2013

I've just come from Nikki and Steve's where a party is in full force.  They are great about inviting their neighbors and friends over and tonight they are playing Mexican Train dominos, it was the biggest game I've ever seen with lines extending everywhere since 8 people were playing.  The food was great, the house was filled with the sounds of many children of various ages all having fun.  I can only imagine what it will be like to clean up in the morning!

I sat in a recliner and had a chance to reread the book so carefully prepared by Karen Cress at the time of Nan's passing.  How good it was to see the photos which reach from the time she was a baby until the end when she was very ill.  There are so many precious memories tucked between the covers of that book and its been awhile since I read mine.  Karen did such a great job of preparing the book and Nikki scanned hundreds of pictures to make it possible.  Once again thanks to both of them for the work they did.

Nan would have loved this Christmas so much for as the little ones are growing up and their personalities are developing its even more fun to be with them, to hear them, watch them and treasure these days.  Nan was into family in a huge way and Kallie and I sat in the chair and turned the pages as I told her what she was seeing, first baby pictures of Nan, then baby pictures of Nikki and finally baby pictures of Keanna and Timothy, Kallie and Mia were not born until after Nan's passing.

As I sat in the chair I was in text contact with friends like Marilyn in Rhode Island and Pam in Portland, Janice in Antioch and so on.  I am so thankful to have great friends, a super family and the blessings of life itself.

And so a new year has been thrust upon us, our president is determined to ruin our economy by raising taxes on people like myself, people who work to create small companies but are somehow now the enemy, the wealthy already pay 70% of all taxes in this country, what is our fair share?  80%, 90%?  And where are the spending cuts?  Oh that will come later, there is absolutely no sign that there will be any spending cuts, oh yes there will be at some point in the future because we are going down fast, borrowing 45% of every dollar the government spends.  That cannot continue but once again there appears to be no concern about what we are putting on the backs of our children, huge debts.  Just Obama care is set to hit us all with 1 trillion in new taxes starting tomorrow, taxes on medical equipment used for the care of sick people, a huge reduction in medical savings accounts where people could put money aside to cover their future medical expenses,  when will American wake up?  This will be a terrible year in many ways as government expands even more, its choking my business, I waste hours every day trying to comply with new government regulations as I write appraisals.  None of it is helping move America forward, none of it is creating jobs for desperate people, many of which are minorities who have even higher unemployment numbers that whites.

But I want to remind myself and each of you that God knows, He cares and He will see us through but our lives are going to get more complicated with less freedom in the coming months.  It is hard to see how God can work through this mess but I know He will.  Its been interesting to read about the chaplain of the senate and his prayers before sessions, he is Barry Black, a member of my church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Well wishing all of you a happy new year, working together with our friends and family we can make the best of a very bad situation.

Love to all,

Tim