Hi From Mount Vernon, Ohio

We arrived in Mount Vernon last night about 4:30 PM. It was a long three day drive, but we made it fine. We had dinner with Chris and Tracy at their place and then came back to our place for a long night's sleep.

We're staying at our favorite place, the Mount Vernon Inn.

 

Here are a couple of pictures from this morning after breakfast as we enjoyed our coffee and caught up on our email.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Hi From Collinsville

Hi from Collinsville, Illinois which is just East of St. Louis. When we left on Sunday, we drove all the way to Weatherford, Oklahoma, just West of Oklahoma City, and spent the night there. Today, we drove through the rest of Oklahoma, all through Missouri to just inside Illinois. Tomorrow we'll drive through Illinois, all of Indiana to Mont Vernon, Ohio which is Northeast of Columbus. That's where our youngest son and his wife live.

Take care. I'm tired and going to bed.

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday Reflection - We're Off

Well, some people might say we're off, but we're talking about something else. We're leaving today for a driving trip to the mid-West to visit family, attend a family reunion and take a weeks training with the same trainer I visited in late May.

I'll do occasional blog posts as things occur on our trip.

So, God's blessings on you all. Be good and stay out of the cookie jar.

I'll leave you with this video of one of God's wonderful creations.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Friday Funny - Yep, It's Hot

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy 4th of July

 

Liberty! Freedom! Independence!

Our country was established on those principles. The Declaration of Independence and our Consitution may not be perfect documents, but they are far superior to anything else the world has seen.

Liberty, freedom and independence are sometimes messy, but they give each man and woman the most opportunity to reach their potential.

It may seem impossible that we could lose our liberty, freedom and independence, but it is possible. It won't come through an attack from without, but a giving up from within.

We wish everyone a Happy 4th of July and we pray that our country will know how precious our liberty, freedom and independence are to each of us.

Posted with Blogsy

So True

I ran across this cartoon in another blog I read - Rockley Farm. They rehab horses who have hoof problems.

If you want to learn more about how going barefoot can help a horse, this is a good site.

Here's the cartoon.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday Reflection - 45 and Counting

Today, July 1, is our 45th anniversary.

This picture is the wedding photo for Betty's Dad and his new wife, Nita. Betty's brother Bill, his wife Noel and their son Galen are to the left. Then her Dad, Bill, and Nita, Betty's sister Margie, her brother Jim, Betty and me.

Betty's Dad and Nita were married the same year we were on October 7 after Betty and I were married on July 1, 1967.

Here are just a few facts about the year we were married:

• US Population in 1967: 198,712,056 (today: 313,000,000)
  
• Dow Jones high: 943 (12,879)
  
• Federal Spending: $157.46 Billion (6.3 trillion)
  
• Unemployment: 3.8% (8.2%)
  
• Cost of a New Home: $24,600.00 ($256,000)
  
• Gallon of milk: $1.03 ($3.79)
  
• Dozen eggs: $0.49 cents ($2.00)
  
• Gallon of gas: $0.33 cents ($3.89)
  
• Comic Books: $0.12 cents ($3.53)
  
• 5-stick pack of Gum: $0.05 cents ($1.49)
  
• First class stamp: $0.05 cents ($0.45)

1967 was a year of firsts - the first microwave was introduced by Amana, the game Twister went on sale for the first time and the game, Battleship, was first played.

Betty and I were just starting out on what was to be a grand adventure. We were 22 years old in the picture above. I was finishing my senior year in college at the University of Tennessee and Betty was teaching math.

As with most young adults we were living in the present. We had no idea I would spend four years in the Navy with two tours in Vietnam. We wanted kids and the dream came true in our two sons, Wade Daniel and Chris while I was in the Navy. We had no thoughts of wonderful daughters-in-law who would come or the terrific grandchildren we love and enjoy. The idea of living in New Mexico and riding horses was nowhere on our radar screen.

We only thought of wonderful things back then and couldn't envision being separated for months because of Naval service, Betty's father dying, the loss of a wonderful nephew to cystic fibrosis, cancer for me, accidents and illness for Betty and on and on.

Yet, all of this and more, good and bad, has made up the 45 years we have shared. These life events have shaped us as individuals and as a couple. We can't change the past and I don't think either of us would ever consider it even if we could.

The most wonderful thing of all that has changed our lives as individuals and as a couple is our devotion to Christ as our Lord and Savior starting in 1984. It's because of him that we now savor every day.

We don't know how long we have together as a couple on this earth, but we love every moment we share together. It has been and still is a great adventure.

Looking forward to 50, God willing.

 

Posted with Blogsy