10 Things That Make Me Happy! A Daughter's Challenge.

Okay my Sae challenged me to list ten things that make me happy and I better follow through.

No. 1 - I proudly profess that being a child of the one and only King, Jesus, makes the top of my list. I am a new creation in Christ and the old man I was no longer exists as a result of His life-changing love, mercy and grace. I can't do anything to make Him love me more and nothing would cause Him to love me less. Let me just say, "He's Crazy About ME!" Even though I don't get it or deserve it. His love is Stubborn. If you don't know Him, ask me about what He has done for me. He's Crazy About YOU, too.

No. 2 - My beautiful wife, Dawn. She is an incredible woman. Her busyness wears me out. She used to read all the time(and still loves it) and I was going here, there and yonder. We have switched places. I like to read(not as much as she does) and she never sits down. She is unexpectedly witty and is a research fanatic. Don't ask her something that you really don't have to have the answer to because she can't help but research it. She has a plethora of knowledge.

No. 3 - My two amazing daughters. You might want to stop and move to no. 4 because I'm going into dad, brag mode. People are constantly telling me what great girls I raised. I must be honest and tell you that hey are great girls and they are awesome, strong, Christians and I did raise them the best I knew how, but I can't take the credit. They are the way they are because they too are children of the King. They make right and wrong decisions and live in flesh, but their heart's desire is to live for Christ and be moving in His direction. I can't wait to see where He takes them over the next 5 years, and I know they are excited about the journey as well. I know I didn't pray nearly enough, but I know He heard every prayer that I did pray and I'm grateful to Him for the blessing that they both are to Dawn and I.

No. 4 - Our families. Dawn and I have amazing families. I can't imagine being around families that are constantly at war with one another. The family you have is all you get. You don't get to choose them and you should make every attempt to make each moment with them special. When we get together there is no doubt that there will be much laughter and a good time. I love the fact that I am able to be me with my family. The memories we hold in our families could fill the pages of many books. We come from a long line of love. I mentioned laughter just a line or two back. I once heard that one minute of intense laughter was like a mile of internal jogging. I also know that laughter is healing. So if all this is true I should live a long life. My grandma, Leecy Keltch, is 98. I don't ever remember a time when we were together that most of it wasn't spent laughing. So that might explain her age. And her mind, you ask? She is a lot better there than I. If your family isn't close and you don't look forward to spending time with them, I encourage you to make amends, swallow your pride and make the most of every moment that you have left. Your children are probably going to treat you the way they see you treat your parents and family. Ouch!

No. 5 - Friends. I love my friends! I really don't know how people live life without friends. My heart's desire is to be a true friend. I think a friend is someone, that no matter when or where you see them, it's as if you where never away from one another. Thank God for friends!

No. 6 - Music. Music has been my friend, voice, release, hope and the list could go on and on. Music has so much to say and at times offers such quietness. It has the potential to take you where you could never go any other way, surprise you at just the right time, and calm a broken heart. You think you can live without it? Try and imagine for a moment what a movie, television show, Wii game or a long road trip would be without it. It is the universal language that never has to be interpreted. Priceless!

No. 7 - Vacations. I love the excitement of getting all ready to go. I love to just get away from the same old thing everyday. One of my favorite vacations is fishing. I used to not care much about fishing. After I taught school for 13 years I liked it because although you might not catch anything the phone never rings at the lake. Unless of course you take your cell phone.

No. 8 - A Clean House. I know it is weird. I like to clean house. I really don't like to sit down unless my house is clean. I feel dirty. I know I have OCD. It doesn't bother me to say it. It used to be worse than it is now. I have come a long way. I used to follow the girls around when they were toddlers and when they would put something down, because they were through playing with it, I would put it away. Like to drove myself nuts. I couldn't help it. It made me nervous to see it just laying there. I hate to go on vacation with my house dirty because I don't like to come home to a dirty house. Think about it. When you come home you have suitcases to put away and laundry to do. Why would you want to clean house too? I keep thinking I'll get over it and sometimes I force myself to leave something laying in the floor. Then I will go to do something else and it's as if my hand has a magnet in it and I, without thinking, pick it up. You're laughing right now, I know. It is worse than that. I have a counting problem too. If I am hammering, stirring cookies, turning a light bulb into the socket, brushing my teeth, whatever has some sort of sequence to it; I'm counting. Drives me crazy! I tell myself to stop but seconds later, I'm doing it again. Don't worry, it isn't contagious. Or maybe it is. My poor daughter Sarah is just like me. Sorry baby.

No. 9 - Senior Adults. I love 'em! They are a blessing. So full of wisdom. So many stories. Sometimes grumpy, but it makes me laugh. Because I know someday I will probably be just like that. Their love is so genuine.

No. 10 - You know what this is. Flying!!! I won't repeat my entire story about flying. Read one of my first blogs. Every since I was 8, I dreamed of it. Now God has given me the opportunity. Did I say, God is so Good!" And someday, when it's my time; "I'll Fly Away!"

So, there you go. That took me well over two hours. Now I know why I don't blog. That ball over there on the floor needs picked up and I haven't cleaned my bathroom yet. Hee! Hee!

Now I choose the following ten people to take the challenge. Dawn Castor, Bonnie Castor, Marilyn Jones, Andrea Cosby, Ed Laird, Becky Whiteley, Sally Luthi, Mandy Cheap, Janice Brown, and Brett Allen. Have Fun!

Long time, No Blog!

I know, I know - where have I been? I was not born a writer. If this were a music site where you post yourself singing, I might be a little more current. But it's not.

I was just going to catch everyone up on my dream of flying. I'm just a little closer. This past Saturday, I did my cross-country, solo flight to Liberal, KS. I must admit I sort of put it off because I was afraid I might get lost. But I finally decided one night to plot the route and get on with it. IT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! I knew where I was the entire time and could even see family and friends homes. Landed in Liberal (pretty good), got out and checked my winds and did some minimal changes with that, went to the restroom (because you can't just pull over and take care of business) and flew back home. Now I have a solo tri-leg, cross-country and then go through the maneuvers again and then, finally, the flight test. Would love to finish in April. That would be exactly two years from the time I started. We'll see. Cost money, you know. But God has always provided the money for what has been completed so far.

There! I feel better. Maybe you won't think of me as a slacker for a while.

Official Senior

Where did the time go?  I can't believe Molly, my sweet little curly headed(it's natural) baby girl, is officially a Senior.  After all I can't be a day over 30.  Can I?  Afraid so!  She is hysterically funny.  There is going to have to be a special guy out there who will tolerate here dry, quick wit.  Whoever you are, I'm already praying for you.  By the way did I tell you it is four in the morning and once more the dawning just woke up the wanting in me.  Wow, that was a blast from the past.  Me and my parents used to square dance to that song.  Anyway, back to Molly.  Whatever she decides to do, she will do well.  She loves people and has the ability to tackle things that I would have never dreamed of tackling at her age.  Does that mean I am only a year away from having an empty nest?  Oh well, you know what they say, "If you love me give me wings."  So Molly, soar! Love ya, Dad!

You Can't Explain HIM Away!

Don't have a stroke! I am blogging for the first time in a long time. It is just that I talk to most of you through Facebook so I don't have any reason to blog. However, the back yard, at the Castor house, is coming to life and just wanted to share some nice shots. Man if you don't believe that there is a God, then look at these flowers and tell me how an explosion could have created such beauty. Sorry, it is impossible! No matter how you might try to explain HIM away, He has and continues to leave His fingerprint on everything.



Praise to the Creator of all living things!!!



Then, we have the patio fountain that we spent a large part of the day making. It was a lot of fun and turned out pretty cool! Have some minor tweaking to do to it plant wise. Family fun on Saturday!

"If Pets could Talk"

Have you ever wondered what animals think when they went 'out' the night before and there was somewhere to "go" and then they get up the next morning, you open the door, the cold air hits them in the face and they look at you like you are stupid or like you must be punishing them.  

This morning, Daisy was the first one to become aware that the earth had been consumed by a whole bunch of white fluff.  She knew the yard had to be out there somewhere but, "where?" 

 First, it was to the north end of the porch, where the fluff seemed taller than her and she surely would disappear  if she dared step into it.  Then it was toward the familiar spot, but, "how do I get there?"  "I think I can smell it in the air, but has some one bleached the grass."  "I better find a spot quick or it's going to be to late."  She looked at me like, "could you please help me, I'm fixin' to explode.  She had that look on her face--you know, that one of desperation she gets right before she throws up and knows she is going to get in trouble, but she can't do anything about it.  

So I picked her up, looked for the most shallow place, and sort of gently toss her in that direction.  Oops! where did she go? Oh, "there she is,"  when she pops up, as if the snow regurgitates her up.  Well that was all it took. Sort of like when warm water hits us, she wet right there on the patio.  So I was nice and scooped a place where she generally goes,  right off of the sidewalk so she would have some grass to 'go' on.

Then Patch, our cat, was exposed to her horror. She came in this morning, about 5 a.m. and I knew she wanted out but I wasn't quite ready to get up.  You know how it is, you finally would be able to sleep past 6 a.m. and it's like your kids are little again. She stood over us with her delightful "meow" --sort-of-soft, baby kitty sound.  Of course, when you don't move, that voice crescendos to a fortissimo at accelerando speed.  (I had to throw some musical terms in for interest!) 

 So I finally got up and went to the door.  She always holds it until the last minute when she senses there has been a weather change outside. They have that innate instinct that something has happened outside, they are just not sure what it is.  Anyway, when I opened the door, she rushed to it with determination, but the blizzard cold front hit her whiskers and she cowered back in.  However, the situation was pressing and there was not much time left.  So, with resignation she hunkered down and made  her way out.  

Have you ever noticed when something in your life is a drastic distraction - like for a cat, 4 to 6 feet snow drifts, 27 degree temperatures, with a 25 mph winds hitting you in the face - the urge momentarily subsides.  Because she stood there for a moment, and then with a look of curiosity, ventured to what in her mind used to be the edge of the porch.  Looked out at the endless mounds of uh, uh, uh, well I'm not sure what the white it is. 

Then, you know how a cat will stick its paw in a hole to see what's in there?   She slowly stuck her paw down in the snow, off of the edge of the porch, reaching further and deeper. 

She never reached the bottom because the snow was at least a 1 ft. right there and it's as if she said, "just as I thought, it's gone, the ground has been swallowed up by who knows what." 

She then came back to her senses because the urge hit her again.  She raced to the window and stood meowing with desperation in her cry. 

Of course, Dawn and I are standing in the kitchen, looking out the window laughing, as she continues to beller!

After taking pictures, because I wanted to share this story, I let her in.  I don't believe I have ever seen her move so quickly to the litter box, which she never uses, except for in the state of an emergency, and this definitely was one of those times.

I know most of you are thinking I need to write something on my blog. Well I joined facebook and it is a lot easier to keep up with because you leave a little note on the wall and move on.  I never was very good at writing. That's strange too because I have a pretty big imagination.  I'm just more of a hands-on, get it done kind of guy.  My girls definitely didn't get there writing ability from me.  

This weekend was kind of a test run for the empty nest syndrome for Dawn and Me.  Molly went and spent the weekend with Sarah.  They had several things on their agenda.  Dawn and I took a little road trip over to Enid.  We picked up a picture frame for a new picture that we had printed.  Then we ran into J.C. Penney's for just a moment,  ate at Rib Crib(Mm, Mm) and finally stopped by Lowes. Nothing really urgent, but a nice, enjoyable evening together.  Saturday we did our usual McDonalds breakfast where we caught up with Larry and Laura Douglas and what was going on in their world.  Then some errands and then home.  My mom and dad stopped by and had lunch with us, then we made Toll House chocolate chip cookies, discussed whether or not we should have those for supper, went and pick-up supper from DQ and just were lazy the rest of the evening. 

The next couple of months are going to be busy so I'm enjoying being lazy for the moment. Next week and every week except Spring Break Molly and I have play practice most Sunday afternoons, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night rehearsals for "Annie."  I have a two day conference to go to with the other staff next week on Thursday and Friday.  Saturday, March 14, Molly and I are going with the church to the Galveston area for a mission trip.  Then in April it is the end of school stuff with Molly(prom, state contest, the musical, etc).  Then Leland, my dad and I received a guided striper fishing trip from our wives the last Tuesday and Wednesday of April. 

I can't wait until May gets here.  Except I'm not sure it is going to be any less hectic. 

Tonight I made my awesome spaghetti for supper. It was divine. I must confess that it comes from a box but we add a lot to it to make it our own. My girls like it the best.

Today was great! It started this morning. I flew at 8:00. I am doing what they call "under the hood" manuevers, where you wear goggles so you can only see the instruments. Today we were working on spatial disorientaion. You say what in the world is that. Well, the instructor has you put your head down and close your eyes and he flies the plane and it feels like you are on a rollercoster then when you are disoriented he says, "ok, you have the controls; recover. The first time we decended 1000 feet in about 2 or 3 seconds before I had the plane back to level flight. The second time was a lot better. It wasn't too bad.

Then when I got home we went and picked up some things at Wal-Mart.

Then we went and had lunch with Mom and Dad, Leland and Crystal, Daniel and Bobbi.

In the afternoon we went and looked at Leland and Crystal's remodel job. It is really looking good.

Then I had a great nap, made supper and relaxed for the rest of the evening.