Thursday Thought – Regret

I know that what I am about to say will cause controversy for some of you, I hope that you can bear with me.

Regret seems to me something that most people live with as a way of either inspiring them to do better, punish themselves for mistakes they have made or just an uncontrolled emotion that comes and goes as it pleases.

For me though I can't say that it is any of those things, although I understand the concept in theory of regret I can say that I don't have any. Not one! Sure there are things in life that I wouldn't have mind skipping or having done different, but I don't regret it.

See I believe we learn from each thing that happens to us so if I were to regret the things that have happened would be the same to me as discarding the lessons I have learned. I am who I am because of the mistakes I have made and learned from to better myself.

When life hands you lemons make lemonade. So why regret? Learn and go on!

HB2Y Adrian

Today my big boy turns 8! Happy birthday Buddy!! We had a nice BBQue on Sunday with a bunch of friends over. Here are some pictures f the days events.

The Birthday Boy

Haven's amazing cupcake tower!

The Grill Man.

Grilled Salmon. We also had chicken and hot dogs, but who would want to see a picture of that?

Adrian's pinata hit nearly took off an arm of the pinata.

Candle ligthing.

Pinata costume.

Adrian liking one of his gifts.

I think Jade is so cute in this photo! I love how she's sneaking a peek before her swing.

HB2Y Joy

I hope you have a great new year. Praying that it's a good year and the Lord does many things for you.

A thought...

Have you ever been a major participant in the days event yet felt like a total outsider looking in at a world that is growing far from you?

They say time is a great healer...I think becasue with ime we all grow forgetful.

HB2Y Ang

Happy Birthday Ang. I hope that you had a great day and were able to do something really spectacular. Praying for you that you have a great new year.

Fine Wine – Bad Gas

Have you ever had a really fine wine, excellent quality that went down so smooth you felt it gave you a boost? How about a funky cheap wine that made you sputter, gag, choke and not work too well?

Well I think putting gas in a car is the same thing. Today I got a bad tank of gas for the truck, which can happen here in Mexico. I could do a whole post about the monopoly that is “PEMEX” the only gas company in Mexico for vehicles but that would become a rant and could take a whole post. So I will stick to topic…

About two miles down the road after a fill up the truck starts sputtering and getting sluggish then dies…no gas! So I get out and take the fuel filter off and clean it along with opening up and cleaning the carburetor (mind you I am not a mechanic so I am guessing at what I am doing) blow through the lines…I think…then I put it all back on and voila…it works. So I jump in the truck and continue merrily along my way.

50 kilometers later…sputter…sputter…OH NO!!! Yup! Six more times I repeat that process on that tank of gas before reaching an auto parts store that had the filter I needed. The last time it happened was two was blocks from the auto part store in a turn lane with 3 lanes of rush hour traffic on both sides. Picture this: me half way lying in the street the other half under the truck practically making love to the tire claiming the keys that I don't get hit by on coming traffic. Who needs coffee with that kind of rush?

So I got the filter (replaced it) and some additive to add to my next tank of gas since I was nearing empty again, get to the gas station and fill up, this time with the Super Duper most expensive octane they had.

And lo and behold the truck ran perfect…so smooth. I thought I was in a completely different vehicle. I just hope the truck doesn’t decide to wake up with a hangover from the expensive stuff…I need it to get me to my kids tomorrow!

The advantage: I can now change the filter in the dark just by touch...

Thursday Thought – A Fool

You can only make a fool out of yourself if you think you have been made the fool!

HB2Y Champions

Well we had a Birthday party today as I would imagine many of you around the world did. Just a few photos for your enjoyment.

The Food: Steak (grilled on an open fire), BBQued Chicken and Sausages with a nice Garden Saled on the side. The home had beer, I had Scotch.

The Cake

The Toast for the Launch!

And a shout out to John of Sara whos birthday was today. Happy Birthday man, I love you and appreciate your friendship. See I didn't forget....

I was Tagged!!

So about a week ago I was tagged by CrazyGurl in this manner,

Show me a special something--something that is important or beautiful or meaningful or full of memories for you--or all of that--and tell me about it. Absolutely anything!! Take a photo of it! =D

So this is my photo! It is over 4 years old and is the first photo I ever took of my little girl Jade.
She is about 12 hours old here and it was just a few minutes after we got home from the clinic where she was born. I know the photo is not artistic in any real way but to me it is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen in my life. So I am biased...

Jade was born during a rough time in my life and the next few years after have been the most difficult of my life. Now everyone goes through tough times but we all find different things to hold onto to help us to keep going day by day. Along with the Lord and His mercy it was my kids, Adrian and Jade that gave me the courage, desire and the necessity to make it...if only for their sakes. I have come out of those dark years of despair and they still shine bright in my life each day.

Adrian and Jade; I love you!! Big hug from Daddy!

Change = Good

Mildred in 1970 shortly after joining.

Mildred in 2008 after years of learing to resist the devil.

Thursday Thought – Valentines?

I wasn't going to post today about Valentines as I wanted my post about today to be more far reaching thus the post earlier about love and just a couple verses about it. But I have been compelled to as the day has gone on. I personally had a great day although it was not a romantic one. I think the romanticism of Valentines Day is more sought after by women. This is not a bad thing...just a reality!

I have never really held to the belief that Valentines is "for couples!" Even when I was married or had a girlfriend we always tried to reach out to those around us to make everyone feel good that day. As the evening went on tonight and I saw different posts or heard from different friends the way their day went or about the "not so great" day they had it saddened me as I wish I had done more for others today.

Some people really expect to "get something" on Valentines Day and are disappointed when they don't. I would venture to say though that if all the energy spent on pining over "lost love," "unreciprocated love" "what we missed out on" was spent on looking for someone to make happy or something nice to do for someone else everyone would have a great day!

I got this cactus for a friend today. I don't think (from her reaction) she initially liked it as it's not the traditional gift. But in talking with her later she told me how much she liked the thought of being reached out too. So if a cactus can do that think how much more we can do!

And like Cel pointed out, the call it "Friendship Day" here in Mexico, so it truly is for everyone! Be happy and give someone a hug!

Thursday Thought – Love

John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

HB2Y Quacky

Jessica, I know you don't like me very much, you never have and I am okay with that. From the time you met me those 9 years ago and we would have our raging arguments (I can call them that right) and from the good old days when the MO site had a chat room and you would get all flirty with me when I was half way across the world and you didn't know it was me...LOL...that was always a good story to tell, to now that you are married to one of my best friends...(don't ask me how that happened...) you have had it in for me. But I must say it has always been fun, fun, fun.

I love you despite everything, yes I know, I said it. I do love you! (Mike don't get any weird ideas eh? it isn’t that kind of love...) I hope that you have a great Birthday with an even better year filled with tons of cool fun things from the Lord, your hubby (pay attention Mike), your home and your friends.

Like always a Big Hug from your biggest pain...LOL! BTW, you look absolutely stunning in that photo, makes me want to run out and get you a six pack of beer. ;p

Earthquake in Mexico

There was a 6.4 magnitude earthquake this morning in southern Mexico. The quake hit at 6:50 am and was centered 70 miles southwest of Tuxtla Gutierrez, near the border between Oaxaca and Chiapas states according to The U.S. Geological Survey!

According to this news report buildings in Mexico City were swayed and it was felt as far away as portions of the Gulf Coast. We are in the supposed area that felt tremors but no one here that I talked to felt any.

Please pray for our Family in Tuxla Gutierrez that this will open up many witnessing opportunities for them.

HB2Y Mr. Munoz

Oliver is one of those cool guys to be around. Always friendly, a good conversationalist, helpful and a spark of life to any party, besides the fact that he can keep up with me drinking.... ;)

Happy Birthday MAN!! I hope this year is a good one for you. KGFG and being the blessing that you are. Looking forward to haning out with you agian next time I am in town.

HB2Y Shel

So today is Shel's day! She has a different name but she like's to be a mystery so I have named her Shel. She's an onfire radical teen serving the Lord in a far flung (in compared to where I am) mission field. She like's to sing songs and writes them too... pretty good of the ones I have heard. She thinks that she like's Italian food... along with really spicy food. She's not looking for a boyfriend, so Danny don't hound me for her real name or contact info.

Well Shel, I hope and pray your new year is filled with many blessings from the Lord as well as the love of family and companionship of friends. May your cup run over with all of life's goodness.

If anyone wants to leave a b-day greeting click there where it says "what you say..."

The Principality of Sealand

Hey Adrian, this post, about the Principality of Sealand is for you since I know you like geography so much. Remeber the discussion we had about the Vatican and it being the smallest country in the world? Click on any of the colored words in this post for some articles and links for you about the guy that is trying to make his own nation on an old WWII gun fortress on a platform out in the North Sea of the British coast. Although they are not recognized oficially by any country as thier own country they have thier own flag, anthem and passports. They have even made thier own postage stamps and have minted coins. A good source for photos and other things is the Sealand News website.

Thursday Thought – Camera

Well my camera which has been a huge blessing in the past year, has ceased to operate. For no reason at all from what I can see it just won't turn on. So I guess it's just time for the Lord to do a miracle and supply a different one or someone to fix this one. Until then the original photos on this blog might be sparce.

My Early Valetine's Post

SCORE!! So here's a photo of my new love! A friend gave us a bottle today for "safekeeping" I will give it all the care and love it deserves. Lord help me be faithful!

Super Bowl

The Patriots went 16-0 to lose the Super Bowl, a disapointing game was made fun by great company and good snacks at the local sports bar. Long live the Mannings!

Danny, Perla and I

Nachos, Chicken Strips and Buffalo Wings

Why Men Lie

One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch off a tree above a river, his ax fell into the water.

When he cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "Why are you crying?"

The woodcutter replied that his ax had fallen into the water, and he needed the ax to make his living.

The Lord went down in the water and reappeared with a golden ax.

"Is this your ax?" the Lord asked.

The woodcutter replied, "No."

The Lord again went down and came up with a silver ax. "Is this your ax?" the Lord asked.

Again, the woodcutter replied, "No."

The Lord went down again and came up with an iron ax. "Is this your ax?" the Lord asked.

" Yes", he replied.

The Lord was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all three axes to keep,
and the woodcutter went home happy.

Some time later the woodcutter was walking with his wife along the riverbank, and his wife fell into the river.

When he cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"

"Oh Lord, my wife has fallen into the water!"

The Lord went down into the water and came up with Angelina Jolie.

"Is this your wife?" the Lord asked. "Yes," cried the woodcutter.

The Lord was furious. "You lied! That is an untruth!"

The woodcutter fell to his knees and cried, "Oh, forgive me,Lord. It is a misunderstanding.
You see, if I had said 'no' to Angelina Jolie,You would have come up with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Then if I also said 'no' to her, you would have come up with my wife.
Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three.

Lord, I am a poor man, and am not able to take care of all three wives,
and I love my wife such that I don't want her to share me with anyone,
so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to Angelina Jolie."

The moral of this story is: Whenever a man lies, it is for a good honorable reason, and for the benefit of others...
MOSTLY his wife!