New Beginnings

Those of you who know me understand that my life is accustomed to moving at a comparatively slow rate. Having been in EMS for a number of years, I’m used to working a lot of hours in a short timeframe and then having several days in a row off. My pace has been dramatically changed and I’m having a difficult time transitioning.

Recently, I accepted a government job that required my family and me to relocate to a more centralized area of the state. The move was hectic enough. Preparing to move, packing, cleaning, disconnecting utilities, reconnecting utilities, etc. are all taxing in themselves. Then, you make the move which requires you to live in total chaos as you unload, unpack and reset everything you’ve acquired in your lifetime back up. Through in the mix, a new job with a totally foreign schedule and you’ve got the makings of a major stress filled scenario.

I’m now a Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM person. I love that this new schedule allows me to be home every night with my gorgeous family, but I’ve quickly come to the realization that there isn’t enough hours in the day or enough energy in my body to do everything I used to do. Throw in the mix that I have recommitted my life to the service of Christ and that Lezlie and I feel led to participate and help out with our new church’s youth group on Wednesday and two church services on Sunday’s - where is the time to get stuff done that I used to have?

My wife is a natural at moving at warp speed and having multiple irons in the fire at one time. She is an excellent juggler. Me, not so much! I’m really having to work hard at it. Still, I’m confident that we’re right in the middle of where God wants us to be at this time in our lives. This move has been ordained since we first considered it. God has opened every door and His leading has been very clear. We have not had to work at making anything in this move happen. From finding our new home to finding our new church to Lezlie working out a deal that allows her to continue in her present role at her job, but work from home most of the week. Hallelujah! God is powerful, gracious, and merciful.

I’m confident that we’ll settle into a new routine and that I’ll adjust to working bankers hours. I’m thankful for the way God is working in our lives, for second (or many more than second) chances, for the amazing friends that God is putting into our lives, for my amazing family of whom I have been so blessed to have, for my career which is moving in the direction I had always envisioned it heading, and for a God who knows me by name, loves me despite of myself, and considers me His friend.

We The People by Ray Stevens!

90 Year-Old Veteran Of THREE Wars and Medal Of Honor Recipient Forced To Remove His Nation's Flag From His Lawn

Fox News - A Medal of Honor recipient in a dispute over his right to fly the American flag in his yard will have another week before D-Day -- when he'll be forced to take down the Stars and Stripes or face legal action.

Ninety-year-old Col. Van T. Barfoot, a veteran of three wars, initially was given a 5 p.m. Friday deadline to dismantle his flagpole or face a legal battle over violating an order from his townhouse community association in Henrico County, Va.

Barfoot, who fought in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, was told in July that he could not put up his freestanding flagpole in his Sussex Square neighborhood — but he installed it anyway.

On Tuesday, he says, he got a letter from the homeowners' association telling him the 21-foot pole he erected in September violates the community's aesthetic guidelines.

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Instead of a "thank you for faithful service in your call to duty (3 times)" a home owners association is telling the 90 year-old Medal of Honor recipient that his flag pole, in which he has proudly displayed his allegiance to the U.S., violates the association's aesthetic guidelines. Retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, distinguished service member did more in one battle than most soldiers do in their entire military careers. Read his Medal of Honor Citation for yourself. He is a highly decorated retired veteran of more than thirty years and three wars.

First of all, I HATE HOA's. Always have, always will. Their very existence is Socialistic in concept. HOA's do not pay a home owner's mortgage and/or their property taxes and therefore should NOT be allowed to tell a home owner what he/she can and cannot do on his/her property. No one bats an eye anymore at giving up the liberties that people like this notable American hero fought so selflessly to protect.

Right off the back, I can guarantee the argument that no one is forced to purchase a home in any community is going to come up. This is true and I can’t argue against it, but some things in this country ought to be sacred and the right to place a flag pole in your yard and proudly display your country’s flag should be one of them; especially when you take such good care to follow proper flag etiquette by raising the banner and lowering the banner at the proper times each day for more than thirty years. A flag pole with your nation’s flag on it isn't going to lower property values, the very thing HOA’s were charted to protect.

This is unpatriotic anytime, but particularly at a time when our soldiers are off fighting for our national interests. This HOA and any others with similar restrictions should be ashamed of themselves for spitting in the face of their motherland and all the fighting men and women who have answered the call to serve their countries interests. I’m pleased to see that U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va has taken up the cause of this patriot (although, I’m a bit surprised to find out that he is a Democrat, but I digress).

Even if you support the right of the HOA to disparage a person’s right to demonstrate their patriotism, exceptions can be made to any rule and if you can’t make an exception for a man who single handily destroyed two machine gun nests, stared down an enemy tank with a bazooka and destroyed it and captured 17 enemy combatants, and carried 2 fellow soldiers 1700 yards to safety all in one day, who can you make an exception for.

This HOA is a classic example of everything that is wrong with America and the decay that is eroding what makes America the greatest nation on earth. This isn’t a simple case of complying with the restrictions in the HOA guidelines. This is much much bigger and if you can’t see that, then perhaps you should go serve on the front lines for a period of time.