Lights in Norway

MOSCOW (AFP) – Russia's new nuclear-capable missile suffered another failed test launch, the defence ministry said Thursday, solving the mystery of a spectacular plume of white light that appeared over Norway. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091210/sc_afp/russianorwaymilitarymissile

I think there's a lot more to this story than a failed test since Russia first said they knew nothing about it...and I think we really don't want to know the truth about this strange display in the Norwegian sky.

John Lennon 10/9/1940 - 12/8/1980

Thanksgiving - Birthday and Golf

After 31 years I finally surprised Becky! Her birthday is December 17 and we sang Happy Birthday to her on Thanksgiving Day. She was baffled...which was the whole point.

After years of her watching golf on TV and saying she would like to try to play the game someday, Tommy and I bought her a glove, some shoes, and some lessons that started today.

So her trainer Tami, got her going and here is Becky's first time to take a club and swing!

Here she is about ready to hit it...

And there you go...her first swing! So, I think we scored. We were going to wait to buy her golf clubs for Christmas but after today's lesson she was ready to dig into her new sport! After her lesson, we went home to get Tom and headed out to Dick's Sporting Goods store and ended up buying a full set of beginners golf clubs with bag for her. Thank goodness the sales were still on....incredible deal! I would imagine that it won't take too long for Becky to be out on that golf course and doing well. She is athletic and really has a desire to do this.
After we got home I set up a little area in our garage so she could practice her swing.

I'm glad she likes her present! I was a bit scared that she might not take to it...and then I would have to figure something else out for her real birthday and Christmas.

Happy Birthday Babe! Sorry it took so long to get you something you really wanted!

Happy Thanksgiving

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.”

William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Search for God and Guinness

It's understandable why people all over the world order a Guinness. It's really good! If you know the history of Guinness you are probably like me and want to tell your friends why it's an important product that we all can get behind. My former pastor, Stephen Mansfield, has written quite a few books you might find interesting but his latest is "The Search for God and Guinness". Below is a link to the opinion editorial in USA Today. Check it out.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/11/column-guinness-got-it-.html

Veterans Day 11/11/2009

Click pictures to enlarge.
Middle TN Veterans Cemetery

Waterfall

My wife took a hike this weekend with a friend of hers and came back with some incredible pictures. This water fall is on the Greeter Creek Trail which is not too far from Nashville.
God does great work.

Charlie Neese host the Cottage Cove Evening of Elegance

Charlie Neese of News Channel 5 in Nashville hosted
the Cottage Cove Evening of Elegance fund raiser last night.
Charlie is a class act! This is his second year to host EOE
and he really gets what we do at Cottage Cove and
personally supports the work. Thanks Charlie.

We did something different this year and had our
fund raiser held at Maggiano's Little Italy!
Incredible Italian food.

As usual the stars of the evening were the kids of Cottage Cove.
For more information about Cottage Cove
Click HERE.

New York wins the 2009 World Series.

2009 World Champions

Great Memories

I didn't know these pictures existed! A missionary friend of mine (Joy Ramsey) who grew up in Korea with me posted these on Facebook. The top picture shows all the missionaries on our compound sometime in the early 60's. The Ramsey family, Richardson, Parsley, and Chesshir family. I'm on the floor and in the middle with the nice manly tie! My brother Rand on my left and Ross Ramsey on my right got shafted and had to wear a bow tie! I did notice that my pants obviously weren't long enough...

Almost to the last week before my father died, he would bring up and laugh about me having a broken leg when I was young. He always brought it up at the dinner table...especially when there were tons of people. It was one of those things that I knew would happen and sometimes I would try to guess when dad was about to bring it up.

This wasn't a cruel thing for me...just a little embarrassing. Why? Because a girl broke my leg! Yes...she made a great tackle as I was plowing through the massive crowd trying to make some yardage! She grabbed me and I twisted and I guess my leg stayed where she wanted it to stay...it snapped my femur bone and then my leg flopped around uncontrollable for awhile. A long stay in traction and then a long stay in a body cast. To this day...44 years later...my bone aches when the weather changes.

so they are good. But it's not over yet.

Great first game for the Phillies. Hope it continues.

Julio's Pool Service * 20 Years of Service

JaiSun -- Julio -- Mike -- Seth

Julio Padilla gives thanks!

Tonight we celebrated the 2oth year anniversary of Julio's Pool Service with my brother-in-law Julio, my sister Vicki, sons JaiSun and Christian, daughter Amber, and all the other folks who are attached to this great family. Pappi (as we call him) thanked us all for celebrating with him and our family presented him with a plaque for his dedication and service for the Nashville Community.

Of course, we celebrated at our local and most favorite restuarant in Bellevue called Cancun. Great food and drinks and a huge marble cake for dessert. But the best part was just hanging out with some of the greatest people on the planet. Julio has created a great business with a very dedicated crew and great clients.

Happy 20 Years Pappi!

Yankees or Angels?

Tonight we rest after that crazy game last night. Angels almost blew it...but they came back and won it! I hope they can take the Yankees down tomorrow and Sunday.

Never give up.

Phillies are the NL Champions. I'm going to bed.