Our Alligator

A few weeks ago, before Christmas, we took our friend Matthew to LAX so that he could visit his parents in Papua New Guinea. We picked him up again from LAX on Saturday. He had a nice visit, though it seems there were a few mishaps like canceled flights and out of the way re-routes to get where he had to be. He had his brother and sister with him, so he was not alone. They got it all worked out and had a great visit with his parents who do language translation missionary work with the tribes there.

The last time his parents came out to visit, he raved that they had brought him a wooden alligator for Christmas. We thought that was fabulous. So Matthew brought us our very own wooden alligator that we proudly have on display in our book case. It took up a whole shelf.

Thank you Matthew!

LAX airport

This morning I got up at 4:00 AM so that I could take my friend Matthew to LAX airport. Matthew's parents are missionaries in Papua New Guinea where they do translation work to bring the Gospel to the native peoples. Matthew spent most of his youth in Papua New Guinea, so he is very familiar with the land and it's people. He will be spending two weeks there and come back right after the new year. His brother and sister are meeting up with him on one of the legs of the flight so they will be flying over together. The church that sponsors his parents work had set aside money for his parents to come to the States during the holidays, but instead that money was used to reduce the cost of Matthew and his siblings to go visit.

Sonia

I just had a nice chat with Sonia, a friend I haven't heard from in about 20 years. She still has traces of that odd accent I remember so well. It was very comforting to hear it. It kind of made the time away seem less long.

We've been exchanging e-mails since the middle of September (OK, she was sending and I didn't notice until October) and playing phone tag for a while too.

She has four kids now, works as a church secretary and lives in Bullhead City, near the Colorado River.

I posted about my old friends not to long ago. I am hoping to hook up with some of them this week after Thanksgiving.

Blessings

With a nod to my wife (I can't bring myself to put "dw" since that is Arthur's little sister, but maybe "fv" will do), here is an accounting of some of my blessings:

• My God who has had a firm hand on my life since I was a child, who has comforted me through dark times, taken me places I haven't always wanted to go, but has ALWAYS led me back into the light.
  
• My wife who has supported and encouraged me, even when things aren't working out as I would hope. I love our "dates" out to Starbucks and other little treats.
  
• Three children who are loving and haven't given me very much grief, at least not yet. I am very proud of their character and abilities.
  
• A good, stable job that allows me to take care of my family, even as the economy is taking a downturn.
• Skills and abilities that allow me to help my friends and family, and keep myself occupied.
• Friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin.
• The material blessings I have, including my house, cars and computers. Having a Fry's Electronics near by is nice too.

So many more than could be mentioned here. How about you?

Old Friends

It's interesting that I've been contacted by several very old friends in just the last few months. It's nice to hear from them and renew old friendships. It helps me remember who I was and who I've become. This is a bit on the sentimental side for me, but I remember hearing the first line of this poem from an old friend that I haven't heard from in a while.

Lyrics and Music
Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
the other is gold.

A circle is round,
it has no end.
That's how long,
I will be your friend.

A fire burns bright,
it warms the heart.
We've been friends,
from the very start.

You have one hand,
I have the other.
Put them together,
We have each other.

Silver is precious,
Gold is too.
I am precious,
and so are you.

You help me,
and I'll help you
and together
we will see it through.

The sky is blue
The Earth is green
I can help
to keep it clean

Across the land
Across the sea
Friends forever
We will always be