Greeting to all:
I never though it would be this long before I got back to write some more, but it has been a busy winter. The weather has really been "bad" but the time has gone pretty fast as I have been preparing for retirement. I just have 18 more days of "work" and then I have two weeks of vacation before my retirement is official on April 30th. Praise the Lord!
The first thing that I have to do is finish getting the house, particularly the outside, ready to sell. Fall came in so early last year that I did not get done outside what I wanted to and needed to. So as the nice warm sun comes I have a lot power washing and yard work to do. I have already been able to roll the yard once, however that has not been done for a couple of years, so I hope to do it again. I also have some areas along the tree lines that I really need to replant with grass seed. I don't look forward to that task! The kids came about a month ago for a week-end and did some painting inside. It was great to have them all here and even greater to get the amount of work done that they did in such a short time. It was and is indeed a blessing. Praise the Lord! I have no idea how long it will take to sell the house, but we will get it ready, on the market, and put the rest in God's hands. It will sell when my ministry here in Peru is completed according to God's plan and I will move on. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
I look forward to continuing with my community ministry of law enforcement and fire service chaplain for the Sheriff's Office, ISP Post 16, and the city of Peru. In fact, I have talked to the State Police Chaplain in Indy who is paid and responsible for the entire state and I plan to help him as much as possible. He is doing an awesome job and is really overwhelmed. So we will see if I cannot do a little to lighten the load for him. I am also planning to go to the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 with ISP this year. Last year the 500 was really great and I am looking forward to both races this year. There are also two community projects - Community of Character and EGG House of Miami County - that I helped to started that I want to continue to work with as long as I am here. I believe, and the community has affirmed in different ways, that these are good programs. I will tell you more about them later.
Buddy and I are also looking forward to the good weather so we can ride the motorcycle and go camping. Buddy is indeed looking forward to that, he will go over and jump up on the bike seat when we are outside, and he loves to get in the motor home any time that he can. Again, once the house is on the market, I will starting looking at where we can go. In the mean time I am sure we will be spending some nights at the local state park to just get away from it all.
When I sat down here I was not even thinking about looking at the blog, let along writing on it. I have washing to do, dishes to wash, bills to pay, and lots of "Monday" ("day off") things around the house to do. Besides that I have some grant papers to fill out that are due tomorrow for the EGG House. Bottom line is I have better get going and get some of those things done.
It is good to share with you all again, and I am sorry it has been so long. I am doing fine, just really busy. We still have the grief support group going at church, and God continues to lead me in the direction of putting into print Marty's blog and my travels with "grief." I believe it is still a few years away, but remain open to God's plan.
Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
30 March 2009
08 January 2009
Greetings to all:
I cannot believe that it has been 3 months since I have put anything on this blog. That time sure has gone so fast, fast, fast. I am doing quiet well, I do believe. I have been on the go more than ever. On December the 2nd, I told the session and then the congregation that I am planning to retire from the church on April 30, 2009. Actually my last Sunday will be Easter and my last day will be the 16th. So it is about 3 months and a week. Perhaps, when that happens I can put more on the blog, but I will not make that a promise because as I think about all I want to do when I retire I do believe that I will be doing more than I am now.
The holiday's were very busy but went very well. Eric and Erin came over Christmas Eve and then we went on Saturday and met Jennifer, Travis, and family half way and got a motel room. We open the gifts, went swimming, had pizza, and then Eric, Erin and I came back home because I had to preach on Sunday. Again this year I did all the shopping and wrapping and did get a few of the decorations out. The tree did not get up until two days before Christmas. I was truly living on the edge, but I did get it all done. Praise the Lord! And indeed I do still need to proclaim that God is good - all the time! All the time - God is good! And God has been so good to me.
My work with law enforcement and fire service also still continues. In fact, I spent New Years Eve riding with one the State Police Troopers. In a four hour period of time we stopped about 12 cars and made two arrests. That was indeed a pretty active evening. Then just this past Tuesday between noon and one o'clock we had about 10 crashes, 5 with injury and 5 no injury. I was at my third injury crash when the Sheriff told me that there was a fire in the south east part of the county and they needed me. I got there to find out that a woman had died in the fire. I spent the next 8 hours with the family and neighbors.
Well I have already been at this longer than I was going to be, so I must stop and get to bed. Know that I think of family and friends often and hopefully Buddy and I can do some traveling this summer and see some of you in person. In the mean time, take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
John 3:16
I cannot believe that it has been 3 months since I have put anything on this blog. That time sure has gone so fast, fast, fast. I am doing quiet well, I do believe. I have been on the go more than ever. On December the 2nd, I told the session and then the congregation that I am planning to retire from the church on April 30, 2009. Actually my last Sunday will be Easter and my last day will be the 16th. So it is about 3 months and a week. Perhaps, when that happens I can put more on the blog, but I will not make that a promise because as I think about all I want to do when I retire I do believe that I will be doing more than I am now.
The holiday's were very busy but went very well. Eric and Erin came over Christmas Eve and then we went on Saturday and met Jennifer, Travis, and family half way and got a motel room. We open the gifts, went swimming, had pizza, and then Eric, Erin and I came back home because I had to preach on Sunday. Again this year I did all the shopping and wrapping and did get a few of the decorations out. The tree did not get up until two days before Christmas. I was truly living on the edge, but I did get it all done. Praise the Lord! And indeed I do still need to proclaim that God is good - all the time! All the time - God is good! And God has been so good to me.
My work with law enforcement and fire service also still continues. In fact, I spent New Years Eve riding with one the State Police Troopers. In a four hour period of time we stopped about 12 cars and made two arrests. That was indeed a pretty active evening. Then just this past Tuesday between noon and one o'clock we had about 10 crashes, 5 with injury and 5 no injury. I was at my third injury crash when the Sheriff told me that there was a fire in the south east part of the county and they needed me. I got there to find out that a woman had died in the fire. I spent the next 8 hours with the family and neighbors.
Well I have already been at this longer than I was going to be, so I must stop and get to bed. Know that I think of family and friends often and hopefully Buddy and I can do some traveling this summer and see some of you in person. In the mean time, take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
John 3:16
09 October 2008
October 9, 2008 8:20 am
Greetings to all:
I just spent an hour and twenty minutes writing two pages of updates on my life and then did not get them transferred to the blog. You see I usually write them in Word and then bring them over to the blog. Well I don't know what happened but it did not make it to the blog and I do not have time to redo the entire think. So "hello" and "good-bye"! Praise the Lord because God is still good - all the time! All the time - God is good! I will try to get on soon and write again.
Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.
Jack
John 3:16
Greetings to all:
I just spent an hour and twenty minutes writing two pages of updates on my life and then did not get them transferred to the blog. You see I usually write them in Word and then bring them over to the blog. Well I don't know what happened but it did not make it to the blog and I do not have time to redo the entire think. So "hello" and "good-bye"! Praise the Lord because God is still good - all the time! All the time - God is good! I will try to get on soon and write again.
Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.
Jack
John 3:16
18 September 2008
Greetings:
Yes, I am still around and think about all of you more often than you may realize. Many, many times I have said to my self that I needed to publish on the blog but have been to tired to do so. I probably should not be doing this now, because I have a very busy day and really need to get to the office, but just feel lead to let you all know a little.
August and September so far, have been very busy months. I took two more weeks vacation in August so that for the first time since we came to Peru I have used almost all of my vacation time. I receive 5 weeks and so far I have taken 4 of them. When Marty only got 2 weeks, I don't believe that I ever took more than 3 weeks vacation and then I lost the rest. The first week in August Buddy and I went to the local state park and I did about 107 of the 140 thank you notes that I needed to do. I am hoping to have the rest of them done the end of this month. During that week I was also in the office every day because of one of the churches that I am the chairperson of the Administrative Commission for because they are leaving our denomination. The second week I went to Jennifer's and took the boys camping for a couple of days. That was really fun and I think they had a good time as well. At least we had a fire each night and sure enjoyed the some-mores. Although a number of them were quite black, it almost seemed like there was something fun about setting them on fire and then blowing them out. God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good.
I am not sure how to do it and will have to find out, but I now have some pictures of Buddy riding the motorcycle with me. We went on a Blue Knights poker run, for the start of the United Way for this year and a number of people took pictures, so I finally got some. We rode 62 miles that day and it was great. I had to brake off a little early because the newspaper editor had challenged me as to who could raise the most $ in the dunk tank - thank you Lord is was a very nice sunny day that was not to cold or to hot. A fine time was had by all, I raised a few more $ than he did (believe me just 2 or 3) and together we raise over $125 for United Way. Praise the Lord!
Things at church have been moving along and the Fall programs are getting under way. The support group has gotten started again and we are opening it to the community. We are calling it T.L.C. - that is for "Talk, Listen, and Care." I am also working on a few programs for Oct. and Nov. that will speak to the question "What do you say when....?" Some of the "when's" are: someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, when someone has a miscarriage, someone dies, and someone gets a divorce. The speakers will all be people who have been through these things. I am really feeling that God is leading me to do this to help people become more willing and able to talk about these subjects and minister to people that are going through them. I still say that the death of a spouse is most difficult and it is so hard to find people that are willing to talk about it and help you out. I believe that a big part of my ministry to come will deal with that subject. Just the other day I was talking to someone at Wabash College, who wants to talk to me more about the subject and has some really good ideas on how I might spread the word and help people to understand the need.
Well, I wasn't even going to write this much, but each time I get start writing I realize how much I have to catch you all up on and I don't really have time to do it. It is a lot easier to do in the morning rather than so late at night. So maybe I will have to try to do this more often.
Before sign off I must say that God is so good - all the time. All the time - God is so good. Without God in my life I really do not know what I would be doing. So many time and so many ways God is there and guiding me. God is so awesome and gracious. When there are those times that are so hard I feel God's presence and encouragement. A number of those time, and I believe it is a God thing, that God puts in my presence someone that will listen, talk, and care. Praise the Lord! And all the time God will show me the beauty of God's natural creation that is so beautiful and for me such a reminder that God is so awesome and gracious. Praise the Lord! When Buddy and I are out camping that is particularly true for me. Indeed I do still feel so close to God when camping and still have the love for it. And I do not believe that Buddy minds going at all. In fact I know that really enjoys the walks - more than he get when we are home. And yes Buddy seems to be making the adjustments in his life fairly well. He does seem to be going through a stage right now that he does not want to leave me. To me there is no question that he misses Marty and is not afraid that I am going to leave him. Of course the other side of that coin is that I have spoiled him even more and I take him with me so many places that I go and of course he loves it.
See what I mean about having more to say, and I havn't even said anything about being on standby with ISP to go to the Gulf Coast and then to Texas. I will have to save all of that for another time because I must stop know and proof this so I can get to the office - so take it as it is.
Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
Yes, I am still around and think about all of you more often than you may realize. Many, many times I have said to my self that I needed to publish on the blog but have been to tired to do so. I probably should not be doing this now, because I have a very busy day and really need to get to the office, but just feel lead to let you all know a little.
August and September so far, have been very busy months. I took two more weeks vacation in August so that for the first time since we came to Peru I have used almost all of my vacation time. I receive 5 weeks and so far I have taken 4 of them. When Marty only got 2 weeks, I don't believe that I ever took more than 3 weeks vacation and then I lost the rest. The first week in August Buddy and I went to the local state park and I did about 107 of the 140 thank you notes that I needed to do. I am hoping to have the rest of them done the end of this month. During that week I was also in the office every day because of one of the churches that I am the chairperson of the Administrative Commission for because they are leaving our denomination. The second week I went to Jennifer's and took the boys camping for a couple of days. That was really fun and I think they had a good time as well. At least we had a fire each night and sure enjoyed the some-mores. Although a number of them were quite black, it almost seemed like there was something fun about setting them on fire and then blowing them out. God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good.
I am not sure how to do it and will have to find out, but I now have some pictures of Buddy riding the motorcycle with me. We went on a Blue Knights poker run, for the start of the United Way for this year and a number of people took pictures, so I finally got some. We rode 62 miles that day and it was great. I had to brake off a little early because the newspaper editor had challenged me as to who could raise the most $ in the dunk tank - thank you Lord is was a very nice sunny day that was not to cold or to hot. A fine time was had by all, I raised a few more $ than he did (believe me just 2 or 3) and together we raise over $125 for United Way. Praise the Lord!
Things at church have been moving along and the Fall programs are getting under way. The support group has gotten started again and we are opening it to the community. We are calling it T.L.C. - that is for "Talk, Listen, and Care." I am also working on a few programs for Oct. and Nov. that will speak to the question "What do you say when....?" Some of the "when's" are: someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, when someone has a miscarriage, someone dies, and someone gets a divorce. The speakers will all be people who have been through these things. I am really feeling that God is leading me to do this to help people become more willing and able to talk about these subjects and minister to people that are going through them. I still say that the death of a spouse is most difficult and it is so hard to find people that are willing to talk about it and help you out. I believe that a big part of my ministry to come will deal with that subject. Just the other day I was talking to someone at Wabash College, who wants to talk to me more about the subject and has some really good ideas on how I might spread the word and help people to understand the need.
Well, I wasn't even going to write this much, but each time I get start writing I realize how much I have to catch you all up on and I don't really have time to do it. It is a lot easier to do in the morning rather than so late at night. So maybe I will have to try to do this more often.
Before sign off I must say that God is so good - all the time. All the time - God is so good. Without God in my life I really do not know what I would be doing. So many time and so many ways God is there and guiding me. God is so awesome and gracious. When there are those times that are so hard I feel God's presence and encouragement. A number of those time, and I believe it is a God thing, that God puts in my presence someone that will listen, talk, and care. Praise the Lord! And all the time God will show me the beauty of God's natural creation that is so beautiful and for me such a reminder that God is so awesome and gracious. Praise the Lord! When Buddy and I are out camping that is particularly true for me. Indeed I do still feel so close to God when camping and still have the love for it. And I do not believe that Buddy minds going at all. In fact I know that really enjoys the walks - more than he get when we are home. And yes Buddy seems to be making the adjustments in his life fairly well. He does seem to be going through a stage right now that he does not want to leave me. To me there is no question that he misses Marty and is not afraid that I am going to leave him. Of course the other side of that coin is that I have spoiled him even more and I take him with me so many places that I go and of course he loves it.
See what I mean about having more to say, and I havn't even said anything about being on standby with ISP to go to the Gulf Coast and then to Texas. I will have to save all of that for another time because I must stop know and proof this so I can get to the office - so take it as it is.
Have a positive day, take care, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
29 July 2008
Greeting to All!
I hope that all of you are doing well! I really appreciate the comments that I have received recently that people have enjoyed the blog and are missing it since I have not written on it for so long. It has indeed been a while since I have written because since the middle of May I have really been busy. God is good - all the time! All the time - God is good! Let me try to catch you all up on a few of the things going on.
The end of May I took a continuing education week to finish up some things that I need to do for the workshop I was at the end of April. That week went very well and Buddy and I even spent some of it at the State Park about 12 miles from here. That week when the weather clear up, about Wednesday, we went out there and stayed until Friday. Then on Saturday I went to Indy with Buddy and the motor home, to the home of the ISP full time paid chaplain. His wife and children took care of Buddy while the chaplain and I went to the 500. What an experience!!!!! On Saturday night Georgetown Road is something else!!!!! Until the people take over the road, there are car, motorcycles, etc. traveling both ways, and people everywhere you look, most of them with bottles and cans in there hands. All along the road there are campers, etc. as well as food vendors, etc. It is a regular carnival at best. We stayed down there until about 1 am went back got a couple hours sleep, cleaned up and at 5 am were in route back to the track. We went all over the place with troopers and by ourselves. I spent most of the race in pit row, watching the race on the screen, and paying more attention to what was going on the the pits. It was really interesting and quite an experience.
June was a busy month with VBS, which I did not have to teach this year, but was around all week. And working on a number of the details with two of the churches that are wanting to leave our denomination that I am chairperson for the presbyteries administrative commission to recommend to the full presbytery how this should be done. The Book of Order is very clear about it, which we are following and are also looking at what is best for the ministry and mission of the presbytery. So it is an interesting task and one that will be on going for a while.
The last Friday of June until the 4th of July, Erin, Eric, and I went on a trip to Pittsburgh, Murrysville, Cincinnati, and Lexington. We traveled over 1100 miles in the motor home and had a great time. We visited three cemeteries, and two amusement parks for 3 days. I had not been to my or Marty's parents graves for a couple of years so that was really the reason for the trip. But then how do you take a 7 year old to those places without taking them somewhere for FUN. So in Pittsburgh we went to Kennywood which is the park that I went to for school picnics all through my public schooling. It rained the day we were there but it still was fun. We put rain gear on and kept on going as long as the rides did. Then we went to Kings Island and Eric and Erin went to the park two days but I only went one, because the other I went to my bothers grave in Lexington, KY. Again the second day at K I, when I was there, it rained. But again it did not stop us for long. During the rain we tried to ride the inside rides and then when it stopped we went back out. There was a late storm and they did close the park about an hour and a half early, but we were all tired and ready to go. So praise the Lord, a good time was had by all.
Then the first full week in July, Eric was still off work so mid week he came back over and we did some needed maintenance and completed some work he had started on the house. I hope to have it up for sale by fall if not sooner. It is a lot to take care of. I know that Marty is very unhappy with me because of all the weeds in the flower beds and because I have not been keep her birds feed. There are just not enough hours in the day, or days in the week to get done what I need to do.
Oh yes, I need to tell you, if you have not heard, that I have a rider on the motorcycle with me. It is really awesome. We don't get out as much as we would like to. but when we do we both really enjoy it. And who is it that loves to go with me - Buddy! Yes, Buddy rides on the back seat of the bike and just loves it. In fact, if I am getting ready to take the bike out and not take him, he will jump up on the front seat as if to say, "If I can't go, you are not going either!" That happened one time that Eric and Erin where here and they both about cracked up laughing at him. I do have a helmet and goggles for him, but like most bike riders he does not like them and most of the time does not wear them, and when he does it is under protest. I do have a seat belt on him, but he loves it. Most of the time he sits there and looks and smells from side to side. Sometimes he will have his front paws on the arm rests to look around and smell things a little better. We have had cars pass us and then slow down to see if what they though they saw they really did see. We do indeed have a great time riding. I have made several trips to Defiance on the bike, to a couple of Erin's ball games, but I have not taken Buddy that far as of now. His time will come, as I believe he could make it.
Also during July I spent a couple of days in southern IN helping with the flood victims. They did get hit pretty bad, but certainly did not have the structural damage that there was in New Orleans, but the mud and mess were all there. It was an interesting time and I hope helpful. Our ISP full time chaplain was sure glad to have some help. I think there were 3 or 4 of us who went at different times to help.
Then last Friday afternoon I went to Speedway again for the practice sessions for the Brickyard 400. What an experience again! It was awesome! I talked to several of the drivers and more than a half dozen of the crew members. I saw a lot and learned a lot. One of the crews changed the engine in the car in about one hour and had the car back on the track. It was something else to watch. On the troopers that I was with had met some crew folks last year and we went back to see them. Bottom line is that I watched the cars go around the track for about 20 minutes and then spent the other 2 hours in the area where the cars where coming and going for adjustments. It was a good afternoon.
Well as you can see I have not had much grass growing under my feet. I am planning to take 2 more weeks off in August - the week of the 12th and then the next week. I have reservations to camp the first week and not sure what will happen the second week. It just seemed to make sense to me that I need to face that time straight on and not try to hid under the escape of being busy. I don't really expect anything magical to happen just because it will have been a year since Marty died, but I am hoping that some of the anxiety and frustration of the grief process will be over and/or I will be able to deal with in some way during those two weeks. But then again one of the most difficult things that I have experienced and that I have talked to others about and they say the same thing, is that friends and even family seem to move on much faster than the spouse, and then there is not the support for the spouse that there needs to be. I was recently talking to one grieving spouse who went to church on the Sunday following the funeral, and sat completely by themselves. No one moved from their seat and sat with this person, even though they knew that there spouse that they always sat with had died. The other thing that is so sad and I believe I mentioned this in the last blog is that people don't like to talk about death, nor really ask a grieving person how their grieving is coming along. I know that I sound like a broken record, but believe me these things hurt.
I have talked to a couple of people that have been through very difficult situation and this fall I am hoping and planning to have a series of programs under the title "What do you say when....?"
then fell that in with such things as: when someone dies; when someone has a miscarriage; when someone is arrested; when someone has a pet die; when someone is divorced and didn't want to be; and there are a couple of others on the list on my desk that I will choose from. This all came out of a conservation with a couple other people when we were talking about how difficult we tend to find it to talk about some subjects. Then we started to think about what those topic were. Those folks were so excited about such a series of programs that two of them called me later to mention some other subjects that fit the bill. The bottom line is that we thought of more topic than we have time to talk about this fall. So I plan to pick four or five of them and get people who have experienced the topic to talk about it. I already have two people who have said they will do it. "Locals" watch for details. Praise the Lord!
Eric has found a house in Defiance and is waiting to close on it. It will be great when he gets in, but it is a "fix me up" so he will have a lot of work to do. But he is good at it and likes to do it. So he and Erin have their work cut out for them. Eric is doing a great job of teaching her how to cook and to do other things.
Jennifer and the boys have spent the last 3 or 4 weeks in TN taking care of her in-laws. When she went down both of them were admitted to the hospital. Both of them are now home and home health is coming in to help care for them. Actually, Jennifer and I have only left messages for each other since last Thursday, so I am really not up to date on what is happening. All I know it has been a difficult time for all concerned. Please keep them in your prayers.
Well I better end this so I can try to spell check and proof read this so I can get to bed before this day is over. Tomorrow is going to be another very busy day in which I hope to be able to glorify the Lord in all that I do. Praise the Lord!!!!
Buddy just woke up long enough to come over and get up on my lap, so I guess that he wants to say "HI!" as well. I think that probably before long he will start barking at me to tell me that he is tired and come on let's go to bed. When I stay up to late that is what he does to me. Marty trained him well and he really watches after me. Praise the Lord!! And I know that you are saying "Someone better watch after me!" OK, Ok, ok!
I hope this has brought you at least a little up to date and given you some idea of what I have been doing and maybe even a little as to how I am doing.
Let me hear from you as well. Do take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
PS I feel like I ought to proof read it again, but I also feel like I am looking at it crossed eyed. So it will be published as is and I am going to bed. I hope there are still not too many errors.
I hope that all of you are doing well! I really appreciate the comments that I have received recently that people have enjoyed the blog and are missing it since I have not written on it for so long. It has indeed been a while since I have written because since the middle of May I have really been busy. God is good - all the time! All the time - God is good! Let me try to catch you all up on a few of the things going on.
The end of May I took a continuing education week to finish up some things that I need to do for the workshop I was at the end of April. That week went very well and Buddy and I even spent some of it at the State Park about 12 miles from here. That week when the weather clear up, about Wednesday, we went out there and stayed until Friday. Then on Saturday I went to Indy with Buddy and the motor home, to the home of the ISP full time paid chaplain. His wife and children took care of Buddy while the chaplain and I went to the 500. What an experience!!!!! On Saturday night Georgetown Road is something else!!!!! Until the people take over the road, there are car, motorcycles, etc. traveling both ways, and people everywhere you look, most of them with bottles and cans in there hands. All along the road there are campers, etc. as well as food vendors, etc. It is a regular carnival at best. We stayed down there until about 1 am went back got a couple hours sleep, cleaned up and at 5 am were in route back to the track. We went all over the place with troopers and by ourselves. I spent most of the race in pit row, watching the race on the screen, and paying more attention to what was going on the the pits. It was really interesting and quite an experience.
June was a busy month with VBS, which I did not have to teach this year, but was around all week. And working on a number of the details with two of the churches that are wanting to leave our denomination that I am chairperson for the presbyteries administrative commission to recommend to the full presbytery how this should be done. The Book of Order is very clear about it, which we are following and are also looking at what is best for the ministry and mission of the presbytery. So it is an interesting task and one that will be on going for a while.
The last Friday of June until the 4th of July, Erin, Eric, and I went on a trip to Pittsburgh, Murrysville, Cincinnati, and Lexington. We traveled over 1100 miles in the motor home and had a great time. We visited three cemeteries, and two amusement parks for 3 days. I had not been to my or Marty's parents graves for a couple of years so that was really the reason for the trip. But then how do you take a 7 year old to those places without taking them somewhere for FUN. So in Pittsburgh we went to Kennywood which is the park that I went to for school picnics all through my public schooling. It rained the day we were there but it still was fun. We put rain gear on and kept on going as long as the rides did. Then we went to Kings Island and Eric and Erin went to the park two days but I only went one, because the other I went to my bothers grave in Lexington, KY. Again the second day at K I, when I was there, it rained. But again it did not stop us for long. During the rain we tried to ride the inside rides and then when it stopped we went back out. There was a late storm and they did close the park about an hour and a half early, but we were all tired and ready to go. So praise the Lord, a good time was had by all.
Then the first full week in July, Eric was still off work so mid week he came back over and we did some needed maintenance and completed some work he had started on the house. I hope to have it up for sale by fall if not sooner. It is a lot to take care of. I know that Marty is very unhappy with me because of all the weeds in the flower beds and because I have not been keep her birds feed. There are just not enough hours in the day, or days in the week to get done what I need to do.
Oh yes, I need to tell you, if you have not heard, that I have a rider on the motorcycle with me. It is really awesome. We don't get out as much as we would like to. but when we do we both really enjoy it. And who is it that loves to go with me - Buddy! Yes, Buddy rides on the back seat of the bike and just loves it. In fact, if I am getting ready to take the bike out and not take him, he will jump up on the front seat as if to say, "If I can't go, you are not going either!" That happened one time that Eric and Erin where here and they both about cracked up laughing at him. I do have a helmet and goggles for him, but like most bike riders he does not like them and most of the time does not wear them, and when he does it is under protest. I do have a seat belt on him, but he loves it. Most of the time he sits there and looks and smells from side to side. Sometimes he will have his front paws on the arm rests to look around and smell things a little better. We have had cars pass us and then slow down to see if what they though they saw they really did see. We do indeed have a great time riding. I have made several trips to Defiance on the bike, to a couple of Erin's ball games, but I have not taken Buddy that far as of now. His time will come, as I believe he could make it.
Also during July I spent a couple of days in southern IN helping with the flood victims. They did get hit pretty bad, but certainly did not have the structural damage that there was in New Orleans, but the mud and mess were all there. It was an interesting time and I hope helpful. Our ISP full time chaplain was sure glad to have some help. I think there were 3 or 4 of us who went at different times to help.
Then last Friday afternoon I went to Speedway again for the practice sessions for the Brickyard 400. What an experience again! It was awesome! I talked to several of the drivers and more than a half dozen of the crew members. I saw a lot and learned a lot. One of the crews changed the engine in the car in about one hour and had the car back on the track. It was something else to watch. On the troopers that I was with had met some crew folks last year and we went back to see them. Bottom line is that I watched the cars go around the track for about 20 minutes and then spent the other 2 hours in the area where the cars where coming and going for adjustments. It was a good afternoon.
Well as you can see I have not had much grass growing under my feet. I am planning to take 2 more weeks off in August - the week of the 12th and then the next week. I have reservations to camp the first week and not sure what will happen the second week. It just seemed to make sense to me that I need to face that time straight on and not try to hid under the escape of being busy. I don't really expect anything magical to happen just because it will have been a year since Marty died, but I am hoping that some of the anxiety and frustration of the grief process will be over and/or I will be able to deal with in some way during those two weeks. But then again one of the most difficult things that I have experienced and that I have talked to others about and they say the same thing, is that friends and even family seem to move on much faster than the spouse, and then there is not the support for the spouse that there needs to be. I was recently talking to one grieving spouse who went to church on the Sunday following the funeral, and sat completely by themselves. No one moved from their seat and sat with this person, even though they knew that there spouse that they always sat with had died. The other thing that is so sad and I believe I mentioned this in the last blog is that people don't like to talk about death, nor really ask a grieving person how their grieving is coming along. I know that I sound like a broken record, but believe me these things hurt.
I have talked to a couple of people that have been through very difficult situation and this fall I am hoping and planning to have a series of programs under the title "What do you say when....?"
then fell that in with such things as: when someone dies; when someone has a miscarriage; when someone is arrested; when someone has a pet die; when someone is divorced and didn't want to be; and there are a couple of others on the list on my desk that I will choose from. This all came out of a conservation with a couple other people when we were talking about how difficult we tend to find it to talk about some subjects. Then we started to think about what those topic were. Those folks were so excited about such a series of programs that two of them called me later to mention some other subjects that fit the bill. The bottom line is that we thought of more topic than we have time to talk about this fall. So I plan to pick four or five of them and get people who have experienced the topic to talk about it. I already have two people who have said they will do it. "Locals" watch for details. Praise the Lord!
Eric has found a house in Defiance and is waiting to close on it. It will be great when he gets in, but it is a "fix me up" so he will have a lot of work to do. But he is good at it and likes to do it. So he and Erin have their work cut out for them. Eric is doing a great job of teaching her how to cook and to do other things.
Jennifer and the boys have spent the last 3 or 4 weeks in TN taking care of her in-laws. When she went down both of them were admitted to the hospital. Both of them are now home and home health is coming in to help care for them. Actually, Jennifer and I have only left messages for each other since last Thursday, so I am really not up to date on what is happening. All I know it has been a difficult time for all concerned. Please keep them in your prayers.
Well I better end this so I can try to spell check and proof read this so I can get to bed before this day is over. Tomorrow is going to be another very busy day in which I hope to be able to glorify the Lord in all that I do. Praise the Lord!!!!
Buddy just woke up long enough to come over and get up on my lap, so I guess that he wants to say "HI!" as well. I think that probably before long he will start barking at me to tell me that he is tired and come on let's go to bed. When I stay up to late that is what he does to me. Marty trained him well and he really watches after me. Praise the Lord!! And I know that you are saying "Someone better watch after me!" OK, Ok, ok!
I hope this has brought you at least a little up to date and given you some idea of what I have been doing and maybe even a little as to how I am doing.
Let me hear from you as well. Do take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
PS I feel like I ought to proof read it again, but I also feel like I am looking at it crossed eyed. So it will be published as is and I am going to bed. I hope there are still not too many errors.
19 May 2008
Greetings to all!
I do hope there are still some looking every once in a while to see if I have put anything on. I know over the last week to ten days I have talked to a lot of people, more than I thought, who were reading the blog before I haven't put any thing on for almost two months. I am sorry about that, but I have been in a super busy mood and a few things have fell by the way side and this was one of them. Again since I have indeed received so many comments I will try to do better about getting something on on a more regular basis.
Where to begin tonight, or should I say this morning, since it is now 12:30 am, is a hard thing to say. So very much has been going on, and I really don't know where to begin to tell you all about it but I guess I will say that I feel like I am doing pretty good in my grief and transition process. At church this morning I was telling people that if I was any better there would be three of me and then would they have problems. And I have indeed been feeling very tired but emotionally and spiritually quiet good.
Eric and Erin where here for the week-end and I went back to Defiance with them long enough to go to a graduation party and then to the cemetery and then home. The party was awesome and it was so good to talk to the graduate and family as well as to see many old friends. It sure is one way to see and talk to a lot of people in a short time. I praise the Lord for this afternoon.
Then I went to the cementer and sat by Marty's grave for about 45 minutes or an hour. It was a good time of reflection and meditation. But first I would report that they have gotten the dirt all leveled and the grass seed sown. I was very grateful for that, since Marty was so clean and neat about things, I know the sight of the grave previously would not have made her very happy. So at least now she would be happy with that has been done and would be waiting for the grass to grow, just as I am. Tonight I went over a lot of things with Marty and God, and I didn't get to many answers. I think my mind was too preoccupied with my questions and statements and not wanting to forget any of them, that I did not leave myself open to LISTEN. but perhaps that can still happen tonight before and/or when I go to bed. At any rate, I do not believe that tonight's visit to the grave left me any worse, and no doubt better particularly with the washing that my eyes got. Indeed I hope it will make them clear to be able to see and do God's will.
It is still somewhat of a problem for me, and with me, as to the way our society treats and deals with death and grief. For people like me in particular and all people in general I BELIEVE THAT GRIEF IS VERY COLD, UNFRIENDLY, AND LONELY. Particularly when it is a spouse and you have no other family in the same town and/or within say a half hour driving time. And the reason I say this is that the grieving person must talk about the one who has died, and believe most people do not what to listen and/or talk about that subject. As I read in one of the books that I read for the Lenten presentation of "Dying, Death, and Grief" there are certain things with grief that all people must do and one of those things is to learn to talk about it and find people that will listen. This is somewhat of a new aspect of grief and most people are not very good in doing either thing. You see we are so afraid of "hurting" someone that we do not help them to heal, we just let it all ride, to be worked out by the individual. And the individual is so tired of having people walk away from them before they are done that they do not even like to begin the conservation. And this has not just been my experience but I have heard the same thing for all of those that I have talked to that are going through grief right now and that is 10 -12 people that I know and have talked to.
So what is the difference, the problem? In the book it was pointed out that much less than even 100 years ago, when a person was sick and dying they stayed at home and the extended family took care of them. This included from the youngest to the oldest. When the death occurred it was with the entire extended family, from youngest to oldest, gathered around. And who was involved in the grief process the entire family from the youngest to the oldest. So you see they all experienced the entire thing because it all took place as home, even the visitation and the memorial service, and even the smallest of children were not shield from it for fear it might hurt and/or frighten them. Therefore these people were willing and able to talk and communicate about the entire situation. But today we shield our children for all of it and do not communicate with them and now today as a society we cannot communicate about dying, death, and grief because we don't know what to say. That I strongly believe is why grief is so "cold" and so hard for so many to deal with.
As for me, well most of you know me, and what have I done here is to just speak what I believe God is telling me to. And I feel very strongly that God is telling me to be about the necessary communication about the situation that is needed for healing, even if no one really wants to listen, and if it makes them feel uncomfortable. And if they make me cry that is good, because Jesus showed us by example that that is part of the healing. So no one should fear a grieving person that lets go of a few tears because that is a good thing.
One of the things that I have really learned is that there are a lot more people out there that are still grieving 5, 10, 15 years down the road from the death that I ever knew about. You see they have had to hide their grief, because no one in our society, besides a paid counselor, really wanted to listen, to hear, and to learn about what they were really going through. Further, I would have to say that this experience with Marty has been much, much harder than any of the other deaths that I have had to deal with in my life. And I would say that a part of that has been caused by the fact that I have not had anyone to really talk with about it, like I did with Marty when we had other deaths occur.
Also tonight I almost through the cell phone away and at least learned that I need to turn it off or take it off when in serious dealing with the situation. For as I sat at Marty's grave tonight and meditated and talked to Marty and to God and remembered the cell phone rang, and of course I answered it and even though I told the person where I was and what I was doing they proceeded with their question and their problem. That then messed it all up for me, as I was not able to get back to where I was because of what had happened.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! I do have to say that despite society I believe that I am doing well in the grief process. Again as you read this you may not agree, but as I have said we must talk about what is going on and where we are in order to heal, and that I am able to do with any one who will listen. And what is + and - about the blog is that I can "talk" (write) but I really don't know if anyone has listen (read) unless I do get some feed back. And I would indeed by interested in getting that from any and all that are willing to share.
Well, I was going to be "short" and here it is an hour later. So I better spell check this writing and read it over so I can get to bed. Buddy is already trying to get me to go to bed and he is going to have a fit it I don't pretty soon. In fact he just told me again to go to bed by barking at me and when I did not respond he just turned and went into the bed room himself. God is good- all the time! All the time - God is good. Praise the Lord, all ways! I do have a lot more I could share about what I have been doing and I hope to get back on soon and do just that. Until then:
Take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
PS Particularly as late as it is I add a disclaimer, or maybe I should say a claim that I did write it, spelled checked it, read it over, therefore take no responsibility for any errors found in this writing. So may it be! Amen!
I do hope there are still some looking every once in a while to see if I have put anything on. I know over the last week to ten days I have talked to a lot of people, more than I thought, who were reading the blog before I haven't put any thing on for almost two months. I am sorry about that, but I have been in a super busy mood and a few things have fell by the way side and this was one of them. Again since I have indeed received so many comments I will try to do better about getting something on on a more regular basis.
Where to begin tonight, or should I say this morning, since it is now 12:30 am, is a hard thing to say. So very much has been going on, and I really don't know where to begin to tell you all about it but I guess I will say that I feel like I am doing pretty good in my grief and transition process. At church this morning I was telling people that if I was any better there would be three of me and then would they have problems. And I have indeed been feeling very tired but emotionally and spiritually quiet good.
Eric and Erin where here for the week-end and I went back to Defiance with them long enough to go to a graduation party and then to the cemetery and then home. The party was awesome and it was so good to talk to the graduate and family as well as to see many old friends. It sure is one way to see and talk to a lot of people in a short time. I praise the Lord for this afternoon.
Then I went to the cementer and sat by Marty's grave for about 45 minutes or an hour. It was a good time of reflection and meditation. But first I would report that they have gotten the dirt all leveled and the grass seed sown. I was very grateful for that, since Marty was so clean and neat about things, I know the sight of the grave previously would not have made her very happy. So at least now she would be happy with that has been done and would be waiting for the grass to grow, just as I am. Tonight I went over a lot of things with Marty and God, and I didn't get to many answers. I think my mind was too preoccupied with my questions and statements and not wanting to forget any of them, that I did not leave myself open to LISTEN. but perhaps that can still happen tonight before and/or when I go to bed. At any rate, I do not believe that tonight's visit to the grave left me any worse, and no doubt better particularly with the washing that my eyes got. Indeed I hope it will make them clear to be able to see and do God's will.
It is still somewhat of a problem for me, and with me, as to the way our society treats and deals with death and grief. For people like me in particular and all people in general I BELIEVE THAT GRIEF IS VERY COLD, UNFRIENDLY, AND LONELY. Particularly when it is a spouse and you have no other family in the same town and/or within say a half hour driving time. And the reason I say this is that the grieving person must talk about the one who has died, and believe most people do not what to listen and/or talk about that subject. As I read in one of the books that I read for the Lenten presentation of "Dying, Death, and Grief" there are certain things with grief that all people must do and one of those things is to learn to talk about it and find people that will listen. This is somewhat of a new aspect of grief and most people are not very good in doing either thing. You see we are so afraid of "hurting" someone that we do not help them to heal, we just let it all ride, to be worked out by the individual. And the individual is so tired of having people walk away from them before they are done that they do not even like to begin the conservation. And this has not just been my experience but I have heard the same thing for all of those that I have talked to that are going through grief right now and that is 10 -12 people that I know and have talked to.
So what is the difference, the problem? In the book it was pointed out that much less than even 100 years ago, when a person was sick and dying they stayed at home and the extended family took care of them. This included from the youngest to the oldest. When the death occurred it was with the entire extended family, from youngest to oldest, gathered around. And who was involved in the grief process the entire family from the youngest to the oldest. So you see they all experienced the entire thing because it all took place as home, even the visitation and the memorial service, and even the smallest of children were not shield from it for fear it might hurt and/or frighten them. Therefore these people were willing and able to talk and communicate about the entire situation. But today we shield our children for all of it and do not communicate with them and now today as a society we cannot communicate about dying, death, and grief because we don't know what to say. That I strongly believe is why grief is so "cold" and so hard for so many to deal with.
As for me, well most of you know me, and what have I done here is to just speak what I believe God is telling me to. And I feel very strongly that God is telling me to be about the necessary communication about the situation that is needed for healing, even if no one really wants to listen, and if it makes them feel uncomfortable. And if they make me cry that is good, because Jesus showed us by example that that is part of the healing. So no one should fear a grieving person that lets go of a few tears because that is a good thing.
One of the things that I have really learned is that there are a lot more people out there that are still grieving 5, 10, 15 years down the road from the death that I ever knew about. You see they have had to hide their grief, because no one in our society, besides a paid counselor, really wanted to listen, to hear, and to learn about what they were really going through. Further, I would have to say that this experience with Marty has been much, much harder than any of the other deaths that I have had to deal with in my life. And I would say that a part of that has been caused by the fact that I have not had anyone to really talk with about it, like I did with Marty when we had other deaths occur.
Also tonight I almost through the cell phone away and at least learned that I need to turn it off or take it off when in serious dealing with the situation. For as I sat at Marty's grave tonight and meditated and talked to Marty and to God and remembered the cell phone rang, and of course I answered it and even though I told the person where I was and what I was doing they proceeded with their question and their problem. That then messed it all up for me, as I was not able to get back to where I was because of what had happened.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! I do have to say that despite society I believe that I am doing well in the grief process. Again as you read this you may not agree, but as I have said we must talk about what is going on and where we are in order to heal, and that I am able to do with any one who will listen. And what is + and - about the blog is that I can "talk" (write) but I really don't know if anyone has listen (read) unless I do get some feed back. And I would indeed by interested in getting that from any and all that are willing to share.
Well, I was going to be "short" and here it is an hour later. So I better spell check this writing and read it over so I can get to bed. Buddy is already trying to get me to go to bed and he is going to have a fit it I don't pretty soon. In fact he just told me again to go to bed by barking at me and when I did not respond he just turned and went into the bed room himself. God is good- all the time! All the time - God is good. Praise the Lord, all ways! I do have a lot more I could share about what I have been doing and I hope to get back on soon and do just that. Until then:
Take care, have a positive day, and God bless.
Jack
Romans 8:28
PS Particularly as late as it is I add a disclaimer, or maybe I should say a claim that I did write it, spelled checked it, read it over, therefore take no responsibility for any errors found in this writing. So may it be! Amen!
24 March 2008
Greeting!
It sure has been a long time since I have written anything, and it is late tonight so I don’t think I will write too much. I hope that all of you are doing well and have had a meaningful Lent and Easter. There are so many of you that I do hope are watching for this and reading it because I do think of you so often and wonder how you are doing. On the other hand, I know it must be hard to look, and look, and look and find that I have not written anything. I would say that I will do better in the future, but I am so busy and usually get home so tired at night that I don’t think it would be fair to promise that. I will only say that I will try to do better.
I am doing okay! I do believe that I am progressing with the grief process and finding days to be better and the see/saw not quiet as bad. My Lent and Holy Week were very busy but indeed the Lord has been present and has been good to me. The sessions that I did on Dying, Death, and Grief I think went well. Had any where from 9 to 14 people at a session and indeed get some discussion at the last couple sessions, all of which was good. Most all of those who attended did so because of a specific death of a loved one and I hope received some help. I had hoped that there would also be some there just to learn and talk a little more about the subject. But that is a part of the problem in our day and age; we just don’t want to talk about death. The material that I read in preparation said the same thing and also said, as I so strongly believe, that it is really necessary for the person who is grieving to talk. To develop their story and to be able to tell it! Oh well I believe God wanted to me to the class and I did it. I will remain open for what ever is next.
We really had a great Holy Week at church which I do believe a number of the members found to be very meaningful and helpful in their spiritual growth. Praise the Lord! I just pray for all of us that we find a new and better relationship with God because of this Easter 2008. What a gift and opportunity God has given to us, I hope that no matter our age or situation we will each take advantage of it.
Eric and Erin were here for the week-end and it was good to have them. They were able to arrive on Thursday night and stayed until this afternoon. Praise the Lord!
My chaplain service with police and fire has been relatively slow recently, praise the Lord, we have not had any really bad crashes, fires, or the likes. We continue to have alcohol and drug busts but I don’t get very involved in them. However, I was on the second line for a drug bust here not to long ago. That means I was out about 3 to 5 miles from were it went down.
Well, I said that it was going to be short so I need to keep it that way. Hopefully I will get back on again before another four weeks go by, but you can always figure that no news is good news.
God is good – all the time! All the time – God is good! Praise the Lord!
Have a positive day and God bless!
Jack Hess
Romans 8:28
It sure has been a long time since I have written anything, and it is late tonight so I don’t think I will write too much. I hope that all of you are doing well and have had a meaningful Lent and Easter. There are so many of you that I do hope are watching for this and reading it because I do think of you so often and wonder how you are doing. On the other hand, I know it must be hard to look, and look, and look and find that I have not written anything. I would say that I will do better in the future, but I am so busy and usually get home so tired at night that I don’t think it would be fair to promise that. I will only say that I will try to do better.
I am doing okay! I do believe that I am progressing with the grief process and finding days to be better and the see/saw not quiet as bad. My Lent and Holy Week were very busy but indeed the Lord has been present and has been good to me. The sessions that I did on Dying, Death, and Grief I think went well. Had any where from 9 to 14 people at a session and indeed get some discussion at the last couple sessions, all of which was good. Most all of those who attended did so because of a specific death of a loved one and I hope received some help. I had hoped that there would also be some there just to learn and talk a little more about the subject. But that is a part of the problem in our day and age; we just don’t want to talk about death. The material that I read in preparation said the same thing and also said, as I so strongly believe, that it is really necessary for the person who is grieving to talk. To develop their story and to be able to tell it! Oh well I believe God wanted to me to the class and I did it. I will remain open for what ever is next.
We really had a great Holy Week at church which I do believe a number of the members found to be very meaningful and helpful in their spiritual growth. Praise the Lord! I just pray for all of us that we find a new and better relationship with God because of this Easter 2008. What a gift and opportunity God has given to us, I hope that no matter our age or situation we will each take advantage of it.
Eric and Erin were here for the week-end and it was good to have them. They were able to arrive on Thursday night and stayed until this afternoon. Praise the Lord!
My chaplain service with police and fire has been relatively slow recently, praise the Lord, we have not had any really bad crashes, fires, or the likes. We continue to have alcohol and drug busts but I don’t get very involved in them. However, I was on the second line for a drug bust here not to long ago. That means I was out about 3 to 5 miles from were it went down.
Well, I said that it was going to be short so I need to keep it that way. Hopefully I will get back on again before another four weeks go by, but you can always figure that no news is good news.
God is good – all the time! All the time – God is good! Praise the Lord!
Have a positive day and God bless!
Jack Hess
Romans 8:28
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