State Pics '09

GREAT Story . . .

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4107959

Great Stuff . .

From Dad . . .

Friendly Fun
There are three kinds of people in the world; Those who watch
fun happen; those who make fun happen, and those who say, “I don’t
get it.” God gave us the ability to create amusement. I love to pull pranks
on folks as long it doesn’t do permanent damage.
A neighbor asked me, “Did you stand my paper on the end?” Now why
would she suspect me? I came to mind before the Sunday newspaper flinger.
It would be kinda like flipping a coin and it land on the edge.
I had already blown my cover. Their neighbor had a sycamore tree. For
years their landscaped yard inherited huge leaves. The tree was cut and they
could now rejoice. Wrong! I special-delivered some to their yard regularly.
I finally confessed.
The other day I was whistling, “ Achy Breaky Heart” over and over.
Margie told me to stop it. I stopped. I’m not hen-pecked, but I’m not
crazy either. I was getting on my own nerves anyway. Like the two guys on
death row and one‘s last request was this song. The other said, “Kill me first!”
Picking on friends is fun and they like the attention. I was joking with
a big guy at work who had short legs. Saying things like, “When he stands
up he doesn’t get a bit taller.” And, “They wouldn’t let him kick the football
in school; he was too close to it.” I was ribbing him once and he said it
bothered him. Not wishing to alienate a friend, I told him I’d stop teasing
him. After a boring silence he said, “You can go back to joking with me now.”
I’m not a “disher-outer and can’t take it” either. I love to be picked on.
I’ll laugh with you. Tell me I’m the ugliest person in the world and I’ll just
agree saying, “You’d better hope nothing happens to me, because you’re
number two.”
Don’t smile too big. What number are you?

Believing in Someone...

I was thinking earlier about believing in people and especially young people.....I had , what I thought was a good friend, come to my house--stand in my doorway--and tell me 2 years ago that my son would never be a good ball player and especially a good hitter---he said he just didnt have what it takes....when he said it --it bothered me ---not because Oneal was good--he wasnt the best--but I saw potential and this person just saw nothing---Come to find out he was a very selfish person..and still is---After he said that ---I told Oneal what was said about him..and it motivated him and I told him ---"I BELIEVED IN HIM"...he started working hard---he hit probably around 700 percent that next year...and this year--the last few stats are around 850....everytime I hear those statistics from coaches--I think about that person who didnt see potential...I dont hate him....But I dont have any use for him or his thinking...I dont want me or my son around him...and we are not .....I didnt tell ONeal who said it until after the season he hit 700----I wanted him to know to surround himself with good people and stay clear of the bad--I lost any respect for that person and O did too....so surround yourself with positive people who see you your potential ---Not where you may be at the time...and make sure you believe in people...that may be the only positive things they hear in their life....Help them, believe in them, and make sure they know the right way to treat people---'Nuff said...

From Dad---about my Sis

The Real Deal

    I never wanted to raise an only child. I’m living proof of what can

 happen. I met Margie and we soon met the Lord and invited him Him to

live with us. He advised us to multiply and kept us from dividing.

We were blessed with a son and a daughter.

    I wrote about the son recently so now it’s equal time time. Our daughter

completed our happy home.  She was a contented child even sitting in

church or lying under the pew. Our church was the active kind. Once an

evangelist go so excited about Jesus that he did a Michael Jordan leap.

Amy, about three, said, “Did you see him jump!” We weren’t in the cheap

seats; we were right up front.

    One night she said, “The moon’s still on!” (like as if it had a switch.)

She was happy just making “gravel mountains” in our driveway. Later

with a slight pout, she took my sports car. It was for the best and helped

me though the man version of mid-life crisis, mental-pause.

     She married Jim Forakis, a Greek preacher. He took her far away but

they came back, and brought more with them! As a teenager she

held a friend’s newborn son and said, “I’d like to have one of these little

fellers.” God granted her wish threefold. Now they’re not little and running

her ragged. She’s a football, soccer, karate, baseball, and band Mom. She

drives to and fro because they have to go.   

    Joel, Amy’s brother, almost convinced her as a child that she was adopted.

But she has my goofy walk to disprove that. She’s the real deal. Daddy’s

little girl is now a Christian lady. She’s beautiful and perfect in every way

except maybe the walk, and God figured she could handle that.

     At least she’s headed in the right direction.

Florida and Friends...

Proud...