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Spring Break 2019 (Nashville, Tennessee) Cooter's Place

We had lunch, and then went to Cooter's Place, across from Opreyland.
When I was a kid, there was a television show called 'The Dukes of Hazzard' that I enjoyed. One of the main supporting characters in the show was 'Cooter'. This is a museum full of memorabilia from the show. Ben Jones was the actor who played the part of 'Cooter', and because of his simple, lovable, character, he ran for public office in Washington D.C.























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Spring Break 2019 (Nashville, Tennessee) Parthenon.

We arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, about lunch time, but first we went to see the Parthenon. It was a beautiful day, and we really needed to stretch our legs again. We were lucky enough to find a charge point open that was close, although we later discovered it wasn't working. The Parthenon was closed on Mondays, but we were still impressed with the outside. I am sure the statue of Athena inside would have been equally impressive.

























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Spring Break 2019 (Memphis, Tennessee)

This year for Spring Break, I planned a very busy vacation, starting with a long drive of seventeen hours to Mason, Ohio. Along the way there, and on the return trip, we made a few stops to see some historical places. The first stop was at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.



Since we left Camden, Arkansas at 4 a.m. on March 18th, it was still early when we arrived in Memphis. First, we had breakfast, and then went to Sun Studio. It was also cold and windy. Sun Studio wasn't open yet, and we had a schedule to keep, so we just took some photos and got back on the road.

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Cooking with my 9 years old daughter.

Home made breakfast burritos. Destiny helped. Bacon, sausage, onion, green pepper, cheese, and egg. $29.50 worth of ingredients, to make 21 burritos, that are nearly 3/4 lb, $1.40 each ($0.13/oz). Store bought equivalent would cost $40.



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From my church pastor's blog.

Applauding The Deaths Of Our Little Ones

What a sad day. People stood and applauded. Buildings were lit up in festive pink to celebrate the event. New York State now allows abortions up to birth for any reason.
Considering the gravity of such a move, deciding whether a human being will be violently robbed of life, one might expect more somber looks. One might expect a sad-but-necessary attitude. No. They were happy.
The picture of the signing which circulated in the media shows people filled with joy. They look like a group who just declared a new holiday, another chance for fun and recreation. If this is a holiday, it is a holiday from sanity and common sense.
To add insult to injury, the New York bill is titled the “Reproductive Health Act.” The only accurate word in that title is “act.” This heinous act is an enemy to reproduction. Reproduction, new human life, will be extinguished because of this bill.
And there is nothing healthy about violently denying a baby its right to life. It is not healthy for the mother, her family, for the medical professional, for the community, and certainly not for the baby.
Advances in science over the past 20 to 30 years have consistently supported the fact that a fetus is a life. Successful surgeries on babies before they are born, amazing survival rates of children born long before their due dates, and other astounding medical treatments on little boys and girls developing inside their mothers’ wombs all place the burden of proof squarely on those who would de-humanize the fetus.
Perhaps even more powerful than the voice of science is the testimony of images. Imaging technology has enabled us to see with astonishing clarity the life of our unborn. And seeing is believing. The images are not of disease or random tissue, but of individual lives.
The persuasive power of these images is admitted by those who wish to kill more babies. More than 15 yeas ago a photographer was in the operating room when doctors were performing surgery on a little boy in his mother’s womb. The child stunned the world by reaching up and grabbing the doctor’s finger. The picture was taken, but almost destroyed.
By a strange turn of events the man who snapped that picture stood in my office several years ago. He told me about the outrageous efforts that were made to keep his picture from being published. Why? Because in this case one picture is worth millions of words and perhaps millions of lives.
As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we stand for life. Each and every boy and girl is made in the image of God and deserves a chance to grow up and walk with God and enjoy his blessings.
We believe in more than just physical birth and life. We believe in spiritual life. Every person deserves to hear that God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, Jesus, so that anyone trusting in him will not perish (hell) but have eternal life (heaven), to be born again.
The voice of truth will not be denied. God’s Spirit will raise up men and women to courageously stand for life. Let’s answer that call. If our children see us retreat, then they will be more likely to retreat and our grandchildren will suffer. If our children see us stand firm, then they will be more likely to stand firm, and our grandchildren will benefit.
May God’s Spirit inspire and empower us to speak the truth in love,
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Christmas 2018


Destiny went to a children's Christmas party at church. They played games, ate pizza, and watched a movie.


Out church choir had a wonderful Christmas cantata.


Destiny's school class had a Christmas party on their last day, before starting a two week Winter break.


I wrapped Christmas presents from Santa, before going to bed Christmas Eve.


Christmas morning.


Everything in the boxes was 'Disney Frozen'.







Destiny loved everything.

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From before to after Thanksgiving 2018.

Every year, right around Thanksgiving, the leaves of a tree in the middle of our front yard turn golden and fall to the ground.



I bought 200 Christmas lights and put them in my new car. 




Destiny had a friend stay one night, and I took them to see a Christmas light display. We met my older daughter, Suzanne there.





I decorated the front of my new car for Christmas.


Destiny loves to play in the leaves.


The day after Destiny had her friend stay over one night, Destiny went to two different birthday parties for her friends.







The second party was at night and outside. They had a fire to first tell stories around. And then after going on a hayride, the kids had S'mores.




I took Thanksgiving week off from teaching. We had family all Thanksgiving week.









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Historic Washington State Park

I took Destiny to a town in Arkansas, about an hour drive from here, that was the state capital during the civil war. We got to see a lot of history, including a civil war demonstration.
















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Little Rock Air Force Base

This last weekend, we got up early, and drove to Little Rock, to go see an airshow at Little Rock Air Force Base.

Each year, many United States Air Force bases will have an air show, where the public is invited to come see different aircraft from the military, and to see them perform.

The last time I went to this air show was fourteen years ago with my oldest daughter when she was only seven years old. Now, I am taking my younger daughter at nine years old.

This is the same military base I was stationed at when I was in the military.

The highlight of the show is a performance by the Thunderbirds.











































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Arkansas State Fair / New car

This last weekend, Suzanne, her boyfriend, Destiny, and I, drove to our state capital, Little Rock, to go to the Arkansas State Fair. The fair is held each year. They have rides, food, games, exhibitions, vendors, contest, music, and live performances. When we went, it was raining, so there weren't very many people there, and the rides weren't operating. We still walked around looking at all the animals, some of the exhibits, the vendors, and tried some of the food.






Before we went to the fair, I bought a new car.





It is a 2017 Ford C-Max energi Titanium. It is a plug-in hybrid. It can operate as a hybrid, using gas and electric together, getting up to 42 miles to a gallon. Or, it can operate as an electric only, with a range of about 20 miles. The total range of the car is around 570 miles on a full tank of gas, and full electrical charge.
I bought the car because my older daughter, Suzanne, needs a second car for her and her boyfriend to get to work. The car she has is old, a 1997, and needs a lot of maintenance. So, I am selling her my old car, a 2003 PT Cruiser, in very good condition and a brand new set of tires that cost $400. It is worth $2,000, and I am selling it to them for only $800.
I only drive twice a day, 0.3 miles, during the week to my other daughter's school, and back. Then I drive twice a week to our church, and once a week to the grocery store, each only a few miles distance from where I live. So, I mostly only use my car in electric mode. I will use the gas motor, in hybrid mode, if I have to go out of town, like we will do next weekend, to go to Magic Springs Theme Park in Hot Springs, for something special before Halloween.

Here is a little preview of what I will be wearing for Halloween.


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Church picnic.

Once a year, our church has a picnic together. First we go to Sunday school as usual, and then we all drive to a place that is maintained and shared by several churches, including our church. During the Summer, this is a place for the kids to go to camp. We had a praise service with singing, followed by a message from our pastor. And then we have hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, drinks, and desserts.





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Church picnic.

Once a year, our church has a picnic together. First we go to Sunday school as usual, and then we all drive to a place that is maintained and shared by several churches, including our church. During the Summer, this is a place for the kids to go to camp. We had a praise service with singing, followed by a message from our pastor. And then we have hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, drinks, and desserts.





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Birthday lesson.

This past weekend, I went to Little Rock with my older daughter to see and have lunch with my father on his birthday.

The restaurant we were going to go to didn't serve for lunch what my daughter wanted to eat, so we chose a different restaurant and told my father to meet us there instead.

We arrived at the restaurant and he wasn't there, so we waited. I tried calling him, but he wasn't answering, because he had left his cell phone at home. 

After waiting for 45 minutes, we guessed that he went to the same restaurant, but at a different location, since this was a restaurant chain with at least four or five locations in the city, so we went ahead and ate without him.

My daughter's birthday is the day after my father's birthday, and she wanted to go to a shopping mall. We left the restaurant, and drove to towards the mall.

Before we arrived at the mall, the stopped working in the middle of an intersection. We had to push the car into a parking lot. I took a look under the hood, and discovered the belt that works everything had come off, because some bolts had broke.

Now at this point, different people would handle the situation in different ways. Some might panic, and not know what to do. Some would call for a tow or a mechanic. Some could try to fix it themselves if they knew how. I knew how, but I felt the easiest would be to call a mechanic. I later learned that this was the wrong decision.

The mechanic came about an hour later, and said he could repair it. Four hours later, he told me that he had to order the correct size bolts, and that they would not be in until the morning. He said he would be back then to repair the car.

Now, for this next part, I know there are many people that would tell me that what I did next was a big mistake, and I agree. My daughter had also brought her boyfriend, and her boyfriend's brother with us, so I called my mother to drive two hours from our home to come get all of them.

In the meantime, my father had returned to his house and called me. He agreed to come get me, and let me stay overnight with him, since he lived not too far away, so I could get the car the next day when it was fixed, and drive it home.

I wanted to meet the mechanic the next day after he was finished with the car, and I would pay him then. Since I was going to stay overnight with my father, I decided to go to church with him the next morning. What happened next is the part where most people will disagree with what I did next.

The mechanic said he could fix the car in the morning while I was at church with my father, and if I paid him in full now, he would leave the keys with me, and I could pick the car up at anytime. He seemed like an honest guy, so I agreed.

The next day, after church, we went to check on the car. It was still sitting there just as I had left it. I contacted the mechanic, who told me the bolts he ordered at the parts store had not come in yet, and that it would be later.

We waited three more hours, and then I took matters into my own hands. I went to the parts store, and found some bolts that would work. I bought an inexpensive tool set, along with the parts I needed, including a new belt for the car. I borrowed a special tool I knew I would need to install the belt. And then I went back to the car and fixed it myself in only about an hours time.

If I had done this yesterday, it would have only cost me $45, and would have been fixed in an hour, instead of staying overnight.

That's not the main lesson learned. The main lesson isn't about the money. It's not about the time. It's not about what who was right or wrong. The main lesson came from what I didn't do after the car broke, and before I even made a decision on what to do.

When I went to church with my father that morning after the car broke, I learned that God wants us to talk with Him. He wants us to not only pray, but to simply communicate with Him. God still wants us to bring our problems to Him, but He also wants us to ask for advice. And then, after asking for advice, we should listed to what He has to tell us. If we regularly talk with God, and read the Bible, God will communicate back with us through the Holy Spirit.

The main lesson to learn here, is that I should have stopped after the car broke, and talked with God to ask him what I should do. He might have told me to fix it myself. Or, he might have told me to call the mechanic anyway, since that course of action led to me being able to stay overnight with my father and spend some time with him, including going to church together.

As a believer in God and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins, we not only have the opportunity to communicate directly with God, but we have an obligation to do so on a regular basis. God is with us always, whether we choose to acknowledge Him or not. And He cares for us with great love. He is the perfect father, teacher, lord, and master.
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Destiny's 9th birthday party.

Destiny will be 9 years old in a few days, but we had her birthday party this last Saturday. She had ten of her school and church friends come to her party. My other daughter, Destiny's older sister, had a cake made. The theme of the party was Jurassic World. The kids had fun playing games, and Destiny really enjoyed all of the gifts from her friends and family.


























My father came to the party.

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Mission Trip










It's been awhile since my last update to the blog. I was having trouble with accessing photos from my phone. I have corrected the problem now.

This last week, I took Destiny on a mission trip our church had. We went to another town about four hours drive away. We stayed five nights in a church, sleeping on air mattresses.
During the day, we went out into the different communities, and invited them to come to the local church for a 'block party'.
We would serve free hot dogs, popcorn, and snow cones. We also played christian music, while providing the children with face painting, bouncy houses, and games.
In the evenings, we invited the people to join in some free classes that taught about christian marriages, evangelism, and finances.
We had four block parties in total, and then also served a meal at a homeless shelter in Memphis, Tennessee, on the last day. There were a total of 33 from our church that went, and it was a great experience for all.

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Solo: A Star Wars Story


We started our day by doing some house cleaning. When we took the trash outside, we found a baby deer.


After spending some time with the deer, and letting it go, we hung an American flag for Memorial Day.





Then we went to Crystal Falls Water Park for the afternoon.


Followed by going to see 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'. The cinema had comfortable recliner seats.

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Awards and dress.

Destiny finished second grade. She received an academic award. Then she got a Summer haircut and her big sister bought her a new dress for church.




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