OK...bad hair day..so what! (Thanks to Bev for the crazy picture)...I'm getting distracted. (Bad hair days tend to do that!).

MY BABY'S BIRTHDAY WISH?

OK I forgot where I was yesterday. I do remember mentioning my granddaugter's birthday wish. I asked her last night what it was. She politely declined to tell me. I let it go but I am going to ask her dad to tickle the answer out of her! i let you know if she ever tells.

Be careful what you laugh at. I was making wise cracks during one of the Princess Diary movies where the princess says, "Dear Diary..." and then tells all these emotions and details to a blank page...ha, ha, ha...

Well, it just dawned on me I am here doing the same thing! ha ha!

GRANDMA, PAPA HAS A SNAKE IN HIS BOOTS!

Having grandchildren broadened grandma and my taste in movies. I remember one time with the grandchildren when all of us including the grownups were going to take a nap in the living room. Sue put on "Toy Story" so the kids would fall asleep fast.

It worked! The kids flaked out in the first few minutes but here was Papa John glued to the set. I couldn't believe how riveting this little "Cartoon Story" could be! I was sleepy but I couldn't let go... I just had to see how it all came out for "Woody" and the gang. I loved it! Still do! "There's a snake in my boots".Ha ha.

Speaking of movies... I am really excited about the new movie "End of the Spear". The station has reserved an opening night screening and is giving away the tickets on air.

The movie is based on the true story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and some other misionaries who were martyred trying to reach the Alca Indians of Ecaudor with the Gospel. If you have read the book, "Through Gates of Splendour", you know the story the movie is based on.

A MOVIE CHANGED MY LIFE

I remember seeing another movie about Jim Elliot in the 1970's and was deeply touched. I can honestly say that movie and a movie about a murdered missionary name Paul Carlson( I think that was the name) were two strong influences on me when the Lord was dealing with me about serving Him in another country.

I ended up in Vieques, Puerto Rico at a Missionary Radio Station in October, 74. It was interesting how the Lord got me there. I think I'll save that story for another time. Remember, faithful is the One who called you...He will see it through.

Ok..I admit it...I like ebay. The internet is neat...
I just did a blog search for "Papa John's Place" and quickly discovered I "ain't" the only papa j. out there! So be careful that you get the BFJ Papa John or you might get the wrong Papa! Just like Santa, I can't be responsible for all the look alikes with the same name (Ho HO).

WRONG PAPA!

Speaking of Papa John's, a few years ago my grandkids heard from their teacher that they were having pizzas from Papa John's. They were so excited that I would drive 5 hours just to delivery them some pizzas. I'm sure they were a little let down when they discoved there is more than one Papa John out there and I am not the one that makes all the dough.

I DON'T LOOK LIKE A PAPOW!

O,my grandkids...thought yu'd never ask! LOL. I never told them what to call me. I made up my mind I would answer to whatever they came up with. I was so thankful from the start when Hannah began the tradition of calling me Papa John. I was dreading being called "papow", "pops", "pe-pa" or worse. Those are ok names but they just don't fit me. I just don't look like a papow".

THE BIRTHDAY BUTTON

My oldest is celebrating a birthday today. I plan to call her later tonight and wish her a happy birthday. We already have her present ready for her mom to give to her later tonight.

Our birthday tradition for the kids is to take one big box with a lid and cover it in birthday paper and load it with unwrapped gifts. This year I added to the tradition and installed a "Birthday Button" on the box.

I got this little music thingy at Radio Shack that plays "Happy Bithday" (also programmable to play "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", etc.) when you press a little button. I fashioned the button to pop up on the lid of the gift and hid all the electronics under wrap. I labeled around the button, "Birthday Button... make a wish and then press the button."

HANNAH'S BIRTHDAY WISH?

I really wonder what that wish will be... I hope she will share it with me.

Another part of the birthday tradition is to include a card with a dollar bill for each year they have been born. So far this has not added up to much so maybe we should double it to take care of inflation.

But you know there is one thing I have learned. My grandchildren are much more satisfied with grandma and I shopping and sharing quality fun time with them than they are with really expensive stuff that they get tired of quickly. They love to shop the dollar stores and beg to go to Goodwill. You gotta train them early!

I hope they stay like that. It was a little different for their mom. When she was a teenager she wouldn't be caught unmasked in Goodwill or anything like it. Of course to their mom's credit that has all changed now as she is a great bargain shopper.

I CAME BY IT HONEST

I come from a long line of bargain hunters and junk collectors. My mother, my father, my brother,my sisters, my nieces... all of us received the gene. Of course, it can get a little out-of-hand if the "inflow" far outweighs the "outgo". Daddy said before he died he would like to clean out his stash and start allover again. We are not hoarders as such but have a hard time throwing anything away that we think will be reused in the next 20 years.

WBFJ STAFF SECRETS?

Well, I probably lost you a few paragraphs ago. I'll talk to you later. The Lord has allowed me to have a very eventful life for a grandpa so I'll probably have a lot more to share. If I run out, I start telling secrets on the rest of the WBFJ staff. I have been around here 20 years...I know a lot!

One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 32:27. If it's too hard for you... give it to Him.

Infinity and Beyond!!!


Blogosphere...Here I come!

Stay tuned!