Did Churchill really believe that??

Well.....It has been a while since I was here writing!  I guess that summertime has a way of drawing me away from some of the tasks that I should be doing.  But, here I am, and I have needed inspiration and I got it just a few days ago.

As I have mentioned at least two other times in this blog, I listen to a local talk radio station as I go from jobsite to jobsite in my truck.  Every morning, just before the 9:00 A.M. news, they have a short segment entitled "A Moment of Hope" led by a local pastor.  Most of the time, he really hits the "nail on the head" with his comments, but this time.....he was using a REALLY big hammer!

He mentioned that one of the people that really inspired him was Sir Winston Churchill.  He stated that Churchill had made the following statement:

                            "Success is going from failure to failure 
                                    without a loss of enthusiasm"


The pastor's point that morning was that we should always look for success in every effort that we put forward.  He said that even though we may think that we fail....and sometimes we fail miserably, there is always something that is good, or uplifting, or encouraging that we can focus on....IF...we choose to focus on it.

Maybe we are trying to lose weight.  Our goal was 15 pounds, but we missed our goal by 5 pounds.  However, if we CHOOSE to look at it this way, then we can say that we beat our starting line by 10 pounds. Sometimes, we want to make an "A" on the chemistry exam, but, we only made a "B".  However, not too long ago, we probably didn't know very much at all about chemistry.

This certainly does not mean that we shouldn't strive for goals, and successes. But, it does mean that even though adversity may try to stop us, if we push hard enough, we can still get TWO steps forward and ONE step back....instead of the other way around.



My dear wife and grandbabies taught me that lesson very well last week.  We were blessed with the opportunity to take our whole family to the beach for a few days. As I usually do, after a little walking on the beach and a little bit of shell looking, I tended to find myself in the chair, under the tent, listening to the seagulls, the winds, and the waves.  But, I watched my wife and those grandbabies as the walked for hours in the waters edge.  Seldom did they look up.  Their eyes were constantly looking down.  They were looking for sharks teeth, conch shells, and other elusive creatures......especially those little "Crabbies" as one of the little ones called them.

Even though many times, when they saw what they thought would be a "Treasure", it turned out to be less (or different) than they expected.  They wanted to have another "special" one to put in the bucket to show "Paw-Paw."  Many times what they had hoped for, and what they found were not the same thing.  But...did they quit looking?? Oh No!  Heads down, toes digging, and still looking.

                             "They found success by going from failure to failure 
                                             without a loss of enthusiasm!"

Remember,  my motto is:


                Building up homes


                        Building up businesses


                                 Building up others

See you on the other side!!

Teddy Griffin

www.teddygriffin.com

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Hear..............Forget

See...............Remember

Experience....Understand

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Well, Under the Circumstances........

You know, sometimes, inspiration comes at the most necessary and opportune times for me.  Recently, I was riding from one jobsite to the other, and very little that day had gone my way.  I was more than just a little frustrated with the way things had been happening.  All the "STUFF" (that is a nicer word than I could have chosen) that I was having to deal with was making me madder by the minute.

I got back in my truck after the last "catastrophe" and was heading to what I was sure to be my next "catastrophe."  I remember saying something to the effect of :  "If I have to work under these circumstances, then I don't know if it is worth it, or not!"


As I climbed back into the cab, I turned on the local talk radio station.  Just by coincidence (or more likely by divine intervention) it was 8:55 A.M.  That particular station has a short segment at that time of day entitled "A Moment of Hope."  The speaker is a local pastor that has encouraged me several times in the past, and was about to do it again!

Naturally, his segment title had to mimic my last statement.  It was "Under these Circumstances." He used one of God's most beautiful creatures as the main character of his story.  He said that the Eagle is blessed with the ability to sense when a storm is brewing. (Now, admittedly, I am not an expert in Eagles.)  So, if he is not telling the truth, he still makes a great point!!

He asked this question as he started:  "Why are we UNDER these circumstances?" He said that because of the ability possessed by the Eagle, when he feels a storm is on the way, he will fly up to the most lofty perches that he can find.  Then, as the winds and turbulence rise from the storm below him, he utilizes those forces to give him lift and allow him to soar ABOVE the circumstances that are going on below him.  Obviously, the eagle doesn't eliminate the storm, but he operates above all the turmoil.

I began to think about my day.  Could I have chosen to rise above the turmoil that had seemed to beset me that day?  I really couldn't eliminate the storm, but I probably could have CHOSEN to take a different path, a different route, or a different solution to it.  I could have risen above some of these things.  And, perhaps, if I had done so, I might also have lifted someone else to a new level. You know.....Our Attitude Determines our Altitude.  Perhaps, I should make every effort to allow The Lord to become the "winds beneath my wings" and let Him be the one that keeps me "Above these Circumstances."


Now, am I the qualified one to tell you to do these things when I don't do a very good job of doing them myself??  Maybe not, but if I try harder in my own life, maybe I will lift someone else ABOVE the circumstances that they face.


Remember, My Motto Is:

BUILDING UP HOMES

           BUILDING UP BUSINESSES

                             BUILDING UP OTHERS


I would love to hear from you!



-- 

See you on the other side!!

Teddy Griffin

www.teddygriffin.com

 Go directly to my media page!

Hear..............Forget

See...............Remember

Experience....Understand

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All gave some...Some gave all...Some are still Giving

I had a wonderful opportunity a week ago last Saturday night,  to be a part of sponsoring a Veteran's Banquet at our church.  Our family, like many of yours, has a long history of military service.  My son...My daddy...almost all of my cousins....from the present time to as far back as the Civil War.  I have always held those men and women who have fought to protect my freedoms in the highest regard.

I didn't even like to play "Army" when I was a little boy, and, I was not required to serve in the military.  I am sure that I would have if I had been required to, but I am thankful that I didn't have to.  But, it is absolutely my pleasure (and the least that I can do) to help honor those who did give up home, family, career, health, and even their lives in the service of our great country.

It was nice that the day of the banquet was Armed Services Day, and also that Memorial Day is now here.  This banquet helped me focus more directly on what sacrifice really meant.  I always knew that our warriors sacrificed for us, but it was never more clear to me and my wife as it was the day that we hugged our son and told him goodbye as he left for Iraq and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  I know that nothing in life is certain, and we are not promised our next breath, but, it is really heart wrenching to know that this could be the last time that you tell your child in person that you love them.  God blessed him to return to us alive after all three of his tours to Iraq.  But, I will say one thing for certain.  I don't believe that any man or woman who faces the horrors and dangers of war ever return the same as they were when they left.

This was very obvious to me as I spoke with, and listened to, some of the veterans in attendance. One man, who was newly married when he had to leave said that when he returned, his wife was shocked and frightened by the change in him.  He left his bride as a fun loving, carefree "boy" and returned to her as a man whose attitude and demeanor was hardened by the constant preparation "to kill."

Another man was showing me pictures of his unit on a mountain ridge on Christmas day in Vietnam.  With sadness in his voice he pointed to the picture of a smiling young man who was his buddy.  He had encouraged his buddy to join the military, but later, that man took his own life because of the pressures and effects of war.  The living soldier still deals with guilt and deals with the loss of his fallen friend.

Another man left his hand on the battlefield in Germany.....one man left part of his ear in Baghdad....several men told me that they cannot sleep well even now, and unexpected movements or noises still affect them badly...one man had to be the one who carefully and lovingly "packaged the remains" of the fallen to prepare that soldier for his last ride back home...Therefore...my title...."All gave some...Some gave all....and some are still Giving."


Here is one thing that I learned from these men and women.  They didn't want to leave family, friends and home, but they knew that they had a big part to play in a theater that was much larger than themselves.  They knew that many people's safety and freedom relied on how they played their role.  So....they gave their best.  They did what they were called on to do.

Even though I am not called on to serve as they were in roles of life and death....Do I do my best??  Who knows, maybe someone who needs me might be in a life or death situation in their lives, or in the lives of the ones they love.  Am I willing to do what I am needed to do???Even if I don't WANT to do it???Even if it is not convenient???Even if it is not popular???  Do we stand in the trenches of life,  ready to build up other people?  I believe that each one of us have a role to play and those roles have a huge impact on how the "play"  turns out.

As I was making the video shown above , I saw  a man who has lived nearly a century and his health has failed him, but he still has the desire to stand in honor of the flag and of the country that he served so honorably. His desire was to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Because of his difficulty in accomplishing his desire, you also see his daughter who gives of herself to help him stand.  He is not able to stand up straight.  He cannot stand up quickly, but, with her help, he can stand.  This is one of the ways that "some are still giving" and these things are what makes our country and its people great.

Remember....My Motto Is:

       Building up Homes

                 Building up Businesses

                                Building up Others


I would love to hear from you:

Teddy Griffin

www.teddygriffin.com

 Go directly to my media page!

Hear..............Forget

See...............Remember

Experience....Understand

   teddygriffin2036

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That Scar on Her Neck!

It has been a couple of weeks since I made my last blog post.  I am a "wannabe" writer, but I normally don't write unless I have been inspired by something.  My last few blog posts came because of something that I saw, heard, or experienced.  I was thinking in the last few days...."I NEED to get inspired "by something" to "write something!"  Well...this morning, it occurred.

This morning was a somewhat normal morning, in my somewhat normal little southern home town.  I had stopped by one of the local businesses to pay a bill. As I handed the clerk my money, a friend that I hadn't seen for a while came walking through the office.  I may not write like I have a southern "drawl", but those of you who know me realize that I surely do speak with one.  So, as is the custom here in the South, I spoke to my friend in the customary manner.........."How'ya gettin' along?"

In the same customary Southern manner, she responded...."I'ma doin' purty good, how about you?"  Well, that is where all the "customary" ended and the "encouraging" began.  I knew that she had had a battle with an illness, and I had heard that she had come back to work, but, since I hadn't seen her recently, I had not heard her story directly from the "horse's mouth" (Of course that is another Southern term, not a reference to her size or appearance..LOL).

She said, "You know, they tried to "mark me off", but I am glad to say that I am doing well and I'm glad that I am back to work."  And she also said something that was really encouraging.  She said that she didn't realize how many friends she had and how much their encouragement meant to her while she was recovering. She said that she had renewed and strengthened many old friendships and made many new ones.  She also said that  "All those prayers really worked.  I will take all of those that I can get!!"

Then she pointed to her neck and the scar that was the reminder of her illness. We both agreed right then that even in the middle of the bad and difficult things that we encounter in our lives, there is normally many good things that come out of them.  These stronger old friendships and the fun new friendships were proof of that comment.  The scar on her neck will be a reminder of a "valley" that she had to travel through, but also of a "mountaintop" that she is getting to enjoy.

I have another friend who has encountered events in her life that has now caused her to have "A Scar on Her Heart."  but, just like the first story, she is seeing things occur that are giving her the encouragement and strength to go forward.   Each step that she moves forward is a step further away from the "Pain" and a step closer to the "Gain."  I am sure that every reader of this blog (as well as the writer) has had events like this in your lives.  We need to recognize that when those times (and persons) of encouragement come into our lives, how precious they are.  But, we also need to recognize, that very soon, we will be able to exchange roles.  We will be able to be the one to lift up someone else and help carry them through one of those times in their lives that just seem overwhelming.

Just remember....."Bless" and we will "Be Blessed!"


Remember...my motto:


              Building up Homes


                        Building up Businesses


                                        Building up Others

See you on the other side!!

 

Teddy Griffin

www.teddygriffin.com

 Go directly to my media page!

Hear..............Forget

See...............Remember

Experience....Understand

   teddygriffin2036

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If this tree could only speak, what would it say?

Well, Vickie and I just arrived back home from a quick little weekend get-a-way at the beach. Time to get ready to get back to work tomorrow,  and to the "normalcy" of home life (if there is such a thing!).  But, also time to think a little bit about some occurrences and experiences of the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon we were to meet some friends for dinner at a quaint little, out of the way, seafood restaurant in Little River, SC.  Due to the fact that we are "cheap" and "old" we actually arrived pretty early so that we could take advantage of the "Early Bird Specials!" on the menu.  BTW....if you are ever in the area, try the crab cakes at the Crab Catchers Lodge in Little River.  You won't be sorry!

Since we arrived first, we were looking around at the fishing boats that were coming in and out of the docks there, and looking at the other weathered and worn artifacts that adorned the buildings, when I began looking at an old tree that stood nearby.  I mentioned to Aaron, our son, that if this tree could talk, it could probably tell us alot of stories of both good and bad times that it had seen and experienced. We mentioned the heat.....the droughts....the people that had come that way.....AND, the storms.....especially the BIG ONE (Hugo)! I decided to shoot a little video of the tree.  I just felt like there might be a story here somewhere!

As I continued videoing, I focused upon the marshy areas that surrounded the dock and the restaurant.  It happened to be pretty close to high tide and the marsh was full.  I began to think that those marshes soon would be facing a completely different set of circumstances, and it wouldn't be but just a few hours. In a little while, the water would begin to leave, and change the habitat for the "resident" creatures.  They might have to swim to a new area, or burrow down into the muddy bottom, but the inevitable result would be change.  Then, in a few hours, the changes all happen again.  It made me think that our lives are alot like that.  We may find ourselves in a situation in life that feels pretty good to us! We have what we need right here, we don't have to move, we can enjoy what we have.......our life's Tide is high and full!!  Everything is Good!!

But, slowly, and without us even noticing sometimes, the "high tide" begins to go away.  The fullness becomes less full.....maybe the emptiness becomes more empty.  Suddenly we begin to mire down in the mud and muck of the circumstances of our lives.  We see the "fullness" that we remember from the recent past, but we see that it is located far away from where we see ourselves. We might begin to think that "Everything is not Good now," and we are at Low Tide.


As I am writing this, and, I expect, as you are reading this, we both realize that we have been in both of those places in our lives.  High Times and Low Times......Full Times and Empty Times.  What is it that makes us able to enjoy and endure both of these kinds of times?  I bet that "if only that tree could speak, it might would say... that some days when the sun is shining and the winds are light and the temperature is just right, and the rain is sufficient, that it is not too hard to be a strong and majestic tree.  But, when The Big One shows up, the old tree needs the strength of its trunk and the depth of its roots to help it hold on and remain upright.  Sure, it might lose alot of leaves, and even a few limbs.  It might look a little bit worse for wear and have a few cracks in its bark, but it is still standing.  It is ready for the next "Big One"....but it sure is glad that it is time for High Tide again soon!

Well, I thought that would be the end of the story for this blog post.  But, as my dear wife always wants to do, there is one more walk on the beach before the sun sets.  As we were crossing the dunes, and expecting to go look for that one special shell, we actually saw something more special than the shell would have been. We began to see a group of people down on the beach.  A handsome young couple was going to use the beauty of God's creation beside the sea as their wedding chapel. All the guests were seated expectantly, all the ladies were adorned in their "wedding finest", the pastor stood at the front of the group waiting for the participants to make their way to him, and The Dog was the ringbearer and he had to trot up the sandy aisle to complete his portion of the ceremony (yes, that is correct).

I immediately knew that I had a blog post in the making, so I started doing a little videoing of the proceedings myself.  The winds were really blowing, so forgive the less-than-steady video camera, but everything still was beautiful.  I began to think of the couple. I had no idea who they were, but  I began to think of the events that I had watched earlier in the evening.  Maybe that couple had never faced the "Low Times" before.  I don't know...but one thing that I do know is that if they live long enough, they will face them in the future.  I looked around at the guests at the wedding.  Probably some of them were parents and grandparents....maybe uncles and aunts...certainly friends.  I hope that this couple has been blessed to be surrounded by people who are like that old tree in the video.  Strong and resilient, maybe a little weathered, but still rooted firmly and deeply.  I also hope that those people are willing to help this young couple through the storms that will surely face them. I also hope that the couple themselves are rooted firmly and deeply in their faith...a faith that will share mercy and grace with them in abundance.

Finally, I hope that you and I are such people.  I hope that when people need us to be an anchor for them when "The Big One" comes in their lives, we can be found ready and willing. And, I know from experience, that I am thankful that other people have been that anchor for me and my family.

Remember:  my motto is:

                        Building Up Houses

                                   Building up Businesses

                                                     Building up Others


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Man! We're living in a World of Wonder!!

All day today, I have felt the need to make a blog post because of some events that have occurred to me in the last couple of days.....All day, I thought the title of the post needed to be "Hope Springs Eternal." And, my thoughts that I will present will still be the same.  But, tonight, as Vickie and I rode home from a fun visit with our grandbabies, I was listening to a CD by Ronnie Milsap.  Alright... I know that some of you probably have no idea who Ronnie Milsap is.  But, I enjoyed country music years ago when "Country wasn't Cool!."  During all of those years, Ronnie Milsap was (and still is) my favorite musician and singer.


Ronnie is a blind musician originally from the mountains near Robbinsville, N.C. He has had over 40 #1 country (and crossover) songs.  His achievements have been nothing less than extraordinary considering the fact of his blindness and the fact that his mother had no use for him as a young child.  However, that may be a blog post for another time.  


Ronnie has recently made a country gospel album and it is populated with old "church" songs.  As I was riding home tonight, he was singing a song that is entitled "World of Wonder."  As I listened to those words over and over, I realized that I needed to title this blog post with the words above. Certainly, we DO live in a "World of Wonder."  This morning, as I was headed toward L.A. (Lower Anson County!) to meet with my first customer, I couldn't  help but to stop and make a video of the sunrise.  The wonder and beauty of Creation is overwhelming sometimes, and today was one of those times.

As I was heading back toward Marshville, I was thinking about a wonderful meeting that I was a part of last Saturday.  My mom died in September of 2009, and when the time was right, we put her house on the market to attempt to sell it.  Because of the economy, we have just not had very good luck in our attempts.  However, finally, we connected with a potential buyer, and everything came together in a way that was good for all parties.  Last Saturday, my sisters and our families were over at mom's house doing some final cleanup as we prepared for the home's new occupants.  A "strange" car pulled up in the driveway and as we went to greet our visitors, we realized that the visitors were the family that would soon occupy "mom's" house.

That house had been "momma and daddy's place" for many years, but in the months that we had been trying to sell it, it had grown to feel empty and lonely...even when we were over there working.  The life that had always been there was absent.  It reminded me of some words that I wrote in a blog post several weeks ago entitled "A Plaque on the Wall."  The "house" needed to become a "home."  It needed a family in it, but, since it was "Momma's Place", it needed to have the right family in it.

Almost immediately when we met the buyers, we realized one of those "Wonders" had occurred.  Through an unusual series of events, we had been blessed by finding the "right family."  We all commented that "momma would be very pleased." That was very important to all of us, because it helps with having closure, and it really helps that the closure can be pleasant.  As we all visited together, we began walking through the yard and looking at the flowers and trees that had been such an important part of that place.  As we walked, we talked, and as we talked, we realized that both of our families had faced very similar circumstances concerning finances and losses of some of the things that we had worked our whole lives.for.

Then, she asked me "what kind of tree is that?" It was another one of those "Wonders."  It gave me the opportunity to tell her that the tree was a Redbud tree and it was called our "Hope Tree."  Vickie and I planted it at our 30th anniversary which was celebrated in the midst of the the hardest time in our lives when our business and home was slipping away from us.  We planted that tree to always remind us that there is hope.  Now, when we see a family who is ecstatic about making their home where momma's home was, then we really do sense that there is always "Hope"

Then our discussions turned to the daffodils in the flower bed......another one of those "wonders"...It gave me the opportunity to tell her the same story that I told you back several weeks ago in the blog post entitled "The Daffodil taught me a Lesson."   Those daffodils came from bulbs that my great-great grandmother had planted over in Stanly County about 130 years ago.  Every year, the "Wonder" of springtime brings back to life the dormancy that the harshness of wintertime has caused.  So, I guess either blog title would work...because Hope really does Spring Eternal!

So, when our lives face the harshness and struggles that the "Wintertime" brings, we can always have the certainty that we really do "Live in a World of Wonder.!!"


Remember.....my motto is:

                         Building up Homes

                                       Building up Businesses

                                                            Building up Others

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Who is the best Architect or Designer??

All of you that have been kind enough to read my blog posts realize that my whole professional career has been spent in the building material supply industry.  I enjoy it, (for the most part!), and I enjoy the people that I meet, and the opportunities and the challenges that are presented to me.

One of the most fun parts of my job is when i get to interact with a person/couple/family that are getting ready to start construction of their new home...especially, when the home is the first one that they have been a part of building. They are so excited.  Sometimes they are almost giddy.  They know the expectations that they are enjoying will result in the realization of a dream that they have.  Many times, however, they do not realize that the path from the initial dream to the ultimate realization of that dream may be scattered with some difficulties and heartaches.  This journey through "Building a Home" is not radically different than the journey through "Building a Life."


One of the things that are difficult sometimes for the new home owner is visualizing how the "finished product" will look when it is completed.  Therefore, for more reasons than just aesthetics, the home owner solicits the services of an architect or designer to help them on their journey.  Those professionals know what is required to be done to be in compliance with building codes, and quality and functionality concerns are one of their biggest roles.  But, one of the most important parts to their role in the construction process is to let the home owner know what the home will look like when it is finished.  If the home owner trusts and follows the leadership of a trained and qualified architect or designer, the entire process will be much more enjoyable and satisfying.

All of that has been said so that I can say this....I am reprinting a letter below, that was written by a dear friend of mine back in 2001.  After facing some trying issues in his own life (similar to many of us), he came across the copy of this letter as he was cleaning out his desk last week.  He knew that I was writing this blog, and one of my goals in writing it  was to be able to help other folks who are travelling difficult roads.  He gave me his permission to share this letter with anyone that I thought might benefit from reading it.  So, that is what I have chosen to do today in this post.  It is long, but very worthwhile, and my buddy, Jeff Newton, would be honored if you chose to share it with someone else.....especially if it helped them through some dark times in their lives.

His biggest realization after writing (and then reading) this letter again years later, was that he has found out who the Greatest Architect or Designer in the world really is....Hope you enjoy!!  Teddy


The Master’s Plan 

Originally written in October 2001 
Edited February 25, 2011 

by Jeff Newton

It was a Sunday morning in early October, 2001. Just another Sunday or so I
thought. Our family went to church that Sunday morning as we always did.
Running a few minutes late as we drove across town, our thoughts and
conversations were centered around ourselves mostly – our plans for the
afternoon and that sort of thing. We never really gave thought to the fact that
God had plans for us that day – and every day for that matter.

The Sunday service was pretty normal. As usual it was a great time of praise
and worship to the LORD – a welcomed diversion from the hum-drum of
everyday life. The sermon that day was a particularly good one. The
scripture that was used was Jeremiah 29:11 which reads, “For I know the 
plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you 
and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.”
You know a sermon is good when you are left with The Word after all is
said and done. I don’t remember a lot of what the pastor said but
Jeremiah 29:11 began to penetrate my heart. At the time I had no
idea just how much that Word would mean to me in the days to come.

After church we went home and spent the afternoon just hanging out as a
family. We discussed whether or not my wife and 2 older kids should go
back to church for the evening service or if we should all just stay at home.
You see, my youngest daughter Emily, 7, has a severe form of Epilepsy
which has affected her in many ways. One of the things we always do is
make sure she has plenty of rest. Because of that, we don’t take her out on
school nights, so either my wife or I will stay home with her while the other
takes the older kids to church on Sunday and Wednesday nights. On this
afternoon, however, we were playing a game as a family and we just decided
to stay home and enjoy some quality family time.

Then, around 5:45, our plans changed. As we were intensely involved in a
hard fought game of Pictionary, Emily fell on the floor into a Grand Mal
seizure. We quickly administered the emergency medication that is designed
to bring her out of the seizure (it is a 10mg dose of Valium given rectally)
but the seizure continued. After a few minutes of no change, we decided to
give her a second dose. At this point we have been instructed to call for

paramedics because of the potential dangers of the administration of that
much Valium. When the paramedics arrived at 6:20, she was still seizing.
This was highly unusual. In fact, we can’t remember her ever not coming out
of a seizure after administering the second dose. When the paramedics
arrived and saw what was happening, they rushed her into the ambulance
and began transporting her to the hospital. She came out of the seizure in the
ambulance on the way to the hospital, nearly an hour after it started!

You can probably imagine the emotions my wife and I were feeling, not to
mention our other two kids (Brandon 12 & Haley 13). We have become
accustomed to seeing Emily have seizures but when you see your little sister
quickly scooped up by a visibly concerned paramedic and rushed into an
ambulance, it’s more than just another episode. We were all dealing with
fear, uncertainty, helplessness and even a little anger.

Once we all arrived at the hospital and found that she was out of the seizure,
we knew that she was OK. Naturally we were relieved but we were still very
frustrated. Emily had just been through a period of about 3 months with very
little seizure activity and was doing as well as she had done in a long, long
time. She was going to school regularly. In fact, she had not missed a day
since school had started in mid August and was really showing some
dramatic improvements. Then, in one blow, all that was pushed aside and the
seizure activity returned with a vengeance. What was this all about? What’s
going on God?

After a few hours of waiting at the hospital while they ran some
precautionary tests, Haley, Brandon and I decided we would go get a
hamburger for dinner. As we sat at the table at Wendy’s, we began to
discuss the events of the evening. Jeremiah 29:11 just jumped out at me. It
was no accident that we had heard that scripture preached that very morning.
It hit me – God has a plan! I know it sounds so simple but for the first time
that really hit me. Sure I had heard it before but for some reason it
penetrated to a place inside me that it never had before. God has a plan for
Emily’s life right now, just the way she is. You see, before this day I
believed that God had a plan for Emily’s life and as soon as He healed her
He could get on with His plan. But finally it hit me. We are living His plan
right now. Does his plan include Emily’s healing in this lifetime? I don’t
know. I hope and pray that it does but what if it doesn’t? Would that
somehow diminish who God is? The enemy wants us to believe that. The
enemy wants us to think things like, “If God is really who He says He is and

if He really loves us then why doesn’t He heal Emily?” What do we expect
of God? Do we want Him to line everything up just right so that our plans
for our lives work out just right? I have plans for my kids. I want them to be
healthy, get a good education, a good job, marry the right person and have a
family. But what about God’s plan? Did I even ask Him? Jeremiah 29:11
says ‘He has plans to prosper and not to harm’ Emily. Well what about that?

Let’s look at her life for a minute. Is she prosperous? I’ll say! She has
everything any child could want in a material sense. But I don’t think this is
at all about material prosperity. God has provided her just the right family
and friends that will love and protect her. He has also prospered her in ways
many do not know. He has provided her with a genuine close relationship
with Himself. She worships Him around the clock and is full of joy and love
the likes of which I have rarely if ever seen. And oh, have those who know
her prospered. She has enriched every life that she has touched. We will
never begin to know the impact she has already had on numerous lives and I
believe there will be many, many more to come. I realized that what was
required of me at this point was to trust God like I never had before. Not
trusting that He will show his hand but that He will fulfill his plan.

We finished our burger, went back to the hospital and shortly thereafter took
Emily home. But this was not over. I felt like I had learned a real truth that
night. I have prayed for years, “Lord, heal her. Lord think of the testimony
we would have if you would just heal her. We would give you all the glory.
We would shout from the mountaintops the great deeds you have done!”
This night God revealed to me that I should be doing that anyway. He is not 
great and glorious because he heals. He’s great and glorious 
because He is God Almighty, creator of the universe and everything
that is and He deeply, deeply loves each one of us. His glory shines
through Emily’s life every day and so often we don’t have our eyes open
to see it. As the week began, I began to wonder why this is. Why don’t we
see His glory in Emily’s life or in other aspects of our daily lives for that
matter? What are we looking for? On what do we focus? How often does
God show His glory in our lives and we miss it? In chapter 13 of Matthew,
Jesus shares the parable of the sower.Verse 22 says, “The one who received
the seed that fell among the thorns is the man that hears the Word, but the
worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”
Are we so distracted by the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth
that we routinely miss seeing the glory of God? When a child is not “normal”
are we so distracted by the abnormality that we miss the “image of God” in
which he or she was created? We need to change the way we look at life.
 Romans 12:2 tells us “not to conform to the pattern of this world” but we
seem to view things the way we have been conditioned to see them. So, how
do you look at life in a totally different way than you have been conditioned?
You “renew your mind” as the next part of Romans 12:2 says by grasping the
truth of Jeremiah 29:11 – God has a plan! He’s in control. He knows what
is going on and He has a plan for you that includes hope and a glorious future.
We’re going to live for eternity! Think about that for a minute. Try to grasp in your
mind how long eternity is. Now, understand that for 80 years or so you are
going to spend part of eternity here in this body. We have such a hard time
getting past our instinct to live in the moment. This life is just a mist. “Dust
in the wind” as Kansas sang (for all you rockers). God has a plan.

Emily had 2 more seizures that week, one on Thursday and one Friday. It
was a hard week and Friday was a particularly tough day, but somewhere
deep inside, I knew God’s plan was still at work. I just couldn’t understand
where this was all going. Emily had been doing so well and all of a sudden
she has 3 huge seizures in one week. I was frustrated and confused but still
hanging on to Jeremiah 29:11. I was thinking to myself and even expressed
to my son, “OK God, you have a plan. Can you just let me in on what it is?”
Later that afternoon I was listening to the radio and I heard an interview with
the father of Cassie Bernall. Cassie was one of the students killed in the
Columbine High School shootings. Mr. Bernall was in town speaking at a
local church that night. The interviewer asked him how the tragic death of
his daughter had affected his ministry to people in the wake of the 9/11
terrorist attacks. He kind of chuckled as he replied that he had no ministry
prior to the death of his daughter. Her death didn’t affect his ministry, it 
created his ministry. That was exactly what I needed to hear that day. God
reminded me of what he had shown me a couple of days before. That I
should be telling of his goodness regardless of the circumstances in my life.

Emily is 16 now and is doing well. She still has seizures occasionally but not
as frequently. She has significant developmental delays which keep her on
about a 3 or 4 year old level. Every day is a challenge but every day is a gift.
And she lives every day to the fullest! God is good!!

**********************************************************

Thank you Jeff, for allowing me to share these intimate parts of your journey!!

Remember...my motto is....

                 BUILDING UP HOMES

                        BUILDING UP BUSINESSES

                                     BUILDING UP OTHERS

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The Daffodil told me a Story!!

What an absolutely gorgeous day in the south.  It is hard to beat North Carolina on a beautiful spring day....(except maybe on a beautiful autumn day!!).  Even as much of a Duke Blue Devil fan as I am, I can actually say that those Carolina Blue skies are hard to beat.  The beautiful start to this day made it even easier to learn, and share, a lesson that was taught to me today by a daffodil.

I was at Sunday School this morning and was standing at the door of the High School classroom greeting the folks as they passed by the door.  The youth that I am privileged to teach were hanging out with me.  Up walks my sister holding a single daffodil.  As is her practice, she delivers "goodies" to everyone she meets on Sunday mornings prior to church.  Many times it is her homemade candies....sometimes it might be "store bought" goodies, but still "goodies" nonetheless.  So, today, when she walked up with this daffodil, I assumed that it was one of her "heart-gifts."   She handed me the beautiful "yellow and green" and she said..."I guess you know what it means, don't you?"  I first said "Yes",  thinking that I did actually know.  Our parents would have turned 91 and 81 this week. Well, actually, they did turn 91 and 81, but they had their party with millions in attendance at a location that I haven't been yet, but intend on going to some day.

So, my assumption was that this was a flower that my sister and I would use to remember momma.  But, that was not actually the meaning. She told me the story that this flower came from her flower garden, from bulbs that was given to her by our momma, who got the bulbs from her momma, who got the bulbs from her momma,  who got the bulbs from her momma.  So, the flower in my hand, came from some labor that was done probably 120-130 years ago.  My great-great grandma took the time to dig a hole somewhere over in Stanly County and plant a bulb that she got from somewhere???or someone???  Little did she know, or think, that over a century later, a person that had not even been born (or even thought about) would be able to take the fruits of her labor and use it as a lesson illustration for a group of High School students.  Hopefully, one, or more of those students will be able to pass the lesson down to generations yet to come.

I was able to tell them that there are always consequences to all of our actions....Good or Bad....Positive or Negative....Encouraging or Discouraging. Anything we do will have some influence on someone. Someone is always watching us.  They want (and maybe need) to see how we handle things, how we respond to trouble, how we display our character, how we lead our followers. What a great message, but what a humbling one as well.

Since this blog is focused on my motto.........

                          Building up Houses

                                       Building up Businesses

                                                            Building up Others    then.........                                                    

I must repeat the message that the daffodil told me today.  Everything that I do will have repercussions on those that follow along behind me.  Maybe my family members need to see me stand up for what I believe in when standing is the correct thing to do.  Maybe those kids in Sunday School need to see me show kindness and consideration while they live in a world that is so hard and hateful. Maybe my co-workers and customers need to see me be the right example in the workplace.  I need to work hard, prepare well and perform admirably.  This will assure me that I have done the best that I can, with what I have been given to work with. I need to make a difference when I can, and where I can, to whom I can!

I will complete this blog post with an illustration that my pastor gave this morning during his sermon.  He was speaking on the topic of "making a difference"  He told the story of a father and son walking down the beach, and they came upon a place in the sand where many starfish had washed ashore.  The young son looked at the multitude of starfish and was concerned about what he could do to help. He picked up one, then two, then three of the starfish and took them down to the water's edge and placed them back in the water.  His father, perhaps a little in a rush, told him to come on, that he couldn't throw all of the starfish back in the ocean.  There were simply too many!!  The little boy made a statement that we all should focus on.  He said "Daddy, I know that I can't put them all back, but I did make a big difference to those three that I did put back.!"  


So, remember...just like the lady who planted the daffodil over a century ago did not know what a blessing that her actions would be, we also may not know what we can do on a simple day-to-day basis that may "make a big difference" to someone else.

IT'S WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM THAT COUNTS!!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about footings.  Since I have spent my entire career in the building supply industry, a footing is always a good thing when I see one!!  That means something is happening....someone is investing...someone is building...maybe, someone is going to buy something from me.  So, footings are good....IF....they are done correctly.

When we begin to build a structure, we must first prepare the way to get into the site.  I discussed that in my last post.  We must construct a road, grade it off correctly...maybe even put gravel on it so we won't have trouble when we find ourselves slipping and sliding around after a snow or rain.  In our lives and relationships, those same principles are true.  At some time or the other, even if our relationships are on solid ground, we may face those storms of life that make us slip and slide around.  We must be prepared.

Now, we can get into the lot....what is next??  We must clear off the lot.  Get rid of things that don't need to be there.  Prepare the actual site.  When we do this, we are starting the process of reaching our goal of having a beautiful home in a beautiful setting.  Look at this peaceful video of a beautiful homesite that will soon be where a family loves to live.

When the site (or relationship or business) is cleared of all necessary debris and hindrances, we are ready to dig the footing.  The footing is the most important part of any structure.  Sometimes, as we begin to dig, we find trash that has to be removed, or unstable dirt that is not acceptable, or other items that will make it difficult to have a successful finished product.  So, those things must be removed. Could there be a friendship that has become unstable that we need to repair?  Is there some garbage from the past that is keeping you from finding your successes?  Is there any items in your way?  If so, they need to be moved so that the footing can be dug and your project can begin.  Just as you will see in this video, we must dig down through any of that "Stuff" to get to solid ground.  This house, my business, your life...all must rest on solid ground.

The footing accomplishes more than just a firm foundation.  It gives us the first view of the "Footprint" of the structure.  It lets us know the parameters that we are dealing with.  Is the house too big?  too small? Does it face the wrong direction? Will it be satisfactory and sufficient?  All of these things are important, and must be determined before we pour concrete inside the footing.  That is when we "should" be ready to start building on top of the work that we have completed.  If we do things correctly here, the rest of the project will likely find a satisfactory end.  If the foundation of our lives is set on the "SOLID ROCK" we will be much more likely to find an end that we will feel so blessed to have.

Finally, pouring the concrete into the footing is the start of what we want to become a great blessing.  Maybe it is a home to rear our children in....or a marriage to the one that God has blessed us with...or a business that can provide a service to the community and can provide a living for those we love.  It is the first step in reaching our goals.

Remember,  my motto is:

                                    Building up Homes


                                  Building up Businesses


                                             Building up Others




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Getting from Here to There Requires??? Gravel???

Boy, how's that for a title that leaves room for thought!!  This blog post is not really just a cleverly disguised attempt at increasing my gravel sales...(even though, if that is one of the end results, then that is good too!)

I have been doing alot of thinking in the last several weeks and months about this idea that I have mentioned in my last few blog posts.  I came to the realization a while back that I needed to re-tool, re-train, and re-brand myself to better prepare for the future that my family and I will face.  Business, as I knew it, started changing in September of 2007.  The idea that "this is the ways things will always be, because this is the way that things have always been" seemed to have taken flight and could not be found anymore.  I realized several things.  I realized that the future was going to be different than I had always planned for it to be.  I realized that "different" is not always bad, but "different" is always "different".  I realized that "different" is not always easy, but it is necessary many times for things to reach a desired goal.  Mostly, however, I realized that God is still in control, and is faithful to me considering His promises to care and provide for his children.  That does not mean that I always see clearly the path that He is taking me(us) down.  I am glad that He is big enough to see "way down the road further than I can"

But, now, back to the title.  Now, maybe it is easier to see what I meant by the title. God will help us find our direction.  He will show us glimpses of the destination. Sometimes, he will even rent a bulldozer to us to help us clear the way and build the road.  But, it does require us putting feet on our prayers, and our shoulders to the wheel.

In life, we will find many opportunities to be active in "Building Up Houses" , "Building up Businesses"  and "Building up Others".  That is my theme for this blog and for my life going forward.  To reach those goals, we must determine the path and direction of our road and start building on it. It may be a direct path, or it may wander and meander along, but the road still needs to take us toward the goal each day.

In my career as a building supply distributor, I have worked on many projects and homes.  I have supplied materials for "dog houses" and "dream houses."  But, one things hold true for all of them.  The owner had to determine the path between the street and the jobsite.  They normally had to build a road.  Usually they had to do some work in preparation of the road.....Maybe a bulldozer.....Maybe a tractor and scrape....Maybe, just even a shovel and some sweat.  But, you have to be able to get from here to there.


I have begun recently creating a video library of some homes that I am supplying materials on.  I want these videos to capture the entire process of building these homes from "Clearing the Lot" to "Handing over the Keys."   I want to incorporate these videos into this blog, and other writing of mine to help people see more easily that it is a step by step process concerning "GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE"

Yes, a step-by-step process. Just as you saw above, to be able to get "from here to there" in life or in construction,  we have to correctly build the foundation of that path.  It may require some hard work...we may have to "grade off" some rough and unlevel spots.  Sometimes those unlevel spot may be difficulties that we have had with family or friends.  They may be sadnesses or tragedies that we have faced in the past.  But when we deal with all of those things, we are ready to move forward. But, sometimes even with all of that preparation work done, things can get a little slippery from time to time.  Therefore, we put down "just enough" gravel to help us continue to move forward toward the goals that we have set for our lives.

Finally....just as surely as we have to put the "right amount" of gravel down in these slippery places, we have to make sure that we put it down far enough. Sometimes, doing the right amount of the right thing right now may not be sufficient for the long haul.  When we have disappointed a loved one in our life, or failed our spouse, or performed for our employer at less than we are capable, we should make sure that we do everything that is necessary for as long as necessary to regain the trust and respect that we have lost.  Remember, trust and respect are earned, not given.

Remember...my theme is




                         Building up Homes


                                     Building up Businesses


                                                         Building up Others





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E-mail me at blessandbeblessed.teddy@gmail.com

New House...New Business..New Life

Today, as I was listening to a motivational speaker that I really appreciate, he continued to drive home the point that we must continue to grow, continue to drive forward, continue to produce. He delivered a "message" that resonated loudly and firmly to me.  I even posted a couple of his comments here on this blog, and on my Facebook page.  They were so appropriate for me at this time in my life, and I can't help but to believe that perhaps someone reading this might be at the same place in their own lives.

O.K....here goes....let me throw back some of what John Jackson threw at me this morning.

1.  The greatest enemy of tomorrow's success is today's success.  Don't rest on our laurels.  Wins, just like losses are only temporary.

2.  Certain things will get you to the top, but other things will keep you there.  Refuse to plateau.  Climb again.

3.  The road to anything good is always uphill.  Once a year, a lobster is forced to shed his shell and start again.

4.  Once stretched by a new idea, a person's mind never goes back to its original dimensions.

5.  What counts is what you learn after you know it all......John Wooden

6.  There never has been a person who lived a life of ease, whose name is worth remembering....Theodore Roosevelt.


So...I said to myself...How can I grip all of these things and apply them to my life.  Everyone of us have had to face something (or some things) that are too hard for us...or too big for us....or too painful for us.  But, for the success of our lives and our influences in other people's lives, we need to grasp the hard things, make a plan, and move forward.


I have been in the building material business for all of my life.  I recently started a new phase in my business life.  Many of the things that caused me to start this new phase were out of my control.  Also, some of those things were due to mistakes and failures on my part.  But, as I wrote in this blog a while back, I decided to move forward and make the best decisions that I could concerning the financial well being of myself, my wife and my family.


So, just this week, I started a new project.  I am making videos of some brand new houses that I am furnishing materials on.  I am trying to compare the similarities of building a new house, to trying to build a new business, to trying to build a new life.  


The phase that both of these houses are in now is the "Site Preparation" phase.  Sometimes, preparing the site for our new venture(s) is difficult.  In the case of these houses, the ground had to be cleared of things that may have been there for years.  Maybe trees had to be cut down, or an old building had to be destroyed, or the ground had to be bulldozed over to make a good site for the new house.  Well, in my life, and in the lives of many others, we have had to go through this "Site Preparation" phase.  It may be painful, it may bring back unpleasant memories, but, it is very necessary for future successes.

I am going to proceed in this blog, to go through some of the stages of these houses.  I am also going to attempt to chronicle the stages of creating a new and exciting business venture that I am beginning.  I have decided to use the power and the global reach of the internet to help me market myself and the products that I have to offer others.  These products will be building materials.....BUT....not just brick, block, lumber, windows and doors.  Some of these products will be building materials that help people build and protect their assets, their credit, their identities, and their faith.

The next phase, (and the next blog) has to do with the next phase of construction.  We need to dig a footing down to solid ground and pour that footing full of concrete to build a house.  If we are building a new business or building a new life, we also need to dig a footing down to solid ground.  We need to make sure that our base is ROCK SOLID.  If we do that, then the structure we build on top will last for a lifetime.

Remember....My theme is...


               Building up houses

                           Building up businesses


                                           Building up others

A PLAQUE ON THE WALL

A few days ago, I wrote a blog post about the Bag of M&M's that I thought that I deserved. I have thought about those ideas often in the last few days. I am never quite sure how that Bag of M&M's might come back to me, but in the last day or two, I have gotten a couple of answers.

Yesterday, my wife and I, and two of our friends went out to dinner......by the way...the chargrilled Ribeye at Outback was great.  Of course, the bloomin' onion goes without saying.  But, back to my point of today's post.  On the way to the restaurant, we had an appointment that we needed to keep.  About two or three weeks ago, we lost one of our best friends to his battle with cancer.  His widow does not feel like trying to live in their house yet, so she is staying with her sister in Charleston, SC for a while.  Our appointment was to serve her by stopping by their house and checking in on everything and making sure that nothing was amiss.  It is a beautiful home that had served a beautiful family.  When we opened the door and walked in, the house was immaculate, just as it always was when we visited.  However, something was missing.....Life....Jerry was in Heaven, and Grace was in Charleston....and the "Life" that had been lived there was absent.  We walked around the house, checking the lights, the windows, the plumbing, etc....everything was o.k....but the "Life" that had been a resident here was gone.

As I was walking and thinking, I came across a plaque on the wall and the words have echoed in mind since then...."I asked God for things, so I could enjoy life.  Instead, He gave me life, so I could enjoy things."  My mind went back to what I was thinking about in my previous posts in this blog.  I had always hoped (and thought) that the business that I enjoyed running for so many years would be with me until I decided to "CASH IN" on my efforts.  Then, my wife and I would be able to ride off into the sunset just as we wanted to. But, when the economy changed its mind, it changed the direction of my "SUNSET".  What I have learned is that it didn't take away my "SUNSET", it just changed the direction in which I had to look to find it.


Today was a very clear statement from Above, that I have been given "Life" so I could enjoy "Things".  I got a good night's sleep last night, and was able to wake up this morning.  As a friend told me this week...It is good to be Vertical and Ventilated!!  Then, I got to go watch my only grandson play in the 4 year old basketball league.  He even hit a shot or two!!  I believe that he has his Grandpa's talent!  Then, I took him and his sister to "Extreme Play" at the mall.  You know...one of those indoor "jump, bounce, scream, laugh, and run emporiums.  One thing about it..It is extreme.  It is extremely wild, but fun.


Now, I am sitting here at the computer with those two grandbabies along with my youngest granddaughter climbing all over me.  I am trying (not too successfully I might admit) to explain to them what a "Blog" is.  But, they really don't care about the explanation, but I can tell that they do care about their "PaPa"

So, today I realize very clearly that I could have all the Things in the world and not enjoy life, but, since I have been given Life,  I can enjoy all things.


So, I want to refocus myself even more to help fulfill my theme in this newsletter.  I am going to be in touch with all of you that I can about anything that I can think of that has value and truth attached to it.  I am walking this path, and I hope that I can be of help to you as well.


Remember, My Theme:


                         BUILDING UP HOUSES


                                 BUILDING UP BUSINESSES


                                             BUILDING UP OTHERS