Thursday, April 30, 2009

Birthday coming up...


...yeah it's getting close to that time of the year again, My Birthday!

Bruni, asked me today what I wanted for my birthday and I didn't know the answer. I am a simple guy with simple joys, it doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy, I guess it's cuz as a child my parents drilled into me the verse about "being content in whatsoever state I am in." I am glad they did it has really helped me a an adult.

So I started thinking about it today and I like birthday gifts that involve lots of people so I think I came up with a good one, I would like to get this blog up to 50 followers by the end of May. For that I need your help. So if you like this blog and would like to give me a b-day present just click on the "Follow" button on the tor right hand side of this page. Let's see how far we can take this.

Have a good day.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Swine Flu

It's hard to know from the news what is the truth about the Swine Flu. Different channels, websites and newspapers all say different things. Stories fly ranging from, "it's a cover up and thing aren't being reported accurately, more people are sick and dying then whats reported" to " it's just a big hype to test government control."

One thing is for sure though, whatever is going on it is really affecting the country of Mexico and it's economy. Businesses are closed, people aren't going out as much and Mexico City is shut down. This is having a very big impact on the homes in Mexico City and the surrounding cities, with not being able to do their normal outreach and fund raising.

Please take a minute to pray for those homes being affected, that the Lord will keep them safe and also that He will supply all of their needs during these difficult times. Add us to your prayer lists. Thanks so much.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Crazy Family

Many years ago when I was twenty-three,
I got married to a widow who was pretty as could be.
This widow had a grown-up daughter who had hair of red.
My father fell in love with her, and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law and changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother, for she was my father’s wife!
To complicate the matters worse (although it brought me joy),
I soon became the father of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became a brother-in-law to Dad,
And so became my uncle, though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle, then that also made him brother
To the widow’s grown-up daughter, who, of course, was my stepmother.
Father’s wife then had a son, who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson, for he was my daughter’s son.
My wife is now my mother’s mother and it makes me blue;
Because, although she is my wife, she’s my grandmother too.
If my wife is my grandmother, then I am her grandchild.
And every time I think of it, it simply drives me wild.
For now I have become the strangest case you ever saw:
As the husband of my grandmother, I am my own grandpa!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Blast from the Past

Bernie, a Croatian friend I know from my days when I lived in the E.E. came with his son Alan and spent three weeks in our home. A few days before they left we had a kids party for Alan's birthday which Bernie organized. Here are some photos of the fun.

All the kids in a relay race.

Tug of War: Bernie and Fran vs....

...All the kids.

Bernie, moderating a water balloon fight.

Adrian, wearing the pinata after it was broken.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

HB2Y Cel

Superman Cel.

Dear Cel, wherever you may be I wish you the best year yet. That your life be filled with love and happiness and that you don't miss me too much. I hope you don't mind the photo, it is one of my all time favorites of you.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter

Yesterday was Easter and Paula and Nadia organized a kids club type activity day at the new home here in Cuernavaca. They had pool games, painted eggs and some treasure hunts involving prizes for the kids. Here's a couple photos from the day.

Alex and Adrian playing a pool game.

Alex painting eggs.

Adrian painting eggs.

Cielito getting the eggs ready for painting.

Me, doing what I do best.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

HB2Y Jason

Happy Birthday Bro, I hope and pray that this year is a good one for you with progress in all areas. Thanks for all you have done for me and the help you have been over the years. I'll see you soon!

Monday, April 06, 2009

The Country of Texas


DISCLAIMER: I got the following email from a friend of mine living in Texas and having been born and raised in Texas I found it quite funny. This is not however a political statement of mine or something I believe in, just an email for a good laugh.

THE COUNTRY of TEXAS

In case things get a little tough after Jan 2009

Please note that Texas is the only state with a legal right to secede from the Union. (Reference the Texas-American Annexation Treaty of 1848).

We Texans love y'all, but we'll probably have to take action since Barack Obama won the election. We'll miss you too.

Here is what can happen:

1: Barack Hussein Obama becomes President of the United States and Texas immediately secedes from the Union.

2: George W. Bush will become the President of the Republic of Texas. You might not think that he talks too pretty, but we haven't had another terrorist attack, and the economy was fine until the effects of the Democrats lowering the qualifications for home loans came to roost.

So what does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic?

1. NASA is just south of Houston, Texas . We will control the space industry.

2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States.

3. Defense Industry--we have over 65% of it. The term "Don't mess with Texas ," will take on a whole new meaning.

4. Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. What will the other states do? Gee, we don't know. Why not ask Obama?

5. Natural Gas - again we have all we need and it's too bad about those Northern States. John Kerry and Al Gore will have to figure out a way to keep them warm....

And don't forget that Texas - unlike the other 47 Contiguous States has its own Electrical Power Grid. No power outages here!

6. Computer Industry - we lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications equipment -small companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Misconduct, Dallas Semiconductor, Nortel, Alcatel, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.

7. Medical Care - We have the research centers for cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, as well as other large health centers. The Houston Medical Center alone employees over 65,000 people.

8. We have enough colleges to keep us getting smarter: University of Texas, Texas AM, Texas Tech, Texas Christian, Rice, SMU, University of Dallas , University of Houston , Baylor, UNT (University of North Texas ), Texas Women's University, etc. Ivy grows better in the South anyway.

9. We have an intelligent and energetic work force, and it isn't restricted by a bunch of unions. Here in Texas, it's a Right to Work State and, therefore, it's every man and women for themselves. We just go out and get the job done. And if we don't like the way one company operates, we get a job somewhere else.

10. We have essential control of the paper, plastics, and insurance industries, etc.

11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and several military bases. We don't have an Army, but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an Army in 24 hours if we need one. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over the Texas Rangers.

12. We are totally self-sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs, and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables, and let's not forget seafood from the Gulf. Also, everybody down here knows how to cook them, so that they taste good. Don't need any food.

13. Three of the ten largest cities in the United States, and twenty-three of the 100 largest cities in the United States, are located in Texas. And Texas also has more land than California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont combined.

14. Trade: Three of the ten largest ports in the United States are located in Texas.

15. We also manufacture cars down here, but we don't need to. You see, nothing rusts in Texas, so our vehicles stay beautiful and run well for decades.

16. Most importantly, we have the Dallas Cowboys!! America's team with 5 Super Bowl Championships.

This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have.

Now to the rest of the United States under President Obama:

Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only President Obama will be able to drive around in his big 9 mpg SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes.

You won't have any TV as the Space Center in Houston will cut off satellite communications.

You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes, but since Mr. Obama has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas as long as you survive the 2000 years it will take to get enough heat from Global Warming.

Signed, The People of Texas

P.S. This is not a threatening letter - just a note to give you something to think about!

SLEEP WELL TONIGHT THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU!!

''Life's tough......it's even tougher if you're stupid.''
-- John Wayne

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Seven Pounds

I don't usually put up posts about movies as it is such a touchy topic with some. Some people are very strict in what they see others have no guidelines at all. So to recommend or not recommend a movie can become a fast way to paint a target on your back from either side. So by not posting about movies you can avoid the whole issue.

Today I am stepping out of the norm to recommend the movie Seven Pounds with Will Smith in the leading role. If I had to give an age recommendation I would put it at YA's and up maybe Sr Teen if seen with a Shep and really discussed. The movie has certain elements that we don't promote as a Family in general. And that is the extent of my disclaimer.

I have not watch a movie in the past few years that had a bigger impact on me, a movie that really got me thinking about my life, what I am doing for others and the reasons I am doing it for. Each one of us wants to have a life that counts, that makes a difference and one that would really affect the world, even if that world is only a handful of people. The choices that are made in this movies shows how each life can touch another, how each decision makes a difference and how we influence others.

If you want to see a movie that will make you ask the Lord if you are doing what you can, a movie that will bring a tear (or many) to your eye yet at the same time bring warmth of a life touched, changed and saved. Then I would recommend this movie.

This is not a movie to go into lightly for entertainment as it will make you ask of yourself,

"What am I doing with my life?"

I hope that when all is said and done and my umber is called, I hope I can say that I have done all that I could and that I gave all that I had.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

April Fools Day


Today passed uneventful enough, maybe because I am usually the one playing the tricks and pranks on people and it has just been way to busy lately for me to plan anything that would be good and interesting.

One of my all time favorites pranks from the past though was BBC's spoof broadcast of growing spaghetti from trees in Italy and Switzerland. I ran across the article a few years back but looked it up again for you all. You can find the article about it along with the video that originally aired by clicking on this link.