Month Ten

     Sometimes keeping to one's New Years resolutions, their goals for the years,can be difficult Here is a quick recap of my 4 goals for 2011.

#1 Start a blog called Everyday Thankfulness to encouraging thankfulness.

#2 Start a blog called Pupperville Ponderings where I can post all my puppet stories with some added thoughts to ponder.

#3 Finish making the rest of my unfinished puppets.

#4 Finish studying out the book of Revelation

      This month has seen some goals reached - more or less.

#1 I've continued posting daily to the Everyday Thankfulness and now have passed the 300 mark.

#2 Pupperville Ponderings has picked up again and continued through out October.

#3 As for my puppets I have added 12 new puppets to my family and they are more or less done. I still need to find a nurses hat, a stethoscope and a police hat to finish off three of the puppets. I'm not sure where I'll find then but once I do I'll post some pictures.

#4 My study on revelation has seen the completion of the work I've been working on - namely outlining each of the 50+ divisions I have divided the book into. I still need to finish entering my notes on the computer and than I can go back to the beginning and start studying each section in more detail and formalizing some messages.

      How have you been doing on your goals...

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the ability to set goals to work towards
• For making progress towards fulfilling them

Soccer Gift

     I haven't yet mentioned it in this blog - but something I am thankful for is the gifts I received at the end of the soccer season. This year I received several cards with signatures of a majority of the players. some tasty pies and $125 in cash. While coaching the team can be trying at times, I enjoy working with he kids and I don't do it for the gifts at the end, but I must say - I am very thankful for the gifts.

     Last year I was able to treat the whole family to a monster sized pizza and got my self an mp3 player. This year I'm upgrading my computer which in turn will allow me to upgrade 2 other computers. I truly feel blessed.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the gifts

And Thank you team and parents for the gifts also

Heart

      The shape of a heart is a symbol of love yet the heart shape is not the shape of a heart or at least not any heart that I've ever seen. When it comes to the heart, one of my joys as a Father has been hearing the heart beat of each of my 7 children for the first time while they were still in the womb. The heart, as a specialized organ of the body, plays a vital roll in every life pumping the blood through the body 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks year with out stopping.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the heart

Clothes

     Since I've been focused on the body this month, I might as well talk about something that every body has had need of since the Garden of Eden. Clothes! From the socks and shoes, to pants, shirts and under garments, to hats, scarves, coats and mittens and many other items, we all where clothes. Myself, I have a closet full of shirts, sweaters, and pants that I enjoy wearing, with many of the shirts being made by my wife.

      What about you? Are you thankful for the clothes you wear?

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For clothes

Nose

     Who knows a nose better than a nose specialist - nobody knows......Okay enough of that. Today I would like to draw your attention to that protrusion on the front of your face, that thing called a nose. Yes, it can be a problem when it decides to run or decided too plug itself, but noses are wonderful. With them you can smell the aroma a fresh baked bread, a rose, the air on a misty fall morning, the list could go on and on and on but I think you get the point.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the nose

Aaron Michael

      Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. - Psalms 127:3 (NAS)

      Today we celebrate the birth of our second child who turns 16. Sixteen years ago this morning things got hopping.

• It was the 8th day past the due date and contractions were under way.
• Around 2:00 A.M. we decided to head to the hospital around 40 miles away.
• We got even with our daughter and woke her up in the middle of the night.
• We let my wife's mother know what was up so she could come.
• It was very foggy, deer were everywhere, and contractions were coming 2 minutes apart as we made our drive to the hospital.
• When we arrived at the hospital, contractions slowed down and we waited several hours before things really got going.
• I remember my wife complaining about the pain and wanting to go have a c-section until baby started to crown.
• A mirror was offered my wife so she could see what was happening at she took up on the offer.
• Once Aaron was born people were commenting on his big feet - they're still big and so is the rest of him as he stands 6 ft 2 in tall

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Aaron Michael and the 16 years we've had him.
• For all 7 of the children you have given us

Mouth, Tongue and Teeth

      These three things, the mouth, the tongue and your teeth make many things possible. They make it possible to get in trouble for saying things you shouldn't have said, they make it possible for you to experience a root canal, and they can tell you what baby spit up taste like. Of course these things are not pleasant but there is much to be thankful for when it comes to this trio.

      Think of all the wonderful tasting foods you have eaten over the years, or just that fact that you have been able to eat. And think of all the words of encouragement you have been able to give, the songs you've enjoyed singing and the praises you given to God,

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the mouth, tongue and teeth you have given us

Ears

     Someone was once asked what would happen if he didn't have any ears - his response - I wouldn't be able to see - my hat would fall down over my eyes....... Ears do more than hold up hats or glasses or play instruments. (You have heard of playing by ear, right?)

     Besides hearing, our ears are also responsible for balance. On one of my many DVD's from AIG, I have a talk about the amazing ear and how it works and how it couldn't have happened by chance.. I wonder what kind of things we will be able to hear when we make it to heaven where there will be countless numbers praising God.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For ears

Wet Wipes

      Not everybody thinks of wet wipes on a daily basis but at our house wet wipes are thought of every day and have been for over 17 years. Since 1993 when our first child was born, we have had at least one child in diapers since than and wet wipes are used daily - unless we run out. One of our youngest's newest thing is to pretend he is changing a diaper on daddy and has me lay down and rubs the wet wipe on my tummy.

      As many diapers as I've changed over the years (not near as many as my wife) I'm thankful wet wipes have been around.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For wt wipes

Hair

     Over the last week I've been finishing up my new puppets. One of the things that kept me thinking is that hair. Should the puppet have hair? ( I have some bald ones.) What color should I use? How long should it be? What style should the hair do be? How am I going to attach it? Can I get somebody else to figure it out for me?

      Hair is a part of the body. I can say I have hair from my toes to the top of my head - at least I still have some on top. For the winter months I let the hair on my face grow in to a fluffy beard to help keep me warm while the hair on top of my head - well, there isn't enough their to keep my warm any more so I just try to keep it short so it doesn't look to bad.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For hair

Glue

      Since I've been busy finishing up my puppets, I've been going through the glue. The glue I'm using comes in sticks and needs to be heated to be put to use. Over the years I've had opportunity to use many different kinds of glue. I've used glue in bottles and tubes, in liquid and paste, weaker and stronger. I've used the glue to put together wood, paper, plastic, cardboard, and a few other things. Right now my oldest is looking for some stronger glue to put a flash light back together.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Glue

Warm and Cool

     Living in Northern Minnesota, we experience temperature changes that will take us form a heat index of +100 F or hotter during the hottest days of summer to wind chills of -50 F or colder in the winter. With such a change, our bodies are constantly adjusting - cooling themselves in the summer and warming themselves in the winter. Someone told me there's suppose to be a name for the bodies ability to do this but I don't know what it is. I do know my body is able to do it though and for that I am thankful

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the body's ability to adjust to hot and cold.

Hands

     Have you ever asked someone to give you a hand only to have them start clapping for you? It might have been me you asked as I like to have some fun with that request. Of course I do pitch in and help for there are many times I'm the one asking for a hand as there are many times that the two I have don't seem to be quite enough.

      Have you ever stopped to thing about your hands - how they are shaped, how the bend, the millions of things that can be done with them? Just imagine what ti would be like if your hands were like that of a cat, or a horse, or a bird, or a T-Rex.

      Yes, I thankful for my hands

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For hands
• For the many things we can do with them

Healing

     As I think about the body this month, one of the things that stands out is the bodies ability to heal itself. Over the years I've had a number of bumps, scrapes, cuts, infections, viruses, etc and yet I'm still in one piece with my body healing itself time and time again. Yes, there are somethings that the body doesn't heal because it can't or should but doesn't because something else has gone wrong and some day my body may not be able to heal itself but until that day....

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the bodies ability to heal

Music

     Something I'm often doing while sitting at the computer or driving in the car is listening to music. Music is a wonderful part of my life and while I may not be able to afford concerts or the latest CD's etc. I am able to listen via radio and internet on a regular basis. There are also several members of my family that play instruments so I get to listen to them as well.

      I know music is played in several different genres and some of my favorites would fall under Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Praise and Worship, and Classical.

      Are you thankful for the music in your life?

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For music

Puppets

      One of the things I have enjoyed over the years are puppets. I've enjoyed watching them , especially in the Muppet Show, and I've enjoyed working with them as in making my own and writing my own scripts for them.

      I'm not sure what year I got started with working and than making my own puppets but I do remember that it started with a set of puppets that had been given to the church I grew up in. I wrote a few scripts for them and after I moved away I decided to make some of my own with a few modifications. I made either 6 or 8 to start with and than added more. I now have 21 puppets and will soon be bringing that number to 33 as I am in the finishing stages on 12 new ones.

      I also have over 150 scripts I have written and have been turning them into stories, adding a lesson to them and posting them on my Pupperville Pondering 's blog. It has been fun letting my imagination go as I write the scripts as I'm able to do things I may not be able to do in real life.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For puppetry

Mind

      They say the first thing to go when you get old is, is, is, well, what ever it is..... The Mind is a fascinating part of the human body, something that the worlds best super computers can't come close to imitating.

      Sometimes I need to get my mind going in the mornings and it doesn't want to get going, sometimes I want it to shut down at night and it keeps going - minds are strange especially mine but I wouldn't do with out it.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For my mind

Bones

     One of my favorite Far Side cartoons is that of a bunch of chickens that are laying around as if dead and there is a sign above the entrance to the ranch or farm that reads "The Boneless Chicken Ranch."

      There are more than 200 bones in a human body and without them we would be like the chickens at the boneless chicken ranch. No bones about, I'm thankful for my bones and thankful that I have not broke any.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For bones

Muscles

     Back when I was in high school I had a class on human biology and one of the things we did in that class was to dissect a cat and try and learn the names of the various muscles. I don't think I could tell you the names of any of the muscles in the body now but I do know I have some because they are hurting right now, or at least some of them are hurting from all the running I did the other day.

      Every day I use my muscles to get my self out of bed to move myself around, to lift things, etc..

Dear Lord, Thank you

• For muscles

Skin

      It comes in various shades from really light to very dark. It may look red if it gets too much sun and it may look blue if it gets very cold. It may feel smooth, rough, and even hairy. It gets dirty and it washes clean - most of the time. The things we could say about our skin could go on and on. As we think of our marvelous bodies, let's say thanks for our skin.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For skin

Soccer End

     This past weekend was our soccer tournament and today we have a soccer wrap up meeting where the kids play the parents, the season is summarized and players are acknowledged and we eat. As much as I have enjoyed the season, I'm thankful it's over so I can focus on other things until next year when we do it all again.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the soccer season
• That it is now over

Hammer and Nails

      Yesterday my daughter asked me if I would fix her book shelf. The back which holds it square had fallen off and the book shelf was leaning to one side. Upon seeing the problem, I went and got some nails and a hammer and with some help of some little kids, I got the book shelf fixed.

       Many time around the house and even at work, hammer and nails get used to put things together, fix things and even hang things up.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Hammer and Nails

A Thought

I Facebook friend posted this and I thought I'd put it here.

     Dear Lord, Help us to always be thankful for everything.

Soccer Tournament

      Today is Soccer Tournament day. At the end of each soccer season in our soccer league we have a tournament in which each team plays each team regardless of how you did in the season. It's a fun time with lots of soccer, visiting, food, stress if your the coach, etc. Each year a different town host the tournament and this year it will be held in Thief River Falls - which also means some shopping and McDonald's.

      It looks like today is going to be a great day

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the soccer tournament
• For each of the kids that play
• For all the adults that make it happen

Eyeglasses

     Ben Franklin is credited with making the first bifocal glasses about 1760 but glasses have been around for longer than that. I've read that an English philosopher recorded statement about the optical use of lenses around 1268. Eyeglasses were first used in the middle ages in Europe and became in high demand in the 15th century after the printing press was invented.

      Today they are very popular. I where glasses at work to protect my eyes, and in the bright sun to help my eyes to see better and I probably could use some to see to read better as well.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For eyeglasses

Eyes

      It has been said that the eyes prove evolution is true because they are not designed very well but when one takes a closer look they find that the eye is marvelously engineered. I enjoy having two working eyes with which to see the world around me. With my two eyes I can see to read, I can see to work to provide for my family, I can see to drive, I can see my family, I can see, I can see, I can see.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For my eyes

Great Day

     Yesterday the soccer team I coach post a 3-0 win on the road. It was from our teams stand point, a great day. All my key players were at the game and they all played hard. Further more we had a safe drive to and from the game.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the safe drive
• For how the kids played
• For the win

Feet

      Would you ever be thankful for something that stinks? For something that's filthy? If not go ahead and cut off your feet and throw them away. Of course, You wouldn't do that would you?

      At our house we have had several copies of a book by Doctor Seuss called the foot book It's been read many times and probably even memorized. Through out the book, the reader is introduced to lots of feet.

      These feet down at the bottom of our legs are often filthy and like mine - stink. Sometimes they even hurt, yet with out those two wonderful feet we probably wouldn't get very far

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For feet

Colored Leaves

     The other day we took a drive for a soccer game and although I wasn't appreciating the strong wind blowing the van around it was a beautiful drive. It is fall and the leaves are very colorful. Even around the yard the colors are beautiful.

Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the colored leaves of fall

We are a body

      This is a new month with a new theme and the theme I've picked for this month is the body. If we were to think about it, our body is made up of many parts that we would be lost with out.. While there are many more body parts to mention than there are days in the this month, I'll just be talking about a few of them, but that won't mean I'm not thankful for all of them.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For our Body

Wedding Day

      Today not only marks the first day of October, It's wedding day. I sat that because our family has been invited to two weddings today. I'm not yet sure how things are going to work out for us as we can possibly make it to both.

      Weddings are a joyous event and I can't help but to reminisce about my own - but I'll save posting on that until December.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For weddings