Saturday, September 13, 2008

House Divided


Boy am I getting ribbed right now. I GOT A BIKE!!!! Yeah :) However, according to our son, Allan and countless others, I got a "Rice-Burner". Oh well, it is a bike. Yes, I got one of the 250 cc Honda Nighthawks that the college motorcycle training class auctioned off. Since it has rained for several days "non-stop", I won't be able to get it until next week.

Amongst all the teasing I am getting, I continue to give the same explanation for getting a "Rice-Burner": This is my training bike. I intend to ride it as much as possible and when I have honed by skills and feel comfortable riding again, I will get a "REAL BIKE." A Harley (Ha Ha)

Until then, me and my little Nighthawk will be tearing up the roads of Hutch.

"Keep The Shiny Side Up", Deb

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

AWANA Begins...........






Tonight AWANA Clubs begin at our church. AWANA is an acronym for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed". This phrase is based on 2 Tim. 2:15. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (cutting Straight) the word of truth." The main focus of AWANA is the gospel. The Prayer of AWANA is that all children and youth throughout the world will come to know, love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.


I am the Secretary for the Challenger Boys in the T&T (Truth and Training) Club. This is the 5th and 6th grade boys. Our grandson, Logan is in this group. The boys are energetic and ready to learn. My duties involve, taking role, recording sections, ordering awards and helping the Leaders and Directors.

This is very exciting for me. I have never worked in the children's ministry before. My prayer is that God will use me to be a positive influence on these young men and through my work, to God be the glory.

Here is a link to the AWANA website. "Start an AWANA Club at your church". http://www.awana.org/

Jeremy Camp "In Concert"


Tracy and I went to the Jeremy Camp concert at the Fair last night. WOW! Jeremy is a Christian rock artist who is totally on-fire for God. The concert was a high energy praise and worship session! Jeremy's testimony of losing his first wife to cancer at age 21 and the fact that he chose to continue to believe in the goodness and faithfulness of God, even in the midst of his loss, was totally amazing. I thank God for people like Jeremy who are not afraid to give the testimony of what Jesus has done for them. During Jeremy's concert he challenged us to speak out to the world in Truth and Love. Her quoted 1 John 3:18 ..."let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." Jeremy is my idea of a modern day missionary, spreading the Truth about Jesus Christ to the All Nations. Today, Wednesday he is off to Canada. God Bless you Jeremy! Here is a link to his website. http://www.jeremycamp.com/

Successful Surgery

Well, I would like to thank you for your prayers for little Suzie Sanderson. The surgery to install the shunt was a success. You can read the details on their blog. (link to the right) I would like for you to continue to pray for her recovery and continued growth & development. Also pray for Dennis and Susan (grandparents) as they fly back to Kansas Thursday.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

The Fair, it's that time again...........

Well, it has been some time since I have written. Many things have happened in our lives. We have worked, loved on our grandkids and of course ridden our motorcycle. (I may even be getting my own again) I put in a sealed bid for a motorcycle auction. I will find out on the 10th if my bid is one of the winners. These bikes are the bikes used by the college for their motorcycle training classes. There are four 250 Honda Nighthawks. It's a pretty small bike and a "Honda" to boot, but it's a bike. This will get me back on two wheels again. The practice on a small bike will also be good. Then,........some day I can get a "real bike".

Tracy is still working hard making buses at Collins. I am still working for Wachocia Securities (formerly AG Edwards) and running my Uppercase Living business (there is a link to my website at the right).

Well, I speak of many things going on in our lives....... Allan hurt his hand at work and is off at least until Sept 10th, when he has an MRI. He has his hand wrapped and is unable to do much. Please pray that he won't have any permanent damage.

Tracy and I both took a turn at riding with Jessica on patrol. From 6PM to 6AM on the streets of Hutch in a police car. There are a lot of really strange people out after dark! We really appreciate Jessica and all the law enforcement personnel that are out keeping our streets safe as we sleep.

Logan started sixth grade and is attending AWANA Club (Challenger Boys) at Church. I am the Secretary for the Boys' Club this year. Chrissy is in Kindergarten and also attends AWANA Club (Sparks Girls). Wow, they grow up so fast. Cage is old enough this year to attend AWANA Club. They are called (Puggles). He is also going to Dawn's day care.

Yes, Dawn is doing day care. She quit the bank and is going to school (both online & night classes). She wants to be a nurse. We need good nurses and she is a very compassionate person. She will make a terrific nurse.

Josh is teaching Biology and coaching football at Fairfield High again this year. With gas prices so high and his lengthy drive back and forth to work, the kids traded off their Durango and bought a new Pontiac G6. It is the most beautiful red color. It reminds me of the bright, shiny candy apples we got at the Fair as a kid.

Speaking of the Fair, it is that time again..................We can sure tell the Fair is here. It has rained for two days. Oh well, we need the rain and a little rain never stopped those that wanted to go to the Fair. Me, I would rather stay home and do my digital scrapbooking. "It's dry and it doesn't cost as much to sit in front of my laptop! "

I haven't spoken of Sierra and Garrett. We kept them overnight last night. That Sierra is so grown up for a three year old. Dawn and Josh were going to take the kids to the Fair today, but it is raining. Sierra woke up and said, "Garrett, wake up! We're going to the Fair!" I told her that it was raining and they will probably wait until the rain stopped. She said, "look, there will be a tent over us, we'll be OK!". What a goof :) Garrett is another story, 15 months old and is a little copy cat. No matter what you say, he tries to repeat it.

My dad and Barb are still in Inman. Daddy has a Harley Sportster that he rides around. He seems to be having fun with it. That's his way of getting out and "getting the stink blown off", as he used to say. :) Barb is working at the nursing home in Inman. She is the "Head of Household" for the independent living area. She has worked for the Home for a lot of years. She is very good at her job and is also a very compassionate person. I told her that Dawn is pursuing a career in nursing and that pleased Barb very much. She too said that Dawn will make a very good nurse.

Tracy parents, Cecil and Jackie are doing pretty good too. Jackie will go in the first part of October for knee surgery. Cecil is hanging out with the coffee bunch at Spangles (just about every morning) and is riding his new Harley Trike. He is still driving truck on a limited basis. He says he still drives to support his habit, "motorcycling". Jackie volunteers for the Hospital gift shop, is Dawn's day care backup, helps with Allan & Jess' kids sometimes She is working partime at the Fair and works many hours for the Church. Boy, I don't know if I want to be retired. This all sounds so tiring.

We are about two and a half weeks away from the "Bikes, Blues & BBQ" rally in Fayetteville AR. Linda and Delmas Ridge are riding down with us. We have been invited to stay at Marge Tracy's house in Bella Vista again. Marge is working with bus tours and will be leaving the day we arrive. She is a terrific friend and we feel it a privilege to be invited to stay at her house. If this trip is anything like last year, the weather was great, the people were very nice and we had a terrific time. Tracy and I always look forward to a rally. This one especially. Riding around in the Ozarks and enjoying the splendor of God's beauty is just awesome!

Finally, I would like to request prayer for my boss' granddaughter, Suzie. (I have a link to their blog to the right). She was born 3 month premature and is getting better, but faces surgery on Monday the 8th to have a shunt installed. She has fluid building up on her brain and doctors have been inserting a syringe and withdrawing it daily. I don't understand the entire process, but this will allow the fluid to drain into her body and the body will dispose of it. This will keep her from having to undergo the draining procedure daily. She was 1 lb 14 oz at birth and is now up to 4 pounds. She will be in the hospital for some time and has a long road ahead. Her father, Kyle is a seminary student at Masters Seminary in California and her mother, Stephanie is the Church Secretary. They are both involved in the Children's ministry at their Church. They are so grounded in their faith and are trusting that God has a plan for Suzie and they are loving that little girl more each day. My boss (Granddad Dennis) and his wife (Nana Susan) are flying out today (Saturday) to LA to be there for Suzie's surgery Monday. Since Suzie is so little, this surgery will tax her little body. Please pray for her ability to endure the shock, for wisdom for the doctors and for strength for the family as they love and encourage one another. Read the blog if you want to know more about this outstanding, God loving family.

Thanks, God Bless and take care

Debbie