September 21 - 45 years old
Saturday, September 22 I'll be 45 years old. My head has really been spinning over this. Not that I'm actually 45, but what I've been through the past 45 years. I'm allowing i you no my thoughts once again.
I remember:
* not remembering much about my early childhood. Not that it was bad, just never have remembered much about it. Just little pieces here and there.
This section is all from California
* the first time I came home crying from school. I had been playing tether ball and hit a girl hard in the face with the ball. She hit me in the face with her fist. I only lived two blocks from school, ran home to Mom. We never told my Dad about that one.
* fighting with Mom my entire childhood about not wanting to attend church
* Mom and Dad fighting about Dad's drinking
* Dad and I hunting and fishing as much as possible. Loved it!
* going over to Grandma Herman and Grandma Oneal and getting the best cookies in town
* not getting along with my sisters like I should have and now regret it
* my lab dog named Buddy - loved that stupid dog (think I'm getting another lab - don't tell Deb)
* being picked on as a kid for being so tall and skinny - those days are gone
* Mom loving all three of her kids unconditionally
* Dad never missing one sporting event - in fact he coached me in football and baseball
* my Grandpa Oneal's clocks. He had over 200 in the house and his shop. He worked and built them.
* getting hit by a car head on at the age of 12. Doctors told Mom and Dad I wouldn't make it. Was in
the hospital for weeks. I have a reason for being messed up, do you?
* moving to the desert with Dad's job. Nothing but weeds and bushes.
* getting into a fight with a baby sitter's boy friend and throwing a knife at him. Dad spanked
me the next morning so hard he left huge bruises. He never spanked me again.
* going to work with Dad and riding the roller with Grandpa (Grandpa worked for my Dad for a while) and
riding around with Dad and him calling me his body guard.
* Dad not allowing me to cry because real men didn't cry.
* the hours Dad and I practiced ball together. It was great.
* getting really sick twice and almost dying from it
* Mom and Dad telling us we were moving from California to Virginia
* the long trip in a U-haul from California to Wise, Virginia
This section is from Virginia
* not remembering much about my early childhood. Not that it was bad, just never have remembered much about it. Just little pieces here and there.
This section is all from California
* the first time I came home crying from school. I had been playing tether ball and hit a girl hard in the face with the ball. She hit me in the face with her fist. I only lived two blocks from school, ran home to Mom. We never told my Dad about that one.
* fighting with Mom my entire childhood about not wanting to attend church
* Mom and Dad fighting about Dad's drinking
* Dad and I hunting and fishing as much as possible. Loved it!
* going over to Grandma Herman and Grandma Oneal and getting the best cookies in town
* not getting along with my sisters like I should have and now regret it
* my lab dog named Buddy - loved that stupid dog (think I'm getting another lab - don't tell Deb)
* being picked on as a kid for being so tall and skinny - those days are gone
* Mom loving all three of her kids unconditionally
* Dad never missing one sporting event - in fact he coached me in football and baseball
* my Grandpa Oneal's clocks. He had over 200 in the house and his shop. He worked and built them.
* getting hit by a car head on at the age of 12. Doctors told Mom and Dad I wouldn't make it. Was in
the hospital for weeks. I have a reason for being messed up, do you?
* moving to the desert with Dad's job. Nothing but weeds and bushes.
* getting into a fight with a baby sitter's boy friend and throwing a knife at him. Dad spanked
me the next morning so hard he left huge bruises. He never spanked me again.
* going to work with Dad and riding the roller with Grandpa (Grandpa worked for my Dad for a while) and
riding around with Dad and him calling me his body guard.
* Dad not allowing me to cry because real men didn't cry.
* the hours Dad and I practiced ball together. It was great.
* getting really sick twice and almost dying from it
* Mom and Dad telling us we were moving from California to Virginia
* the long trip in a U-haul from California to Wise, Virginia
This section is from Virginia
* Uncle Richard & Aunt Erma, Uncle Bill & aunt Charlotte welcoming us
* getting up two days later and going to church. Mom started us off right
* the first day of school in Virginia. Saw Debbie having no idea we'd be married for 26 years now
* the culture shock from California to the mountains of Virginia
* becoming great friends with my cousin Kelly, remain friends today
* my first car, 66 convertible mustang
* asking Debbie out on a date and she said no. The challenge was on. I won!
* starting as a freshman in High School for J J Kelly High School
* deciding on Clemson University to play college ball - signing with Clemson
* missing a foul shot to put us into the state playoffs in basketball
* leaving home, heading to Tiger town
* getting married
* watching Michelle come into the world
* playing for the 1981 National football champions. GO TIGERS
* the day my career in sports was over due to a knee injury
* graduating and moving to Green Sea Floyd's to teach and coach
* Tim Renfro showing me for first time how a Godly man walked the talk
* April 12, 1987 giving my life to Jesus Christ
* Andrew being born in Conway, SC
* building our first home
* watching Michelle in all those beauty pageant's
* Michelle giving her life to Jesus Christ
* being called into the full time ministry and moving to Gaffney, SC
* leading Andrew to Jesus Christ
* 7 wonderful years serving under my mentor and best friend Kevin Childs
* Jacob being born while in Gaffney. What a shock and gift at the same time
* the thousands of miles, dollars and hours to obtain an M-Div from Southeastern
* crying with Roger Poole and Jeff Lovingood about leaving Gaffney
* the birth of H20 in Liberty
* hundreds of lives impacted through its ministry
* watching, coaching and cheering Andrew through his athletic career
* watching Debbie's Dad take his last breath
* Michelle, my baby girl graduating from college
* giving Michelle away to Lawson Clary. Greatest son in law ever
* two years later watching Mom take her last breath and performing her funeral. It was awful!
* couple years later going to see Dad and being able to baptize him
* making my last trip to Walla Walla with Dad being alive
* receiving the call that Dad was gone
* the long trip back to Walla Walla to perform my Dad's funeral. It was awful!
* falling deeper in love with Debbie every year
* Andrew going to college
* the birth of 5 Point Fellowship
* the birth of my first Grandson Hudson and falling in love with him the instant I saw him
* the incredible growth of 5 Point
* being scared to death of not knowing the future
I remember the good of life and the bad. I remember.
Yes, I am 45 years old and have had a lot of memories. But I feel as if I'm one of the luckiest men on this planet. Thank you Lord Jesus.
I look forward to another 45
* getting up two days later and going to church. Mom started us off right
* the first day of school in Virginia. Saw Debbie having no idea we'd be married for 26 years now
* the culture shock from California to the mountains of Virginia
* becoming great friends with my cousin Kelly, remain friends today
* my first car, 66 convertible mustang
* asking Debbie out on a date and she said no. The challenge was on. I won!
* starting as a freshman in High School for J J Kelly High School
* deciding on Clemson University to play college ball - signing with Clemson
* missing a foul shot to put us into the state playoffs in basketball
* leaving home, heading to Tiger town
* getting married
* watching Michelle come into the world
* playing for the 1981 National football champions. GO TIGERS
* the day my career in sports was over due to a knee injury
* graduating and moving to Green Sea Floyd's to teach and coach
* Tim Renfro showing me for first time how a Godly man walked the talk
* April 12, 1987 giving my life to Jesus Christ
* Andrew being born in Conway, SC
* building our first home
* watching Michelle in all those beauty pageant's
* Michelle giving her life to Jesus Christ
* being called into the full time ministry and moving to Gaffney, SC
* leading Andrew to Jesus Christ
* 7 wonderful years serving under my mentor and best friend Kevin Childs
* Jacob being born while in Gaffney. What a shock and gift at the same time
* the thousands of miles, dollars and hours to obtain an M-Div from Southeastern
* crying with Roger Poole and Jeff Lovingood about leaving Gaffney
* the birth of H20 in Liberty
* hundreds of lives impacted through its ministry
* watching, coaching and cheering Andrew through his athletic career
* watching Debbie's Dad take his last breath
* Michelle, my baby girl graduating from college
* giving Michelle away to Lawson Clary. Greatest son in law ever
* two years later watching Mom take her last breath and performing her funeral. It was awful!
* couple years later going to see Dad and being able to baptize him
* making my last trip to Walla Walla with Dad being alive
* receiving the call that Dad was gone
* the long trip back to Walla Walla to perform my Dad's funeral. It was awful!
* falling deeper in love with Debbie every year
* Andrew going to college
* the birth of 5 Point Fellowship
* the birth of my first Grandson Hudson and falling in love with him the instant I saw him
* the incredible growth of 5 Point
* being scared to death of not knowing the future
I remember the good of life and the bad. I remember.
Yes, I am 45 years old and have had a lot of memories. But I feel as if I'm one of the luckiest men on this planet. Thank you Lord Jesus.
I look forward to another 45
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