Corn Nuts, One of My Favorites

January 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I was happy to discover roasted corn nuts in the Jerusalem market. Well, . . . not those Corn Nuts®, but close enough to satisfy my salty snack craving. These corn nuts are from Spain, but they taste identical to Corn Nuts®, and that makes me really happy.

When we are in the States, we usually spend a lot of time on the highways, and I have a few favorite road snacks: Jack in the Box tacos (usually 2/99¢, but even better at 3/99¢!), Corn Nuts®,  and quick stop (i.e. gas station snack bar) burritos when we are driving in west Texas. Wow, my mouth’s watering just thinking about those treats!

Here’s a bin of Spanish corn nuts at the Jerusalem market. 

Filed Under: Family Life, Life in Israel, Photography, Texas

Happy Birthday, Grace!

January 8, 2010 by 3 Comments

Early this morning, six years ago, I stood next to the midwife near the foot of my wife’s delivery bed. I was taking it all in, doing my best to encourage my lovely bride to finish the task that was hers – but mostly standing there numb trying to take it all in.

While “our” delivery was a relatively quick process start to finish, time seemed to drag on. As each stage came and went the midwife seemed more excited than I was, but I was taking it all in with great amazement and wonder.

Finally, our daughter’s head crowned and suddenly there she was! It seemed quicker than the flash of a flashbulb; and in one motion the midwife caught her and delivered her into my wife’s arms. 

I hope that one moment in time, a flashbulb of a moment, will never leave my memory. I pray that through any future sickness, injury or old age God will be kind to me, allowing me to treasure that sweet and amazing moment until my last breath.

Happy Birthday, Grace!

Filed Under: Family Life, Time Capsule

I’m Back . . . I Think

January 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

My slow blogging of late hasn’t been planned. Rather, it is the result of a number of things, not the least of which has been a lack of desire.

Just before Christmas, I thought I had come down with the swine flu, but it turned out to be something else that included a pretty serious Strep-B infection. Thankfully, I seem to be nearing the end of that awful experience.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend who is leading a seminary group on an Israel study tour. My friend even let me teach a little, which is always a blessing.

Some have expressed a concern for me since I have bid farewell to baseball, asking how I’m doing emotionally and such. Really, I’m doing fine. It was a great opportunity to be involved in Israel Baseball like I was, but it is time to move on.

We are transitioning in ways that we are not always able to share in this forum, but do appreciate our friends’ continued interest in our well being and vocation.

Recently, I’ve been learning much about disagreeing more agreeably, and God has given us a graduate seminar in that topic. May God give us grace to succeed.

Filed Under: Family Life

13 Years Ago Today

December 24, 2009 by 1 Comment

Thirteen years ago today, Christmas Eve 1996, Colleen and I met on a blind lunch date at the Chinese Kitchen in Odessa, Texas.

Today, we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Jerusalem, and Grace took this photo for us.

We wish each of you a Merry Christmas. 

Filed Under: Family Life

Farewell Israel Baseball

December 22, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Twelve years. That’s how long I was intimately involved in the activities of the Israel Association of Baseball: umpire, umpire trainer, club team coach, national team coach, fitness instructor, board member, peace envoy, guidance counselor and who knows what else.

Mine was an unlikely beginning: As I was walking down King David street, I heard the sound of a ball hitting a bat come from behind the YMCA. Curious about that sound, I went around the building to see, to my utter surprise, a baseball practice. I stood around watching, making mental notes of things that could be improved, and when the players took a break, I asked the coach if he would mind if I made some suggestions. He was receptive to my input and asked if I wanted to umpire the scrimmage game that was about to start.

That’s how it started. A twelve year relationship that has taken me to places like Cyprus; Moscow; north, central and south Italy; and Philadelphia, Omaha, Kansas City and Pittsburgh for various competitions. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to participate in two Jewish Olympics, once as an umpire, once as a coach. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to travel to Jordan as a peace envoy in a failed effort to forge a relationship between Israel Baseball and Jordan Baseball. A relationship that gave me the opportunity to meet Major League Baseball owners, players, scouts, and executives.

But most importantly it was a relationship that gave me the opportunity to invest in the lives of young men, to see boys mature into men who will one day move beyond baseball to be soldiers and university students and build careers and families. And hopefully do those things better because of something they learned in one of my programs.

I’m thankful to those who offered any type of support to my efforts whether it was a financial gift, a kind word, friendship, a word of wise counsel, or by running interference for me with my adversaries.

Now, it’s time for my four-month leave of absence to officially become a resignation. Thank you Israel Association of Baseball, it’s been a great ride.

Here are a few pics of my last act as Israel Baseball national team coach.

Filed Under: Baseball, Family Life
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