Message Forum

Todays words of wisdom were forwarded to me by Kay. I see that several of you were on her distributions list, but these are worth repeating. Have a blessed day!
1. Give God what's right -- not what's left.
2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end! -- God's way
leads to an endless hope.
3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma--but
never let him be the period.
6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.
7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a
face-lift.
8. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.
9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.
10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.
11. The church is prayer-conditioned.
12. When God ordains, He sustains.
13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.
16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.
17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.
18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.
19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.
20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps
coming back.
21. He who angers you controls you.
22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
23. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.
24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them..
25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

04/27/09 11:11 AM

#485

Hello! Anyone at home around here? Sure is quiet. Well I guess I'll just take this opportunity to talk to myself. Seems we may be loosing interest in the site. Almost no exchange on the Message Forum. No discussions on the User Forums and NO ONE signed on yesterday. A first since the site has been up. I guess we need to do something to liven up the site. What shall we do? How about paying people to sign on? Sounds like a government program and besides that cost money! Yeah. How about posting some sexy pictures, you know like a handsome dude in a cowboy outfit! Tried it; seems it may have even scared people away. Yeah, but he was handsome. I know, maybe folks are just going through some tough times and need some words of encouragement. Haven't you been reading the boards? Tried it and participation dried up. How about posting some jokes? Everyone likes jokes! Tried it and I've only got so many jokes. What shall we do? .... Well, its been nice talking with you. Thanks, you too.

04/27/09 04:17 PM

#486

04/27/09 09:16 PM

#487

Oh Gary --- Please keep the site going!!! I look @ the site every day, I just don't usually "sign-in". I love hearing anything from anyone!

I haven't been writing because I figure y'all don't want to just keep hearing:
1."I love any time I have with my grandchildren" I visit them or have them stay with me pretty often. They truly are joy in my life.
2. "I am thankful for a job - but I am so tired of working"... No choice there. Any hopes/thoughts of retiring in the next few years are long gone.

I am enjoying this warmer weather. Love the flowers, green leaves sprouting out everywhere... Sure do like not being cold.
Enjoyed spending Sunday afternoon riding @ Lake Oconee.

Donald, you definitely do not write too much. Please stay in touch. Hope you and Liz are enjoying your trip. What lighthouses did you go to?

Jim, I got to go to the Masters a couple of times while I was @ MCG in Augusta. Probably the early 70's. I'm not a big golf fan, but remember being amazed at the beauty of the course.

Diane, has it thawed out there? Any trips to Ga. planned soon?

I am looking forward to spending a few days @ Fernandina Beach in May. I love walking and looking for sharkes teeth there.

I sure hope others of you will catch us up here on our forum.
I think of my "old" friends often.

love,
connie

04/28/09 08:36 AM

#488

Ah, grandkids! Last Saturday Sherron and I went to Loganville to watch our two oldest play soccer. Little Reese scored five goals in what could best be described as controlled confusion. Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa cheered, "Go, Reesie, go Reesie"!!! Her team seemed to understand that you needed to kick the ball in a particular direction while the philosophy of the opposing team appeared to be, kick the ball regardless of direction. A munchkin on the opposing team was having a rought time since he hadn't been able to kick the ball. He kept coming off the field for a pep talk from dad - as the game continued on the field. As the game wound down the opposing team was at our end of the field. Despite several kicks at the goal, they all seemed to go a little wide. Finally the ball was put in play about five feet from the goal as the little munchkin was positioned about six feet from the goal. He ran, kicked the ball and scored!!! We all stood up and cheered. Dad came over and thanked us profusely. Who won? We all did. Have a blessed week; I already have.

04/28/09 11:37 AM

#489

This just struck me as very funny:

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Tinker Bell has been reunited with her owners after a 70-mph gust of wind picked up the six-pound Chihuahua and tossed her out of sight.

Dorothy and Lavern Utley credit a pet psychic for guiding them on Monday to a wooded area nearly a mile from where 8-month-old Tinker Bell had been last seen. The brown long-haired dog was dirty and hungry but otherwise OK.

The Utleys, of Rochester, had set up an outdoor display Saturday at a flea market in Waterford Township, 25 miles northwest of Detroit.

Tinker Bell was standing on their platform trailer when she was swept away.

Dorothy Utley tells The Detroit News that her cherished pet "just went wild" upon seeing her.

.........
Headlines could have read:
"Dog takes flight at flea market"
"Dorothy, this ain't Kansas"
"Tinker Bell flys again"
"Dog Gone - With the Wind"
"Psychic sniffs out dog"
"WWI flying Ace - Tinker Bell"

oh well, back to work!

04/28/09 01:58 PM

#490

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary, I join Connie is begging you not to abandon the site. "Abandon" is too strong a word, I suppose, 'cause you've been tending to it all along. I have blabbed so much that sometimes I don't write just because I think if I don't it will give someone else a chance. I don't know what your administrator duties are, but if they are not too time consuming we'd appreciate you sticking with it. I'll try and do better about writing, even if I just blab. But, again, I want to encourage everyone to write. Don't think you have anything to say? Wrong! Just letting us know the little day to day things in your life is wonderful. Think you have to be "a writer"? Wrong, again! All contributers here get an A+, regardless of punctuation or grammar. if I thought anyone cared HOW I write, then I never would.

I've been slow to respond lately just because we've been so darn busy around here, and that's probably why lots of you don't write. Between stuff going on inside the house with our little renovation (I don't know how in the world anyone ever builds whole houses!), and trying to get our yards back in order for spring, I have spent most of my time away from the computer the last few weeks. It's probably that way with many of you. Like Connie, though, I check the site fairly often, hoping to read a message from someone.

Gary and Connie, I would never tire of hearing about your grandkids! And Don, I look forward to hearing about your trip. Dennis, if you don't check in soon, I'm gonna start asking for the "old friend" fee, and hitting you up for legal advice. Tessie, I know you work so hard, but I want to hear how Nikki is doing in Pharmacy school. Judy, how are things going in that courthouse in south Georgia? Jimmy, has anything embarrassing ever happened to you on the golf course that you'd like to share? If we start passing around embarrassing stories, I can go on forever. Ray and Kay, remember when I used to trick or treat with you, Linda, and Charles McGarity in Sandy Cross?

Now, I've done my duty for today. Maybe something exciting will happen to me before the day is done and I can write about it tomorrow. Hopefully it will not involve swine flu.

Oh, Connie, I don't plan any trips to GA anytime real soon. But, if one comes up, you can expect a call. Last time I was there for our get together in Feb., I ended up going down into Goosepond with my sister and brother, trying to find our old swimming hole at Stratton's Bridge. We never saw another human being and didn't meet another car for an hour and a half, and we aren't sure where we were, but we had fun. It reminded me of Brooks and Dunn's song "Red Dirt Road", and I loved it.

Love,
Diane

04/28/09 07:52 PM

#491

Gary, I was also in Gwinnett Co. Friday night & Sat. watching 5 year old grandson play t-ball. So much fun. I even had brief flash-backs of my sons playing years ago. We were @ Bay Creek park in Grayson. Where were you?
Diane, I have often thought that I would love to spend a day riding the roads in Oglethorpe Co., just looking... Any adventurous folks out there wanta do that sometime?
I was recently enroute to Green Co., and decided to use a new little "nifty" GPS unit. I'm not sure if I had set it on "shortest route" or "fastest route", but it had me turn just out of Maxeys onto a road that soon turned into a dirt road that went on for miles. I don't mind the dirt roads because my car is always dirty anyway, but I came to a bridge that I seriously wondered if I would make it over it because it was washed out on each side. Thought I had gone too far to turn back, so I just went. Needless to say, I went home a different way.
I hope all of you are having a good week. My Monday and Tuesday have been kinda long and hard @ work, but I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.
Night, night.

04/29/09 08:54 AM

#492

The Back Roads of Oglethorpe County. Sounds like the title of a good book. Connie I love to ride the back roads also. The scenery is second to none and occasionally I too happen upon a wonderful memory. Most of my sojourns have been solo as Sherron will have nothing to do with my motorcycle. That's okay cause sometimes memories are not to be shared.
Here's my funny golf story: We were making a port call in Naples and a group of us decided to play a little golf. As one of the members of my group prepared to tee off, I noticed that in his haste to leave the ship, he had grabbed one sock with a red stripe around the top and one with a blue stripe around the top. I couldn't resist asking, "Hey, Rick. Do you have another pair of socks like that back on the ship?" He started laughing so hard he couldn't tee off and every time he looked down and saw those socks, he would start laughing. Needless to say, we had a good time but the golf scores were a little higher than usual.
Have a great day one and all!!!

04/29/09 10:59 AM

#493

Good Morning all.

Speaking of new technology, Connie, we tried out one of those GPS devices (Garmin…borrowed from a friend) on our trip to South Georgia / Florida. It is wonderful! But you have to get used to this computer-generated female voice telling you where to go and where to turn. And when I would do something a little different, she would quickly remind me that she was “recalculating, recalculating.” You know us guys… we can never ask for directions or admit when we are lost, even to a machine.

Diane, I can identify with you somewhat, my cousin. I enjoy participating here on the forum, but sometimes feel I should just be quiet and let other folks contribute more. But Connie has assured me a number of times that I don’t write too much… so here I am again. I too would love to hear from other folks more… so please let us know what you think and what’s going on in your lives.

We had a great trip visiting family and friends and having fun. And the weather was very nice… and not too hot. We visited old family friends in Savannah, Eustis and Lakeland… and two of my nieces, one in Brunswick and one in Tampa/St. Pete. Ron’s granddaughters are growing up so fast… and are just beautiful with their long black hair, dark eyes and wonderful smiles! And in between our family and friends visits, we took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Savannah. Those ancient live oak trees with the Spanish moss are just beautiful. And since none of you recommended a good seafood restaurant for me, I will recommend the one we tried… The Crab Shack on Tybee Island. It really is a shack, but with a wonderful view of the waterfront and the marshes. You eat outside on the deck, under the beautiful live oaks and just enjoy the delicious low country cuisine and the great view. Fantastic seafood! I also climbed nearby Tybee Island Lighthouse (178 steps to the top) while Liz patiently waited at the bottom. Great views of the coast! Two days later, I climbed St. Augustine Lighthouse (219 steps) while Liz again waited. It was a very “enlightening” climb, letting me know that I am not as young as I used to be… but well worth the effort. And we ate at another seafood restaurant where fried alligator tail was on the menu. I know it is cliché to say it tastes like chicken, but… it tastes like chicken. It looks and tastes like chicken nuggets at Chic-fil-a. Really. So, get this… a Georgia Bulldog devoured a Florida Gator. Go Dawgs! One of the highlights of our trip was a visit with our friends near Orlando and a day-trip to the Wycliffe Bible Translators Headquarters. We took a tour to see how their work and technology is slowly translating the Bible into native languages all over the world so that even the most remote tribes in third world countries who have never heard of Jesus Christ can read the Word of God in their own language. Did you know that there are almost 7,000 different languages all over the world? Wycliffe is targeting the year 2025 to have translations of all of them. Isn’t that amazing! We also went to the nearby headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ to take a tour of the Jesus Film Project. They are translating the "Jesus" film (produced in 1979) into thousands of languages so that the unreached peoples of the world can see the life of Christ portrayed and hear it in their own language. It is a lot of work! Just for a demonstration, they chose a scene from the movie and had me to read the part of Peter from the script, and dubbed my voice into the film. They gave me a DVD of my scene to take home. I’ve always loved Peter for his many human faults. I love him even more now.

Here I go, writing too much again. I’ll check in later. Have a great week everyone! And by the way… Gary… hang in there with us. You do a wonderful job. And we really appreciate you even though we don’t tell you often enough.

Blessings all.

Don

04/29/09 12:37 PM

#494

Don, let me get this straight. You had to get used to a female voice telling you what to do - and you have been married how long?!?! Sorry, I couldn't let that one go by unchecked. (I'll bet that creates a stir with the ladies here on the board!)
I think Sherron, Erin and JJ ate at the Crab Shack on Tybee. Did it have a gator pond at the entrance? They were attending a wedding and I remained at home to hold down the fort. Sherron called me and said for me to go to this web site and I could see them. They had a web camera set up so you could watch people crossing a little walkway into the restaurant. Pretty cool.
Don, you have got to bring the DVD at our next gathering so we can see your movie debut!! I ain't never met no real movie star before!! I wasn't chastising anyone for not posting. I've been lax in posting myself, even though I check the site several times a day. My apologies if I appeared bumptious (correct usage? Word of the day). Now that I see how everyone feels - I'm going to just post away and if you don't want to read what I have to say - just scroll on by. Grice get back to work!!!!

04/29/09 05:05 PM

#495

Yes, Gary. That was the same restaurant... the Crab Shack... complete with gators and wild birds. I have a great picture of Liz face to face with a gator that I need to post for you somewhere. I took tons of pictures on our trip.

And by the way... I've been married 26 years and counting. You would think I'd be used to female directions by now.

Later, gator.

04/29/09 06:50 PM

#496

Good to get in after a long day, check this site and relax while enjoying hearing from some of you!!!

Glad your trip was good Don - and that y'all got home safely. Wow! sounds like you had some great experiences and made some memories.
I've never eaten @ that Crab Shack, but have eaten @ the ones @ St. Simons and Fernandina Beach, and recommend both of those. Be sure your bring the pictures whenever we all get together again.

Gary, I'll let the 'bossy female' comment pass :)

04/30/09 10:07 AM

#497

Diane Harris (Moore)

Just a quick little check in for no other reason than to say "hi", and let you know how good is was to read the new messages.

Cousin Don, I loved reading about your trip. I am one of those rare people who always enjoyed looking at other people's vacation pictures. How I long to go to a beach. Most any would do. The last time I saw the ocean was in 2001 when we went to see our kids in Japan. We just looked, we didn't touch. You, Gary, and Connie have me yearning to see some spanish moss, and eat at a crab shack. Most any crab shack. Sigh.

Like I said, just stopping by. I'm waiting on a guy to come over and do a little job here at the house. I am very tired of waiting on men these days. I have a dental appointment this afternoon. Just routine, but I'll get to wait there too I imagine. Oh well, at least I'll get to enjoy my guilty pleasure of reading a People magazine in the waiting room.

Love and hugs,
Diane

04/30/09 04:56 PM

#498

Don, I can almost smell the salt air as I read your post! I have an excuse for having salt water in my veins. Sherron won't let me too close to the water for fear I will ship out again. I do miss the ocean. Sherron's aunt and uncle have condos at New Smyrna Beach - it might be about time to give them a call!!! I had FUN today! I went out with some experts and looked at cell towers. Very fascinating!! Hope everyone else had a good day.

04/30/09 09:56 PM

#499

I am in Canton tonight visiting with son, daughter-in-law and 3 year old grandson (and their golden retriever)

Hope you all have a good w/e.

love you guys!
connie

05/01/09 09:20 AM

#500

Rough day today. First I have to cram a 30 minute meeting into 2 hours and then hopefully, I can get away for a little fishing with the grandkids. Last night as I was getting the cane poles ready, I recalled how I learned to fish. My Uncle Buck was my trainer. Now, hopefully I can pass along some of those lessons of life for which there are no classrooms, no textbook and no lesson plan. And someday those lessons will be passed on to their children and grandkids. For any of you who have never been blessed by fishing, its not just about catching fish; especially with the grandkids. Have a blessed weekend - I know I will!!

05/01/09 10:18 AM

#501

Gary… I did lots of fishing as a kid but not much in the last 45 years or so. I guess I just wasn't patient enough. I've gained a little more patience through the years so maybe I should try it again. By the way, with all of your years in the Navy, I would imagine that you had the opportunity many times to see dolphins at sea. Liz’s favorite part of our trip (other than visiting family & friends) was a scenic boat cruise we took of Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine. It was only an hour and 15 minutes but very nice and relaxing. We actually saw a dolphin (only one, but it was a thrill). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dolphin before in its natural habitat. And I wasn't quick enough with my camera to get a picture.

Do any of you out there love horses? Tomorrow is Derby Day in Louisville. It is always a bit sentimental for Liz. She grew up just down the street from Churchill Downs. And with all the trips we’ve made to Louisville over the last 27 years, we’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby. It’s still on my list of things to do. But we always watch it on TV and Liz always gets a little teary-eyed when they play “My Old Kentucky Home” when the horses trot out onto the track.

Diane… I know that you and Dick will be happy when all the renovations are done and you can get back to a normal household. Tomorrow I plan to get out the water hose and wash all of the yellow pollen off our screened in back porch so I can sit out there, be lazy, read and write, listen to Braves games, and enjoy the birds and other critters in our back yard. I saw our first hummingbird of the season just a couple of days ago. My sister Marian lives on one of those Oglethorpe County back roads in the Wolfskin District near Temple Methodist Church where Gary sometimes rides his motorcycle. She tells me that the hummingbirds are already swarming in her back yard.

Connie… I hope you have a wonderful weekend visiting your son and his family this weekend. As the years pass by, I realize more and more that family and friends are the true treasures in this old world.

Have a great weekend everyone. And Happy Derby Day!

Love & Hugs,
Don

05/04/09 08:06 AM

#502

I trust everyone had a good albeit busy weekend. Don, I hope you won a few $ with the Derby. Somebody made out - 50:1 - WOW! We visited Churchill Downs while moving from Virginia Beach to Colorado Springs. They had one of the best AV presentations I have ever seen. You stood in a rotunda and the individual images were projected on the walls above your head from many slide projectors. Everything was sychronized so the action appeared to move arond the rotunda. I really can't describe how spectacular it was - and seeing it at Churchill Downs!! The park itself was gorgeous. I would recommend a vistit to Churchill Downs as an addition to everyone's "bucket list". Well time for another cup of joe - my get up and go needs a real kickstart this morning. Hope everyone has an opportunity to bless someone today. Later.

05/04/09 09:25 AM

#503

Okay, I'm on my third cup of coffee so I'm about ready to go (to the bathroom). Don, you are correct, I did see a few dolphins! When I was little we went to Sea World (I think it was called) there between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine and I was fascinated with how well "trained" the dolphins were. Many times while out at sea we were entertained by dolphins doing the same tricks. It was especially fun to go to the forecastle (bow/front of the ship) and watch them dart back and forth just in front of the ship's bow wave. It was really exciting when the water was clear and you could watch them just below the surface "race" the ship. They loved to ride the wake and would often jump out of the water and do flips, just like the dolphins at Sea World. God did a good job of "training" them and I was truly blessed to have been invited to their performances. Now, I had better get back to work. Later.

05/04/09 11:06 AM

#504

Okay, I'll shut up after this, but I thought Jim (and maybe others) might enjoy a round of golf on this rainy day.
Hole in One!

05/04/09 04:27 PM

#505

Wasn’t that a great Derby! I’m not a big race fan, and I don’t gamble, not even the lottery, but it would have been nice to have a couple of grand on “Mine That Bird”. I loved watching Calvin Borel run the inside rail like he did two years ago and celebrate with such joy again! Liz and I always pick a horse to win, based on nothing other than the name we like the best. She picked “Mr. Hot Stuff” (he finished 15th…not so hot) and I picked Summer Bird (the wrong “bird”, finished 6th). Even though we have never been to the Kentucky Derby, we have visited Churchill Downs a couple of times. And you are right, Gary about their Museum and Video. Very nice. We also took a tour of the grounds and the track back in the 80’s and got to see some of the horses, including John Henry, one of the great horses of all times, and I took lots of pictures.

I see in the news where there will soon be an opening on the U. S. Supreme Court, and they say that one of the early candidates is from Georgia. Has anyone seen Dennis lately?

And has anyone seen the sun lately? We could sure use a little sunshine here in Georgia.

05/04/09 06:13 PM

#506

Jimmy Willis

THANKS GARY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SOUTH
CAROLINA ON A GOLF TRIP WITH 13 OTHER GUYS
TODAY. BUT, I INJURIED MY HAND WORKING ON
MY WIFE'S POOL. NOW, I GET TO READ ABOUT
THE TRIP ON THE INTERNET. (I DON'T EVEN USE
THE POOL! I DON'T LIKE SWIMMING. I GET TO
TAKE CARE OF IT!) SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD A
GREAT TRIP DON. AND CONNIE/GARY I ENVY YOU
GUYS BEING ABLE TO WATCH THE GRANDS PLAY BALL!
THAT HAS GOT TO BE GREAT. HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE
A GREAT WEEK.

05/04/09 08:42 PM

#507

Kathy Carter (Campbell)

Hi Everyone,

I haven't written in a long time but I try to check in once a week. Been busy on trips to doctors, hospitals, and working outside in this beautiful weather. Rabun is stable for now. He's had eight eye surgeries since August. Ten days ago they shot his left eye full of steroids and he is seeing much better out of it. Good news about that.

The last Sat. in April all my girls came and attended Mother/Daughter brunch at my church. We dressed all up for that and had a great time. After the brunch I went to Elberton to stay with my sister there until Tuesday and we had such a wonderful time together talking, laughing, remembering and even crying a little. I even talked her into attending Mass at a Catholic church a block from her house. It was an enjoyable experience, something that I have always wanted to do but never had done before. We did not take communion from the common cup though. I'm just so thankful for my sisters.

We had a fabulous night Friday night with our whole family in participating in relay for life here in our county. Enjoyed spending time w/grandkids that night. They jumped and slid and then we danced with the puppets after we had done some walking. Got to see a lot of friends and neighbors. It was wonderful to see all those people who give time for such a worthy cause. My daughter-in-law headed up a team and she and Burton really worked hard for that.

On Saturday Rabun and I did some exciting yard work. My son had a truck full of top soil delivered to his farm and Rabun and I went and shoveled two loads in our truck and unloaded them here at our place for my flower beds. We got some exercise that day!

Gary, we like your jokes and of course we all know how wonderful those grandkids can be.

Don, must be nice to be able to do all that traveling, love hearing about it.

Jim, I guess this is good weather for golf. My son plays often. Rabun use to play, and Burton learned to play when he was just a little boy while we lived at Warm Springs on the golf course there. He still really enjoys playing.

Connie, when are you going to Fernandina? I just love it down there. We went two weeks before Thanksgiving the last time. Wish I could go with you.

Diane, have you finished with your house and gotten things settled once again? I know you kids are suppose to come soon.

We have been at the church working today, helping load containers to send to Tanzania. As a mission project our church had two 20 ft. containers dropped and are loading them with hospital beds, IV poles, x-ray machines, and all sorts of hospital supplies and bedding to furnish a hospital they are going to start there.

This week is less hectic for me, just the eye doctor tomorrow and plans to work in yards the remainder of the week.

Thankful for the shower we received today. Hope all of you are doing well and have a great week. Will try to write more often.

Love and hugs.

Kathy

05/04/09 10:17 PM

#508