traveling, midwest to northeast

had the opportunity to navigate with the laptop screen showing a map with a GPS arrow indicating our position & direction (lisa driving). we broke up the trip into three parts, from Sunrise Drive to Brenda & Steve's home, then to Paradise PA, then to Waterview in Ocean City, NJ. noticed a remarkable difference in traffic == the northeast is packed with people! our route followed the old scenic local US highways with a couple expensive runs along the toll expressways. passing through the mountains is much more fun on the older local roads, especially if lisa is driving and I get to look around.

we had dinner at a bar & grill on Devil's Lake in MI and lunch at Shady Maple Buffet (smorgasbord) in East Earle, PA, memorable meals. Notice that the dinner in Michigan (fried fish, potatoes & onion rings) was prefaced by chipz & guaq and completed by choc cheezcake made by Brenda, the innovative and supremely satisfying cook. this is a great way to travel, awesome scenery on the roads and lots of delicious food.

where have you been?

Maybe life begins again on Groundhog Day. In February 2009 Lisa and I are settling into our new home in Holland, Michigan.

After 30 years in New Jersey, where we moved to be near many of the Reid family, we sold the house that we had reconstructed for an extended family so Mom Emily Reid could live with us. We found our new home overlooking a ravine at the eastern end of Holland's main street, about 5 miles from the city center and 8 miles from the Lake Michigan beach. The house is only 3 miles from the highway to Grand Rapids so we can visit many of the Cooke family, less than an hour away.

The Holland area has had more than 10 feet of snow so far this winter, but this week brought a thaw so most of the snow is gone. It feels like starting over and coming home at the same time.

Halftime

==== GET READY FOR THE SECOND HALF ====

What am I really good at? fixing, organizing, listening

What do I want to do? help get it done, tell the truth

What is most important to me? doing the right thing

What do I want to be remembered for? being in the right place at the right time to do the right action.

If my life were absolutely perfect, what would it look like? not tired, not fat, not ridiculous

halftime -- reflecting on the 1st half

THE FIRST HALF OF MY LIFE

• My life story up to now would be titled: Multitasking with Family and Friends
• The movie of my life would be played by: Bruce Willis
• The story of my life achieved: fixing many broken things -- items and relationships
• The epic story involved the noble cause: telling the truth
• motivated by: the Word of the Lord
• What remains to be done? so many persons have not heard or listened to the truth
• A scene of a major setback that brought out the best of myself: working with a bad supervisor
• I learned from setbacks that: The Lord provides resources and support at the right time
• The events of my life foreshadow: being a resource and support for other persons
• I want to leave out the part: when I upset Lisa
• The most important people in my story are: family and friends (Lisa, Craig, John, Luther)
  
• They will have the role of: showing love and mentoring

more connections

Jill and Brian are at http://driesenga.blogspot.com/



Dan, Mia, Brenda are on myspace.
my myspace is registered to bcooke1234@yahoo.comm, and
I am on an ebay blog.

Can I use keyboard shortcuts while posting?

Blogger has several keyboard shortcuts for use while editing posts. Here they are:

* control + b = Bold
* control + i = Italic
* control + l = Blockquote (when in HTML-mode only)
* control + z = Undo
* control + y = Redo
* control + shift + a = Link
* control + shift + p = Preview
* control + d = Save as Draft
* control + s = Publish Post

another photo

cute photo

checking out the end i sit on

my first colonoscopy procedure was a life-affirming experience! each person at the hospital: admissions clerk, nurses, technician, physician - was totally cheerful, supportive, and looking for my best interests. the most frightening episode was parking in a high-rise garage with about an inch clearance between the van roof and the concrete ceiling. i had minimal sedation and was able to watch the procedure and chat with the attending nurses. i will not recount details of the procedure. it seemed to be routine and uncomplicated, at times uncomfortable for me, but my greatest danger was in being bored. was that a pun?

i have a father who knows my name

a leader knows the goal and clearly shows the path. when i tell my students what i am going to do and where i am going, most of them follow me.

maybe I have a disorder!

My therapist will look into the possibility of my symptoms pointing to Seasonal Affective Disorder, which can be treated by light therapy. My wife will continue to treat my infirmities with love and affection! I will treat my need for speed by racing down a quarter mile track. I hope to have a good night with pleasant dreams.

waiting for easter

i'm suffering with a cold, watching the snow hang on in little clumps and drifts that resist melting in the rain. easter will be here in less than a week, then the home run derby and opening day for points racing at the track. this could be the best time in the year but i am still bogged down, threatened by immaturity at work (never blog about work), and eager for a spring breakthrough to joy and peace and contentement. dear jesus, how you suffered for my sin! my natural condition caused you such pain, and you took my punishment along with the total piled up deserved death of all humanity, past present and future. and i am now free! this we proclaim concerning the word of life, the eternal life, to make our joy complete.

that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the word of life. the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life.

yes, my work is hard, but my ministry is a delight. my work is also a ministry. my lord and savior, show me your mercy. lead my mind to right decisions. lead my feet in the right path. come now, into my life, and establish your kingdom.

i thank the lord for my gracious, wonderful, joy-making wife. my home is a haven.

a purpose of my life is to be a witness to my lord who blesses me abundantly. and a purpose of my life is to serve in my work and in the community of my faithful brothers and sisters. i am running the race, with jesus at my side, and jesus has won the victory!

RobDiesel.Com

RobDiesel.Com

one of the guys on the mopar mail list, rob works in entertainment, a wild environment.

end of the week

of course, sunday is the first day of the week, but my working week starts on monday. best activity on sunday - the gloria choir rehearses and shares and prays together: representing several churches, various cultures, multigenerational, bilingual, many music styles (mostly afro-cuban) but one lord and savior, jesus christ; gloria a dios!

fascinating stuff

Jayssenn Cewl's Journal
is a goof. I guess a blog can clog the internet with nonsense.

saturday

here we go, on to a week of vacation from education. rule #2 for a blog: never talk about your work. so on my own time, which will be every day when i cross that retirement threshold in a few years, i plan and execute steps to improve my bracket drag racing jones. AND look around the house and yard for fix-and-improve tasks. AND provide resources for car and computer needs for people in my ministry community. today i should be able to clear some car parts off the shelf through an ebay auction. AND organize the garage so i can get the charger racecar ready for the first practice session in march --> the first race day in april!

first step

this is the first entry in my blog. whatever that is. i was told that this is a key to peace and harmony in my life. like journaling, but more public. i have never had the patience to write a journal. i don't like my handwriting - it's too cramped and it probably shows too much of my personality. how is this different?