Thanksgiving!

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, the one day set aside to give thanks. This Holiday has been celebrated many different ways in my lifetime.My earliest memories of Thanksgiving would be at my Grandparents home in Modesto. Thanksgiving was always odd to me as a child, we would travel to grandmas just to eat, no presents like at Christmas. Then our family decided to make the trek to Garden Grove CA for Thanksgiving. I believe most of my childhood and early adulthood Thanksgivings were down there. My folks would take us to Disneyland on the Wed before. It was great. Then seeing all my cousins and Aunts and Uncles and my Grandparents on my dads side and we always ate Dinner at GreatGrandma Burns House. She may of been kind of old, but she was for sure still in charge.
One year she told of of a miracle that happened before we all got there. G-Grandma always make a berry cobbler for Thanksgiving. Her kitchen has all the modern conveniences of the 1950s. Her oven was the over the stove kind. Grandma was  a short lady so she had to reach to use the oven. The oven had buzzed to tell her the cobbler was finished. As she reached up to get the cobbler, she tilted the cobbler just a little too far and it had not set up to well and the scalding cobbler splashed down all on her arms and chest and neck only clothing protection was the fashionable Mumus she wore. She immediately said 'Jesus im in trouble, help me'. She put the cobbler in the sink and proceeds to wash herself. As she did she thought she would see burns and skin removed. But as she washed it off there were no burns and she was totally Protected! PTL!!! When G-Grandma passed away or treks to So Cal ended and began the Thanksgiving at my mom and dads, which is still where we have it today. At first is seemed weird, having this celebration at the place i lived at. No where to travel to feel like a vagabond. Now people would come to our house. And not just family. People from my church who had no where to go to, would be invited. Then my brother moved and he would come home for Thanksgiving, some times he would bring my Grandma for So Cal. Now he brings his family.
For a period of 7 Thanksgivings I was incarcerated. The first of these was at San Quentin. I had only been sentenced several days, and here I was alone. In a cell with a complete stranger. Knowing my family was at my parents home, I was here. That day came and ended and so did 6 other Thanksgivings. They did get better as I became acclimated, but still felt left out of the festivities happening with out me. I would usually get a 15 min call and I would get to speak to everyone in the house. It was during these years of my life I really began to appreciate Thanksgiving. Thankful to have a family that supported me. Thankful to a God that sustained me and never left me alone.
The first Thanksgiving 'home' was super special. This began the season of having Tur duc en. Here I was surrounded by my family. My brother and his family, my wife to be and her daughter. and my parents. It was noisey, energetic, and emotional and one of the best in my life.
Today I and my family now take the 15 min trek to my folks home to meet up with my brothers family. This will be the 6th year we have had Turducen. It will still be energetic and loud with a lot of talking and laughing. I always take a moment to think about the Thanksgivings of the past. Im Thankful for each and everyone of them. Thursday will be the next one. I wonder what memories await.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

My birth day.

Im the one with my hand on my head. The rest my cousins and my brother in back right.

Today is my birth day! Hurray! The baby book say at 8:30 AM. Wednesday. Today!

I opened my email today and was surprised to see who remembered my birth day.

Coca-Cola...thanks!
my webshots, sent me a coupon!
Even Disney sent me 25 points and a free BlueRay Disc, I only had to pay shipping.
I dont even own a blueray player, but i got the semi freebee anyway.

Hello BrenzBenz, We at Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum would like to wish you a happy birthday today!
Even my Benz discussion forum remembered my birth day!

Even a tubley.com sent me Greetings. What is a tubely?

Then facebook got involved in the action.
Good friends on there!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries even remembered my birth day.
They sent me a card and a CD. Thanks KCM

My wife and daughter made me a special dinner last night. It was great.
I got cards, cause another more public party will happen at a later date.

Today I get to have lunch with my wife. I wonder where she will take me? I love surprises.

Tonight I get to sing at a saints going home service. Kinda odd singing at a memorial service on your birth day. But I will and honor her life.

The day I was born. The moment I first breathed a breath of air. AMAZING! Even before I was born GOD KNEW ME! Life is amazing! Filled with love and loss, hope and disappointment. Mistakes and successes. God is the strength of my life and my portion forever! My steps are ordered of the Lord, and He knows the plans He has for me!

So Happy Birthday to me.

I met a man today...pt 2

Have you ever done something you regret? Or done something to someone where you know they will be 'damaged', it was unfair to them, they had no control over the situation. Maybe even 'done it to the least of these'. Well unfortunately I have. Its a long story and one I am not to proud of. 13 years ago, 6 years in prison, and 3 on parole, and 4 years now free. A lot has transpired in my life in these last 13 years. Dreams died, hopes vanished, yet God's grace and mercy has revived me and renewed me into the person I am today. A productive member of society, who has paid my dues as required. A career, a family, a home. Yet something always bugged me about my past. How could I of been such a person?!? Can I really go on in this life knowing what I have done and maybe even fearing others will know too.
It was a sunny day today. I was basically minding my own business. I was heading to Michael's to buy a frame for a gift given to me by a friend. A Happy Birthday gift, early. As I drove into the parking lot my eyes caught with some one standing on the corner. I thought nothing of it till I looked in my rear view mirror and saw this person watching my car drive down the parking lot. I got the frame and started heading back to work. As I drove out I thought Id get a soda. Coming out of the Carls Jr I hear my name. Who's calling me, I thought? Then I hear it again, the voice sounded familiar but as I looked toward the voice i see the one I passed by earlier. Curious I walk across the parking lot to meet this person who knew me. As I approached they introduced themselves to me.
I FROZE! Here I was face to face with the one I had hurt. Grown now they begin to talk to me. They didnt mix or hemhaw around with words. This was a person who had got their life together and knew a God of restoration and healing. "I want you to know how much you hurt me...but I also want you to know how much God has healed me, I am ok and doing good, and getting my life together. God has taken my life and made me new. I want to serve Him and follow Him. But I must for myself forgive you and hold no bad feelings toward's you. I know God has a plan for you too. I don't want to be the reason you don't follow after God's plan for you." That was it.
FORGIVEN. First by God now by this MAN! MERCY given to me by God and now bestowed upon me by this ONE! As I walked back to my car, I was amazed by my God. I've received His grace and mercy for this along time ago, but today He allowed me to receive this other part of grace and mercy in this situation. I again over and over apologized to this man, he said I know you are sorry (not in a snide bitter way) but truly knew I was sorry. He forgave me even before I could ask!
Like the song says, Lord I'm amazed by You, Lord I'm amazed by You, Lord I'm amazed by you, and how you love me.
I met a man today! I will NEVER forget!

UWI

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7am
2. How do you like your steak? mediumwell
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Ice Age 3D
4. What is your favorite TV show? currently, Amazing Race
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? With Des
6. What did you have for breakfast? Eggs, Biscuit and gravy
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Ribs
8. What foods do you dislike? Asparagus
9. Favorite Place to Eat? Hulas
10. Favorite dressing? Des' homemade Ranch Dressing
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? 300SE, the presidential
12. What are your favorite clothes? My zoot suit
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? My list is too long...
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full
15. Where would you want to retire? near the coast someplace
16. Favorite time of day? Evening or a foggy morning
17. Where were you born? Taft
18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Basketball, pro and college and Superstars(Nics league)
19. Who do you think will not tag you back? i dont know
20. Person you expect to tag you back first? i dont know
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? Everyone
22. Bird watcher? in my moms backyard, we had a family of doves in our carport for a while
23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Neither, but lean towards morning
24. Do you have any pets? NO, but we claim part owner of my folks dogs
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? hopefully we'll have some news next month
26. What did you want to be when you were little? a preacher
27. What is your best childhood memory? holidays with my family
28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog
29. Are you married? 3 years
30. Always wear your seat belt? always
31. Been in a car accident? yes
32. Any pet peeves? oh let me count the ways
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? mushroom and sausage
34. Favorite Flower? rose
35. Favorite ice cream? again, my list is too long! Mint chip is always good...
36. Favorite fast food restaurant? In-n-Out
37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 0
38. From whom did you get your last email? jack
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Mercedes Dealer
40. Do anything spontaneous lately? yes i took yesterday off of work
41. Like your job? Yes, love it
42. Broccoli? yes
43. What was your favorite vacation? my honeymoon, we cruised Hawaii, very close to our trip to Australia
44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Nic, mom and dad and Alan, chinese.
45. What are you listening to right now? tv, smallville
46. What is your favorite color? blue
47. How many tattoos do you have? none(as of right now)
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? IDK
49. What time did you finish this quiz? 10:07pm
50. Coffee Drinker? yes

I met a man Today...

It was the end of May 2009. We were at convention waiting to go into a class. As I was standing there with my wife and mother and father. My mom whispered to my dad something. My dad was not moved by what my mom said, but my mom was so moved and agitated. Apparently her grandmother's (Jesse Wymore) pastor was standing to the right of us across the aisle. Now my great grandmother passed in 1975. So for this guy to be still alive I was very interested. All of a sudden I could hear my grandma Wymore's voice (Jesse's daughter in law) he was a crook and stole money from grandma and ended up with a lot of her antiques. Apparently my great grandmother started to loose her mind a lil as she got older and became very generous with her possessions and checkbook. This ol bekrepted pentecostal crook of a preacher would come over and give her a sad story so she would write him out a check, or her would so make over her antiques that she would send them home to him. Finally Grandpa had to take over the checkbook before this guy blead her dry. When Great grandma died the family couldnt find certain pieces of antiques that had belonged to both the Wymore side of the family and Helsey side of the family. They began to ask family friends about them etc. One dear lady said, I know where they are they are at pastor so-in-so's house, he bragging how she gave them to her.
This story I heard my whole life and now here was that ol bekrepted pentecostal crook of a preacher. I looked over and here was a little hunched over man. Pulling a oxygen cart. Looking frail and aged. I said that's the guy?, Im going to go talk to him. So to my family's shock I walked right over to him and introduced myself as Jesse Wymore's great grandson, he went a little white and asked why what congregation was she from. (I wanted to say she's the one who you stole from you ol bekrepted pentecostal crook of a preacher) I said she was in your Onterio church. Oh yes he said, my dear sweet Jesse. (whatever, a lil through up in my mouth) We talked for a moment and I told him about he family. I think I settled the issue for my generation and closing the book on this chapter for our family. As I walked away from the little pixy of a man, I wanted to say, Oh and when you die, could you please give back our families stuff. But I didn't, I forgave him instead.

It is still happy there...

So a couple of weeks ago my WHOLE family went to Disneyland. WE HAD A BLAST! I have not been there since 1993, my wife since 1974 and my daughter (12) had never been there at all! My brothers kids are 9,7, and 5. Being at Disney with them was so great! It is great to remember how you felt when you were a kid there. We rode all the rides and kudos to Disneyland for making the rides big enough the BIGGER folk. I was a lil nervous a couple times but i 'fit' right in. We were there all day. Closed the park at midnight. We bought sweatshirts and of course pins (trading pins). My family got hooked on them. Yes even me. So yes we all left with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts and sore feet. But we want to go back and go back often, but we will save and wont wait as long as last time.

What is it about a Benz? A Mercedes Benz. How can a child grow to like a car. A child at 4 or 5 who know he wanted a Mercedes Benz. His neighbor had one as a child and out of the mouth of babes spoke, when I get older Im gonna have a car just like this! Really?!? How does this happen? Then I end up with a car just like that one and not just one but two. I was in the first grade when my grandfather came to our house in His new Benz. It was yellow and I think it was a 240D. I dont even know if we have any pictures of it. But it was cool, it had shoulder seat belts in the back seat and grandpa could make a uturn in the street with out making a three point turn. However it wasnt blue LOL. That poor car had a terrible fate, it burned not three years later in a garage fire. Only two hubcaps survived, and for all my childhood and college that hubcap hung in my room, I still have it but my wife wont let me hang it. LOL. Then to my joyous surprise, I was at camp, Old Oak Ranch, when i saw Mercedes Benz pamphlets in the trailer. What is this I surmised. Not a month later I was packed in the car and we were headed to Stocktons Mercedes Dealer and Grandma and I drove that car off the lot. It was beautiful. The yellow was much better in this one. I got to drive this car many times back and forth to camp as I got older. Sadly as Grandpa got older he started to loose his wits about him and he rear ended the Benz, it was considered a total loss. Sad that soon after that Grandpa quit driving, what a way to go out in a Benz. So sad, maybe some day Ill get a Benz just like it, they are still out there.

CHANGE? What the...?

We have all seen it, the blue grey and white posters and stickers from the Obama campaign. There is even a web site where you can join the "group" and make your own picture. SOOOOO in the 'spirit' of our leaders politics and biases, I have surrounded him with a 'crowd of witnesses' that only our President would be proud to be part of....(or already is)

Here he is. Our president. Cigarette anyone, at least the tobacco companies are breathing a breath of relief since they aren't enemy number one any more. I hope to make this into a poster in 2012. This sums up his progress for me.

These two Obama and Hugo are gonna change the Americas!!! It was all summed up in Hugo's speech, welcome to the club Obama.

This is Obama's hero, he has socialized medicine and everything, even cars from the 1950's the classics. Just wait...we will become friends with them again so Obama can smoke the good stuff.

Here's one, this guy has an awesome nuclear program, and we totally believe that he isn't gonna use it to build bombs, TOTALLY! Oh and lets not mention is connection to the Holocaust...lets not even mention his islamic belief on the gays. How does a president that is such a gay supporter be a friend of such gay haters. Hmmm think about it

Better get used to seeing this guys face in our country, since we borrowed most of the bail out from them and Obama and Clinton were more than willing to put up our land and businesses up as collateral. But hey they too have socialized medicine and are more than willing to kill your second, third and forth child after it is born.

Ahhhh, the one that started it all. Started the class envy, the socialized medicine, getting rid of God, the Utopian society where everyone is equally poor. This train of thought has been proven over and over again that it doesn't work, but hey lets give it a try here huh Obama?

These two cats put Marx' plan into action. Interesting how Lenin's scowl matches Obama's(see end of the blog) They all use similar tactics, they all have a blinded press doing their PR. Let's pray our leader won't eliminate free speech, freedom to criticize the government or a small group of people who have decided to love the same sex, if you do you'll catch a hate crime.

Little lesser known from history but in the same camp. OH he stopped racial tensions in his country. By keeping them all dependent on the government and his civil military. Yep. But when Yugoslavia became free it was as if time never stopped, all the same prejudices resurfaced. Socialism doesn't change people it just covers the issue with a worse one. Is that gonna happen here? Obama hopes so.Hold on, hear me out with these guys. Yes, they are all in the same camp. The dude on the top won his election by promising change, just like our guy did. However he began to put the blame of his countries depression on a certain race of people, these are the robbers the wealthy taking advantage of the poor. Their success has driven our country into this mess. They are pigs, money ravenous dogs...you get the hint. Will this happen here, it sure could. It may not be a race of people but it maybe a certain group of people who believe in absolute truth, right and wrong. These people are full of hate and are causing this country to be destroyed, we must eliminate these radicals. Hmm scary thing is it doesn't seem so far fetched!!! Then the other boob followed blindly and joined in so his country wouldn't be obliterated by the Fatherland. Who out of fear will follow our guy to save their necks. England, Canada, France, Japan any takers. Oh, They hated the gays too.

Here are two more recent group members. I wonder what kind of relationship Obama and his clan would have with these two leaders if he was President back in the day. Oh that's right it would be the same as the first three in this blog.


There he is folks the 'father' of change to the USA. He thinks he won a landslide and is gonna force his socialist beliefs down our throats. He isn't even trying to hide it, just like all the crowd of witnesses above he is vocal and open in this. He hates free enterprise (accept for the tobacco industry). And he wants to silence all voices of opposition. He stutters and gets flustered when the media asks a question doubting his actions. How could they, their my media. He has already doubled our debt, wants to give our country to China, he wants to kill another generation of unborn children, not only here but all over the world. He doesn't have time to fix the economy, doesn't want to be bothered by it. He has bigger things to do. Lets turn the country RED. Lets put up more posters of me in the streets. Hang it from government buildings cause I'm the one who brings HOPE. Lets tell them how to raise their children and how they should grow up to think that we the government has been created by us to create a more perfect union. Lets give all those the right to love, live, kill, steel, and destroy how they choose. Your gonna CHANGE America, period. We are gonna make you. In the words of an American Idol wanna be, TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT!!!!

FAMILY

I can remember as a little boy my family. There was a brother, mom and dad, aunts and uncles, two sets of grandparents and one set of great grandparents and two great grandma's. I remember all my cousins being born. I was at two of my uncles weddings. I do remember going to Canada to my uncle Fred's wedding. Traveling in one large Caddy was my mom and dad, Grandparents on my dads side and me and my brother. Must of been a tight trip. Driving from Taft, CA to Canada.
This is the trip we learned the phrase, Tally Ho. We stopped at several relatives homes on the way to Canada. I dont know how long it took but it must of taken us awhile to get there. We site see'd our way to Canada and in Canada. In Seattle I remember being followed by some creepy guy in some park we were at. I remember seeing bears on the side of the road eating out of trash cans. I remember thinking my pillow is the only thing that is mine, i must keep it with me at all times. We have pictures of that trip. We took a fairy and drove around the island of Victoria and went to some huge garden. My family on both sides loved foilage. Everybody has a picture taken by a plant or flowers. I remember the wedding. Arriving and staying in a Motel, seeing my other set of grandparents. Meeting my future Aunt, she was so pretty. The wedding I remember, my brother got to be in it and I think my brother and I sang at it. My aunt and uncle gave me a dog puppet for being apart of their wedding, I loved that thing. I learned to talk duck talk from my uncle that got married and decided that the puppets voice would be a duck. I even did a talent show at church singing Jesus Loves Me in duck voice with the puppet in a puppet booth. I thought I was slick, always been kind of a ham.
I remember bing a brat at the wedding when we were to take a family picture and not wanting to take the picture so everyone;s in the picture and theres pouty 3' me right in front. What memories I share.
I hope to share more like this again.

I did it...

So after much waiting and wondering and contemplation I have opened my own facebook page.
So far I love it. I found some old friends, some extended family. Yes Im now a facebookian.

I'd switch for this...

Ok I'm a Benz guy. Ever since I was a kid. I was always trying to find the Benz's. Ive owned four of them. But then I ran across this lil number. Hmmmm beautiful. I guess I'd switch sides for this.

How I See It

180 MILLION DOLLARS SPENT ON PARTIES-YET WE ARE IN THE WORST 'RECESSION' SINCE FDR, HUNDREDS OF PRIVATE JETS JAM AIRPORTS-ADDING TO 'GLOBAL WARMING'. WHEN 'THEY' DO THEIR PART I'LL DO MINE. THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.

SOLD!!!!!

This past week I totally was consumed by my once a year vise. The Barrett Jackson Automobile auction in Scottsdale AZ. http://www.barrett-jackson.com/ Some day I hope to get to attend this auction and not only that but to be one that hears the sound SOLD!!! and I get my two seconds on screen being congratulated for winning a very over priced car. (not all are over priced...MMMM)
As I was watching I began to think...would I buy this car...nah, how bout this one...sure. The car above wasn't sold last week, I don't remember even where I picked up the picture, maybe ebay. But I'd by this car. I'm a sucker for a cute lil three pointed star.
So until next year Scottsdale AZ. I'll have my DVR ready. By then Ill have completed all the hours I just recorded for 2009.
Ill blog again soon, when I can...