Vol. 1, Chapter 47

When it comes to my birthday, I'm like a little kid.  I enjoy celebrating with my friends and family. I baked about a zillion cookies to share with my co-workers at school and my BGC kids and co-workers. I baked the cookies that placed 1st in the 2015 state fair, and the kids and staff agreed that these cookies should have taken ribbons in the 2016 and 2017 fair, but that's a whole other topic that I won't delve into tonight, Lol.  Some of the kids at school and BGC sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and some of the kids drew pictures for me. Those little pictures are the most precious gifts to me, because they come from the heart. In the evening, I was able to eat out with my family at the Kansas Buffet, formerly Sirloin Stockade. Under this new ownership, they give free birthday buffets, and the drink is included in the price of the buffet. My parents, sister, and nieces and nephews were there to help me celebrate. 

I share a birthday with Hillary Clinton, country music's Keith Urban, Seth McFarlane, Jaclyn Smith, Rita Wilson, Pat Sajak, and Dylan McDermott. Those are the names I know. There were others, but I'd never heard of the before. Most importantly, I also share a birthday with some of the greatest people on earth! They are: Peggy, Ginger, Micah, Christian, Sarah, and McKayla. Those celebrities wouldn't know me from Adam, but those names in the latter have been special people in my life, and I have made it point to wish them an extra-special day. It's fun to share a birthday with good friends. Also on this day, President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act into law, which was a response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

That being said, think about this: While a birthday celebration celebrates the person born, I think the mom deserves a pat on the back. She endured 9 months of pregnancy, hours of labor, sleepless nights, diapers, illnesses, and much more. If you are fortunate enough to have your mom around, be sure to thank her for her devotion to your survival.

To those of you who sent me texts, facebook messages, and phone calls, thank you for making me feel special. It's nice to have that one special day a year where you can be treated extra-nice. Thanks for humoring me and reading my brief birthday-related ramblings. I pray that God will bless you today. Please pray for me as I embark upon my 47th year. I'm praying that this will be the best yet. Bring it on!     

Rob's Ramblings 10/14/17

I have to tell you that life has been crazy busy, with little time to blog. I am at the bowling alley quite a bit in the evenings, and that's usually my time to post. The money I earn at the alley is being earmarked toward next year's mission trip, so it's good that I'm getting quite a few hours there. Sometimes the hours run late, but God has given me good stamina and energy to get through. I keep in mind why I'm doing what I'm doing. 

Speaking of mission trips.... I will not be returning to Mexico this next Summer. I have made many good friends in the San Diego/Tijuana region, and it's with some sadness that I won't be able to see them next Summer. However, I feel God has opened up an exciting door for me to go to Honduras next Summer. Honduras is in the area between Mexico and South America. The group I am going with is going to work with a missionary who has started a new church down there. We'll be devoting our time to help him with whatever he needs to help him in this endeavor. The cost is approximately $1,250. I have managed to raise about $250 of this goal. I am hoping to raise twice this amount for next summer to compensate for the time I am off of work while doing camps/mission trips, etc. I have a fund set up through my church that people can donate to for this cause. I can PM the church address to you if you'd like it. You'll have to indicate that the money is intended for Rob's Rue's mission fund. I feel that God is calling me to do some kind of mission work one day, and I think that God wants me to see other fields. Mexico is never off the table, and maybe God will call me back there, but for now, I need to explore the options that God is calling me to. 

In other news, my holiday open house is taking place next month. I'm creating this event so early for a reason. First of all, I'd like as many people as possible to get this on their calendars. Secondly, since there are soo many things on the menu, I can not and will not be able to make everything. That creates too much waste, too much left over, and leftover goodies in a houseful of diabetics can be a dangerous combination! I will make the typical staples that you might see at a Christmas gathering, but I'm encouraging the RSVPers let me know what they'd like to see on the table, and I'll make sure it's there. The open house takes place the day before Thanksgiving (Nov 22) at my place. 10am-10pm. I have had a good turnout every year, and I hope that this year is no exception. I love hosting this event and getting to fellowship with so many of my friends. This is a totally free event. 

The clock on the wall tells me that it is time for me to get ready for another shift at the alley. As tiring as this can be, I'm grateful for God giving me this job to help me out. I thank you for taking the time to read, and I pray God will bless you.