August 20 is another one of my favorite days

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Four years, one month and four days after Yancy was born, God blessed us with another wonderful gift from Him… another beautiful baby girl. On August 20, 1984 I heard the same three words from a different doctor that I heard from the last doctor…”It’s a girl” We named her Whitney Michelle. The minute I laid my eyes on her I knew she was special and that God had big plans for this little girl. From the second Whitney came into this world everything was different than how her sister’s birth had been. It was so much more laid back, just like her.  Whitney was such a good baby, Yancy didn’t sleep much, Whitney did. It was amazing how two kids who had the same parents could be so different. Yancy was always a daddy’s girl, Whitney was a mommy’s girl. But somewhere that shifted and she and I became two peas in a pod. It’s been wonderful to watch her grow up. She went from being a tender hearted child to a tender hearted teen. Whitney has always been a giver. She loves her friends and knows how to be a good friend. She is one of the the sweetest and most caring individuals I’ve ever known. I’ve called her my bright spot because of her ability to bring happiness and sunshine to me and our family. As an adult I’ve seen her become a hard worker and a great manager and leader. Whatever Whitney does she does with all of her heart and she truly cares about the outcome. She’s a difference maker and a world changer. So today our family gets to celebrate this wonderful gift for the 31st time. Happy Birthday Woo! Thanks for being the best daughter, sister, aunt & friend this family could have. We’re also excited for this next chapter in your career as you launch your own business. (Be sure and checkout www.wmakeup.com) We’re so proud of you and the blessing you are to this family and also God’s kingdom. 

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July 16th is one of my favorite days of the year

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35 years ago today Jesus gave Julie & I a wonderful gift. A wonderful, healthy, baby girl. We named her Yancy after my Step Dad. (A wonderful Godly man that Jesus sent into my life, Yancy was his last name.) But not only is today Yancy’s birthday but it marks 35 years of getting to be a parent. Julie and I had no idea what we were doing with her. If our pastor’s wife hadn’t come over we would have never figured out how to even give her a bath.

But one thing we knew we were responcible for her spiritual development as well as her physical development. We knew we needed to try to model Jesus to her although we failed time and time again. We never gave up. Now 35 years later one of the greatest honors in my life is getting to be Yancy’s Dad. She is the hardest working, most thoughtful, giving person I know. She loves Jesus with all her heart and she loves God’s people. Of all the people who serve on my board Yancy gives me the best advise and I am smarter when I listen to her counsel.

Now I get to watch her and Cory parent our grandson. I see their love and patience with him. They are better parents than us but they’ve had 2 advantages they got to watch our mistakes and not do those and they’ve gotten to watch the few things we did right and do those and make them even better.

So today not only do I get to celebrate the wonderful gift of Yancy I get to celebrate being a Dad, the third greatest day of my life only behind knowing Christ and becoming Julie’s husband.

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Thankful For Freedom

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As I get ready to celebrate America’s Birthday this weekend I can’t help but stop and say thanks to the countless men and woman who fought and paid for the freedoms we have as Americans. When I was younger I thought there really was such a thing as free stuff in the world but as an adult I know first hand free costs someone.  I love to give the resources I make away free, but the truth is it may not cost you, but it costs me. We live in a day when people expect certain rights and privileges. Most of the time we never stop and think about the costs and sacrifices others make for us to enjoy the freedoms we have. So before I cookout, light some fireworks and enjoy the festivities I want to pause and just say thanks and that I appreciate all those who fought and paid for the freedoms we have. Each year more and more of those freedoms are challenged and many of them are threatened. I am thankful I live in a place where I can still read and practice the Bible. I’m glad I have the right to proclaim the Gospel although it’s becoming less and less popular yet, I am still free to do so and for that I am very thankful. I’m also thankful I live in a place that gives me the freedom to bear arms. I get to vote, although each year there are less people I want to vote for and have to settle for the lessor of evils. I am so honored to be an American and I’m also thankful of all the places I could live in America I get to live in the South.

But no matter what freedoms come or go in this country I am thankful for the freedoms I have in Christ Jesus. I don’t ever want to forget what Jesus did for me. I am free indeed thanks to Jesus and what He did for me on the cross. I am free indeed no matter what the future holds, I know who holds the future and I do not want to take Jesus’ “free gift” for granted because it wasn’t free, it cost Him everything.

So as I get out the BBQ sauce and light up the grill please know this, I realize the freedoms I enjoy today as a Christ Follower and a Southern American where bought with a huge price and for that I am thankful! Praise the name of Jesus forever!  God Bless America! God have mercy on us all and help us Jesus to know that there is no true freedom outside of You!

Enjoy the 4th, go to church on the 5th!

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The Yeard

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I love doing things I’ve never done before. You’ve heard me say this for years… “Same actions bring same results!” I have pretty much had facial hair for most of my life I gre my first full beard in 1975 for America’s bi-centenial in 1976. I pretty much have kept it trimmed especially since Julie came into my life in 1977.

A few times over the years I would offer my beard as a sacrifice for missions and did a “shave or keep” contest. Most of the time the kids voted for me to keep it but a couple of times I had to shave it. I’d always clip it in the middle of children’s church but never shave it with a razor the minute the clippers paid a visit the new beard had already began it’s comeback.

A few years ago when my beard started turning gray I talked Julie (who by the way is a beard lover) into letting me cut it into a gotee. I was trying to get some of the gray off my face. (and yes I know I look older with a full gray or now white beard)

As soon as I shave one of the kids at church told me I looked just like the man on the chicken bucket. Which began one of my favorite ways to start a talk…”If you told me when I was younger I was going to grow up and look like the guy of the chicken bucket I would have taken better care of myself. The whiter it got the more like the Colonel I truly became. About three  years ago my college group talked me into doing “No Shave November.” People either loved it or hated it but come December I’d cut it back to a gotee. This November I decided that once again I would participate in NSN. November came and went and some how the beard stayed on. Whitney my youngest told me about beard oil and researched where to get it and found Lucky Scruff. I began to research beard shapes, growing methods and such because when I do something I have a tendency to go all out. Somewhere in my research I discovered Lumber Sexuals or Urban Woodsman. I had no idea there was such creatures. I also discoved something I had never heard of “the yeard” yes you read it right the yeard. It was a beard for a year. So when I told my family I was going to grow a yeard, they knew this was important to me and said they would put up with it. Julie just wanted me to keep it groomed as it grew out so we found The Elephant In The Room Grooming Lounge in Tulsa. I have visited them twice and hope to go a third time after Easter to help tame this beast. Everytime I go I ask them to help me not look like Santa but the longer it grows the more I hear how I will make a great Santa Claus this year and I would if I keep it but right now I’m only committing until December 1st.

So here I am 4 months in with 8 months to go on my yeard. So far it’s been an experience. I guess I’m going to have to update my promo pictures or at least give people a warning. At least you who read my blog have been warned so if you see some nice old man that looks like Jim Wideman with a long white beard be nice to him because it is me, a nice old man with a long white beard.

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