THANK YOU First of all, I want to give Bond from Bond's Big Leather Couch as HUGE Thank You for my design. He did such a wonderful job. Three Things in Life That Is Most Valuable Love - We have been given the impression that to define love is almost impossible. Maybe it’s the fear that if we define it that it would be less powerful…less mysterious… less exhilarating. Maybe we like the mystery of it. But is it really that complicated? Perhaps the complications from love come from all “stuff” we add on to this powerful emotion. Love is Accepting – Acceptance as labeling someone “okay” and having no particular desire to change them. Who they are is perfectly fine with you. You pose no condition on whether you will love them or not. This is called “unconditional love”. When you love IS conditional and they step out of your condition that is when love has evaporated. Love is Appreciating – Appreciation is one step beyond Acceptance. It’s when you focus on what you like about one another. You look at them and feel this sweeping desire for who they are, their joy, their insights, their humor, their companionship, etc… When someone say that they are “in love” with someone, it simply means that their appreciation for that person is so enormous it consumes their every thought. Love is expressed when you give your attention, your time, your focus to someone. Webster defines attention as “the giving of one’s mind to something”. There are many ways in which we give our attention to another. We use our five senses. Our ears to listen, our eyes for watching another, tasting/smelling (I’ll let you figure that one out), touching, giving a hug, holding a hand, a caress or sexual expression. How you express your love depends on the type of relationship. Family &Friends – It has been said that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. Yes family holds a greater importance to us than anything else. Families are forever. You are born into families and you die with families around. Families go way back in history. All of us have ancestors. There is no getting away from them… Whether good or bad they are there like it or not. Families are forever. Families are important. We have been given love, encouragement, understanding, hope, advice, moral values, ideals but best of all be have been taught our faith. We have been told to laugh at our mistakes and learn from them. We have been taught to enjoy life. We have been taught honor and respect. Since families are forever, we pass these traditions on to the next generation. Families are there for us. We can go to them when we need a comforting shoulder to lean on or when we need a helping hand. Who shares our earliest memories? Who can we get mad at and even they may not show it love us anyway… unconditionally. Who know you better than family? I was once told, and have always told my children, that it’s not the quantity of friends that you have but the quality. I had rather have one true friend who knows me inside and out than have a multitude of friends who know nothing and would stab me in the back at the first opportunity. I have been blessed with a multitude of lasting friendships. Some scattered around the world. Even the ones who have briefly touched my life have left the sweet fragrance of memories behind. A true friend is some one who will not sleep with your spouse, or will not spread your personal life to strangers. A true friend will not expect you to pay for your birthday dinner or spread vicious rumors about you that aren’t true. A true friend will never be jealous of your accomplishments. A true friend is forever. Kindness - No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC) I have always and will always practice acts of kindness and pay it forward. When a person asks “why” or “how can I repay you” I simply reply “Do something kind and helpful for another the next time you see a need or opportunity. Acts of kindness ripple through the universe in ways that we will never know. A smile, a helpful gesture or a kind word can all make a difference. Giving of ourselves, our resources, our wisdom and consideration. Sitting down and listening to someone, really listening to them. All these things have immeasurable consequences, and can affect the world around us in ways small and profound. We are all connected, even amongst strangers, in ways that we often take for granted in today's culture. There are many ways do create acts of kindness,...in simple hugs to lonely people, in sharing food to the hungry, assisting the elderly and disabled, visiting the fatherless and widows....sharing Christ's love abundantly....it is more fulfilling to give than to receive. Look everywhere you can to help and share. Do something for someone to help them in some way or to brighten their day without conditions or wanting something in return, do something for someone unconditionally.

STICKY POST.... MY HEART IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION... I have been having some issue with "my heart", so I am having it fixed... When complete we can and will give a HUGE "THANK YOU" to Bond.... so please bear with us....

Three things in life that can destroy a person - Anger Pride Unforgiveness Anger - Anger is a normal emotion experienced by all people at various times in life. Some believe anger is always a destructive emotion, while others believe it can be used in a constructive way. Anger is very destructive if you allow yourself to blow up and vent your anger upon another person. Some people call this "letting off steam", when in reality, it is the sinful use of anger and wrath to destroy or manipulate another person. The use of anger in this manner is clearly a violation of God's commands, which ultimately hinders effective communication and relationship with others. The only way anger can be expressed constructively is it must be restrained and controlled. Is this possible? Solomon declares, "It is prudent for a man to restrain his anger (Prov. 19:11, Berkeley Version). "He who is slow to anger is of great understanding, but whoever is hasty of spirit exalts folly" (Prov. 14:29, Berkeley Version).Scripture makes it clear that anger can and must be restrained and controlled. Pride – Pride kills relationships, including your relationship with God. Pride has quiet the history. Pride it seems was the very first sin. Pride not only appears as the first sin, but it is the core of all sin. From God’s perspective, pride seems to be the most serious of since. I am convinced that God hates this more. When his word revels those things that the Lord hates, it’s the proud man’s haughty eyes that head up the list. Proverbs 6:16-17 Pride takes many forms, but only has one end… self glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride… to rob God of his glory and pursue self glorification. The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God. No wonder God opposes pride. No wonder he hates pride. Unforgiveness – You may think that is it impossible to forgive someone who has done you wrong. You must forgive others not matter what they have done. This is a commandment from God. Forgiveness is NOT optional. If we desire God’s blessings and fellowship, we must forgive others has He has forgiven us. John 3:16 says” For God so loved the world that he gave his only son” Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision to quit holding something against someone. When we forgive, we must release them and forget. This issue is addressed in Matthew 6:12, “And forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors”. Forgiveness is a gift.

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back – Time Words Opportunity Time - Our time is our life. To squander our time is to squander our life. If we waste our time we will waste our destiny. If we don’t manage our time effectively we will squander our destiny. It takes skill and character to manage our time. Having an aggressive approach to time management is to have passion for fulfilling our destiny. Spending our life differently is the same as spending our time differently. We can’t have the desires and visions our life be one thing while living in a vacuum with our time, assuming it will all work itself. If you have real goals for your life then they have to end up as real time spent in your day. Words - At times, we are careless with our words. Words can hurt and wound, leaving lasting scars. At times our words can hurt much more that a physical slap, and make a deeper impression. As God's children, this ought not to be. Our words should be a joy to hear, and a comfort to others. When we speak "truth" to each other, it needs to be spoken with love and kindness. We are not each other's 'judge and jury', but we are to help each other in areas we are weak in. Words spoken with this intent is usually received in the spirit it was given. Words harshly spoken will only reap bitterness and hurt, and will not accomplish the thing we are desiring. As Christians, in the family of God, let us treat others with kindness and respect. Let us not 'belittle' others in any way by using words that we would not say to Christ. After all, " as we have done (said) unto others, we have done unto Him! Let us be careful to 'watch our words', so they are 'acceptable' unto Christ! Opportunity - We usually think of "opportunity" as our own chance to take a significant step ahead in life. We love the idea of an open door or a favorable moment to seize the chance of a lifetime. But do we ever think of opportunity from God's perspective? Pastor Browning Ware has written: "Our worst circumstances may be God's best opportunity to bring new meaning to our lives." J. B. Phillips said something similar: "Man's extremity is God's opportunity." As you look at your life, do you recognize the opportunities for God to teach you? It may be during times of hurt or great loss; or maybe you've come to the end of yourself and given up hope.

It’s finally Friday….. I was going to do a blog today on American Idol, the contestants, blah, blah, blah… but since the wonderful Mrs. Bee and Sarge Charlie nominated be for bestest blog and I won I wanted to give them a very special thanks today. Make sure you go and visit them at Sarge Charlie and Empress Bee (of the high sea). They are the bestest people that you will ever meet. So now I'm going to tell you who I have decided to vote for in 2008. You may be a little surprised. I received this e-mail today from a co-worker and I firmly believe that she is spot on with this... so without futher ado..... MY CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008 For those of you who would like another choice for President, I have the best solution: It is probably time we have a woman as President. I think Mrs. Bee will agree with me on this one... Sarge too... heck... I think there may be alot more people than you think who will agree with me on this... PLEASE give it a thought when you have a moment.... MAXINE FOR PRESIDENT!!! So eloquently put............don't you think? Maxine on "Driver Safety" "I can't use the cell phone in the car. I have to keep my hands free for making gestures."....... Maxine on "Housework" "I do my housework in the nude. It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible." Maxine on "Lawn Care" "The key to a nice-looking lawn is a good mower. I recommend one who is muscular and shirtless." Maxine on "The Perfect Man" "All I'm looking for is a guy who'll do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want, and then go away. Or wait nearby, like a Dust Buster, charged up and ready when needed." Maxine on "Technology Revolution" "My idea of rebooting is kicking somebody in the butt twice." Maxine on "Aging" "Take every birthday with a grain of salt. This works much better if the salt accompanies a Margarita." "I'm telling you ... she's the perfect candidate." The only two things we do with greater frequency in middle age are urinate and attend funerals .. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket To err is human, to forgive - highly unlikely. Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have millions of old ladies running around with multiple tattoos and pierced navels? Money can't buy happiness -- but it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia. After a certain age, if you don't wake up aching somewhere...you may be dead. MAXINE HAS MY VOTE FOR PRESIDENT!

Edition #12 13 things favorite things … in no random order and of course this isn’t a complete list. 1. The smell of clothes that dried on a clothesline on a spring day 2. The smell of sautéed chopped onions 3. That ice cold part of the bed 4. The smell of a Christmas tree in the living room 5. The first snowflakes in winter 6. A crackling campfire 7. Drinking Coca-Cola with lots of ice 8. The smell of a big box of crayons 9. Flying a kite on a really windy day 10. Getting in the car and driving with no destination 11. A baby’s deep, chortling laugh 12. The smell of really old books 13. The smell of fresh cut grass

Wordless Wednesday Edition #11 THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT

SOAPBOX TIME *steps up on soapbox, taps mic, clears throat* I have a question today… and I’m on my soap box… Sorry Why do we care that Britney Spears shaved her head over the weekend and had 2 tattoos and that Anna Nicole Smith slept with so many men that she had no idea who the father of her baby was when we have soldiers dying every day in another country? Is the freakin media so desperate for news that we have to constantly hear this about Britney and Anna Nicole? I’ve heard some say one reason that maybe the reason we are hearing so much about Britney Spears is that she is a role model for so many young girls. WAKE UP CALL!!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!! IF THIS IS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOU DAUGHTERS….YOU NEED TO BE DUMMY SLAPPED…YOU NEED MAKE SURE YOUR DAUGHTER HAS ANOTHER TYPE OF ROLE MODEL. Now I’m not the one to tell you who should be a role model for you daughter but for Pete’s sake… NOT BRITNEY SPEARS…. Let’s look at someone like Condoleezza Rice. Rice is the first African American woman and second woman (after Madeline Albright) to serve as Secretary of State. Before joining the Bush administration, she was a Professor of political science at Stanford University. I could go on and on about this great woman. Let’s also look Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi is the 60th and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She also is the first woman, first Californian, and first Italian American in U. S. History to hold the office. I could go on and on also about this great woman. If there should be an outside person as a role model then in my opinion, both of these women have accomplished a task that no other woman has accomplished but has also set forth the road for our young women of tomorrow. But most importantly YOU, THE MOTHER, should be the role model for you daughter, but not only your daughter but your son also. God's Word says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much" (Luke 16:10). Kids see adult role models as examples of what it takes to get ahead in the real world. *steps down off soapbox* Thank you.

What better way to have a birthday party than with a “Celebration”. Let’s break out the party hats, the party favors, and champagne. Put on your dancing shoes cause ... IT'S TIME TO GET THE PARTY STARTED!!!!!! Happy 40th Birthday Morgen!!!!

In 1965 (the year you were born) Lyndon B. Johnson is president of the US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara calls for a nationwide network of bomb shelters Former leader of the Black Muslims, Malcolm X, is shot and killed in New York City To protest voting rights discrimination, civil rights demonstrators begin a march for Selma to Montgomery with federal troop protection The first commercial satellite, Early Bird, is launched into space by Nasa to transmit telephone and television signals Voting Rights Act is signed into law Riots by young blacks in the Watts area of Los Angeles begin, causing $200 million in damage Hurricane Betsy claims 75 lives in southern Florida and Louisiana United States President Lyndon Johnson proclaims his "Great Society" during his State of the Union address Dr. Dre, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr., Shania Twain, Moby, and Ben Stiller are born Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series Green Bay Packers win the NFL championship Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews, is the top grossing film Dune by Frank Herbert is published The Beatles' Rubber Soul is released "Satisfaction" by Rolling Stones is a top hit The Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing songs from their new album Help! Sony introduces the Betamax, a home video tape recorder Nearly all of NBC's programs are now broadcast in color I Dream of Jeannie premieres What Happened the Year You Were Born?

I'M BORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I usually don't blog on weekends, but I'm so freakin bored I'm about to go out of my mind. I've been sick with a kick ass cold since Thursday. Didn't work yesterday, spent the entire day in bed nursing this cold in hopes that I would be better today. Tony and I had plans to go to his brothers house today. His older brother is very sick and the community where he lives is doing a benefit for him tonight. Well guess what... I'm still sick, Tony and his entire family have gone to Fayetteville and I'm home alone. No. 1 son is spending the weekend at his friends house, what else is new... this is an every weekend thing. No. 1 daughter is with her dad this weekend and where am I .... HOME, HOME, HOME..... So, I'm here watching tv, which I'm sick of... there is NOTHING absolutely NOTHING on worth watching. It's too freakin cold to go rent a movie... there is NOTHING here that I want to eat and it is absolutely out of the question to call and order anything to have it delivered. When you live in a small community of 365 people... delivery is out of the question. Ok, yes I'm whining today... yes I'm in a pissy mood... NO I don't want sympathy... I just wanted to get this out of my system.

It was a beautiful fall Saturday in Talladega, Alabama. Much of the morning had been completing the setup of the campsite as Eric and Sarah had arrived late Friday night and only setup the necessities so they could get some sleep. They knew what was to come Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday it would be the Busch Series Race, a little drinking, a little shopping, a little sitting around getting to know the campsite neighbors; you know what normally happens at “The Races”. On Sunday Eric and Sarah would go to the biggest, fastest, most competitive race... The Winston Cup Series of racing or Nextel Cup Series as it’s called now. Saturday started as any Saturday at the races started. There was a little shopping that morning, When they got back to the campsite, Sarah put together some lunch, sandwiches and chips and beer. They were enjoying their lunch, talking to the campsite neighbors when the phone rings… Eric answers the phone, carries on a conversation and Sarah ask, “Who’s on the phone”…. He replies, “Carolyn”… oh really Sarah says, let me talk to her, Sarah was going to invite her over to the campsite for supper as she was at the races too. He hands her the phone and jokingly Sarah says “I thought that this was his girlfriend calling.” Carolyns response was “Well, you’re taking it well.” Nothing but rage flew all over her… as Sarah handed him the phone the rage grew and grew, she felt like she had been slapped hard in the face. Eric gets up from his chair, walks to the other side of the truck and finishes the conversation. After about 10 minutes more, Eric hung up the phone. Sarah ask “what the hell did she mean by that” Oh nothing he says… "I’m not stupid, I wasn’t born last night", she said. She knew. She knew deep in her gut what that statement meant. Her worst fear ever was coming true. The afternoon went on, Sarah continued drinking and not eat. The campsite neighbors were talking to visiting when the phone rings again. Sarah goes to answer it and he grabs it from her hand… yes, it was HER. Day turned to night and Sarah continued to drink. She had gotten in his face and asked him once again what Carolyn had meant by that comment. She got up from her chair, walked over to the cooler to get another beer and he follows her. Bad mistake…. it was dark and she knew that he could not see what was about to happen. Instead of grabbing one beer, she grabbed two. She continued to ask about her comment and he kept saying nothing… finally he said that “she’s in love with me”… about the time he said that, she took a full can of beer and laid it on the right side of his head. Whew… she felt better…… she felt really, really good…. Sunday came; they made their way to the race track, watched the race... which by this time was no fun. After the race they went back to the campsite and began to pack up their stuff. Sarah was in no mood to talk. It was going to be a long drive back to Tennessee. About halfway home Sarah announced that she would be filing for divorce on Monday. Monday came and went, she didn’t file for divorce. She lived with him for 13 more months thinking that it would get better, it didn't. She put up with his cheating for 13 more months. Not because she was still in love with, but thinking it was in the best interest of the children. On November 16, 2003 he left. Sarah had had surgery on a torn ACL in October and had not been working. She had $3.00 in her pocket, he had let the mortgage get 2 ½ months behind, the Jeep payment was 2 months behind, there was no groceries in the house, the electricity bill was due, the water bill was due, the phone bill was due and he leaves… he moves in with Her….. They were finally divorced February 2, 2004. The end of a 10 year marriage. **Names have been changed to protect some of the innocent but this is a true story. The story was briefly written. Had I written then entire happenings of the 13 months that Sarah and Eric lived together you would be reading all day. Have a great weekend all.

Thursday Thirteen Edition #11 Valentine's Day has come and gone and the flower shops and card shops have made a killing. But what do Hallmark writer's really write when they are having a bad day? Can you imagine going into a card shop and finding one of these. Today's Thursday Thirteen is what is written when card writers are having a bad day.... 1. L ooking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder... "What the hell was I thinking?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. C ongratulations on your wedding day! Too bad no one likes your husband. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. H ow could two people as beautiful as you Have such an ugly baby? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. I 've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love. After having met you .. I've changed my mind -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- 5. I must admit, you brought Religion into my life. I never believed in Hell until I met you. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 6. A s the days go by, I think of how lucky I am... That you're not here to ruin it for me. #################################################### 7. Congratulations on your promotion. Before you go... Would you like to take this knife out of my back? You'll probably need it again. ******************************************************************************** 8. Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad! (Available only in Tennessee , Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi & West Virginia ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Happy birthday! You look great for your age. Almost Lifelike! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. When we were together, you always said you'd die for me. Now that we've broken up, I think it's time you kept your promise. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 11. We have been friends for a very long time .. let's say we stop? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 12. C ongratulations on your new bundle of joy. Did you ever find out who the father was? ********************************************************* 13. So your daughter's a hooker, and it spoiled your day. Look at the bright side, it's really good pay Happy Thursday Thirteen y'all! Smooch!

What do you give your spouse, partner, significant other this Valentine’s Day? Not only on Valentine’s Day but the rest of the year. The most precious gift you can give is YOU. Sole access to your soul. That means trust, honesty, openness, vulnerability, baring the “real you,” in contrast to the many faces and hats you’re often required to put on with the rest of the world. That means exposing your weaknesses and ugliness along with the better angels of your nature. It’s an honor and a privilege to be allowed into someone’s “inner sanctum;” the very private place which has a capacity of one. That, I believe, is the essence of marriage or a relationship… of man and woman becoming “one flesh.” Body, mind, spirit completely intermingled. This is not necessarily a sexual or physical presentation, but the gift of a constant renewal and reaffirmation of your love and commitment is ALWAYS best. It will not only make him/her happy to be with you but it will also STRENGTHEN your bond. So here is my recommendation: Whatever attracted you to each other: CONTINUE Whatever you perceive is a lasting give; GIVE Material possessions are nice, but that’s NOT why you are together, is it? I sincerely doubt it. It’s very simple, BE HONEST, BE YOURSELF and TRULY LOVE your spouse, partner, significant other. That is so much better than ANYTHING you can ever buy.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching I decided to do some research. Every February 14th, mountains and mountains of candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. The history of Valentine’s Day, and its patron saint, is a mystery. We do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. Who was St. Valentine and how did he become associated with this rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend tells that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men, his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for trying to help Christians escape Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. It has been written that Valentine actually sent the first valentine’s greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor’s daughter. Before Valentine’s death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter which he signed “From your Valentine”, which is an expression still used today. Love Comes Through the Eyes That See by Nicholas Gordon Love comes through the eyes that see And through the ears that hear, For people are quite beautiful, And words make feelings clear. Love comes through the hands that touch With unabashed affection, For only skin-to-skin can love Maintain its true direction. Love comes through the tastes and smells Of fresh and well-cooked food, For in the gift of nourishment Is much else that is good. But though love comes through senses five, Love comes from the heart, For there resides the greater love Of which ours is a part.

Last Sunday night, we watched The Indianapolis Colts win their first Super Bowl Championship. While I am not a fan of Peyton Manning or the Indianapolis Colts, I am a fan of Tony Dungy. Below is a very touching story about this great man, and the essence of his purpose in life. It was most amusing to hear Coach Dungy's responses to the TV sports interviewer, when he was asked how great it was to be one of the first "African-American" head coaches to take his team to a Super Bowl? Head Coach "Tony Dungy" responded immediately with: "Yes that's good, but what is really great and awesome, is how God worked this out for us; it's just amazing how He made this all come together!" Thus, (as Paul Harvey would say after reading the following) "and now, you know the rest of the story." Dungy Makes Super Bowl Stop to Speak at Athletes in Action Breakfast DETROIT, Mich. - They were there for breakfast, and they were there to cheer New York Jets running back Curtis Martin. And it was Martin who received the Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award Saturday morning, but the hundreds who gathered in fourth-floor ballroom at the Marriott Renaissance in Detroit, Mich., on the morning before Super Bowl XL were clearly touched by the featured speaker. That speaker was Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy. Two hours into the breakfast, emcee Brent Jones introduced Dungy, who was welcomed with a lengthy standing ovation. Dungy thanked the crowd, shared an anecdote about Martin, and then told the crowd he was going to speak for about 15 minutes. "It's great to be here," Dungy told the crowd, then adding with a laugh, "I just wish I wasn't here in this capacity so many times of being just that close to being in the game and just being an invited speaker. "My goal is to have our team here one day and have a couple of tables with all of our guys here. Because we have a special group of young men, a great group of Christian guys. It'd be wonderful to have them here so you could see their hearts and what they're all about. "It hasn't quite happened yet, but we're still hoping one day it will." He told them he was going to talk about lessons he had learned from his three sons. The crowd fell silent. Then Dungy spoke. And although this was a breakfast - and although at many such events speakers speak over the clinking of glasses and murmurs from semi-interested listeners - for most of the 15 minutes the room was silent except for Dungy's voice. He spoke of his middle son, Eric, who he said shares his competitiveness and who is focused on sports "to where it's almost a problem." He spoke of his youngest son, Jordan, who has a rare congenital condition which causes him not to feel pain. "He feels things, but he doesn't get the sensation of pain," Dungy said. The lessons learned from Jordan, Tony Dungy said, are many. "That sounds like its good at the beginning, but I promise you it's not," Dungy said. "We've learned a lot about pain in the last five years we've had Jordan. We've learned some hurts are really necessary for kids. Pain is necessary for kids to find out the difference between what's good and what's harmful." Jordan, Dungy said, loves cookies. "Cookies are good," Dungy said, "but in Jordan's mind, if they're good out on the plate, they're even better in the oven. He will go right in the oven when my wife's not looking, reach in, take the rack out, take the pan out, burn his hands and eat the cookies and burn his tongue and never feel it. He doesn't know that's bad for him." Jordan, Dungy said, "has no fear of anything, so we constantly have to watch him." The lesson learned, Dungy said, is simple. "You get the question all the time, 'Why does the Lord allow pain in your life? Why do bad things happen to good people? If God is a God of love, why does he allow these hurtful things to happen?''' Dungy said. "We've learned that a lot of times because of that pain, that little temporary pain, you learn what's harmful. You learn to fear the right things. "Pain sometimes lets us know we have a condition that needs to be healed. Pain inside sometimes lets us know that spiritually we're not quite right and we need to be healed and that God will send that healing agent right to the spot. "Sometimes, pain is the only way that will turn us as kids back to the Father." Finally, he spoke of James. James Dungy, Tony Dungy's oldest son, died three days before Christmas. As he did while delivering James' eulogy in December, Dungy on Saturday spoke of him eloquently and steadily, speaking of lessons learned and of the positives taken from experience. "It was tough, and it was very, very painful, but as painful as it was, there were some good things that came out of it," Dungy said. Dungy spoke at the funeral of regretting not hugging James the last time he saw him, on Thanksgiving of last year. "I met a guy the next day after the funeral," Dungy said. "He said, 'I was there. I heard you talking. I took off work today. I called my son. I told him I was taking him to the movies. We're going to spend some time and go to dinner.' That was a real, real blessing to me." Dungy said he has gotten many letters since James' death relaying similar messages. "People heard what I said and said, 'Hey, you brought me a little closer to my son,' or, 'You brought me a little closer to my daughter,''' Dungy said.”That is a tremendous blessing." Dungy also said some of James' organs were donated through donors programs. "We got a letter back two weeks ago that two people had received his corneas, and now they can see,'' Dungy said. "That's been a tremendous blessing." Dungy also said he received a letter from a girl from the family's church in Tampa. She had known James for many years, Dungy said. She went to the funeral because she knew James. "When I saw what happened at the funeral, and your family and the celebration and how it was handled, that was the first time I realized there had to be a God," Dungy said the girl wrote. "I accepted Christ into my life and my life's been different since that day." Added Dungy, "That was an awesome blessing, so all of those things kind of made me realize what God's love is all about." Dungy also said he was asked often how he was able to return to the Colts so quickly after James' death. James died on December 22, and Dungy returned to the team one week later. Dungy said the answer was simple. "People asked me, 'How did you recover so quickly?"'' Dungy said. "I'm not totally recovered. I don't know that I ever will be. It's still very, very painful, but I was able to come back because of something one of my good Christian friends said to me after the funeral. "He said, 'You know James accepted Christ into his heart, so you know he's in heaven, right?' I said, 'Right, I know that.' He said, 'So, with all you know about heaven, if you had the power to bring him back now, would you?' When I thought about it, I said, 'No, I wouldn't. I would not want him back with what I know about heaven.' "That's what helped me through the grieving process. Because of Christ's spirit in me, I had that confidence that James is there, at peace with the Lord, and I have the peace of mind in the midst of something that's very, very painful. "That's my prayer today, that everyone in this room would know the same thing."

USS New York I received this e-mail tonight and it just put chills all over me. I felt that I needed to share this with all my friends... I know y'all will feel just as proud as I do looking at and reading this. We will "Never Forget"...... It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there." Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back." The ship's motto? "Never Forget"

DIXIE IS IN DA HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!! Well, it looks like DIXIE IS BACK IN DA HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I've missed all y'all soooooooooooo very much. I've got so much catching up to do. I don't even know where to begin. First, I want to thank my Hoochie Mary for the postings that she has done for me over the past few weeks. I don't know what I would have done without her. I owe her A LOT..... just you wait to B'ham ;-) I have missed readying everyones blog... looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do. Please be patient with me... I will be reading and commenting. I am hoping that it will be a rainy weekend so I won't have anything to do be read and comment. I have been writing a few things and saving them on my computer at work. I will have to send them to my personal e-mail addy and get them on this computer. So, the AI Auditions are over and Hollywood starts next week. Just a warning, I am planning on doing a few blogs on my thoughts. Yes, I know that I'm just rambling, but I am so excited about no longer being internet impaired.... as my Hoochie Turnbaby would say.... SMOOCHES!

THURSDAY THIRTEEN Edition #6 Ponderisms Edition #10 Ok, I’m still not up and running, but once again we must thank Mary for posting my Thursday Thirteen. I promise y’all that I’m doing the very best I can to get the freakin computer at home working. I worked on it a little last night. I know the kids will be glad when I get it fixed. So here are my Thursday Thirteen. Have a good one y’all! You Know You're Really Broke When... 1. American Express calls and says: "Leave home without it!" 2. Your idea of a 7-course meal is taking a deep breath outside a restaurant. 3. You're formulating a plan to rob the food bank. 4. You've rolled so many pennies, you've formed a psychic bond with Abe Lincoln. 5. Long distance companies don't call you to switch anymore. 6. You look at your roommate and see a large fried chicken in tennis shoes. 7. Your rob Peter...and then rob Paul. 8. You finally clean your house, hoping to find change. 9. You think of a lottery ticket as an investment. 10. Your bologna has no first name. 11. You give blood everyday... just for the orange juice. 12. McDonald's supplies you with all your kitchen condiments. 13. At communion you go back for seconds.

Good morning. I have missed all of you terribly. I was off work Friday and not able to get on the computer until this morning. I get to work and find out that the freakin Internet Police have blocked all access to Blogger. I can’t post, comment or even read other blogs like I use to. I just don’t understand why they have to be so freakin…. well…. oh nevermind… you got the picture. If I keep on, I end of saying something that isn’t very nice and use words that normally aren’t in my vocabulary. So, it looks like I’m going to have to get my booty moving on fixing the internet problem at home. Yes, I’m a procrastinator… Thanks to Mary, once again, for posting for me today. I will be back as quickly as I can. Have a great week all.