Another Runner

Uncle Eric entered the Burlington City Marathon in Vermont. After 15 miles he thought he was pulling a calf muscle, so he slowed to a walk for another mile and decided to stop there. To quote his wife, Aunt Kerie, "....he finished this Marathon last year. That's pretty good considering he broke his hip 4 years ago and has had multiple knee surgeries...not to mention his age...ahem. There's NO WAY I'd ever run 26 miles. I don't know how these guys do it?!?!?!?!"

I don't know how they do it either, but I'm proud of Uncle Eric and all the other runners in our family. I know they practice and train and do all those things that make them healthier, so they still get the benefits of their efforts. Best of all, Uncle Eric is looking for another marathon in which to run. You just can't keep a good man down!

God Bless you all! Love you all! Grandma for Grandpa and me

New Grandson-in-law!

By now you all know that Heather is getting married to a young man named Cole Harper, so I emailed them, asking for a little elaboration on the subject. I hit the jackpot! Cole wrote back! Need I say he is very articulate and personable. Now I'm dying to hear him preach. Read on and learn about the romance of Heather Seagle and Cole Harper.

We are getting married October 24th (a Saturday) of this year. We were actually looking at invitations just today. There is a chapel on the campus here at SBTS that is breathtaking that we'll be getting married in. I'm not usually one to go "gaga" over aesthetics. I'm simply excited to marry your granddaughter :) But the chapel in which we are getting married is simply breathtaking. On campus, it’s known as Broadus Chapel and is true to its southern heritage. Built in 19th century Georgian architecture it really is loaded with southern charm (we figured we might as well milk it for all its worth, that is the whole "south of the Mason Dixon Line" feel!")

Concerning our plans for the future, our first goal after getting married will be to get Heather graduated with her Bachelor's degree. She has about 2-3 semesters left (or roughly a year and a half). Other than that, we are both anxious and excited to serve the Lord in the church setting. I've already been applying for jobs as a youth pastor, and an associate pastor, but those inquiries have thus far not yielded a call back or anything of that nature. As I type this I have yet another cover letter on my task bar that I need to proof read :) (But then again I've only been applying within the state.) Heather and I are kind of expecting not to land the first real ministerial job until after she graduates, so we can look nationwide for a church that really needs a couple to get their hands dirty so to speak, and dig in to discipling believers, sharing the gospel and all that fun stuff. (Heather has an incredible ability to provide counseling to people who are struggling in their walk with God - and has a truly supernatural gifting to memorize large passages of scripture and provide untold amounts of healing to people whose lives are just broken, and in desperate need of the power of the Gospel.

I myself enjoy preaching probably more than anything in the world. I do so whenever an opportunity opens up. I almost can't get enough of it. Heather is extremely encouraging to me in this area as well. I'm also a bit of a nerd and enjoy meteorology almost as much. I grew up in North Central Indiana, where we had frequent severe thunderstorms and to this day they make me act like a little kid! When I was finally old enough to have my license before I moved to Louisville, (still in Kokomo IN) I actually tried to do some tornado chasing, though I never really did get that close to one. Trees were always a bit of a problem! I grew up obsessed with thunderstorms and the like.

My decision to attend seminary and Bible College was somewhat gradual. I perceived a call on my life to preach the gospel and pastor when I was around 17. I always enjoyed preaching and teaching to help out my youth pastor but I wrestled with it for a while. I had other dreams in mind at that time. I had my heart set on being a type News correspondent that did reporting from the Middle East and weird stuff like that. But I had this overwhelming desire to devote my life, and even my vocation to winning people to Christ and discipling believers to maturity. This propensity within me was pointed out to me by pastors and other Christians I was serving with at the time as well. I finally realized that I would have to make a choice and reconcile myself to the fact that the desire God gave me to teach, preach, do hospital visitation, etc. was indicative of a call to pastor. (Although to this day, I still am a news junkie and, sorry to say, still plan on devoting 2 weeks out of the year in 2011 to doing some SERIOUS storm chasing with my twin brother....old habits die hard I suppose...especially the dorky ones.)

Meeting Heather was like a breath of fresh air.
She had a way about her from the beginning that was so curious and so pleasant that she could lighten the atmosphere of any room and not even know it. She was also a very honest person - though when I first met her I was pursuing another relationship and was content to be "just friends." I had been pursuing the same woman for years, and was in the beginning completely blind to what God in his ironic, grace had set right in front of me. Eventually the woman I was dating at the time decided to end our relationship and once again, I was single. HEATHER.... bless her heart. She was very patient with me. I can't even begin to express how much I would trip over my words and make an utter fool of myself. I'm one of those fellows that get really nervous and will accidentially spit when I talk....a LOT. So I spent the first 3 months fumbling over my words and saying stupid things that didn't make sense: all that jazz. Thank goodness Heather could see past my awkward shyness.


Anyway, I hope that gives you a little bit to work with in terms of getting to know me until we meet.
I too, am very curious to find out about you guys! Where did you grow up? How did you and your husband meet?
What was Heather's father like as a kid? (I couldn't resist.) I've heard you travel frequently. And favorite places? Wild stories to match? I'm all ears if you have any.

I think you can see your new cousin has some very inspiring, dare I say stimulating, characteristics. I suspect there will be no boredom in this marriage.

Mark that date: October 24, 2009 in Louisville, KY. I think I am as eager for the time to come as Cole is.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

Recognize the guy in the middle of this photo?

Neither did I, but I do recognize the guy on the left hand side and he was in a 15K .....but wait, let's have Uncle David tell us what he was doing: "10 days ago I ran with a couple of guys on a 15K in Big Basin California. The trail was difficult and even had some rock climbing along the way. At the end I beat Savas by 7 seconds. It was 2:00.42 to 2:00:35. I was all excited until I saw the results and saw who came in right before me." To make a long story short, the man in front of Uncle D. was a Jeff Seigel.
I wish we had a better picture of the race, but this was the best we could do. Now I'm hoping Uncle Eric and Uncle Den took photos at their race and will send me the results, so I can blog them. (DID YOU TWO GET THE HINT?)

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

Aunt Kerie, Jeff and Skyler

came to visit on my birthday weekend. The boys fished (Sky caught a huge large-mouth bass) in our back yard and swam in Mosquito Lake and kept Grandpa and me entertained just by being here. Of course we had birthday cupcakes and the Happy Birthday song.
On Sunday we visited "Wagon Wheels Park" and rode the hay wagon to feed the animals. You can see Jeff and Sky riding and watching and, no, Sky didn't bring his own popcorn. That little bowl is full of the food provided for us to feed the animals. That's what I am doing to the camel in the third picture.












And a great time was had by all,
Love you all, Grandma for both of us

Don't tell Uncle Jeff I blogged this,

but I'm so thrilled by his words, that I thought I'd take this opportunity, while he's in Europe with Jon, where he can't do anything to stop me, to show you the heartwarming Mother's Day gift I received when Grandpa and I visited him and Aunt Deb. As we entered the church that Sunday morning for worship, someone handed me a devotional booklet composed by different members of the church. These thoughts were written by Uncle Jeff.

Allow God to Control

Scripture: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

It has taken me many years to really understand how blessed I am. I have a wonderful wife, three great sons, a profession I enjoy, great friends and family, and a church that welcomes me back each week to teach me more. Most Importantly, I have learned to accept God's hand, His grace and mercy in my life. I've always been one to drive myself hard, a real believer of being committed to a purpose and/or a cause. Whether family, personal or professional, I have always strived to give it my all. I have always been a believer that you become what you make of yourself; I have tried to teach my children that as well. I don't think it is necessarily a bad trait but somewhere along the way, if unchecked, it can lead to life centered on self. I think I was on that path, and without an awakening in me that exposed my separation from God, I was destined to an unfulfilled life, one that at best was frustrated having only a "convenient and casual" relationship with the Lord.

We can become so caught up in who we are or what we have accomplished that it becomes a selfish separation from God. Sometimes it is too easy to become full of yourself, to think that you are in total control. I guess we like to know we are in control, or at least feel as though we are. When I meditate, pray and quiet myself, I become very humbled when I recognize what David did in the Psalm. For God to be mindful of me, given His power and deity, can only be understood as His mercy and grace in my life. Being humbled with that understanding, I try to live my life in a way to give back, to not always look for "what's in it for me", after all, who am I when I consider all that God has done.
My prayer is:
Our Father in Heaven, teach us the importance of trusting you. Allow us to live our lives with our eyes open to see those in need around us. We consider the creation of the earth and stars and know how awesome you really are. What a miracle that you offer us a chance to commune and personally know you. Give us the power and courage to accept your control in our lives and to use it to serve others rather than to heap benefits upon ourselves. Give us the strength to acknowledge you in all we do or accomplish and to accept your grace in our lives. Amen

Thanks for letting me share my happiness with you. Uncle Jeff's devotions have a lesson and a prayer we can all make use of. It's just such a thrill to hear it from someone I love and admire so much.

Love you all, CAKFO, Grandma for Grandpa and me

Eric Santell surprised us with the news of a new used, red car. He stated, "My car is a 2006 Saturn Vue with 38,000 miles and climbing fast...From home to school it is about 30 miles, so on average, I drive at least 60 miles per day."

Eric, we'll expect a spin around the Adirondacks next time we're in your area.

Wouldn't it be fun, if all the Seagle clan showed up in Stony Creek for a ride with Eric?

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me

What's Justin smiling about?

Who wouldn't smile upon receiving the Cub Scout "The Arrow of Light Award." That's as high as a boy can go before actually becoming a Boy Scout, which Justin plans to do this year. He'll join Ben in a very active troop - they camp out, even in the snow - in Cincinnati.
If you asked Justin, he'd probably say his favorite badges he earned on the way to receiving this prestigious award were Forester, Outdoorsman, Engineer and Geologist. It took a lot of focused work for Justin to receive "The Arrow of Light" and Grandpa and I are very proud of him.
A very kind friend took all those badges and patches and placed them on an award board. Justin is holding it in the photo and I'm sure it will soon adorn the walls of the Amend home. It also contains an arrow which appears to be, well, straight, sturdy and to the point - like Justin. We're confident he'll be as successful in Boy Scouting as he was in the Cubs.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me