Gift Giving This Year

I know that you have already experienced an avalanche of catalogs stuffed in your mailbox. Some of you survived "black Friday," others waited for "cyber Monday." I don't want to sound like Scrouge... but I am concerned about the spending (did you hear about the Wal-Mart employee who was killed by greedy shoppers last week?) and the buying and where it is leading us? Every year, the pressure is on... to get more and spend more - and what is the end result?
Well, here's a tip and I hope you'll take it to heart (even for those who are shopping for dad/grandpa this year). The best gift of all is to give yourself. I promise it is just what your loved one - has always needed and always wanted. It is the gift that keeps on giving through out the year (can you remember one thing you got under the tree last year... two years ago?).
Our family will remember one of the best Christmases ever, was the year we gave ourselves to each other. Coupons filled the tree with promises to "I'll make your bed for a week" or a "batch of your favorite cookies," a "trip to get ice cream" or "read a story" to you. All coupons had to be redeemed by a set date and the fun continued long after the tree was down and decorations were put away.
I've included a couple of gifts that I will cherish forever. Recently Dad made me a shadow box with all my old barber tools. I will never forget how the tears flowed the day, Sue gave me a picture of my Grandma & Grandpa Deeter on a old fashion screen door frame. Mom recently gave me a family heirloom, their old clock, passed down through three generations. Another treasure is an old fishing creel and net from the a dear friend's widow. With each gift, hand made and/or personal keepsake, they gave me a piece of themselves. There is no way that I would ever take back or trade in... one of these priceless gifts.
The greatest Gift of all came wrapped in swaddling clothes and was found lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem, long ago. That Gift has changed the world. Do you know why? Answer - because He gave Himself, approximately 33 years later, when He died for our sins on an old Roman cross. And the Gift keeps on giving... Merry CHRISTmas!

So Thankful

We are so blessed and have so much for which we are thankful. God has been so good to us. This past week, we traveled to Ohio to be with our family. We anticipated our time together for months. It was everything we hoped it to be and so much more.

Tony, Jillynn, Jaykob, Addi and Ella came all the way from North Carolina... Angel, Jeff and Kerri came from down the road... Ann and Ryan (Greg's mom and son) came over from Heath... Sue and I came down from Flint (even our dog, Missi made the trip)... to Greg and Amee's house (along with our grand-puppy, Brutus). The food was exception, the weather was great, the fun was beyond words. Everything wonderful that one could imagine, took place during our three days together (Tony even brought Cheerwine from NC- that's pop!).

Our only regret was that Mom and Dad were not with us (they are in Florida for the winter, so we can have them a lot longer in the years to come). But really they were there - all they have done for us... the legacy that have passed on that lives in each of us (they've even spoiled the dogs)... every gift (except Mom's exception cooking) but then again Angel made Mom's recipe for homemade noodles (and they were close if not right on!).

We ate and ate and ate some more... stayed up late and got up early... went to COSI (Center of Science and Industry)... took pictures and more pictures... went to Scott and Danielle's (neice) new home on Friday and got to see Bev and Randy's families (Roger's sister and brother) and all the cousins... ate "finger food" (even though Roger asked for a fork)... watched football... played games on the big screen tv... made more memories... hung outdoor Christmas lights... said good-bye and choked back a few tears.

To copy the words of a contemporary songwriter, "How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee." Thank you God... thank you family... we are blessed and we are thankful.

Summertime Memories

The leaves are falling, the frost is slowly creeping in at night and snow is predicted for the first of the week. But my heart is warmed with memories of a great summer (Dad and I got to fish together in August for the first time in ten years). We enjoy the outdoors and try to get out in the middle of it anytime we can.

For as long as I can remember, our family has loved fishing. As I walk down the hallway of my mind, some of the best photos on the wall are of family members with a bass, a walleye or even a bluegill. And it seems that whenever we go, there is always a little friendly competition as well. Whether it's first fish or largest fish or most fish, the winner gets a Dove bar on the way home. There has always been a contest associated with each trip out.This summer was no different except for one "small" detail. Sue now holds the 2008 record. Her favorite line (I can hear it, even in my sleep) is "all I need is a bobber, a worm and a hook." She does not appreciate the need to spend hours walking through Bass Pro or Cabelas. She cannot figure out why in the world, anyone would need more than one tackle box or pole. She can carry her "tools of the trade" in one hand (I need U-haul). But this year, she proved her point with style.

I was out in the boat, throwing everything in the box, into every suspect spot I could find in the lake. I was wearing out my reel, when I heard a scream from the dock. Her "bobber, worm and hook" had already served her well with several bluegills caught and released. She assured me that she was alright, but she had a "big one" on and couldn't get him in. When I pulled up beside the dock, she proudly displayed her trophy - 19 1/2 inch, 5 pound, largemouth bass - her biggest ever and the 2008 family record. Photos were taken and the big guy was released (he'll be a 6 pounder next year). And she caught him off the dock, and with just a... (you guessed it).

So on this cool Fall evening, I don't need a fire to warm my old bones. I have wonderful memories of a great family... a great summer... and the blessing of God to enjoy it all. I am also thinking of how I can get the record back next year. There's some great new lures in my fishing catalogs, and I wonder...

It Still Hurts

We are buckeye fans... no doubt about it! Sue was born in Columbus and I was raised there. The horseshoe is a shrine. Our colors are scarlet and gray. We were raised under the influence of Woody Hayes. But after a week of pain and heartache... it's time to talk about it.

I am tired of being embarrassed on national TV. It hurts when that Cincinnati NFL "what's his name" quarterback talks about his Alma mater being so much better than ours and we are the most over-rated team in the nation. Well last Saturday night we looked like it, and it looked like he was right...

But he's not and neither are any of those other "experts" across the land who are trashing our team. I know that our marching band could have played better than the team last week, but we have the best coach in the land (a friend of mine knows him on a first name basis) and the season is young. I trust Coach Tressel will use his faith to say and do the right things (this is not just about football). I trust that our guys will stop reading and listening to the press (good and bad) and just play to their potential. Let's put last Saturday where it belongs, in the past. But let's learn from it too.

Well another Saturday is just around the corner, and we will get out our colors and wear them proudly. The OSU flag is still waving in our front yard and we're ready to cheer our guys on as they "fight the team across the field..." By the way, we can wait until next year, when those California guys come to our house. And does anyone know where Troy is...? Go Bucks!

A Week Full of Fun

On Sunday, August 24th, we packed up and headed south to visit our family in Columbus (OH) and Colfax (NC). Arriving at Angel's we were treated to an evening of pizza (one of Angel's super salads) and a restful night with Angel, Amee, Kerri and Greg. The next morning, we were off to see the rest of our clan in North Carolina. We got in to Colfax late on Monday, but we were all energized with a hugs and kisses reunion. Before the night was over, Sue was reading stories to the grandkids, Tony and Jillynn caught us up on their new life in the South and we headed to Zach's for ice cream.

The week was saturated with memories that will last a life time. We didn't spend a lot of money or travel long distances, we simply shared each other. We enjoyed leisure mornings, Jaykob's first day at school (see Parsonsfamilyfive.blogspot.com for more), eating noon meals out, touring beautiful Shady Grove Wesleyan campus, Farmer's Market (sampling all we could), helped landscape their new pond, shopping together, porch swinging, reading stories, playing games, family prayer time, eating evening meals together with Jillynn's great home cooking, ice cream, playing football in the front yard, seeing the new Star Wars movie (Tony, Grandpa and Jayk), while Sue and Jillynn had a ladies' day out, a special trip to Greensboro Nature Center (where Addi "fed the alligators"), a trip to CeCe's Pizza (where Jayk had won second prize in a coloring contest), computer upgrades, Wednesday evening youth with Tony speaking, plenty of picture taking, Jillynn and Sue to a horse ranch, Missy hiding from one year old Ella, drinking Cheerwine (that's pop), Sue's birthday complete with special surprises, gifts and a visit to Cold Stones for more ice cream and ended with Roger speaking in the Sunday morning worship at their church.

Following another wonderful meal together, goodbyes, hugs and tears; we headed back north. We arrived at Amee's late on Sunday night to share another visit with Angel, Amee' Greg and his son, Ryan. We talked about the Ohio State Buckeyes (and their 43-0 win the day before) and a brief review of the previous week. The next day was Labor Day, but it was a lazy day for us. We traveled to Buckeye Lake and shared a wonderful day on Greg's boat. It was a picture perfect day with plenty of sunshine and more memories. The scenes were outstanding (including a tour of $680,000 home that Angel's boss has for sell), laughs with Amee and Ryan as they went tubing, a great lunch on the water and a trip back home to rest before a nice meal out (Greg paid). Tuesday morning, we met Mom, Dad and Randy for breakfast before heading back to Flint. We thank God for a great family and the fact that after all these years, we would still rather be together than anywhere else in the world.