Whoopig Wishes Christmas is the time of year when children dream of being showered with gifts. We groom them from the time they discover wrapping paper and bows that this festive holiday means extra meals, extra sweets, and lots of presents. My folks were no different. Christmas morning for me and my two sisters always greeted us with no less than 5 or 6 gifts each and stockings full of candy and fruit. Ever since those early years, I get a little wishy still but I hope for different things than I did as a child. Here is my top 10 list, in no particular order, of my wish list for the Christmas season and the coming year. Happy Holidays to all of you, many I have never met, and may your wishes come true in the coming year....
1. The powers to be in the Middle East will finally discover that killing each other is not the answer to peace.
2. The US government will allocate matching funds equal to what is spent on the NASA space program to addressing more pertinant needs such as homelessness, drug addiction, and hunger...(especially for children)
3. The Hogs to win the Capital One Bowl and jumpstart their 2007 season from their dream 2006 run.
4. That I figure out at least one week this year to spend in some mission field.
5. That my children remain faithful and build an even stronger bond with their Lord.
6. I want not one day to go by that I don't spend some time in the Word.
7. That I will learn to live with less and confront challenges head on knowing that God didn't promise an easy life but rather simply the help necessary to get through life.
8. That I will have at least 5 more years in my 40's even though I am currently 48.
9. I want to impact people in such a way that they will see Jesus despite my flaws.
10. I want our Upward Basketball team of 3rd & 4th grade girls to see Christ through this silly game of hoops that I love so much.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all you blogging buddies  ¶ 12:46 PM 5 comments

  ALL FOR TEAM A good friend of mine, who is also an excellent golfer, coined a phrase that several of us repeat when we play golf scrambles during the summer. The phrase is "All For Team." We may repeat it 30-40 times during a round and usually after one of the four shanks a ball into the woods, or hits one into orbit. (a large percentage of the times that shanker is me) The good thing about a scramble in golf is that the foursome is not dependent on one particular "ringer" to score lower. All four contribute and you play the best ball after each shot. One person doesn't generally have to carry the team. I'm not a long driver, a consistent putter, or particularly good around the greens...so what am I doing on the team? Well I'm a banker and we support every tournament that comes along by paying the entry fee so I put the team together; that way I get to play...the only way I get to play. Anyway, the phrase "All For Team" is expressed aloud to encourage each other when one hits a bad shot and when one hits a good shot. We do well as a team and we struggle as a team. No leader, no follower, just a band of brothers. "All For Team" keeps us humble when one of us connects on a John Daly drive, and "All For Team" lifts our spirits when the ball makes a "splash." Isn't this what Jesus had in mind for his brothers and sisters when he establised the church? When one rejoices, we all rejoice. When one struggles, we are there to pick them up. We are accountable to each other and no one ourshines the other. We are equal in the kingdom. I love golf scrambles because I would never win a flight without my team mates. I love church because we approach the throne of grace as equals. Thank you Ragsdale for the phrase "All For Team." Thank you Jesus for this safe haven of peace and band of believers you provided for us known as church. "All For Team."  ¶ 6:43 PM 4 comments

  PIGGIN' OUT Just a few thoughts about the Hogs best season on record in the Houston Nutt era. I will always be for the underhog in a contest and this year was no exception. The Hogs were picked to finish 4th in the West and ended up winning it and giving Florida all they wanted in the SEC championship game. Just a couple of bounces on special teams and we would be in the land of Sugar in January, but all things considered, it was a great run. Players recieved more honors regionally and nationally than I remember in my lifetime with the most prestigeous being Darren McFadden up for the coveted Heisman Trophy award. Pretty good for a sophmore who in August didn't know if he would ever run again. Our O-line did a fantastic job blowing holes open for D-Mac, Felix, and Michael to run through. Houston Nutt recieved a much deserved SEC coach of the year honor after back to back loosing seasons and shifting responsibilities that even he is still adjusting to. Two road trips this year to Auburn and Mississippi State were highlights for me and wet my appetite for next years campaign. Congratulations Hogs on a great year. Beat the Badgers and welcome in the new year with a bang.
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My good buddy, David Underwood wouldn't want me posting this but I can outrun him so here goes. He went in Wednesday to address some chest pains and had a heart cath done. Fortunately there was no blockage, except for a couple of jelly doughnuts wedged between the aorta and the sternum, and he was released under his own power. I'm putting him on a strict exercise regement in place of his current routine of "couch potatoe remote thumb crunches." Glad you got a good report dude. Only salads for you at Lenny's for a while. In the event the next report is not so good...can I have your mower?
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I'm slowly unpacking boxes in my new home, to the tune of about 2 per night. I didn't know I had so many towels. I may switch them out more than once a week now! I will be spending some extra time at Lowes and Home Depot repairing leaky faucets, building an entertainment center, and repainting the walls. Any painters out there...? Only requirement...must be able to apply at least 50% of the goods to the walls. Incentives include piggin' out on frozen pizza and all the Sams water or sweet tea you can drink. Tempting huh! I will also be flipping channels more regularly between ESPN and HGTV for decorating ideas. Maybe I can just hang towels everywhere.
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A good friend and I were talking about the times in college or shortly thereafter, when it was cool to wear t-shirts or sweat shirts from some far away or unconventional colleges. After thinking a little, here are 3 school jerseys I would want to get...Holy Cross, Hofstra, and Gonzaga. I know very little about them if anything...just cool names. I would take it a step further and get a rowing shirt. What would your shirt choices be?  ¶ 4:13 PM 5 comments