Who Is John William?

John in the "Center" of this summer's Family Reunion in Tennessee in 2019!

John Loves Climbing into New Adventures!

John Hanging out with the "Cousins" at the 2016 Christmas Family Reunion!

John loves TURTLES & the color GREEN!



John is faster than I am at MATH!

In today's Blog, I'm continuing the tradition of blogging for each of my grandchildren's birthdays. Today, Jan.18, is my grandson John William's 17th birthday! He lives in Grand Rapids, MI, & I'm sure he'll embrace a "Warm" birthday greeting from FL. "John", whose name means "God's Gracious Gift", has a life verse of; "Bless the Lord O my soul, who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion." Psalm 103:2,4. Walking this verse out is challenging at times for John, since he is the youngest of 4 brothers! Yet, according to his mother Kerry, he is thoughtful,
compassionate, & a real "Peacemaker"! In addition to that, John has a "Vivid" imagination! John is also quite "Artistic" & has really impressed his Pop-Pop with some of his "Imaginative" drawings! I hope Ewe come to appreciate John as much as I do!



I love talking FROGS with John William!

Three CHEERS for John! He's such a Handsome pollywog!

Check out these 3 Funny Frogs, a special Birthday treat for John!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaYAR9S3D00


First & foremost, John William has a love for God & his family. He has already stated that he wants his dad's job as Pastor of the church! He knows that a family that "Prays together, stays together"! Going to church is having a positive effect on John William, according to his mom, he is very polite & a real gentleman, as he opens doors for his mom. (Even automatic ones) Recently, at a Christmas Family reunion in TN, John demonstrated his compassion, by giving family members "Congratulations" Hugs during a family Bible Quiz match! Last, but not least, he loves playing "Back Alley Bridge" with his Florida grandparents! Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to team up with John William, & our team's name was "Papa John's"! We had Fun, Fun, Fun, & we won the game in the last hand! John has also recently been leading Worship for the youth at the church! Lifting his voice in service to the Lord is a gift that John enjoys giving to JESUS!

Worship is a great way for John William to connect with God.

Seeking Wisdom keeps John's William "HOPPING"

JOHN ENJOYS CARING FOR the pet "Bearded Dragons"!

Second, John William has a real desire to do his best at school! He enjoys Math & really enjoys Art & using his "Wild" imagination! He also loves exploring animals & has loved reading stories to his "adopted" brother Evan. He has also enjoying reading the "Percy Jackson " series in school! His creativity can also be observed in his love of baking, & his recent pursuit of acting! He recently sang & danced as he played the part of, " Mr. Edwards", in the stage performance of "Little House on the Prairie"! We got to enjoy John's musical ability at our 50th Anniversary lunch at our 2022 Family Reunion this past summer. John sang us a "LOVE" song which was absolutely beautiful! He presently leads Worship at some different churches & has indicated that it is a Passion of his that he wants to pursue it after High School!



Drawing doesn't at all take a "BITE" out of John William's day!



John William knows that "Readers make Leaders"!

John William loves to "Ham it up" in the kitchen!

 Finally, John William is 100% Boy! He loves fishing, catching frogs, & playing as the Superheroes Frogman & Color Ninja, a supreme martial arts warrior! He also loves animals & has even used his imagination to become "Jonathon, the Golden Retriever"! I think Ewe will have to agree, that John William is one SPECIAL young man," Fearfully & Wonderfully made"!

"Jonathon" the Golden Retriever, doing what he does best!

John William knows that Ewe don't want to mess with a MASTER of martial Arts!

Ewe know that it would be a real "Stretch" to mess with me!

Sheep have Shepherds that supervise all their growth & development. Each sheep is unique & is loved & cared for by a loving leader, just as John William is cared for by his loving parents.

Stay close to Momma, because Ewe know I love each one of EWE!



 I "HERD" that Sheep have a Loving Shepherd to oversee them.

As Ewe follow the path that the Good Shepherd has for Ewe today, be encouraged!  God is at work in the lives of young people, like John William, teaching them to love God, to love their families, & to fight like warriors for their world!

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18
                                                                    

John William is holding his brand-new cousin "Sawyer" at a "Birthday" Party!

As Ewe can see, John is a "Bear-y" GOOD BOY!

HAPPY "17th" BIRTHDAY to EWE, JOHN WILLIAM!

2021 "TOP GUN" MOMS!

I thought we could say Good-Bye to 2021 by looking at a Mother's Love in the world of Nature. I hope Ewe enjoy the selections for
"Top Gun" Moms & pray for Ewe to have a Happy & "Spiritually" prosperous 2022!

My Mom can detect my smell from 100's of other pups!

MOM! , I'm Still HUNGRY!

The Harp Seal Mom made the cut this year for one of the "Top Gun" Moms. This Mom is the "Mother of Nursing Moms", feeding her pup 48% fat seal milk continuously for 12 days without taking one break for herself for meals! This Mom will lose an average of 7 lbs. a day, while her pup will gain an average of 5 lbs. per day! It's the kind of Love that "Keeps on Giving"! Welcome to Motherhood!

True Love is found in the Tree-tops!

Did Ewe know that I give birth on a treetop?

Caring for Kids wears Ewe out!

Koala Bear Moms could easily be renamed "Have pouch will Travel"! Rarely leaving the safety of their treetops, these "Top Gun" Moms give birth to blind, hairless, & earless one-quarter inch look-alike replicas of themselves. I may be going out on a limb here, but these moms have to carry & milk their babies, called joeys, inside their pouches, for about six months. Talk about going "Above & Beyond"! Then these super Moms continue to nurture & nurse their joeys inside the pouch, adding a special substance called "pap" to their diet, which prepares them for eating eucalyptus leaves. For several weeks the joeys eat the "pap", which adds necessary bacteria to their intestines, which will aid them in their digestion of the dangerous eucalyptus leaves. After the joeys leave the pouch, they will hang on their mom's back or abdomen for another six months, learning how to grasp leaves with their hands. Talk about being "attached at the hip"!




Bath time is so much FUN!

Mom is such a "HUGE" help!

With MOM around, "Life is Good"!

The African elephant is a great nominee for the "Top Gun" list of Animal Moms. She has to endure a 22-month pregnancy before
giving birth to a 200 lb. blind baby! OUCH! Fortunately, she has help caring for the "little" darling, for the ladies of the herd assist her in raising the calf, in their matriarchal society, a group of females known as "Allomothers," help babysit the young calf, giving Mom a much-needed break. It truly does take a village!



It takes "Gusto" to be a Mom in these temperatures!

Aren't I the cutest thing since "sliced bread"?

I'm exhausted but I still have a "COOL" family!

Polar bear Moms are also on my "Top Gun" list of Super Moms! They have to put on about 400 lbs. of baby weight, or their body will reabsorb the fetus! She will dig herself a "maternity" den, most likely in the snow, where she will hibernate & deliver her baby in her sleep! She also goes without food for the entire 2 months, waking to hungry cubs that are toothless, blind, & adorable. She will stay with the cubs for 2 years before they leave to be on their own.



We are Family! We Hang Together!

I Love Ewe MOMMY! I love Ewe too, Baby!

Motherhood is the GREATEST!

Orangutans are my next choice for my "Top Gun" list of Animal Moms. Orangutans only have children every 8 years, so they view motherhood with anticipation. Their infants are very dependent at birth, clinging to their mother's belly for the first 4 months! This takes extreme dedication on the part of the mom, since she has a "constant companion", wherever she goes, for up to 2 years. This
becomes even more challenging for Mom, since she builds a new nest every day in the trees, & up to 30,000 in her lifetime! The last reason I chose Orangutans is because they will breastfeed their infants for up to 5 years! Now that's commitment!

We stick close to Mama for obvious reasons!

How do Ewe like my little "LAMB CHOPS"?


Sheep enjoy staying in close proximity to their mothers & to one another. Lambs especially bond with their mother's right after birth. They also have the Shepherd to help in their maturing process.

Shepherds Love their Sheep, like Moms love their kids!

Another Shout out for all of the "Top Gun" Moms of 2021!, Thank Ewe God for modeling what sacrifice looks like in the world of animals, as well as in the life of Ewer SON!

"Her children rise up & call her blessed; Her husband also, & he praises her:" Proverbs 31:28

To Resolve,or Not to Resolve?



I said," NO MORE RESOLUTIONS"!

January 1st is a perfect time to take an inventory of Ewer "Life" & set "Goals" for the upcoming year. We often accomplish this through the vehicle of "New Year's Resolutions"! I thought it might be fun to take a closer look at this whole process as we begin a New Year, 2025, together. Before we start, let's see how other places in the world "welcome" in the New Year.



CELEBRATE the NEW Year with FRIENDS!       



HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel our dependence upon Him!"  - Matthew Simpson

HOW People Celebrate NEW YEARS in other Places:

Every single year, on midnight Germans watch the British show “Dinner for One.” The origin of the tradition is unknown, but it is so popular that even the punch line “same procedure every year” now is a catch phrase in Germany.  




Happy NEW YEAR from Germany!



WOW! Do German's know how to Celebrate or what?

 Ecuador has a unique custom of making scarecrows and burning them at midnight. The tradition says that this destroys all the bad things that took place in the past 12 months. The scarecrow also scares bad luck. This fills their New Year with luck and happiness. 

Those Scarecrows don't look so scary now!


The single women of Ireland wait desperately for the New Year’s night because it is the night that can bring them the love of their life. They place mistletoe leaves under their pillow hoping to catch their future husband.    




This will cause "IRISH EYES" to smile!



On the 31st of December every year, Scottish men parade through the streets holding blazing, round balls of fire. According to the locals, the balls of fire bring purification and sunshine. 



These Scottish men are "FIRED UP" over the NEW YEAR!

A strange and weird Danish New Year tradition is throwing breakable dishes at neighbor’s door. The family with the hugest tower of broken plates, glasses, cups and other crockery is considered to be the luckiest one because it means that they have lots of loyal friends

"Like a GOOD NEIGHBOR, "State Farm" is there"! Happy New Year!

Wearing Polka Dots is what they are doing in the Philippines to welcome in the New Year. They believe that this will bring them prosperity by associating the round dots to coins and wealth.  Also, part of New Year's tradition, is to graze all day on ham and cheeses and all kinds of Filipino food, then top the day off sipping on hot dark chocolate milk. For fireworks, anything loud enough that can blow your ears and fingers off. It proves to be a very explosive New Year!



ALL my Eyes can see are DOTS turning into "COLD CASH"!

In Chile, people are welcomed in the cemetery with light classical music and dim blinking lights making the cemetery their perfect party place. They believe that their loved ones wait for them in the cemetery, and they should start the new year with them.  

Happy New Year to all relatives that are in a "GRAVE" situation!

Finally, it’s a tradition in America to share a sweet midnight kiss with your girlfriend or boyfriend or with anyone you've got with you. This, they say, will make the coming year incredibly beautiful.    

Don't EWE just LOVE celebrating NEW YEARS!
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"He who Aims at Nothing, Hits it!"

Reach out & Touch someone with the "Love of GOD"!

Every year at this time, many of us start the New Year with the hope of improving our lives for the better. We make "sincere" resolutions to change something in our lives that is preventing us from becoming the best that we could be! Webster defines "resolution" as: " the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.: the act of resolving something": an answer or solution to something". Here are some examples of the most commonly made New Year's resolutions:



1) Exercise regularly.


2025 is going to be different! I'm going to BIKE more!

EXERCISING more is the "WISE" choice!

2) Lose Weight




I think I "Purr-ty" much overdid it! The DIET starts today!



After dieting, I'll be one "Slick CHICK"!

 3) Eat healthier


Ewe may think I'm "NUTS" but eating healthy is for me in 2025!

I'm going totally "ORGANIC" in 2025!

4) Better work/life balance.


 I'm not going to "Monkey" around with family time!

I promise I won't stay at work as long this year! Does that "SEAL" the deal?

5) Get organized

This paperwork is "RUFF"! I've got to come up with a better system.

I'm drowning in paperwork! I need a new approach in 2025!

Realistically, real change can only take place when there is a change of heart. The only one who can really change our hearts is the Good Shepherd! Resolve to look to Him to make the necessary changes in 2025, & EWE won't be disappointed!


The Lord is teaching me to have more " Self-Control"!

I'm going to worry less about my "Looks" & think more about others!

Sheep are characteristically creatures of habit! "Real" changes
that occur in their lives, will only be as a result of something the Shepherd initiates.


I hope the Shepherd will teach this lamb to "Get Off My Back"!

For a "change", Ewe have to TRUST Ewer Shepherd to "Carry" Ewe!

As Ewe begin the "New Year," live each day knowing that Ewer Shepherd has good changes in store for EWE! Trust Him to bring them about!



"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130


Ewe have to start the New Year off " RIGHT"