3 Things in 2020

I am typing using Blogger, and everything has changed. It shows a very small font, and I hope it's readable. That being said, let's plow ahead.... I don't think anyone would argue with me that the year 2020 is definitely one for the books.When our kiddos study world history in the future,the section about the year 2020 is going to require a whole volume of its own, LOL. During this past year, there were 3 definitive life events that took place that will change me forever. One of them was extremely sad, another was weird, and the 3rd was the best thing ever. I'll start with the sad, and work my way up. If I start with sad, you know things can only get better from there, right? The sad: Many, many people would list this as the saddest, and that is the devastation that is Covid-19. When the virus hit, people were hoping that this would be an illness that would blow over quickly. That would not be the case. As the virus took hold, maske became a priority, and then everything shut down. My jobs with the school, Boys & Girls Club, and the bowling alley were shut down in March. It worked out for the best at first, as my mom had just had surgery to have a pacemaker installed, so I moved in with my folks for a couple of weeks to help out where she might need. I became acquainted with a new type of technology called Zoom, which I utilized quite often. Although at the time, I didn't know anybody with the virus, I was taking all the precautions I needed to stay safe. My jobs with BGC and the Alley resumed in June under very strict restrictions. At that point, I knew of a few people who had the virus. In Octoberm the virus slammed into our area with a vengeance. People all around me were getting sick. Many people recovered, but I also had some friends who passed away. Even as I write this, the virus swirls all around us. A vaccine is now available, and we will see in the new year how effective these vaccines will be. In the meantime, we will continue to pray for a quick end to the virus and a return to normalcy, Until that happens, we'll do what we need to do to stay healthy. The weird. 2020 was the year that I turned 50. Just to let you know, I am not afraid of turning 50, it does not scare me, I am totally OK with it. The weird part about it is talling people that I am 50. It feels weird to say it. I remember thinking as a child that 30, 40, 50 was old. I really wanted to celebrate in a big way, to have a big party, and get together with friends. However, the virus put a stop on all of that. I'm a bit bitter and disappointed that I couldn't celebrate as I wanted to, but maybe I can mae it up for my 51st? On the plus side, I got to enjoy Chinese buffet with my mom and a couple of friends. Also, I had a white birthday, snow on my birthday. It has never snowed on my birthday before. It was only a mere dusting, but just the same, it was fun to look out the window and see snow on the ground! Sooo, now I am a man in my 50's, and I look forward to what God might have in store for me in this decade. The best thing ever: In January, I had the privilege of knocking the number 1 item off of my bucket list. It was something I have wanted to do ever since I was a kid. I had the honor of taking a trip to Israel! What a trip it was! When someone asks about my trip, I hope they are serious, because I'll tell them all about it! I hope they have several minutes to spare! It was incrediblr to see the sites that I have read about in the Bible, walk the places that Jesus and many other Bible folks had walked. When I talk about where I have been, and what I have done there, it still boggles my mind that I really was there! I am so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to travel there. It's still in my blood, and I want to go back. My trip was a real "wow" factor, I'd like to take another trip so that I can learn more. When I see a video on TV or a clip that pertains to Israel, I can say that I was there! I was able to see where Jesus was born, where He was crucified, and the tomb where He was laid. I got to see where David hid in the wilderness in an attempt to escape from the jealous King Saul. I also saw where David was buried. I saw the Valley of Megiddo, where the greatest conflict in the history will take place, as explained in the Bible book of Revelation. I could go on, and on, and on......and on. If you've got some time, and would like to hear about my trip, I would love to talk to you about it. Honorable mentions: There are soome other events that took place this year that didn't make the top 3. There was my Thanksgiving accident that put me in the ER with 4 stitches and a tetanus shot. Being named the Vision Leader of the month for October. God had blessed me in many ways, and He has tested my faith as well. At the end of the day, I am a child of God and I know that He has a plan for my life and the lives of all of us. We simply need to put our trust in Him and believe that He will guide us, regardless of what may happen. I know that this world is a mess, but I take comfort in the fact that HE is in control. I pray that your 2021 will bring you joy and happiness and thet you will find your rest in God. As I close out this entry, I apologize for any typos or anything that will make reading this difficult. Blogger is not as user-friendly as it used to be. I'm working through it. Thanks for reading, and God bless you!

A Farewell to my 40's

I remember thinking as a kid that age 50 was really old! For that matter, I thought 40 and 30 were old! Yet here I am, ready to cross that bridge into my 50's. I know that crossing into another decade, mainly 50, can be pretty hard on a person, but it can be different for everyone. Me? I have always enjoyed celebrating my birthday. I can only think of a few birthdays that I took pretty hard, such as when I turned 20, and I was in college, 1,000 miles away from home. My 39th was pretty tough, as it landed just weeks after a failed adoption.   This year, I am OK with turning 50. It feels weird to say that I am 50, but it doesn't instill a sense of dread or fear in me. I am happy with my life, and I feel that I am in the center of God's will. I love what I do and the people I get to do life with. I had been hoping that this celebration would be much bigger. A few years ago, when I knew I was going to be 50, I planned to have a big party, have people over to help me celebrate, but then, Bam! Covid-19 hit. Covid has cancelled most of everything that we know and love. My birthday, and I'm sure many other birthday celebrations have been sidelined. But I'm not going to let that bother me. I'm going to celebrate as big as I can.

I had the fun of celebrating with my church kids this morning. We decorated the room with streamers and balloons, and enjoyed some cupcakes. I love my church kiddos. If you'll check out my Facebook profile pic tomorrow, you'll get to see the graphic that our children's ministry director made up and posted around the church building. Afterwards, I spent the afternoon having lunch with my family, playing games and laughing. A good time today.

Tomorrow, I will get to share my special day with my school kiddos and my BGC kids. I started working with kids when I was 18, and I have to say that the best times that I've had on my birthdays have been when I can share with the kids.

I have to admit, to many people's chagrin, that I am happy about the forecast for snow tomorrow. I can't remember a day that there has been a snowfall on my birthday. I don't care for freezing temps and slick roads, but I do enjoy a pretty white dusting/layer of snow on the ground. And to think that it could happen on my 50th!

So, here's to the 2nd half on my century. Over the hill, geezer, whatever...just be nice to me or I'll whack you with my cane, LOL.  

Thanks for reading, and God bless you!

Labor Day

This is one of those rare days where I have the entire day off. Haven't had that since the shutdown a few months ago. I'm taking this day to kick back, recharge, do some cleaning, and, of course, blog.

Normally on a Labor Day, you would see a Facebook post entitled "Today at the fairgrounds." You would see pictures of rides partially assembled, concession stands with doors and windows opened in the midst of cleaning and set-up, and workers milling about doing various jobs. Not this year. If I were to venture onto the fairgrounds today, I would see what it's looked like for the last year. Empty. No rides rolling onto the grounds, no food booths organizing their stock for a 10-day stretch of hungry fair-goers. I miss that. I will be kind of sad this Friday, the first official day of the 2020 state fair which will not happen. The first Friday always held excitement for me, thinking first and foremost, "Did my cookies place?" That was always my first stop. My chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal-raisin cookies have taken both 1st and 3rd places over the past few years.   I'm also thinking about what kind of food I'll partake of on that day. Will it be a Tacone, Pronto Pup, BBQ Parfait? All of the above? LOL. Fortunately, I walk that food off with all of the walking that I do, with my step-counter running 16,000-17,000 steps in a day. I can make that food at home, but it's much more fun eating it at the fair.  What kind of free things would I find this year? I have a big selection of free stuff I've gathered. I posted some pics of my collection a few years ago and got some unkind comments, so I won't be posting pics of that anymore. I always enjoyed the Union booth, as they always had the best free stuff. Some booths gave out free samples, such as the "Crazy Dip Lady," from whom I always purchased several packages of the most wonderful dip mixes.  I always took my parents to the fair. This might have been my dad's last trip to the fair, as his health is deteriorating, and has a lot of trouble walking without stumbling, and he gets disoriented so easily. It makes me sad that I won't get one more chance to take him. He loves to look at the livestock, primarily the horses. He always enjoys the Skyride as well. He also like to see Ron Diamond, comic hypnotist. Last year we had to nix that after he got overly tired and hot after just an hour or two. These things I will miss. In the meantime, I'll be posting what I call "State Fair Flashbacks," where I post pics and videos from previous years.

I get it. Really, I do. The State Fair wants to do its part to slow the spread. Opening the fair, a state-wide get-together, could cause a massive outbreak. I know that diehard fair lovers like me would attend, even if they knew they were sick. We are avoiding a potentially devastating cluster in Kansas by closing. But that doesn't make it any easier. The fair is something that I look forward to every year, and I count it as a sort of staycation. I guess that the 2021 state fair will be that much more special.

I can't end this blog post without some positives. ***School has started, and I have a great bunch of kiddos to work with.***I have a wonderful crew of kids at Boys & Girls Club. I'm at a new unit with BGC this year, and it's going well.***We had the chance to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday, and I got her tickets to Lauren Daigle's Drive-in concert later this month! We are wildly excited about that.

In conclusion, just know that I will be OK. I'm not going to get clinically depressed or suicidal over the closure of the fair, LOL. I will be sad, but that's about the extent of it. I'm not going to mope around, all gloom and doom for 2 weeks. I'll keep doing what I do, and doing it the best that I can. I might whip up some fair food. I can make funnel cakes, elephant ears, pronto pups, fried pickles, and more. If you'd like to come by and grab something, drop me a Facebook message, and I'll hook you up.

Hey, gang, thanks so much for taking a few minutes to read my ramblings. I pray God's blessings on you. Have a great week!  

Rob's Mini-State-Fair Ramblings, Day 2

And just like that, the 2nd (and final) day of the mini state fair is wrapping up as I write this. Sadly, I was not able to make it through the entire day. I was planning on attending the concerts, but during the late-afternoon hours, the heat just became too much. I began feeling ill, despite drinking plenty of water. There were several picnic benches scattered throughout the area, but most of them were not in the shade. Finding a bench with shade was pretty hard to find. So, those of you who attended the concerts, what did you think? Drop me a note in the comments. I just wish I could have held on longer, but it just wasn't happening.

I started my day at the Tacone stand, which has been a staple for me at every state fair. They were just as good as ever! A flour tortilla baked into the shape of a cone, loaded up with a generous amount of taco filling and sour cream on top. I walked and ate, seeing people who I haven't seen in a while. I ran into my friend Nikki and her daughter, who were at the end of a very long line, waiting for a funnel cake. Yes, there were lots of long lines, but again, I'm thankful to see the community supporting local businesses who needed this "shot in the arm" to help their business succeed. I also got to see my grandkids and their family. We just don't get together enough, and now this Covid junk has just made it harder. My granddaughter (4yrs) knows who I am very well, but just can't remember my name. Yeah, we need to get together more often, I think. Later in the day, I headed to Mid-State Cookers and ordered some fried pickle spears. They were pretty good, despite standing in line for about 30 minutes.  The best part of the day was running into friends. I had a chance to meet up with my friend Brad and his family from our church. We talked for a while. I saw lots of my kiddos from church, BGC and school, and that was fun. It also gave me a chance to meet their parents.

I walked around for a few hours, stopping to rest my legs every once in a while, and some people I talked to wondered why I would spend so much time just walking. Well, 1. It's good exercise, 2. I needed to walk off that wonderful fair food, and 3. The longer I stayed, the more people I got to see. People were coming and going all the time, and I got to see a lot of friends in this way.

I'm thankful to the Fair foundation for putting this event together. Many people I talked to echoed the same sentiment. There was a State Fair feel to the whole event, the smells were there, the people were there. Yes, I will miss the actual state fair in September, but I'm thankful for that quick weekend of fun that we have been treated to. 

What's next:  If you're up for it, I'd like to take the next few weeks and every once in a while share some fun moments from the last several years of the fair. I have lots of pictures and videos in the archive, and I think it would be fun to brush the dust off of them and drop some of them in here every other day or so. Thoughts? I'd also like to take a couple of Saturdays in September to make some State Fair food. I can make Pronto Pups, Elephant Ears, Funnel Cakes, Fried Pickle Spears, BBQ Parfaits, and more. Would you all enjoy a state fair food day? Of course, I'd have to charge a bit of a fee to cover the cost of supplies, but I think I'd just make it on a donation basis. Let me know what you think. This blog relies on your input.

 Thanks so much for reading and for humoring me in my 2-day mini state fair blog. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and God bless!

Rob's Mini-State Fair Ramblings Day 1

To be honest, there was not going to be any ramblings for this special mini-fair event. I had no requests for a mini-blog for this event. Not even one. However, when I went out to the fair event this afternoon, I ran into my sister, Jen. (That's another story). Anyway, she asked me if I was going to blog this event, and I shared that no one had requested it. She seemed surprised about that, as was I. I told her that I would go ahead and make a blog post, and if people liked it, they could thank Jen.

Today's event began at 11:00 this morning, but I didn't make it out until about 4:00ish, due to work responsibilities. Here are some things you will need to know about how this event is laid out. The food court area is on the street just east of the Domestic Arts building. Some of the vendors include Pronto Pups, Mid-State Cookers, who are the culmination of all things deep-fried, kettle corn, Brackett Concessions, who have deep-fried cookie dough, Oreos, peaches, and other goodies. There are deep-fried pickles, an ice cream stand, and the Tacones are ready to sell as well. Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola products are represented. Be prepared for State fair prices on the food, but think about this: The vendors are Kansas people, our local folks. They are taking a HUGE financial hit by not having the state fair this year, which was a substantial boost to their bottom line. There is also a stand by the lake which sells alcoholic beverages, and those drinks need to stay right there within the designated area. The big slide is also in operation during this mini-fair event for a $2 ride ticket, or 4 tickets for $7. 

As I mentioned before, I arrived at about 4:00, and my first stop was the Pronto Pup stand. The Pronto Pups are $4, and they will ask you if you want ketchup or mustard, as they will put it on for you inside the stand. They don't have the bottles out front like they usually do. They also have a spicy mustard option. Afterwards, I pretty much walked around the area, which didn't take long, so I went and walked around the empty parts of the grounds. I looked around the Midway, and I could tell you every ride and attraction that would fill that spot. It made me kind of sad that I will miss that this year. After my walk, I visited the Deep-fried cookie dough stand and took home a 3-piece of deep-fried cookie dough for $5. They will also sprinkle powdered sugar over it for you if you'd like. (Yes, I cheated on my healthy diet, but hey, it's the fair, kind of...).  I also checked out the fair merchandise table, and found a cool clearance T-shirt for $4. They also sell caps, cups, hoodies, and a lot of other goodies. As I said before, this is a tough year financially for the fair, and I was glad to be able to help out just a little by giving them my business. 

During my time there, I also got to see some of my kiddos from BGC and church. One of the BGC kiddos was so excited to see me, he tried to tackle me with a hug, but I was able to turn it into a quick high-five. He understood why. It's hard to not hug these kiddos when they want a hug. If anything, I can gently turn it into a quick side-hug if they just HAVE to have a hug. I( just hate this Covid world that we're living in. But, that's another post for another day.)
 I also got to see some of my church kiddos, 2 brothers who were totally pumped that they got to ride the big slide. I just love seeing my many kiddos at events like this.

Tomorrow's events begin at 11:00, with all food booths open, and I'll be out and about, maybe I'll see you. In the evening, the attention will turn toward the lake, with entertainers on stage. 
At 5:00, you can see Sassanachs, a high-energy Irish and folk-rock-influenced band from Harvey County. They play polka, country, mariachi, punk, and more.
6:00 features Makayla Brownlee, a teen from Wellington, who made it into the top 40 in the 2020 season of American Idol.
7:00 will bring Lockeland, a Nashville group who is rising on the country music scene.  

I hope that if you plan on attending tomorrow, that I get a chance to visit with you. I love seeing people at events like these and saying hello. Infobits: Parking is located right on the fairgrounds, in the empty areas east of the commercial buildings. Masks are not required unless you are not planning on social distancing. It's an outdoor event, so just do what you are comfortable with. I will have mine on hand, in the event that I have to be too close to someone else. In any case, I hope to be able to enjoy some fun and excitement in this world that is so embroiled in covid craziness. Thanks for reading! Good night and God bless! 

PS: Thanks, Jen!   

Rob's Ramblings; Mini-Fair Event!

A special thanks goes out to my friend Nancy S, who placed the link to this event on my Facebook and let me know of this! Thanks, Nancy! 

If you know me, if there's an event that is similar to the likes of the fair, I will be there! Since we lost our 2020 State Fair, many people like myself have been very disappointed. I understand the reasoning behind the decision, but it's still tough. However, the State Fair is hosting a weekend of fair"ish" fun! Over by the lake will be a set-up of food, entertainment and more. They are asking people to be careful, but it's not clear if they are going to require masks at this event. You might want to bring one just in case. The event takes place on Friday and Saturday, and I'm planning on being there! This will give me and many others a "State Fair fix."

My question to you is.... would you like a 2-day mini State Fair blog? I will only do this if you ask for it. This blog site is becoming quite user-unfriendly, and it's taking twice the time to write a post. They're re-formatting the site, and I now have numerous bugs to work through. However, I will be happy to deal with this if you want a 2-day blog! I will post about what I saw, what I did, and what I ate.  I love my readers, and will deal with tech issues to entertain you!

I'll place the link to this event on my own personal Facebook page, and you can see what this event has to offer. This is a quick post, and I'm going to end it now before I throw my computer through the window. I may be looking for a new blog site. Thoughts?
Thanks for reading and God bless you!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings (In July)

Those who know me well were probably expecting a blog post from me concerning the recent cancelling of the 2020 Kansas State Fair. This post will not edge on the "It's medical/political!" controversy, rather, I'll share my feelings about the whole situation. My first reaction is "Heavy sigh.) :-(   To be honest, I saw this coming from quite a way out, and I had already prepared myself. A couple of weeks ago, the state fair board ruled that "The fair will go on as planned!" However, I knew deep down that things would probably change, so I didn't let my hopes get too high. The board said that things would be different, and that face masks would be required for indoor spaces. There would be fewer vendors.  Since that meeting, more vendors have pulled out, and it was going to be more expensive to have the fair. So, the 2020 Kansas State Fair is a no-go. This is the first time in its 107 year history that the fair has been cancelled.

I'm really sad about this. People know me as the "state fair guy." I go every day. I can tell you where the exhibits are, where the cheapest food/drink booths are, where to get your favorite foods, and I'm constantly stopped by people asking for info. You might call me the secret shopper, as I'll purchase a certain food item and give you an honest review of cost, quality, value, and courtesy of the staff. I can tell you what to look for in a booth where you might be considering a food item. I get excited in early September as I see rides pulling into town and things getting set up. I'll infiltrate the grounds and get pictures of the unassembled rides, and people try to guess what they are. I enjoy getting videos of the robots, Bandaloni, or any other of the interesting roving acts that travel the fairgrounds. And I'm almost sick with anticipation as I make my way onto the grounds that first night toward the Domestic Arts Building to see how my cookies fared in the judging. Best of all, I love seeing people! Every year, I always run into someone I haven't seen in years. I love to see my kiddos enjoying the atmosphere and laughing. I love to see people happy.

All this will be gone this year. Just so you don't get too concerned, I'm going to be OK. This isn't going to throw me into the depths of a deep depression, LOL. I got several texts and messages this morning asking me if I was OK with this terrible news. The fact that I was expecting it makes it a bit easier to digest. I will miss taking my folks out for the day, and meeting friends on other days. I will miss my work with the Kansas State Fair.

What's going to happen with Rob's State Fair Ramblings? The Ramblings will go on. No, I will not go out to take a picture of the empty grounds and report what I looked at, or what I didn't see. Not even close. This year, I'm going to reach back into the archives and re-post some of my most popular posts, videos, and pictures. I'll dig out some of the "best-of" of the past and bring it to you. It's the best I can do. As far as the food is concerned, I can make a lot of it myself. If you get a hankering for some funnel cakes, Pronto Pups, fried pickles, fried veggies, BBQ parfait, etc, I can hook you up! I'll do my best to make this a fun fair year, even if there is no fair happening. Would you be interested in me doing that for you? I won't put a whole lot of effort into it if I don't have the interest.  

This year, I'll be working during that 10-day stretch, and I'll put some of the money I'm saving into Christmas. I guess I can echo almost everyone when I say that I'm really angry with this virus, interfering in every aspect of our lives. Right now, the best thing we can do is pray, pray, and pray like we've never done before, and ask that God will eradicate this virus from the face of the earth. Until that happens, let's be on our knees, and look forward to a really awesome Kansas State Fair 2021!
Thanks for reading, and God bless you!

PS: Totally off the subject, but I promised that I'd post here first when you can get some free home-grown tomatoes! Well, they are here! PM me if you'd like some, and let me know how I can get some into your hands!

Memorial Day 2020; The curse lives on.....

I am not the superstitious type, and I typically don't believe in that sort of thing, but I laughingly refer to my string of bad Memorial Day luck as my "curse." My past Memorial Day incidents have included broken bones, hospitalizations, and other etc. These things have all happened on Memorial Day or during Memorial Day weekend. Before you all accuse me of looking for trouble on this day, I assure you that these incidents are not simple "oops, I stubbed my toe" type of incidents, these are the far out-of-the-ordinary circumstances. I broke my knee on Memorial Day, I broke an ankle on this weekend, my older son's foot was crushed by a car on this weekend, and so it goes. I'm sad to say that Memorial Day 2020 was no exception.

We decided that it would be nice to visit some cemetaries outside of town to pay our respects. First of all, we wanted to visit Gypsum, which is a small community not too far from Salina, where my grandparents and aunt (mom's side) are buried. We were met with flooded roads and uncrossable areas, but we actually, finally made it to our destination to place some flowers on the headstones of people who were very dear to our hearts. We had to reach the cemetery by going way out of our way by several miles, but we made it. From there, we wanted to visit the burial site of some people who were like another set of grandparents to my sister and I, and they were like parents to my mom. We hadn't been there in years, and since they are buried near Abilene, and since we were relatively close, we decided to head out that way. When we turned onto the dirt road and began driving down it, we felt the road become boggy and very muddy. We automatically knew that this wasn't going to work. We reached a cement bridge and turned the car around. It was definitely not worth the risk to try and proceed. Retracing our route back down the road, it was much worse. Our car tires began to sink down into the mud. We slid closer to the side of the road and that was it. We were stuck. Bad. What do we do now? Hope that somebody comes by? It was evident by looking at this road that this road was hardly ever traveled. What do we do now? My sister tried to rock her way out of the mud, to no avail. We decided to try to lighten the load, so I got out with my mom and nephew. The mud was so thick that we had trouble walking. Our feet kept getting stuck. Yeah, it was bad. The lighter load wasn't helping, either. Nothing left to do but push. My nephew and I got in front of the car and pushed back. Then we got behind and tried to push forward. It was very hard to get a foothold to push the car. We tried pulling weeds alongside the roadside and placing them under the tires for traction. No dice. It was evident that over time, we managed to eventually move the car back a few feet. We were getting it! We worked at this for about 2 hours. Finally, it got to the point that the car wasn't going to budge any further. My nephew and I were spent and exhausted.  Nothing left to do but call for help. We got a hold of a guy in Abilene who had a tractor and equipment to get us out. It took him about an hour to get to us to rescue us. During that time, we had to deal with mosquitos and biting flies. He hooked us up and pulled us up the hill, and at the top, he unhooked us and advised us to let the momentum carry us down the other side, along with the gas pedal, all the way to the highway. We almost didn't make it, but by God's grace, we reached the highway and blessed asphalt! The whole experience was about a 3-hour ordeal.

As we sat by the roadside waiting for the tractor to catch up with us so we could settle up, it hit me all of a sudden. It was Memorial Day! I brought the curse with me! With the rotten luck I have every Memorial Day, I unwittingly brought my family into my bad luck! We had a good laugh over that. Looking back, I realize that it could have been much worse. No one was injured. A few mosquito bites and some mud-spattered clothes and shoes. We escaped without getting hurt, so that is a plus. The bill was the painful part. He had to come from a half-hour away, load up his tractor, and pull us out...on a holiday. The guy was very nice, but he had a business to run, and his fee was not cheap. In the end, I was late to work; I had to change clothes; and I need to buy new shoes, but on the upside, I was going to buy some new shoes anyway, as mine were pretty much toast. We laughed a lot during the adventure, and we all came out OK. So despite the curse, we are all right.

Next year on Memorial Day weekend, I'm going to stay in bed and not come out until the weekend is over......LOL.  

Saturday ramblings

So, it's done. But it's just the beginning. I'm talking about my garden project 2020. Everything is in the ground! To be honest, I went against all that I believe in, and planted about a week and a half ago. I broke with my policy of May-only planting. I know, I know! So sue me! (Commence with the throwing of rotten tomatoes here). LOL.  I had taken a look at the 10-day forecast, and noticed that there were no freezing or cold temps, so I went for it. Things are progressing slowly. Everything I plant starts with seed, with the exception of the tomatoes, which I purchase as little plants through a plant nursery here in town. Typically I plant 6 tomato plants, but this year I went with 9. I love to give tomatoes away, and I never seem to have enough, so this year I plan to have plenty. I'll advertise my tomato give-aways here before I post to Facebook, so it pays to stay tuned to the blog! I'm hoping to have other produce to give away, but that depends on how abundant everything else is. Tomatoes are my main commodity. For those of you who are tomato-informed, my 3 breeds are early girls, jetstar, and better boy. My radishes are also coming along nicely, as are my corn and sunflowers. I went with a smaller breed of sunflower called "Jerusalem Gold." The name jumped at me, and I put them in my garden plot as a sort of celebration of my Israel trip this past winter. I did get some jumbo mammoth sunflowers, and those will go by the fence. I'm also planting flowers in strategic areas around my garden, hoping to attract butterflies and bees. They are very good for pollinating gardens. I noticed this morning that my green beans and okra are popping up. It is so good to have something to focus on during this crazy time in history. At the risk of being redundant, I will again say that gardening is therapy for me, and I'm at home in the yard.

Turning from the veggies, I'm also focusing on the yard in general. It's a battle that I'm gradually winning, bit by bit each year. When I first moved into my house here 7 years ago, the entire yard was weeds. Every year I nail the weeds with weed killer and I put down new seed and fertilizer, along with watering. In those 7 years, I have gone from 100% weeds/ 0%grass to 30% weeds/70% grass. I'm happy with that, but I'm going to keep at it until I have 100% grass and 0% weeds. From there, I will maintain.

In other news, even though we are being released from our stay-at-home order, things are going to open up slowly. The bowling alley will not be able to open just yet, and BGC will remain closed. Of course, the school will be closed until the 2020-21 school year, and I don't know if there will be a summer school program. We will be able to open a little more on the 17th, and a full open on June 1, providing we don't have another flare-up of covid-19. It appears the alley will be in the June 1 slot to open, but we will see. We are still going to have to be very careful as we move forward, keeping as socially distant as we can. Washing hands, and staying home if we don't feel well. Don't mess this up, people! We want to get back to life as we know it!  :-)

I have not heard anything about the closing of the State Fair in September. Some states have cancelled their state fairs, but theirs was sooner than September. Just yesterday, the fair was promoting their Grandstand acts, and showing no hint of shutting it down. I am mentally preparing myself in the event that they do shut it down. I will not get my hopes up. It would still be a downer, though. A lot of people look forward to my State Fair ramblings, and my blog numbers make a big jump during fair time.

I hope that you enjoy my blog all year round, especially now that I'm having the opportunity to blog more regularly. I know that sometimes I get a little repetitive and not the most interesting, but it really helps me in processing things. I know that I feel better after I have blogged.
Thanks for taking some time to read through, and I pray that God will bless you!

Day by day

As I look out of my back door into my backyard, I see a decent-sized plot of freshly plowed earth, ready to be planted. I am so eager to get out there and put things into the ground, but I have to practice patience, as I have seen it snow and freeze in April, such as what we've had the past few nights. I was tempted to go at it last weekend, thinking, "Surely, we're done with snow and ice." I'm glad I held off. I'm waiting until the last week of April or the first week of May to start that, taking into account what the projected 10-day forecast shows us. Working in my garden is therapy, and I'm desperate for something to do.

I've only been out a handful of times, either to drive-in church or to the store, and I'm just caught off-guard by all the people wearing masks. I'm not knocking it, it's just a reminder of the grim time we are in. There are plastic screens between the customer and the cashier. As of yet, I am not wearing a mask when I go out. I did wear one the other day when I had the opportunity to serve lunches at a local school. It is a drive-by lunch line, where we hand the bags of food plus the next day's breakfast through the window. I loved seeing lots of faces I recognized, and I fought back a tear or two. It made me miss those kiddos even more.

There are a dozen theories as to when life might return to normal. Some are saying late May, others are saying until the end of the year. Scientists are scrambling to find a vaccine, and people around the country are getting restless. They are done with social distancing and the ban on public meetings of 10 or more, including churches. Religious leaders are calling it an attack on their right to worship. I disagree. An individual is just as likely to pick up the virus at church as they would at WalMart. It's not an attack on churches, it's a form of protection. If it is indeed an attack on churches, then it's also an attack on schools, parks, playgrounds, concerts, sporting events, etc. It's an effort to stop the spread. Do I like it? No! But if we don't practice social distancing, we are only going to spread it further, and I can't imagine much worse than a pandemic that's getting worse and worse. These are just my thoughts and opinions. Your views may differ than mine. 

I'm hoping for a return to a somewhat form of normalcy by June, as that's when we start our BGC summer program, and I sure miss those kids. From there, I pray that it carries over into the school year. If schools are not allowed to re-open, will I have a job? Is there a place for paras in a virtual school setting? First of all, not working with the kids would be a killer for me. Second, I have really good insurance with the school, and that helps me buy my insulin, which is not cheap. Third, that's a significant loss of income for me. However, I just have to pray and leave it in God's hands. I can't give myself anxiety by playing "what if" all day long. I'm just praying for a quick end to this virus and a quick discovery of a vaccine. Will you pray with me about that? I'm sure a lot of you already are.

That's about all I've got this evening. Thanks for reading and being my ear to vent to. I pray that God will bless you and keep you safe.

Easter Thoughts

Blogging has really helped me during this time. These are random thoughts that help me get my feeling out into the open. I know that I feel better after writing. I'm not sure if it helps you, but it helps me.

This will definitely be a different kind of Easter. For as long as I can remember, I have gotten dressed up and gone to church on Easter. Our church family has embraced, shaken hands, and been inside a comfortable building on cushioned pews and enjoyed praise and worship, and received a thought-provoking or life-changing message from God's Word. This year will be different. While we will still be going to church, we won't be going into the building. We will have a drive-in church service and listen via the radio. We won't be shaking hands or embracing. For the time being, this is our new normal. 

However, as different as this is, I am not bitter. I know that the church is not the building, it is the people. I also understand that in order to wipe this wretched virus out is to socially distance ourselves, hence a drive-in church service. I'm thankful that we have the technology in this day and age that we can connect with each other and broadcast services via many different outlets and venues. But then, we have to look at the big picture. When Jesus walked out of that tomb, alive, history was changed forever. There was not a church service to mark the occasion. There was simply a message from an angel to some women who were coming to prepare His body. His own believers didn't even believe He was alive until He appeared to them. No one put on a new dress or suit, and nobody colored eggs or handed out chocolate bunnies. Yet, all of Heaven rejoiced when Jesus defeated death and made salvation possible for all of mankind. I'm sure the celebration in Heaven was deafening. While we can celebrate, it's going to have to be a bit different. But covid-19 cannot change what Jesus did! Don't let the circumstances of today pour water all over what Easter means. Jesus is alive. He is risen! He is risen indeed. Nothing can ever change that.

If you'd like to see what a socially distanced drive-in church service looks like, I'd like to invite you to Westside Baptist Church, located at 400 West 12th, between Monroe and Madison. We'll be offering 2 services, one at 9:00am and another at 11:00am. There will be attendants available to help you get parked, and the radio frequency will be posted so that you can tune in and listen. Additionally, all children will receive an Easter goodie bag as they leave. Whether you choose to attend Westside or not, I'd encourage you to get plugged in somewhere tomorrow. I'll be attending the 11:00 service, and if I happen to see you there, I'll be sure to give you a safe, socially-distanced wave! 

Jesus is alive! He is risen! That is reason to celebrate! Thanks for reading this short post. I pray the joy of our Risen Savior will fill your hearts tomorrow and always! God bless you!  

Thoughts

I don't get out much lately. I make a food-shopping trip about once a week. I will run the occasional errand for my mom, and I attend our church by way of drive-in. We sit in our cars in the parking lot and the live service is broadcast over radio signal. We get to go to church and socially distance at the same time. For the first couple of weeks into the shutdown, I was staying at my folks' place. My mom had a pacemaker installed, and so I stayed around to help out wherever needed. Now that she's doing better and being released from restrictions, I am back home.

When I've been out, it has been strange to see emptier streets, emptier stores. Restaurants' parking lots are empty except for a couple of employee cars, and drive-thrus are being utilized so people can enjoy their favorite fast-food. This is the new normal, and it's not fun. However, I understand why. The less that people move around, the less likely the virus will spread. Hopefully this will peak soon, and begin to blow out of here. I'm ready to get my life back, I'm ready to see my kiddos. I've seen some of my kiddos by way of zoom, facetime, and facebook, but I've ready for high-fives and fist-bumps. I believe in the power of prayer, and I'm praying for a quick end or a cure. I'm thankful that social distancing doesn't apply where God is concerned.  

To keep myself busy and to keep from going insane, there have been several things I've been doing. I have taken part in zoom staff meetings, and have been doing some webinars to keep up my professional development. I've also begun to de-clutter my house and deep-clean. My house wasn't dirty or messy to begin with, but I've put more elbow grease and resolve in my day-to-day cleaning. I have also finally finished putting together my Israel display. It looks so nice, but now I don't have anyone to show it to, LOL. Maybe after this is all over and done with.

On my last shopping trip, I used the opportunity to grab some things for my spring garden. On the docket are tomatoes, corn, sunflowers, radishes, green beans, okra, cucumbers, pumpkins, and cantaloupe. I'm also going to attempt to grow some peppermint and lavender. Having fresh produce can be a valuable asset. I typically end up giving away a lot of my produce, so when that time comes, I'll make that announcement via this blog post. A good incentive to stay tuned!  :-)
A friend of mine come over last week and did a beautiful job of tilling my garden area. It looks so beautiful, and I want to get out there and plant, but it's still too early. I've seen April snows and freezes, and I typically wait until the last few days of April or early May before I plant. Working in my yard is therapy for me. I love to go out into my garden area and plant, weed, and feed my veggies. I'm praying for a good growing season.  

As we wind through these long days, I just feel compelled to pray. I look at Facebook a few times a day, and I say a prayer for the names that I see. If there is anything that you need, any way that I can help, I hope that you'll get in touch with me. My email is brotherinchrist2000@yahoo.com. From there, I can give you my cell number if needed. Don't try to get in touch with me via messenger, as my account doesn't work properly.

I am praying for you. God is in control, and we're going to get through this. Let's just agree to pray and lift each other up. Thanks for taking to time to read this, and God bless you!

Random 5:30 am thoughts

If there's anything that the coronavirus closures has done for me, it's given me more time to blog. I've got so many things running through my head, and getting things down on here helps me sort things out. I have not slept well this past week. Anyone else with me on this? In fact, this past week has been one of the longest weeks I've ever experienced. Sooo much has happened. From this time they closed school for 2 weeks, to the governor closing for the remainder of the school year, impacting BGC as well. Then I saw the Alley close, and I'm officially unemployed. I'm not used to being still. Sure, I enjoy the occasional day off, but NOT this way. My mind goes to my kiddos at school who have learning difficulties, some severe. I miss sitting with them and helping them with their work. I worry about them, because they will be impacted, perhaps more than those who are not on special education plans. I miss the kids who I would see in the hallway and give a wave, a high-five, or pat on the back. And then my mind goes to the BGC, a whole different world. I really enjoy my time at Boys & Girls Club. I get to read with the kids, sing silly songs with them, and give them the tools they need to be successful in life. And I can't forget my kids at church, where we get to give them the spiritual guidance they will need to live a life that is pleasing to God. I miss these kids. I miss my co-workers and teachers. I am not alone in this. Some of the teachers from my school got together yesterday, made some fun, encouraging signs to stick to our cars, and drove the streets of our school's boundaries and beyond. We sent the word out via social media that we'd be parading through the neighborhoods. The kids and their families came and stood in their front yards waving, some holding signs, and we'd wave back, shout, and honk our horns. Our goal was to let these families know that we have not forgotten them, that we love them, and that we're going to get through this. More than a few times I wiped a tear or two away. It was great to see those familiar faces, but we weren't able to get out and give them huge hugs. As a teacher, this is very hard. We still had 2 months to go, and so much more teaching to do. For many kids, this is where they get 2 square meals a day. This is their safe place. Normalcy for them. As we gathered in the school parking lot preparing for our parade, I looked at our building and just prayed that this wretched virus would go away! I just want things to go back to normal. I want to work on letters and numbers with my school kiddos. I want to sing "Herman the Worm" with my BGC kiddos. (Look it up, it's hysterical.) And then, there's the Alley. This is harder work than my other jobs, but I love my co-workers, and the relationships we have built with the people who come in and bowl. The Alley was the last bit of normalcy I had before it closed.  

Yes, I know that God is in control. I have given it all to Him. He knows what He is doing, and there is a plan. There is a bigger picture that we can't see. Maybe it's a chance to show love and compassion to our fellow man. As I was doing some shopping yesterday, I stopped to chat with the lady at self-checkout. I asked her how she was doing, and she told me that she was doing as good as could be expected. She'd been yelled at by a customer who was taking more of their fair share of merchandise. (Some stores are limiting how much of a certain product can be purchased, to give others a chance to purchase it.) She had to enforce that policy, and her head had been bitten off. I thanked her for what she did, and encouraged her to hang in there. She was genuinely touched by my words.     Think about those who work in industries and businesses where they have to deal with the public. These are businesses that cannot close. Grocery stores, gas stations, laundromats, medical professions, etc. Before you snap at them, you need to stop and think about it. You can encourage them, or add to the ugliness that they might be working under. Before you go off on a fellow customer that cuts you off or accidentally bumps into you, it's important to remember that they may be just as scared as everyone else, and deserves a bit of grace. It's something I've been trying to remember as I go out in public.   

It's a call to prayer, these thoughts that wake me up or keep me up. I'll go crazy if I dwell on these issues and not commit them to God. I feel helpless, lost, confused. For a guy who has committed his life to working with kids, it's a very overwhelming sense of loss. Many of you have shared that you are praying for me, and I covet those prayers. As I scroll through Facebook, I see your prayer needs and see the issues that you are dealing with, and I say a prayer for you as well. It helps me get through, when I pray for others.

If you have kiddos that I work with, please tell them hello from me, and that I am thinking about them and praying for them. God's got this, and hopefully, soon, we can all be together again. Thanks for taking the time to read this. It's therapy to get it down, and maybe my random 5:30 thoughts can be some sort of encouragement to someone else. I send my love out to all of you. God bless you.      

Wow! 3/18/2020

I don't think I drew in a breath for a few minutes when our governor announced that schools would close until the end of the school year. I think my heart stopped beating as well. That's my job right there. When schools close, the Boys & Girls Club closes as well. 2 jobs down. At least there was my 3rd job at The Alley. Until tonight. As of now, I have no job to go to. What's next? Will the school still pay us through the end of the school year? Will I need to draw unemployment? These are questions that I'm hoping to have answers to in the near future. Until then, I'm going to have to fully rely on God. In the meantime, what are my plans?

First of all, I'll be spending a few days with my folks. My mom had a pacemaker installed today, and is needing some assistance for a few days. She is not supposed to be using her right arm at all (good thing she is left-handed), and she has to take it easy with her left arm. I'll be hanging out, helping where I can. It would not have been possible, had I been working my 3-job days. I'm also going to open up my home to any parent who needs a place for their kiddos to go. I have a good-sized house, and it is clean and disinfected. While I am not a registered day care, I will be functioning as a hang-out spot while parents go to work, get errands done, need a break, etc. God has placed this on my heart, as I feel that this is a definite need. I am already in discussion with a few parents about next week. If you're a parent with a need for your kiddo to go, feel free to Messenger me on Facebook.  

This whole shutdown issue cuts me to my very heart. For those who know me well, my life's work is devoted to working with kids. I love my kids from school, BGC and church. Our church just announced a bit ago that we'll be going to online services for the time being, so I won't have a chance to touch base with my Sunday School kids as well. I keep thinking about those faces of the kids who mean so much to me. One of my BGC co-workers made a brief video of the kids to send to me while I was in Israel. I keep looking at those smiling faces. I just want to cry. When I leave on Christmas break for instance, I know that I'll see them in a couple of weeks. In this instance, I had no closure, no chance to say good-bye, and I miss those kids. I am sure that the kids are feeling this as well. Many of my teacher friends have posted similar feelings. They are feeling the hurt as well.

I pretty much put my heart right there on the table. and you know how I feel. However, I am putting all of this into God's hands. I'll go crazy if I don't. God is still on the throne, and He's not freaking out that this virus has gone out of His control. While we don't quite understand why He would allow this virus to run rampant across out world, we have to trust that there is a plan that we might not know until we get to Heaven. Have you put your worries in His capable hands?  

Please know that I am praying for you. As I scroll through my FB feed, I see the needs and feelings and I breathe a prayer on your behalf. I pray that God will provide for you and answer according to His perfect will.  Short post tonight, but I just wanted you to know how I stand on the issues of today. Thanks for reading, and God bless you!!

Rob's Ramblings

So at 11:30, I am sitting here amongst suitcases, piles of clothes, and other travel necessities, trying to get it all sorted and packed so that it won't exceed the 50-pound weight limit at the airport tomorrow. So, why am I sitting here blogging late at night when I should be packing? Well, when I got home from work this afternoon, I made some calls, and decided to check messages. I laid back on the bed to check, and that did it. I woke up 3 hours later! I had done absolutely nothing to get ready! Hence, I am not the least bit sleepy, and I think I want to be a bit drowsy for the many, many hours that I will be on the plane. Going to Israel takes a long time! This is the fulfillment of a life-long dream for me. I remember saying as a kid that I hoped that I could travel to see the place where Jesus lived on earth. Now it's finally happening. In the background, I have on "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade," where they are searching for the Holy Grail. The final section of the movie is filmed in front of the Treasury, which looks like a giant church carved into the side of the cliff. The Treasury is just a part of an area called Petra (not the band, you 80's fans, Lol). I will be able to see this in real life! Maybe I can go in and grab that grail while I'm there? I will be able to stand in the Megiddo Valley, where the final conflict between God and Satan will take place. We will have Bible studies in the Garden of Gethsemane. We will get baptized in the Jordan River. It still doesn't seem quite real to me, and it may not sink in until we set foot in Tel Aviv and take the shuttle into Jerusalem.

I've had people tell me "Text me when you get there!" I will do what I can, but I can't spend all of my time texting. I'll simply post a Facebook message when we get to our different stopping points. I'm going to post as much as I can with whatever Wi-Fi I can manage to get hold of. I'll probably post the pics and then add descriptions later. I have a new up-to-date phone, so hopefully that will work to my advantage. I'm hoping to do some Facebook live events. If you want to follow my journey, feel free to stalk my Facebook. If you have no interest, just skim over my posts. 

This will be a quick post, because I need to get moving again. I just want to close with some thank-yous. First of all, Thank you God for making this possible. My job at the Alley helped finance this trip. Second of all, a BIG thanks goes to YOU! Those of you who bought goodies, made donations, and prayed. That's a big part of it right there! Please don't quit praying. We will need them more than ever as we travel  into what can be a very touchy political situation. If you watch the news, you know what I mean. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't wait. We leave tomorrow morning! Thanks for reading, and God bless you!

Shalom.

Reflecting and looking ahead....

Last night, as I awaited for midnight to arrive, I couldn't help but remember, with a smile, the crisis that led up to the year 2000...the Y2K bug. Computers would crash, and it would pretty much be "the end of the world." Well, here we are 20 years and still standing. People are pondering what kinds of resolutions they will make, and some are making resolutions to not make resolutions, Lol.    I made a Facebook resolution to keep my postings clean and Christ-honoring. With all of the garbage slung on people's pages, it's a resolution I wish more people would make. Since I'm not on social media so much anymore, I'm also going to strive to be more positive in the real world as well. 

2020 is very special to me because it holds the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. A dream that I've held onto since I was a little kid, and has been the #1 item on my bucket list for years. In just under 3 weeks, I will be boarding a plane with a group from my church and will be flying to Israel! I will have the opportunity to visit the holy sites where significant Biblical events took place. Highlights include being baptized in the Jordan River, a boat ride on the sea of Galilee, Petra, the Garden Tomb, Bethlehem, and more! I feel so blessed that God has given me this opportunity. He has blessed me with a raise at work and a job at the bowling alley. Some of the bowlers tip kindly, so that extra amount goes into the pot. I had more baking orders than ever before, and many of my customers gave me above and beyond that price I was asking. Anonymous gifts came into the church in my name, and many have come up, pushed money into my hand, and said they were going to be praying for me. It's undeniable that God wants me to take this trip! I have been able to channel income into both the Israel fund, as well as my fund for the next mission trip, wherever that may be. While this will be a sightseeing trip and spiritual pilgrimage, I'm not dismissing the fact that God could very possibly open my eyes to the work He wants me to do. Could God call me to Israel? He can do whatever He wants! God has not yet revealed to me where He wants me to go, so my radar is always open. So, to those people who are curious as to why I surrendered to missions, but have not yet gone, that is the answer to your question. God hasn't revealed where He wants me to go. Evidently, He has more work for me to do here. To close out this section...To those who have prayed and given, I thank you!

This past year I began my 18th year in the school district working some terrific kids with special needs. I began my 7th year with the Boys & Girls Club teaching young kids about making good choices, teaching a literacy program, and for kids who need a break from noise and chaos, I provide a quiet classroom for kids to chill out for a bit. And as I mentioned before, I work the snack bar at our local bowling alley. I am in my 3rd year there.  When I tell people where I work, their reaction is "What, you work 3 jobs?"   It's tiring at times, when I get up early in the morning, get home late at night, then get up and do it again the next day. God gives me the strength every day to do what I do, and it's Him who has allowed me these opportunities to make some extra $ so that I can fulfill my life dream. I continue to be deeply involved in the children's ministries at my church, teaching Sunday School on Sunday mornings, and working with the kiddos on Wednesday nights.  I currently claim 6 grandkids who are a tremendous blessing to me. It's complicated describing how some of them are my grandchildren, but I love them all the same, and wouldn't trade them for anything. It's fun being a grandpa. I have to say I love my life!

For this year, beside my big trip to Israel, I will be turning 50 in October. I can hardly believe it. I'm not scared of 50. it's just a number, and a big excuse to really party! I remember turning 20, 30, 40, 45...and now I'm looking down the barrel of 50. When I turned 40, everyone said I was over the hill. So what is 50? I say, better over the hill than under it!

I have many, many decorations to take down, so I need to end this post and get busy. However, I could not end this day without updating all of you about my "exciting" life, and thanking you for your love, prayers, and support.  I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to read my blog post. I pray that God will bless you this year, and that 2020 will be the best yet!