I had my blog almost done for today and was about ready to sign off and suddenly, my Nook started typing gibberish letters and wiped out the whole thing. That has happened all too frequently lately and I don't know the cause; but it is terribly frustrating. Because of it doing this, I even "save" my document after every paragraph, but to no avail this time. Unfortunately, it may be time to get something new. In the mean time this blog comes to you from my office computer today.

As I said the first time around, It is a great day. Not a great weather day, since we are supposed to maybe have more snow and the temperature is supposed to drop again. But it is a great day because Ms. Kate and I are celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary. It has been a wonderful and exciting adventure sharing these past forty nine years with her. It seems impossible to believe that we have been married for 49 years and my sister is rapidly coming up on their 50th wedding anniversary. I remember as a child that our neighbors, "old" Mr. and Mrs. Knapp had their 50th wedding anniversary and it was a really grand affair, Then my Grandma and Grandpa Heumann had their 50th wedding anniversary and they were old as elephants, or so it seemed. We have a picture of their celebration hanging in the hallway and they still look old to me and in truth, they most likely were not much older than Kate and I are now. It makes me wonder sometimes just how ancient we look to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We were supposed to go to Nashville, TN today and spend the night. That's where we went on our honeymoon. But, --- winter storm Remus got in the way of our plans so we are staying in Evansville. I booked us a room at the local casino/hotel for tonight. That may seem a bit silly to stay in a hotel only five miles or so from the house but then we are young enough, at least mentally, to still enjoy the silly things in life. We'll have dinner at Cavannaugh's, the pricey place there at the casino. I hope the food is as good as my wallet wants it to be. Besides, our room is "free", although in reality we know what it costs  to earn a "free" room at a casino resort of any kind.

As I look at our past forty-nine years, it has been a real adventure that many couples would not have survived. If my math is correct, we have lived in 21 different homes, 13 states, although a couple were repeats, and I have lived in 4 foreign countries, one of which was a repeat and Kate and the kids got to accompany me on that one. We've have 3 daughters that are truly "good people" in every sense of the word, and five wonderful grandchildren,. But we also lost three more children prior to birth. Ms. Kate has had 2 heart attacks and a double bi-pass, a stroke, and a knee replacement. I've been run over by a truck by my boss back in 1977, and then a couple of years ago had to have shoulder and bicep reconstruction from a series of falls. I've had a very successful career as a military professional having gone from Airman Basic to Colonel in my 32 years. and have spent the last decade as a pastor of two wonderful small churches. And through all of that --- I can only say GOD IS GOOD, and I praise His name everyday and offer up prayers of gratitude.

Take a look at your life today and see and try to count all of the ways in which God has been the guiding factor in your decisions and in your life. I think it may bring you to your knees in gratitude. Have a blessed day!