For My Part, I Sincerely Apologize

Note #1:  Once again, fair warning to any who do not like to read anything related to religion.  BUT, if you want to gather ammunition to use against any hard-to-take Christians you might have to deal with, read on.  If it will do you good to hear a Christian apologize for just how obnoxious we can be, read on.

Note #2:  On my last blog post Anvilcloud reminded me that "In the beginning was the Word."  I laughed, not only because it was clever and funny, but because it led so perfectly into this post that I was working on.

I called Thomas Nelson publishing house recently.  I just didn’t know what else to do.  You see, we had received the monthly flyer from our local Christian bookstore.  There are always good discount coupons, and sometimes books are $5.00.  That’s right, $5.00.  I have actually found several new authors that way.  Authors who write great fiction, some of who incorporate intriguing current issues.  Authors whom I think people who would never want to go near a Christian bookstore might enjoy, assuming they like fiction.  Well, while glancing through the flyer to decide if it were worth keeping (I HATE paper!), I saw a new Bible, The American Patriot’s Bible. 

The title disturbed me somewhat.  I read the summary write up.  Then I was, for sure, disturbed.  Off to the computer I went to google this Bible.  The subtitle?  The Word of God and the Shaping of America.  Their write up?  I quote, “THE AMERICAN PATRIOT’S BIBLE connects the teaching of the Bible, the history of the United States, and the life of every American.  Beautiful full-color insert pages spotlight the people and events that demonstrate the godly qualities that have made America great.” 

On reading that phrase “godly qualities” a number of things came immediately to mind, of course.  Things like: 1) Our treatment of Native American Indians;  2) The fact that slavery was not mentioned in the Constitution originally, and was not made part of that document until 1865, almost 90 years (how many generations?) after our “founding fathers” established our country;  3) The fact that a Voting Rights Act was necessary after still another 100 years, in 1965;  4) The lack of child labor laws for how long?  It wasn’t until 1904 that a national organization against child labor was formed.  I am sorry to say that I could go on.  I could add lack of women’s rights for how long?  But even with this short list would be difficult, at best, for a fellow Christian to identify the godly qualities. 

                  

After pausing and considering that one phrase I then clicked on the picture of the Bible, as the site encouraged me to do.  Inside, a page with our Declaration of Independence.  Another with our Constitution, or at least part, I guess.  I can’t be sure how much.  Of course there were pictures of our flag waving, the Statue of Liberty, monuments or buildings in Washington, D.C.   There was a picture of George Washington, kneeling in prayer by his horse. On the facing page were pictures of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Regan on a horse.   (Please see note at end.)

There was a list of full color features, which included:

• The Bible and American Presidents
• Christianity in Colonial America
• Faith of the Founders
• The Bible and American Education
• Monuments to American Patriotism
• Christianity and Civil Rights
• The Bible and Famous Americans

Dumbfounded.  Completely dumbfounded.  That pretty much sums up my initial reaction.   Then disgust.  Then I became apologetic.  I wanted to apologize to so many people I don’t even know.  Impossible, of course.  So I did what I said above, I called the publishing house.

I asked the male phone representative if I could make some comments.  He gave permission.  Here’s the gist of what I said (after having told him that I had always respected Thomas Nelson publishing):

I feel pretty sure I will be the only Christian who will call and say this. 

I don’t mean to be in any way offensive.  But I do want to be straightforward.

I just investigated The American Patriot’s Bible and was shocked Thomas Nelson chose to publish it.

This actually really frightens me for our country.  To take God’s Word and add ourselves to it?  How could I NOT be frightened?  To me it is the height of arrogance.  And God hates arrogance. 

And how must this look to Christians in other countries?  How could it not appear that we think we are better, that we think God looks on us as extra special.  How could they not find this offensive?

I thank him for listening and assure him he doesn’t have to say a word; that I know I am not the normal call he will receive. 

The man could not have been more gracious.  He encouraged me to call anytime, saying that Thomas Nelson welcomes all comments.  I couldn’t tell if the man thought at least some of what I said had value.  Or if he heard a voice older than his and was being particularly respectful.  Or if he was just trained extremely well. 

Can we Christians get any more obnoxious?  But then again, I thought we had maxed out on our ability to be so.  Then I found this Bible.  So, I doubt we’ve reached the limit.  We’ll likely keep climbing up on that soapbox we think is so righteous, without pause to consider that what we’ve actually done is climb to a very dangerous cliff.  What would stop us from doing so?  Any voices that might be trying to warn us are written off, labeled as way too liberal.  And of course there is also that oblique insinuation that some love their country more than others.  (As if that in and of itself is not offensive enough?) 

Let me make it very clear, as I have attempted to do in past posts.  I love my country.  As a teenager I had the very unique opportunity to live in Turkey for a summer.  So at the age of 16 I saw first hand how rich we are in this country.  I was able to get a good education due to state colleges, etc.  In a nutshell, I have been able to grow and fulfill some dreams all because America is my home.  But I must also say that I am a Caucasian female and was born just in time to be ready for college when some parents, at least, had begun to think it was okay for daughters to aspire to as much higher education as we wanted.   

What is wrong with this picture, you ask?  In a word, everything.  Let me be specific.  I’ll give you a Biblical principal we say we believe in and show you exactly how we have used it in a disgusting display of hypocrisy. 

First and foremost, we have taken God’s Word and defiled it.  Not just polluted it.  But defiled it.  The very Book we say teaches us not to be prideful or to think more of ourselves than we should; we have dared to use to brag about ourselves, to brag about our country.  Here is a verse, Romans 12:3 from two different versions of the Bible.  (Bold print added by me.)

…it is important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God…the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. 

The Message

…Don’t think you are better than you really are…
New Living Translation

Could it be more spelled out any more clearly? 

Secondly, we say we believe in searching our hearts, thinking about and being aware of our sins.  Who has not heard that we have to “confess our sins”?   But we do the opposite with respect to the country we love so much, the country “founded on Christian principals”.  We will not face up to our wrongs as a nation.  This represents a complete disconnect in our thinking!  

Thirdly, we Christians believe we are to love God with all our hearts and all our minds, and to have no other idols before us.  But if I look at The American Patriot’ Bible, I see idols, pure and simple.  We are dangerously close to worshiping the founders of our country and our Constitution.  Mortal, very human men, and a document created by men. Not surprising though.  The Bible does warn us that we will come to worship the created rather than the Creator.  It says it in this very Bible, where the beginning pages are devoted to men from our history, to the Declaration of Independence, to the Constitution, to buildings, no matter how majestic, still built by men.  Let me cite Romans 1:25.

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator…

New American Standard Bible

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the created things rather than the Creator…

Today's New International Version

And look at Mark 7:8.  Jesus Himself said this! 

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.

Today's New International Version

Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.

New American Standard Bible

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.
New Living Translation

Same question as before.  Could it be spelled out any more clearly?

By the way, were I not only talking about The American Patriot’s Bible, I could add to the idol list.  Politics, revered, possibly haloed, political commentators, not to mention certain news organizations; all would make the list.  Don’t believe me?  Listen; truly listen to some of our Christian leaders and pay attention to where and with whom you see them.  Decide if you are confused as to whether they are men of God, politicians, or campaigners. 

I’ve decided we need new words.  Either that or I have way too limited a vocabulary.  I can’t think of words that would describe not only this Bible, but also the prevailing atmosphere within our Christian movement (for lack of a better word) that equates America and Christianity.  Words like disgusting, ridiculous, simplistic, obnoxious, pompous, arrogant, all seem way too inadequate.  They are not strong enough to describe where we are with our thinking.  We need new words and we need the superlative forms of those words. 

Since I am not smart enough to coin any phrases, I’ll do the only thing I know to do.  For my part, I’ll sincerely apologize. 

I apologize to any American being judged as not loving his/her country.  Particularly when that judgment comes from a Christian, or even a pretend-to-be one.

I most definitely apologize to Christians in other countries for our failure, that of American Christians, to see ourselves as a family with you, for being “respecters of persons”, exactly as we are instructed NOT to do in God’s Word.  

 I apologize to non-Christians, both American and otherwise.  I apologize for our arrogance and our self-righteousness.

 And I apologize to God Himself for how poorly we are representing Him, for how much we are becoming “lovers of self”.  I ask His forgiveness and ask Him to help us love and respect others, all of whom we claim to believe were created by Him.  And I ask Him to help us, at least us American Christians, to focus on our Christian “crawl” and want to do better.  I say “crawl” because I see us as no longer even trying to think about how to walk.  From my point of view we have a long ways to go to get back to a Christian “walk”, if we were ever there in the first place.  And I ask Him to let us see ourselves clearly, as in a mirror.  That includes myself and all the many places I am wrong.  Even if it is about all of this. 

I don’t know if my sister will ever see this, but I am concerned if she does.  She is worrying that I am too much against the Christian community.  Maybe underneath she is afraid I will lose my faith.  But she needn’t worry.  If I have not lost it as a result of Natalia’s death, I doubt anything else in life is going to cause me to do so.  But how can I fail to care about the very faith that is sustaining me, for sure?  In the same way I would call out to Natalia if she were approaching something dangerous, I must do it here, no matter how harsh it may seem. 

Note:  I truly mean no disrespect.  But I HAVE to ask.  How did it NOT seem weird to design and print a Bible where readers could see a movie-star-like picture of anyone on horseback?  Speaking for myself, I just don’t expect that in my Bible.  A picture of Jesus, yes.  Ronald Regan on horseback, no.

Really Strange

I mentioned a while back that I fell and hurt my wrist.  I did, under duress, make every effort to be compliant and give my wrist adequate rest.  Family can be most demanding!  However, not only has my wrist continued to bother me, but also, I’ve missed writing.  Now, here’s the really strange part.  I don’t like to write!!!  Makes no sense, does it? 

I read up minimally on Art Therapy.  Just trying to figure out the paradox.  There are, according to what I read, two categories or definitions of this type of therapy.  As I understand it, one category focuses on the art created.  The art “product” itself is viewed as communicating something.  The other definition of art therapy stresses the process rather than the art itself.  The creative process, regardless of the finished project, is considered therapeutic and restorative.  I did not find, because of the inadequacy of my reading, if writing is included in either definition.  It did not appear to be.  But I would like to read more.

In the meantime, I’ve determined to wear my wrist brace until I can get back to the doctor (I’ve promised Trista I will call today.) and begin to write a little bit.  Why would I NOT like to write and yet want to write when I have a “legitimate” excuse not to?  Because my best friend, Mrs. G., who will be 84 next week, and whom I’ve never called by her first name, told me I’m thinking about too much.  She advised me, “Regenia, honey, you’ve got to get that out!”    So I wrote “Artificially Sculpted” this past Saturday.  And Mrs. G. was right.  I felt better.  Considerably better.  Immediately. 

Whether or not writing is considered art, per se, within the Art Therapy world, is irrelevant.  The process of writing is helping me.  It allows me to think out loud, I guess.   I am getting no answers whatsoever; no clarity that I can see.  Certainly I am getting no improved ability to focus.  My family says I am still extremely distracted.  I think their perception is accurate.  And yet, there is something about writing out my thoughts and questions, something beneficial.  

I don’t have to like medicine to take it.  If I know it helps, I take it.  I’ll treat writing the same way.  So I intend to keep writing for a while longer.  At least until I feel the process has lost the calming and healing effect it has on me.  And, maybe, just maybe, I’ll get around to writing about all the topics on my list that is now several pages long.  Literally.  But I doubt it.  I seem to have more questions and things I need to try to understand, certainly not less.

Artificially Sculpted

Note:  I know some do not like to read posts related to religion.  So, fair warning.  That is exactly the topic of this post, and perhaps the next one.  BUT, if you want to hear a Christian express some of the same confusion and frustration I imagine non-Christians do, read on.

It is early Easter Eve.  The night sky is still outside our windows and I’ve already had my coffee.  I intended to start my meal for tomorrow, but I need to write first, I think.   My mind is just too full of questions and confusion. 

I always awake shortly before 5 AM.  Regardless of whether I get up then or delay until around 6:00, I do one thing.  I spend at least a few minutes in prayer for anyone or anything on the “top” of my prayer list.  Japan has remained on the 5 AM list since the tsunami hit, along with people who have suffered tragedy or need jobs, etc. 

This morning I was thinking about Jesus’ habit of rising early to pray.  And I thought of His looking down on all of us who might be praying at the same time.  In my mind He is looking down and seeing a watercolor painting created by different colors of skin and hair, physical size, and shape of eyes.  To Him the painting is like what we see when we are driving along the highway and see a field of wildflowers.  No talented landscape artist carefully chose the flowers to give just the right color combination and overall appearance.  Nor was the field perfectly sculpted and edged.  But the field’s beauty is derived from just that, the random juxtaposition of the different flowers and the resulting mixture of heights and textures and even patterns at different places in the field. 

That entire image of Jesus looking down and listening to all of us, outwardly so different from one another, and the contrast of a field of wildflowers versus a flower garden sculpted by man led me back to where I often end up.  Why do even we Christians want to separate ourselves from human beings different from ourselves?  Do we not want to see the richness of life when variety is appreciated?  Why are we working so hard to artificially sculpt life?

I wonder if Jesus is right now doing what He did in the garden?   Weeping.  Weeping at our lack of love and concern for, and even rejection of, some of His “wildflowers”?  And weeping because He knows it is not the life He intended for us?  He wants the best life for us.  In His own words, He wants one where we love others as we love ourselves.  Surely, He is weeping as He watches us approach Easter to celebrate rebirth, but without the deep desire to follow that, His second great command.  He MUST be.  Because I am.

I Don't Know Much.....

Written recently, not the day of posting.

Note:  I am somewhat concerned that this blog post might sound “preachy”, simply because of its nature.  I hope not.  I’m just reflecting on the kinds of things I would have liked to leave as a legacy to Natalia, given moment by moment over the years.  The things I would have wanted her to say she talked about with her grandma. 

I turn 62 today.  How that is remotely possible, I have no idea.  Years ago when older friends began to retire it really upset me.  How could we have friends who were eligible for retirement?  I thought that was bad…?

Anyway, I woke up thinking about how much I don’t know.  All the big answers I would like to have, I do not.  No wisdom whatsoever.  But then again, I’m probably still too young…  I can, however, think about what I’ve learned; what I have found valuable; things I could share with someone even younger than I.  Things I would share with Natalia, given the opportunity.  Things that I honestly think would help her through life; that would enrich her life tremendously.  I would like that because there is much that impoverishes life.  So, here I go.  I won’t bother to try and put my list in any order of significance.  I don’t have the wisdom for that.  I’ll just start talking.  You should be used to that!

§       I try and count 5 fruits and vegetables a day, etc, etc.  But, for me psychological diet is equally important, maybe more so.   What I expose myself to both strengthens something good in me and makes me more than I am or becomes an infection, a poison that is extremely unhealthy for me and difficult to “treat”.   I need to be careful about the people with whom I associate, what I listen to, what I read, and what kind of thinking to which I subject myself.  They all have the potential to give life or rob my life in some way.

§       Hate is particularly dangerous.  If cancer were a living, breathing, thinking entity, I think it would be extremely jealous of how rapidly hate spreads.

§       Courtesy works great.  At least 99.99% of the time.  It helps me if I ignore the rare occasions on which it doesn’t.

§       “A soft answer turns away anger.”  That’s actually from the book of Proverbs.  But I’ve found it to be one of the most invaluable things to have in my “everyday toolbox”.

§       I’ve liked trying to learn something from everyone, even if s/he is one of those abrasive personalities.  Sadly, from a very few, I’ve learned only what I DON’T want to be like.

§       I’ve made mistakes.  Big ones.  The ones made by giving people the benefit of the doubt, by reaching out, by not thinking about “my” whatever are totally okay with me.  They may have turned out to technically be mistakes.  But they were never wrong.

§       Forgiveness feels good!  It is most definitely a choice.  It takes real effort and determination to succeed.  No different from a commitment to work out physically.  And the health benefits are the same, to my way of thinking.  And I found practice makes it easier and easier.

§       At some point in time I realized that I should consider any criticism as having a kernel of truth.  Maybe one I did not like at all.  But considering that possibility has always been beneficial in the end.

§       What I call “self-advertising” is the opposite of the self-fulfilling prophecy.  People might respond to advertising in print, or on the radio and television.  Not so much otherwise.  What you claim is ignored and even rejected, based on evidence.  An example?  The other day I was driving behind a large blue car with something written across the back bumper.  In black permanent marker, I guess.  “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.”  That’s what it said.  Although I might personally agree with him, I found it ridiculous and off-putting.  My first reaction?  Wonder what the co-workers and people who know him would say?  Maybe they would say yes, his life is evidence of his belief.  But, at least from my perspective, if he is one of those who is spending a lot of time hating Muslims, and not wanting to send aid to Haiti, I wouldn’t see too much similarity between him and his Lord and Savior.  If I feel that way, I imagine that people who don’t agree with his religious views really find his “self-advertising” obnoxious.  I don’t think I’ll bother with the self-advertising route.  I want to focus on producing substantial evidence.  That is hard work and leaves no time for “self-advertising”.

§       I do not regret any time I have stood up for what is right.  Even the times I “paid a price” for that stand.  I can say I would take exactly the same stand again, knowing the consequences.  I do, however, regret any opportunities to stand up for what was right and failed to do so. 

§       People need recognition and encouragement.  Years ago, after mentally admiring the outfit of a woman I was passing, I wondered how often I thought something good but failed to say it?  Did I do that even with people I knew?  So I decided that I would try to express as many positive observations as possible, strangers or not.  What I discovered was almost incredible.  The transformation in people continues to amaze me.  First, they are totally taken by surprise.  Next, their faces brighten with genuine smiles.  They straighten their posture.  Amazing, is all I can say.  Let me give an example here also.  I can’t resist.  Yesterday I was in Home Goods.  At the end of an aisle I passed a cart filled with things obviously to be used for kitchen décor.  The collection was great!  I had to pass it a second time a few minutes later.  The cart’s “owner” had returned and was apparently trying to choose between two different colors of the same casserole dish to add to the cart.  I quite stupidly (Okay, not quite stupidly, but very stupidly.) asked if the things in the cart were hers.  She looked very wary and cautiously said yes, they were.  I didn’t know if she was cautious because she just happened to be Black and I am not.  Or if she was unaccustomed to strange, pathetically stupid women starting a conversation or what.  (Allan has tried to remind me that these days things can be taken as types of pick up lines.  I always forget.  Realistically, I doubt it would stop me, even if I did remember.)  Anyway, you must now know how she responded when I told her that the collection of items worked really well together and I thought she was good at what she was doing.  Without exaggeration, as I was walking away, she didn’t laugh out loud.  I would call it an excited giggle.  I hope it was exactly what she needed to make living her life yesterday a little lighter.

§       Although I have never studied Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, I have borrowed his term.  Poor man!  He might be devastated.  He would need to remember that I am not using it in reference to physics.  But when the minor irritations in life happen, I try (and often fail) to put it in relative terms.  In relation to the big picture of things, is this really of importance?  Is this really urgent, relatively speaking?  That helped a lot when working with teenagers for a lot of years, let me tell you!  They taught me this.  I learned the hard way, of course. 

§       I detest the term “Self-Made Man”.  Truly detest it.  I hate it mostly because it very much goes against my religious beliefs.  But let me phrase it in non-religious terms.  Because even in those terms it is a ridiculous and arrogant assertion.  I defy anyone, anyone who is truthful that is, to say s/he never had any help or encouragement along the way.  There was never a time of discouragement when someone boosted him/her up, even the smallest amount?  Or can most “self-made men/women” claim credit for having been born in a country rich in educational opportunities?  Or for having a natural ability in business or music or athletics, or whatever?  Or for having good health to pursue goals?  No, they cannot.  Period.  This life philosophy results in emotional isolation and is like thievery.  It isolates individuals from the help, the sympathy, the compassion, they might receive from others when they most need it.   And when they need it might happen after they have “made” themselves such a success.  It robs them of true and loving friends.  That is just so sad.  Especially if they never realize their loss.  That has certainly been my observation.

§       There is always someone “more” than I am.  And that is okay.   Forgive me, but another Biblical principle works here, used in a non-traditional way, I guess.  “And the truth shall set you free.”   Strangely enough, the truth that there is always someone better at something than I am, someone much smarter, someone more talented, someone better looking, someone with just more of everything is a truth that makes my life more!  It gives me the freedom to look at that person as just someone who might need a friend.  As someone who sometimes or maybe often wishes s/he weren’t so special.  Someone who wishes s/he didn’t have to live up to expectations.  As someone who might want to be more like the rest of us.  I can not only enjoy these people but also cheer them on, all of which adds depth to my life.   I would call it a win-win situation.  Those are my favorite kind of situations in life, the win-win ones. 

As usual, once I get started I can’t stop thinking of more and more things.  But honestly, when I review this list of things I would like to have shared with Natalia, they all seem important.  Just one more.  I promise.  Since this is a birthday blog, let me end with a “gift” analogy.

§       It has helped me to view people as a gift.  It goes without saying that with some people I’ve met the gift has been pretty well hidden.  I’ve had to work really, really hard at seeing their possibilities; at seeing them as possible gifts.  However, it is very much like looking back and thinking about some actual gifts I’ve received.  I didn’t enjoy all of them equally.  But, at the very least, most represented a sincere reaching out on the part of the giver.  Let me explain it another way also.  Some gifts I received were found after opening one box inside another, maybe after opening several boxes all inside another.  But I found the gift eventually.  I just had to dig.  Let me keep the gift analogy going for a minute.  Some gifts I’ve received were beautifully and artistically wrapped.  Some were given to me in a brown paper bag.  Some were expensive and some not.  Interestingly enough, that is all I remember.  That there have been a variety of wrappings.  I don’t recall the exact way my favorite and most special gifts were wrapped.  I just remember the gifts themselves.  In contrast, I do remember the “wrapping”, the packaging of people in my life.  However, I have found no correlation whatsoever between that outer “wrapping” and the value of the gift the person represented in my life.  One of my favorites was quite severely scarred from a gas grill explosion.  Another certainly would not ever have qualified to be a handsome, macho Hollywood leading man.  Another wonderful female friend had no education compared to mine.  Technically she was clerical/support staff.  I was not.  But a better, more loving, more supportive, more fun friend I could not have found.  Her death came unexpectedly at exactly the same time I was at the florist having flowers sent to the hospital because she was there for testing.  I don’t ever remember sobbing over the death of any friend like I did hers.  Although it has been years I still often think of Jeannette and miss her.  And from the perspective of some we “shouldn’t” have been the kind of friends we were.  They missed out on the gift Jeannette was. 

Okay, okay, I know.  Enough of the reflective, serious stuff.  Want to know several of the gifts that have been some of my favorite birthday gifts? 

One is a plastic nail polish drying “machine” made by Conair that Allan gave to me, I don’t remember how long ago.  Its small size makes it extremely portable. But the fan is powerful enough to do a good drying job.  Invaluable.   I can paint my nails at the last minute, of course, because there is rarely time otherwise and dry them on the way to wherever we are going.  Come to think of it, I should wonder if he bought it partly for himself?  (We can leave when he wants!)  I’ll ask. 

 Two chairs for my dining room set are a second favorite gift.  Trista purchased them at Salvation Army a number of years ago.  They were brand new, donated by some furniture company.  They DON’T match, which I like.  In every aspect, they are perfect. 

A third gift, a pedometer sent to me as a surprise by my brother and sister-in-law for my sixtieth birthday.  I’ve used it to see how many of the 10,000 steps a day I don’t take.  I’ve used it to make sure I do walk the 10,000.  I’ve used it with family visiting from Western New York.  They liked it while we were out walking.  And Trista has borrowed it. 

And the last I’ll mention.  One of my favorite kinds of cakes is German Chocolate.  Homemade, of course.  And they are a lot of work compared to a cake mix.  Years ago my sister made me one as a birthday gift.   I knew what work it was.  So the afternoon she spent making that cake made the gift extra special. 

I’ve had some pretty good birthdays, haven’t I?

Ale's New Camera

If you read the last blog, you know I fell and hurt my hand and was supposed to rest it as much as possible, ice it 5 times a day, take ibuprofen, and wear the wrist brace.  I’ve rested it in the sense that I can’t do some things with that hand.  I’m lucky if I have had time to ice it 5 times total!  I don’t want to take any medication of any kind, ever, if I do not have to.  But I have worn the wrist brace.  Sort of no choice there.  I’m not into discomfort if it can be easily avoided.  Read one of the earlier blogs and you will see that I confessed right up front to being a wimp.   Like I said before, I'm usually a pretty compliant person!

Anyway, I’m writing about my son-in-law.  And because it involves pictures it won’t be much writing.  (Besides, my hand is getting much better, I think.)  He is one of those smart guys that is good at just about everything, and likes new challenges. I personally think he doesn't much mind certain kinds of problems because he has to come up with solutions. 

One of the best things about him is that he tends to take my side of things.  Let me just ask, is that not a good thing?  He doesn’t even seem to mind the grief Allan and Trista give him because of that.  AND, get this; he tries to do any small thing I ask!  Although I sincerely try to ask very little.  He’s just such a nice guy and I want him to know I appreciate that. 

He has this new camera.  He has been enjoying learning his new camera by taking lots of pictures.  Attached are some pictures he took for me of the area vegetation right now.  A drive to run an errand can be breath taking.  See for yourself.