An amazing day today. The oldest of the Rick Blaha children has been blessed with 31 years of life outside the womb today. The time of our life is in God’s hand as He sees it. Each day on this earth is a blessing as we with our being we acknowledge Him in all our ways. Blessing Ricky with the blessing of the first born as only a father can, please encourage Ricky on his 31st birthday today.

We got started on this last night as Tim & Sarah St Clair and family, and Pam Tipmore joined our family in an early celebration. As part of the celebration we watched a video of a Tim St Clair and Ricky with others from the then Sophomore Class at Northland Baptist Bible College (2000-2001) as they were in a play ‘Beauty and the Beast: Northland Style”. Tim St Clair was the Beast and Ricky was Gaston. (There is no thought of encore at this time!!!!)

Thirteen years ago today I started a new job. I was hired basically on the recommendations of two others with whom I had worked at a previous place of employment. There was nothing on my resume that was of consequence to my being hired. The longest I had worked at any place of employment previously was five years. Now as I begin my thirteenth year I am thankful that the recommendations of two fellow workers was believed, that I have exceeded what their recommendation held.

My first 8 2/3 years at Davisco, Inc I worked as Quality Assurance of Software and Customer Support for our largest customer. For the last 3 1/3 years I have been in Software Development.

God has been good and strengthened me mentally and physically. Physically because of health challenges of 23 1/2 years and an accident 16 2/3 years ago. Mentally because I have been involved in learning dozens of facets of various technologies in the past year and a half, most of whose initials I have a hard time recalling.

My family always said that I was a “stick in the mud.” To tell you the truth, I am not exactly sure how that analogy pans out; but we all know what is meant by it. Well, this time I was. I knew that the roads were going to be bad, so I decided that I would hit the roads early to avoid traffic, melting ice, and possible accidents. To test the ground a little bit, the Polish in me decided that our back yard was the best place to test (man! I’m a genius). Hannah requested that I turn the GPS on my phone so that she could tell where I was on my way to work. I had forgotten to turn my GPS on when an hour later Hannah texted me saying that she was disappointed that I had not turned on my GPS. I then turned on my GPS for her. She then sent me a text message asking where I was. I was still at home “testing” the traction of my tires on the ground. Needless to say, Hannah got really giddy and turned into a paparazzi in between her laughing and snide remarks. I finally got fed up and frustrated that I went inside to start working from home. I texted my boss and told him the situation. He said to come in whenever I could come safely. I went back a couple hours later to try to dig my car out of the mud. I was able to move the car, but I also got it further in the mud. With Hannah’s help this time, we were able to move the car to stable ground. This is where it sat till I got home that evening after deciding to take the other car to work. When I returned home, I tried one last time to try to get my car to the driveway. It took less than a minute to get it up there. It’s funny to look back, but it wasn’t so much then. Hannah and I have done several things the hard way in order to learn important lessons. This is just one more. As Hannah put it – we did not get to play in snow this year; we got to play in mother nature’s other beauty – mud (or clay).  Moral of the story is “never let Josh test the car out in the yard.”

Truly humbled,

Josh

PS – Not much has been happening on here for a while. I hope that everyone has not given up hope. I still enjoy family news and updates.

PS2 – Ricky and Karlyn will have to share with us how the conference went that they spoke at in MD. Karla might be able to be a guest writer and give us a sample of her trip to India (I haven’t asked her yet). Soon we will be having our Annual Income Tax Celebration Dinner. So, there is plenty to talk about. Love you all!

In the last Presidential debate Senator Barak Obama demonstrated the following:

• When asked about USA Education costing more and not doing as good as other leading nations he immediately stated he wanted to spend more money. INDICATION: As president Senator Obama will ignore the stated problem and add to it when it comes to education.
• In response to a brief comment about ‘Joe the Plumber’ believing that Senator Obama’s tax plan would cost him more in taxes Senator Obama stated: Thats because he was watching one of Senator McCain’s commercials. INDICATION: Senator Obama believes the common citizen is not intelligent enough to understand tax proposals and their effects on their businesses.
• Senator Obama showed no concern about protecting the Constitution of the United States when asked about prospective judges to be nominated for the United States Supreme Court. INDICATION: Senator Obama does not intend to nominate judges who will uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Outside of that debate Senator Obama’s actions gives me reasons NOT to vote for him.

• Senator Obama’s campaign blacklists those who would ask questions in interviews that are not popular with his position in the tough issues. INDICATION: As president Senator Obama will support stifling any and all who opposes him including granting Nancy Pelosi and Henry Hyde the support for imposing the unconstitutional Fairness Doctrine.
• Senator Obama has a near history as well as a distant history of ties with those within our borders would destroy and damn the United States of American. (Note the problems that appear to arising concerning even his birth certificate.) Also, he has made fun of the accusation that his position is that of a socialist. He claims to have attended Harvard University and Columbia University (but apparently will not allow the release of those records), but doesn’t recognize socialism when that is what he proposes. INDICATION: He once again continues to hide his own past and abet those from whom he has learned so much.

Jesse turned sixteen on October 21st. Each and everyone wish him a best rest of your 16th year. Happy Birthday.

Jesse lookin

Jesse fishing at the Father and Son Campout.

Jesse and Cherith chillin

Jesse and a friend who looks up to him. May Jesse love and honor God first with all his life so that those who look up to him will always see God first.