Happy Halloween

It's is again Halloween, throughout the centuries times have changed, meanings have changed. For us now Halloween is a fun time. Thanks goodness!

It is a time for kids to run around with costumes on, and go door to door through their neighborhoods getting candy. A time for parents to dress up and be a kid again.

That is why I love Halloween. Growing up my father always dressed up. He would be the one to walk me, my sister and 2 brothers around the blocks near our home while mom would hand out candy to the kids.

Once my siblings and I were grown and had children of our own, my dad would still dress up sometimes he would walk along with his kids and grandchildren, but once walking became more of a problem he would stay at home, but still dressed up.

Some years if he was feeling well he would jump out and scare kids. These were kids growing up near him who would often stop and visit him during the year to talk to my him and pet his sweet giant of a dog Teddy. They got used to this after seeing him dressed up in the same costume and sitting in the same place for 2 years. The 3rd year he dressed a dummy up to look like what he did and put it in his normal spot. The kids would come over and say "where's Mr. Straub?", as they would start going for the candy bowl the dummy was holding, dad would jump out from behind them.

Dad dressed as "The Alien in the Window" which was from our favorite program at the time, Sightings. Sightings was a show that Tim White hosted on the Sci-fi channel that dealt with the paranormal, miracles, and interesting other cool stuff. We loved that show, I would often go to my parents and watch it with him when it was on.

The alien in the window was filmed in Monroe (a town near Dundee where we lived) and given to a post office employee who sent it in to Sightings.

It was a very short clip that featured something that looked like what we would think an alien looked like peer in a window and go back down again.

If I can ever get my computer working at home that has a scanner I will post the picture of my dad. He put aluminum foil on top of his head and shoulders and turned some oatmeal green that he moistened and put on his face. Problem was he used green food coloring. He was green for a week after that.

I love Halloween, I love Halloween because of my Dad. I love the memories I have of Halloween. Most of all I love my Dad!

It's Reformation Day

491 years ago today a talented well educated Catholic monk named Dr. Martin Luther, who seen problems within the church, posted Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

He seen problems that arised out of the church. At the time the church was the government and like many governments it was plagued with corruption.

He believed in the word and the grace of our God. Our God, not my God, not their God, but OUR God, OUR Lord and OUR savior.

WE are all Gods children. He loves each one of us. Catholic, Lutheran, lost souls. He is there all we have to do is open our eyes and our hearts

That is what matters.

By grace God's Son, our only Savior,Came down to earth to bear our sin.Was it because of your own merit. That Jesus died your soul to win? No, it was grace, and grace alone,That brought Him from His heav'nly throne.

Poems, Prayers and Promises

I've been lately thinking

About my life's time

All the things I've done

And how it's been

And I can't help believing

In my own mind

I know I'm gonna hate to see it end

I've seen a lot of sunshine

Slept out in the rain

Spent a night or two all on my own

I've known my lady's pleasures

Had myself some friends

And spent a night or two in my own home

And I have to say it now

It's been a good life all in all

It's really fine

To have a chance to hang around

And lie there by the fire

And watch the evening tire

While all my friends and my old lady

Sit and pass the pipe around

And talk of poems and prayers and promises

And things that we believe in

How sweet it is to love someone

How right it is to care

How long it's been since yesterday

And what about tomorrow

And what about our dreams

And all the memories we share

The days they pass so quickly now

Nights are seldom long

And time around me whispers when it's cold

The changes somehow frighten me

Still I have to smile

It turns me on to think of growing old

For though my life's been good to me

There's still so much to do

So many things my mind has never known

I'd like to raise a family

I'd like to sail away

And dance across the mountains on the moon

I have to say it now

It's been a good life all in all

It's really fine

To have the chance to hang around

And lie there by the fire

And watch the evening tire

While all my friends and my old lady

Sit and watch the sun go down

And talk of poems and prayers and promises

And things that we believe in

How sweet it is to love someone

How right it is to care

How long it's been since yesterday

What about tomorrow

What about our dreams

And all the memories we share

John Denver born Henry John Deutschendorf Dec. 31, 1943. Died in a plane crash on Oct. 12, 1997.

It has been 11 years next Sunday that John Denver passed away. It doesn't seem like it. My love of his music and meaning has never changed since I was young. I was lucky enough to see him in concert about 2 years before he passed away. It was an emotional experience for me. His songs always had and still has deep meaning to me. It gives me a sense of calm listening to him. I will treasure his songs, his talent, and his spirit forever.

My Chair

At the beginning of the summer I went up to my parents 'rustic' cabin near Tawas with both my mom and dad. We were going to the Michigan Magazine Museum to make bentwood chairs. They were having a class on making them. My mom and I both made one, my dad didn't have the strength to make one on his own, but was able to help with cutting the leaves and bumps off the branches. They were supposed to have a workshop this fall to make a matching love seat, but the couple that puts on the workshops got too busy and were unable to do it. Now we have to wait till spring. Everyday I come home and see this chair. It reminds me of the wonderful times that I have shared with my parents and the fun things we have done together. People that see it like it. I am hoping to make more maybe during the winter months, the family farm has 168 acres, and alot needs to be cut away to clear it out. I just need to find the right types of wood. Who knows maybe just maybe I can sell them this spring, they were so fun to make and not very hard to do. Maybe I will have my dad help me too.