No, This Is Not a Pre-April Fools Joke

Place: Bohol Tropics restaurant. Tagbilarn, Bohol, Philippines
Time: 6:30 PM. February 3, 2010
Event: Evening Supper. Last night on Bohol before heading home to America.

There she was sitting across the table from me invited to share a meal with us by a mutual friend. It was the first time I recall seeing her. She had been attending the pastor's seminar for three days but, hey, I was not looking for a prospective bride so I never noticed her. Now that the seminar was finished and we were at the table together I did notice her. Though we spoke but 4 or 5 sentences to one another during the meal, still when she left there was a lingering memory. But I didn't even remember her name.

By the time my companions and I arrived home from the Philippines there were the usual five or six emails from various pastors thanking us for coming and giving testimonials of what god had done in their lives as a result of attending the seminar. Her email was one of the six. Who is Christie Oscaris? Which pastora (female pastor) was she at the seminar? She introduced herself as the woman at the supper and hoped I remembered her. How could I not remember her - she was the only woman at the table with four other men.

To hit the 'reply' button and respond or go on to the next email. That was the question. Perhaps it was the lingering memory from the supper, but as most of you know by now, I obviously hit the 'reply' button. And I have kept hitting the 'reply' button until one day it was her turn to reply to me. In response to a proposal of marriage she hit the 'reply' button and said YES!

As I shared the news with family first, the universal response was, "What!?" (shock) and then the congratulations. Perhaps I should have sent out an email announcing I had met a woman. And then followed up this email with weekly status reports. This would have eliminated the shock factor. But I did not want to be answering questions every week on this matter. Besides, shock is good to get the adrenalin flowing! So now that the shock is worn off and people can process some information, here are some details. In other words, answers to questions asked.

Christie is a Christian. Yes, we have both prayed about this. No, Christie is not nuts. (I may be but she is definitely not nuts.) Christie speaks English. Christie is a widow whose husband died 18 months ago from a sudden liver problem. Her husband was a pastor and she has been asking the Lord for another pastor so she could continue to be a pastor's wife. (OK, maybe she is a little nuts.) Christie is 33 years old. She has 3 children. And yes she is beautiful. (Spoken by one who is in love with her.) Her children are Crisielyn (18), John (10), and Shekinah (8).

The wedding is planned for April 24th. After the wedding I will return home and begin the process of getting a "spousal visa" so Christie and the kids can come to the U.S. This process usually takes six months before the visa is issued. So realistically it will be sometime in November when we get to have the house filled with new family members.


Now for a picture of the future bride. There are three women in this picture that are special to me. The lady in pink was healed of breast cancer the previous night during the seminar. The lady on the far right was also healed of a "throat problem" that was painful and made it impossible for her to speak above a whisper. Both women wanted a picture with us and then the other women joined in the picture. Christie is the beautiful woman in the middle! (Of course, I am the tall, handsome one among the men.)

Now that this news is posted I can resume posting of various topics which are of "Not so urgent matters." Also, if this picture is actually posted, it means I have learned to post pictures with my blog and a whole new world is before me. I'll keep you posted.

Blessings

The Elusive Magical Exercise Machine

Today was a beautiful day. It was so beautiful that it was almost a sin not to be on the golf course. So Lord, I repent for not golfing today! Now that this matter is resolved we can talk about more serious matters.

In my quest to stay in some semblance of healthy shape I purchased a bike three months ago. Just in time for the winter weather to cancel out all practical use for the bike. But the bike is only good for the cardiovascular system (and my legs). It does very little for the gut. So for trimming of the abs comes the necessary sit-up bar. What am I thinking? Sit-ups? I hate sit-ups. How much use will the sit-up bar gets - well let's say it may sale some day with a "slightly used" sign on it. However, now that I am set up to get physically fit, along comes a TV ad for some walking treadmill/machine that will keep you fit by simply walking. In fact this device is so efficient that it gives you more of a work out than other running treadmills. But this super efficient machine does not go far enough. Soon there will be a real breakthrough exercising device. I am eagerly waiting for the day when they come up with an 'exercising TV'. I am not talking about an exercise DVD but a real TV that exercises your thighs, abs, gluts, heart, ear lobes and pinkies all while just sitting watching some program. And in the midst of pondering this great future machine it occurred to me that we already have this available for one month of the year. It is called March Madness!

As I sit and watch the ballgames I will arise from the couch to grab a drink or reach for more "vitamins". Each time I arise I exercise my abs. Walking to the kitchen for more refills must surely cause my thighs to cry out for relief from the constant walking back and forth. The 'gluts' - whatever they are can just be ignored. The heart rate climbs in proportion to the closeness of the game. The sustained heart rate that everyone talks about is easily attained if your team is marginal and can not achieve a blowout. Ear lobes and pinkies get their share of workout just from being there to squeeze, pull, or twist to relieve nervous energy and to abate panic attacks.
Yes, March Madness is the true magical exercise experience. Oops, I just dropped some popcorn on the floor. That's great. Just bending over to pick it up exercises the abs. That's one less sit-up to do this evening. Hooray for dropped popcorn!

In three days I and four others will be heading to Honduras to do some construction work at New Life Children's Home in Jalaca. Our assignment, dig a hole 8'(L)x8'(W)x10'(H) and build a septic tank inside the hole. We'll see how our backs hold up through the week. A week of this work is good for a year worth of sit-ups. I can see it now, take that sit-up bar back to the store.

I put out the last of the bird seed this evening. When the birds finish what's out in the bird feeders they will be on their own. This is another sign that spring is just about here! Next it will time for the hummingbirds! Hooray.

It has been one year since starting this blog. Looking back I wish I had written more consistently. But I also am surprised that I wrote as much as I did. Actually, everything over twelve posts should be considered miraculous for me. So we head into year number 2. Hopefully many more posts are to come.

Blessings