EASTER JOY featuring KATZ

Easter is a time of celebration, the Highest Holy Day in the Christian Year. It is a time of joy! I know of little more joyous that the KATZ that I have been sharing in this blog for the past eight years.

Please

At the breaking of the Easter dawn

may the Risen Saviour bless your home

with grace and peace from above,

with joy and laughter, and with love

And when night is nigh, and day is done

May the Christ keep you safe from all harm

Shalom. my Friends!

I write the same thing every June 12th...

Happy birthday to my sons, 

Nick and Rob

Christmas Blessings

I created this video for Christmas, 2008. It is my favorite creation. May it being a blessings to you and yours.

Now featured on Nick's Pics: Christmas decorating

I've posted lots of photographs of my son, NIck III, and his family decorating my home for Christmas on my newst blog, Nick's Pics. Here are a couple of them:

I have been blessed with so much this Advent season that there is a joy within me that I haven't experienced in a very long time!

Saturday Morning Thunkin’

This morning Alex and I went out on our deck about 5:15 or so and I sat there drinking coffee and waiting for the sunrise. While sitting with Alex curled on my belly as I stroked his coat, I began thunking again. The follow is a summary of some of my thoughts.

Last week’s hospitalization resulted in many benefits. My throat was painful as it increased in swelling and I was more that I bit concerned as my esophagus began to swell shut, but the overall experience was quite advantageous.

While hospitalized I had the best over-all physical check up that I have had in years. I learned quite a bit about my health and I’m sure that my VA medical records reflect the same.

In the hospital I met some really neat people, such as intern Dr. Laura, who treated me; nurse Sarah, who went out of her way on a very busy night to help me be comfortable; and nurse Steve, who sought and located a wheelchair large enough to accommodate my wide girth.

All are very neat people. I’m glad that I met them!

Likewise, the events since I returned home from the hospital have been quite beneficial. 

Based upon discoveries during my hospitalization, physical therapist Jo (came by to see me on Thursday) will be visiting me twice a week and assisting me to learn to walk with less (or, maybe, no) pain with the goal of being able to again walk in the neighborhood and the wonderful Louisville parks that are so close to me. Jo is young, energetic, and laughs as much as I do. I like that!

Also two times a week nurse/dietitian (I forgot her name and she didn’t write it down) will be visiting me to teach me how to live successfully with Type 2 Diabetes. She is much like Jo: young, friendly, energetic, and and positive. Also, as we talked, I learned that her grandparents-in-law are members of the church I pastured for eleven in southern Indiana and members of that congregation. I knew the family well! 

It’s a small, and at the moment, quite delightful world! 

Lots of Christmas Eve Photos

When I was a child—even through young adulthood—Christmas Eves were spent with my mother’s siblings, who took turns hosting the gatherings. Christmas days were spent with my father’s family. I grew up thinking that everyone spent Christmas in the same manner. Well, of course that’s not a valid belief!

For most of the past ten years I have spent Christmas Eve alone—with the exception of Muffin or Alex. The Christmas after my wife and I separated, I tried to spend Christmas with my now ex-wife, her sisters, nieces, and my two sons. After exchanging gifts, I was invited to leave by her sister who said that I was “no longer part of the family.” Since then I have spent Christmas Eve and/or Christmas with friends—or, with Muffin or Alex.

This year was different. This Christmas Eve my son and his family came to my house and we celebrated as a family. I spent the entire day excitedly awaiting their arrival! Alex, however, was not impressed by the arrival of the four hoomin bean kittehz. (In case you don’t read Alexicon, Alex’s blog, hoomin bean kittehz is “kat-speak” for human children). But I had a great time with gifts exchanged, hot chocolate and homemade Christmas sugar cookies, and especially being surrounded by my family!

Below are just a few of the photographs my son, Nick, and I took on Christmas Eve:

Alex spent the time that my grandchildren were here hiding in places of refuge and keeping alert to the possible approach of any hoomin bean kittehz.