Honduras 2008

OK, so I couldn't goad anyone into commenting on "The Shack". I'm surprised...but that's fine. I'm not sure anyone reads this anyway.

So, I've already put out the press release that I won't be in Hondo this summer, and it looks like it's catchy....Here are a few other notables that won't be down....

Judy Mitchell - knocked up and sweaty

Brett Mitchell - questionable

Leslie (Lester) Woods - getting hitched

Nate Reeves - will be hitched and whipped by then

Rudolfo Herrera - workin' for da' man

Joel Davis - Added one more to the Davis herd

It's looking like the "new breed" is going to have to step it up and take over.
The vets are joining adulthood (well, some of you), having kids, getting married, etc.

Pretty soon it'll be old man Reeves, his ever-present sidekick, GiGi (gee-gee), and a whole group of fetus'....did I spell that correctly...is it feti, fetusses?

Anyway...

Everone have a safe and happy holiday, Merry Christmas to all, and have a great start to the new year.

Peas Owt

The Shack

So, I'm reading this book. I'm enjoying it. I've read some of the criticism by outspoken religious leaders. I understand their point of view. I agree with it...if someone had been writing a non-fiction book. This is a fictional story people!! Why do people get all hot under the collar when someone offers a different perspective than what they've always been told? Why is it wrong to envision God as a black woman? If that's what it takes to shake you (me) from this tiny box that I put God in, old white man, with a beard, then bring it on. At the end of the day (book), do I still believe Jesus died for my salvation and was resurrected? Heck yes! Do I now have a more tangible view on what it may mean to love and what it could be like to have God dwell within you in complete intimacy? Heck yes!! Do I have a tiny bit of understanding of the Holy Spirit....well...not so much...BUT am I headed down to the local Universal Church to pledge membership? .....Ummmm, no. Once again....Fiction. I appreciate those that stand guard over the watering down of our principal biblical teachings. Just keep in mind....the guys isn't trying to rewrite the bible.

OK....bring it on...let me have it....

Decision Time

.....well....not quite yet, but inevitable. I'm leaning toward not returning to Honduras next summer. I know, I know....don't cry...it'll be OK. I've been thinking about it for the last 2 years, and as much as serving in Honduras means to me, my family comes first. Both Jaxon and Kaia are in school full time now. My wife just returned to work nearly full time, changing the dynamic that has existed for the last 6 or so years. We're going to need to go on a family vacation together in the summer. For the last 4 or 5 years, she and the kids have traveled to Indiana to visit with family while I went to Honduras. And it worked out well. She wasn’t home alone with the kids for 12 days and was able to do lots of fun things with my babies. But there in lies the problem. I missed out on all those neat trips to the Zoo, and to visit old friends, and hangout with family, etc. Not for MY entertainment, but to share those experiences with my kids. They are growing like weeds, and it’s scary to think about but we’re already 6 ½ years into this chapter of our lives, and we only have 12 years to go. We’re 1/3 the way through parenthood!! That’s unreal!! And the major formidable years are right now!! I’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity possible, before they slip away. This morning, before I left for work, I asked Jaxon to give me a hug so I could go. He climbed up in my lap, wrapped his arms and legs around me and just squeezed….and squeezed. I was touched. It made me think…that now matter how deep our relationship grows as he matures, there won’t be too many more opportunities for that to happen. Before I know it, he’ll be “too big” to be sitting on my lap, or kiss me in front of his friends, or whatever. Same thing for Kaia. She’s already so independent and she’s only 5!! I’m rambling….point is…I want to experience things with my wife and kids, together, as a family, not in a youth group environment, and the best time to take a long trip is in the summer, when work is slow and they are off school. There is an outside chance that I may go for 5 days or so, but that remains to be seen. I’ll still be the recruiter/point man for the area, keep my seat on the TORCH board (until they pry it from my cold, dead hands), and support the ministry in every way. That’s all for now. You can send your tear-soaked tissues to me @ bmcooper21@comcast.net

Post...just to post...

I'm sitting here waiting on an electrician to....well, I'm not really sure what he's doing. But I was sent here to help, so here I'll sit.
SonQuest is this weekend! I always look forward to this event. Not only is it a great weekend to develop better relationships with the teenagers in our youth group, but since it's one of the major events, lots of people that I've connected with in Honduras make it down for the weekend from all over the Southeast, so that's cool. If you're reading this, I hope you've already got your plans made and are ready to go! If not, you'll miss out on a great spiritually invigorating weekend.
Gotta jet...the electrician is ready for me. Peas!

Espadas

So....how lame and disrespectful was it for Lester and Terry to quit mid-game in their semi-final spades match against the former champion, Mark Hendrickson and his Labatts' drinkin, mullet wearin, hockey lovin' partner, Mr. Brett Mitchell? The excuse...."it's too late...it will take us another hour to finish the game". Are you totally kidding? Seriously? Here's two things wrong with that rational.

1. If they could actually play up to the level that they had professed to be able to play AT, the game shouldn't have taken as long as it had!! They each had like 8 bags and 150 points!! Were they bidding blind? No wonder the game was taking so long, they had probably gone back 100 points for bags already and were getting ready to roll again!!

2. Colby and I still had to play the championship game ANYWAY!! No one should have given up and gone to bed. They think that because they were "ahead" when they QUIT, that it was a victory for them. WRONG!! At one point (and only one point) Colby and I were behind in a game, adn came back. There is nothing to say that Terry and Lester would have remained on top...especially at the rate they were going!!

Poor form!! Boooooo....BOOOOOOO!! We shall settle this somehow. But don't think for a moment that this in any way or shape reflects on our championship. We dominated from beginning to end and hopefully silenced all those who spoke otherwise. We'll take on anyone at any time and crush them...except our wives...doggone it!! They beat us everytime!! Oh well....

The rooster would look good on my mantle (if I had a fireplace).

Viva El Campeones!!!

Rays - v - Sox

That's my BOY!! He's an idiot for swinging with his milion $$ hand, but he's got stones!!

And then there is me....

Honduras Thoughts and Preparations - Chapter 1

Who is totally bummed that we won't be flying directly into Tegucigalpa anymore? That was my roller coaster ride for the year! Since I have young children, Busch Gardens hasn't been on my list of priorities in the last couple of years, so this was my thrill ride!! Any flight that it's common to cheer after touching down is one to look forward to. Don't get me wrong at all...I am truly saddened by the loss of humanity due to the recent crash. That being said, I'm all for landing @ Toncontin again, rolling the dice a little. Let's be honest...what we do is already dangerous. We take American (insert naive and spoiled) teenagers, college students and able-bodied adults, most of who have never been out of the country (cruises to Mexico and the Carribean do NOT count) and take them to desperate, economically depressed countries, with a pocket full of Monopoly money. Only thru God's grace and favor has nothing horrible happened! Might as well throw some whip cream on top!! Anywho....

I'm getting really ready to go. I went through my clothes last night and put together most of the clothes I'll be bringing down. Every year I say that I'm going to leave the clothes that I bring down, there, but I never do. I spend the money to wash them and then I bring them home, wash them again, and stick them in the top of the closet until I get around to going through them and throwing out the ones that were permanently stained by the "poop mud" (BTW, I hate that term. It was funny the first time, but now, not so much) or blood, shed by The Carpet, when we did battle for the mighty spoon!! This usually happens 11 months and 1 week after I come back. Needless to say, I have 2 trash bags of clothes going to Goodwill today, and that doesn't include the stuff I had to throw away. Did I mention that we got a store called Steve and Barry's? Everything is $9!! Needless to say, I bought a few things and had to clean out the old closet!! Mind you, this was not an impulse buy. I've last some more weight, and had to get rid of the 38" waisted shorts and XXL t-shirts, and move into the 34" shorts and XL shirts. No offense to those of you wearing 38" shorts, I'm just over it. Even after I got rid of all of those clothes, I still have 15 t-shirts to bring!! That's just ridiculous!! Imelda Marcos thinks I have too many t-shirts (yes, I know her passion was shoes, but you get the idea).

I'm going to try and pack very light this year...not quite as light as Terry (1 bag for every occasion), but light. Have you seen Terry's suitcase? Doesn't matter if it's a weekend or 3 weeks, it's the same Alabama duffel bag. I think you can fit 1 large towel in there...I'm not sure how he does it, but he's always got what he needs. It's inconceivable!!

That's all for now. Hopefully more as we get closer. Pray that Bubba get's her job straightened out before Hondo. It's gonna be awfully hard to be the International Spades Champion from NashVegas. Later.