HAPPY BUDDIES DAY!!!!

HAPPY BUDDIES DAY!!!
Forward to all your friends, including me And don't tell me you're too BUSY for this.
Remember what BUSY stands for? B-Being, U-Under,S-Satin's,Y-Yoke. (I added this)
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only Buddies keep You Going!
Today is ' online buddy day '. Send this to your online friends - even me, if I'm one of them

Look I let people have a day of fun?

The sack lunch, (long but good)l

The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.
'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base'His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'
She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.
She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me.
'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane.
When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand.
With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier...a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'
I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You all.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to ' The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

The Engagement

Jacob,age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Florida , are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a tore. Jacob suggests they go in. Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"
The Pharmacist answers, "Yes.."
Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart Medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds "
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"
Pharmacist:"Definitely."
Jacob: "How about suppositories?"
Pharmacist: "You bet!"
Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."
Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"
Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"
Pharmacist: "We sure do."
Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"
Pharmacist: "All speeds and Sizes."
Jacob: "Adult diapers?"
Pharmacist: "Sure." Jacob: "We'd like to use this store as our
Bridal Registry."

These last two weeks sure have been a blessing for me.

Yes the week is coming to a end. Friday afternoon Scott will be leaving to go back to Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Just to give you a up date on all we got done.
World Bus- Replace transmission, (it works)
Ocean Bus- Pulled head off and repaired with new head gasket, (it works)
Green Toyota- Problems running rough, Did a lot of things to this, found problem out with his dad's help. Coil was bad. ( it works)
Gelh (Bobcat)- Found out the starter was shorting out every thing, Not fixed yet? Need a new starter and funds are running low for this month. Should be back up during Sept.
One of our staff's car (Gio)- Had some troubles with the front end. Scott did that one. (it works)
Today I hope to finish up on every one of the vehicles oil changes. Yes maybe now starting next month I can be up to date on oil changes. Since I have been here I have been falling behind on them.
Over all I believe we got every thing fixed that was broken. I know today there might be something else that might break. But it sure is a great feeling to know that our vehicles are up and all running. At this time I want to say thank you to Pastor John and Billy, for letting us have Scott for these last two weeks. It really has been a BLESSING.
Now I want to say THANK YOU to Scott himself. I know there were times that we both scratched our heads and said why didn't that work? But by His grace we both can walk away now and say Thank you Jesus Christ for His wisdom and letting us have this time to become friends.

Here are a couple of pictures of things we had to work on.

Have you shaprpened your axe?

A young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job.
"That depends," replied the foreman. "Let's see you fell this tree."
The young man stepped forward and skillfully felled a great tree.Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, "You can start Monday." Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by. Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, "You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today." Startled, the young man replied, "I thought you paid on Friday."
"Normally we do," said the foreman. "But we're letting you go today because you've fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you've dropped from first place on Monday to last place today."
"But I'm a hard worker," the young man objected. "I arrive first,leave last and even have worked through my coffee breaks!"
The foreman, sensing the young man's integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, "Have you been sharpening your axe?"
The young man replied, "No sir, I've been working too hard to take time for that!"
Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to
"sharpen the axe."
In today's world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?

I have not heard from you guys in a while.

I just want remind you of my e mail address. It is
toms@alcbahamas.org
I would love to hear from some people, I have not heard from before. This is my main way of keeping in contact with the world. I use my blog and I know a lot of you now use Facebook. I am very happy just to use this site. I do somethings on Facebook, but this is my link.
Hey if you have a short story or a note that you want to pass on to others. Please e mail and I would love to do that.
Well I sure have been busy here and loving every minute. maybe not every one. It has been a blessing for me to have Scott here to get some what caught up. This next week I would love to have the Ocean Bus up, Toyota up and running good. The Gehl, which it looks like a Bobcat up and running. These are just a few things I see happening this week. You know God willing.

Hey I just you guys to remember who I am.

Hey it is Saturday.

Yes these weeks have been flying by. August 22, 2009. Well I have shown you some pictures on what we have been dealing while. Okay the guys below are from my church back in Florida, Calvary Chapel Ft. Laud. Yes they came over to help us get the place some what cleaned up. The reason is today Patmos students are coming in from all over the world. Yes they are here by now, but they get a great chance to see the island for themselves. Yes when they flew in, the staff took their bags and things from them. Then I believe they were handed a letter and a map on how to get to the Adventure learning Centre. Yes they have to walk here. That is 11 miles away. So like I said they should be showing up around 5pm this afternoon. This is a way that Pastor Chet believes to bring a group of students that really don't know each other and a time to get to learn about themselves.
Okay back to the work that the crew came from Ft Laud to do. They painted and repaired the barn up stairs. Repainted the Camp House, plus Cabin #6. These places are where the Patmos students will be staying during their time here, 4 months. Plus they just did all that was needed to make this place shine and look great for them.
Plus Scott, he really is here to help me out. He will be staying one more week. I am so blessed for that alone. Really the only thing we did repair was the World Bus. The transmission replacement. The Ocean Bus head is not ready until Monday. The Gehl, needs a starter and that will not be in until this next week. The Toyota, we believe needs the timing belt move a tooth. Plus I still have other tings too to fix. So I am blessed and highly favor in my Lord Jesus Christ for him to stay another week. Maybe by then we can have most of the tings fixed and running again.

These are some pictures of the tings we are working on.

Work, work and more work.

Yes for these last four days it has been a big time to get things fixed around here. Scott came here to be that shot in the arm for me. Well Sunday we started to took the transmission out of the Solar Bus and by Monday night the World Bus was back on the road. I am so blessed to have such great help.
So then Tuesday we started out taking the head off of the Ocean Bus. Took is down to have these guys true it and clean it and even put new valve guides in. Scott and I really wanted to get the head back by Thursday. I called them last night and they have not had the man power to get that done.
So we started another job. Gehl, like a Bobcat, I have had troubles with this for about two months now. It burn a small part up. I was told I didn't need that part to run the machine. So Wednesday and Thursday we worked on that. I had to call a guy in for some help. He came and in a hour the starter was out and he believes that is the main problem. So now I need to find a starter for the Gehl. Today I will make some phone calls.
The Toyota, we tried and tried even harder to fix that. No it still is running rough as you push down the gas peddle. We have put in new wires, plugs and cap. Then a fuel filter,
The reason I have not been putting pictures and thing on this, is the inter net has been down now since Monday morning. I hope to be able to put some pictures in tonight to show you all that has been going on.

This is Scott,

Hey everyone, I am still around.

Yes these last weeks really have been rough ones. You know the World bus has been down now for a month or so. Then last Saturday the ocean bus went out. The jungle bus has a broken wind shield. So these last weeks I have been trying to keep things running. So I have not had that much good news to share. That is why during that time I have not written. You know how much I love to send pictures and stories to you all.
Okay now I have some good news to share. This last Saturday, Calvary Ft. Laud. sent over here some help. There are 5 guys came here to help us out. One of these guys has been working on cars boats and you name it, he has worked on it. Yesterday after church we took the transmission out of the World bus. Then started taking the transmission out of the Solar bus. That one we had some trouble with. But today we plain on, God Willing, to take it out and put it in the World bus. It that happens, we will have one bus up. Then we can start work on the Ocean bus. That to me is a God sent helper. So during this week I will (prayerfully) be telling you all of the tings that we are working on and pictures too.

Just a small note.

I'm Rich ..... no, I didn't win the lottery .
This morning I searched my wallet.
It was empty.
Then, I checked my pockets
I found a few coins
I then searched my heart and found you.
Then, I realized how rich I really am..
Thanks for being my friend and e-mail buddy!
May you be as rich as I am
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

From CBS Subday Morning- Ben Stein

I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it.. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... ists attack, school s, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was ed, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed ). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how , crude, vulgar and articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

What a wonderful way to explain it.

A sick man turned to his doctor,
as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said,
'Doctor, I am afraid to die
Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know?
You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,
and as he opened the door,
a dog sprang into the room
and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
'Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before.
He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here,
and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of ,
but I do know one thing....
I know my Master is there and that is enough.

This was my bedroom when I came to town many years ago.

Have some great news.

I called over to my mom's home last night. I talked with Bonnie, she told me the yard sale is over and they sold almost every thing they were trying to get rite of. Then Tuesday and Wednesday a guy came in to buy up all the rest of the things. So right now Bonnie told me the house is pretty much empty and they are now just trying to clean it up. They are not sure what the next step will be. I think it is to put the house on the market and sell it. Or maybe now they might be thinking of renting it out? I have not talked with Betsy yet. I will call her today to see what happen next.
There is a room that we as a family didn't touch until Betsy could do the cleaning first. It is the old Florida room. This place is where I use to sleep and it was like my own room when I came down to visit. The picture above you can see how much stuff was in that room. So during Tuesday and Wednesday Betsy and the s started to clean it out. The reason that we didn't do it before was Betsy knew that there was a real nice diamond ring in there and she didn't want us to throw it out. So they let her do the starting part. She found it and boy she is so happy that she did. Plus while cleaning this room out.They found a lot of my baby things. You know baby shoes and pictures of me. I really did know that my dad saved all that. I have never seen them. I guess my sister will hold on to those things. Okay I need to get going now. Talk with you guys again soon.

It sure good to be back home (Bahamas)

Yes my time over there has come to a end. We as a family really did work together well. We did the yard sale and I saw our family willing to get the job done. I am not sure what all it left from it. I will call my sisters today and see. On Saturday a guy Eric stopped by and ask if he could buy up everything that we were trying to sell. We all came together and put our two cent in. But is came down to our sister's call. She is the one that has been trying to keep us together on the same page. She and her hubby have been the ones to take care of mom and do what ever was needed for her. So it all came down to her call on this. As I left on Sunday she told me maybe we will go with the sell out? But I have not heard any more on that. The guy did come back while I was there on Sunday morning and he even sent his mom out to check and see all that there is.
I ask that you keep my family in prayer. The reason is that two of my sisters are staying until this next week-end and then. It will only be Betsy and Lenny left to finish all that is needed. I will keep in touch and see if there is any thing I can do too.

Yes this is after the $350.00

A day in history was made.yesterday, we got rite of stuff.

Yes we have been working our back ends off. Trying to get rite of things (junk). It sure has been a lot of hard work doing this. Yesterday we kicked off our Moving Sale. It really was not to bad, at first we received some people that don't understand, we need to bonce back and forth on the prices. This one woman just kept saying two dollars for that, and my sister would say $5.00. Then the woman say $2.00. Just would not budge. I was watching her and she kept added things to this pile and say $2.00. Folks I went up to her and said NO. Now I know that is not Christian why of doing things. But now it was she was stealing. I ask her to leave. She came back in a little while and bought something else. I really did under set my sister on how she would not come up any.
But over all I think we did okay. I heard we made around $350.00. But we have even more today to sell. I will take another picture right after I am done here writing.
I went to Calvary Chapel last night and saw a couple of people. It was nice to get out and just walk around and enjoy the service. I will be flying out today around 6pm. So I will be back home tonight. I look forward in seeing my family over there very much. Plus I get my old bad back. I have been sleeping on a sofa since I got here. It is not to bad, but I am in the Florida room and I try to get to sleep around 10pm. The family is still up and they kept on walking through the room each time they wanted to go outside. So sleeping has not been the best. Plus I am not really feeling to good this morning. I think it is a cold coming on. I am not use to all this air cond. I would be working outside and come in and take a rest. It has been cold in this house.
Okay so I am out of here and let us see what God has up His sleeve next in my life.

Getting ready for yard sale. Friday night.