more important than sharing my musings from day to day.

But today, I had a Perfect Storm. And I think it's worthwhile to take the time to write it down and share.

Over two weeks ago, we took Leah to college. She's three hours away, so it's not an insurmountable trip, but it's also not a trip we'll make frequently.

This is the longest I've been separated from her from the day she was born.

When we dropped her off, I was calm. Surprisingly calm. I had a peace about her immediate future. About her school selection. And about the trajectory she was on. So there were really no tears. Not that it couldn't have happened, but perhaps I subconsciously wanted to be a little stronger to keep it light.

Dropping Leah off for a
two-week mission trip to England
in July. Good practice for college!

The fact of the matter is ... I was too excited for her to be sad for myself.

So the story comes to the present ... a Saturday with no extraordinary plans. After sleeping in a little later than usual, I got up and headed out to the yard to engage in the usual "mow, edge and blow" before it got too hot. Before I started, I went to Leah's room and confiscated her iPod Nano she left behind so I could listen to some music.

The soundtrack to the Chronicles of Narnia: Price Caspian was the selection, and it transformed a day of yardwork into an epic battle between good and evil. My trusty steed of a mower taking down the grass and leaves, and a constant battle to keep them from blowing back on the yard. All the while, the sun beating down with an increasing temper to drive me back indoors. But the job was finished, and I started winding up extension cords and putting away the battle implements.

And that's when the Perfect Storm hit. Out of nowhere.

Leah often mowed the yard, so I was doing a job she had done in the past. I looked over to the spot in the grass where I remember helping her try to get the mower started. And now I realized I was standing in her parking spot in the driveway. An empty, unmarked reserved place for her that remains empty until her return. A brief moment of reflection, only to be followed immediately by a powerful blow.

The song filling the headphones was one of her favorites that she would sing often ... The Call by Regina Spektor. And at the exact moment I looked over my shoulder to the back yard and saw our backyard swing hanging silent and still from a large tree branch, the words filled my head to the point where I felt like I just stopped breathing.

"Let your memories grow stronger and stronger

'Til they're before your eyes.

You'll come back ... when they call you

No need to say goodbye

You'll come back ... when they call you

No need to say goodbye."

And at that very moment, it was as if God was putting His hands on my shoulders and saying, "It's OK if you miss her."

A slow and unexpected swell of emotion hit like a tidal wave driven by gale-force winds. Waterworks ensued, and I struggled to finish putting up the tools, my eyes stinging from the combination of tears and sweat. What an overwhelming sensation to have those elements come into perfect synchronization to remind me of the blessing she is to our family, and exactly how much I love her.

And miss her.

And yet, I'm still extremely excited for the path she is on. And each opportunity to visit with her is a reunion of love and laughter. And I can't wait for the next one in September.

So keep your eye out for your Perfect Storm. Sometimes we need them to remember the importance of relying on the One who gives us the faith and strength to endure.

Hobby Lobby and China

Most of you who know me realize I'm not a confrontational person. I grew up hating conflict, and avoided it with a passion.

Listening to the debate team practice in high school was nauseating.

You can imagine what the ongoing bickering in Congress does.

So the latest saga in our country's history brought me back to my blog today. (Facebook wouldn't allow me enough room to post the commentary I found regarding someone's opinion of Hobby Lobby and the fact that most of their inventory is Made in China.)

Somebody & Nobody

I've experienced a very weird sensation today as I walked from the Time Warner Center in Manhattan back to my hotel.

School's Out!

So what do adults do on the last day of school?

We put the oldest kids in charge and go out!  (Natch.)

Last night (which was odd to do on a Thursday night because it felt so Friday-nightish) Veda and I joined two other couples who are dear friends of ours (and neighbors to boot) and went out for an evening of serious laughter and good food at Aspens.

It's amazing how much fun you can have when you rid yourself of the parent hat just for an evening and remember the fact that you're a human being.  You remember how much fun it was (and is) to be part of a crowd, and to share stories, commiserate on trials and tribulations, and just laugh to the point that others in the restaurant really wonder what's so funny.

And why they are not part of such a fun crew.

The beauty of it all ... it reminded me of how blessed we are to have friends we trust, we enjoy, and we even vacation together.  That's saying something, considering we have nine kids total amongst the three families!

So here's to a grown-up night out ... may we not wait until next year when school is out to do it again!

Cheers!

On My Honor

I was a Boy Scout.

Now my favorite thing about being a Boy Scout was not the jamboree.  It wasn't running the timed obstacle course that included either a harrowing rope swing over a real sinkhole or an equally dangerous run around it.  It wasn't the camping in frigid weather, or in the monsoon season.  It wasn't odd skills like making portable salt and pepper carry-alongs by filling straws and melting the ends.  It wasn't knot tying.  Learning to flip pancakes in a frying pan without a spatula.  Cooking in a dutch oven.  It wasn't my canteen, my plate/pan/fork/knife/spoon kit, my compass, or my silver match holder.

Obviously all those things have etched themselves in my mind.  But they remain distant from what I appreciated the most.

Helping people.

At the time, it was various projects for others or at our church, Pinecrest Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia.  Our troop was 579.  And we had great leaders in Floyde Greene and David Fallin.  (Mr. Greene passed away just this month, so perhaps that's another reason why I have been reminiscing about my days in the troop.)

I don't remember all of the pledge.  I do remember it started out with "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country."  I remember we were supposed to obey the Scout law.  To help others.  To focus on remaining fit physically, mentally and morally.  I'm paraphrasing ... you can see parts of the real thing in the painting.

Now this will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, but I was the Scribe of our troop.  It was my job to take the attendance, take up any money, and keep track of who had earned what.  I had a workbook full of grids and matrices to fill out and keep up with it all.  Best "first job" I ever had.

Today, I was reminded of how rewarding it is to help others.

I've been burned in the attempt to help others before, and it's not pleasant.  Like the late evening I was dropping someone off at the Hampton Inn across from The Coca-Cola Company, and I was approached (in bright lights and in full view of the lobby, Mom) by a gentlemen who said he and his wife were stranded right beyond the North Avenue exit on the 75/85 connector, and he did not have enough cash to pay for a tow.  He was a veteran, offered up phone numbers I could call to verify, and was just trying to get enough cash to get his wife and family towed to the nearest service station.

I can remember how we would help stranded motorists as we drove the many round trips between Cordele and Athens to visit my grandparents.  Obviously, times change.  I was guarded, and would only crack my window the width of a finger.  I gave the man what I had in my wallet, which was a single $20 bill.  He thanked me over and over, and set foot back toward North Avenue.  I pulled out in the other direction, then decided to turn around and take North Avenue to I-75.  Instead, I ended up following this "gentleman" in the dark ... passing him multiple times as I made one loop after another to discover his final destination ... a nearby liquor store.  #goodguybummed

But today, it was for real.  I pulled into a gas station and was the third in a line of three pumps.  The lady in front of me appeared to be helping an older but spry black woman with short, spiky white hair that would put Don King to shame.  They seemed to be working out what was going on, so I went about my business.  As my tank was almost full, the second woman started to get in her car and the first woman was approaching me asking if I could help a "lady in distress."  She was scanning her card and trying to start the pump, and everything was zeroed out, but nothing was happening.  (Again, full daylight, Mom, and out in public view with others pumping gas, so I was game to help.)

Apparently, the pump was simply malfunctioning.  So after trying a couple of things that the original first responder attempted with no success, I suggested we cancel the transaction and she could back up to the pump in front of my car and we could try again.  She smiled and said we could try that, as her grandson was in the back seat proclaiming that perhaps the tank was already full.  Ahh, the wisdom of youth.

So she backed up and I helped get her started.  As she was sliding her card in the pump, she was saying how her husband had just passed and that he always pumped the gas and "did all this stuff."  THAT made my throat swell.  She wasn't too sure of her current zip code as she had just moved to the area, so we worked out that puzzle.  I asked her what part of Alabama she was from, as I noticed her license plate on her Cadillac was from that state.  We talked briefly about her living in Birmingham, and how I knew some places in the city.  She had not lived there long, having transplanted from Chicago.  Her smile was infectious and her spirit affable considering she said she was having to learn so much after the passing of her husband.  Her resolve to "make it on her own" was inspiring, and yet she showed grace and humility during this brief moment when she recognized the need for help.

If it hadn't of been odd and weird, I would have given this sweet lady a hug.

The pump slowed to a stop, and she asked me where the receipt would come from.  I showed her how to get the receipt, and she thanked me for assisting.  I welcomed her to the Marietta area and wished her a good evening.  I got back in my car and watched her wrangle the pump handle back into place, squint at the tiny pump screen, and show a sense of accomplishment as she put her gas cap back on.  As I passed, I rolled down the window and said, "Sometimes the receipt prints slow, so just wait for it.  I hope you have a wonderful upcoming weekend."  She smiled and waved back at me, and raised her hands in apparent amazement as the slip of paper emerged from the machine.

THAT is what being a Boy Scout helped me learn toward being relevant and valuable in this world.  Was I going to get paid for this act?  Was there anything in it for me, as most folks would weigh out before committing to help?  Sure, I got something out of it!

It was an honor to serve.  I made someone smile.  I managed to help someone feel like they were accomplishing something.  I was someone to talk to briefly ... to provide a conversational respite.  To prove that love and kindness crosses genders and colors, and is no stranger in the South!  I hope the Lord continues to provide real and true opportunities like this one.

Even if it's just pumping gas.

Final Score: 30-28

Now today was a nail-biter game.

It was one of those basketball games where the entire time, it was neck and neck.  One score answered by another.  I don't really think the gap was ever more than four to six points!

Chaz has really improved on his basketball skills over the past three years!  He stuck with it through the entire game ... never giving up.  He was going after rebounds, playing great defense and keeping those hands up, and always aiming for the goal, even when he felt overwhelmed and perhaps a little disadvantaged.

I think that's how we should approach life as Christians.  Stick with it throughout the game.  Never give up.  Go after the goal ... the prize ... even when we feel like there's little hope in winning.  The fact of the matter is, we always carry the advantage with God.  And how cool it is to share that advantage and have it accepted by our competitors.

I like it when everyone can win.

But tonight, I was the loser.  And I'm OK.

Really, I'll be fine.  Just give me a second to catch my breath.

(Is that really as low as our basketball goal will go?  Hmm.)

First Princess

It was Sunday night.

Sixteen years ago, this very evening.

As usual, I was up too late and should have been in bed sooner.  It was after midnight when Veda came to the playroom to tell me it was "time to go."

And with that, we were on our way to Northside Hospital, in a royal blue 1992 Saturn SL2.  (Historical fact that may amuse you one day.)

Approximately eighteen hours later ... we became a family of three.

And my heart was mush.

Your entrance wasn't without a challenge.  Lots of trips walking up and down the halls.  A rough patch or two for Mom midday, but an epidural put a stop to all that.  Then things slowed down.  I went to get a bite to eat.  Mom napped.

Then you got a little twisted around playing jump rope with your umbilical cord.  Things went into turbo mode.  They put an oxygen mask on Mom.  A doctor calmly told us amidst the flurry of activity that we couldn't wait any longer ... it was time.  It was around 6:35 p.m. if I remember correctly ... it did get a little blurry there.  But you arrived with much pomp and circumstance.  Ten fingers, ten toes.  Pink face, a little upset.  Some hair on your head.  Maybe even a bit of a scowl.

Nothing like the smile you have today.

Sixteen years can travel by pretty fast.  Everyone always told us never to wish away the childhood days.  But some were tough.

Like the days you were learning to ride a bike.

You cried and cried ... so afraid to keep pedaling.  You kept wanting to put your feet down so you wouldn't fall.  But you did finally fall, and pretty big.  And you pulled off the helmet and went inside, determined you were not going to EVER ride a bike.

I went inside and calmed you down, but wasn't going to let you quit that easily.  Because I knew you had it in you.  The mechanics were all there ... you just had to see it through long enough to move forward.  (Sounds like some of our efforts even as a teenager!)  Tears and more tears.

But you finally went back outside.  And after a couple of attempts, there you went down the street, squealing, "I'm doing it!  I'm doing it!"  I think you would have pedaled all the way to the corner and out of sight if I let you.

More tears.  But this time, they were mine.

You know more of the stories.  The time you accidentally grabbed the volume on the stereo and turned it up full blast.  It was like you were being electrocuted ... you couldn't let go!  Mom got you into the living room at the front of the house, and you kept sobbing, "It got me, Momma!  It got me!"

And of course, the time you kept calling Mom to come to the top of the stairs, even though she was making dinner.   When she finally came to the bottom step to let you know she couldn't while she was cooking, you pointed firmly to the ground and declared, "Come!  Here!  Right!  Now!" ... one of the best Veda impersonations I've ever seen.

There are so many "times" that have made us laugh, made us cry, or made us proud.

The time when I silently doubled-back after driving out of the subdivision only to see you in my rearview mirror saying, "Forget something?"  (Yes, Miss Smarty Pants ... my wallet.)

The time when I first heard "Butterfly Kisses" on the radio while driving down the interstate (again, you were strapped in the booster seat in the back), and Veda asked me if we needed to pull over and let her drive.

The time when you actually laid hands on my shoulders and prayed for me, when you were probably only about five.

The time in kindergarten when you turned down a marriage proposal on the playground of the private school you went to, because you were "going to marry a Christian boy."

The time when you gleefully shouted that, if we adopted a baby from China, that she could teach you Chinese.

And there are so many "times" ahead.  I've been open and honest with you through the years, that there would be times when you didn't like me very much.  Fortunately, those times have been few and short-lived.  Mom and I have been so blessed to have you for a daughter, and we have said over and over that God "found favor" to give you to us.

You've been tagged by some of your friends as the "Momma" of the group.  And that's OK.  Many if not all Mommas will tell you it's not the most glamorous position to hold.  But it's one of the most honorable roles you will ever hold!  You will be relied on for advice, for stability, for help, and for keeping folks out of trouble.  Don't ever regret being looked on with that level of responsibility for your friends.

And there will be a time ... one day ... when we have to let go.  A day when we put our faith in who you are and the foundation on which you make your decisions as you forge ahead into adulthood.  You won't be perfect.  (Neither are we, and we're just a little older than you!)  But it is our prayer, as we celebrate your sixteenth birthday, that you always seek out what God has in store for you, that you never let go of your faith in Him, that you love and respect others around you, even those who are unlovely and sometimes undeserving, and that you smile whenever you can.

Because THAT'S my girl.  Always bringing a smile to those around her.

Happy birthday, Leah B!  I will love you ... always and forever, my first princess.

Daddy

First Down, Inches to Go

What a festive time of year, as we bask in the afterglow of Christmas and look ahead with hope toward a new year.  And resolutions ... we make them, we break them, but perhaps we have good intentions and better habits if only for a short while.

Some resolutions are pretty big.  Stop smoking.  Read the Bible cover to cover.  Lose weight.  There's plenty to choose from.  Classic resolutions ... fancy resolutions ... healthy resolutions.

But this year, I'm going all out on something I've been putting off and giving up on for decades.  It's so dramatic ... so deep ... it requires sharing so I can be held accountable.

It involves my toes.

No, seriously ... I have a goal ... to touch my toes.

[I'll wait for the room to settle down.  Let me know when you're ready to continue.]

I know people who can palm the floor, and that's all fine and dandy.  I'm not jealous.  Much.

I'm just working to make a simple connection between my index finger and a hallux.  (That's a big toe.  And yes, I looked it up.)

For as long as I can recall, I've never been able to touch my toes.  I'm sure did it as a baby, but then again, I think I could put my foot behind my head.  Didn't we all do that?  No?  Hmm.

For years, I blamed my separation of upper and lower phalanges on long legs and a short torso.  Hmm ... perhaps that's not it after all.  I mean ... I don't really look disproportionate.   My beltline isn't at the 3/4 mark between my feet and my head.  If it were, I'd be on exposition in a traveling carnival.

And it's not because there's all THAT much to work around when I bend at the waist.  A gut is a gut ... I should be able to displace what I have on the way down.  So that's no excuse.

I think it's simply a lack of flexibility.  An ugly truth.  Unfortunate, but there it is.

Funny, I do recall as a kid being able to put my legs (lanky as they are) into a Lotus position.  I could even walk around in that position on my knees.  I know ... I don't understand why I didn't make it on Star Search either.  Course, I don't think Mr. Lotus had that type of mobility in mind when he invented the inverted criss-cross-applesauce leg pretzel.

Now I realize touching your toes isn't a huge requirement in life.  It's not on a college application form.  It's not a prerequisite for membership in the country club.  It's not even necessary for filing your taxes (although I realize some folks feel they are bent over in that process, but we won't dwindle on that word picture.)

Toe touching is just a personal "thing" that I want to be able to say I can do.  To myself ... not as a public decree.  Frankly, I'm befuddled as to why this is has become an issue.  I take the stairs everywhere.  I park and walk every morning and evening.  I even go to different buildings for bathroom breaks during the day so I can squeeze in activity whenever I can.  Just keep moving, just keep moving, just keep moving, moving, moving ... what do we do?  We moooove!  (Sorry ... Nemo reference snuck in there.)

Somewhere along the line, I became inflexible.  Unable to stretch my boundaries ... make ends meet, so to speak.  And the longer I let it go, the tougher it will be to reach that goal.

Whoa there ...
wrong direction!

Have you become inflexible over the years?  Determined that the way things have always been is the way they will always (or should always) be?  Have you been telling yourself that a situation is what it is and there's nothing you can do about it?  How many opportunities are you potentially missing due to an unwillingness to stretch yourself ... to reach beyond your current limitation and do just a little more?  Even if it means just an increment a day ... it can't be that far out of your reach.

When I first started my quest (I've been working on this on and off for over a year), I could only reach just below the halfway point between my knees and the final destination before I was sure things were going to tear apart.  Calves, thighs and back ... all shredding apart.  At least, that's what it felt like.

This evening ... I'm pleased to report that I'm LESS than two inches away.  And mind you, I DON'T bounce.  I heard that can make your eyes cross permanently and cause deafness in one ear.  Not to mention, you may not come back up if you bounce.  I prefer to walk upright, thank you very much.

At this rate, I may have this resolution done by the end of the month.  I'll get to work on the mental flexibility all year long.  And then some.  We could all use more mental flexibility.  Yes, indeed.  And in an election year, for cryin' out loud.

What's your resolution?  Not too late to make one!

Start the Countdown

Only hours away.

2012.

And this year is going to be different.  I can feel it.

Mind you ... I just turned 44.  So things feel different now.  I'm cool with that.

On my birthday a few days ago, my wife took me shopping for a new suit.  Because I only have one.  (Business casual work environment).  And I was tired of only having one.  Monosuit Me.

[Dramatic pause.]

I came away with three.

The other thing I came away with were shirt colors that are "out-of-the-box" colors for me.  Purple (officially lilac), pale blue (officially "robin's egg") and some ties that I would have totally passed over.  Why get ties that I wouldn't pick?  Because I'm told they look great!  And the salesman in the store put it well ... "I don't look at a tie that I'm wearing.  Everyone else does.  And if they like what they see, then I feel good about myself!"  I can work with that notion.

This is good stuff.  Because I had grown a bit weary of "me."

Now don't get me wrong ... I like me.  Really, I do.  What's not to like?  (Don't answer that.)

Don't you ever find yourself in a bit of a rut?  The kind of rut that will land you on "What Not to Wear" and having your precious wardrobe of faded golf shirts and 80s-era Levis on display for the entire world?  And the button-downs ... a rack to themselves.  I can see Stacy London tossing them in a trash can with the evil cackle emanating from under that white stripe of hair.  Along with my two identical  pair of brown Crocs.  Well, that would be OK ... I've worn down the bottoms of those.

The end of the year is a perfect time for purging.  I pulled out five white undershirts that need to be moved to the rag bag.  I have two drawers of t-shirts that I have amassed over the years just waiting to be pared down.  Many of the clothes I have hanging up in the closet are destined for Goodwill, where they will actually be worn and not just hang there in silent protest of being passed over again and again.

I think it's OK to re-imagine yourself every now and then.  I don't call this a middle-aged crisis.  A wise friend told me he has used job changes as an opportunity to re-evaluate and rebrand.  Well, that really hasn't been an option for me ... not that I'm complaining!  I'll choose to remodel in situ.  It will be fun to see the reactions among folks who THINK they know me.  Course, every time I do wear a suit to work, many folks want to know when the preaching will start and what the message will be.

I think a revival is about to break out!

A "new you" doesn't have to be a full demolition job.  You stay true to the foundation, but you put on a new coat of paint.  (Or three, if you shop well!)  Redo the roof ... jazz up the hair a little bit (a tough proposition for some of us).  And boy, how I'd like to get rid of the ol' gutter that's hanging over the waistline.  Again.

I've got a new air about me (new cologne) and another one on the way.  Some new shoes are also on order.  And visions of dress boots are dancing in my head.

So 2012 is a new year.  New beginnings.  I'm going to dress better at work, regardless of the relaxed policy.  I find that I walk a little taller when I feel like I'm dressed better.  And I think folks treat you differently when you're showing a little confidence in yourself.  And confidence is key.

Perhaps it's not an outward appearance that's been slowly bogging you down into a funk.  Is it time to purge some inward baggage that's overdue for elimination?  Why don't you start 2012 afresh with me ... head held high, a spring in your step?  Let's make folks think, "Whoa ... what's got into him?"  (Or her.)  Perhaps we can all enjoy some newly discovered confidence as the year unfolds.

Swagger ... I'm claiming it.  Watch me.

SuperWomen and Thanksgiving

Yes, yes, yes ... we all know it's Christmas.  The dinners.  The family gatherings.  The parties.  The gifts.  The church services in multiples.  More food.  More gifts.  Strange ... it's only Dec 23!

And of course, we know the real meaning behind the season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who would eventually give us the greatest gift we could ever receive.  And never have to take back to a store because it's the wrong size.  Because it's perfect.  No gift receipt needed.

But what I want to shed some light on is another aspect of Christmas for me.  It's the re-introduction to the fact that my wife is a superwoman.  No, a SuperWoman ... let's use caps for the correct magnitude.

When I am at home from work or on vacation for a holiday, particularly if the kids are still in school, I am exposed to an entirely new world.  One where often I'm a bit of an alien and a freak, because I don't know the system.  I have learned over the years that it's just best that I get up, shower, and ask, "What can I do?"

Sounds simple enough, but it gets tricky.  It's not quite enough to just carry out tasks.  See, there's a human element to it as well.  Veda and I are two different people.  Although we are one in marriage, we are still two separate brains.  Two different genders.  I have limited capacity ... generally only able to juggle one thing at a time.  And if that one thing isn't going so well, then forget the rest.  I'm cooked until I can get things back on track.  I'm linear.  I can be really good as a linear, but sometimes linear is not what's best.

Linear doesn't really work when you have three children, either.  Oh, the day when we'll have them in three different schools ... now won't that be fun?  I would need three lines to be linear on!

But I stray from the topic.  Being at home today is like having Thanksgiving a couple of days before Christmas.  Because I am so thankful for the woman who sticks by me and manages to juggle this thing we call life.  I'm confident that the "average" woman of this day and age would have thrown in the towel long ago ... claiming it was all just too hard and that she deserved much better, that she needed to focus on herself.

Remember what I said?  I'm not married to an average woman.

SuperWomen of today:
Cindi, Kelda, Connie, Susan and Veda

I saw a photo today of my SuperWoman having lunch with her group of other SuperWomen, while letting an extraordinary group of the next batch of SuperWomen get together for pizza.  And I pray that each one of those up-and-coming SuperWomen will find Godly men who will see how much of a blessing they are.

Yes, Christmas is a time when I'm reminded of how blessed we are.  But even more so, how blessed I am.  Are you mindful of how blessed you are?  Do you need to tell someone?

SuperWomen of tomorrow:
Laura, Gabby, Leah,
Bekah and Emily

It's a gift that doesn't need a box or a bow.  Just see it, recognize it, and let someone know how thankful you are for how they bless you.  Embrace a little Thanksgiving this Christmas and let your SuperWoman (or SuperMan) know how much you appreciate them!

Who Am I? Really ...

It seems to me these days that so many people are having identity crises.  Flip-flopping politicians.  Out-of-work protestors who demand the downfall of that which helps ensure they are fed and clothed, regardless of whether or not they realize it.  Entitled people who pickup their federal aid and hop back in their Escalade to go get their nails done.

One of my favorite authors is Robert Fulghum.  He's the "All I Really Need to Know" kindergarten guy.  Perhaps you've seen the posters (as shown).  I like to think I'm complex, yet simple.  Much like he comes across.  I just read a Kindle sample of his book "What on Earth Have I Done."  I'm told I don't read much ... at least in book form.  This one may be my next conquest.  Perhaps you should take a look at it as well.  Now that I think about it, I have a Barnes and Noble gift card in my wallet.  WINNING.

But anyway ... the issues of the country (along with my continual plodding into the potential for middle-age doldrums) have given me a spark to declare who I am.  If nothing else, perhaps it will remind me who I was as time goes on.  After all, the memory does seem to give way to the ... um, hold on a sec.  What was I doing?

[Pause]

Oh yes ... who am I?  Let's find out, shall we?

1.  I am a Christian.  I believe that God is God, and He created what we know to be our "reality" today, even as it seems to spiral into something ugly.  He came down to Earth as a man (Happy Birthday coming up, Big J), and also exists as the Holy Spirit.  The Bible is the unwavering truth.  And I need to get to know it better.  My faith carries me.

2.  I am a husband of an extraordinary woman who graciously accepts the imperfect love I manage to give her and returns it with a love of her own.  We are permanently linked for the time we have here on this world, and I could not imagine completing this adventure with anybody else.  We complement each others strengths and weaknesses.  It's a roller coaster ride, but one I'd get back in line to ride over and over again as long as she'll sit with me.

3.  I am a father of three of the most precious, unique and impressive children.  My oldest has a heart bigger than life, and she embodies me in girl form.  My middle is a joy with her countenance and intelligence that will eventually challenge what I know (if it hasn't already.)  And my youngest who carries my name is the one who stretches me.  He has a spirit that could put an end to any energy crisis if it could be bottled up and dumped into the grid.  He is our little prayer warrior (when he slows down long enough to put his heart into it).  And eventually, once he realizes how he can wield his spirit like a sword, just look out folks.  All three of these gifts from God are going to do great things in their own right.  And I am a proud papa, indeed.  Who they are and who I am are results of the two loving, Christian families that Veda and I can claim as our own.  And I hope we are continuing a legacy of that love.

4.  I don't know if I'm in the 1% or the 53%, but I know I pay 100% of my taxes.  I don't necessarily agree with where that money goes, and I wish we could find someone who can put us back on track.  And run our government more like a business.  With fiscal accountability, even if it means we ALL have to swallow a bitter reality pill.  I am proud to claim a debt-free lifestyle (with the exception of the mortgage) and I am blessed beyond belief.  But I am eyeing a new car for 2012/2013, and I haven't saved up enough money for it.  Hmm ...

5.  I am also proud to be an American, Mr. Greenwood.   And I sincerely wish others who have the right to claim this status would be a little more respectful of the honor it is.  And for those who wish to take advantage of the blessings of being a part of this wonderful country, I wish they would do it the legal and appropriate way.  Which leads me to #6 on the list ...

6.  I am a rule follower first, then a rule maker second.  I rarely have interest in being a rule breaker.  It defeats the purpose of having them in the first place, and those who like to break the rules tend to really get annoyed when THEIR rules are the ones being ignored or broken.

7.  I love movies.  I love movies that make you think.  I love movies that make you feel.  I like to laugh at movies.  Out loud.  So that perhaps the director back in LA or wherever the movie came from will know that someone enjoyed it.  I will also cry if it's warranted.  I think that is OK and healthy.  Besides, it's usually dark in the movie theater and no one will know if you keep it below a whimper.  But let out anything more ... well, you're on your own then.

8.  I like to number things.  It's because I like order.  Perhaps you came across this in some of the historical posts here on the blog.  This one happens to be a perfect fit for #8.  So be it.

9.  I have a challenge maintaining order sometimes.  That's all I'll say about that for now.

10.  I like "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" ...  It is a good story, great acting, and has a brilliant soundtrack behind it.  You don't realize how much the music adds to a movie until you hear the music by itself after you've seen the movie, and the songs take you back to the scenes.  They literally sound like what you saw.

11.  One of my favorite hats right now is an Australian outback hat.  Don't ask me why.  Just because.  And I like cargo shorts with drawstring tassels on the legs that I never actually tie.  They just dangle off the sides and help make my legs look a little less lanky.

12.  Five of the last six words I just wrote started with the letter "L" ... so why don't we say this blog entry was sponsored by the letter "L."  And yes, I grew up on Sesame Street.  And The Electric Company.  And Zoom.

There's bound to be more.  But I will stop at 12.  It's an even number.  And it's time you got back to work.  Or fed the chickens.  Or put your hands back on the wheel.  Or started your own list of who YOU are.  Now there's an idea.

Hello ... pleased to meet you, whoever you are. Welcome to me.  Come back often, OK?

Still Here, Stayin' Alive

Every now and then, you're reminded of something from your past. Something happens in the mundane day-to-day activities of our lives that jars our my aging memory, and makes us me think of something long forgotten.

Let's take a blog for instance.

[Look of horror.]

Wow ... my last entry was May of 2011.  "On behalf of myself, I'd like to accept this Lame Award ..."

OK ... let's put this back on all of us.  You neglect things, right?  It's not just me.

So, collective "we" ... when these events happen that reveal something that we've lost or forgotten, we find ourselves at a crossroad and we have a choice to make.  We ask ourselves, "Do I do something about it?  Change the course?  Acknowledge and embrace my forgetfulness/laziness and get cracking, or do I turn away and pretend I never saw it?"

I'm going to take the road less traveled today.  I'm going to write a post.  And that will make all the difference.  So there.  (Thanks to Ms. Norma Rae in middle school for making me memorize "The Road Not Taken."  I remember!  And remembering things is very important for someone my our age.)  Let's continue.

We decide to do something.  We're going to write.  Fine and dandy, but then you hit the wall.  The absence of thought.  The oblivion of nothing in the head.  The dry well ... empty of anything fun and snarky to talk about.

[Pause]

I could talk about a roasted turkey sandwich, because that's what is in my immediate future.

[Yawn]

Politics?  Certainly not a sleeper topic these days.  But I'll withhold my thoughts for a while perhaps.  Let's see if anybody reads my blog and decides I'm harassing them.  The boring and the prudish.  The ones who don't like to laugh.  The ones who prefer to read the Wall Street Journal or Moby Dick.  I won't feel guilty about taking up your precious time if I end up having to suspend my blog.  (But I'll continue accepting donations, thank you very much.)

[Think, think, think.]

A-ha ... I have something.  My love for Charlie Brown's Christmas.  It's one of the remaining vestiges of Christmas untouched.  Nobody has come in and edited Linus' child-like telling of the birth of our Savior to make it acceptable to all.  And it's still being played on national television.  Fancy that.

Not to mention ... who doesn't love Vince Guaraldi?  (Yes, I had to Google it so I'd spell it right.  Sheesh, the man's Italian.  I'm Southern.  Two different things.)

"Linus and Lucy" is one of my favorite tunes.  Not actually related to Christmas at all, but it's on the soundtrack.  Makes my head lop back and forth, like the kid in the front right of the dancing scene in the show.  I think I can do the dance of about three of them with some recognizable skill.  I know ... hidden talents.  We all have them.  This is so much better than disco.

One talent I do not possess is the gift of brevity when I speak or write.  As some of you can attest, I could actually go on and on with mindless drivel about this and that.  But perhaps if I'm smart, I can make something out of it for next year's annual blog post.

Besides ... I'm done with my sandwich.

Merry Christmas!  God Bless us all ... everyone!
Luke 2:10

Waist of Fabric

Is it just me?

More and more, I am passing younger individuals who are determined to let their posterior hang OUTSIDE their pants. And it's appalling. Unappealing. And simply a waste of fabric.

Think about it. Folks who are buying designer jeans (for those prone to purchase overpriced denim that has been pre-worn, pre-torn, bleached, blasted, and otherwise aged toward a quick replacement) are paying good money per every square inch.

However, some choose to drop these luxurious pantaloons below the equator, to the point that the expertly crafted seat and beautifully stitched pockets become a bulbous, unflattering gaggle of fabric on their thighs.

If it's absolutely necessary to show exactly how low they can go (perhaps they are just getting prepared in case they have to make a mad dash to the potty?), then why not save some money and just have the waistline cut at an angle? Coverage up front (and Lord help if that becomes an issue) and open trunk in the back?

Not that I'm pushing for it. Let me be clear. I'm a "waistliner" myself. Real men keep their pants up. Cuz' I ain't lookin' like no fool.

Against All Odds

I grew up around Friday Night Lights.

As a kid, if there was a varsity football home game in town (and even a few select away games), we were there. Front row, reserved seats. In South Georgia, football IS community ... particularly when there is only one public high school in the county. Unity and comraderie. We were the mighty Cougars.

Once I got into high school, it was marching band. We had folks to took just as much pride in the band as the football game. Again, it simply defined our Friday nights.

As an adult, my connection is still through the band, but now as a proud band parent. And Friday night, I was going to be a part of something big. Really big.

Humongoloid.

You see, my daughter is a freshman at Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs. We were seeded third from Region 4-AAAAA after the regular season, and we drew THE short straw for playoffs. Mind you ... this was Hillgrove's first season playing in the AAAAA division.

Getting past Stephenson in round one was bad enough, coming into the game as an eight-point underdog. We handled that game and surprised many who didn't expect to see the five-year-old high school advance any farther. But things were only scheduled to get more challenging.

For you see ... our short straw led us to "almost Jacksonville" in the far southeastern corner of the state to play the #1 ranked Camden County Wildcats. Defending AAAAA champions. Two years running. Nationally ranked in many polls. Hadn't lost a playoff game since 2007. Playing on their turf. Under a full moon. Can I stack this deck any higher? Again, in these communities across south Georgia, Friday night=High School Football.

The drive was such that we could not take the entire band, so it was a smaller contingency of about 60. Not even half our full complement. Six hours on a coach bus, with a return trip scheduled right after the game. Basically 12 hours of the day spent on a bus with a potentially excruciating football game in between. We were heading into enemy territory, pegged to lose by 15. I took a vacation day to chaperone. Why? Because the band kids are just that great and so worth it. But that's another story. Let's stick to the pigskin tale.

Camden County takes this game seriously. I mean, really seriously. There should be a movie. Huge bigger-than-life posters of their players (perhaps seniors) lined the fence in the end zone. No telling what time these folks arrived before the game. There was tailgating.

The stadium is probably the largest single venue in Kingsland. The visitor stands rivaled McEachern, but about half of our side was filled with Wildcats. Overflow, perhaps. Or as one Wildcat fan said on a local news station, "We sit on this side to taunt the visitors a little ... makes it fun!" Hillgrove fans were relegated to a section in the middle (which wasn't completely filled), and the band had the final section on the end. Many local media outlets and discussion forums didn't give Hillgrove much credit, if any. One columnist out of Valdosta quoted, "Hillgrove? Seriously? Is that even a school?" Um, yeah. Adam McDonald ... is he even a sports journalist? Sorry, I digress.

With the exception of some younger folks (read immature) who gave us some verbal abuse in the parking lot, the Camden County folks were a CLASS ACT. We had an escort take the chaperones from one corner of the field to the other where we could get our tickets for entry. No smack talk. No jeers. Southern hospitality at it's finest. We were the guests. Granted, it's like fattening the calf before taking it to slaughter ... they certainly felt we were going to be the main course for the evening. I think we were just a little annoying buzzing around their head that just needed to be swatted with one blow as they continued their trek to the Georgia Dome.

The game. I can't even begin to comprehend what was going through the home team's mind as it unraveled right before their eyes. Their "three-peat" was becoming a no-peat. Their insane consecutive playoff winning streak coming to an end. Hillgrove answering every score that Camden put on the board, and then some. The last minute seemed to take an eternity to complete. But in the end, they couldn't get close enough to the goalpost to kick a winning field goal. Was the scoreboard true? 00 seconds on the clock. Hillgrove 28, Camden Co. 26.

There seemed to be a pregnant pause. It was like we went into a weird, Matrix-like slo-mo action. We started celebrating, but the Camden players were trying to point out an offside penalty that just wasn't there. Apparently they didn't make the snap before the clock ran out. It was over. Speed picked back up, and the team poured out onto the field.

The Grove had pulled through, once again. Surreal shock spread faster than fog off the Atlantic only a few miles away. I think they were truly stunned on the home side and a good chunk of our side with the Wildcat fans. A Camden player was face down in the end zone. Our team soaking in the win. The band attempting to play the fight song without jumping up and down, risking a busted lip. Cowbells continued to ring from within the segregated section of fans decked out in crimson.

But Camden continued to show class. Handshakes in center field. Their entire team and coaches circling around center field, going down on their knee to have a final discussion after the battle was over. Our own team doing the same off to the side around the 20-yard-line.

A family of Camden fans were coming down the aisle between the chaperones and the band, and they congratulated us on the win. We exchanged compliments to each other for an exciting game, and we thanked them for their hospitality. I hope the children of the Camden family, as well as the kids in our band, got to see that exchange and understand how to win AND lose with grace and dignity. We get hyped up and riled up over our teams, but we're still human beings. As we exited the field and headed to the buses, I think our original escort was at the gate. He thanked us for a great game, and wished us a safe trip back home.

Class ... Friday night, Southern style. I hope our schools in Cobb County and other areas in the metro Atlanta area can get a taste of this in games of the future.

As we pulled out of Kingsland, we passed a lighted church marquee that was glowing bright orange. It read, "God has shown mercy on us."

Indeed, it seems He did.

Annual Post?

So ... when you don't write in your blog for a year, does it mean you're doomed to annual posting? I certainly hope not. My wonderful niece just starting writing, and I saw that in Facebook. It reminded me that I had a blog in Africa. Well, not really. But considering how negligent I've been with it, it might as well be across the Atlantic.

But it has been a wild and crazy year. In addition to the aforementioned job duties as president of a local chapter for business communicators (which I didn't do all that great a job of, IMHO), we have entered the realm of high school. Leah spend a good portion of late summer and all of fall in colorguard for the Hillgrove High School Marching Band. Their show this year was based on music from Swan Lake. It was a stunning show, and the couple of "pushes" in the show still gives me chills.

My first video taken with my Nano at the first home game was a total embarrassment ... I think I squealed for perpetuity. Chalk it up to "freshman parent." They competed in Akron, Ohio (placed seventh overall) and in the super regional in Atlanta (placing 11th out of 34). So proud of their accomplishments. They are a fantastic group of kids.

Amy and Chaz continue to plod along. Amy just finished her second book, entitled "Rosy Finds a Job." It's a fascinating page-turner ... all three of them. Illustrations of the characters on page three. She's so creative in that fashion. And Chaz has finally launched into a love of reading. I caught him reading National Geographic last week. Seriously. And no, there were no "interesting" photos that would have required a Q&A session.

Veda continues to hold down the fort and all of us hanging out of the windows. I continue to be amazed at her stamina and patience. The Lord blessed her with some gifts that I'll never master, so I'm glad He sent her my way.

Man ... this is good stuff. I think I'm AHEAD with this blog entry as a Christmas letter! So don't tell anyone.

Until next year? We'll see ... depends on whether or not something just seriously hits me that you need to know.

Bush is Back in the Saddle!

OK ... not what you're thinking! But I am the 2010 president of the Atlanta chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators!

Here's my first blog entry as president if you have any interest.

http://ow.ly/14EVP

Other than that ... life continues on for the Bush family. Since my most recent blog entry (in September ... hmm) there has not been too many developments to speak of. But there are many times I think of something and think how it would make a good blog entry. And I fail to sit down and write it up.

And right now, I can't remember a single one of them.

So I guess I'll be back eventually!

Missing It

Once a year, we have the privilege of taking our children to Six Flags.

I say it is a privilege, because there will come a time when our children don't want to be seen with us at a public amusement park. Or a grocery store, for that matter. So for now, privilege it is.

And last Friday night was the time-honored evening. We got there as the gates were opening up for our company outing at 6 p.m. This year, we focused the Friday night event on our two youngest, while our oldest will get a chance to go later this month for a no-kids event.

It was fun ... riding some of the very same rides that Veda and I rode on as a kid (and yes, there are still some of the original rides, smarty pants.) Bumper cars, the merry-go-round, the Dalonega ... and many more.

But about 10:15 p.m., we positioned ourselves near where the Gasp used to be so we would have a perfect view of the FIREWORKS extravaganza through an opening in the trees. A highlight of the evening! And they started right on time.

"Wait ... what is going on?" I thought to myself. As we were glued to our spots watching the August nighttime sky light up like a battlefield ... people were walking past us. BACKS to the show. "Are you kidding me? People ... turn around and see what you are missing! Stop!"

I couldn't believe it ... folks just walking along practically ignoring the display above our heads. What's got into people? This fireworks show is FREE ... it's awesome ... you won't get this every day! It's SPECIAL!

But then it hit me. That must be how we often look to God ... milling about down here in total oblivion to what He is doing. Turning our backs on His work. Ignorant and self-centered. Bypassing something that is not only FREE but available EVERY DAY! Wow ... we're crazy people. I can't say this in front of my younger kids or in the house ... but we're stupid.

So I asked myself and I'll ask you ... are we missing it? Is there some amazing stuff going on and we've either got our backs to it or we're overlooking it for what we think is a greater purpose? Reality check ... nothing is greater than what God is doing in our lives and those around us.

STOP! Turn around. Watch the fireworks. There will be more "oohs" and "aahs" than you could ever imagine if you just take the time to see what is happening.

Best display in town ... guaranteed.