Blogging in the rain

Rain Rain go away, please come back some other day. It is raining , it is pouring the old man is blogging. No, I think it was supposed to be "the old man is snoring". Well, I am neither old nor am I snoring at 12:36 pm. It is supposed to be Christmas day in 3 days and we have a forecast for rain until then. Katy and I spent the entire day yesterday playing Mr and Mrs Claus. I am excited to report that all the creditors got something in their stockings but so did the kids. The last couple of Christmas seasons have been sort of bleak in our house thanks to income issues but thankfully we are able to put something under the tree this year. Don't get me wrong, you do not have to purchase gifts in order to celebrate Christmas. Heck, there are people out there in this world of ours that are not celebrating Christmas. I guess it all depends on your personal tastes and upbringing. As for my family we are aware of the reason for the season. Jesus being born to Mary , wrapped in swaddling clothes and no where to lay him. The nativity scene all reminds us of how important Jesus was and still is to our world. Of course that thought requires a bit of faith and belief that Jesus Christ is more than a mere teacher or prophet. Jesus is the primary reason that we celebrate Christmas in our household in December. It has nothing to do with the tree, ornaments, lights and all the gifts. All of those things are fun things to do and we can enjoy doing them as we enjoy the holiday festivities and being close to loved ones. However that is not what Christmas is all about. To me, Christmas is about reflecting on those things that are most important to me. Yes, I am like most folks in that I find myself getting caught up in the "spirit" of Christmas which is all around us as we run around buying this gift and that gift and listening to Christmas carols playing on the radio. What is important to me is that I am able to enjoy the Christmas season. I can enjoy Christmas because of a God who lives in me through the power of the Holy Spirit and the gift of Grace at Calvary. I can enjoy Christmas because I am in relatively good health and I am not in the hospital. I can enjoy Christmas because I have a family that loves me and I love them and enjoy spending time with them. I can enjoy Christmas because I have good friends that bring quality and quantity to my life and I love being around them as well.
This time of year is always a difficult time of year as we look at the names on the stockings hung near the entertainment center. They are supposed to be hung by the chimney with care in hopes that old Saint Nick will be there. Since we don't have a fireplace the close proximity to the Christmas tree will have to do for now. Our Jessica has long since left this world and is now in heaven. Her stocking still gets hung right along with the rest of them. Our Jessica is our sunshine and will always remain an important part of our family. There are folks all around us that suffer from grief, depression or other things that keep them from having a time of joy during this season. I hope that all of us can be reminded of that and that we can all find a way to reach out to others that are not as fortunate as we are. There are many ways to do this and some are more personal than others. Our church took up an offering and we all brought can good foods and clothes for a family that is located at a homeless shelter here in the low country. Some of you give to the United Way and that organization and others that support it do things like providing a hot meal on Christmas Eve for homeless people who otherwise would not be able to get this. The thought that I am trying to get across here is that we are all connected in some small way whether we believe it or not. No, I am not related to a homeless person and they are not in my immediate family. I could very easily just turn a blind eye to all that I see around me and just be selfish and keep all of my "riches" to myself and hoard them exclusively for my family. Can we individually reach out and help everyone that needs help? Of course not and I am not advocating that if you are having a good Christmas time and buying presents for loved ones that we should feel guilty about not helping all the homeless people. Everyone one of us can and should find a way to connect with one other person or family if we can and do what we can. Whether we are related to them is immaterial. They are fellow human beings that are just like us in that they are trying to scratch out an existance the best way that they know how.
You might be thinking that it is so easy for me to sit here typing these words on my laptop while I am elevated and protected and ignorant of what it is like to be homeless or in prison or sick. For those of you that know the "real" me you know that I was adopted alongside of my sister from an orphanage in Aschofenburg Germany. You know that I have been homeless and spent several days living under a bridge in Houston Texas with three plastic bags that had all of my life's treasures. I spent 45 days in a street rescue mission learning what it is like to have no family , no loved ones to turn to. I know what it is like to sit in a county jail cell in Texas looking down from my confines at people walking around in stifling temperatures wishing and praying that could be me. So, as you see, I have been where most of you would not care to be. Part of the reason of why I was there was my fault and partly because of the environment and situations that I found myself in. The important thing is that I am a better man because of it. When I share these stories with most folks they are amazed at what I have been through and that I can have a positive attitude about life and that I can wear a smile on my face. Most people are amazed that I have a good sense of humor and that I can laugh about most of the junk in my life vs. being angry at the world. My ability to do this has primarily been because of the life changing work that God has done in my life. Jesus changed me from the inside out. Jesus traded out the heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh that enables me to be sensitive and caring about the world and people around me. I am also a better man because of my sweet selfless wife Katy. Over the last 17 years Katy has taught me how to be a real man. A man who loves his family and is not afraid to be committed to her and the children no matter how tough things are. Katy has taught me how to share my things as well as my heart. Katy has shown me that it is possible to not react to the children in anger like my earthly father used to and that I can exercise love and mercy towards them. Katy has taught me that it is ok to spoil the children despite my insatiable desire to teach them how to be tough and to survive in this world. Katy has taught me that it is ok for kids to be kids and that they are going to make noise and mess up the house. Gosh, I guess that is what children do huh? Katy has taught me that while I am very hard on myself and sometimes have a difficult time loving myself that she can overlook my faults and problems and love me despite of me being a scrooge and grouchy sometimes. It has become much easier for me over the years to extend grace and mercy and forgiveness to my wife and children and others because I have watched God and family and friends do the same thing for me even though I don't deserve it.
My hope and prayer is that you and your family and/or friends can find a way to relax and enjoy this Christmas season and that you are doing it for the right reasons. I hope that you are using this time to step back and remove yourself from the mad rush that is all around us and to appreciate and enjoy the simple things in life. I hope that every child gets exactly what their heart desires under the tree. I know that I will enjoy watching my kids as they excitedly rip the wrapping paper off of their presents on Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2007 from our family to yours.




James Moffitt
http://www.lightourworld.com
http://moffittjc.blogharbor.com/blog
james.moffitt@comcast.net

New Look and New Feel for Blogger Blog

I can see that Blogger has been very busy in 2006. I have been using the blogger interface online now for several years and have not experienced the slightest problem with regards to posting to the blog or other people finding it. Several months ago I started a new blog for my Chief Propellerhead network and I chose to use the BETA version of Blogger. I liked what I saw then and I love what I see now. Big Kudos to Blogger for improving the look and functionality of Blogger. I feel like they gave us bloggers a Christmas present just in time.

One of the things that you will notice on the right side of my blog is my links section. I have put our church website, Low country Today and other sites of interest. Feel free to view them at your leisure. Gosh, I just remembered that I left out the Dallas Cowboys Website link. I would be remiss in leaving that out I suppose since I am such a HUGE Dallas Cowboys FAN.

I am happy to say that I am off until next Wednesday. That means six days of NO work. Whoopee. If I wanted to be I could be off from work until the 2Nd of January. I decided that my budget could not afford my being off that long without pay and managed to find something to do for Wed , Thursday and Friday of next week. That will equate to my paycheck not taking as much of a hit as it would have. I am still working as a temp at the college and until I become full time or find full time employment elsewhere when I don't work I don't get paid. So, if you are off for the holidays AND you are getting paid for it be so very thankful, not all of us are that fortunate.

It is five days until Christmas morning. I can not believe how fast 2006 flew past us. Where in the world did all of that time go? The year of 2006 has been pretty good to our family. Katy and I managed to stay gainfully employed this year and that has helped the budget tremendously. We are still suffering from some financial setbacks thanks to the 2001 - 2005 drought but hopefully in 2007 we will be able to see more daylight at the end of the debt tunnel.

We do not have any major plans for the holidays. We had wanted to go back to Texas to the Houston/Seguin area of the state to see family but we decided that we would be better off to just save what little funds we have and stay put this holiday season. We are talking about four days of driving just to get to Texas and back. That does not include all the driving we would be doing in the great state of Texas.

From our house to yours may you experience a blessed Christmas holiday and a prosperous New Year in 2007.


James Moffitt
http://www.lightourworld.com
http://moffittjc.blogharbor.com/blog
james.moffitt@comcast.net

Dallas 38 Atlanta 28

It was like watching the shootout at the OK Corral. Dallas and Atlanta provided NFL fans with a lot of entertainment as they provided a lot of excitement and tons of points. Dallas jumped out in the lead 14 to zip after a defensive interception and touchdown. In the second quarter Michael Vick led the Falcons on several scoring drives that put them ahead 28 to 21 at half time. Atlanta became frustrated in the second half and were penalized several times for personal fouls for unnecessary roughness. Dallas scored 17 unanswered points in the second half which ultimately won the game for them. The Dallas secondary seemed to be emulating swiss cheese until about the 4th quarter when they were able to stop some key receptions between Vick and his receivers. All in all Dallas played a much better game today against Atlanta which was a huge difference from the disasterous loss against the Saints at home. The next test will be Christmas day when Dallas plays the Eagles at home. Go DALLAS!!!!!

Who is dat ?

That is the sign that I kept being shown during the Dallas Cowboy and New Orleans Saints game last Sunday night. People in the stadium were holding up Who is Dat signs every time the Saints would make another touchdown in their 42 to 17 romp over the Cowboys.

I dont know about you but I was absolutely stunned to see the Cowboys play as pathetically as they did. I thought the GIRLS played (sorry girls) pretty badly during the NY Giants game and the only reason they won that battle is because the Giants sucked as bad as Dallas did but just a little bit worse. Dallas won 4 straight games and beat a couple of difficult opponents such as the Colts and the Giants. Does that mean that we can allow our heads to swell to the point that we think that we are untouchable?

The run by Julius Jones for 77 yards into the end zone was the most exciting and ONLY exciting play of the entire game for Dallas. The touchdown by TO (circus) Owens was a freak accident which should have been an interception. I guess that it is good the defender had his entire hand wrapped in tape and could not hold on to the ball.

I am starting to wonder if there are any other field goal kickers out there that could be signed? Last week the kicker kicked a really long field goal , not sure exactly how long but think it was 45+ yards, yet he missed one within 30 yards as he pulled it to the right of the goal post.

I hope that the COWBOYS (not the girls) actually show up in Atlanta on Saturday night ready to do battle with the Atlanta Falcons. At this point in the season no game should be considered a game that can be lost or that the opponent is a push over. If you are a Dallas fan of old like myself you KNOW that you know that most folks HATE the Dallas Cowboys and look for every opportunity to defeat them.

If Dallas plays like they have the last two weeks Atlanta will have a very easy win to add to their statistics. If Dallas plays at the level they are capable of playing then Atlanta could have their hands full. I guess we will know more on Saturday night after the fat lady sings.




James Moffitt
http://www.lightourworld.com
http://moffittjc.blogharbor.com/blog
james.moffitt@comcast.net

Gee, what lives under here guys??  

Justin and Rossi next door on trampoline having a blast...  

Katy hates it when I get out the camera. You go girl!! 

Katy doing her lesson plans...  

Kids outside playing in front yard at Debby's house during Thanksgiving day 

Hungry bear cant wait for dinner. LOL 

Food people, dig in!!! Thanksgiving feast 

What a beautiful table setting for Thanksgiving at Flash's home in West Ashley 

Flash (Debby) holding one of her canines, Murray 

Katy and Flash giving each other a hug.  

Beautiful candle in Debby Stehpenson's home.  

Debbie Flash Stephenson in her kitchen fixing Thanksgiving feast for 30+ folks 

The birds got me again!!!

I have a story to tell. It has to do with something I have heard since I was a small child. What goes around comes around. Here is another good one. Paybacks are hell. Today I spent some time with my sweet wife and after I took her home so she could get a nap I decided to spend some time washing the Durango. Most of the time I would just feed the ATM machine 5 bucks and sit in the truck and enjoy listening to some music or chat on my cell phone while the machine works its magic. Today I decided to be cheap and at the same time give the Durango the personal touch by using the WAND. After about 20 minutes and 2 bucks later I was done with the wash job. I jumped in the Durango and off like a flash I was on my way to the bowling alley. I need to go by the bowling alley so I can practice. My average is horrid on both leagues therefore I need to practice all I can. I drive up to the bowling alley and get out and lovingly dry my Durango with a towel that I had acquired when I dropped Katy off at the house. I squirted some tire shine junk on the tires and admired my handiwork. Now that the Durango was nice and shiny I could put my attention on the bowling pins once again. I ate lunch at the bowling alley and worked my way through 3 games. First score was 182, second game 149 and the third and final game was 120. Trust me, after that last score I put the ball back in the bag and quietly left the bowling alley. I think that I did figure out some things that I can try to increase my bowling score and hopefully my average in 2007. As I rounded the corner I admired my bright blue Dodge Durango in the sunlight and anticipated getting up into the cab and settling down into the comfortable seat. As I neared the truck I noticed something on the hood. I thought to myself, surely these are leaves that just blew on to the hood and stuck to it. The only thing wrong with that idea is that I did not see any leaves on the ground around the truck and the stuff on the hood was beginning to look whiter the closer I got. In horror my suspicions were confirmed as I viewed the apparent bombing run by several birds while I was bowling. Two things occurred to me immediately. Well, ok, several things occurred to me. The first thing that occurred to me is that washing a vehicle to keep it nice looking is sometimes a futile action. The second thing I learned was that I should never wash my truck before I go to the bowling alley because that apparently attracts the nearby birds for a potty break. The third thing that came to my mind was that these birds could be distant cousins to the birds that I am guilty of killing when I was a young boy who got the proverbial Daisy BB gun for Christmas.

You probably thought that had to be the end of this silly story but hang on to your seats, it gets weirder. I jump in the Durango complete with bird droppings and headed out to leave the bowling alley and stopped at the first car wash I could find. I put 1.00 into the coin operated wash and was greeted by NOTHING coming out of the wand. As I watched the time just whiled away while I desperately switched the knob trying to get something wet out of the wand. The only thing that worked in this particular bay was the brush that had pink soap gurgling out of it. Knowing that I would never see my dollar again and that the bird doo was still on the hood I got busy scrubbing it off. I went to the coin changer to get more change to discover that both of the coin changers were out of order. First the bird doo, second the washing bay machine was not working and then the coin machine. Do you see any sort of pattern here? I felt like I was in the twilight zone or something. Feeling like an idiot by this point I walked across the street to the gas station and purchased a Diet Doctor Pepper so I could get the lady behind the counter to open the cash register and get me some change for the car wash. Yes, I shared the entire story with the clerk and she had a good laugh.

I have spent the last three days fighting an ugly cold and I am about ready for this mess to be over with. I am thankful to be in pretty good health and most of the time I do not have the minor irritations of a common cold. Having had to put up with this junk has made me appreciative of this good health. We actually have an infirmary here for now. My daughter (princess) Kristina needs to have two root canals done which will require me to either rob a bank or win the lottery. Katy has a headache she can not seem to get rid of and Justin managed to stick half of the porch under one of the fingernails on his left hand. I tried to do minor surgery on his hand but Justin just could not deal with the pain and would not let me do further surgery.

Next to the sailboat was a Pelican. This was a very nice replica.  

Nice sailboat in the restroom in some restaurant I was in at Myrtle Beach 

My sweet wife Katy.... What a beautiful smile.