Rachel also finished a good year of basketball. She didn’t start a lot, but got in a lot of playing. She’s tough on the defensive end and works hard whenever she’s playing. She’s done with school sports for this year, but will be busy with her new job at C&R (a local grocery store) as well as playing on a competitive softball team this spring/summer. I’m sure she’ll also play some softball and basketball this summer with the school programs as well. As usual, she’ll be busy.

Zach is had a good year playing basketball as well. He also wasn’t a starter, but also got a lot of play time. He was always the calm-in-the-eye-of-the-storm kid out there, always picking up the others on the team (sometimes literally) and leading the team by his actions. He’s now playing some competitive ball with some of the other boys. They’re learning what it’s like to play the big schools. Most of the teams they’ve played the last few weekends have had several players that are over 6′2″ tall and weighing 180. They’ve played hard though and we’ve received quite a few comments about how well Zach has played. He’s running track (1600 Meter) this spring as well as playing on his competitive baseball team this spring/summer.

Becca also didn’t get a lot of playing time in her first year of basketball, but also played well. She was always good for several baskets and rebounds and is starting to get the hang of playing defense. It’s all in the footwork! She’s been playing on a competitive volleyball team for the last month and has had several tournaments. She’s the tallest on the team and does quite well up front. She’s also one of the better servers on the team putting in 80-90% of her serves. Volleyball is going to be her sport. She’s also started up in track. Don’t know what she’s going to do. She’s got that Etzler speed, so she won’t run sprints. She doesn’t want to run distance, so it looks like she’ll be doing some jumping.

All in all, Carolyn are quite proud of our kids accomplishments and enjoy watching them play in their various sports. We’ve been blessed with good kids who respect the others they play with and against, as well as the coaches and teachers. God is truly good.

Carolyn and I are slowing down for a little while. I’m still working full time at CTS as well as part-time at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. It’s Lent, so we have services every Wednesday night, confirmation on Sundays after church, as well as other activities. The storm will begin again later this month with Holy Week, at least three track meets a week, business trips, baseball, softball, basketball, Synodical convention, as well as a vacation thrown in.  Carolyn is putting in a lot of overtime lately trying to keep up with all the studies that ABC Labs. Maybe we’ll get some rest sometime. Like in five or six years when all the kids are out of the house!

I’ll try and post here from time to time to let you know what’s going on. You can also go to the blog I host of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church for a series on the Catechism.

So what will be discussed? Well, technology and how it can enhance a pastor’s work. It just started today and will transform many different times I’m sure. So if you’re into technology and how it can help promote the Gospel, or even help in your personal studies of Scripture, take a look and check back often. You  may even see me post there from time to time.

Setting up DNS can be a pain, and I’m going through some of that pain right now. Every change you make must replicate, which can take hours to days. Hopefully you’ll be reading this soon. If not, it may be a long afternoon.

Peace,

Andy

The reason I bring this up is that lately she’s been sharing with us some of the entries from her journals that she has been keeping over the years. This was something I was unaware that she has done and has been a pleasant trip down memory lane. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Growing up, my dad (the eternal pessimist) always said, “You need to plan for the worst, so when things work out right, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” You see, he is a retired structural engineer. His job was always to plan for the worst case scenario.

Take, for example, this from my mom’s memories:

Monday February 25, 1974

First day of sectional tourney today and “Kid Day” at school – show school spirit and dress like a kid…At supper table Bob said “Hope you win tonight” Me – “What a time to change tactics”. Denise – “Yeah, it makes me nervous.” Bob – “Well I don’t expect you to win, just hope you do.” They felt better. They did win the game 70 – 65 over Wayne.

It’s quite ironic that a few years ago he was voted the “Optimist of the Year” from the Optimist Club that they belong to. Though in this regard I tend to take after my mom, his outlook has been quite beneficial from time to time.

My mother, on the other hand, is the epitome of the eternal optimist. One thing theme that has run throughout her memories is how much she has been blessed by the Lord. No matter what the situation (again, the good, the bad, and the ugly), she sees the hand of God working through the situation to ultimately benefit our family. She truly believed in Romans 8:28 (ESV) “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” It’s an outlook that I have not had at times.

Looking back through her memories, I can indeed see how God’s hand has moved through the history of my family, how He has guided, protected, and kept us all in His hands. Maybe it’s time that I start up a journal. Looking back, I know that I too will see God’s hand at work in our lives.

My preferred backup option is Windows Home Server. It backs up my desktop and my laptop. I then have important files backed up from the Home Server to an off site location. How are you doing backups? Have you checked your CDs and DVDs to see if they’re still good?

Your important photos and files are all backed up on CDs and DVDs, so you’re safe. Right?

Think again.

The dirty little secret of optical media
Ed Bott
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:08:50 GMT