Merry Christmas!!
This is the time of year we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.
But all too often, I forget. I have no excuses. I get busy at work. (This is our busy season.) Busy at home. Busy at church. . . . and the list goes on.
I try to take a few minutes each day to reflect and be thankful. I try to focus on the the gift of salvation I have been given.
Dec 23, 2008
Dec 21, 2008
Where Were You 3 Years Ago Today
Do you remember where you were three years ago today? For most people, it was a fairly mundane day. It was just four days before Christmas. Were you doing that last minute shopping? Were you on the road to visit the ones you loved?
I remember that day well. I wake up to that nightmare too often. For me, it was one of the hardest days of my life. Wiley had survived a major brain surgery. For over 8 hours, the doctor had dug out as much tumor as he could safely remove. We had been released from ICU and were on the "floor" to continue recovery. But this morning, things went terribly wrong. In a matter of hours, Wiley had started pushing out all of the fluids he body held. I knew there was something wrong. I asked the nurse to call the doctors. She said she did. (We later found out - She did not.) Wiley had drawn up into a fetal position. He could not close his eyes. He couldn't talk or make any noise. You could pinch his skin and it would not return back.
Stacy was late getting to the hospital that morning. She had taken Hunter to school and was taking a few minutes to take care of some business. I had to call her and ask her where she was. And as calmly as possible let her know we REALLY needed her at the hospital. But, I did not want to tell her that Wiley was about to die. The last thing I wanted to upset her and risk her having a wreck getting to the hospital.
When I finally did get the doctor, they rushed Wiley back to the ICU. The staff of the ICU were able to get an artillerial line in to him and start getting fluids back into him. For all practical purposes, we had lost him. By the Grace of God and the work of the ICU staff Wiley was saved. It was touch and go through the day. It was a loooooong day for me.
That Christmas was spent back in the ICU. They let us sneak Hunter in to celebrate too. Wiley did not know we had Christmas. We let him open presents often. It was always a surprise for him to see his gifts.
That year I was given the gift of "time" with my sons.
Merry Christmas,
stephen
I remember that day well. I wake up to that nightmare too often. For me, it was one of the hardest days of my life. Wiley had survived a major brain surgery. For over 8 hours, the doctor had dug out as much tumor as he could safely remove. We had been released from ICU and were on the "floor" to continue recovery. But this morning, things went terribly wrong. In a matter of hours, Wiley had started pushing out all of the fluids he body held. I knew there was something wrong. I asked the nurse to call the doctors. She said she did. (We later found out - She did not.) Wiley had drawn up into a fetal position. He could not close his eyes. He couldn't talk or make any noise. You could pinch his skin and it would not return back.
Stacy was late getting to the hospital that morning. She had taken Hunter to school and was taking a few minutes to take care of some business. I had to call her and ask her where she was. And as calmly as possible let her know we REALLY needed her at the hospital. But, I did not want to tell her that Wiley was about to die. The last thing I wanted to upset her and risk her having a wreck getting to the hospital.
When I finally did get the doctor, they rushed Wiley back to the ICU. The staff of the ICU were able to get an artillerial line in to him and start getting fluids back into him. For all practical purposes, we had lost him. By the Grace of God and the work of the ICU staff Wiley was saved. It was touch and go through the day. It was a loooooong day for me.
That Christmas was spent back in the ICU. They let us sneak Hunter in to celebrate too. Wiley did not know we had Christmas. We let him open presents often. It was always a surprise for him to see his gifts.
That year I was given the gift of "time" with my sons.
Merry Christmas,
stephen
Dec 16, 2008
Cold and Wet
Yesterday, Wiley and I made a mad dash to St. Jude for an appointment. The appointment was at 2:00. At 1:30, they dismissed schools due to "inclamate" weather. I guess dismissing school so "you buy all the milk and bread you can afford" is doesn't look to good on somebody's TPS report. We were blessed, we only say four bridge misshaps. But, it dd make for a slow drive home. Very cold, very wet, and bridges - there is a combination of challenges that always makes getting home fun.
It's a great day for duck huntin'. But, for Christmas? Well, yep! Tis great weather for that too I guess. I would rather have a good snow than this ice and freezing rain. But then again, I think I kinda like the "shorts and t-shirt" Christmas weather the best.
The winter wonder land sounds great in song. But, I think Christmas on the beach in shorts would be better. And even better still, on a sail boat in the Caribbean. How would that be for a holiday celebration. Now i need a friend with a sail boat! Where's Halford?
It's a great day for duck huntin'. But, for Christmas? Well, yep! Tis great weather for that too I guess. I would rather have a good snow than this ice and freezing rain. But then again, I think I kinda like the "shorts and t-shirt" Christmas weather the best.
The winter wonder land sounds great in song. But, I think Christmas on the beach in shorts would be better. And even better still, on a sail boat in the Caribbean. How would that be for a holiday celebration. Now i need a friend with a sail boat! Where's Halford?
Dec 11, 2008
My son on Yahoo Sport - Thanks Jay Busbee
At a time of year when many people struggle to find joy, my family is grateful. It was three years ago we almost lost Wiley. The three years since have not been easy. Every day has had battles. But there are the days that are "Great days." God has blessed us beyond our wildest imagination.
Yesterday, Jay Busbee wrote in his BLOG about Wiley and David Reutimann and one of our "Great Days." Here is the Link to it
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Some-feel-good-news-for-you-at-an-ugly-time-of-y?urn=nascar,128249
If you like racing, you will like Jay's BLOG.
Yesterday, Jay Busbee wrote in his BLOG about Wiley and David Reutimann and one of our "Great Days." Here is the Link to it
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Some-feel-good-news-for-you-at-an-ugly-time-of-y?urn=nascar,128249
If you like racing, you will like Jay's BLOG.
Dec 8, 2008
What Would it Take for Pastors to Come Together?
At a time when people are struggling in many areas of life, there is a safe harbor. The solutions to life's problems are not in a bottle, a pill, a new spouse, a rebounding stock market, or even a church building. The solutions are found in Christ Jesus. It's about a relationship - not religion. But how to we as believers reach out and share that message of REAL HOPE to our world.
I get to share every day. My life is filled with struggles. My struggles and battles take into places I DO NOT want to go. In those places, I meet people I would not have met otherwise. I try to share how my life has been effected by relationship with Christ. I show them how I cope with and rise above my problems with His help.
I have a burden on my heart. It's not the world, world hunger, some place I have never seen, or anything BIG. My burden is my home and the area I call home - Jackson and Central Mississippi. But how do we reach out?
I want to see our pastors come together and pray. We have different doctrinal views but we should all be bound by the belief we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. We need to ignore color, income, neighborhoods, or whatever ever else blinds us to God's love. Our Christian pastors need to take the lead with the church leaders to bridge the gaps in worship style, "religious" tradition, and theological differences and start sharing the love of Christ with our city and the surrounding area.
Will this ever happen? I don't know. But, I will do everything I can.
I get to share every day. My life is filled with struggles. My struggles and battles take into places I DO NOT want to go. In those places, I meet people I would not have met otherwise. I try to share how my life has been effected by relationship with Christ. I show them how I cope with and rise above my problems with His help.
I have a burden on my heart. It's not the world, world hunger, some place I have never seen, or anything BIG. My burden is my home and the area I call home - Jackson and Central Mississippi. But how do we reach out?
I want to see our pastors come together and pray. We have different doctrinal views but we should all be bound by the belief we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. We need to ignore color, income, neighborhoods, or whatever ever else blinds us to God's love. Our Christian pastors need to take the lead with the church leaders to bridge the gaps in worship style, "religious" tradition, and theological differences and start sharing the love of Christ with our city and the surrounding area.
Will this ever happen? I don't know. But, I will do everything I can.
Dec 6, 2008
Wiley wil be on WLBT Sunday Dec 7 at Noon for St, Jude
Hey guys, Wiley will be on our local ABC affiliate Sunday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 (Noon)
He will be helping the St. Jude Dream home raffle. We have no clue what he will be doing. But we will be there to support St. Jude how ever we can. I hope someone we know wins.
He will be helping the St. Jude Dream home raffle. We have no clue what he will be doing. But we will be there to support St. Jude how ever we can. I hope someone we know wins.
Dec 5, 2008
Low Cost, Great Christmas Idea for the Person with EVERYTHING
Hey folks, this is not exactly a BLOG type entry. But, I think it's a cool Christmas gift for the person with everything. It's one of my favorites.
Audible.com - for about $20 a month you can get 2 audio books a month. I love it!!! I have been a subscriber for several years. I have a bunch (over 100) audio books now. When I have a long drive, it's a great tool for learning and entertainment. Most of the books I get are business related. But, I have several fiction books as well.
Most of the books, if purchased at Barns & Noble, would cost more than the monthly subscription price.
Here are just SOME of the books I have now:
Merry Christmas Y'all
Audible.com - for about $20 a month you can get 2 audio books a month. I love it!!! I have been a subscriber for several years. I have a bunch (over 100) audio books now. When I have a long drive, it's a great tool for learning and entertainment. Most of the books I get are business related. But, I have several fiction books as well.
Most of the books, if purchased at Barns & Noble, would cost more than the monthly subscription price.
Here are just SOME of the books I have now:
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Unabridged)
- 7 Steps to a Turnaround
- Albert Einstein (Unabridged)
- The Anatomy of Buzz (Unabridged)
- All the books in the Left Behind Series
- The Art of Nonfiction (Unabridged)
- Becoming a Person of Influence
- Blue Like Jazz
- Book Yourself Solid (Unabridged)
- Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty
- The E-Myth Revisited (Unabridged)
- The Five Love Languages (Unabridged)
- The Fred Factor (Unabridged)
- Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Unabridged)
- Goals!
- High Trust Selling
- How to Not Suck at Sales (Live)
- How to Speak, How to Listen (Unabridged)
- How to Win Friends & Influence People (Unabridged)
- If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat
- Inspire Any Audience
- It's Never Crowded Along the Extra Mile
- Lead Like Jesus (Unabridged)
- Leadership Success
- Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play
- Made to Stick (Unabridged)
- The Magic of Thinking Big
- Mastering the Two Critical Elements of Success in Speaking
- The Millionaire Next Door (Unabridged)
- Never Eat Alone (Unabridged)
- The Next Generation Leader
- Oh, the Places You'll Go! (Unabridged)
- On Selling (Unabridged)
- Personality Plus
- Pistol (Unabridged)
- The Psychology of Winning
- Punk Marketing (Unabridged)
- The Purpose-Driven Church (Unabridged)
- The Purpose-Driven Life (Unabridged)
- Quiet Strength
- Robin Williams Interviewing Lance Armstrong
- Re-imagine! (Unabridged)
- Revolution (Unabridged)
- Rich Dad's Who Took My Money?
- The Richest Man in Babylon (Unabridged)
- Ronald Reagan's Presidential Farewell Address & Funeral Services
- Rules for Renegades (Unabridged)
- Running With the Giants (Unabridged)
- Seven Steps to Presenting 200 Programs a Year in Your Niche Market
- The Total Money Makeover
- Ultimate Sales Success
- Verbal Command
- What Got You Here Won't Get You There (Unabridged)
- Wild at Heart (Unabridged)
- Words That Work
- Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within (Unabridged)
- You: On a Diet
- Your Best Life Now
- AND over 100 MORE
Merry Christmas Y'all
Dec 3, 2008
Does Speed Channel Read These Ramblings?
I sat down for my nuked chicken pot-pie lunch today and flipped on the TV for some noise. And what did Speed have showing at lunch?
SCCA Racing!!!!!! WoooooHooooooo! I have my fix!
Well . . . now back to work.
SCCA Racing!!!!!! WoooooHooooooo! I have my fix!
Well . . . now back to work.
Racing and Silly Season
Why do they call it "Silly Season"? 'Cause I'm going NUTS with no racing!
I know they need time off. I hope they have a great "off season."
But, I need some speed in my life. "Speed" TV does not cut it. All I see are these "car" shows about about unique egos, wrecked egos, sexy models in lowrider shorts, auctions and the other similar programs. Now, if you show me how to build a car or some modification "How-to", that I can get into. But, where is the racing? There is more to life than NASCAR, Monster trucks, and F1. Where are those of us that are grassroots racers? Where are the bracket racers and local heroes of racing. Where is the SCCA events? The local dirt tracks, drag strips, motocross tracks, parking lots, and road course are full of great racing.
Oh well, I guess it's TVs way of saying, "turn me off and go work on YOUR HOTROD!"
I know they need time off. I hope they have a great "off season."
But, I need some speed in my life. "Speed" TV does not cut it. All I see are these "car" shows about about unique egos, wrecked egos, sexy models in lowrider shorts, auctions and the other similar programs. Now, if you show me how to build a car or some modification "How-to", that I can get into. But, where is the racing? There is more to life than NASCAR, Monster trucks, and F1. Where are those of us that are grassroots racers? Where are the bracket racers and local heroes of racing. Where is the SCCA events? The local dirt tracks, drag strips, motocross tracks, parking lots, and road course are full of great racing.
Oh well, I guess it's TVs way of saying, "turn me off and go work on YOUR HOTROD!"
Dec 2, 2008
Blues Picker Vs Classical Player
You know the difference between a blues guitar picker and a classical one - Blues pickers play all day and never tune - Classical players tune all day and never play.
That's my dad's favorite guitar joke. I must admit. I tell it often too. (There are a bunch more musician jokes - some I can put here, some . . . well there musician jokes and not exactly family friendly.)
All good joke have to be based on some truth. And this one is. I have played with guys that spend hours "tuning" or getting ready to play. Then there are those who never get ready. They just play - good or bad, right or wrong. It's a "joyful noise" but they are not "Playing skillfully on a loud instrument." In the military world, we had the "Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim . . ." and the "FIRE!!!!, Aim, Ready" guys.
There has to be a balance between preparation and performance. Unfortunately, I'm more of the Blues Picker. I have never let a lack of knowledge or preparation keep from anything. I have talked my way into and out of trouble so many times. My wife has seen it so often she just laughs at me now. She now laughs and calls it a bookstore experience. I have never had a job I was qualified for. Resumes are the ultimate sales job - or mine is at least. When I was a consultant, (every few months - when I was trying to land a client) I would go to the bookstore or library and read about the problem or system I was trying to land. I would learn just enough to talk to the company. I focused on the problems or weird features. Then if I got the gig, I would go buy all the books i could find on the subject and learn as I went. I played a lot without "tuning" as a consultant.
My cousin, John Wilson, also got to experience a lot of my mouth writin' checks we had to cash. We were moving an office for a friend one summer when I said I could wire up some of the office. And next thing I knew, we were doing it. I think my quote to John was, "Hey it's just two wires for the electrical. And we can buy pre-made cabinets to hang. How hard can it be?" We did it. No one died. Someone may have gotten hurt but that was not uncommon for us.
I cant say i have ever experienced the "Tune all day and never play" side of life. I depend on the people around me for that. My wife and John mainly get that privilege. It's up to me to keep thier life exciting.
One day, I may learn balance. I am trying. (But, "try" means to attempt and fail.)
That's my dad's favorite guitar joke. I must admit. I tell it often too. (There are a bunch more musician jokes - some I can put here, some . . . well there musician jokes and not exactly family friendly.)
All good joke have to be based on some truth. And this one is. I have played with guys that spend hours "tuning" or getting ready to play. Then there are those who never get ready. They just play - good or bad, right or wrong. It's a "joyful noise" but they are not "Playing skillfully on a loud instrument." In the military world, we had the "Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim . . ." and the "FIRE!!!!, Aim, Ready" guys.
There has to be a balance between preparation and performance. Unfortunately, I'm more of the Blues Picker. I have never let a lack of knowledge or preparation keep from anything. I have talked my way into and out of trouble so many times. My wife has seen it so often she just laughs at me now. She now laughs and calls it a bookstore experience. I have never had a job I was qualified for. Resumes are the ultimate sales job - or mine is at least. When I was a consultant, (every few months - when I was trying to land a client) I would go to the bookstore or library and read about the problem or system I was trying to land. I would learn just enough to talk to the company. I focused on the problems or weird features. Then if I got the gig, I would go buy all the books i could find on the subject and learn as I went. I played a lot without "tuning" as a consultant.
My cousin, John Wilson, also got to experience a lot of my mouth writin' checks we had to cash. We were moving an office for a friend one summer when I said I could wire up some of the office. And next thing I knew, we were doing it. I think my quote to John was, "Hey it's just two wires for the electrical. And we can buy pre-made cabinets to hang. How hard can it be?" We did it. No one died. Someone may have gotten hurt but that was not uncommon for us.
I cant say i have ever experienced the "Tune all day and never play" side of life. I depend on the people around me for that. My wife and John mainly get that privilege. It's up to me to keep thier life exciting.
One day, I may learn balance. I am trying. (But, "try" means to attempt and fail.)
Dec 1, 2008
Christmas is Here
Today is December 1st. The final month of 2008 is on us. For me, this is crunch time. Our SkyCaddie is THE BEST golf GPS on the market today. Our customers reaffirm that every day. This time of year puts a level of stress on our web systems that's incredible. Our team at SkyHawke is the best. We have a great group of in house engineers, technicians, and developers as well as some wonderful vendors and contractors. Everyone has put in a lot of time to ensure this is another great holiday season. I love our team!!
If you want to get a golfer the best Christmas gift possible, give'm a SkyCaddie.
Check them out at SkyGolf.com
Merry Christmas Y'all!!!
If you want to get a golfer the best Christmas gift possible, give'm a SkyCaddie.
Check them out at SkyGolf.com
Merry Christmas Y'all!!!
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