Feb 2, 2015

One of my very best and loyal friends, Hershey, my chocolate lab turned 9 years old last week.  I noticed how we both like the same things.  We enjoy hanging out together, rides on the golf cart, being lazy in my office, sitting in front of my garage heater, a good meal etc.  As I pondered why we would have such similar interests, it hit me.  I am 63 years old.   Hershey is 9 years old  (X 7 in dog years) = 63 years old.  We are the same age!

Hunting Hat

Several years ago, I puchased a new bright orange hunting hat.  It wasn't cheap because it was waterproof and insulated.  Just before I left to go to deer camp, Brenda used a Sharpie permanent marker to draw a heart and "I love U" on it.  I was upset because it distracted from the masculinity.  I wore it anyway and  within a couple of years, just accepted it.  Now years later I wear it with pride, becasuse my precious wife did this to remind me, even when I am away and in the swamps that she loves me.  I am so blessed!

Climate Change

I know the climate is changing.  This has been true since God created it.  If we pay enough money to create a panic for us, someone will accept our money and create one.  Follow the science.

Free Speech

I am conservative.  I was very disappointed when Donald Trump was not reelected.  There was clearly voter fraud going on.  I don't believe the election would have been different without the fraud though.  Also there is likely voter fraud in every election.  I would like to see voting made better.  That is, every person gets 1 vote.  No bulk voter stuff.

Now to the free speech.  Officials should be concerned about voter fraud, but when conservatives suggested that there was fraud, liberals only called them names like 'election denyers', MAGA, right wing conspiracy theorists, etc.  It seems that every American should want fair and honest elections.

More about free speech.  We have had too much racist stuff happen in the last few years.  It has now become racist to talk about justice.  Differences of opinion should be celebrated and even debated without name calling.  I am grateful for conservative folks that are of a different 'race' or background than I have.  They refuse to label every caucasian as a racist and suggest that I do  not have to label myself as one either.  

Major institutions that should be for free speech have become against it.  Education and Media are two that have the most negative impact on free speech, but entertainment and social media companies are also major problems.

I will continue to pray for our nation.

Encouragement

March 15, 2013

I am writing this to be an encouragement to the wives who think their husbands are too slow to "fix stuff". Brenda was just sharing with a lady at our house that I had repaired an old lamp she had. She picked it up from the "dump". If you're old enough you will know about "dump picking". Anyway, I fixed it a few months ago. She "dump picked" it with Grandma Combs right after we were married in 1971. So it only me took a bit over 40 years to get it done. Brenda is so lucky I am "handy".

Why we celebrate this day off

70 years ago yesterday, my mom started labor. To commemorate such an important event as labor before my birth, it was declared that it would be called "Labor Day", and thus most had a paid holiday yesterday. You should thank my mom.

　

Birthday thoughts - You are gaining on me

You are gaining on me: here is the math. Let's say I was 19 when you were born. So when you were 1 year old, I was 20 years old.. That made me 20 times older than you. Then, When you were 10, I would have been 30 made me only 3 times older than you...you're gaining on me. Then, when you were 20 and I was 40, I was only 2 times older than you. Certainly, you will catch me soon.

Oh to be undignified

Brenda and I stayed at the Windsor Inn formerly EconoLodge South, Petoskey MI.  We often choose EconoLodge, finding prices pretty good as well as accommodations.  We had stayed there a few years ago too.  There is a section about two feet wide between the parking lot and the hotel filled with 1-2" stones.  Of course, being in Petoskey, Brenda assumes most of them are "Petoskey Stones".  On our last visit Brenda spent all of her spare time crawling in the stones with her water spray bottle looking for her treasures.  This trip was no different.  As we were unloading we met our hotel neighbors and Brenda shared her story of the treasures right in front of us.  Later, I left to go fill up the Harley so Brenda decided to resume her crawling in the rocks in front of the hotel.  I passed our newly made friends as they returned from dinner.  I knew they would drive up and find my not so dignified wife crawling in the rocks looking for a precious overlooked 'Petoskey Stone'.  Oh well, I went and filled the bike and purchased a few snacks for our hotel room.  Heading back I would have expected to find Brenda still crawling in the rocks with her spray bottle and the new neighbors sitting in their lawn chairs with a smirk.  What I found when I rode up was both them crawling in the rocks.  "Brenda showed us what to look for and we have already found one!"  Brenda was in our room tidying up the place.  Yep, Brenda's great personality shines through again!.

Riding my Harley motorcycle 08/22/16

Today we went for a ride. On the way we passed a field of fresh cut alfalfa. The smell was so sweet, I hoped that I was not breathing in too many calories. The field looked like a freshly mowed lawn. I noticed the shadow on the road to my left, trying ever so to keep up with me. I stole a glance as often as I could, since the shadow included my precious passenger’s hair flowing in the artificial breeze. We came to a pasture, with horses scattered about. It seemed that the main difference between a finely manicured corporate lawn and the horse pasture was a few thistle plants strewn about in place of the Juniper plants in the corporate lawn. Both contain expertly trimmed grass. We passed through trees on our way. They seemed to be carved out as a tunnel especially for my enjoyment. The oxygen saturation level must have been in excess because it felt refreshing to my lungs, nose...and throughout my being. Then, passing some volunteer clover next to the road produced a sweet smell such that I wanted to stop and steal a container full of the air for later, when life became so busy that I would not have time to enjoy this gift. Brenda pointed to the sculpture of the fluorescent white clouds in contrast to the deep blue sky.


I sat at Target on Alpine ave, waiting for Brenda. Seemed a bit long until God gave me a rainbow, for my viewing pleasure. Brenda wasn’t too long after all.

Getting bloodwork

Since I'm getting older, I have been required to get blood tests once or twice a year.  I went in to Spectrum Health in Sparta a couple of days ago, and the nice young lady asked if I had a preference for which arm she would attack.  I said "Of course I have a preference","I'm 66 years old."  "Which arm?" she asked.  "Well, I have a preference, but I can't remember what it is."

Making sense of food safety 2

How to have a successful marriage

How to have a successful marriage

Most folks would agree that every good marriage includes something that both husband and wife are passionate about, preferably something that they both love so much.  I have come to the conclusion that in our marriage, we continue to be happy because we both love ME so much.

Skunk in the road

So Brenda and I are drivin' along when we get that unmistakable odor of a dead skunk. Being of a 10 year old mindset, I immediately said "I one it". Brenda didn't even look up, or smile or anything but just said in a monotone... "I'm not eatin' it".

Brenda is so lucky I am "handy".

I am writing this to be an encouragement to the wives who think their husbands  are too slow to "fix stuff".  Brenda was just sharing with a lady at our house that I had repaired an old lamp she had.  She picked it up from the "dump".  If you're old enough you will know about "dump picking".  Anyway, I fixed it a few months ago.  She "dump picked" it with Grandma Combs right after we were married in 1971.  So it only me took a bit over 40 years to get it done.  Brenda is so lucky I am "handy".

Tablet varieties

We went to Bible study at Solon Center Wesleyan Church last night. Good study in Philippians led by Neven Fox. Several people were using tablets. We talked about the tablet that Moses had. We decided it must be an android, since Moses must have known about all the problems adam and eve had with the Apple.

A friend goes before us

Many of you reading this will know that Brenda and I lost our oldest son in January 1975.  That seemed to be a catalyst in our lives.  I became a Christian, and we eventually became members of the Sparta Free Methodist Church.  One other member was Beth Pulsifer.  Beth and her husband Bud Pulsifer were  among those who supported Brenda and me through those toughest years without our first born son.  Recently we went to visit Bud and Beth as Beth was on her literal death bed.

Brenda and I went into Beth's bedroom hoping she would know us and that we were there and praying for her.  I spoke in a strong voice hoping she would recognize me. Brenda hugged her and told her we were there.  She appeared totally unresponsive.  I spent the next half hour or so visiting with Bud in the living room and then told Brenda it was time to go.

Brenda went into Beth's room to say good-bye and as she bent over to Beth, she whispered, "Rock my little Billy for me when you get to heaven."  And then the only acknowledgment of our presence, Beth strongly squeezed Brenda's hand, in response.  Beth went to heaven the next day and we know that our son has been caressed by one of our close friends.

Someday we will follow.  I hope you do too!
Bill Shafer

Obama Presidency

I continually hear that Obama is in trouble as president because of his constant flow of scandals.  He is not!  By keeping scandals coming, one after another, he has managed to make it appear that conservatives simply "Don't like him".  Unfortunately for the nation, he needs a new scandal every few days, to replace the last one, proving the problem is just crazy conservatives.

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Easter

As Christians, we celebrate Christmas, me too. Easter may be the most important holiday for Christians though. It is the undeniable resurrection that takes us from the grave to eternal life with HIM! This year I would hope that my friends consider what they will choose, as they face Jesus and the cross, much as Pontius Pilate was forced to do. I along with many other Christians would love to share and pray with YOU.


BTW - God created bunnies, they are cute, even the Easter Bunny. If the Easter Bunny causes the non-Christians to celebrate the resurrection, then I'm all for it.

Bug

So I was sitting in our smallest room on our special chair doing what it was made for when I noticed a bug on the wall near the towel rack.  When I was finished I grabbed some tissue to flush him away.  As I leaned over to pick him up, he looked at me with an irritated look in his eye, as if to say “And you call ME a stink bug?”  I flushed him anyway.

Shave Cream

A few days ago, I found some shave cream in our spare bedroom closet.  It came from the dollar store and when I tried it, it didn't work very well.  I wondered why Brenda even bought the stuff.  Then I came home and found 3 of our grandkids using it on the kitchen table.  They were smearing it all over, drawing pictures in it, feeling it in their tiny fingers and laughing at themselves and each other.  When I asked Brenda she told me that is what she bought it for.  A dollar can of shave cream - great fun for the kids!  My wife is so cool!!!  Bill Shafer