Kathrine had loaned me, quite a while back, a book that was her late husband Ronnie’s, who also was a good, good friend of Deb and myself.

Deb, God bless her soul, got no more enjoyment anywhere that simply aggravatin the fire out of him.

She nicknamed him “Turtle,” after her and I getting behind him in our vehicle one day, with him in his. At first we didn’t know who it was goin SO slow down the highway. Then, once we were able to pass him, there he was, bigger than life sittin up behind that steerin wheel, his windows rolled down, and his hair…NOT EVEN BLOWIN!

The man was on a major highway, here in Central Florida of all places, holdin up the flow of traffic, poking along, with ALL HIS WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, and…his hair not even movin.

Ronnie had found God the last year to year and a half in his life, and once Ronnie found God, this too was not unlike anything he’s ever done in his life…it was taken very seriously, and he poured himself into studying the Bible and researching any and every thing that he came across.

To have known Ronnie as Deb and I had, then to attend his service and hear his Pastor speak of Ronnie in the way he did was incredible to me.

Pastor Mike spoke of Ronnie calling him often asking, “Okay, I’ve finished these books in the Bible…where do I go next?”

Even telling of his need to roof his house one weekend, and because of this, he’d given Ronnie a little extra to study, with his intent being to “bury” Ronnie in study for a few days, literally…so he could fix his roof.

Well, Pastor Mike then spoke of being on his roof working on Saturday, and hearing the phone ring. His wife brought the phone outside and Pastor Mike asked, “Who is it?”

His wife’s reply… “It’s Ronnie…says he’s finished what you’d given him…wants to know where to go next??”

You know, I’m sure Pastor Mike spun this story just a little, but for all who knew Ronnie…that’s exactly the way he was.

Again, he’d dive headlong into a project, BUT ONLY, after studying how and why were the best ways to attack it.

He was quite a guy, and I think of him quite often to be honest.

I know Kathrine has made the statement a few times where she’d find something, a box of shells, or some fishin tackle she’d need, and state, “Ronnie is still helpin us out.”

I believe that these types of things do happen because…you’ll find something, or see something, or think back of something, and again, I too believe these things happen. I’ve experienced this in Deb’s regard as well.

Anyway, Kathrine had loaned me this book to read, again, of Ronnie’s, and a couple nights back, I started reading it in earnest.

Let me own up that my personal walk with God is filled with trials and tribulations from time to time, and it’s not an “easy” path, and the last few weeks I’d felt I was needing something to again, get me back on the right track.

I started reading this book, and very shortly, I’d gotten up, got a pen and notebook, and I went to scratchin down notes.

I was INTERESTED in what I was getting out of this, and I honestly was layin in bed readin, thinkin to myself, “Dern if ole Turtle ain’t…helpin me out!”

Along with God of course.

But anyway, I find this book very, very helpful, so much in fact, I thought I’d post of it today.

Actually, I’m goin to order 30 copies or so and pass them out to close friends, as it is literally a teaching tool, and thoughts can be shared among friends after reading a chapter or two, maybe once a week.
Basically a fellowship among friends and family.

My dad is on the list for receiving a copy of this book.

Although he and I get along well anymore, there were far TOO MANY years that we didn’t get along very well at all.

Neither of us are too old to get to understand and KNOW each other better.

Also, I’d kinda like to shock him with the mere fact that…I CAN read!

Many of you I know have probably read this book, but for those who haven’t, I literally consider it, a must read.

I’d like to share just a little of it with you guys this morning, if ya don’t mind.

The title…

“The Measure of a Man…(Twenty Attributes of a Godly Man)”

It was written by, Gene A. Getz.

As the title suggests, it lays out twenty attributes taken by the author from Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, profiling our maturity levels in Christ. (1st Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10)

PAUL’S MATURITY PROFILE

1- Overall Spiritual Maturity (a well-rounded man)

2- Above Reproach (a man of good repute)

3- The Husband Of One Wife (morally pure)

4- Temperate (balanced in words, and actions)

5-Prudent (wise and humble)

6- Respectable (good role model)

7- Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

8- Able To Teach (communicates sensitively in a non-threatening and non-defensive manner)

9- Not Addicted To Wine (not addicted to substances)

10- Not Self-Willed (not self-centered and controlling)

11- Not Quick-Tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)

12- Not Pugnacious (not abusive)

13- Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)

14- Peaceable (non-argumentative and non-divisive)

15- Free From The Love Of Money (non-materialistic)

16- Manages His Own Household Well (a good husband and father)

17- Loving What Is Good (pursues Godly activities)

18- Just (wise, discerning, non-prejudiced and fair)

19- Devout (holy, devoted to God)

20- Self-Controlled (disciplined)

And there they are…

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but it dawned on me pretty clearly that I was terribly lacking in most all of these.

Ending each chapter of this book, there are a few thoughts to ponder about yourself, and your relationship with God.

These I found most helpful simply because they make you stop and THINK, what areas do I need work…and why?

The book is literally a teaching tool, and should be shared

Examples of this I’ll use from the first chapter, “Becoming A Faithful Man.”

1- Why do some men grow rapidly in their Christian faith once they become believers, and why do others struggle, seemingly taking as many steps backwards as forward? (Think of examples YOU can sensitively share. If you feel free to, share your own personal experiences.)

2- As you look back at Paul’s Maturity Profile, what would you consider your areas of strength?

3- As you look at the same profile, in what one specific area would you like to grow the most? Can you identify the factor or factors that are holding you back?

It then asks for you to set a goal that you’d like to achieve as a result of this study.

Again I feel, at least in my case, that this book is simply an incredible learning and teaching tool, if for no one else…but me.

I know once completing this read, and taking a look back at myself, that this will be a tremendous plus if for no other reason, but understanding more about me, and my own walk with God.

If you feel so inclined, order a copy. If you’ve read it prior, I’d appreciate any feedback of what this book taught you. Possibly, through this, we may touch others, and actually, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Thank you all so very much for droppin in today, and God Bless you and yours.

Why don’t we close this out today with a little humor sent to me from our good friend Gary, over in Salt Springs, Florida.…

Catholic Dog

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish country side with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, ‘Father, my dog is dead. Could ya’ be saying’ a mass for the poor creature?’

Father Patrick exclaimed, ‘Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn’t ya tell me the dog was Catholic?

Again, you guys have a great day, and God Bless.

Please be sure to, “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart.

Dub and “Lucky”

Isn’t it funny how life evolves? We get caught up in our own little worlds, and it is so easy to get to the point you literally take things for granted.

Your spouse for instance…

You guys work and live together, you raise your children, the grandkids start droppin, and all of a sudden you wonder…where has the time gone?

You start off your lives together, most struggle through the early years tryin to eke out a livin, keep the kids in clothes, and money seems many times to be the center point of your world.

Why?

Cause there’s never enough of it. Lol.

As the years pass, things become a little easier, the kids have grown up and left home, and then you guys can start to ease back a bit, and really enjoy…each other.

You plan for your retirement, and start dreamin about how you think you’d like to spend what time you have left together, and life really starts to be enjoyable.

Just the two of you, in your own little world.

Mortality does become an issue, and you wonder, or I always did…what would Deb do without me?

Seems it never crossed my mind…what would I do…without Deb.

Then on April Fools Day, 2011, we got the news of Deb’s cancer, and boy, what a game-changer.

I know firsthand of so many others who get this same type of news every single day, and to be honest, we’ve talked with many of you, but nothing quite hits home….until it hits in YOUR own backyard!

This bein not just my opinion, but everyone who knew Deb, she amazed us all with her will to live, her desire to help others, her ability to keep that smile on her face and one in her heart, but most of all, her faith, love and trust that she had in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She was unshakeable in this, and I promise you, her faith never wavered…not once.

You talk of people and their witness for God…this lady was incredible.

It wasn’t just something she spoke of, but was something that through her wording, and example, you could literally FEEL it in Deb.

You could see it in Deb, and I’ll never, as long as I live, be able to thank her enough for the example she set for me.

Literally, because of Deb, I came to know God as well.

Sure, after Deb’s passing, many, many of our friends would stop in to check on me, makin sure I was in fact okay, and many inviting me to attend church with them.

Yet, it WAS Deb, who although I’d always believed in God, got me to begin seeing the love God has, not just for me, but for all of us. We all ARE…God’s children.

I’ll always love Deb, and she promised she’d always be in my heart, and this I know will always be the case.

God chose to bring Deb home on June 14th, 2012, and to be quite honest, it was heart breaking. I was without a doubt, a lost man.

Then it became clearer, and clearer to me that although heart breaking, what a blessing this was for Deb.

She told me on June 5th, nine days prior to her passing that if God called, she WAS ready. She KNEW where she was going, and the only reservation she would have was leaving her family.

So you see, Deb was content in the turn her life had taken. She knew exactly what the next step was, and looked forward to it.

She is…where she wanted to be.

With this being said, I’d like to thank Judi and Brian of The Canada Free Press, who became fast friends to Deb and I both.

THEY, gave the two of us the opportunity to meet, greet, and become kinda a part of so many of you guys lives.

To be honest, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Our first post was on Jan. 17th of 2011, and to be perfectly honest once more, ole Deb was havin the time of her life in the git goin of our time with you all.

She could share a recipe, talk about her garden, putting up her vegetables, and talk as well about her days of her youth. Growin up, and the entirely different set of morals and virtues that were instilled in us then.

It also gave her a crowd to listen to her vent…bout me!

She loved to laugh, and many, many times it was I who bore the brunt of her cacklin!

My name on our site, “DUB,” was the result of her Mama REFUSIN to call me by my given name…Doug.

Always called me…Dub.

Deb would say… “MAMA, his name is DOUG!”

Her Mama’s reply, “Whatever.”

You can always go back through our archives and read Deb and the unmerciful joy she received in jerkin my chain, but to be honest, I loved jerkin hers as well!

Life with Deb was so much fun!

We literally thought…it would never end!

Yet…it did.

A new season has emerged in my own life…a season that one of our very good friends, Kathrine, who lost her husband Ronnie five years ago, has helped me to bring in.

It wasn’t something that either of us were lookin for, another spouse or partner, her especially, shoot, Kathrine had never even dated anyone else after losin Ronnie (whom Deb had nicknamed “Turtle”), but something that actually we both feel very strongly about now, that was God given to us.

An opportunity for both of us to be happy again with someone in our lives, while still in… “the world.”

So, this morning, I’d like to bring the era of Dub and Deb to a close…bringing in once more, a new season in my life…our life.

It isn’t something I ever anticipated happening, never dreamed of happening, but something that indeed has taken place.

I’ll always love Deb, she’ll always be a part of my life, you’ll always be able to read Deb’s posts on our site, and we’ll ALWAYS end our new posts with Deb’s favorite saying, one she lived by, and wished we all would live by as well.

“Keep a smile on your face, and one in your hearts.”

Although gone, she’ll never be forgotten, and when readin bout Kathrine and my life now, always think of Deb (Turtle too) in our closing remarks!

Our bio at the end of our posts will change in the next day or two. Please understand this was never something intended, but simply due to circumstance, or the hand dealt us.

Thank you guys for all your love and concern you’ve always shown our way, you’ve all been great friends, and many of you ended up simply as…family!

“Lucky,” oops, I mean Kathrine and I hope this continues from here on out.

God Bless and be sure to… “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart.

Dub and Deb

You know, I knew a man who really enjoyed going to the dog track. This guy just loved to go and watch those dern dogs run.

When he could find the time, he’d be at the track. He literally loved it.

Anyway, you all probably have little things that trigger you to think, “Dern, I oughta play that number,” or you see something that makes you think, “I oughta play the lotto tonight.”

Even things such as wearin the same shirt to your favorite college football team’s game, time after time, after time.

Why?

Cause in your heart, you feel by doing this…it brings you luck.

You ever done that, or something similar?

Well, back to my buddy’s story. He got up one morning, at 5 am, which was about an hour earlier than his normal wake up time…wide awake.

He decided to go ahead and get ready for work.

He grabs his socks and drawers, both of which were in the fifth drawer of his dresser, walked into his closet and grabbed a shirt, which by chance, happened to be hangin on the fifth hanger from the left.

He went down, took out the egg carton out of the fridge, and lo and behold, there were five eggs missing.

He left for work, and caught the first four lights, but upon approaching it, light number five stayed green, allowing him to keep on truckin.

He gets to work and realizes today is Friday, the fifth day of the work week, and sees that today just happens to be in the fifth month of the year as well.

Well, he begins to see the pattern, and can’t wait for the work day to end at five o’clock, so he can get to the dog track.

He leaves work immediately, gets to the track and unbelievably, you guessed it…he’s the fifth person in line to place his bets, the whole time thinking to himself…I’m playin…NUMBER 5!

He puts 500 hundred bucks on the fifth dog, in the fifth race, and sure enough…

The dog came in FIFTH!

You guys ever had days like that?

You’re going along, bein kicked “through the goalposts of life” bout half the time, struggling to make ends meet, workin your butt off, and suddenly, out of the blue, you feel as if something you see or hear, just clicks with you…

This just has to be an omen of some sort, and by following your instincts, this may just be the opportunity you needed to literally turn your life around, only to find…

You came in fifth???

It happens, doesn’t it?

I know in my own experience there have been many times I have gone through exactly that…comin in fifth.

I gotta tell ya’ll, I HATE to lose. There is NO second place, at least not in my book there ain’t. You win, or just as simply…you lose. That’s my mentality. I cain’t help it.

I have struggled so many times, lookin back now, and I have to tell you, there have been many failures in my life, and from these experiences I too have felt as if…good night, what am I doin wrong here?

Losing Deb, for what seemed like far too long, whatever I attempted, whatever project I started, whatever I tried to help ease the pain over her loss, I kept comin in fifth.

I couldn’t focus on anything.

By now, God had come into my life, but this was all new to me. I could feel His love. I knew without a doubt that this was all good and a major upside was taking place in my life, but dad-gum…it still seemed as if I was stuck in fifth place.

This continued up until just a little over a month or so ago.

This post today, although using Deb’s loss as an example of my inability to focus, is not about Deb.

Today’s post pertains to any circumstance you may find yourself in that literally deals you a bad hand.

The loss of your job, your seeming inability to communicate with your kids, or a friend, or your spouse anymore.

Just anything…

Then one Sunday, “Preacher Charlie” was speaking on trusting God.

He spoke of a simple prayer that he used when things seemed they were taking a turn for the worse, and through this, he was having a major problem focusing on the tasks ahead that would be needed to…turn his life back around.

He shared with us that he’d sat down and spoken with God about this dilemma he was facing and told God that, “Charlie is done Lord. I cannot overcome the adversity in my life without some help…YOUR help.”

“Without you’re taking control of my life, things will only continue to spiral out of control, again, Charlie’s done. So please Lord, step into my life, fill me with the Holy Spirit and let me TRUST YOU in all things. ONLY You, can make this right.”

He couldn’t have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer and made his point any clearer.

Once again, Dub was attempting to grab the bull by the horns, and force things to just…turnaround.

Basically, just a me, me, me attitude. I controlled my life. I made things happen. I had the ability to do any and everything I needed to do, shoot, I’d done it all my life, right?

WRONG!

I understood after listening to “Preacher Charlie,” that I WASN’T the ONE controlling my life…it was GOD. All the good things that take place in your life are from Him…not you or I.

Of course we have that “other fellow” to contend with as well, and boy, oh boy, he’ll test your faith!

Just recently, that guy tested me big time, but you know what, I actually handled it pretty well, and I gotta say, I was quite proud of the way it was handled.

BUT, without God in my life, this would not have happened.

I’m coming to realize, more and more, that if you’d just trust God, and let God run your life, good things happen. I personally can attest to this.

I ask God daily anymore to show me the way. Let me learn to trust You more and more, and in all honesty…my life is really beginning to get back on track.

This is real folks…

I’ve seen God work.

Deb was a fine example of someone walking with God, talking with God, and showing others, myself included, the strength bestowed by God that enables you to face adversity, even a “death sentence,” with a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

But you know, throughout Deb’s journey, she understood that although, and she told me this in our swing, actually the last time we sat in our swing together, the hardest thing she faced…was leaving her family.

This was the only thing that she would regret.

She also told me that she KNEW…she KNEW…where she was going, and that she was ready, if this was God’s wishes. Deb was in reality, ready to begin her life with God…in earnest.

ETERNAL LIFE!

I have to tell you all how very fortunate I was to have been around someone like Deb. A finer example of God being involved in someone’s life I could never imagine.

I’ll always love her…

Acts and Isaiah

There’s a scripture, Acts 20:22-24, that reminds me of Deb, and the faith she exhibited throughout her struggle with cancer, not only to me, but anyone who came into contact with her.

It goes…

“And now I am bound by the spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what waits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.”
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Isaiah 12:2 states…

“See, God has come to save me.

I will TRUST in Him and not be afraid.”

I’ve also seen firsthand how God will put people into your lives, and to all my friends out there who cared about an “ole red neck” enough to talk with me about God, and the difference He’s made in their own lives, I’d just like to thank you all one more time.

I’m indebted to each of you!

I’m going to start closing this out by asking you guys a question or two?

Does life seem as if you’re missing out on something?

Do you feel as if you’re trying as hard as you possibly can, but things just seem to not be workin out for you in many instances, or at least not as how you might have imagined?

Does it seem as if no matter what you touch, you always end up… “comin in fifth?”

Then why not ask for God to come into your own lives?

I have a friend who works with us from time to time…

Dale doesn’t believe in God, and would tell you this quite plainly. I mean literally, he does NOT believe in God…or, at least he didn’t. But just here recently this is starting to turn.

He has been around me for a few years now, and has witnessed and experienced Dub…prior to God coming into my life.

He saw Deb throughout her battle with cancer, even near the very end. He heard me describe the morning before her passing, of Deb, after getting to the point where our talks together has ceased, on account of her time drawing to a close, and she’d lost her ability to even turn over in bed, I witnessed something…something very profound.

I SAW, with my own eyes, Deb raise up in bed, reaching out with her arms outstretched, her eyes wide open, which hadn’t been the case for the last couple days, talking excitedly, although inaudible to me, to something that it was quite evident she was seeing.

Our dog Cheyenne, lying at the foot of her bed was just growling so very softly, as if only makin me aware that yes…something WAS in our room.

Deb did this three times that I’m guessing happened in a five minute time span.

I saw this, and I KNEW something was there, but something that only she knew what was actually taking place.

Dale listened intently to this story, and started asking me, and Bob who works with us too, a little about God.

Yesterday, he again brought up the subject of God.

It seems he’d spoken with a lady the night before, and she too had spoken about God to him. It was obvious it had touched him, and perked his interest on this subject once more.

He asked me yesterday morning, “Do you really believe…this is real?”

I replied that yes sir, it undoubtedly IS real, and spoke with him about God a little more.

I see, little by little, God beginning to work in Dale’s life, and to be quite honest with you…it makes me feel good.

God does work in mysterious ways. I too, can vouch for this.

So, finishing up here today, if you too would like for God to come into your life, you only need to ask. I strongly suggest also finding friends or attending a church where you can hear firsthand others testimonial of how God plays a role in their lives.

Read the Bible, this, maybe more than anything else, has helped me in beginning to grasp, if only a little, more and more of what this whole “walk with God” is all about.

Every answer to every question you may have…is there.

After all, it’s God’s Word!

Remember, and this from Isaiah once more, 40:28-31…

“Have you never heard?

They will walk and not faint.”

You guys have a great day, and God Bless!

Please be sure to keep that smile on your face, and one in your heart!

I guarantee you, there’s one very special lady looking down on us all, who enjoys nothing more than seeing exactly that!

Dub and Deb

How bout today, we talk about blind dates. You guys remember them right? Yeah, me too. I don’t know about the rest of ya’ll, but my experience had never been too good in regards to a…blind date. But, at my age you pretty much take what you can get.

Last week I went out on my first date that had been set up by a couple I’ve known for years. They too went along. You know how it works, they took me over to pick this lady up at her home, introduced me to my date and…her seeing-eye dog, “Ray C.”

Yep, here I am goin out on a “blind date” and the woman I’m goin out with WAS…literally blind!

As soon as I could, I cornered my buddy and exclaimed, “For God’s sake man…the woman’s BLIND!”

He quietly said, “Dub, it’s okay, she’s as nice as they come.” I’m like, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but she cain’t see a lick!”

My buddy, by then becoming a little aggravated with me, says, “Look Dub, I know she’s blind, but great day buddy, ya looked in the mirror lately? I mean ya ain’t Brad Pitt, my friend! You’re older than dirt to boot! I mean the options my wife and I had of even FINDIN somebody to go out with you were very limited to say the least! Now just take ole Helen Keller over there and have a nice time, okay?”

Friends…aren’t they great?

Well, after dinner they went back by their house, dropped my date and I off at my vehicle, and I got to take her back to her home.

Well, I got her home, walked her to the door and was asked if I’d like to come in, talk and have a cup of coffee. I felt it the right thing to do and replied that it would be fine.

Honestly, this woman was very nice and I kinda got to enjoyin myself. After 30 minutes or so I asked if she liked to play cards and she said that yes she did, so I went out to the truck and as luck had it…I had a deck of cards in the console.

I asked when I went back in if she’d ever played 5 card draw and she said that no she hadn’t, but if I’d teach her, she’d play. I’m like…okay.

So I explained that when I normally played we’d have a fifty dollar limit, and she agreed to this. So after I explained the rules ,hee-hee-hee, and we’d played a couple “practice hands,” we got down to business.

In my entire life I’d never seen anyone with such luck. It was incredible, the hands just kept fallin her way. I couldn’t believe it.

I mean we’d play the hand, then call and lay out our cards. I’d tell her after each hand the results, and that she’d won, AGAIN!

Well, if you know me at all, you know I’m a pretty conservative guy, though most use the term…tightwad.

Anyway, with the price of gas today, along with I’d bought everyone’s dinner earlier, and with what I was losin to this lady, my evening was becoming very, very costly, very, very, quickly, and it was obvious that her luck…was NOT goin to change.

Then…the light-bulb came on.

I was out a couple hundred at least, and the losses were adding up quickly by now. All I could hear in my head was…Ka-ching, Ka-ching!

Honestly, I kinda hate to admit it, but really, ya do what ya got to do, and the reality that she couldn’t see a lick became too appealing for me to overlook any longer, so…I started lyin!

The next hand, after playing it out, we once again laid our cards on the table. Once more, the dern woman throws down a fullhouse! Well, I’m sittin there with two pair.

She asks, “Hey Dub, did I win again?”

I replied, “No Ma’am, I’ve got three of a kind and you just have a pair of Jacks. Boy, it’s about time my luck changed! PHEW!!”

Well, this continued for the rest of the night, with my letting her win one out of every four or five hands, just enough to keep her interested! Plus the hands she’d win I’d fold or call before the pot started growin too large.

Well, by the time we threw in the towel, I’d paid for my gas, dinner, and was about three hundred and forty five in the black. Not a bad night’s work, huh?

I honestly can’t say that I was too proud of myself, but if you look at my wording I just stated that I wasn’t TOO proud of myself, and not at all, NOT proud of myself! LOL!

Well, none of this actually took place of course, but I was thinkin this past weekend that something like this would be bout par for the course in my regard.

Datin at 56, sure doesn’t have the appeal that it did when I was 26, or, at least it doesn’t seem too.

I don’t know nothin about nothin when it comes to datin anymore, and that thought in itself is kinda uncomfortable. Then there’s the “time frame” equation. When is it time to even start datin again? I mean, I’d never even considered this…didn’t think I’d ever have to??

Deb and my life together was not always “peaches and cream,” but it was filled with love and respect for each other. What I experienced in our regard was absolute, total conviction of two people being in love. It was wonderful.

Then the wheels came off so to speak…I was lost.

Now though, my heart is healing, my life is pretty much back together again, and in all honesty, life is good! Time, I can see already, is a great healer, and I gotta say I truly believe my Deb has and is, a major part of this…she told me would be, and once more, her word was her bond!

I still love her, and that will never change, but I’m beginning to understand life does go on, and I know in my heart she wants, even expects, me to be happy.

THAT, brings us to the set of 38 year old twins down the street a couple miles…with 38 not only being their age, but also their IQ’s. So at the moment…I’m very, very happy!! God IS great, isn’t he?? LOL!

In truth though, our God is a great and a very loving God, and he has blessed me in so many different ways throughout my life.

How I could ever be deserving of the blessings he has bestowed on me through the years is totally unfathomable. So I guess what I’m saying at this point is simply this. You have a problem? Trust in God, he’ll see you through…thick or thin!

I hope each and every one of you guys have a great day, a great week, and a great life. So many of you walked with Deb and I through her ordeal…right alongside of us. I’m forever indebted to you all for you love, concern and prayers…they meant so very, very much to both of us.

One chapter of my life has closed, yet another lies ahead. I now am ready for this one to begin…wish me luck!

God Bless you guys, and remember always…to “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Dub AND Deb

You’re probably sick of hearing me ask it, but I swear I don’t know where the day goes anymore? The weeks are just rolling by. Shoot, it seems like Christmas wasn’t that far back, and you might as well say its April already.

Maybe it’s just me?…yeah, right! I KNOW I’m not THE ONLY person out there, “getting old,” or maybe I should say, getting older? Sounds better doesn’t it? Almost………nice, huh? Well it ain’t! But you know who you are, so just face it…we’re getting old. Ain’t that right JC?

JC’s a buddy of mine, and a great guy too! I met him while we were going to different schools together. Actually, we DID go to the same school, it’s just that we were like on…different schedules.

His schedule had him AT school, every day of the week, ALL day! Ya believe that??? ALL day, EVERY weekday, the man was IN school! I know, I know, it’s hard for me to believe too…and I WAS there! I saw it! LOL!

I was more like, hmmm…let’s see, what’s today…Monday? You know, I think I just might take a ride out to Rock Springs, which is a State Park that has a large spring flowing out of the ground and is the origin of the Rock Springs River. So it boiled down to school…or Rock Springs? In my eyes, back in “the day,” this was literally a no-brainer! LOL!

Anyway, I’ve know this guy for years and years, not only him, but his entire family. I’ll always remember his Dad, Harry Haskell, hollerin for his son, JC, to, “Hit em a lick,” back when we played football. I mean you could hear his Dad over everybody, “Hit em lick, JC!”

You know, they have PA systems announcing the game, but when Jeff’s Dad went to hollerin, I swear…the man WAS the PA system! Once he yelled out from the stands…it got quiet for a moment or two.
People were like, “WHAT was that?” Then somebody would speak up that had been to the Apopka High school football games before and heard Harry Haskell yell, and they’d say, “Aw, it’s nothing, sit back down and watch the game! It’s just JC’s Dad!”

His Mom and Dad, shoot, when I was over there, they WERE, my Mom and Dad. Same with his brother and sister, Ronnie and Tina, also.

In reality, we were really, just family. Well, cept for JC, he was always like family too, but more like, a Cuzin. Naw, not like your Mom and Dad’s brothers and sisters kids, but something a lot farther removed, kinda like great, great, great, great….great, great, great…great uncle…or aunt’s children!

JC’s one fantastic guy, and I’m just pickin at him this morning. Growin older and thinkin back on “the good times, with friends.”

I remember my Grannie Margaret, Granddaddy, and Nannie Murphy, bless em all. I can only fantasize of them coming back through the door, or goin out to their house and spending the weekend, or Granddaddy taking me down to the camp with him for the week.

Me and him in my eyes we were equals. God I loved that man, and there’s no question that he cherished me…I was the first-born grandson, and that man was proud of that fact.

So there was so much bond or love between us, that it literally exuded out of him at times, so that in itself, to me, was almost as if…we were just buddies…equals! Just being around Granddaddy were some of my most enjoyable times in my whole life. Plus…he taught me to work.

Nannie Murphy, God rest her soul, loved me just as much, but no more, or no less than any of her other children and grandchildren.

She never had a driver’s license, yet worked her entire life as a nurse, and raised 5 children, right by herself. How’d she get back and forth? She walked.

4 of the children were hers, and one she raised on account of the child’s bad home life. Nannie took her in, and raised her as one of her own! That was how Nannie was.

Nannie, till her dying day, NEVER once called and didn’t ask, “Son, are you warm? Do you have enough underwear and socks? Have you got plenty to eat?” Then, after I assured her that I was fine, we’d talk about any other thing that happened into our minds.

Grannie Margaret, for some reason, I was always tryin to aggravate her, and in many cases was successful in my attempt! She was Granddaddy’s wife, and it seems Granddaddy had taken it upon himself to teach me a few things. One of which was…how to cuss!

I have to say that evidently I’d learned how pretty well, because from the time I was 3-4 years old, man, I could sling em out at ya! I guess I talked so dirty around Grannie was that, simply…Granddaddy wouldn’t let her whip me! LOL! I had…a free pass out at their place!

Grannie told me several times that while I was out at their place she’d be in the kitchen cooking supper. Their living room sat kinda catty-cornered from the kitchen, and although she couldn’t see me physically, she COULD, hear me in there just cussin up a storm.

Well, she said she’d gotten to the point that she figured if she just ignored me, I’d eventually…just shut up. Not me, she said. They had a rocker that if you rocked hard enough, you could bend forward in it, and see into the kitchen.

Grannie claims, and since she’s now gone I consider that all it is, is “a claim,” that I’d get that dern chair rockin as hard as I could, and when it rocked forward far enough, I’d holler out, “Sh..”
She’d be in the kitchen tryin her best to ignore me, hopin I’d get tired of her showing no response, and once again, I’d just shut-up.

She’d say at that point, I’d go to rockin even harder, all the time peerin around the corner, getting louder and louder, just a hollerin, “Sh..!” Once she finally had enough, she’d come flyin into the living room givin me “the what for!”

At that point, I’d stop. Mission accomplished. I’d… “pis… Grannie off, and it showed! Now, on to something else!

My reasoning behind sharing this with you guys today is simple. I used to dread the thought of growing older. That’s no longer the case. I cherish growing older now. It allows me the opportunity to go back in time, and relive my favorite memories.

Yes, these memories are just that…memories, but, my God, at all the wonderful people I’ve known that are no longer here, but still today, they can put a smile on my face, and because of this, I keep one in my heart as well.

I have truly been blessed, by the people our Lord saw fit to put into my life, to share those wonderful times with.

I love them all, and yes, I do miss them!

I also like the opportunity of enjoying the truly simple things in life that age, furnishes us with. I guess a word that while younger didn’t seem to be in my vocabulary ,but has become now, not just a word, but a virtue…it’s called, PATIENCE.

I look at many things today from an entirely different perspective than when I was, “still wet behind the ears!” LOL!

The beauty God put here for us to take note of. 20 years ago, I couldn’t give a hoot about the birds singing, or watching the rain roll off the roof while sitting in the porch swing during an afternoon shower.

Deb and I were in the greenhouse just this past week, and we must have spent 10 to 15 minutes watching a butterfly work. Can you imagine that at age 25? Me either! Yet, what a pleasure it is anymore to take the time and just…observe. Life truly is a wonderful gift, isn’t it? Growing older is a gift as well!

Well, that’s about all I have to say for today, and I hope possibly, it inspired a few of you guys out there to stop, smell the roses, and to give thanks to our creator for blessing us with this truly tremendous gift…the gift of life!

Oh, I almost forgot. Our good friend, Gary, asked for Aunt Ann’s Squash pickle recipe, so this is for you Mr. Gary! Along with an added bonus…her pickled okra recipe too! Enjoy, my friend!

Squash Pickles

• 2 POUNDS YELLOW OR SUMMER SQUASH
• 3 MEDIUM ONIONS
• 1/4 CUP OF SALT
• 2 CUPS WHITE VINEGAR
• 2 CUPS SUGAR
• 1 TEASPOON CELERY SEED
• 1 TEASPOON TUMERIC
• 2 TABLESPOONS MUSTARD SEED

Wash squash and slice thin. Peel onions and slice thin. Cover both with water and add salt. Let stand one to two hours. Drain

Bring vinegar, sugar and seasonings to boil and pour over vegetables. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes. Bring to a boil, stirring and boil 4 minutes.

Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.

Aunt Ann’s Pickled Okra:
• 2 pounds tender, small, fresh okra
• 5 pods hot red pepper
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 quart white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon celery seed

Wash okra and pack in 5 hot sterilized pint jars. Put one pepper pod and 1 garlic clove in each jar.

Bring remaining ingredients to boil. Pour over okra and seal. Let stand 8 weeks before using.

Serve chilled.

Note: If pepper pods are not available, use 1/4 teaspoon crushed, dried, hot red pepper for each jar.

Yield : 5 pints

We want you guys to have a great day, and God Bless! As always, my better half Deb, advises to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb