Harold would not likely ever write about himself, but I would!
Actually, he’s not much of a reader or a writer but he’s good at math. He can add up numbers in his head faster than I can find a calculator. I’m just the opposite; so goes the saying, opposites attract.
Fun fact: Harold lived the first part of his life as “Bernard,” which is actually his middle name, and that’s what his family and old friends still call him.
Growing up in Madison, Indiana in the late 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s he was the third child born to his parents, James and Mildred. His sister, Marilyn, (1943-2024) was five years older, and his brother, Kenny, is 2 years older than him. Kenny’s given name is actually James Kenneth, but just like his brother he went by his middle name.
One of Harold’s favorite childhood memories was when they’d go to the Friday night sprint and stock car races in nearby Kentucky. They went fairly often as it was just a short car ride over the Milton-Madison Bridge. It was there he began his lifelong love of car racing.
His favorite vacation memories were at Indiana Beach. They and several relatives from his mom’s side of the family would rent a large house on Lake Schaefer where they enjoyed fishing off the docks, riding the rides on the boardwalk, and swimming on the beach. They liked it so much they returned to Indiana Beach several years in a row.
He played school basketball and intramural basketball in grade school up through high school, either as a forward or center. He was tall so that worked out in his favor.
As a teenager he helped his uncles put up hay and tobacco, which was common work in rural southern Indiana. The tobacco work required several different steps: cutting and hanging, waiting for it to dry out, striping it, then tying it into bundles.
It was in his junior high school years that Harold first came to faith in Jesus Christ. He was baptized soon after at Madison Baptist church.
In his junior and senior year of high school he worked as a lot boy at Bennett Motors. Working at this car dealership was the beginning of what would later become one of his two main occupations in his life.
After graduating from Madison Consolidated High School in 1966, he married his high school girlfriend, Linda, in 1967. Their first child, Kimberly Ann, was born in 1967, and their second child, Kevin Harold, was born in 1970. Linda filed for divorce in 1975, they separated, and then reconciled. They separated again in 1976, she filed for divorce again in 1977, and it was finalized in early 1978.
During their 10 year marriage he worked installing terrazzo flooring and he also opened up his own flooring covering business. While installing terrazzo flooring he traveled to various job locations, including a large job in Homestead, Connecticut, where he stayed for several weeks. He also learned how to do tile installation while working with terrazzo flooring. After around 4 years of working for someone else he opened up his own flooring company, Crandell Floor Covering, on West 16th Street in Indianapolis.
Harold and I met in late September of 1976 while I was working at the airport Rodeway Inn. He was friends with the hotel manager and had been staying at the hotel due to the separation. The manager introduced us to each other one night while they were in The Library Lounge talking about the carpeting job he was doing for the hotel. We just so happened to see each other again later in the lobby hallway as I was getting off shift. He asked me if I was hungry and if I’d like to go nextdoor to Denny’s for breakfast. Actually, he likes to tell the story that it was me who asked him to go out to breakfast. I’m pretty sure it was the other way around, but he’s told that story for so many years now that he’s almost got me convinced that it was me who asked him!
Long story short, after a while we fell in love with each other. I was attracted to his heart, his humor, and his good looks. We married three and half years later on my mom and dad’s 41st wedding anniversary, March 15, 1980. We traveled to London, Paris, and Rome for our honeymoon.
At this time in our lives, Harold worked at a local car dealership, and I worked for Sky Harbor at Eagle Creek Airpark.
We lived in Indianapolis, first in a Westlake apartment and then in a double (duplex) that my mom owned on Harding Street. God blessed us with our first daughter, Michelle Nicole in 1981, and also our second daughter, Megan Renee in 1986.
Although Harold had closed his flooring company in 1977, he still had an interest in flooring. So, in the mid 1980’s we started up a small business of manufacturing carpet tack strips, aka tactless strips. We also sold floor installation supples. It was a short lived business, due to low profit margins, so we sold the equipment and Harold went back to work at a local car dealership. I worked at Sky Harbor Aviation and then American Trans Air during this time.
Kim and Kevin were very much a part of our lives back in the 1980’s. They came to our home on a regular basis and they both came to live with us for extended periods of time and at various times. We were a family of six and continued being a part of each other’s lives for several years after we moved away from Indianapolis. Sadly, our relationship deteriorated over the past few years to the point of estrangement; Kim first and then more recently Kevin.
We moved in 1988 from Indianapolis to Brandon, Florida. I wrote about this move in my story titled, “The Land That I Will Show You.” Harold worked at a local car dealership, and it was here I began working at Delta Air lines in their Tampa office in 1989.
In 1990 we moved to Torrance, California where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Los Angeles office, and Harold worked at a local car dealership. I wrote about this move in my story titled, “The West Coast.”
In 1991, we moved to Orange Park, Florida where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Jacksonville office, and Harold worked at a local car dealership. I wrote about this move in my story titled, “Johnny Walker.”
In 1993, we moved to Lewisville, Texas where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Dallas office, and Harold once again worked for a local car dealership. I wrote about this move in my story titled, “Green Acres.” It was here that God both blessed and surprised us with our third daughter, Mackenzie Anne, in 1996.
We still call Texas home today. We moved from Lewisville to Krum to Denton within a 10 year period, and have been in our Denton home for over 20 years now. Some of our favorite family memories in Texas include vacations, holidays, and watching the grandkids grow up and play sports.
In 2003 Harold opened his own car sales lot and then a couple of years later he transitioned it into RV sales. I helped him in the RV business while still working for Delta Air Lines, and then more so after I retired from Delta in 2009. Each of our daughters, and Kevin, helped and/or worked for Harold in one way or another and at different times as well.
Megan first helped Harold open the Lewisville car lot and worked with him in the car sales business for around two years. She also helped him transition to RV sales in Denton. Michelle helped transport RV’s and even helped sell a couple of them. Mackenzie, who as a child said she’d never work in the RV business, ended up being very knowledgeable about RV’s and the RV business in general. She worked for us the longest, sold more RV’s than anyone, confidently ran the business while Harold and I were out of town, and stayed with us until the day we decided to close up the shop.
After a long and successful career in the car and RV sales business, Harold retired at the age of 75 in December of 2023. These days we’re enjoying retirement and are looking forward to whatever God has in store for us. We’re thankful for the gift of faith, the gift of family, and His providence and guidance in our lives throughout our years together. By the grace of God, we celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary on March 15, 2024. We’re still in love, and I’m still attracted to his heart, his humor, and his good looks.
And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
The 15th of March is somewhat of an interesting date in history. As the 74th day of the year on the Roman Republic calendar, March 15 became known as “The Ides of March.” According to this ancient calendar, March 15, was associated with several pagan observances and was also known as a date for settling debts. In addition, March 15 was the exact date in which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Caesar’s death played a role in the fall of the Roman Republic and subsequent rise of the Roman Empire.
Interestingly, March 15 has become a notable date in our family, and it has nothing to do with Ancient Rome, and everything to do with love and marriage.
Starting with my great great grandfather, Sylvester Anderson, who married my great great grandmother, Pauline Terhune, on March 15, 1866. Then….
My mom and dad, Sara and Herman Query got married March 15, 1941.
Then…
My husband Harold and I married on March 15, 1980.
And then….
Our daughter Megan became Mrs. John Williams on March 15, 2009. She and John met at Denton high school but didn’t start dating until after they both graduated. I remember when we first met John, Harold told him that he really liked banana splits. Banana Splits started appearing out of nowhere! The next thing I knew, John asked Harold for his permission to ask Megan to marry him.
Megan and John married in a beautiful traditional Christian wedding ceremony, held in the Cindy Nichols Chapel at First Baptist Church Denton, officiated by Pastor Brad Cockrell.
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9
Megan’s colors were black and white with a pop of hot pink! The men wore hot pink daisy boutonnières and black Converse tennis shoes. The reception was held in Sanger Texas, where we served a Texas style dinner, and danced to a variety of music, actually mostly country!
March 15!
Four weddings in our family on this same date.
So I think it’s safe to say that we have officially established a March family tradition. Our local newspaper even featured it in their 2009 Bride Guide!
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
My grandmother, Rose Query passed away in 1930 when my dad was only 9 years old. My dad’s older sisters, Violet and Mildred helped to raise him after their mom passed away. Dad didn’t speak of his mom often but when he did, tears would flood his eyes.
Dad kept a large framed picture of his mom in a small workshop storage area of our basement on McFarland Road in Indianapolis. I was intrigued by her picture from very the first day I saw it. One day, in the mid 1970’s, I saw him sitting near it and asked him if could have it one day. I told him that I’d take care of it and hang up on a wall. He initially hesitated and didn’t reply for a while. I wondered if I hurt his feelings by asking to have it. I think it was one of only a few things that he had to remember his mom by. A few moments later he looked at me and told me I could have it “one day.” His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying.
“One day” came a few years later in 1978. After suffering from the effects of polio half of his adult life, he succumbed to metastasized lung cancer at age 58. As hard as it was to see my dad suffer with cancer, it was even harder when he actually passed away. And while mementos are just tangible objects, there’s a particular comfort in having mementos of our loved ones that are no longer with us. In addition to the picture of his mom, I have one of my dad’s Bibles, some vintage White Castle coffee cups, some video cassette tapes of guitar sessions with his friends, a 45 RPM record in which he played guitar, titled, “Feets too Big,” photos, and a handwritten notebook of their 1926 family train vacation from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.
The notebook diary is really pretty cool. Written entirely by hand, my grandmother, Rose wrote 27 pages of their most memorable moments from their 1926 vacation to Los Angeles and back. It gives me a glimpse of a piece of time in my family heritage. I imagine it was a well planned and much anticipated family vacation. The family trip included my dad, his sister Mildred, his brother Chester, and their parents, Fred and Rose. My dad’s oldest sister, Beulah, passed away in 1925 at age 20. My dad’s sister, Violet did not go with them on this trip as she married in 1925.
Their trip started on the morning of July 6, 1926, by car from Quincy, Indiana to Green Castle, Indiana where they boarded the train. As they crossed over the Wabash River, my dad, who was 5 years old said, “Is that the ocean?”
The train made several stops on the way up to Chicago where they stopped and ate supper on the banks of Lake Michigan facing the famous Stevens Hotel. It was still under construction but was already famous as it was to become the largest hotel in the world with 3000 hotel rooms. What a sight to see for a young family from Quincy, Indiana!
Rose often mentioned the corn and wheat fields, thrashing machines, the weather, and the terrain they saw throughout their train trip. They slept in berths; my dad got an upper most berth. When they crossed over the Missouri River on Wednesday, July 7 at 9:30 a.m. Rose noted how muddy the ground was and and how swampy the river seemed.
Continuing on, they stopped at Kansas City and she noted seeing several large companies such as Montgomery Ward and Sears and Roebuck, and mentioned how hot it was there.
On Thursday morning, July 8, the train passed by Canyon, TX where she noted that the land was flat, however noting it was “the prettiest scenery so far.” After passing by two more Texas cities they arrived in Clovis, NM.
During a stop at Vaughn, NM, my dad saw a Ford “Roadster” and said, “I’ll bet that’s Opal and Edd” which I’m not quite sure what he meant by saying this. Perhaps they were character’s associated with Roadster’s in some way. When he saw the mountains from afar he told his mom that the mountains were “blue.”
They arrived in Gallup, NM on Thursday evening, July 8 at 8:40 p.m. and she noted that it was difficult to breathe as it was near 10,000 ft altitude.
On Friday, July 9, they crossed the Colorado River at 6:45 a.m. and then crossed the state line into Needles, CA at 7:00 a.m. and noted the weather was very warm.
They arrived in Los Angeles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and took a taxi to their friend’s home at 1826 Marne Avenue. The taxi ride cost $3.70.
They rested on Saturday and then went to the beach on Sunday, July 11. After a swim in the Pacific Ocean they ate lunch and then took a sightseeing drive through Hollywood.
On Monday, July 12 they went to Venice Beach where they saw a replica of Noah’s Ark and a huge road sign of a whale swallowing Jonah, as we know of from the Bible. They enjoyed the Fun House, a 40’ steep stair walk, a barrel ride, and the roller coaster!
July 13-23 included shopping, sightseeing, visiting some friends, and several beach visits which resulted in my dad getting “sunburnt.” The sunburn put a halt to their activities for a few days.
July 24-25 they visited Long Beach, Naples, Seal Beach, Anaheim Landing, and Wilmington Boat Landing. They also rode a ferry boat to San Pedro Bay and visited Fort MacArthur. The fort is named after Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur. His son, was Douglas MacArthur, who later became the commander of our American forces in the Pacific during World War II. Their return trip on the ferry included the transportation of 11 automobiles and a spectacular up close view of two large steamboats going in opposite directions.
July 27-29 they visited a theatre, Exposition Park and Lincoln Park where they enjoyed seeing a variety of animals, plants, and trees. They took the opportunity to weigh themselves on a scale at the zoo: Fred 183 lbs, Rose 146 lbs, Chester 86 lbs, Mildred 88 lbs, and my dad, Herman weighed in at a whopping 50 lbs.
On August 1, 1926 they departed Los Angeles at 8:42 a.m. by train. Their return route was the reverse of the route they took coming out: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana. They arrived safely back home to Quincy, IN on August 5, 1926, thanking God and remarking, “no tongue can express our gratitude for this grand trip and of the many things that made the trip an enjoyable one.” Signed: Rose & Fred, Mildred, Chester & Herman
My grandmother, Rose Matilda Hunsicker Query, passed away approximately 3 years later after having complications from a goiter (thyroid gland) surgery. Her memorial mentions that her family was with her at the time of her passing and that “Her Savior called her to come up higher.” She passed peacefully away at age 46 at 12 o’clock on Sunday, March 2, 1930 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
Fred passed away in 1947.
Violet passed away in 1986.
Mildred passed away in 2000.
Chester passed away in 1985.
Herman passed away in 1978.
And,
Beulah, who was the firstborn and also the first one in their immediate family to pass away. I don’t know what illness took her life but understand she had a long history of ill health. Her memorial speaks of a gracious young girl with a host of friends. Upon realization of her impending death she began making her own funeral plans. She selected the songs, pallbearers, and the minister who was her pastor when she first trusted in Christ at age 14 and who also officiated at her marriage just 7 months earlier. She passed away in 1924 at the young age of 20, but understood “the beauties of Heaven” and that “Heaven is made up of all ages.”
Rose sometime before 1930. Fred in the 1940’s. Chester, Mildred, Violet, & my dad in the 1970’s. Rose’s 1926 vacation notebook. And Rose’s picture in its original frame hanging up in my home, as I promised my dad many years ago.
Siblings are our first friends in life, and ideally are our friends for life. I believe God designed it that way and that siblings are gifts from God. As the 5th of 6 children in our family, life was not always perfect but more importantly I learned that God was. I’m thankful for the gift of family and for each of my siblings.
My sister, Joyce, who is 12 years older than me, got married when I was around 7 years old. She started her own typesetting business in the mid 1960’s, as a young single mom of two young children. She successfully operated that business for many years. She held a private pilot’s license with an instrument rating for many years, and is also a self taught custom interior carpenter. Now a widow in her early 80’s she’s an avid golfer and enjoys music and dancing with friends regularly.
Joyce in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s.
My brother, Eldon lived a short but meaningful life. He was blessed with a lot of friends and was just beginning his life as a young adult a few months after his high school graduation, when he was killed in an automobile accident in September of 1963. The car he was driving was struck by a drunk driver who ran the red light that was less than a mile from our home. I was only 9 years old at the time of his death. The night he died it was reported in the newspaper that approximately 20 of his friends went to the local Baptist church to rededicate their lives. While his death devastated and forever changed the landscape of our family, I came to the understanding later in life that God is sovereign and that “….all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Eldon in the 1950’s, 1961, and 1963.
My brother, Ron loved playing basketball in school, and some time after his high school graduation in 1968, he joined the U.S. Navy and served our country for 4 years. He was also an accomplished artist for several years. As a father and grandfather, he worked two jobs simultaneously for many years. Today he’s fully retired and uses a wheelchair to get around after having had a leg amputation a few years ago.
Ron in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s.
My brother Dennis also loved playing basketball in school, and was my only sibling to graduate from college. He became a teacher, a basketball coach, and a middle school principal. He’s a father and grandfather, who enjoys keeping physically fit by running regularly and various other physical activities. His wife and he are currently enjoying travel and full time retirement together.
Dennis in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
Our little brother Doug, who is the main subject of this writing, and who I affectionately still call “Dougie” was born 3 months premature in 1957. He was diagnosed early on as being mentally retarded. Nowadays it’s called mentally “disabled” as the word, “retarded” has long since became a slang word meant to degrade and make fun of people.
Dougie in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 1976.
Dougie had a mind that was “forever young.” He was probably the sweetest, most sincere person I have ever known. He will always hold a special place in my heart. One day in the 1980’s, he came to me upset with himself because he had told a lie and knew it was wrong. His lips were quivering and he was near tears. I told him that God knows when we do wrong things and that it was good that he was sorry for what he did. His humility was so precious and sweet. I hugged him and helped him pray out loud in Jesus’ name for forgiveness.
I remember when we were little I was his personal interpreter. He also had a speech impediment and it was hard for most people to understand what he was saying. Being the closest in age to him, I naturally spent a lot of time with him so it was easy for me to understand what he was saying.
Dougie and me in the 1950’s and 60’s
When he and I played outside I felt responsible to watch him and to help him. Whether it was playing in the neighborhood or on the swing sets at the drive-in movies across the street on Highway 31, I was his protector.
Just like any little boy, he wanted to attend the same school that all the neighborhood kids went to but he was sent to Lincoln Elementary and then over to MacArthur Elementary as they had Special Education classes. The same was true in his middle school years. He wanted to attend Meridian Middle School like the neighborhood kids but was sent to Keystone Middle School as they were the designated school at that time for Special Education kids.
He was initially held back one year of elementary school in the very beginning and then again held back another year later on. It was at MacArthur Elementary that he had two of his favorite teachers, Mr Carter who was his Special Education teacher and his Boy Scout leader, and Mr French who was his art teacher. It was here that he also had an unnamed worst teacher. I knew about his favorite teachers as he spoke of them often over the years but I didn’t know about the unnamed worst teacher until recently. He told me she replaced Mr Carter and said that, “She put her hands on me and hurt me!” After talking with him about this a little more, I learned that she grabbed his shoulders and shook him abusively one day for reasons unknown which made him very upset. If I had known about this back then I would have been in the principal’s office the next day.
Actually, not too long after I got my drivers license, Dougie came home very upset one day after school. He said some kids at school were making fun of him at lunch time. They were taking his food away from him and putting things in it, basically bullying him and making him cry. When he told me about this and also that it wasn’t the first time, I was livid. I drove over to the school the first thing the next morning and sat down in the principal’s office and told him what was happening to my little brother. I also told him that someone needed to do a better job of protecting my little brother. I barely got those words out before I began to cry. (I was young and emotional.) The principal was kind but seemed indifferent and offered zero solutions. I left unsure if the principal was going to do anything to help Dougie. I realized that day that Dougie was likely going to have to deal with people like those kids and that principal the rest of his life.
While in high school he had a crush on a neighborhood girl with blonde hair who rode his school bus. Her name was Karen Taylor. He thought she was cute but he was too shy to talk to her. He told me that he was “in love with her” and that one day he wrote her a note and put it in her mailbox but she never responded. Dougie graduated from Perry Meridian High School in 1976 and as far as I know, she was the only girl he ever had a crush on. Over 50 years later, he recalled this story with a lump in his throat.
Dougie continued living at home with mom for several years as a young adult. He worked for Noble Industries in Indianapolis. They had two locations at this time, one on the west side of town and one on the east side of town. He first worked at their west location in their greenhouse. He enjoyed working in the greenhouse but for some reason he was moved over to the other location to work in a school kitchen. His job there was taking lunch trays off the conveyer belt and loading them unto a commercial dishwasher. It was here he made $1.50 an hour and where he started singing to himself while working. He remembers singing a phrase “Wagon Ho” while he unloaded and loaded the trays. It was also during this time he picked up some “ticks.” He began blurting out a “moo” sound like a cow, and also an “ooga” sound like that of an old car horn. He doesn’t know why he started repeating these sounds although I suspect it was some type of work related stress.
Interestingly Dougie had a natural talent for tinkering with electronics. I remember I had an alarm clock radio that broke and I gave it to him to tinker with. He took it all apart and laid the parts out on a TV tray. I assumed that he’d never get it back together again. Within two or three weeks he put it back together and it worked! I was amazed. This was back when he was in his mid 20’s.
He also had a unique talent of impersonating TV personalities. His favorite was Sammy Terry, a local 1960’s-1970’s late night TV show host. The show was a Friday late night phenomenon in Indianapolis called Nightmare Theater. Sammy would open the show emerging out of a coffin and proceed to introduce the scary old movie that was being shown that night. Dougie, had fun imitating Sammy Terry’s introduction: “Good evening. Welcome to Nightmare Theater. I’m your host Sammy Terry.” (Moo-ha-ha!”) He would then go on to announce the movie, like “Tonight we have Frankenstein Meets the Werewolf” (“Moo-ha-ha!”) followed by the dangling emergence of George, his sidekick giant spider, and Sammy’s trademark laughter.
In the mid 1990’s our mom was suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s and was transitioned to an assisted living center in St Louis, to be near my sister, Joyce. At this same time, Dougie went to live in St Louis in a small nearby apartment.
While Dougie enjoyed the apartment, It didn’t work out well for him. He really needed more structure and guidance, plus he got bit by an unknown dog in the neighborhood and had to undergo a painful series of rabies shots. So after about a year of living on his own, my niece, Debbie invited Dougie to come live with her in the Central West End area of St Louis. While in St. Louis Dougie really enjoyed playing basketball and softball with a special education group. He also had the love and support of my other niece, Marlene, who lived in St Louis too.
In 2001 Debbie decided to move to the Seattle Washington area and so Dougie moved too. My niece, Marlene moved there a few months later as well. They settled in a small town called Burien, where Debbie was instrumental in creating a program, called Clean Sweep. It was specifically designed for employing disabled people to help pick up trash around downtown Burien. Dougie worked part time for Clean Sweep and enjoyed everything about it. He enjoyed his job, enjoyed working along side his fellow disabled workers, and enjoyed getting to know the local store owners and their frequent customers. He also enjoyed the independence and freedom of using an inexpensive transportation program available in Burien.
However, a downside to his independence and freedom occurred when a stranger took advantage of Dougie one day. He walked over to Arby’s and on his way back a car stopped and blocked his way. A pregnant lady with two kids told him that she and her kids were hungry. She asked him to buy them some food, and then a boy joined them and he bought his food too. She then coerced him to go to the bank and withdraw as much money as he could from the bank machine. He gave her the money (I think it was $200 or $300, or whatever the maximum bank card withdrawal was at that time) and then she left. He also lost his phone that same day. Later, a police report was filed but of course the lady was never found. We were all so upset and so sad that this happened to our Dougie.
And while he really enjoyed working, he was actually hit and injured by a vehicle on two separate occasions while working. After spending some time in the hospital with a broken hip (hairline fracture) from the second car incident, his job duties were then changed to inside only.
Besides working part-time for several years in Burien, Dougie enjoyed going to some local activities specially designed for the disabled. His favorites activities were going to a Thursday morning art class, and Friday nights to “The Club” to hang out with his friends.
He also had some problems with recurring staph infections over the past several years, some requiring hospitalizations. He had to have his middle toe removed from his right foot in January of 2023 due to another staph infection. He was hospitalized for a month, and then spent another month in a rehab center, Hallmark Manor. His only complaint was that he couldn’t get his favorite TV shows at either place although he did like some of the new TV channels he watched at the rehab center. He also enjoyed playing board games at Hallmark Manor. He enjoyed winning .50 cents from playing two of the Bingo games!
Shortly after that he developed another a wound on the bottom of his right foot which was not as bad as the other wound but kept him home most of the time.
He often talked about how much he wished he could go back to his art class and “The Club” but because of his foot issues he never got to go to back. His daily routine evolved to primarily staying home and watching his favorite TV shows.
His favorite cartoons were Popeye, Mighty Mouse, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby Doo. His favorite game shows were Let’s Make a Deal, The Match Game, and of course, The Price is Right! His favorite TV shows were old re-runs like Bewitched, The Love Boat, Emergency, The Time Tunnel, The Partridge Family, The Wild, Wild West, Power Rangers, and Star-trek. He was so proud of his “Star Trek Enterprise” model he had in his room. He also liked The Andy Griffith Show, and was also proud of his light up “Mayberry Village.” It included Andy, Opie, Aunt Bee, Barney, Gomer, Andy’s home, and the gas station. He liked it so much he kept several photos of his “Mayberry Village” on his phone. Toward the end of his life he added Young Sheldon and Night Court to his viewing schedule. His chief complaint was that the H & I (Heros and Icons) TV channel was no longer available in his viewing area which prevented him from watching all the super hero shows.
When he was being treated weekly for his foot wound, he so looked forward to going to the foot doctor on Tuesdays; that was the day he got breakfast to-go at the Jack in the Box. The rest of his meals were generally at home. He was allowed to microwave food but not allowed to use the stovetop or oven, due to safety concerns. His favorite breakfast cereals were Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, and Lucky Charms. His favorite lunches were Hot Pockets and Smucker’s Uncrustables Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwiches. Some of his other favorite foods included Pop Tarts, chips, and corn dogs with catsup. His favorite to-go restaurants were Panda Express, Jack in the Box, Subway, and The Chicken Burger Place. His favorite desserts were oatmeal raisin cookies, vanilla ice cream, strawberry popsicles, and homemade puff wheat balls. On Sunday’s he looked forward to having a big breakfast prepared for him: eggs and sausage or pancakes with peanut butter, a Query family favorite.
Dougie loved Debbie’s dogs, Bella and Honey. They kept him company and made him laugh. Honey liked to sit in his favorite chair whenever he got up. Bella liked to sit on his bed when he was not in it. He’d give them treats in order to get them to move!
I remember when Dougie was young, the doctor told my mom that Dougie’s life expectancy would be short, however, that doctor was wrong. God had a plan and a purpose for Dougie’s life. Yes, his life was full of challenges, but God blessed him with a happy disposition, a sense of humor, a loving family, and a long life. More so, Dougie was loved by many, and was a blessing to many more. By the grace of God, he celebrated his 67th birthday on April 2, 2024.
On November 19, 2024 I received word that Dougie had passed away at home from natural causes.
I will miss our almost daily phone calls. He would talk about his TV shows, his meals, how he was feeling, the dogs, things he remembered from the past, or really about anything he wanted to talk about. Sometimes we would talk about God. Dougie knew that God was in control and that He knew the future. We prayed and talked about trusting God. We also talked about death and how God knew when our time would be to pass away. My prayers for him, in addition to his physical needs, were for God to protect him and to continually renew his child-like faith in Him. Sometimes I would sing songs to him like, “Jesus Loves Me” and he would sing along. I would end each call by telling him to call me back tomorrow and by telling him, “I love you.” He always called me back and he always told me, “I love you too.”
He didn’t call me on November 19th, 2024; he went to be with Jesus. I miss my little brother but I’m trusting in God and looking forward to the day we’ll be reunited in heaven.
Ron, Joyce, Dougie, me, and Dennis in 2017 on our Query Family Caribbean Cruise!
This year we focused on 52 psalms in the Book of Psalms, which was written by several authors over several years, although many psalms were attributed to have been written by David. The psalms consist of poetry, hymns, and songs of thanksgiving, as well as laments and prayers; all of which were about the relationship between God and His people, and their responses to His presence in their lives. #TuesdayTruth
January 2: The happy man is described as one who avoids the way of wicked people. The tragic folly of the wicked is that they have chosen to neglect the most important thing in life: God. They do not acknowledge that they are his creatures, or that they ought to live for him. They ignore God and choose to live their life without regard of him. The godly man, however, does the exact opposite. January 9: When David wrote this psalm, he was being persecuted by certain ungodly men who had made a mockery of the LORD. These men loved folly and falsehood. So he said to them, “How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?”January 16: The joy radiating from a Christian should stand in stark contrast to the unrest of a typical unbeliever. While not immune to life’s challenges, Christians should take care that the joy of the LORD is both evident and expressed in our everyday life, regardless and especially during times of trial. Rejoice in the LORD! January 23: Years ago pulpits echoed “hail and brimstone” sermons. Today, not so much. The pendulum has swung. Many churches of today are full of those who prefer sermons about social issues over sermons about sin and the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Bottom line, God is merciful and God is love, but He is also just. Punishment awaits the unrepentant sinner who refuses to turn to Christ. January 30: Rest assured that God will not let oppression go unpunished. It may not be on our timetable but it will most assuredly be on His. In the days of old, He punished the evil Assyrian Empire and the evil Roman Empire for their cruelty to the slaves and to the poor. He cares for the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the abused, and the fatherless in our world today, and will punish evil doers in His perfect timing and plan.February 6: What do you call a person who’s decided God does not exist? A fool.February 13: While those who trust in God may appear foolish to those who do not, those who trust in God find refuge in Him no matter what evil comes their way. There’re many differences among people, but they’re not much more than surface deep. This one difference, however, is quite distinct. Charles Spurgeon explains it this way: “Between the two classes, the saved and the unsaved, a great gulf is fixed. There is as wide a difference between the righteous and the wicked as there is between the living and the dead.” February 20: Sheep are notoriously known to be unwise. They go anywhere and everywhere on their own without a sense of direction. Left to themselves they wouldn’t know where to retire in winter or where to feed in summer. They need a shepherd to guide and protect them. Such are we. No one can truly proclaim that “The Lord is my Shepherd” until he has come to the realization that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. It is in repentance and faith we trust in Christ alone to be our Shepherd; where He leads us beside still waters, restores our soul, in paths of righteousness, and comforts us while we go through life’s valleys.
February 27: The Lord is my shepherd, continued. The promise of His protection in our lives, assurance in times of trial, goodness and mercy here and now and into eternity; for all who have placed their faith and trust in Him. March 5: In this Psalm David recognizes that the LORD has heard him in his distress; the LORD has assured him that he belongs to the Him. David’s heart speaks from experience. There is no suspense or fear. David trusts the LORD completely and is full of deep emotion towards Him. David can’t help but sing out in thankful song. #TuesdayTruthMarch 12: At this point in David’s life, he was tired and sad from endless enemies pursuing him. But, instead of returning violence to those who were violent with him, he chose to calmly trust in God for help. David had the greatest resources: a relationship God and the shield of faith. #TuesdayTruthMarch 19: The joy of forgiveness is available to all who come in repentance and faith to Jesus; Jesus, who suffered and died that we might live; Jesus, the only way to God our Father. #TuesdayTruthMarch 26: The Christian life consists and includes things we love to do, and in avoiding things that we understand are not good to do, but there are no chains present. We are free in Christ. I like how Charles Spurgeon explains it: “He who fears God and is wholly God’s servant has no chains about him; he may live as he likes, for he likes to live as he ought.” #TuesdayTruthApril 2: It’s interesting to know that while we can go weeks without food, we cannot survive without drink. Without water, for example, the body is unable to function correctly and will begin to stop working after approximately three days. So the psalmist mentions a deer, who by nature is known to be a very thirsty animal, and our essential need for water, to direct our focus on our soul’s greatest need: God.
#TuesdayTruthApril 9: The fact that God’s throne is forever and ever is not likely something that an unbeliever thinks about often. The same is true of the fact that His kingdom is a kingdom of justice. Unbelievers generally don’t think or even worry about such matters. Thankfully, “the more we look at Christ, the more there is to see.” (Charles Spurgeon). For anyone who has not yet believed in Christ as God’s only Son, you don’t know the Christ that is spoken of in the Scriptures. Consider Christ today, learn of Him, seek Him, and turn to Him in repentance and faith.
#TuesdayTruthApril 16: In times of trouble and pain, we, who are called by His name, can trust God with our distress. Calling out to God is a form of worship; in doing so we show how we honor Him, how we love Him, and how we trust Him. However, for the non-believer, God does not hear your cries until you have first made the most important call you will ever make; calling out to Him in repentance and faith: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Forgive me of my sins. I place my faith and trust in You alone. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that He rose from the grave three days later.” It doesn’t have to be these exact words, but you must believe these words and somehow convey this to Him from a sincere heart. If you haven’t already done so, why not make that call today? Keep in mind, He’s available to receive calls 24/7 but you are not guaranteed a tomorrow.
#TuesdayTruthApril 23: The whole of Psalm 51 is a restorative prayer of David, which occurred sometime after the prophet Nathan spoke to him concerning Bathsheba. David had good reason to pray to the Lord. David recognized both the depravity of his own sin and the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. David called out to the only One who had the power to clean even the worst of sinners.
#TuesdayTruthApril 30: It’s human nature to try to fix our problems by ourselves, but as Christians, our first reaction should be to give them to the Lord. While “letting go and letting God” doesn’t come naturally, God reminds us that He is there to help us with all our cares and concerns. God is faithful and always does His part; He promises the righteous will be protected. Remembering to bring our burdens to Him and humbly trusting in Him is our part.
#TuesdayTruthMay 7: Fleeing from Saul, David cries out to God for help, in humility and in strength. In humility he pleads for mercy, in strength by faith he trusts that God will be there, even if it’s only His shadow.
#TuesdayTruthMay 14: Cruel and slanderous words that cause deep wounds are not so easily healed. While we, as believers, may bear the scars from sharp trials with those who oppose us with slandering tongues, it is who God saves us from distress when we look to Him for help. The serpent is in the slandering business. God is in the saving business.May 21: David’s trust was in the Lord alone. The psalmist uses the word, “alone,” to emphasize that David’s trust was only in the Lord, and David rested only in the Lord. In the midst of enemies and trials, David’s foundation was sure.
#TuesdayTruthMay 28: The psalmist speaks of the process of refining silver and compares it to God’s testing process. Silver refinement involves intense heating that brings impurities to the top in order to be removed, with the result of a purer silver. As a child of God, times of testing takes place for everyone of us. In fact, we will not cease from being tested until we get to heaven.
#TuesdayTruthGod knows the condition of our heart, regardless of any favorable appearance we may or may not have, or the good deeds we may or may not do. God reads the secrets of the heart; our sins cannot be hidden from Him.
#TuesdayTruthJune 11: While Psalm 71 is primarily about God’s help in old age, the psalmist reminds us here that even when we were young, God took care of us in our infancy; at a time when we were most unable to care for ourselves. As we grow older into our senior years, we can count on God to guard us, even in the dark days that are already looming before some of us today.
#TuesdayTruthJune 18: David continued to be taught by God all the way into his adulthood. He continually considered God his teacher and he as His student; even and especially as he grew old and during times of trial. David learned with tears through the wonderings of his heart, the truth of His word, the power of sacrifice that puts away sin, and of God’s great mercy.
#TuesdayTruthJune 25: Man needs a guide at all times, lest we wonder into danger. It’s our human nature. Without God we lack foresight, prudence, wisdom, and strength. Life is full of difficulties. All those who fail to look to God for guidance will fail in life both here and forever into eternity. All those who put their trust in God, trust in His word, rely on His providence, and allow Him to guide them through life’s difficulties, make it into eternity, safely in God’s care.
#TuesdayTruthJuly 2: This psalm speaks of men who had recently repented and searched for God. Their repentance occurred after they learned that some had died as a result of God’s anger due to their unbelief. Those who repented remembered that He was their rock and redeemer, however they soon fell away. Many are like dull animals that will not go without the whip. Many more of us cannot be kept in line without constant affliction, and all while professing God as our rock and redeemer. Yes, our hearts are prone to wonder, however if our repentance is sincere, we will not wonder for long.
#TuesdayTruthJuly 9: This psalm begins with a plea to God to take notice of a pending attack against the nation of Israel, and for him not to be quiet. This first verse is actually the beginning of a song about their strong desire for God to give them victory over their enemies. It’s a prayer to God to speak out against those who wish to destroy them, and that God will acknowledge that their enemies are also God’s enemies.
#TuesdayTruthJuly 16: While Christians are called to love our enemies, we are not commanded to love God’s enemies, nor are we commanded to hate God’s enemies. At first thought this may seem confusing but the goal here is to have both righteous indignation against God’s enemies mixed with a tender spirit of love for God’s enemies. It’s a delicate balance that requires the love of God in our heart and in our mind.
#TuesdayTruthJuly 23: This psalm is a cry of desperation and an example of preserving prayer at work in the life of a believer. Written by Heman the Ezrahite during a particularly hard time in his life, it gives us an example of what we should do when we go through hard times: cry out to God day and night, even if it seems that God is not hearing our prayers.
#TuesdayTruthJuly 30: I think the key word here is dwell. There are some who seem happy enough just to come and go as they go about their everyday life. However, it is those who dwell and abide in Christ that receive choicer favors than those who just come and go: The person who abides in Christ and His Word abides in him. The person who considers prayer a privilege and a matter of enjoyment. The person who dwells in the “secret place,” living near Him, in the shadow of the Almighty.
#TuesdayTruthAugust 6: Evildoers boast of their evil deeds, as they go about crushing the widows and murdering the fatherless, as if there were no God holding them accountable for their actions. Woe to those who simultaneously choose to both deny His existence and reject His offer of forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
#TuesdayTruth August 13: Psalm 95 speaks both of worship and a warning. It begins with encouraging believers to enter into his presence with thanksgiving, to shout joyfully, and sing triumphantly to him! He’s the maker of heaven and earth! He is our Maker! He is our God and we are his people, like sheep in the care of the Good Shepherd. However, he calls all of us to examine ourselves. To the unbelievers he urgently warns them not to harden their hearts toward him. To the believers, who live side by side with unbelievers, he urgently reminds us that we are to be praying for them; that God may bring them to his feet and save them by his grace.
#TuesdayTruthAugust 20: The gospel invitation is an invitation to everlasting joy in the LORD: “Come and find peace, rest, joy, and all your souls can desire. Come and eat what is good and let your soul delight!” Only believers in Christ can know this kind of joy. Only believers can sing this kind of song! If you’re not yet a believer, turn to him in repentance and faith today; you too can sing a new song! 🎶
#TuesdayTruthAugust 27: Psalm 100, one of the most well known psalms, reminds us that there is but one God. He is the God of both the Old Testament and the New Testament; he is Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He bought us with his precious blood. We, who are called by his name, are to make a joyful noise unto him and serve him with gladness!
#TuesdayTruthSeptember 3: The good things that brought the satisfaction that David is referring to are not tangible goods. A look at the preceding verses best describes his perspective:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:1–4
The satisfaction that David is referring to, the richest man has not found, the greatest conqueror has never won, and the proudest emperor cannot command or even begin to comprehend.
The satisfaction that David is referring to is a spiritual blessing, a Devine grace that comes from Almighty God, who is himself all sufficient, and the only One who can sufficiently fill the human heart.
#TuesdayTruthSeptember 10: (My 70th Birthday 🎂) It’s quite an extraordinary thing to know that the moment we come to faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven; past, present, and future. God takes our sins to an infinite distance. Our sins become so removed from us that we will not ultimately suffer any loss, although we were, in fact, the guilty party, Christ took the punishment for our sins in our place. Extraordinary. Miraculous. Blessed.
#TuesdayTruthSeptember 17: The depravity of man is such that we’re born with hearts that are deceitful and desperately wicked; we’re under the influence of sin and controlled by our own sin nature. Even the “good” things we do are seen as “filthy rags” to God. Many people hold on to some sort of hope that they’re “good enough” to go to heaven when they die. Spiritually they are in a wilderness. They’re hungry and thirsty for the things of this world, when what they really need is the LORD. Thank God for the troubles that He sends our way that brings us to our knees, and to the end of ourselves. It’s only when we see ourselves as a sinner in need of a savior, crying out to the LORD in repentance and faith, that one has the assurance of heaven. Thank God for the gift of repentance and faith. He rescues us from our distress and redeems us from the power of the evil one. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1
#TuesdayTruthSeptember 24: This verse presents Melchizedek as a type of Christ, which is also repeated in the book of Hebrews, where both Melchizedek and Christ are considered kings of righteousness and peace. This verse specifically reminds us that it is the oath of God that established our Lord both in his priesthood and in his throne. Charles Spurgeon reiterates this with these words: “Jesus is sworn in to be the priest of his people, and he must abide so even to the end because his commission is sealed by the unchanging oath of the immutable Jehovah.” This oath still stands today and will stand throughout all eternity. Jesus is a priest forever.
#TuesdayTruthOctober 1: It’s been said that somebody once told John Bunyan that he had preached a delightful sermon and that he quickly replied, “You’re too late. The devil told me that before I left the pulpit.” John Bunyan wittingly stated that a preacher who is quick to take credit for his sermon, is a preacher who is quick to take the glory that belongs to God. The Holy Spirit teaches Christ followers what we should say and what we should do, but beware, Satan is skilled in teaching us how to steal God’s glory. Whether a preacher in a pulpit, a Christ follower sharing the gospel, or a Christian serving God in some capacity, whatever we do should always be done in such a way so as to bring attention to God and to glorify Him, and never ourselves.
#TuesdayTruthOctober 8: The overall theme of Psalm 118 is about giving thanks to the Lord, “for He is good,” “His steadfast love endures forever,” ”He is for us,” “He has become my salvation,” and, “He answers our prayers.” He answers our prayers according to His will. His answers include “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” Verse 21 reminds us that our prayers, regardless if He has blessed us with good things or not, should always include praise for Him. He is the Lord God Almighty. He is equally God no matter our circumstance.
#TuesdayTruth October 15: I think Psalm 119:9 is one of the most important truths we can teach our children and grandchildren in their youth. While reading the Bible is good, and studying the Bible is better, the best of all is heeding the Bible and looking to God for His direction in your life. This truth cannot be understated. Without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and His word in your life you will most certainly lose your way. Passions, temptations, and the folly of youth are a volatile combination of emotions. Charles Spurgeon reminds us that “God’s word is a continual lamp to our feet and a constant light on our path.” Commit to let God and His word guide your steps in life. October 22: Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is particularly rich with praise for God and instruction on how we should live. I also like the fact that Psalm 119 appears to be at the very center of the Bible, which’s is indicative of balance and order. Verse 57 is an example of a carefully structured order. It presents a perfect order in which blessing and duty are to be expressed. The psalmist declares the LORD is his portion; he has been blessed by having a relationship with God, and therefore his gratitude is expressed in his resolve to keep God’s word. In other words, the Lord must first be our Lord before we will ever be able to keep his word. October 29: This Psalm isn’t saying that God won’t build a house without our labor, or that He won’t guard the city without the watchman’s staying awake. However, it is reminding us that we’re to do everything we possibly can with every available resource when we set out to do a work. We’re not to be lazy and say we’re trusting in Providence to get it done. Everyone needs to do their part. In other words, and according to 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
#TuesdayTruthNovember 5: As we grow as Christians the more aware we become of unholiness, the further away we wish to distance ourselves from it. It is the forgiveness of God that leads us to both love and fear Him; a love born out of our realization of the undeserving mercy He’s given us, and a fear born out of the realization of His forgiving love for us. True fear of God doesn’t rise out of judgment, but out of His forgiving love. Because we are forgiven and so loved, we fear that we might somehow offend Him. This is the true fear of God, a holy filial fear.
#TuesdayTruth
November 12: As soon as David had built himself a palace, he longed more so to build a palace for his God. However, he soon realized that there is no place better than the one that God Himself had already designed. The one true dwelling place for God is in Jesus Christ, for the “fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ (Colossians 2:9) and in whom all believers are also drawn together with God through the help of the Holy Spirit.
#TuesdayTruthNovember 19: God is worthy of our highest praise, regardless of whatever circumstances we find ourselves in today. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is good. He is faithful. He comforts us in our sorrow. I praise Him for His greatness and I thank Him for His goodness. His faithful love endures forever. November 26: This psalm depicts the essence of the grace of God in three confidences: First, the confidence that the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Second, the confidence that His faithful love will endure forever. And third, the confidence in Him, expressed in prayer, that He will not abandon the work of His hand in our life.
#TuesdayTruth December 3: David boldly declares that God not only knows everything about him but that God has searched him to the point that there are no secrets; God sees and knows him intricately and completely. God is all-knowing and ever-present.
#TuesdayTruthDecember 10: David precedes this heartfelt Psalm in acknowledgement and praise of God for knitting him together in his mother’s womb, establishing the fact that all of his days were planned before he was even formed. He goes on to proclaim that even if he could count the number of God’s thoughts toward him, they would outnumber the grains of sand. It’s mind boggling to think even if we could count the sand on the seashores, we still could not count all the precious thoughts of God concerning us!
#TuesdayTruth December 17: God provides the rain and causes crops and grass to grow, not only for our benefit but for all creatures great and small. Even the birds sing praises and lift their praises to Him. How much more He cares for us who have placed our hope in His faithful love. How much more we should praise Him for all that He has done for us and for all that He is: the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
#TuesdayTruth December 24:
While the entire book of Psalms is about praising God, the very last chapter appropriately concludes with five “Hallelujah Psalms.” The last of which proclaims “Let everything that breathes praise the LORD Hallelujah!” (Psalm 150:6) So, how is it that God takes pleasure in us? One way is in the prayers of His people. Apart from our prayers there’s nothing in us worth taking pleasure in unless He has put it there. If He sees any beauty in us, it is the reflection of His own face. Christians are all works in progress. Whatever grace we have, whatever repentance we have, and whatever faith we have, are all varying stages of sanctification that will one day be made perfectly perfect in Him!
Walking through our local big box retail store in late November I was intrigued by the array of “Christmas” T-shirt’s on display. Every single one of them was either making some sort of fun or folly of Christmas. Now I enjoy having fun just as much as anybody, but there’s a big difference between having fun and making fun of something. I found these shirts in particular poor taste:
I wondered how did we get here?
A quick search on the internet about “Christmas” returns a lot of interesting information. For one, “Christmas literally means “Christ’s mass,” which originated from the Old English term, “Cristes Maesse.” It was sometime during the 4th century that a decision was made by the early church to celebrate the birth of Christ annually. They chose the date of December 25, which also happened to coincide with the Roman Saturnalia festival, a traditional pagan festival. Why the 4th century church chose to combine the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world with a pagan festival is perhaps a discussion for another day, but suffice it to say that this is, in fact, what history has recorded.
Fast forward to today, it seems that while Christmas has long been a beloved holiday to most everyone, it holds different meanings to different people.
For the believer in Christ, it’s all about Christ.
For the unbeliever, it has nothing at all to do with Christ.
For the child or the young at heart, it’s a time of wonder, expectation, and excitement. It’s sweet in terms of giving gifts to our loved ones and the joy we have in watching their excitement however, their excitement is quite likely centered around the gifts. Have you first shared or read the Christmas story from the Bible? Do your children and family know why we exchange gifts at Christmastime? What about those who can’t afford to buy gifts? Or, is there possibly too much emphasis on the giving of expensive gifts in your family?
For the retail business owners, big box stores, and online retail giants, it’s a time of huge sales profits as the public spends billions of dollars buying gifts for their loved ones, many of which who go into debt buying those gifts. Bottom line, the buying and selling of gifts has morphed into a multi-billion dollar secular commercialization of Christmas.
Somewhere along the line, it seems that the importance of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has been edged out by the the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.
Maybe we could place the blame on the advertising industry that is constantly in the business of promoting bigger and better products.
Maybe we could blame our government agencies who removed Nativity scenes from government properties.
Maybe we could blame the school boards who removed Bibles from schools and banned teachers from talking about the Christian faith and Jesus Christ.
Maybe we could blame the big corporations who promote whatever the latest woke ideology is, but never ever mention anything about Jesus Christ.
Maybe we could blame the progressive liberal churches, apostate churches, and the prosperity churches; all of which preach a false gospel.
Maybe we could blame the parents who fail to raise their children in a Christian environment or even tell them why Jesus was born or what He did on the cross on our behalf.
But the truth is,
Satan is the god of this world and is the major influence on the opinions and actions of the unbelievers all around the world today. Satan is hell bent on keeping people from coming into a saving relationship with Christ.
And,
As it is written:
There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Romans 3:10-12
And because of this,
Until one becomes born again through the gift of faith, the repentance of sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone, Christmas will remain in their eyes, to be all about the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.
So while Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmastime, nonbelievers celebrate everything but Christ.
All the more reason that Christians need to pray for those who do not yet know Christ, and to speak up, not just at Christmastime but anytime the Spirit leads.
We need to tell everyone that,
Christmas is all about Christ. It’s the integral part of God’s perfect plan of salvation through Jesus’ incarnate birth.
That’s why we give gifts at Christmastime, in honor of the gifts given to the Christ-child by the Magi.
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
Jesus was the greatest gift ever given; His birth is worthy of celebration!
I remember years ago my mom told me that my grandpa used to write notes, aka love letters, to my grandma when they first started courting. He was two years older than her and was a school teacher in Wright Township, Greene County, Indiana from 1913 to 1920. Although she didn’t attend school during this time as she only completed an 8th grade education, which was very common in the early 1900’s.
To the best of my recollection my mom told me that grandma told her that grandpa would send handwritten notes home to her via one of his students who was also her neighbor, and she’d reply back to him the same way.
Those notes must have been very sweet, as they fell in love and got married in 1915.
My grandma was 19 years old and my grandpa was 21 at the time of their marriage. They were blessed with four children, David, Sarah, Naomi, and Ralph. My mom, who later changed her name to Sara, was their second child.
Circa late 1920’s, my grandpa, my mom Sarah, her siblings David and Naomi, and my grandma holding baby Ralph.
My grandparents were married just short of 54 years when my grandpa passed away in November 1969. My grandma survived him by 16 years, passing away in November 1985. They were both strong Christians and left a big impression in my life by the way they lived their life, and by the way they loved with the love of Christ.
A sweet memory from a January 1966 hometown newspaper clipping about my grandparents’ December 1965 50th wedding anniversary.
I recently saw an article that centered around a box of old love letters, and it sparked this old memory about my grandparents.
I thought, how sweet it would be to have some of their old love letters.
So I asked my siblings and a couple of my cousins if they happened to recall or actually have any of those letters, and unfortunately they do not, so my faint memories will have to suffice.
I actually have a box of some old letters, post cards, and memorabilia from my early junior high days. Most of the letters were from my 7th grade best friend Donita, who moved to Georgia during our junior high school years.
It’s pretty safe to say, hand written notes and love letters are now a thing of the past. Technology has definitely brought us some great advances and conveniences but has also forever changed the landscape of how we express our feelings, and how we communicate with each other.
Nowadays, texting, social media posts, and messaging have likely become the most preferred form of communication. The pros include convenience and time efficiency, but I believe the cons outweigh the pros. Some of the cons include being misunderstood, texting the wrong person by mistake, autocorrect mumble jumble, and the missing out of the joy of hearing and seeing people in person.
And,
I regret not having found any of those old notes and love letters between my grandpa and grandma,
But,
I do have several Bibles, which Billy Graham lovingly referred to as God’s “love letters” to us:
“The Bible is God’s love letters to us. It is there He tells us not only that He loves us, but shows us what He has done to demonstrate His love. It also tells us how we should live, because God knows what is best for us and He wants us to experience it. Never forget: The Bible is God’s Word, given to us so we can know and follow Him.” #BillyGraham
However,
According to a quick internet search, the Baptist Press for example, states that “while the average home in America has three or four bibles in it, more than half of Americas read little or none of the Bible. Less than a quarter of those who have ever read a Bible have a systematic plan for reading Scripture each day. And a third of Americans never pick it up on their own.”
As for me, since becoming a Christian, I’ve read through the Bible three times, studied the gospels several times, done various Bible studies, either in a group setting or on my own. In December 2022, I started a new Bible chapter-by-chapter Bible study by listening to an audio Bible app on my phone, reading the corresponding chapter in my Bible, and then studying the Bible notes. My goal has been to do this daily. I haven’t always met my goal but I do most days and while it’s going to be a long while before I finish this Bible study, it’s been such a blessing to me.
Truth be told, I haven’t always studied my Bible. There’s been more times than I care to remember when I haven’t been actively studying my Bible. Thankfully, I was convicted a while back, by the grace of God, that there’s no good reason why a Christian should not be actively involved in some type of daily Bible study.
So,
The point I want to emphasize is that studying the Bible goes hand in hand with being a Christian. It’s one of the best ways for us to know Him more and to know His will in our lives. It’s rich in meaning, instructions, and warnings. It also helps us make sense of some of the things we see going on in the world today. No matter how dark the days may seem, His word assures us that we, who are called by His name, have a hope and a future in Him.
I do believe that the Bible really is like a collection of “love letters.” It’s about,
the amazing love of God,
the promises of God,
the miracles of Jesus,
the sinfulness of man,
God’s plan of salvation,
blessings for those who obey Him,
and,
curses for those who do not.
The Bible also helps us to know that,
God is sovereign,
God is good,
God is always to be trusted,
and so much more.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
So, if you’re a Christian and you’re not actively involved in some type of Bible study, maybe it’s time to ask yourself why not. Or better still, pray about it.
Or,
If you’re not a Christian, why not carve out some time to read the Bible for a few minutes each day? It’s God’s love letters to you.
In October of 2023 Harold and I embarked on a 14 Night Carnival “Journeys” cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Galveston, Texas. I booked this cruise the year before when I saw the itinerary went to most all the ports (plus a few more) that we were supposed to go on in March of 2020 to celebrate our 40th anniversary. That 2020 10 Night cruise was cancelled due to Covid-19 hysteria. So, 3 1/2 years later we finally got to go on our eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Dream.
Our Itinerary:
Day 1 Galveston (Embark)
Day 2 Sea Day
Day 3 Key West
Day 4 Sea Day
Day 5 Grand Turk (XXLD due to WX)
Day 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 7 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Day 8 St Kitts, Basseterre
Day 9 St Maarten,Netherland Antilles
Day 10 St Croix, US Virgin Islands
Day 11 Sea Day
Day 12 Falmouth
Day 13 Sea Day
Day 14 Sea Day
Day 15 Galveston (Disembark)
Days 1 and 2, were Sea Days and were mostly spent exploring the ship, enjoying the music, entertainment, food, and the people.
Day 3 brought us to Key West, Florida for the afternoon. We walked down to The Southernmost Point, and enjoyed several of the sights along the way: The Kapok Tree, the Key West U.S. NAS, and back to town to do a little shopping. We visited here in 2017 but missed seeing most of the things we saw on this day so this was a great stop.
Days 4 and 5 were both Sea Days as Hurricane Tammy made it impossible for the ship to dock at Turks and Caicos. We already visited Grand Turk in 2019, so we were much more thankful to be safe rather than sorry. We filled the extra time relaxing and enjoying the ship activities.
Day 6 was spent in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We took a local tour to see the old town, forts, new town, the capital building, and the beautiful colorful homes of San Juan.
On Day 7 we slept in a bit after being up late the night before at the Silent White Disco Party. Harold sat and watched while I danced with a bunch of ladies to old disco songs with headphones on! Ha! We wore all white but not everyone got the memo. In St Thomas we shopped a little and then went on the sky ride and saw some amazing views! It’s a beautiful island.
Day 8 at St Kitts Basseterre, I got up early this morning and snuck around hiding’s 7 rubber ducks with 7 Bible versed post cards. We ate made-to-order omelettes for breakfast and climbed back into bed as it was raining when we docked. We went ashore around noon just as the rain subsided and enjoyed some shopping and the colorful sights at St Kitts.
On day 9 we docked on the Dutch side of St Maarten, Netherland Antilles and took a tour of the island which included the French side as well. Interestingly it’s a long distance call from the Dutch side to the French side. They also have completely two different governments and rules. My favorite stop was at SXM airport where the beach runs right up to the landing strip. The signs along the fence warn about death and serious injury if you stand there! We ate lunch at the Sunset Beach SXM restaurant while airplanes were landing and taking off. I walked over to the beach and got a video of one flying right over me as it was landing. I remember wanting to visit SXM years ago when I worked for Delta, so I was really excited to finally get to visit here.
We spent Day 10 in St Croix, US Virgin Islands shopping and enjoying the colorful sights and sounds. Back on ship we enjoyed our nightly dinner with our dinner companions and the nightly entertainment du jour!
Our nightly dinner companions, Ralph & Pat from the Houston area, and Clovis & Donna who are full-time RV’ers.
Day 11 was a Sea Day and Halloween. We found (actually Harold found) a rubber duck this morning on our way to breakfast! That was fun, and was our first and only rubber duck to find on this cruise! The day was full of Halloween activities including a costume contest. Harold wore his Colts Manning #18 jersey and I dressed as a Colts cheerleader! We watched the Rangers play in the World Series on the Lido deck and went to bed exhausted after a full and fun day on the ship.
Day 12: We visited Falmouth, Jamaica and enjoyed some shopping at the port. The port is cone shaped which lets two cruise ships dock around it at the same time. Jamaica is full of colors, music, and a lot of humidity.
Days 13-15 Sea Days went by super fast on our way back to Galveston Port. We bought a photo package and picked out our favorite pics, enjoyed the entertainment, the amenities, the people, the crew, dinner, and especially the yummy deserts.
Some Dr Seuss fun with Sam I Am, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and The Cat in the Hat! Formal Night #1Formal Night #2Casual, formal, and our Halloween costumes! Casual nights
Overall we had such a wonderful time on this cruise and were so thankful to be able to go on a cruise like this one.
But I have to say, I came away feeling sorry for many of the cruisers. Apparently this type of cruise, a Journeys Cruise, is a favorite among the Platinum level cruisers. Platinum cruisers have cruised a minimum of 75 nights on Carnival Cruise Lines. The buzz around the ship was that this cruise had over 60% of Platinum cruisers on it and that they were hard to please. Now our nightly dinner table included Platinum cruisers and they were all very nice people but it seemed that many of the Platinum cruisers were not so nice and not so happy. Many were full of complaints and seemed unimpressed and unappreciative. We talked to several of them over the two weeks we spent on this ship. Many bragged about constant cruising and/or back-to-back cruising, and practically in the same breath would complain about this or that. Several of these same people also complained about their children and grandchildren. It made me sad for them and got me thinking about the swinging tides of happiness in some people’s lives, like a pendulum.
According to Britannica a pendulum is a “body suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing back and forth under the influence of gravity.”
My theory here is that people who have been blessed with so much but somehow always find something to complain or be unhappy about are like a pendulum going back and forth, pulled by gravity. Except in this case instead of gravity, they’re being swayed every “which way but loose” by their own choices and self-centered emotions. Not a good formula for life.
Whereas the opposite is generally true for Christians. Jesus is our Lord and it is He who is our unshakable, firm, steady, and reliable anchor in life. He is our rock, our solid foundation.
Happiness is not found in endless cruising. Happiness is not found in having a multitude of possessions. Happiness is not found in getting everything and anything you want. No!
True happiness is found in relationship with Christ 🙌🏻 and until one comes to the realization about the truth of the gospel and their desperate need for a Savior, no amount of cruising (or whatever a person is doing trying to obtain happiness) will ever fill the need in your life that can only be accomplished by turning to Christ in repentance and faith.
Cruises will eventually fail your expectations. Possessions will break, go out of style, or get stolen. Some people and some relationships will invariably disappoint you, hurt you, or even leave you.
But God,
Will never leave or forsake you. Period.
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15
True happiness is also a byproduct of being thankful for all of God’s blessings, both great and small.
Small like finding a rubber duck! Ha!
Great like having a relationship with Christ, a loving family, and a place to call home.
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
I’ve been blessed with a family of great cooks, starting with my grandma Anderson. She was such a great cook! Everything she made was yummy, especially her made-from-scratch pancakes and her homemade pies. Her pie crust was flaky and always turned out perfect! Sometimes when she had a little pie dough left over she’d make me a special treat with the leftover dough with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. She’d roll it up and pop it into the oven; it tasted so good! She made all sorts of pies but my favorite was her rubarb pie.
My grandma cutting a ham in her kitchen in Frankfort, Indiana in the 1950’s. This was probably a holiday such as Easter or Thanksgiving.
My childhood memories of visiting my grandma include the smell of food cooking in her kitchen, the love that she had for each one of us, and all of the family gatherings there in Frankfort, Indiana.
My grandma’s Dumplings recipe in her handwriting. Her dumplings were my favorite thing to eat at Thanksgiving time! Coffee and desert at grandma’s house, Christmas 1972. Linda, my grandma’s niece, and my cousin Patty, with my sister Joyce.My grandma deboning a turkey, sitting in our kitchen nook at our home on Hickory Lane in Indianapolis in 1973.
My mom was great cook too, and she especially knew how to put dinners together on a budget. She made hamburger casserole dishes out of slightly expired frozen White Castle hamburger patties that my dad would bring home from work. He worked in the Indianapolis White Castle office for much of my childhood. My mom also made the best use out of leftovers, and would stretch a gallon of whole milk into two gallons by mixing it with low-fat powdered milk.
Mom making breakfast in March of 1967 in the kitchen of our Florida hotel.Mom at the kitchen sink at our Hickory Lane home in Indianapolis in June of 1972. Mom in her kitchen on McFarland Rd in Indianapolis sometime in the early 1980’s. April 1963 bunny cake & a pig drink container, made by mom. She was so happy how they turned out! My mom’s handwritten Spanish Rice recipe, which is my husband’s second favorite meal that my mom used to make. His favorite meal made by my mom was her Soup Beans!Family dinner May 1972, Hickory Lane, Indpls. Thanksgiving, November 1979, McFarland Rd, Indpls.
Honorable mention goes to my sister Joyce for her great Dressing recipe.
My sister Joyce’s handwritten Dressing recipe, 1977.
As for me, some my first memories of cooking include making Jello desserts and chocolate chip cookies. The Jello was super easy and has long been one of my favorite things to teach my girls when they were very young. The chocolate chip cookies I made were from a recipe I got from my 4-H Handbook. I used to walk to the weekly 4-H meetings which were at a home in our neighborhood. After my mom helped me make my first batch of cookies I started making them as often as I could!
I copied this recipe from my 4H Handbook when I was around 9 or 10 years old.
So I guess I’m a pretty good cook on an as-needed basis, which is pretty much daily. Ha! I enjoy cooking new recipes occasionally as long as I’m familiar with all of the ingredients. I especially like dishes that are low calorie and healthy. I dislike making new recipes if they don’t turn out good, as I don’t like wasting food, but I do love it when I try a new recipe and it turns out good.
Next, our three daughters, Michelle, Megan, and Mackenzie.
Michelle is a great cook but figured out early on in her marriage with Marty that he was a really good cook too, so he does a lot of the cooking in their home. Michelle’s favorite meal to cook is Spaghetti and Zuppa Toscana.
Michelle in our Jacksonville, Florida kitchen around 1991 or 1992. Michelle in 1998 in our Krum, Texas kitchen showing off the desert that she (or was it Megan?!) just made! Michelle and Mackenzie in Michelle’s kitchen after they prepared dinner for us on Mother’s Day in 2014.
Megan started baking and putting yummy dishes together when she was young teenager. I remember her making yummy cheese nachos that looked and tasted like they were made in a restaurant! She still loves cooking although it’s difficult being in a wheelchair so she’s taught Landon and Livia to do some cooking, and her husband, John, cooks on most nights. Megan’s favorite meal to cook is sweet potato casserole.
Michelle and Megan at their play kitchen outside our Harding Street home in Indianapolis in April of 1988.Megan in our Krum, Texas home in September of 1998, and wearing a cast on her right leg from one of her many surgeries over the years. Megan making a Gingerbread House in our Krum, Texas home. I think this was around Christmas time of 1999 or 2000.
Mackenzie enjoyed making cookies and helping with dinner when she was young but I think she didn’t really start taking cooking seriously until she moved into her first home in September of 2019. It was there that she got an air fryer and later subscribed to a meal delivery service that delivered all of the ingredients along with the instructions. Eventually she stopped the subscription service and started buying the ingredients at the grocery. Her favorite meal to cook is chicken spaghetti, which is the first meal I taught her how to make when she was a teenager.
Mackenzie making cookies in our Denton, Texas home August 2004. Mackenzie making Stuffed Mushrooms in our Denton, Texas home sometime in 2005. Mackenzie “cooking” in Minnie’s kitchen at Disney World, Christmas Day 2007. Mackenzie’s first Thanksgiving Dinner she prepared all by herself in 2018. Harold and I had been in Florida on an RV trip and it was really nice to come home to a prepared dinner waiting for us! It tasted good too!
Next, some of our grandchildren!
Gabriel, Remi, and Colby “cooking” up some sweet Christmas treats at a photo studio in December 2021. Landon enjoying some vegetables in the kitchen of their Ponder home in June of 2018. Livia helping me make dinner at our Denton, Texas home in October 2019. Mackenzie and Hudson making some Valentines Day treats in our Denton, Texas kitchen in 2019.
Finally, this story would not be complete without including my mother-in-law, Mildred. She poured her life into cooking! Whenever she visited and back when she was in good health, the first thing she wanted to do was to find out what we were making for dinner. As soon as we figured out the menu she’d start the preparations for dinner early in the day. She also had a special talent of making a variety of pies. My only complaint was that she put too much sugar in some of her recipes – even in recipes that didn’t call for sugar! Ha! Other than that she was an excellent cook!
My mother-in-law in our Krum, Texas kitchen helping prepare Thanksgiving Dinner in 2001 or 2002. My mother-in-law’s handwritten Banana Cake recipe.
I’ll close with two prayers.
The first one is old prayer that our family prayed together at our dinner table when I was growing up in Indianapolis in the 50’s, 60’s, and early 1970’s:
God is gracious, God is good,
And we thank Him for our food.
By His tender loving care,
By His presence everywhere. Amen
The second one is a beautiful kitchen prayer written by M Peterson in 1944 about God’s love, grace, and the food which He so graciously provides. The author reminds us to be thankful for everything, including the dirty pots and pans, and to ask for His blessings over all:
God bless my little kitchen, I love its every nook, And bless me as I do my work, Wash pots and pans and cook.
And may the meals that I prepare Be seasoned from above With Thy great blessings and Thy grace, But most of all Thy love.
As we partake of earthly food, The table before us spread, We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord, Who gives us daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen, God, And those who enter in, May they find naught but joy and peace, And happiness therein. Amen
Some of my favorite childhood memories were that of our family vacations. To the best of my recollection, most of our vacations were either to Florida or Ohio. One year we’d go somewhere in Florida and the next year we’d go to Cincinnati. Florida was quite a bit further away from Indianapolis than Cincinnati, so Cincinnati was more affordable as it was only a couple of hours away. We also didn’t usually stay very long in Cincinnati, but it was always fun!
Of course Florida was fun too. Well, mostly. Actually I got the worst sunburn of my life in Daytona Beach when I was 13 years old. What can I say? I was young and dumb. I spent the entire first day of that vacation walking up and down the beach in my new bikini. It was my first bikini and I thought I was so cool. Ha! Actually, burnt to a crisp is probably a better description! I was in so much pain that first night. I was fainting and vomiting and probably really should have gone to the ER. Long story short, I spent the rest of the vacation sick in bed. Fun times. Not.
Actually, I have a lot of great memories of our Florida vacations. I remember my mom would always pack sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks in preparation for the long drive. We’d usually got the kind of hotels that had refrigerators in them and my mom would fix meals in her electric skillet that she had brought from home. Of course we ate out at restaurants on occasion, which was always a treat!
My dad also knew that a hotel with a swimming pool was a top priority. Once we got to Florida a hotel on or near the beach was rare but super cool when we did. We enjoyed swimming regardless if it was at a hotel pool or at the beach. Most of the hotels we stayed at would probably be best described as small inexpensive roadside motels; nothing fancy and nothing expensive.
Some of my favorite memories in Florida were riding the Glass Bottom boat at Silver Springs, watching the Wiki Wachi skiers, going to different beaches, and visiting the Kennedy Space Center.
I especially liked stopping at various points of interest and different rest stops between Indianapolis and Florida. I liked the caves in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Stuckey’s stores in Georgia and Florida. Stuckey’s had the best taffy and candy!
So, why Cincinnati?!
Well first, it was just a little over a hundred miles away from Indianapolis, so it was close to home.
Second, the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Team.
And third, Coney Island!
Coney Island was a wonderful but very old amusement park in Cincinnati. We all enjoyed Coney Island but my dad especially liked going to watch the Cincinnati Reds play ball. So while he took my older brothers with him to the baseball game, my mom, me, and my little brother, Dougie, would go shopping or just hang out at the hotel. Regardless, whatever else we did, the highlight of our trip was always Coney Island! It didn’t really bother me one bit that I didn’t get to go to the baseball games. Now, I do remember being upset when I first heard about Coney Island closing in 1970. I wasn’t upset for long as I soon learned that Kings Island was scheduled to open in 1972, and that it would be twice as large as Coney Island. Although, by the time it opened, I had already graduated from high school and our family vacations were soon becoming a thing of the past.
Looking back, I realize that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful, and vacations don’t have to cost a lot of money to be fun. Spending time together away from home, even in simple accommodations, was fine with me. I was just happy that we got to go on vacations. Even as a child, I sensed that it was a financial strain on my parents to raise six kids and also afford family vacations.
I also realize I may have not expressed my thankfulness back then to my parents. I suppose when we’re young most of us take a lot of things for granted, and by the time we come to realize this, it’s too late. But, if both of my parents were alive today, I’d tell them how much I love them, and I would thank them for all that they did for me, and for all of the sacrifices they made as parents. I would also tell them that going on our family vacations gave me some of my happiest memories of my childhood. ❤️
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:18
Here’s a few of our family vacation photos between 1959 and 1971.
Joyce, Eldon, Mom, Ronnie, Denny, me, Dad & Eldon in Indianapolis ready to go on vacation in 1959.York Valley Inn Motel in Florida. Me in the pool, Ronnie on the diving board, and Denny playing shuffleboard with Ronnie in Florida in 1959.Scenic Jungle Cruise at Silver Springs, Florida in 1968. Mom & Eldon outside zour Florida hotel in 1959. Denny, Ronnie, Dougie, & me “in the lock-up” at Coney Island in Ohio in 1965. Ronnie, dad, Eldon, Dougie, mom, & me, fourth row back at Mammoth Cave National Park near Brownsville, KY in 1961.Me, Ronnie, Mom, & Dougie in Florida in 1967. Ronnie, me, Dougie, & Denny at Coney Island in 1965. Dougie, Ronnie, & Denny in Florida in 1968. Dad, me, Dougie, Ronnie, & Denny, somewhere between Indianapolis and Florida in 1967. Mom in Florida in 1961. Me swimming in Florida in 1962. Dougie, me, Ronnie, & Denny watching TV in a Florida hotel in 1970. Mom in Florida in 1962.Mom and Dad in Florida in 1968. Dad in Florida in 1967. Mom, Dad, and Dougie on the beach in 1968. Mom on the beach in 1970.Denny, Dad, me, Mom & Dougie on the Scenic Jungle Cruise at Silver Springs in 1968. Ronnie & me on the moped at Daytona Beach in 1968. Me on the float and poolside in Florida in 1971.
Treasure In Jars of Clay 