Anthony'sApple

Anthony'sApple, originally uploaded by bobrocky.

My nephew, Anthony, on his way to buy his first Mac, an iMac G5.

Dad's Progress

Lots of people asking about Dad. He's much better. He's been eating lamb stew that Mom made him. For him to eat veggies and meat is rare. But he is doing better. For some reason lamb is the meat he will eat. Luckily, we have a Greek store near by the carries it.

Keep praying for him, please. He still needs more strength. We're very happy he's starting to eat better, however. That is a very big step. His taste is returning for the first time in 3 years.

Bob

To the Wire

Connie and I took the kids out for a walk for Bush today. Connie took Elizabeth and I took Zack and we walked streets in our neighborhood passing out information for electing President Bush and various California initiatives. The kids had fun. I must have the most political little ones around. Guess they get that from me.

Dad Update

Went to see Dad today at St. Jude's. He is doing well. Not too much draining from his heart cavity now. They'd probably send him home, but the doctors can't seem to decide who his primary doctor is, so he stays. It's okay, I think the rest and IV stuff is good for him, but he wants to come home.

We still don't know what brought the fluid into his heart cavity. That's a concern. So, we still covet your prayers. They make all the difference!

God bless,

Bob

Sent to me by a friend, Gary Waltz

 

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:19


Subject: Step Up and Be Counted





Two things about this blew me away,,, besides the message...


 #1,, it was written by a University Professor..... and


 #2 One from of all places... Ellensburg, Washington.


Well worth reading... and passing on to everyone on your  e-mail list! 


  


This was written in the Daily Record (Ellensburg's paper) on Wed. Oct.
6, 2004. It was written by Mathew (only one t) Manweller who is a Central Washington University political science professor.

The title of the article was "Election determines fate of nation."



"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election
there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is
too serious, and the stakes are too high.
This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime
that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation
crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance.
Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence.
Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the
daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the
consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history.
If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of
the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be
twofold. First, we will reject the notion that America can do big
things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and
stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing
democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more
significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we
are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to
boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other
civilizations.
The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future
presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions.
America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history
regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we
turn away from who we are.
Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the
lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists
that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can
defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can
become a defeated America. Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily
tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal
blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10. The election of John Kerry
will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft
underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters.
Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is
all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own
self-doubt will take it from there. Bin Laden will recognize that he
can topple any American administration without setting foot on the
homeland.
It is said that America's W.W.II generation is its 'greatest
generation.'
But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last
generation.' Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and
hardened in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation
that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice. It is
difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow
detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens
today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American.' But America
has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do
more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and
responsibilities.
This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must
grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the
oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians
will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive
election of our century. Depending on the outcome, they will describe
it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they
will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the
greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on
the Hill."

Mathew Manweller

My dad

Had quite a scare today. My dad had a cat scan a few days and it showed he had an enlarged heart. Today, Connie and Mom took him to a specialist who had him go to ER because he was very worried that dad had a lot of fluid around his heart. Anyway, they decided dad had to have emergency heart surgery. They opened him up and took out a quart of fluid, put in a drain and took him to ICU. Dad looked great following the surgery. He didn't seem to have any pain. The weirdest thing was that dad ate a big chicken dinner. He hasn't done that in months. He lives on Boost and Ensure drinks. Sure hoping he will eat like that when he comes home. They've also found 27 ulcers in his stomach. That's why he hasn't been able to keep any food down for so long. We'd appreciate your prayers for him.

Thanks,

Bob

Debate #2

I thought President Bush did much better in tonight's debate. He was much more at ease in the Townhall forum. I'd say he won this one. I believe Cheney won the VP debate. That make it

Kerry - 1

Bush - 2

Me - happy

Dad

Had a scare today. My dad was on his daily walk, alone, and took a fall. He had stopped to sit on a low brick fence. When he tried to stand up, he took a fall and landed on his face. He's not sure if he was knocked out or not, but he got up and walked home. He looks like someone mugged him. He has a black eye, swollen face and bloody scratches on his cheek and chin. We've not had a lot of success in getting him to slow down, so I guess this was inevitible. Keep him in your prayers.

VP Debates

We're following the debates carefully at our house. The children are becoming very politically aware. Zack has a very good understanding of the candidates and parties. I busted up the other day in the school cafeteria. I could hear Elizabeth, age 5, shouting to the other kids, "John Kerry keeps lying about President Bush! I don't know why. It makes me mad that he lies. He's trying to get President Bush fired! President Bush is a good man."

Gotta love that girl! :-)

democratic_seal

democratic_seal, originally uploaded by bobrocky.

I don't know if there's anything else to say, but I love this!