Granny celebrated her 90th birthday last August, but ever since then her body began to shut down and the Lord took Granny home last week. I guess the Lord enjoys Granny’s incredible cookies and lufsa as much as we do and wanted her to do some cooking for Him. It is very sad to lose someone like Granny who has been a part of so many lives over all these years. I have known her now for just about 16 years and thank the Lord that she helped to raise the wonderful woman that is my wife. Granny was the BEST and everyone who knew her is a better person because of her.
Even though we celebrate that she is no longer in pain and she is living eternally through Christ Jesus, we are still saddened by her loss and that we won’t get to swing by and visit any longer. My poor wife is taking it especially hard because she grew up living with Granny until we got married and Granny spent all those years raising Dayna with her mom while her mom worked hard a single mother to provide for Dayna. Dayna and Granny were as close as you can get to someone here on Earth and is trying to cope with the loss. Please pray for Dayna and for the rest of the family as we go through the grieving process while also staying focused on the fact that our beloved Granny is waiting for us in heaven and will have us over to visit when we join her.
Today we say goodbye to President George Bush and hello to Barack Obama. I was happy that George W. won the election back in 2000 because we needed someone with integrity and a sense of honor to replace the scum before that soiled the White House and any sense of moral behavior we expect from our top leader. Bush came into office at a tough time when things were not secure and the economy was on the way downwards. He was challenged fairly quickly with 9-11 and demonstrated good leadership. He stepped up to the plate and helped secure America and demonstrate to terrorists that you shouldn’t mess with our free country.
President Bush wasn’t the best public speaker, by a long shot, but you always knew where he stood because he didn’t waver with the polls or change his beliefs and opinions to match the popular opinion of the day. I respected him and his faith.
Unfortunately, I think he failed in many areas this last term and didn’t stand up and speak out when he needed to most. He seemed to let things just happen and needed to stand up and take charge. I strongly believe that no matter which Republican ran for office this past election there was little chance of a win given the constant comparisons to Bush. Then again, Ron Paul was pretty revolutionary for a Republican and had some great ideas that could have garnered lots of support.
Goodbye Mr. Bush and God Bless you for your efforts. I truly believe Bush actually does love this country (unlike past Presidents who were more selfish than anything) and wanted the best for it, but maybe he just didn’t know how to get it done these last couple of years.
I am not a fan of President Barack Obama for many reasons, but since he is our President I will support and pray for him. I truly hope he does help people step up to the plate and work hard to improve conditions in the U.S. I just fear that he will continue the Democratic way of taking money from hard working Americans to give to those who don’t work hard and freeload off the backs of the working class. We can’t afford to continue holding people back from personal responsibility and action and need to enable people to get out of the cycle of welfare. Remember too, Barack is just a man like you and I and is not some type of superhero from Krypton that was sent here to save the planet.
I love this holiday where we take the time out of our schedules to reflect on all that we have been blessed with. This year is an exceptional year for me with the Lord providing me with an awesome family, Granny that is feeling good right now, incredible day and night jobs, good health, and a supportive online family. Thank you all for the year. Enjoy today with family and friends while giving thanks to the Lord for your blessings.
I wanted to say I am sorry to the 15 people who visit this blog in hopes that I might actually post something. Since I last posted I guess I have gone through some depression with the election of a man as President with no experience in leadership (pray hard for our country to get through this phase of our history), apprehension as Granny’s condition worsens (pray for her and her comfort), joy (my oldest earned her varsity soccer letter in high school and was picked up by a select team), and more. I have been very busy at work traveling to places like Houston, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Alaska. My two ZDNet blogs are also doing VERY well and is a very exciting opportunity for me to write and share my experience in mobility with the world.
The Lord continues to bless me and my family beyond anything I could have hoped for and I really do not deserve all of these blessings. I am trying to share as many of those blessings with others, particularly in regards to finances at our church since I know many people are struggling during this uncertain economic time in our country.
I have been trying to stick a bit longer with devices and use them to their potential (tough when readers want me to review so many devices) rather than buying everything on the market. I just sent back several Nseries devices and review units as I clean out the clutter and try to stay focused.
I am reading my Bible a lot more with the AMAZING PocketBible application on my HTC Fuze and again could never give up a Windows Mobile device just for this application alone.
I’ll try to update this site a bit more, but won’t make any promises as I start coaching a 3rd/4th grade girls basketball team and run my other daughters around to soccer and basketball.
As readers know I am a conservative Christian man and already voted for John McCain. I wanted someone more conservative than him, but there is no other choice this election. I honestly cannot believe the Democratic party actually has Obama as their candidate. This guy has no right even being considered for President and if he gets elected we might as well have voted for my neighbor next door who probably has more experience actually leading people than Obama does. This post at Sound Politics clearly supported the viewpoint that McCain is the only choice and I pray McCain actually wins on Tuesday.
If not, I honestly have significant concern for America if Congress and the people let Obama actually implement some of his planned initiatives. If you think the economy is bad now, I think we’ll find it in much worse shape when Obama gives money back to those that don’t pay taxes and then punishes those that pay almost all of the taxes already.
Thankfully, God is in charge of my life and I am not fearful of anything and welcome His return to take me to a much better place.
I know I did something similar for my wife recently, but Granny’s time on this earth is getting more and more limited so I wanted to put this together for her too. I also made a display board with these items and some photos of her and will be giving it to her soon. She just turned 90 a couple weeks ago so here are just 90 things I love about Granny. Please do continue to pray for Granny Bolstad.
1. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
2. She loves me with all her heart
3. She loves her family
4. She gives the best hugs
5. You always feel better after visiting Granny
6. She would give her life for anyone
7. She loves her family more than anything
8. She is an amazing Christian woman who is secure in the Lord
9. She is a die hard conservative and you can count on Granny’s vote
10. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
11. She was awarded for her diligence in voting. Way to do your duty Granny!
12. She is a good poet and was published in Reader’s Digest
13. She always forgives and forgets and holds no grudges
14. Everyone feels special in Granny’s presence
15. She is independent and strong
16. She is protective of her family, don’t mess with her family or she’ll take your head off
17. She has lovely eyes
18. She supported her family and was the rock they relied on
19. She raised 5 great kids
20. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
21. She helped raise and mold my awesome wife to be the person she is
22. She is an awesome cook
23. She is a positive thinker and is never negative
24. She makes lufsa and potato balls for me
25. She brings peace to situations
26. She thinks I am smart and makes me feel good about myself
27. She is a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother
28. She is very smart and always knows the answer
29. She likes to take the small packets of sugar and condiments from the restaurant
30. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
31. She likes to save things and be frugal
32. She is not materialistic at all and couldn’t care less about worldy things
33. She appreciates it when people do things for her
34. She is one of the few people that makes me cry when I think about them being gone
35. She appreciates what I try to do as a father for my girls
36. She always gives out compliments, even when we think we don’t deserve them
37. Without her in my life, I would have been less of a man
38. She is a good Christian woman and not afraid to let anyone know that Jesus reigns
39. She is a die hard conservative (Go McCain-Palin!)
40. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
41. She has smooth soft skin that feels good against you
42. She gives good kisses
43. She reminds me of a baby Ewok when she walks
44. She gives great cards
45. She fills a hole in my heart and I LOVE her so much
46. She doesn’t need makeup to look beautiful, she just is
47. She works hard and has all her life
48. She was created by God just for me (and her family too I suppose ☺)
49. Without her, I would not have Marian and Dayna in my life
50. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
51. She makes me Christmas cookies even when she doesn’t feel that well
52. She raised kids who have her same kind of unconditional love
53. She is not a wimp and stands up for what is right
54. She lived in her house and supported her kids for many, many years
55. She likes to grow a garden
56. She likes to read, like me
57. She has the gift of service and does it willingly
58. She tells good stories
59. She has lived a full life and survived a lot
60. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
61. She loves to hug and kiss
62. Granny is ALWAYS there for you, no matter what
63. She always has time to listen to you
64. She enjoys a white Russian now and then
65. She loves unconditionally and is a perfect example of the way Jesus wants us to love
66. She is easy to love
67. Everyone who has known her is a better person because of her on this earth
68. I love to hear her stories of the past
69. She likes to wear baseball caps
70. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
71. She loves Jesus and you better too
72. She was a knockout in her 20s and has only gotten more gorgeous since then
73. She writes nice letters
74. She is a good driver
75. Granny doesn’t need a computer to give you an answer to a question, hmm, maybe Granny is Google
76. She is cute when she chews
77. She can give you a look from across the room and make you feel all better
78. She is always positive and lifts your spirits
79. She has a beautiful smile
80. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
81. She is strong
82. She loves our military and appreciates their sacrifices
83. She is an excellent listener
84. She always remembers important dates and calls to let you know
85. She misses me when I am traveling and prays for my safe return
86. She is extremely patriotic and loves America
87. She laughs at her own jokes and makes me laugh too
88. She inspires all of us to live a better life
89. She is the kindest, most loving person I have EVER known, EVER!!
90. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out
Unfortunately, Granny continues to have medical issues and with her congenital heart disease her lungs are filling up with fluid. They gave her some meds to eliminate the fluid and help her breathing, but you can’t use it too long or it impacts your kidneys. She is back in the hospital and trying to gain her strength again so she can return to her daughter’s house (my mother-in-law) for care at home.
People enjoyed my list about my wife so I am making a 90 things I love about Granny list right now and will put together the storyboard very soon for her to enjoy in the hospital. Please pray for her continued medical issues and easing of the fairly constant pain she lives in.
