GRADUATION FOR A FRIEND

SOME THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR:

CACTUS FLOWER
SUNSETS- ALL OF THEM!
WEEDS- OUT OF FOCUS ON PURPOSE!
BIRDS-(THIS IS THE POPPA CARDINAL AGAIN)
SUMMER- IT'S GOING TO BE 103 TOMORROW- BUT I'M ALIVE!


We had the honor of going over to a friend of mines house today to celebrate his daughters' High School Graduation. Her name is Tressie and she is an awesome Young Adult. Their whole family has welcomed us with opened arms. We have met all of his five children and been to several BBQ's, a minor league Baseball game-((the Columbia Blowfish)- YEP LIKE HOOTIE AND;- WHO ARE FROM COLUMBIA)), where we met Stephen His Oldest son, and his finance Kara. She worked for them and was able to get us free tickets. I'm all over FREE!

They both just graduated from USC this Spring and are just beginning their lives together! They showed us pictures of the first starter home they are buying. They are getting married in September and we will probably travel to Alabama for the wedding. They are as excited as a Young Christian couple can be.

She is going to move into the house in June and Stephen is going to stay with his parents until after they are married! Is that awesome or what? Talk about respect for each other and living the faith. It is so refreshing to see bright Young Adults living and setting moral examples amidst the peer pressure and accepted morays of todays society.

It is a throw back to the 50's and 60's when Joe and I grew up. Thousands of miles apart, Joe was in Alaska in the Air Force, and I was in Florida and SC. But we are as close as brothers, and Spiritually in sync. A rare find. We are two years apart in age and work at the Urgent Care together. He was an ED Tech like me, went back and got his LPN degree and is now finishing his RN.

I was an ED Tech at the same time he was and now I am splitting off from the clinical to the Managerial side. I have all my pre-requisites to start clinical s- but God has sent me in a different direction! We work together tomorrow for the first time tomorrow in years. Joe had Triple bypass one year before I did. He had a stent placed one year before I did, both while we were working together. If he dies, I have one year to live- LOL!

Hang on to friendships- develop new ones, keep established traditions going at all costs and start new ones with new friends. Live like it is your last day on Earth but plan for tomorrow. Take nothing for granted, even the trials are for you betterment.

This may seem trivial, but pursue (I know- pun intended)life with a huger and thirst for living, and experiencing everything you can. Make a list of dreams and goals and cross them off as you DO them. Dream BIG!!!!!!!

DARE TO DREAM BIG DREAMS! We have a BIG God. OK-, he is only a 36 in the waist, but His power is endless!

I Love each and every one that honors me by reading this personal mushy drivel..but I have gained a little wisdom in 54 years. My wife and I will celebrate Anniversary # 26 on June 11th. 26 Years, 3 of them Happy! LOL! She gives me love and support as well as all my opinions. I am housebroken and a much much better person, because of her kind, gentle praying Spirit! She is my angel!!!!!

Appreciate those around you. Don't let the sun or Son, go down on your anger. Reconcile before it is too late. Kiss your Loved ones Goodnight and as you leave for wherever in the mornings! I think it was Garth Brooks who said, Dare to Dance the River, Dare to Chance the Tide! (To paraphrase!)

Love to all!

John