Meet The Parents

I mentioned that at some point I would talk about my parents. Meet Harvey and Joan Helm. They have been married for 45+ years and the parents of 5 kids and 10 grandchildren. My dad is a retired Industrial Arts Teacher and a Carpenter. My mom... well God broke the mold when He made her.

There are lots of wonderful things I could share but I think one of the most amazing things about my parents is that after being retired for 10+ years. They sold their home, gave most of their earthly "things" away and moved to the Philippians for 2 1/2 years to work with the street kids. My dad established a vocational training school to teach the street children a sellable skill and my mom became "lola" which means grandma to the 75 children in the three homes. Mom did what she does best - love children.

My parents returned to the states in December and are slowing setting up home back in Florida. I am in Florida on business and came down a few days early to spend the weekend with my parents prior to working at a tradeshow. It is wonderful having them back here in the states. I realized while spending time with them that they left apart of themselves in the Philippians. They grew to love all the "street" kids and made deep relationships with many of the Filipino people. In fact we just called the Philippians to talk to Lina (my parents' live in helper) and just finished writting to another dear friend named Bing. It is obvious that my parents enjoy being back home but miss the kids and friends they made there.

It is never too late to heed the call - "Give a man a fish; he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."

Family photo of our last time together prior to my parents leaving for the field.


Other articles pulished about my parents.

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/21/Citrus/When_Mom_or_Dad_is_in.shtml

http://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Banks-Make-Ready-Use/dp/1565231732/ref=sr_1_1/105-7027268-3426855?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183205771&sr=1-1

When times are tough...

Lord, your Word says,

"In everything give thanks

because this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning me."

So while I am in this, I choose

with my will to thank you.

Lord your Word says,

"All things including this work together

for the good to those who love you

and are called according to Your purpose."

You have also said,

"Heaven and earth will pass away

before your Word passes away."

So your Word is truer than anything

I am feeling or experiencing right now.

Ruth Bell Graham

Heaven became a bit brighter this week as the earth lost a Godly lady.

I came across a website that is dedicated to Mrs Graham's life... you can get there by going to http://www.thecove.org/. I came across several quotes that I loved. I wanted to share one of them that spoke directly to my heart.

"I believe that our heavenly Father, our Savior, saved my mother from loneliness because of her daily walk with the Lord Jesus, He was the love of her life." - Ann Graham Lotz

Oh how I pray one day that could be said about me... that I will be so in love with the Lord that He fills my every need and removes all forms of loneliness...

Life is full of choices...

Life is full of choices...
Choices have consequences...
Make the right choices!

This is a quote my niece Kelsey shared with me quite a while back. It speaks volumes and its so true!

We make choices every day and some of our choices have HUGE consequences!

We can choose to react or not to react. To take action or do nothing at all... It is important to make the right choices but what about the choice to do nothing, to be silent or wait for someone else to take the action first because if you actually make a choice it would mean taking a risk, owning the consequences for that action and being vulnerable in the midst of that choice.

It is interesting because I often choose to be silent or to wait for someone else to take the first step. In doing so, I am finding that life keeps going and nothing changes because the choice to do nothing has its own consequence.

Think about your choices and remember they have consequences even if your choice is to do nothing at all. So be sure to make the right choices!

To golf or not to golf...

To golf or not to golf… that is the question at hand.

I decided to learn to play golf since most of my co-workers play and they often take the clients out for a round. I’ve hit the ball a couple of times last year at a driving range but actually played golf for the very first time about two weeks ago. Surprisingly, I did well for my first time ever.

I came home excited and decided to look for my own set of golf clubs. What an education that was… Who would have ever thought you could spend so much money on a bunch of sticks!!! Ok, so they aren’t sticks but still… Wow!!!

So, I played golf again yesterday... Let’s just say I didn’t have the same results as I did the first time. I couldn’t even hit the ball never mind making it hit the green. I guess I am off to take lessons if I am serious about playing.

One fun part is that Eric and I have made plans to play together. I am looking forward to the bonding time with my brother!