Flat Tony Visits Arkansas

Recently Flat Tony flew from Launceston, Tasmania, Australia to Mena, Arkansas, USA via e-mail. Tony decided to send his Flat Self around the world and he would love to have you join in the fun. So if you would like to help him out and take part in his World Tour 2008 by Hosting Flat Tony at your home, please email Tony at ynot60@netspace.net.au with your Name (blogging username will do if you wish to be less conspicuous), Email Address, Blog URL & your Home Town & Country. He will then email a full sized Flat Tony to you.

Flat Tony arrived in Mena in time for the weekend. Skye Baby is always happy when we have company, and greeted Flat Tony with a warm welcome. She wasn't as sure about him when he sat on the couch with her and shared her blanket.



Whatever we did all weekend, Flat Tony tagged along. When we went to church, he was with us. Everyone at church was interested in meeting our guest from Australia. He went with us to Sabbath School Class and had his picture taken.





During the church service Flat Tony went up front with the children for the childrens story. After he had his picture taken, he had to go back to his seat so the children would pay attention to the story.



Today we had planned a trip to Hot Springs to go shopping for Autumn and Rebekah's birthday party next week. Since Flat Tony was visiting with us we invited him to go. He really liked Gina's Mini Cooper.



When we got to Hot Springs, we went to the Mall. While Gina and Deanna were shopping for clothes, Flat Tony and I went to the bookstore.





After finding just the right birthday gifts, we left the mall and went driving to the old part of Hot Springs. We drove up on West Mountain and stopped at a turnout that overlooks Hot Springs. There Gina and Deanna had their picture taken with Flat Tony.



We were hungry, so we decided to go eat at La Hacienda. Flat Tony said that he would go with us, but because he was flat, he didn't eat very much. I offered to take him to McDonald's, and he said absolutely not. The food was awesome at La Hacienda, and we told Flat Tony that he didn't know what he was missing.



On the way home we stopped at a great little store because they had gas for 3.19 a gallon. That is the cheapest that I have bought gas for a long time. There was a beautiful sunset as we were nearing Mena, but there was no place to pull off the road so I couldn't get a picture. You will have to take my word for it that it was beautiful. I hope that Flat Tony enjoyed his weekend in Arkansas.

Happy Birthday Autumn.

AUTUMN ON THE DAY SHE WAS BORN

Today is Autumn's third birthday. I don't get to be there with her today, but Gina and I are going to see her and Rebekah next weekend. I sure wish I was with her as she celebrates her birthday tonight at Chuck E Cheese.

I remember very clearly the day she was born. The night before she was born, Gina and I were going out to eat with friends at Papa Pablanos. It was a Saturday night, and they were very busy. We were finally seated at a table that was to small for our group, but we said we would make do. Just after the waitress took our drink order, we saw that a larger table had opened up. We asked to move to the larger table. While we were waiting for our drinks to arrive Gina received a call on her cell phone. Cynda was calling to tell us that her water broke and David was taking her to the hospital. Gina was up and out the door almost immediately. Before our drinks had even arrived, the larger table was no longer needed.

Within a few minutes we were headed for Baton rouge. Gina didn't have to pack; she had already packed a suitcase several days earlier waiting for the call. We drove straight through, and arrived at the hospital around 3 A.M. Cynda had a difficult delivery and was still in labor when we arrived. We sat in the waiting room in the world's most uncomfortable chairs and anxiously waited. Autumn was born a few hours after we arrived.

You might be able to tell from the following picture that I had driven all night and had no sleep. As tired as I was, it was awesome to finally meet the baby that we had been so excited about.


AUTUMN MEETS HER GRANDPA

Even though we aren't able to be there with Autumn today, we will have a birthday party for her when we go to Baton Rouge next weekend. Here are pictures from her first and second birthday parties.


EATING CAKE ON HER FIRST BIRTHDAY


BLOWING OUT CANDLES WITH MOMMY ON HER SECOND

I promise pictures from her third birthday party. You know I love to post pictures of my granddaughters. Just so you know, I do have two granddaughters. Here is a picture of Rebekah. She turns one on October 25. Stay Tuned!


REBEKAH AT SABBATH SCHOOL

K is for Kettle

My entry for this weeks ABC Wednesday is a picture of my granddaughter Autumn looking into a large kettle at Houmas House.

Houmas House is a restored plantation home on the Mississippi River in Louisiana. The first owners of the plantation were the indigenous Houmas Indians, who were given a land grant to occupy the fertile plain between the Mississippi and Lake Maurepas to the north.

The Houmas sold the land to Maurice Conway and Alexander Latil in the mid 1700's. The original French Provincial house that Latil erected on the property in is situated directly behind the Mansion, adjoined by a carriageway to the grand home described during its antebellum heyday as "The Sugar Palace." The original home was later used as living quarters for the staff that served the great house.

By the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the plantation was established and producing sugar.

In 1810, Revolutionary War hero Gen. Wade Hampton of Virginia purchased the property and shortly thereafter began construction on the Mansion. However, it was not until 1825 when Hampton's daughter, Caroline, and her husband, Col. John Preston, took over the property that the grand house truly began to take shape.



Construction on the Mansion was completed in 1828. At the same time, Houmas House began to build its sugar production and continued to increase its land holdings, which ultimately grew to 300,000 acres.

Here are some more pictures of Autumn taken at Houmas House.

Dan Roberts Concert

Wow! What a concert! Mike and Laurel Easton of 5 Star Equine Products brought Dan Roberts to the Christian Motorcycle Association for a benefit concert to help the Humane Society of the Ouachitas.

Dan Roberts has been a solo artist in Texas for five years, Dan's previous 18 years were spent in Nashville Tennessee honing his craft as a songwriter. Dan has penned numerous billboard chart songs including serveral for mega superstar Garth Brooks. When Dan teamed up with Brooks and Bryan Kennedy to write the #1 smash "The Beaches of Cheyenne", Roberts was off and running. Garth signed Roberts and Kennedy to a two-year deal to open his world tour in 1996-97. The dou opened more Garth Brooks shows than any other opening act in Garth Brooks' career.


DAN PAYING RESPECT TO JOHN WAYNE

When Dan stepped off Brooks' tour bus, he picked up his pen and wrote an album for himself titled "There's a Little Cowboy in All of Us." He followed up with his second CD "Cowhand.com"- which charted on both Gavin and Billboard.


VIDEO OF "COWHAND.COM"

With twenty years as a songwriter and the Brooks tour under his belt, Roberts and his family moved to Texas in 2000. Dan's career picked up more steam as he was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year 2001 and Entertainer of the Year 2002 for the Academy of Western Artists.


VIDEO OF "FADED LOVE"

His third CD "Viva La Cowboy" recieved three Grammy Recognitions and featured two chart singles on the Texas Music Chart "I'm the One to Call" and "Swingin' Till We Can't See Strait". "I Love Texas" Dan often says with a smile, "I got here as quick as I could". It seems clear that this cowboy and his music are right at home under the Big Lone Star. However it's not all about what Dan gets out of Texas. This soft spoken man loves his wife and kids and has a big heart for children.


VIDEO OF "WOLVES"

His music career and his life took on a whole new meaning after his daughter, Austin, fought and won a two-year battle with brain cancer. Dan and his wife Carol established the REFUSE TO LOSE FUND. The goal is to raise 4.5 million dollars to purchase the same technology that saved his daughters life at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angles, California. The Roberts are partnering with Cook Children's Medical Center to bring that technology to Ft. Worth, Texas.


VIDEO OF "TRUE BLUE HEELER"

Dan is a top notch entertainer and definitely pleased the crowd with his cowboy music that obviously came from experience and a love for the cowboy lifestyle.




RICHIE OWENS OPENING FOR DAN ROBERTS

Richie Owens, my good friend of over 10 years opened the show. I know that I might be just a bit prejudiced, but he had an awesome set. Richie is a singer songwriter and played all original material.


VIDEO OF "MAN ON A MISSION


VIDEO OF "TWO HANDS"

A number of years ago Richie put out an acoustic Christian CD titled Like A Child One of my favorite songs on the album is All Things Work Together. Here is the video of him playing All Things Work Together at the concert.

Stop To Think!!

This week I have been getting ready to paint a Bandit Wood Chipper for my cousin LeRoy. Wood chippers have powerful feed systems with large chipper openings that allow you to break down limbs and branches. One of the things that had to be done was the removal of all of the decals and stickers before painting. So that we would know where to put the new decals when we finished painting, I took pictures of all the decals and locations for reference.

Wood chippers are very dangerous machines. I have never used one, but after reading all of the warning decals I have new found respect for the dangers involved.



This one reads DANGER! STOP TO THINK!! Reaching or kicking into the infeed spout can cause serious injury or death! DO NOT reach with your hand or kick with your foot inside the feed spout. The feedrolls are very powerful. Once your hand or foot is grabbed by the feedrolls, you can be pulled into the chipper. Do not think you will be able to pull yourself out of the feedrolls. They will not let go!



This one reads DANGER! SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH CAN OCCUR! UNLESS THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED.

Do you think Bandit Industries Inc. is serious about their warning? Are they plain enough for you to understand? The wood chipper I am working on is literally covered with these warnings. I took 30 pictures of warning labels. The manufacturer wants to make sure that you understand the dangers of working with this machine.







This one is very serious. BRUSH CHIPPERS ARE VERY DANGEROUS MACHINES TO OPERATE! READ AND BELIEVE THIS WARNING DECAL!

One line on this warning decal reads "There have been MANY ACCIDENTS involving the feed rolls, resulting in the amputation of hands, arms, feet, legs and DEATH. DO NOT let this happen to you!

All of these warnings made me think of the Bible, and all of the directions and warnings that God has placed in it.

In Jeremiah 6:10 the Bible says, "Who will listen to me? The people of Israel have closed ears, so they cannot hear my warnings. They don't like the word of the LORD; they don't want to listen to it!"

Why is it that we don't want to listen to the word of the Lord? When I read the warnings on a piece of machinery I take them seriously, but if I read it in the Bible I don't want to listen.

In Romans 6:23 there is a clear warning. As clear as the warning decals on a wood chipper. It says "The wages of sin is death". That is clear. Thankfully the verse doesn't end there. It also says "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".

The warnings on the wood chipper were not placed there because Bandit Industries Inc. doesn't want you to have any fun. They were not placed there just to restrict the user. They were placed there for the benefit of the user.



God's commandments are like the warnings on the wood chipper. They are not to restrict us, they are for our benefit.

Many times we look at God's law as a jail. We feel that it creates uncomfortable restrictions. We need to ask God to give us a love for his commandments, to instill in us a desire for the peace and safety of His law.

1 John 5:3 tells us "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome".

The Best Gift

What is the best gift you have ever received? What made it so special? Was it the value of the gift? Was it the person who gave it to you? Was it because it was so unexpected?

As I think about this question I find it hard to narrow down one particular gift as the best. There is one gift that I received that was very special for a number of reasons. One of the reasons this particular gift was special is that I still don’t know who gave me the gift. Let me tell you the story.

In February 2004, 17 members of my church raised 20,000 dollars and went to San Pedro, Belize in Central America to build a church. While we were there we made lots of friends. We were only in San Pedro for a short time, but by the time we left the walls of the church were finished. During the following months, the church members in San Pedro finished the church building. Plans were made for a church dedication service to be held in February 2005. I was invited to come to the dedication service. I really wanted to go. This church building project had been very important to me, and I had made many friends in San Pedro that I wanted to see again. There was just one problem. I couldn’t afford the trip.


THE NEW HORIZON SDA CHAPEL IN SAN PEDRO BELIZE


One day I received a letter in the mail from Fare Finders Travel. Why were they sending me a letter? When I opened the letter I was surprised by what it said. Please come in to Fare Finders to make arrangements for a round trip ticket to Belize. Someone has paid for the ticket, but they want to remain anonymous. I couldn’t believe it. My wife immediately tried to figure out who the anonymous donor was. She still hasn’t cracked the case. It is still an unsolved mystery. The mysterious ticket has to be one of the best gifts I have ever received.

We made plans to go back to San Pedro. As we packed and attended to all the details of the trip, the mystery giver was in our thoughts. Who was this person who had given such a meaningful and valuable gift? How could we thank the giver?

Our trip to Belize was wonderful. It was very special to me to see the completed church building. The dedication service was beautiful and moving with people from several different countries participating. We got reacquainted with friends that we had made the year before, and made many knew friends the 10 days that we were there. Many times friends would stop by our room with gifts such as fresh coconut water, papaya, or some small trinket. On the last day we were in San Pedro, there was a steady stream of visitors at our room. They wanted to tell us goodbye. Most of them brought a gift.


GINA AND I WITH SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN SAN PEDRO


We received one gift that was very special to me. My wife made a special friendship with a little 2 year old boy who spoke only Spanish. Whenever he would see her his face would light up. He didn’t understand English, but he understood the language of love. The day we were leaving he and his 4 year old sister came to our door with a gift. They gave us a well worn 1941 Walking Liberty half dollar. I have no idea how this little family had come into possession of this coin, or why they gave it to me. Even though the monetary value of the coin is only a little more than 4 dollars it is one of the most precious gifts I have ever received.


GINA'S SPECIAL FRIEND, ANGEL


I learned an important spiritual lesson on my trip to Belize. I learned it from the people that I met. They had such a desire to do something for us. Even though they had only meager possessions, they had such a desire to please. They wanted to see us before we left. They had to bring us a gift. It was very important to them. To me that showed how I should relate to God. God, I don’t have anything but I want to give you something. God let me know what I can do to please you. God I want to be with you.



In Romans 6:23 the Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”. God has given you the best gift ever, what will you give God?

ABC Wednesday

Some weeks ABC Wednesday can be a challenge. As I was looking through my pictures searching for some inspiration starting with the letter J, I ran across this photo of J's. I like to do what I call light painting, where I point the camera at a light source (in this case it was Christmas lights) and move the camera as the picture is taken.

Here are some more of my light painting photos