Socks On My Hands

Old Man Winter told me yesterday that he was coming; soooooooooooooooooon!!! I don’t HATE winter, I just don’t like it very much.

I love first snows. The brightness and purity of them. Ever noticed during a good heavy snow how much quieter it is? All that sound deadener  packed  into the  streets muffles the noise of traffic. I love that sound, quiet.

When I was a kid, my parents couldn’t afford gloves and mittens for my sister and I. We would put socks on over our hands to keep them warm on the way to school. I would take them off before I got inside to my locker so that none of the other kids would see them. What I didn’t know then was that there were a lot of kids who were wearing socks on their hands those days.

As a young teenager I didn’t like to stay home very much. It would nearly be dark by the time I would get home from school in the winter. My friends and I spent a lot of time walking the streets at night. I guess that must have been why I would constantly have a cold all winter.

These days I spend a lot of time driving. Unfortunately, There are many, many, many…………days spent driving in the snow, ice, freezing rain. I miss the days of wearing socks on my hands and the walks through the snow covered streets of Adrian. Some day when I’m older and wiser, I am sure I will not miss driving in winter.

Thick Love

When you spend 10 to 12 hours a day with a person you get to know them pretty well. Although, sometimes you may not like them very well, you still get to know them. There is a guy at work who has not only become a big part of my day, but my life as well. He’s a young man, early 20’s; young enough to be my son. For the sake of this story we will call him Joe.

Joe is a very interesting young man. High school education, but shows a much broader learning. He says that he has the capability of retaining information and remembering it very well. I on the other hand, have a hard time remembering my phone number.

Joe doesn’t believe in God, nor has a use for religion, and for the most part believes that every man is out for himself. Joe is a very interesting young man.

Joe and I have had many deeeeeeep conversations over the past year about God, religion, mankind, and life in general. But the most interesting thing about Joe is his love. Joe is a very loving and caring young man. I have seen him go out of his way to help someone catch up on their job because they had gotten behind. I’ve seen him give up his personal time to do something for someone else and not want anything in return. I have often told Joe that I wish I had a heart as big as his. I mean it, the guy is a very loving and caring young man.

Joe will tell you that he hates people, but actions speak louder than words. Joe is acting out what is in his heart; love. Joe so much wants to be loved, that he will act out in kindness without even thinking about it.

His past includes being homeless as a child, raised without a father, living in his mother’s car, going to 14 schools in 12 years….the list goes on and on. Joe is searching for love. He has never had a girlfriend, never has had any real solid friendships of any kind. He wears this thickness about him that makes him seem unapproachable, but after a year I think I finally broke through.

During our morning break a few weeks ago I asked the question, “When was the last time anyone told you that they loved you?” Joe’s eyes instantly began to rain tears. I said, “I love you Joe, and God loves you, He has sent me here to tell you that even though you don’t believe in him, He believes in you and loves you.”

With a shaky smile and a quivery voice Joe said, “I hate you, you know that?” We both knew that was his way of telling me that he loved me back. Earlier when I said that Joe has never had any solid friendships, that was before God hooked us up together. He has a way of doing things like that.

The thickness is wearing thinner these days.

A Shortcut Going Backwards

The other morning on the way to work, I decided to take a different route. A short cut so to speak. Instead of heading due north out of town, I drove out Riverside Ave. At 4 in the morning the full moon was shining bright. I was in awe of the beauty of Lake Adrian as I drove past. I suddenly found myself sitting on the bank of the lake with my childhood friend John fishing. I remember being there a lot when we were kids.

Soon, I was driving past Adrian High School. I was filled with regrets as I past. I thought for a moment, “If only I could go back.” I was a screw up in school. Sometimes I wish I could go back and redo some of the mistakes I made in life. High school is near the top of the list.

Right across the street from my old high school is the hospital. I remembered the night my son Kyle was born. December 15, 1987. Nearly 21 years have past since I drove Susan to the hospital in the middle of a snow storm. I was 23 years old; just a kid myself. I had just lost my dad about a year before, and I remembered wishing I had him with me that night.

Sometimes when we get caught up in the day-to-day junk of life, I like to take a look backwards. It helps me stay focused on moving forward. I know in my heart that God has a plan for my life. I know that all of the experiences I have had through my life has shaped me to be the person God wants me to be. A turn down a different road at 4 a.m. reminded me who that person is.

SicK Day

WOW!!! 3 Months since my last posting. It’s a shame that a guy needs a sick day from work in order to have time to blog.

I got sick yesterday at work while I was on the line. Not the gross kinda sick where you’re puking your guts out, Just a high fever and aches kinda sick.

This morning around 2:30 my fever broke and I stated feeling better. To be on the safe side, I went to the doctor and was told there was some sorta viral thing going around; lasts about 24 hours.

But, I got a sick day from work. Remember back when you were in school and your mom would let you stay home because you had a sore throat, or a bad cough? Remember the chicken noodle soup and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crust cut off? Moms and sick days just sort of go hand-in-hand don’t they?

Susan has done a great job of taking care of me today. After the early doctor’s visit, she took my to my favorite restaurant The Tip Top for French Toast. When I was in high school I worked there as a dishwasher. I have a lot of great memories.

It’s about lunch time, I wonder if there is any chicken noodle soup to eat?

Don’t let them steel your joy

Life for me is hectic right now to say the least. My work schedule is killing me!!! About 70 hours a week plus driving another 18, that ads up to………..A very long week.

It’s hard, really hard for me to not get cranky and short tempered lately. Not enough sleep and too much coffee I guess. NOT!!!

I think back to a couple of years ago while I was watching Joel Osteen on TV. His message was about the everyday pressures we face throughout our lives and how there are people who we come in contact with everyday who’s goal is to make everyone else just as miserable as they are.

I went a little further than just the angry person on the line who is constantly making long days of building cars even longer. I thought about all the things that happen throughout my day that I have no control over that bugs the snot out of me. And then the realization hit me. “Don’t let them steel my joy.”

That was the heart of Joel’s message that day. “Don’t let them steel your joy.” I can’t control those around me. I can’t make that person in front of me at the traffic light making a left turn give a signal. I can’t make people act and do as I would like them to do; but…………..I can not let them steel my joy. I can choose not to listen to them and get caught up into their petty little arguments.

I can however thank God for the wonderful blessings that he has given me, especially the wonderful wife who puts up with me when I fail and they get a piece of my joy. Thank you Susan.

A Little Family Vacation

My plant has been shut down for the week for re-tooling. (2009 models). I needed it!!

Susan and I took the kids to Michigan’s Adventures up in Muskegon. It’s a real nice park. Not too big, just enough to spend a fun day. The next day we drove down to South Haven; Susan’s hometown. A very beautiful little town. The downtown area draws one back to a period in American that is just a fine memory for most of us and completely unknown to our kids. People actually shop “downtown” in South Haven. It was great to see all these family owned stores open and doing well. We couldn’t find a parking space on the main street at 10:30 a.m. It was Tuesday!!!!

One of the thoughts I had while we were enjoying our selves this week was how many people live for that one or two weeks of vacation per year to enjoy their families? Think about it. We work 50 weeks or more out of the year only to cram an entire year’s worth of live into one vacation.

Time is the one asset we can’t produce more of. But we can be better stewards of the time that God has given us. Don’t wast life working for that one vacation per year.

While Susan and I were planning this trip, we were talking about how many days we were going to have to do “this or that”. As we were talking I realized how fast the hours in a day goes by. We had been sitting on the patio planning our trip for over two hours; just enjoying one another, watching the girls playing in the back yard. It was a like we were on a little family vacation. Making the most of the moment that God had blessed us with.

Let God Be God

I have to talk about struggles. I’m struggling with time. Time to simply let God be God. I feel like the world sometimes has me in a vice and it’s squeezing, and squeezing till I am just about to pop. (sometimes, I pop!!)

As a Christ follower, I sometimes struggle staying focused on what my purpose in life is. I then remind myself that, “Its not about me.” I have a tendency to shove God off his thrown and do things my way because He’s not doing them fast enough.

Let God be God.

I was telling my wife Susan today that my days are long and my time is short. We then began talking about the quality of time verses the quantity of time; finding ways to make the most of the couple of hours a day we have to spend doing family.

Let God be God.

It’s time for me to stop letting the world run my life.

“God, I place you in charge of my life. I can’t do it on my own. I will let you be God. When I screw up, forgive me.”

Let God be God.

“I’m Standing In Center Field!!!”

Saturday night Susan and I went to a Detroit Tiger’s baseball game with our friends Randy and Chrissy. What a blast. Nor Susan or I had ever been to ComericA Park. As a matter of fact, Susan had never been in downtown Detroit. She really enjoyed herself.

As we were walking through the stadium looking around we noticed a bunch of people out on the field. An usher told us that the Tigers were holding a youth clinic; talking to kids about the game, how to be a better player, ect. Well, Susan and Chrissy are constantly reminding Randy and I how juvenile we are, so down to the field we went!!!

As we stepped out onto the field we entered at Right Field. About 30 feet out I stopped and looked back to home plate. I told Susan to look with me. “This is what Magglio sees.” What a rush!!! Even though Brandon Inge will always be my favorite Tiger, Maggs is the man when it comes to swinging lumber. By the way, Saturday night Maggs hit a 2 run homer in the fourth, and a 3 run homer in the 6th.

The 4 of us strolled on over to Center Field. What a view. Randy was standing dead center in Center Field just looking around. The smile on his face said it all. Randy called his dad to tell him. “Guess where I’m at dad?” ……”Center Field at ComericA Park!!!”

The next day Randy’s dad said he was sort of afraid to answer his question, thinking Randy was going to say “JAIL!!!”

The grass…..The grass… I can’t even describe it. All I know is that who ever cuts the grass at ComericA Park, I want them to come over and do my lawn…just once.

What a night. We sat and watched our Tigers pound the Twins 19 to 3!!! 17 hits!!! 0 errors!! At one point the runs were coming in so fast, I had to ask Randy what the score was because I had lost count. Mgr. Jim Leland said after the game that he was a little embarrassed beating them so bad, but what can you do.

After the game we stayed and enjoyed the fireworks. Great time, great friends; can’t ask for more. What a night.

I Owe, I Owe…. Back To Work I Go

Thought I would update; the UAW and G.M. came to an agreement late this week, and have ratified a new contract. So it is back to work I go. The 4 weeks off have been great. I have to be honest though, at first I was a bit ticked to say the lest on how the negotiations went. But I then stopped and realized what was really going on.

1. God was trying to get through my thick head, that I am not in control. As Christians, isn’t that what we are to give up? Control is given to God. Why is that so hard to do sometimes?

2. I had been prying for a break in the overtime. 15 hour days, 6 days a week get old quick. We had been working that schedule since Jan. 1st. I got my break….4 weeks!!!! I am very thankful for the time off, cause I really needed it.

3. I enjoyed spending time with Susan. I am so blessed to have a great friend like her. And to think, God allowed my best friend to be my wife. Double COOL!!!

Thanks to everyone who has been prying for us, trust me, God answers prayers. So Dose anyone want to leave a wake-up call for Monday morning for 3 a.m.? I’ll be up, it’s no trouble to ring your phone.

No News is still News

Haven’t heard tooooooo much about our strike at General Motors lately on any of the news programs. I guess that’s cause there is no news to report about our strike, at General Motors. 4 weeks now, Yep, 4 weeks. I’ve got a lot done around the house, spent a lot of time with Susan and the kids……………Yep, a lot of time……..with the wife and kids…………..4 weeks.

With all kidding aside, it’s been a lot of fun not waking up at 3 a.m. spending 1 and 1/2 hours driving to work. Building cars for 9 hours and then driving 1 and 1/2 hours back home, 6 days a week. Got to admit though, I do miss getting a pay check……Yep, 4 weeks……..

I have also been getting a lot of studying done. I have read 3 really good books. BLUE LIKE JAZZ by Donald Miller….cool stuff. SEX GOD by Rob Bell, love Rob’s stuff. Really makes you think. BE OBEDIENT by Warren W. Wiersbe. A good book if you are doing a Bible study on faith.

I can now see why retirement is so popular. You have all the time in the world to do whatever you want to do, but have to work part time at Wally World-Wal-Mart to help make ends meet.