Some blog friends tagged me - here's how it works...

1. Navigate to where you keep your pictures, select the 6th folder, and the 6th picture in that folder.
2. Then post it on your blog with an explanation of the story behind the picture

So it is reminiscent of this post (here), but this is a picture of my grandfather's burial site. He was buried in a military cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado - and this month marks 5 years since he passed away. He was a great man, loving grandpa, Looney Toon's fan and gave me a profound appreciation for candy. I miss my Poppy and this 'tag' makes me thankful I had him for so long in my life.

I hope I can be remembered in the same way...

...for people like Sylvester Williams today. Regardless of your political view, today is a great moment in our countries history. Sylvester Williams used to pick cotton and lived through all the segregation and hatred in the South during the first half the 20th Century. I'm glad he lived long enough to see the moment when an African American is sworn in as the President of the United States. Today is a proud moment for all of us in the U.S.

I heard there are 25,000 law enforcement agents on hand...
I pray nothing ignorant or racist happens today...
I'm praying for our next President...
I'm thankful that God's hand is on history...

In memory of the great moral leader of our country, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and one the greatest speech in American History.

I have never been able to listen to this speech and not be affected. The King deserves this day on our calendars so that we remember how far we've come in this country, so we remember the great transgressions we are capable of and so we remember that change can brought about in peace.

MLK had such clarity. He never wavered in his conviction to peacefully fight for the true equality of all God's people. He saw what was wrong, he knew what was right and possessed the ability to articulate that in a way that moved people to action. I have the utmost respect for Dr. King and am proud to say I live in a country where history can be written this way.

Saw this over at Taylor Lyall's blog and it really affected me.



This video comes at a time when I've been wrestling with my responsibility in this world I live in. I do feel that my inaction adds to the problem and that my comfortable life too often pretends everyone's life must be comfortable too. And though I do care, the life style I live says otherwise.

I often wonder why I was so lucky to be born in affluent America, why did I deserve that? Why do I get to make more in a day than most people make in a month? Why are my concerns more about wants, while so many struggle for needs? What am I supposed to do with this dilemma?

Thoughts?

In case you don't recognize these fellows, that's the used-to-be-funny Carrot Top and that other guy is the once-formidable Mike Tyson. Obviously the Carrot is juicin' and I'm not really sure if he has pants on in that pic, or even underwear. And though we've all known that Tyson has gone crazy, did you know he had become so 'plump'? The more interesting part of the Tyson pic is that he is holding a microphone. Who is he talking to? Who gathered to hear Tyson talk about anything? Does he seriously get speaking engagements?

Crazy...

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

I pray that your time with your friends and family this season is blessed and though rarely perfect this time is all we have, so don't take it for granted.

And I pray that the beautiful story of Immanuel would be alive in you today and that you would carry that into the New Year. God is with us, God is with you and there is a world to change.

Today I'm thankful for my Jewel and our relationship.

I'm also thankful for my monkey - also known as Micah.

I'm thankful for my buddy KK or Kaiden.

Even though it is boring, I'm thankful for my job.

I'm thankful for the awesome church community we are a part of.

Very thankful for all our friends and family!

I'm thankful for my home and all I've been blessed with.
You can think it's dumb, but I'm thankful for the Broncos - I love 'em.

What about you?

John Roscoe Wells was a great man and he was also my grandfather.

He was just Poppy to me and will always be remembered as the gentle man he was. He was at every significant event in my life until he passed away almost 5 years ago. I only wish my boys could have met him - he would have made an awesome great-grand dad.

He served our country for over 27 years in the Army. He served in the last few years of WWII, in the Korean War, through Vietnam and was station everywhere from Columbus, GA to France and even India.

Veterans day is an important day in the American calendar and as it came and past this year, I found myself missing Poppy. I miss his stashes of candy around his house. Those that know me, know I eat a lot of candy - Poppy can be thanked for that. I would also not have the profound appreciation for Road Runner and the entire Looney Toon's clan if it wasn't for Poppy. I remember many a Saturday mornings watching cartoons with Poppy.

Anyway, in addition to being an awesome grandpa to me, he was highly decorated in his service to our country. Upon his passing we went through the boxes of medals and awards he received from his time in the military. We found all these medals in a dark corner of his closet - things he never talked about, never wanted recognition for and I never want to forget. They represent the life of a hard working American hero.

He met my grandma (Nana) while serving in Germany and she immigrated here to the States with him after the war. I'm proud of my family's history and the service of my Grandfather. He has inspired me in my life and was such a honest and simple man. I love him. Below is a picture of him on December 9th, 1969 on Hawk Hill in Vietnam - it reminds me of M*A*S*H.