My Favorite Non-Biblical Quote - It says it all!

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt 1858 – 1919

"Where are the nine?"

I've seen a lot the last couple of weeks about what people are thankful for. I think that is a great thing. I wonder though, to whom are they thankful? We say all the time how thankful we are for this and for that. But how often do we stop and consider to whom we owe ALL thanks. The following passage ought to serve as a powerful reminder that all of us, and I mean all of us are blessed beyond measure. Certainly life is not always easy, but there is much to be thankful for. Have you stopped and thanked the one to whom you owe your thanks? I wonder, are you one of the nine or one of the very few who come back to the feet of your Master and give Him the thanks He alone is due.

"And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."
Luke 17:11-19

Which will you be?

May you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday and may you thank the One who matters most. To Him be all glory, and power, and majesty. Jesus Christ is Lord of all or not Lord at all.

In His Service,

Micah

My Son's Poem About My Six Year Battle with Lyme Disease

My 14 year old son Zachary wrote this the other day. He has watched me fight my illness for over six years now. He has missed so much, years I should have been there playing with him, wrestling, whatever, he has missed. At times I've been too sick to get out of bed. I've suffered so much pain and he has had to watch me endure it. He has to help me out of the floor when I fall. He has had to help me to bed when the seizures have come. It has taken its toll on him but he has come a long way. He went through some angry years at God and there are still days I know he wonders why. He has learned to try and see God's hand in all of it. He is an incredible young man.

He wrote this the other day. I just thought it was good and shared so much of what my illness has put him and really our family through. So parents, when you think your trials only affect you, remember they affect your family just as much if not more.

He wrote this:

My senses have faded, my mind has gone numb,
I just feel so jaded, it strikes me dumb.

A decade and a half, he's spent serving you,
the rod and the staff, is far from his due.

I don't know your plan, don't pretend to know why,
All this on one man, all the pain in his eyes.

This is my plea to you, this is my heart,
Come down, pull us through, before we're torn apart.

I close with this, God is on His throne. I trust Him fully. He is sovereign in my life. If there is a valley to walk through, I accept it as the smallest portion of the cross he bore for me. To God be all glory and power and praise.

To my son, I say thank you and I love you.

Dad

Samuel's First Pee Pee in the Potty

I'm coming Momma! I'm a big boy now!!!

Today was a momentous day in the Mauldin household. My wife put Samuel on the potty and by the shear luck of timing and his bladder the little man went pee pee in the potty! Of course the house burst into applause, praising him as if he'd just won the Olympic Gold! He, of course, being 19 months old looked at us all like we had lost our mind. Don't get me wrong, he LOVED the praise, but hadn't the foggiest idea what all the commotion was about.

So, for the rest of the day my wife faithfully put him on the potty every time she would change his diaper. He'd just sit there and look at his weenie.

It is going to be a LONG road to potty training land! ;-)

Love you all!

Micah

Most of these pictures were taken at a recent visit to the Fair Grounds park. Samuel had a blast! We just had fun watching him explore and have fun. The kid is fearless!

Bubba knows everything, and he showed it all to me!

Ok Bubba! Let's do that slide thing again!

Woopie!!!! OH man, a diaper wedgie!!! :-o

Daddy, I love you, but I am MUCH too busy for sugars!

Can you tell from my hair I had a rough night?
No sheets, no covers, stripped them all, a regular habit of Samuels!