Memorial Day . . .

“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing”

“Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.”
Daniel J. Boorstin

My Nephew gettin his groove on

Lil Different this year---

My baseball team is doing GREAT this year....they are playing their hearts out and winning some great games---Right now we are 3 and 2 and leading the league. I have got a bunch of great players and after years of just mediocre records ---this year feel good. They are hungry and they never give up on me...they play their hearts out---all the way from the biggest player to the littlest one on the team....Its been good...and I am having a blast....

“Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.”

Mark Twain

Quote

“Whatever games are played with us, we must play no games with ourselves, but deal in our privacy with the last honesty and truth”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Drawing A Line...

I have always wanted to get along with people and want them to like me--But as I get older--It is much more about protecting myself, my family and my life than it is about whether other people "like" me.

You know funny things happen when you stand up for something:

1. Some people will talk bad about you

2. Some people will admire you

3. Some people will try to hurt you

4. Some people will support you

5. Some people will be jealous,

6. Some people will be envious...

But the one big thing---You will always feel good about yourself---

because you did what you thought was right....

Taking a stand and saying " I am drawing a line in the sand" is how countries were made free and people became heroes....

Run Down . . .

You may think it is a little crazy--But at my house we dont use the word "sick"--We always say "rundown". There are times that we may be sick---But We dont say it---I have heard too many people through my life say "Im sick--I cant" or "I think Im getting sick" or something like that--people love to talk about what "ails" them---

I dont want to live my my life that way--I dont want to stop living life because I think I might be getting sick---

Either Im rundown enough that it literally knocks me down---or I am going full steam ahead--there is no middle ground on this---I want Oneal to learn this----You keep going---dont make excuses cause you have a headache --or your nose may be running--

If you can make yourself do things when you dont feel like it---You can do just about anything...

Old remedy . . .

Its been around for umpteen-thousand years.

If I am ever feeling a little down--2 things I do--

First -- Take inventory of all the many things I have going for me---
The best Family in the world,
a great son,
what I do for a living--God has seen fit to bless me with something I love to do and am good at it..
I'm healthy---and the best thing is my whole family is healthy
A great group of very supportive Christian friends, with goals for their life and who are always looking at the big picture...
The best Church for me and my son to be involved in...

I could go on and on--but there are way to many things to mention...


Second:
Laugh--I dont care how --talk with a friend about something stupid you did, turn on the Three Stooges, hang out with a positive person that has a sense of humor, anything--Find a way or something that gets that ball rolling--cause once you get that first chuckle out you will start feeling better..

My Dad has built his whole life and ministry around that "A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like A Medicine"

So there you go-Take 2 and call me in the morning...

Doctor, Lawyer, Professor, President, Wearing my tie....

He could do any of them---But this is just for a thing he had at school--

Definitely growing up---I am proud of you--Mr. Franks

Charlie Brown Sermon . . .

Check out this post from Pastor Rob....

http://robyanok.blogspot.com/2007/05/great-philosophy-of-life.html

Mom

Everybody has a different take on what a perfect Mom is. Some Mom's think that doing everything for their children is the way to go---Some Mom's dont do anything --they are just glad the kids are grown--My Mom has always kept the perfect balance--she has stood by me when I was little and she has stood by me in Manhood...It is knowing where your child is in life and being there for them --not still treating them like they are 3 years old---but at every stage in their life---My Mom has been there in silence, in love , in prayer and in person---and she is one of God's Finest Creations...

I love you Mom.

In Full Swing...

I am so glad Baseball season is here---You know--coaching those boys every year has been one of the things that has gotten me through rough times in my life---When youre out there working, teaching, playing and having fun--that is all you think about --nothing else--I know its been good for O--But it has really been great for me---

In Honor Of...

My Grandmother and my Grandfather on my Dad's side of the family---

Nana Franks---I loved her and she was a good woman--she had her ways--just like we all do--but she was who she was--Nana Franks---I remember getting whipped with a flyswatter several times, Tent meetings, and her fanning herself in the summer with those old wooden handled fans from the funeral home...and her sitting out on the porch, that is now where my business is located---she would rock, fan and watch the cars go by in a hurry and wonder aloud why everyone is in such a hurry...

My Papa Clyde --I never got to meet--I would have loved to--because they all say me and my Dad and Him were just alike---Lots of laughter...

Good People I am proud to call Family...

Another one from Dad . . .

"Good Directions"
Just when I'd about given up hope of ever listening to Country Music, I overheard a good song.
"Good Directions" is about an old boy that found himself a purty woman because of "Good Directions". (No cussing, no drinking, no adultery; just a well articulated good story tune.) He met her "selling turnips off a flat-bed truck". I liked his closing line, "Thank God for good directions, and turnip greens."
Of course it reminds me of God. He's been giving me "good directions" for 40 years, ever since I started listening to Him. I use this scripture: Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
How can we expect to prosper and be blessed if we don' t acknowlege God?
I don't want walk in my own ways. I tried that. Good Directions are found in His Word. I'm glad He walks with me.
He said He'd "Never leave me or forsake me". I believe that. But I want Him to feel welcome. I remember one of the best days of my life. I told the Lord early, "I just appreciate You going with me today." Things went perfect!

Closing story: A man was driving through a town. He asked a little boy how to get to the Post Office. The lad replied, "I don't know." He asked several more questions about how to get places, and the boy always responded, "I don't know." The fellow lost patience and said, "You don't know very much, do you?" The little boy replied, "I ain't lost!"
I ain't lost either because a preacher pointed me to God. Thank God for good directons!

The Best . . .

I took O'Neal and a bunch of friends to the movies tonight to see Spiderman 3--

It is without a doubt one of the BEST movies I have ever seen---It had everything ---Great FX--Great Story--you name it--it had it---If I dont see another movie for a couple of years --That will be fine---I have seen movie making at it's best---Awesome is the only word I can think of---

And yes--I have some nerd and geek in me--All you so-called "Cool People" call me what you want --Im not living for you...Im living for me and my son--and I like it....and just so you will know --welcome to a new era--big tough guy (You know who you are)--The nerds and geeks are running the world...and you can't touch us--Nuff Said..

Baseball Quotes...

"Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it."

"Go with the best you've got."

“I usually stick out my hand and hope he puts the ball in it. Except the one time I went out to take Early Wynn out. I stuck out my hand and he hit me right in the stomach with the ball."

"Managing can be more discouraging than playing, especially when you're losing because when you're a player, there are at least individual goals you can shoot for. When you're a manager all the worries of the team become your worries."

"The (New York) Yankees can be had."

"The manager is by himself. He can't mingle with his players. I enjoyed my players, but I could not socialize with them so I spent a lot of time alone in my hotel room. Those four walls kind of close in on you."

""You make it (the ball) livelier, and some little guy will hit a homer in June and for the rest of the season he's swinging for the fences and isn't worth a thing."

Quotes >From Leo Durocher
"As long as I've got a chance to beat you I'm going to take it." Source: Nice Guys Finish Last (Leo Durocher, 06/09/1975)

"Buy a steak for a player on another club after the game, but don't even speak to him on the field. Get out there and beat them to death."

"Give me some scratching, diving, hungry ballplayers who come to kill you." Source: Nice Guys Finish Last (Leo Durocher, 06/09/1975)

"Nice guys finish last."

"Nobody ever won a pennant without a star shortstop." Source: Street and Smith Baseball Yearbook (1976)

"Some guys are admired for coming to play, as the saying goes. I prefer those who come to kill." Source: The Sporting News (February 1961)

"There are only five things you can do in baseball - run, throw, catch, hit, and hit with power." Source: Time (July 16, 1973)

"Win any way you can as long as you can get away with it.

It's here . . .and I'm glad

Its officially baseball season---My team has practied hard and look really good on the field--first game tomorrow night---I think we will do great....