A "Fair" Day

Ahhh! The fun of attending "The Great Minnesota Get Together." Warriors of every shape and size convirge to battle for walking area in pusute of tastey treasures "on a stick." For those of you who are not familiar with the ritual of the Minnesota State Fair, every year the entire state of Minnesota half of Wisconsin, Canada and even South Dakota come to Saint Paul, Minnesota to enjoy everything from a deep fried candy bar and Chocolate covered Key Lime Pie to Alligator or speggetti and Meatballs on a stick. Yes you did read that right. A STICK!! I tried the alligator on a stick, which tasted more like sauague, and the before mentioned Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie. Good Stuff!! I also had fries, and some cookies (neither of which come on a stick).
In addition to the food, rides, animals and tons of exhibits, every major radio and TV station broadcasts live from the fair. This gives everyone a chance to see there favorite personalities in person. A group of bloggers that both Liz and I enjoy reading as well as listening to, The Northern Radio Alliance, was broadcasting live. They have lively debate over polictical issues and are very informitive. One of the bloggers, King Banaian from SCSUScholars, was one of Liz's professors when she was in college. We enjoyed seeing Dr. Banaian and the rest of the Northern Alliance (link to come) and I had the honor of being on the air with them. They ask about my upcoming deployment and let both Liz & I shamelessly plug our blogs. What a bunch of great guys.
After the fair Liz and I had dinner with the neighboors down the hall, Paul and Cindy. Paul is a retired Army medic and Cindy knows what it is going to be like for Liz while I am deployed so it was good to get to know then a little before I left. They are Christians too so I know that Liuz will be well taken care of while I am gone.
I am very thankful that we live in Minnesota. Liz's family lives here, we have a great church that will take care of her and we have a network of friends to take be there for Liz while I am away. There is no doubt that God knows exactly what he is doing.

True Friends
Welcome to my blog. In case you didn't know, about a month ago I decided to reenlist in the National Guard because I missed it. I raised my hand and swore in on a Wednesday and by the next Friday I was told by my unit that I was going to be deployed in October. At this point I don't know when I am leaving I just know that I am.
In the past few weeks I have spoken to a number of you about my upcoming deployment. We have spent time with some of our friends and all have expressed their grief love and shared thier prayers for us. We are blessed to have so many friends that will care for my wife while I am gone. At last count I have over twenty churches that either have begun to pray for me and my unit or will be praying when I do end up going.
However, last night my wife & I spent time with one of my old roommates, Jer, his girlfriend and their four- month old daughter. We went out to eat and as the dinner conversation progressed I noticed that the issue of me being deployed had not been a subject of our conversation. This came as no suprise because when I had told him I was being deployed he said that it was too bad, that his girlfriend had a friend in Iraq and that he did not agree with the war. He then spent an hour whining about how horrible his life is, how terrible it was that two friends would not give him the money he is owed and that one of the guys didn't even want to be his friend anymore.
FYI: Jer was unemployed most of the time I lived with him. He ALWAYS complains about how life is so unfair and how the world owes him. He has been unemployed for two years and he thinks people should come and bang down his door to hire him.
It came as no surprise to me last night when Jer started telling my wife and I that they were unhappy because a Pastor's wife had plastic surgury and that's vain. Then came comments about how he would do a better job in charge of some ministry and questioning why this ministry only had five paid positions. Neither Jer nor his girlfriend has ever made a financial contribution to said ministry. "Well, I give my time," was Jer's response. Then he whined about how unfair Social Service is because they want to know how much money he has in his bank account at all times and they want him to report any money he makes. He complained about the selection of frames they had to pick from and that he couldn't get scratch resistant lens for the FREE glasses he and his girlfriend were getting because they are on WELFARE! He is lazy and won't swallow his pride to get a job to support his own family. Instead he would rather have others support him because his life is so hard.
That reminded me of what someone at my unit said. "Don't be suprised when you stop talking to some of your old friends." This deployment will teach me the value of all of my friends. I know who my true friends are and I value each one of you.