One way to Support our Troops

There is a VFW-sponsored website where you can donate money to buy phone cards for our troops. It is one tangible way that we can help the men and women who are fighting for freedom . . .

Operation Uplink

Check it out!

Do you want to go private on this?

Nothing much to report today, but I have a question:

Would you like me to make this an "invitation-only" journal, so everyone will have to use a password be able to read it and comment and such?

A pro of going to invite-only would be more security and privacy. We could use real names/locations/etc. instead of being obtuse.

The main con is that everyone would have to remember their password . . .

Let me know what you think. Sometime this week would be nice . . . ;>

Travelling Home

The Thanksgiving holiday was very relaxing. It was quite nice to get to see so much family this year!

When the time came to go home, we mounted up and moved out smartly (after a brief stop at Starbucks to get coffee -- to keep me awake). Traffic was pretty heavy on the freeway, but once we got onto 34, it really was light.

Things were uneventful until we came to the bridge over the Trinity river. There were a lot of DPS, sheriff, and police vehicles. Lights flashing, all traffic restricted to the southbound shoulder lane. C and A saw that there was a Suburban that looked like it had hit something head on at high speed, there was another car that seemed involved, and a pickup truck that had left the road and looked as if it may have rolled a few times in the pasture below. There was also a dead cow in the middle of the road. The scene looked pretty bad. Needless to say, I used the high beams as much as I could on the way home from there.

Anyway, we got home safely, went right to bed, slept in, and took it pretty easy today.

We really, really enjoyed our Thanksgiving visit with Mimi and Papaw; and had a really nice visit with all of our other family on Saturday.

I just wish we had a whole week, so that we could have tarried longer in both places . . .

Thanks for the hospitality Mimi and Papaw. We really enjoyed being there with you.

Thank you Mom, for hosting almost the whole clan at your home. We enjoyed the visit with everyone.

We love you all.

-- DCAS

Here is the pic of

Here is the pic of Stefi and Santa in Baybrook Mall (Houston). He's been there for several years and is the only Santa that Stefi remembers.

Stefi & Santa 11/26/2004

We have a lot to be thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I know, I know . . . nobody knows this weblog exists, so I'm actually talking to myself here. But talking to oneself is sometimes a good thing, right?

Anyway, I just thought I'd wish all a happy thanksgiving. I'd also like to reflect on some of the things for which I am thankful. I can't cover all of the bases here, but I want to touch on a few of them.

To begin on a light note, I am very thankful that the presidential election is over with!

Seriously now, I am thankful that President Bush was re-elected. I don't agree with all of his policy decisions, but he is (by far) the best man for the job that is before our president at this point in history. Okay, so I'm politically conservative. But we don't need another indecisive wimp in the White House -- we're still recovering (defense-wise) from Slick Willy.

No more politics -- this post is supposed to be about thankfulness.

I am thankful for my wonderful wife and our two precious daughters. "C" & I have been married for 26 years now. She has been extremely tolerant of my adventurous, geekish pursuits (both professional and personal) all these years. And has loved me in a patient, whole-hearted way for all of these years. Our daughters ("A" is 14, "S" is 6) are just incredible. Fortunately they take after their mother!

I am grateful for Jesus Christ, my Savior, who has enabled me to be more than I could be were I without His love, guidance, and encouragement.

I am thankful for my parents, who raised me with the tools I needed to become a responsible adult. I am also thankful for my parents-in-law, who (along with my wife) helped introduce me to a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the other family and friends that I have. Scattered all over the country, but always ready to show their love for my family and each other.

I am so very thankful for this tremendous country in which we live. America has been so richly blessed, and offers more in the way of personal freedom and opportunity than any other country in the world. Yes, this brings about problems that other countries may not experience, but it also has resulted in a strong economy, innovation, tolerance, faith, and a wealth of other strengths that are lacking in many other nations.

I am thankful for the American men and women who have put their lives (past and present) on the line to defend our country (and other countries, as well). Freedom is not free, as we all know, and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have been willingly paying the cost for the privileges and freedoms that we are blessed with in America.

I am thankful for our church. Wesley UMC consists of a community of generous and Spirit-led believers who are always looking for ways to help others. Just what our Lord wants us to do. Joining this church last year has made a tremendous impact on our lives.

Finally, I am thankful for the opportunity to visit with family and friends this holiday season. It means so much to me to be able to share in your lives. I just wish I could see all of you.

Be careful this holiday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Trying to grok

One of the bloggers that I read is Sarah over at trying to grok. She's got a good head on her shoulders and doesn't mind sharing exactly what is on her mind. She also is married to one of our Soldiers who is putting his life on the line to protect us Americans and to liberate the Iraqi people from tyranny (whether from Saddam or from the terrorists, it's still tyranny). Check it out.

Gotta start somewhere

Well, I've gotten this set up. And I'm ready to start posting -- I think.

I've been very impressed with some of the weblogs that I have been visiting for the last two months. It has been somewhat of a revelation to me to see so many people journaling in public. I have found myself very much engaged in what was typed in those blogs. It has been an interesting couple of months for me.

I also find that I would like to do some of this myself. Perhaps this can serve as a touchstone for friends and family (scattered all over the country, as they are) -- a way to share my life, thoughts, dreams with them.

So without further ado, I hereby declare this journal a work in progress. I would be honored if you joined me.