Rob's Ramblings "Reflections"

I made a blog post very similar to this one, on my birthday. Birthdays and the New Year always cause one to think about the past, and look to the future. This blog will look back on the things that meant the most to me in 2014, and what I'm hoping 2015 will bring. Feel free to jump on the path to memory lane with me.....

For those who know me pretty well, you will probably know what event in 2014 had the biggest impact on me. My trip to Tijuana, Mexico was a life-changing experience for me. It has changed me in every aspect of my life. I look at things differently now. I was told that this trip would change my life, but I never expected just how much. For months, I wrestled with the thought of going back on a more permanent basis (something that I still am praying about), but for now God has called me to just take mission trips in the meantime. Few conversations take place where I don't share something about my trip, which I think drive people nuts. Yet, it's pretty hard to resist, when part of my heart is still there. Another trip is coming up in the Summer of 2015, and God willing, I will be Tijuana-bound once again! 

Another pivotal event came right on the heels of my trip. I had my car in the shop over the course of my trip for an oil-change and annual check-up. The mechanic noticed that pretty much everything under the hood was shot, and quoted almost $3,000 in repairs. It was time to replace the car, as it was on it's last legs...er...wheels. I was a bit stressed at first, but then I remembered the many times in Tijuana (see, another Tijuana story...told you it comes up a lot, LOL) that God provided in amazing and miraculous ways. I knew that God works miracles in the USA as well, and I turned it over to God. That same day that I received the fateful news of my car and sent out a Facebook S.O.S, a friend of mine just so happened to have a daughter that was selling her car. He, her daughter, and I talked and came up with an amount and a plan, and I had a new (new to me) set of wheels! God is good, and provided just what I needed! It was kind of sad to say goodbye to my Ford Contour, the car which had hauled us around for 12 years, but this new vehicle has been even better!  

The most difficult thing to swallow this past year was my diabetes diagnosis. I am one who loves my junk-food, and with diabetes, sugary snacks in too much excess can be dangerous for me. My sugar was in the 400's, and the normal range is between 100 and 150.  I started with an oral medication called Metformin, but that wasn't doing the job. The doctor then prescribed Lantus, an insulin administered by way of injection. Ouch! In the time since, it has become easier, but not at all pleasant. However, I realize that giving myself regular injections and taking my meds is keeping me alive. I kind of enjoy living, LOL. The only drawback is that the combination of Metformin and Lantus can cause weight gain. Much of the weight I had worked so hard to lose came back, much to my dismay. That creates my project for 2015, getting this weight off.

In 2014, I was able to welcome a great-niece into the world. She was, and still is, healthy and growing every day. I began my 13th year working in the Hutchinson School district, and my 4th with Kindergarten. Love those kiddos!! I am also actively involved with my church, in my 23rd year teaching Sunday School, and my 26th year in AWANA. I really enjoy my Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. I also said farewell to my job at Dillons, and took a job with Boys & Girls club, a job that I really love. This job is more up my alley than Dillons was. They are some great kids! 

Now that I have reflected, allow me to project. I have already mentioned that Tijuana is in the plans, and that I'm hoping to shave off a few pounds. I also made a Facebook pledge that I have made every year since I first logged on. My commitment is to not post anything that is rude, crude, and anything that would make anyone question that I am a Christian. On the day that I do such a thing is the day I delete my Facebook. However, that does not exclude the occasional corny joke or comment. LOL. (But it will be clean!) I also have a top-secret plan in the works, a plan that I'm expecting to come to fruition in the next few months. I can't say too much more about it now, but will announce it when it comes to be. I sum this paragraph up with this disclaimer: These are my penciled-in plans. It is good to make plans and be prepared, but I also understand that God may have different ideas. I have ideas, thoughts, and am ready, but God may bring something else into my agenda, or change my plans altogether. I am OK with that.

And the memory-lane train comes to a stop. Thanks for sharing this time with me. I truly hope that your 2015 is your best yet. I appreciate your friendship and your readership to this blog. Your likes and comments mean the world to me, and tell me that you are reading. I so enjoy writing for you. I pray God's blessing upon you. Also...I can't resist...see you next year!  :-)   LOL

Rob's Ramblings "The Greatest Gift"

Another Christmas has come and gone. I love Christmas with all of its music, sounds, smells, family, and so much more. I had the pleasure of celebrating Christmas Eve services, and having dinner with my family. We ate, talked, played games, and laughed so much! I scored some new Hawaiian-style shirts, and a new piece for my Christmas town. It was from the Rudolph movie, of the giant Bumble putting the star on the tree with Yukon Cornelius looking on. I was also blessed with some special gifts from the staff and some students from school.

Possibly the best gift I received this Christmas come in the form of a phone call I was able to have with my oldest son, whom I have not seen or heard from in over a year and a half. It was so good to hear his voice. He is doing well, is engaged, working, and has a house to live in. He is healthy, and seems very happy. He facebooked his number to me and I called him Monday evening. He called again on Christmas Day, and he got to chat with the rest of the family. It is by far the best gift I received. I have worried about him for a long time, and to receive this call was such a relief. The call was 100% positive, and we talked for almost an hour, laughing about memories, and the stuff they pulled.

We had some out-of-town relatives visiting us, and they had never been to Strataca, the underground salt museum, so we treated them to a day 600 feet underground. We walked the exhibits, rode the train, and took the tram into the darker parts of the mine, which is called the "Dark Ride." I have been a few times, and am accustomed to what is down there. This time, it felt like the first time, because I was able to see it though their eyes, and see their faces as they got to pick up salt from a giant pile, or look at costumes worn by celebrities in movies. Did you know that original film reels are stored down there for safe-keeping? "The Wizard of Oz" is down there, safe from the elements on the surface, and far, far away from tornadoes!

Today will be a fun day, as my nephew turns 8. We will be gathering together as a family to celebrate his fun day. It has been a great Christmas break so far, and it's only half-over. It has been so nice to just relax and enjoy the Christmas season. I hope that the events of this season have been a blessing to you.

Speaking of birthday parties, we're starting shortly, so need to jump off of here and get ready to go. Thanks for reading, and God bless you!! 

Rob's Ramblings

I plan on spending a quiet Christmas with family in town this year. I love the Christmas season. I pray that this day will find you well and that you will be able to experience all that Christmas brings to us.

I always enjoy sharing this story with readers on Christmas Eve. It truly brings home the true meaning of Christmas. What gift would we be able to give to Jesus? I believe this blog post answers that question. I hope it touches your heart as it did mine.   

It was Christmas Eve, and the father wanted to impress upon his 2 sons the importance of what Christmas was all about. The boys had experienced a very tough life in the few years they had been alive, and this was their first Christmas in foster care. How could he help them understand that Jesus was the Reason for the season? While he was listening to the radio later that day, a listener called into the station talking about baking a birthday cake for Jesus with her kids. That was the ticket! He gathered the ingredients together, rounded up the boys, and began mixing. As you might imagine, when you are cooking with kids, things can get messy, and this experience was no different. There was plenty of batter and flour coating the countertops, cabinets, and bodies. As they mixed, the father explained the birth of Jesus, the visits from the Wise Men, the shepherds, and how Mary & Joseph took care of Jesus. The dad also went on to explain how Jesus grew up, taught many multitudes about God, and was eventually crucified and killed. However, on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven 40 days later, and one day will return again for His people. The boys wanted to know, "Who are His people?"   The father told them that those who believe in Him, and accept Him as Savior are His people. The boys had never done this, and wanted to do so right away. The father led them in a prayer while the cake was baking. Even before the cake was ready to taken out, 2 new souls had received God's blessed gift of salvation.

This story took place about 15 years ago, and this story is my own. I was a foster parent, and had the privilege of leading these two boys to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They knew that the day we set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus was also their "spiritual birthday," or the day they received Christ. Have you given yourself to Jesus? Are you trying to win His love by giving in the offering, attending church, or being good? If that is what you are relying on to receive eternal life in Heaven, let me warn you that this is simply not enough. Multiple Biblical passages stress the importance of confessing your sins to God, believing that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and accepting Him as your Lord and Saviour. That right there is the only way to Heaven. My 2 foster boys were able to understand that message, and although I do not know where they are today, or what they are doing, I will always remember that blessed Christmas Eve when I was able to pray with them. I often wonder if they remember that night. I think that deep in the backs of their minds, they remember. That night, as we set out cookies and milk for Santa, the boys asked me if Santa believed in Jesus. I showed the boys a picture similar to the one at the beginning of this post. Santa wrote them a letter that night, congratulating them on their decision, and told them that although he himself was a fun part of Christmas, they should put their focus on Jesus' birth. That impressed the boys!

Not long after that, the boys left my home and were adopted by a family. I never saw them again. I do not know if the boys are living for The Lord today or not, but I know that because of the trust they put in God that night, they have a place in Heaven. I hope that you have a place in Heaven as well. Have you given yourself to Jesus? In case you've ever wondered what kind of gift Jesus would want, there's the answer. He wants you. Merry Christmas!   

Rob's Ramblings

So happy to see this weekend! One more week until Christmas break! All across the country, kids are gradually going bananas in anticipation of the oncoming Christmas holiday, and parents and teachers alike are very ready for a respite, to recharge and relax a bit. People employ the assistance of the "Elf On The Shelf," "Santa is watching," or the ever-menacing phrase mentioned to unruly children, "I've got Santa's phone number!" Even then, it seems to do no good sometimes. I often wonder how Christmas would be celebrated if it were merely the celebration of Jesus' birth? No Santa, trees, gifts, candy, stockings, etc. Would there still be the pomp and circumstance of the amazing event of His birth? Sadly, it would probably be just another religious holiday for most people. Even Easter is overshadowed by candy and bunnies. Sure, those people who understand the true meanings of these holidays will give praise to Whom praise is due. I guess I'm just sad that Jesus gets swept under the rug during these blessed times of the year. Let me re-introduce this phrase back into the mix: "Jesus is the reason for the season." In my house, I have Christmas trees, an awesome Christmas village, a cool Santa collection, I listen to Christmas music, and I love Christmas! However, I have to stop and remember what it's all about. No, nothing is wrong with these things. I enjoy looking at lights, watching Christmas movies, and the occasional glass of eggnog. (Occasional..thanks, diabetes. LOL) However, if these things overshadow the true meaning, then we have a problem. During the Christmases that I have shared with kids, whether it be legal or foster kids, we kept the real meaning in the forefront. When my boys left letters and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, they always asked Santa to remember it was Jesus birthday. Santa (aka dad) always praised them for remembering this. They understood it. What has really awakened this emotion in me this year stems from the financial wipeout this past Fall, when every penny was stolen from my account, which included my Christmas savings. Christmas this year will be very meager, with only small things being given to family and close friends. To be honest, that doesn't bother me at all. I have a home, family, great friends, a wonderful job (2 of them), and kids who give me hugs every day. I have all that I need. God sent me that financial catastrophe to help me realize that. I worried about Christmas when that happened, and now that it is here, God's grace is sufficient, and He has made me content. This post was not intended to be an editorial on how Christmas should be celebrated, but I guess that's what happened. LOL. Is anyone with me on this one?  OK, I'm getting down off of my soapbox and I'll proceed with the news of the week:

I think I have recovered from my 2-month stint as Santa in the play that wrapped up last Sunday. We received sooo many compliments on the singing, dancing, acting, and how the sets were moved and changed with such fluidity. Some said that it was the best show they had ever seen at that theater. I have been tired somewhat this week, but I took extra time to sleep in this morning, and it has helped immensely. I miss my cast members who became like family, and we hope to meet again sometime on stage in another show, whichever and whenever that may be. As tiring as it was, I'm glad that I was able to participate in the musical rendition of my favorite Christmas movie of all time. It was a thrill!

I came home from work a few nights ago, and we received a visit from our former neighbor, who lived next to me on Main Street. She is an awesome person, and the best neighbor I ever had. We have kept in touch. Anyway....She came to visit. Her mom is getting older, and is no longer going to use her little Christmas village set pieces, and did she know someone who might like them? My neighbor boxed them up and brought them over to my house. I now have about 12 new buildings for my village (which is quickly turning into a metropolis), some light-up Christmas trees, a small stretch of cobblestone streets, and figurines. I was on cloud nine! I thanked her about a hundred times. After she left, I was in a quandary. Where would I put them? The tables I use for the village are already at capacity. I have no funds to buy a new one. So, I dragged over one of the big radios that still sits in my living room. It has a good-sized tabletop. It sits higher than the village tables. I stacked some small boxes and draped a Christmas blanket over them so that my city now has a hill with lighted houses occupying it. I'll try to get pictures up soon so that you can see. I'm so thrilled with it.  

I have some things that I need to get done today, and I need to get off of this contraption. I want to thank you for reading. If you got this far, and survived past my sermon, you deserve an award! LOL. I pray God's blessings on you this weekend throughout this CHRISTmas season!  

Rob's Ramblings

 

Just a couple of hours ago, the final curtain came down on "A Christmas Story: The Musical." OK, there wasn't a curtain, but you get the point. 2 months of hard work, commitment, memorization, and dancing all culminated in the best reception we could ask for. The first 2 nights saw attendance in the low-to-mid 200's, while Saturday and Sunday saw numbers close to 300! People came, and people talked the show up. Many said it was the best show they had ever seen at that theater. Some theater-goers had seen the broadway version of this show, and said that we were comparable to them! That's quite an accomplishment. As I gathered up my stuff this evening, I felt a mixture of happiness, accompanied by a sense of sorrow. I have formed many great friendships through this show, and I will miss seeing them on a regular basis. I had forgotten how close the actors can become. On the other side, I am glad to be able to have my evenings (and life) back. The past few weeks have been jam-packed with rehearsals, some being quite late. I don't think I'll quite know what to do with the time I re-discover. One thing I DO know, is that I'm going to relax and enjoy the Christmas season.   The next show they are doing is Shrek. I will not be participating in this show for 2 reasons. First, I don't particularly care for Shrek. Secondly, the practices for this show are clear across town at Prairie Hills Middle School, which is about as far as you can get from Avenue A. Too much travel and gas. I think I'll stick with the smaller shows closer by, and opt out of the big shows unless it's a show I'm really, really excited about. For those of you who either came to the show, or supported me in other ways, I thank you. Despite the heavy commitment, I've had the time of my life.

 

I hope you'll understand if this blog is on the short side. I am utterly exhausted, and am going to take the opportunity to turn in really early and get some much-needed extra sleep tonight. I'm hoping to post a full-scale post either later in the week or next weekend. Thanks for reading, and for your support. You are a blessing to me!