Donald Chandler

Well, mates… hope you all had a nice holiday weekend.

Liz and I had a relaxing three days here in Marietta.  It was not a good weekend for my Braves, but I did watch the Georgia game on TV Saturday.  It was fun but no real test of how good this team will be.  We had a nice day at church Sunday, and yesterday we went to Roswell and had lunch at Dreamland Barbecue and spent a couple of hours at Queen of Hearts Antique Mall in Alpharetta… lots of looking but not much buying.  The only thing I saw that I would really like to have was a copy of the program from the very FIRST game ever played in Sanford Stadium, October 12, 1929.  In that Dedication Game the Georgia Bulldogs played the Yale University Bulldogs and were big underdogs.  Georgia won the game 15-0 in a big upset.  One of the stars of that game was sophomore “Spud” Chandler who threw a touchdown pass to Vernon “Catfish” Smith.  Can you believe Sanford Stadium is 80 years old?  That program at the antique mall was in pretty good condition but, NO, I did not buy it.  The price tag was $499.00… a little out of my “ballpark” so to speak… excuse the pun.  Maybe Jim or Connie could afford that one.   I found a copy of the program cover on the internet and thought you might enjoy seeing it.  Nice looking program and great color.  And I also found this YouTube video of the first game too if you’re interested.  Go Dawgs! (Georgia that is)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg7ED1-Uy_0

 And, Gary... welcome to Facebook.  Now we have to work on Jim.

Diane & Dick... hope you had a nice 39th Anniversary!

Gary Grice

Don sounds like you and Liz had quite a nice weekend (other than the Braves).  I spent most of my weekend installing flooring in my rental house.  I like antiques (especially since I'm becoming one) and old stuff.  When we lived in Virginia Beach, the lady across the street (Bernice) was REALLY into antiques and got us turned onto them.  Her house was like a museum.  Even had that spooky feeling.  Under her tutelage we acquired several bargains.  Probably the best was a hoosier for $5 and the porcelain replacement top for FREE.  She cruised the neighborhoods on trash day and picked up a lot of discarded valuables.  She also taught us about thrift stores.  She picked up what looked like a plain glass light globe one day for $.50 and then showed me where it was really worth about $250.00.  A little knowledge is a valuable thing.  We've sold off just about all of the old furniture we had but I still like to watch Antiques Road Show, Pawn Stars and The Pickers.  And I'm always looking for that Flea Market find that will finance my million dollar mansion.  Maybe later I'll relay my tale of visiting a VERY LARGE warehouse full, and I do mean full of antiques from Europe or maybe how I acquired an antique bookcase with leaded glass doors for the cost of hauling it ($50.00).  I'll save those tales for another time - just to maintain my readership (a very BIG HA!!!!!).  I wonder what everyone else did over the weekend?  Maybe they'll check in later and the spirt will move them to share.  In the mean time ..... Later.

Connie Morgan (White)

Don, you clearly have me confused with someone that has some money!!  :):)   That was a neat looking program.   I bet looking @ the old things was fun.

Gary, any baby yet??  She may want to consider castor oil.  If she is ready, it might stimulate her to go into labor.   If she isn't ready, it will just clean her out   (hope that isn't too graphic for this site)    Anyway, she will be well worth waiting for!    I looked and looked, and found you on Facebook (amazing how many Gary Grice's there are).  Now I am just waiting to see if you will be my friend.

Glad to hear Bobby Sparks has checked in.  Write something Bobby and catch us up on how you wound up in Alabama, etc.

Jim, how are the wedding plans coming?   when is the date?

Diane and Dick, I hope that your anniversary was just as special as you two are!!!

Kathy, have you gotten back settled in since your mountain trip?

love to all

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

Good Morning one and all!  My apologies ladies - I'm not shunning you on Facebook, I just haven't gotten with the program yet.  I think I responded to Diane's message this AM but nothing else so far.  No baby yet.  She will be at 39 weeks next week and Sherron insists that if she hasn't gone into labor by Tuesday, she's going back to Hickory.  I'll get her a bottle of castor oil to carry along.

Congratulations Dick and Diane!  39 Years!  Who would have ever thunk it?  So you got married at birth Diane?

For any and all that may celebrate, Happy Rosh Hashanah!  May you have a sweet New Year and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life.  For all others, the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.  We have had several pastors that taught on the Jewish Holidays and have come to question why Christians have not kept them.  We have been unable to find anything in the Bible that says forsake the festivals and celebrations of the Old Testament.  When we started looking after Miss Shirley (our Jewish neighbor) we began celebrating with her.  Sherron plans on picking her up sometime today and is preparing a special meal.  And yes, I have and will blow the Shofar.  I would encourage any Christian to investigate their Christian heritage which came from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Okay that's my sermon for today.  Later. 

Donald Chandler

Liz and I are big fans of “Antiques Roadshow” too, Gary, but I’ve never heard of “Pawn Stars” or “The Pickers”.  I’ll have to check them out if I can find them.  From a quick Google search it looks like they are on the History Channel, right?  We sometimes check out Thrift Stores too.  Liz loves them and we have a couple here in the Marietta area.  And when she gets in one of those moods to “throw everything out,” she donates loads of stuff to those Thrift Stores… and we take a tax deduction for it.

I for one would love to hear you blow that shofar, Gary.  Interesting that you mention it… this past Sunday, a member of our congregation brought a shofar to our morning worship service, a beautiful curled shofar, almost three feet long.  He blew it at the beginning of our service and at the close too.  A beautiful sound!  When Liz and I were on our Study Tour of Israel in 2000, a group of us went to downtown Jerusalem (the more modern area of the city) one evening to sample the nightlife.  It was there browsing through a gift shop that I bought a signed artist’s print depicting a Rabbi blowing a shofar with the Wailing Wall in the background.  We framed that print and have it displayed in our home as a nice memory of the Holy Land.

I may not be Jewish, but I celebrate our Judeo-Christian heritage and I am a firm supporter of Israel and the Jewish people.  In 2002, about one year after the attacks of 9/11, our church sponsored a “Jerusalem Prayer Summit” here in Marietta.  Our special guest speaker was Ehud Olmert who was then the Mayor of Jerusalem.  You might recognize his name… since then he has served as Israel’s Prime Minister and served in that capacity until he was replaced with Benjamin Netanyahu.  With all the tensions of 9/11 still with us and Olmert as our guest speaker, security was very, very tight at that Summit.  We were all subjected to a full body search with a security scanning wand before entering the church to hear Olmert speak.  The Bible says that we are all to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”.  And I hope that our country continues to support Israel, although I question whether or not the current administration really does.  Obama says that he is a Christian, but I will say this… It is MY  belief that his words and his actions demonstrate that he has more of a “Muslim heart” than a “Christian heart,” and I do not believe he is a friend of Israel... Just my own personal opinion, mates, I welcome yours.  Even though God called the Jews a “stubborn people” and constantly had to discipline them, the Bible is clear that they ARE God’s “chosen people,” and God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Since God is sovereign, that is good enough for me.  And it was through the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… through the line of David… that Jesus Christ came to us, God made flesh.  May God have mercy on the United States if we ever stop supporting Israel.

Gary Grice

Amen brother Don!

First, yes Pawn Stars and The Pickers I believe do come on the History Channel.  Pawn Stars is about things people bring into a 24 hour pawn store in Las Vegas.  The cast is a crusty old man, the father, his son, who really runs the business, his son who works in the store and the son/grandson's simpleton sidekick.  Always some interesting items being brought in.  For instance, recently this guy brought in what he thought were Soviet ICBM launch keys.  Turns out they were Soviet space shuttle launch keys.  You never know what may turn up.  The Pickers travel around the good ole USA rummaging through barns, warehouses and homes in search of antiquities they can make a buck on. 

Now my confession - since its good for the soul.  I frequently get "lost" in the Bible.  The preacher will say, as he did last week, turn to Luke 23 .....  I some how ended up in Luke 22.  Since this happens so often, I attribute it to Devine Providence.  Well, as I read Luke 22, it spoke to me of the many politicans who claim to be Christians. 

²⁴Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Don't our elected officials CLAIM to be public SERVANTS?  And how many of them brag about how they GAVE to the people of their area (BENEFACTORS)?  And who said they "would be ready to RULE on the first day?  A friend of mine used to say, "I'm not judging.  Just examining the fruit."  Having examined the fruit, I know I am among Christians on this forum.  Praise God.  But our politicans' actions speak louder than their words and I fear we are being RULED by a bunch of LIARS and DECEIVERS. 

And that's my sermon for today.  Hope you are all having a BLESSED week.  Later.

Donald Chandler

Good Morning, Americans.

Hope you have all had a good week.  I got a flu shot a couple of days ago.  I’m not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  Maybe nurse Connie can advise.  I was buying groceries at Kroger and the pharmacy was offering flu shots for $25, so I got one.  It is supposed to prevent three strains of flu including the H1N1 virus.  Are any of you planning on the flu shots this year?      

It has not been a very good week for me as a sports fan.  The BRAVES have lost 6 of their last 8 games and are headed in the wrong direction.  Two months ago they were a very good team with a 7-game lead in the NL East.  Now they look like a very average team in second place and fighting to even be in the playoffs... very streaky hitting, shaky defense, and inconsistent pitching.  We need to turn it around quickly.  GO BRAVES!  And GEORGIA BULLDOG fans can’t be happy to see our most talented player, A. J. Green, suspended for four games for selling one of his jerseys.  Say what???  These guys need to get their act together OFF the field.  They may be great athletes, but they are not very wise young men.  I still love to beat Steve Spurrier, but that game tomorrow will be a tough one.  GO DAWGS!

And NEVER FORGET!... tomorrow is 9/11… a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE for me and many other Americans.  However, for some, including millions of Muslims and supporters of Terrorism around the world, it will be a DAY OF CELEBRATION.  And make no mistake, that proposed Islamic Mosque to be built near Ground Zero in New York is a way for Muslims to celebrate a victory over America.  And now I see that the head Imam in New York is saying that if they can’t build that mosque there, then America can expect violence.  Basically folks, he is issuing a THREAT… saying that if you “infidels” don’t let us build our monument to celebrate killing 3,000 of you, then we will kill even more of you.  UNBELIEVABLE!  A question for you... do you think Barack Obama will be "remembering" or "celebrating" tomorrow?  Just askin'.  By the way... I have been listening to today's press conference by Obama, and for those of you who missed it, I can sum it up in four words... "It's George Bush's fault."

Well… I guess that’s enough preaching and venting from me for this week.  Have a wonderful weekend folks.  And God Bless America!

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

Happy Birthday Bobby!  Please update us on what a GREAT birthday you had.

OH, ME!  Don, I guess we need to quit preaching and get back to praying - for the Braves!  Talk about your September Slump!

I think its great that you got your flu shot - I'm just not so sure about getting it at Kroger.  That just don't seem right.  I guess it makes economic sense.  They just grow the virus in eggs they weren't able to sell.  Why just throw away them rotten eggs?

I was wondering what my attraction was to Facebook and now I know. 

Facebook users 'are insecure, narcissistic and have low self-esteem'

I hope you all have a GREAT weekend and none of us will be DISAPPOINTED come Monday with the Dawgs or Braves!  Later.

Gary Grice

Oops!  I almost forgot to mention - no baby .... yet, but could be any minute.  Dr says that if Lyla (corrected spelling) doesn't make her appearance by next Thursday, they will intervene.  Sherron is planning on returning to Hickory next week - regardless.  Later.

Donald Chandler

REMEMBERING 9/11... On a visit to New York City in 1986, I took this photo of the WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWERS.  Liz and I were on a siteseeing cruise around Manhattan Island.  On another visit to New York in 1990, we went up to the top of the towers, 110 stories tall.  There were wonderful views from the Observation Deck.  It is hard to believe those towers are no longer there.  I can remember that at the time of the attacks on 9/11/01, I went out and bought a small American flag and put it on our mailbox.  I have kept the flag flying there every day since then as a reminder of that terrible day and the cost of FREEDOM.  May God Bless America and bless those who serve to protect us each and every day. 

Connie Morgan (White)

O.K. Gary, is there a baby?

Don, I've been getting the flu shots the past several years.  Af few years ago, I said something to one of our ER doctors about never having had a flu shot, and wondering if I should get one.  He said,---- I quote, "If I was your age, I think I would".   Young whipper-snapper!!   but I have gotten one every year since.

I hope that you all had good week-ends.  Except for my 6 year old grandson's rec. league football game  (they won 13-6), the other folks I pulled for this w/e didn't do so well.  My beloved Dawgs lost, Dale Earnhardt lost, and the Falcon's lost in OT...

I had to go to work a few hours on Saturday.  We are doing computer training for electronic medical records.  I had so hoped that I would be retired before this was put in place.   With all the computer hacking every where, no one can convince me that there won't be personal medical info. that "falls into the wrong hands".     "Confidentiality" is so drummed into us in school and by employers, I fear we will all be losing personal privicy with this.   Oh well, that's just my opinion - and that's "progress".

Diane, did your brother get out of Las Vegas??

Everyone, have a good week!

Connie Morgan (White)

**** FALL GET-TOGETHER*****

I hope that we can have one of our "informal get-togethers" this fall.

Jim, when is your daughter's wedding??

Does anyone else have a date in October that they could NOT come on a Sunday afternoon?

Please respond if there is any interest out there............

Jimmy Willis

Hello Mates!

    Sorry Connie I been out of town. Karen's wedding is

Oct. 16th. Everything going OK I guess, never done

this before. I just keep taking my BP meds. That seems

to keep me going, along with a good dose of Jim Bean's

wonder drink! Old Fashion anyone? Anyway, I keep telling

myself just one more month!!!

    Beth's  over the surgery, then had a bout with post

surgical depression. It's been a fun two weeks. Could

drive a kid to drank! Hic!! Hic!!!

     Any who! Got to go--- phone's a ringing. Catch you guys

later.  

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

Greetings!  Well I'm finally back at work where I can get some rest.  Worked my little tush off at the rental house on Saturday, kept grandkids and worked on in-laws computer Sunday, and had to go to Gainesville Monday for infusion.  Whew!  Diane, thank you for the cool arctic air you have sent our way.  It was so cool this morning that I had to walk with my hands in my pockets.  Winter is a comin'!  Jim, I'm glad Beth is doing better - maybe we need to have a get together to cheer her up.  I could stand some cheering up for sure.  One of the traditional "games" our family has long played is, "I wonder where we'll be this time next year?"  It is best played while in the military awaiting orders but doesn't have to be locational.  As Sherron and I walked this morning, we started to ponder that question and in order to do so you must reflect on the year(s) passed.  In the last year (since October 1, 2009)  we've had two family deaths, sold three vehicles, acquired two, transferred two pieces of property and acquired two new grand babies.  No, no Lyla yet, but Sherron just called to say Jennifer is scheduled for a C-section on Thursday morning.  Joy, relief, excitement, sorrow - such a mix of emotions, but all in all, it was a very good year.  Connie, pick a date - I'll be there if there is ANY way possible.  All of the jokes this morning were a little melancholy as well, but hopefully this one will give someone a little chuckle and reveal a little truth to all.  Later.

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel hears his plea and appears to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you." The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.

The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!"

But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, "You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through."

St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, "You brought pavement?!!!"

 

Gary Grice

This was too good to let pass.  Later.

Gary Grice

Sherron is "on the road again" to Hickory.  If all goes well, which we are trusting God that it will, little Lyla is scheduled to make her appearance tomorrow.  I keep you updated and post pictures as soon as I have one.

Politics!  I guess I do need the "government" to take everything I have and manage it for me - I AM TOO STUPID (according to the "government") to look after anything myself.  When our vice president said this was the "summer of recovery", I thought he meant things would be getting better economically.  NO, he just meant that the "government" would be implimenting another "recovery" program.  I wonder what this "recovery" program is supposed to do?  Jobs continue to go away and unemployment increasing and "we are headed in the right direction".  I fail to see how this is a good thing.  However, I must admit I NOW understand "stimulus spending".  I read where our tax dollars are being used to teach African men how to wash their genitalia.  Now THAT is stimulating!  And I guess I can see how that would create a demand - for the oldest profession.  And those African ladies of the night will want a better life and eventually move to the good ole' US of A, where they will spend their hard earned dollars.  It REALLY does make sense!!!  I think I'm becoming a DEMOCRAT!!!!!  (SOMEONE SHOOT ME, PLEASE!!!)  Just joking!!  Unfortunately, I don't think ANY political party has a clue how to govern right now.  I just pray that leaders will be elected that will be honoring and pleasing to God and then no matter what happens, it'll be all right.

Now I'll have to go find a good joke to cheer me up.  Later.

Gary Grice

SHE'S HERE!!!

8 lbs. 7 ozs.     22 1/4 inches long.

Our seventh grandchild.

Diane Harris (Moore)

Gary Grice

Thanks Diane.  In case everyone forgot to check, we have another birthday today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. Pryor!  Hope you have a most enjoyable day and will check in (which I know you occasionally do) and leave us a note. 

We appreciate all of your well wishes, but on a more somber note, please say an extra prayer for Sherron's uncle Ted.  His son, Sherron's cousin passed away unexpectedly early this morning.   It is especially sad with the recent loss of his mother (Sherron's Grandmother) and the accidental deaths of two other sons. 

I hope everyone is having a VERY BLESSED week.  Later

Gary Grice

HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY!!!!   If you have a spare minute today, I encourage all to read a few words from one of the greatest blueprints ever authored.  "We the people .......

I hope everyone has a BLESSED weekend.  Later.

Donald Chandler

Greetings, Mates... hope you have had a great week... and Happy Friday.

Congratulations, Gary... on the new addition to the family.  A beautiful baby girl!  May God Bless her always and may God Bless your entire family.  And my condolences on the unexpected loss of Sherron's cousin.

Connie... I would say go ahead and plan the class gathering for the date and time that is most convenient for you and the rest of the crew.  Liz and I had planned a trip to Texas the first week of October, but that trip is now cancelled.  Liz is continuing to have issues with the bladder infections and chronic kidney disease, and is still going to Emory for treatment.  We believe the treatment measures are helping but are not very "travel friendly" shall we say.  So we have no set plans.  Any travel plans we make for long or short trips is dependent on how she is doing.  If we are able to be there, we certainly would love to see all of you again.

Jim... Best wishes on those wedding plans for your daughter.  Hope that Beth is doing better.  It has not been a great September thus far for us Braves fans, Dawg fans, or Falcons fans...but maybe this will be a better weekend.  I'm still hanging in there.

Liz and I will be attending a 60th Birthday party for one of our friends tonight, and tomorrow we will be celebrating our 28th Wedding Anniversary.  We have been greatly blessed.

Have a wonderful weekend, mates. 

Reporting live from Marietta... this is Don, the groom.

Gary Grice

BIG Congratulations to Don and best wishes to Liz!  Proverbs 18:22 says "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."  I know many of us guys can confirm that truth.  May we who have found what is good continue to receive favor from the Lord.  Later.