My Last Lunch with Tom

Dear Friends,

Tom was at the lunch counter as I walked in. I was glad to see him and sat next to him even though he was finished eating. He looked good. After a little silence, we began to talk.

Tom is a professional musician although he hasn’t performed in a while. We swapped stories of famous musicians we have met over the years. We agreed that most musicians are nice people who see the world a little differently… Yes, there are divas in the business, but they are exceptions to the rule. Most musicians don't make a dime but there are advantages. When Tom went to boot camp during the big war, he soon learned that he wasn’t much with a gun, but singing in the base choir earned him special privileges. Tom built guitars and violins for the last ten years. We decided that there is no perfect instrument and when you find that special one, you’d better hold on to it. And we talked grandchildren; his of course! The “music gene” has found a place in each of them and he smiled as he shared stories.

My first vehicle was a John Deere “B” with a hand clutch and a fly wheel – at 11 years old! Tom beat me. His grandpa put blocks on the old tractor so he could drive it at 8 years old, and used hand brakes as well! Tom related how he and a cousin used a modified Model A to pick up corn stalks on their New Jersey farm; 14 hours and no one complained! Everyone in the family contributed with gratitude for food on the table. His dad shot a deer one winter from the kitchen window, and left it in the snow bank because they didn’t have a freezer. The family ate well.

Tom’s grateful for his wife. They performed together for years, she as the main vocalist, and he as the guitarist (and banjoist, and violinist, and you name ist…). She understands him. She has run the restaurant for the last 20 years and recently has tended to Tom.

Tom finished a second round of chemotherapy a few weeks back and he is just starting to get out. He won’t have another round. He can’t perform and he hasn’t produced a violin in over a year. “I miss those days,” he said. I held on to my emotions and said, “I’ll sing with you one day in the celestial choir.” He nodded.

As I paid my bill, the waitress said, “Hey, you haven’t done your crossword!” “I was doing something more important,” I replied. Tom smiled.

Good Time Decision

Dear Friends,
Can you tell yourself to be happy, and then be happy? Can you say, “I AM CHEERFUL,” and really feel cheer? Can you legislate a good time?

I have learned that my attitude about an event or occasion can be positively affected by decisions ahead of time. For example, before a family jaunt to Santa Cruz with my family, I decided that, no matter what happened, I was going to have a wonderful time! I shared that with the family when we got caught behind an accident in San Jose. Really, I was ready to have the best time in the car that we could possibly have and then celebrate at the local Denny’s! Who needs Santa Cruz? We made it to Santa Cruz - in the fog. I prayed silently that God would bless us with a treasure on the beach, even though it was cool and overcast. We jogged in full clothes in the wind and isolation and, seemingly out of nowhere, a school of dolphins popped their heads above the waves. We followed them along the beach as they frolicked and splashed. They disappeared by the time we reached the lighthouse but the sun broke through for a moment, and I remembered my prayer. Later, over a meal in a downtown eatery, we decided that we had a very special day! Why? Because we decided we would before the day began; and because we asked God to help us see His glory. It’s always there; we just don’t look sometimes.

I have a challenge for you. You will celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days. I have no doubt that there are issues that can destroy the day. Why don’t you decide ahead of time that there is nothing that can mess up the experience? Pray that God will bless you. Then open your eyes to see his glory – and be thankful!

Spiritual Retreat

Dear Friends,

I was a cabin counselor at our High School Spiritual Retreat, September 29 – October 1, at Camp Hammer; a beautiful facility just outside Big Basin State Park. Four things stick in my mind:

1. We have great students at Contra Costa Christian High School! We have a wonderful mix of personalities and backgrounds. I really like each of the young men that I got to know over the three days. One learns things when one sleeps in the same room with seven young males for two nights….. The goal of spiritual retreat is to build student relationships and foster spiritual growth. That happened without distraction. As principal, I handle discipline challenges. There weren’t any!

2. CCCHS has a staff that engages! The camp director was so impressed to see our teachers, administrators, and parent volunteers engage students at every level of involvement. I guess some school staff members drop off students and head for the coffee pot. Our staff was with students literally 24 hours a day.

3. Students love stories! The Bible story that supported the message of the speaker was the story of David before he became King. The speaker mixed the Biblical stories with stories of his own life as an adolescent and young man. The love of a good story does not lessen as our children get older. High school students love stories.

4. A message from our seniors, “Stick it out….!” At the traditional last night bonfire, many seniors stood up to give a message to the younger students. Many of the messages followed this pattern, “When we were freshmen, we didn’t like each other very well. Now we are best friends! Stick it out, things change, and you will be blessed to have life long friends!” To hear students give a message of tolerance, patience, and perseverance, was music to my ears. I wish you could have heard the song.

Aster

Dear Friends,

When you look at your family, who is a late bloomer?

I do crossword puzzles. The clue is “late bloomer;” the five letter answer is “aster.” Most flowers are showing off in spring and summer. The aster is a late bloomer, coming out in late summer and fall. It may be late in the season, but the aster is beautiful, rivaling any flower!

Through my 30 plus years in education, I have seen countless “asters” pushed aside when other flowers were brightly shining. We are impatient, aren’t we? It is so difficult to see a child seemingly dull when all else are in bloom. Don’t just sit there, do something! Bloom!

God’s time is the right time. We push, prod, medicate, fertilize, and prune, but really can’t alter the timeline without doing a little damage along the way. What does the aster need? Nurture and patience! The result is a beautiful flower – in God’s time!

Who are the late bloomers in your family? Who is your aster?

Tolkien Moment

Dear Friends,
Be careful what you read. Books like “Lord of the Rings” will place weird ideas in your mind that take over at times of vulnerability.

My nephew called with an invitation for Pat and me and our two college-age children to join his family (four young children) on a camping weekend - at Edison Lake. He hadn’t been there before but it was up above Fresno. We love the family! Sure…

We’re campers but, because it was just two nights, we booked a room at the lone resort at the lake. What a surprise to have an opening! It was okay if we were late, according to the owner; he’d leave the light on… Hmmm, people really do that? And what made him think we would be late?

Ryan couldn’t get off for the weekend, so it was just me and the two girls. Mapquest said it was a five hour drive but I estimated four. We left at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and promptly sat for 30 minutes behind a truck with “Harris Beef” on the back side. I used to like Harris Beef. I made up time however and hit Madera by 7:30. It was smooth sailing to Shaver Lake, a beautiful reservoir full of speed boats and serviced by a quaint village. Up the road about 15 miles is Huntington Lake, a captivating ribbon of blue, largely undeveloped, yet easily accessible. I couldn’t help but wonder why we weren’t staying there for the weekend. Another seven miles and the sign said “Edison Lake 20 miles.” Nice, it was 8:15 and another hour should do it. Then the sign said “One Lane Road Ahead.” By now it was dark. The road was passable but curvy, up and down, no shoulder, and very haunting. We didn’t see a car for the first five miles until we hit the ranger station (figuratively); an abandoned group of buildings at 9,200 feet with no sound except a strange scratching from behind a tree. Ents? Orcs? We sped off at seven miles per hour. The road changed – for the worse. It was still paved, twenty years ago, but rocks and ruts and, what looked like animals seemed to jump from the dark places. You would think that the ladies in the car would appreciate the full moon but there was just enough light to illuminate the granite cliffs literally a few feet from the car. It was beautifully terrifying. Our car was quiet and the only sounds to be heard were the gasps, sighs, and blood pulses from those in the car, along with an occasional eerie hoot or growl from those out. Enough gas? 100 miles worth. Food and water? Two days. Weapons? None. God help us…..

He did. I was alert enough to see the sign, across the dam, left at the skull and crossbones (it seemed), and then the welcome light of a fire surrounded by dusty revelers. Druids perhaps? (Later I learned they were backpackers from the High Sierra Trail, stopping for a night of real food and a shower.) One hooded figure pointed a bony finger and I followed the lane past rustic buildings to an old trailer with a light on. We unloaded the car and thanked God for sparing our lives.

It was past midnight. We sat on chairs a few feet from the trailer, on a bluff, and observed the full moon just over a ridge reflected on a lake of glass. No sound. No movement. Hardly any breathing! Pat on one arm, Emily on the other. Perfect peace. Bliss. A Tolkien moment.

Dear Friends,

It seems that some very important lessons in life I have learned sitting at the lunch counter. As often as I can, I leave campus to eat at a local café. Lunch and a crossword puzzle are very therapeutic! It’s a small restaurant open for breakfast and lunch and the most prominent feature is the counter – where I sit in the middle of the action. The owner cooks three days a week and has owned the place, her namesake, for 30 years. The waitress has been there for six years, the other cook for longer. His dad is the back kitchen guy. Most of the time when I’m there, the same people, mostly retirees, roll in and out. Most know each other by name. I do too – and their histories, their health, their habits, their quirks. It seems we all look out for each other, give advice, laugh, roll our eyes, you get the idea. But I’m rambling; what are the lessons learned?

It was months before they realized who I was. “Who is that guy who sits at the counter with his dress shirt and tie and does the crossword puzzle with a pen?” “Who is that guy who makes jokes but turns around with a serious conversation?” “Who is that guy that doesn’t swear but doesn’t lecture?” They learned my name first. “Huizenga, are you related to that guy that owns the Florida Marlins?” “What is your ethnic background?” Finally, I gave out a few business cards. “Oh, the Christian school. Uh, sorry about my language.” People who had felt comfortable with me before, now told different jokes, stopped talking about weekend parties, and gave sidelong glances. In time, most began to get comfortable again. Some still look at me as if I work for the circus… That Christian label makes some curious, some angry, some distant, and a few comfortable. And, after many months of sitting at the counter and talking to the same people, a few have asked me about my faith. I guess I’ve earned the right to share.

By now, you are asking, “Yeah, Yeah, what are the lessons?” Here is what I’ve learned at the lunch counter:
· Well, people are people, no matter where you go.
· Many senior citizens crave social contact, familiar faces, and comfortable routines (and, I guess, so do I), like “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name…
· The label “Christian” makes a lot of people REALLY nervous.
· I work better at sharing my faith when I’ve earned the right to talk about the intimate things in life that really matter. I earn the right by being a friend…

Oaks and Redwoods

Dear Friends,

My sister, Judy, and brother-in-law, Gerrit, drove from Visalia, with my mom, to visit on my birthday this past Saturday. My sister needed to pick up two books in downtown Oakland before 3:00 p.m. That was our only deadline. So, we were faced with the big decision – what to do for the day? Gerrit wanted to see nature rather than buildings. So, drive to the top of Mt. Diablo? Done that…. Muir Woods? Nice but not really on the way…. Golden Gate Park? Maybe….

A quick glance at the map showed that we can get to Oakland the back way and that would take us through Redwood Regional Park. Never heard of it! My first thought was that it was probably like the name of my housing development, “Oak Hills.” The only oaks within miles are the stunted versions that struggle in a few front yards! Redwood Park near Oakland? Right!

With adventure and optimism on our minds, we drove through Lafayette, around St. Mary’s beautiful campus, past an arm of San Leandro Reservoir, and to the Redwood Gate of the park. Yes, Redwoods! Evidently the area was covered with redwood trees that were cut in the late 1800s to build San Francisco and Oakland. Fortunately, there is a limited grove that remains that has grown in the last 100 years, ancestors of the old growth forest that once blanketed the area. We parked at Canyon Meadow and walked the mile to Trail’s End. Grassy areas of verdant spring green gave way to mysterious redwood groves. Wild flowers were everywhere. It was a glorious hike under blue skies and each of us felt renewed. My mom, who is 86 years old, almost skipped on the trail.

After our hike, we drove over the ridge past Skyline Drive and into Oakland, only minutes away. How is it that I have lived in the Bay Area for eight years and never knew about a redwood grove that is just minutes outside of Oakland? I’ve been to Chabot Science Center but never made it over the hill! I’m guessing that I’m not the only one. Here is my suggestion to you: In the next three weeks before the grass turns brown and the wild flowers fade, take the family to Redwood Regional Park. Have a picnic. Walk among the trees. And thank God that the name of the park actually has meaning.

Barbecue

Dear Friends,
During the Easter break, Pat and I flew to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our main goal was to help our daughter Jaci prepare for her wedding on June 5 (in Grand Rapids), a back yard / garden event. We did - and my credit card got a work out…. Ryan and Emily are at Calvin College. Ryan invited us to a house barbecue with his fantastic room mates. Of course we said “YES” and I offered to help.

In reality, it was the B.J. Huizenga show. It turns out they don’t have a grill – so I bought one on sale at the local thrift store. Unfortunately, Ryan had to work while Pat and Emily were dress shopping, S0 – I went grocery shopping and planned the menu for the evening: B.J.’s Special Burgers (ground beef patties mixed with onions, green peppers, and seasoning; quality buns crisped on the grill; and every condiment one can dream of – including olives of course!); a variety of salads; sun and corn chips; and a smorgasbord of drinks. I bought disposable plates; glasses and plastic ware to minimize clean up. After $150, I lugged the groceries and “grill in a box” to Ryan’s duplex by 7:30 p.m. The event was scheduled for 8:00. I was hoping for some help to get ready in time. There was no one home. Eight young men – and not one was there! And, can I say that the kitchen was less than sanitary (college boys, remember)? I sat down to begin the assembly of the barbecue grill and quickly realized that I would not be ready until midnight! I was a bit panicked – and a little resentful. Have you ever felt that way?

At 7:45, the cavalry rode in. Four of Ryan’s housemates arrived, totally surprised that we were having a barbecue (was I supposed to send out invitations?), but excited to help. I assigned two to assemble the grill (one an engineering major), and two to clean the kitchen and start the coals while I chopped onions and green peppers to make patties. Ten minutes later, more boys showed up and I sent them to set up the tables and lay out the feast. By 8:00, the hamburgers were on the grill and the rest of the twelve attendees showed up. Did I say twelve? I was expecting twelve. 25 showed up! Evidently a party and free food at Ryan’s house was too good to keep a secret! No problem, I had bought enough hamburger to feed the neighborhood. Ryan entertained the guests while I worked hard at the grill. I emerged from the patio at 9:00 to a room full of revelers – to a standing ovation!

A good time was had by all! At 11:30, a remnant went down to the basement to play Rock Band (Beatles version). I taught them a lesson! Pat and I drove away at midnight with a smile. Life is good!

Things don’t always go as planned, but that barbecue was one of the most enjoyable evenings I can remember! Why? Because Ryan and Emily are surrounded by friends who know how to have good clean fun. They’re happy and they still want to have their parents around! I am blessed!

Easter

Dear Friends,

I talked with two friends (parents at CCC) this past week, one whose father is in his last days, another who recently lost her mom. When a loved one dies, everything changes. Emotions are frazzled, routines are shattered, priorities are upended, and the rest of the world just doesn’t matter much anymore.

All of us can identify experiences in our lives that have produced either emotional highs or lows, whether a death or a birth, a promotion or a pink slip. Did you ever hit the game winner as time expired – or did you fumble the ball out of bounds? Have you watched your child profess her faith in Christ- or watched her make painfully destructive choices? We are changed by these experiences.

One emotional experience in a week is difficult but how about two or three? Wouldn’t that be too much to handle? Perhaps. Yet Christ, and those around Him, endured many similar experiences during Easter week. The delirious exhilaration of Palm Sunday soon turned to humiliating horror on Good Friday. Only days later, Christ’s resurrection provided triumph and hope. Three earthshaking, mind-blowing, hyperemotional events -all in one week!

Our celebration of Easter awakens diverse emotions in each of us and some of us will relive personal highs and lows. But for the Christian, we are left with one final emotion that supersedes all others – JOY. The triumph and joy of Christ’s resurrection pervades all of life and we carry it within us to moderate the highs and lows that we face.

For my two friends, and for anyone who is shackled by emotional trauma, I pray that the joy of Christ’s resurrection will carry you through the “dark valley.” And for those that are “on the mountaintop,” I pray that the joy of Easter will always be there… Happy Easter!

Competition

Dear Friends,

Competition comes in many forms, officially and subtly. Our sports teams are competitive and so is our debate team! This is official competition. There is a winner – and there is a participant. For many, competition is a primary motivator for success. We are in for the experience, we love the competition, and we aim to win.

Competition is a motivator is subtle ways. We will host a Fine Arts Festival on our campus (May 7) where middle school students perform before an adjudicator. Students aren’t competing against each other – but they are watching the performances of others and will be watched…

I have a feeling that the “competition gene” is stronger in some than in others. In my 30 years in education, I have learned that competition is toxic for some. Some just don’t seem to win at anything and some just don’t seem to care… For these, competition is an exercise in futility.

I have compassion for the student who has very little success at grades or sports. I’m grateful to be part of a school that recognizes the worth of each individual student as created in the image of God. Each student needs to do his or her best – and that is enough. And I have seen how students who were at the bottom of the grade scale, never got the lead solo or drama role, and never made the varsity team – SHINE in their role as parents, or in the work place.

We will use competition to motivate students to achieve – but we understand the bigger picture. In God’s Kingdom, we are all victors!

Yosemite

Dear Friends,

Perhaps you read my earlier posting that laments the fact that all of our children are out of the house (two in college) and Pat and I are “empty nesters” for the first time. After this past weekend, however, I’m beginning to see the possibilities…

It was Pat’s birthday. Our plan was to spend Saturday cleaning the house and working in the yard. It is time! I arranged a restaurant reservation and had the present ready. As we sat reading the paper on Saturday morning with a cup of coffee (yes, empty nesters can do that...), we talked about the weather report, and Pat lamented that she hadn’t had her “snow fix” this year. One thing led to another and an hour later we were on our way to Yosemite! I actually got a last minute reservation at Curry Village for a tent cabin, really a wooden cabin with tent windows, and a heater, for $60. Does that sound romantic to you? Read on. The weather on Saturday was partly cloudy but Yosemite is a magical place when light and shadow enhances the mystery. There were no crowds, parking was available, and peace was all around. As we drove through the valley, strains of a bagpipe lured us to pull over and open our windows. The fog cleared to show the piper standing in front of the Chapel, announcing a wedding that would soon take place. We had dinner at the Mountain House Room in Yosemite Lodge while watching the light of dusk paint the upper Yosemite Falls. Yosemite; mystery; serendipity; celebration; and romance. This day was a rare gift, unplanned and un-orchestrated. Could it get any better?

We were greeted by deep blue skies on Sunday morning. The rain and fog of Saturday seemed to scrub the skies and cliffs, leaving a sheen of moisture that reflected the bright sun of Sunday. We missed church – but felt like we were in a cathedral of light. We drove to the Ahwanee for Sunday brunch (yes, we had made a reservation the day before) and sat next to a window in the high ceilinged, multi-windowed, much-celebrated dining hall. The food was amazing and plentiful. Richard, Jose, and scores of others treated us like royalty. It was a birthday meal to remember! Needing to walk off the feast, we found a meadow that was still covered in snow. We put on our boots and Pat got her “fix.” Reluctant to leave paradise, we found a quiet spot near El Capitan where we sat in the sun and read novels, uninterrupted, other than the song of a few sparrows that were sensing spring.

Driving home, we felt a sense of gratitude for a great weekend. We were struck by how none of this was planned and how this wouldn’t have happened if our kids were home. We are beginning to see that there is a silver lining to empty nesting!

Oh Canada!

Dear Friends,
I loved watching the Olympics, didn’t you? We weren’t the only ones watching; ratings for the Olympic telecasts topped the charts. In Canada, the U.S. / Canada hockey games were the most watched event in Canadian television history. What causes this passion in our friends to the north?

My older brother met his wife at Trinity College (Chicago area). A few years after they married, they located close to her family near Toronto, Canada, where they have lived for over 30 years. The children in the family of five boys and one girl are fiercely Canadian.

I learned, when my brother’s children were young (1980’s), that there was a gap between families. I represented the United States in their eyes, not just Uncle B.J. At first I was perplexed. Why such animosity? Why did I have to take the blame for everything that is bad about the United States, and why did I have to listen to the complaints over and over again? I became a little self righteous and defensive. I didn’t mind Canada, in fact I loved it, so why couldn’t we “all just get along!”

The attitudes haven’t changed much over the years but I have grown a bit wiser. The United States has ten times the population of Canada and is a world superpower. There is a bit of big brother – little brother syndrome going on. Canada is dependent on the U.S. economy more so than the other way around. When you are in the same bed as an elephant (that’s us!), you jump every time the elephant turns over…whereas the elephant doesn’t even seem to know that you are there!

The simple truth is that Canada is an amazing place, the second largest country in the world (bigger than the U.S.), blessed with tremendous resources (much untouched), and a unique diverse culture. Remember, when you look at the Olympic medals count, that the Canadian performance, in light of their population, is quite impressive. Canadians have reason to be proud – and a bit resentful of the Americans next door.

It seems that Americans often buy into the myth that “bigger is better.” We know different. The Bible is full of examples to prove otherwise. And our school is a perfect example to show that “bigger is NOT ALWAYS better.”

I cheered for America in the Olympics, but I think I understand why the performance of the Canadian Olympians, especially the hockey teams, was so important to my Canadian relatives and friends.

Haiti and Micah 6:8

Dear Friends,
Like many of you, I’ve been following the reports of the Baptist missionaries that were being held in Haiti for charges of “kidnapping” the 33 children that were stopped at the border without correct paperwork. As of the writing of this blurb, all but two have been released. One of the online articles (a mainline media source) invited a reader’s poll: should they be charged (they broke the law) or shouldn’t they (they were naïve and meant well)? The results were over 70% that they SHOULD be charged. Voters were also encouraged to give comments on an online blog. I voted so I could see the results and read the blogs. I was disheartened by what I read…

I wasn’t so concerned about the poll results. I can understand both sides. I was concerned about the vehement “Christian bashing” on the blogs. Over half of the responses railed against the self righteous sins of Christianity across the ages. The strong anti-Christian sentiment was the platform for a militant attitude to try the missionaries as kidnappers, traffickers, and potential sex traders. “It’s time to make example of extremist Christians who hide behind the cross to rape, pillage, and plunder!”

Wow. Where do these extreme reactions come from? How do we respond as individual Christians and members of Christian organizations (like our school and church) to these toxic attitudes? I don’t have easy answers to these questions, do you?

The only answer that makes sense is to be good and do the right thing. One verse has come to my mind over and over again in the last few days, one of my favorites, Micah 6:8:

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Justice is what God does. To act justly requires courage, thoughtfulness, wisdom, and prayer. Mercy is an aspect of God, the undeserved blessing that we receive – and give to others. Humility results we understand who we are. Even the most powerful and strong, the confident and self assured, must show humility. I believe that we – Christians – must act justly and love mercy, then walk humbly. If we do this, we will be blameless and can face the scorn of those that rail against us.

Be good, Micah 6:8 good, both in Haiti, and here at home. It’s a start.

Dear Friends,

I tucked my planner under my arm, opened the umbrella, held tight to a cup of coffee, and headed into the rain. 20 feet from the front door, the umbrella inverted in the wind, I dropped my planner on the wet ground, and then sloshed coffee all over my pants. A great start to a new week!

The nice thing about wind and rain is that there is always sun around the corner. By the time I post this blurb, the sun will have returned and all will be right in the world. This is a good thing – because our high school students are on “Intersession” which is similar to a college interim. Students signed up for one class for one week. Here’s a list of what is offered:

Astronomy (on-site, field trips, and a night at the telescope)
Dipped in Chocolate (on-site, field trips, tasting, and learning the art of making…)
Drivers Ed (on-site, required class for a driving permit)
Food, Folks, and Fun (local, cooking with Grant Padmos)
Martial Arts Mania (local, a taste of five different disciplines)
Music (on-site, exposure to music around the world)
New York, New York (off-site, the big apple)
Trekking the Sierras (off-site, winter gems in the Sierra)
Worship Seminar (off-site, major symposium with students across the continent)
Yosemite (off-site, the most beautiful spot in the world)

Intersession week provides an opportunity for alternative teaching and learning. Students expand relationships and get to know the teacher in a new way. It is the type of learning experience that is remembered for a lifetime! Don’t you wish you were in high school again?

I will accompany students to a Worship Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 150 students from the U.S. and Canada will join international students in a symposium of worship!

Not even a Monday soaking could dampen my excitement for this Intersession week. The sun always shines…

Sticker Shock

Dear Friends,

Our oldest, Jacalyn, is engaged and preparing for a June wedding. Before you offer your congratulations, hold on. If your oldest child is not yet married, I suggest you sit down before reading on…..

According to CostofWedding.com, the average cost of a wedding in the United States is $20,398!!!! And that doesn’t include rings and the honeymoon! If you are a parent of a daughter, I suggest you lay down with a cold cloth on your forehead before reading on….

Tradition dictates that the parents of the bride are responsible for most of the costs!!

You can get up now. Jaci is committed to a meaningful and classy wedding event at half the cost. She’s planning a garden wedding and reception. Friends are helping with catering. Her dress will likely be pre-worn. You get the idea. There are literally hundreds of books and websites that offer ways to save money on weddings. Both Jaci and my wife Pat are frugal and creative when it comes to cutting costs. We can do this. We can do this….

Life is full of “sticker shock.” I haven’t bought a new car in 20 years but I’ve always had a car. “Camping Across America” has been our family vacation theme over the years and we wouldn’t trade our adventures for anything. Actually, my family is RICH! All my children experienced quality education in Christian schools. We love each other and love God. We’ve always had enough “stuff.” And Jaci will marry a fine Christian man and I will help to pay for the occasion!

I guess I will accept your congratulations after all.