We are enjoying our time in Gulf Shores with the Crocketts. The weather has cooperated and the fishing has been good. There has been time on the beach. We visited the Battleship Memorial in Mobile and Fort Morgan. We even did a little Christmas shopping at the outlet mall in Foley. We do not expect a white Christmas but there is suppose to be rain. I sure hope Santa has a rain suit.
Today is Ryan Dean Gabehart’s birthday. Happy Birthday.
Of course all birthday’s are special but today is Ryan’s 16th birthday and that is very special. He is looking forward to enjoying the privileges that come with this milestone. Of course, the most important is privilege is being permitted to drive a car. I am excited for him and his parents.
I am praying for all of you.
Steve Elliott, pastor at First Alliance Church, continues to stimulate and challenge me in his lessons. This past Sunday he shared this thought which resonated deeply within me.
“When we lose the sense of wonder about truth itself, we try to manufacture wonder as best we can.”
I find his words encouraging on a regular basis. If you would like to listen to his lessons, you can find them HERE.
It is a great thing to be 11 years old. Not too old and not too young. Today is Blake Daniel Crockett’s 11th birthday. Of course all our grandchildren are above average and there is certainly nothing about Blake that is average. He is a vibrant and lively boy who brightens everything wherever he goes. I love his mischievous smile and free spirit. I wish you the best on this special day and may this year bring good things to you and your family.
On Friday, Ann and I had the privilege of witnessing a naturalization ceremony for the first time. Our friends and neighbors, Vladimir and Tamara Khapersky were participants. They are immigrants from Kazakhstan. It was a very good experience. There were 46 participants from 26 different nations. A later ceremony brought the total to over a 100 new citizens for the day.
It was a serious and emotional ceremony. My friend, Vladimir remarked that his heart was racing as he participated. I was impressed and humbled by the oath that was administered.
I hereby declare, on oath,
- that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
- that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
- that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
- that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law;
- that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;
- that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
- and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.
I had little objective awareness of the responsibilities of citizenship that are clearly defined in the oath. I wonder how many of us born as citizens would be willing to take this oath. I am grateful for this experience and would recommend you attend a naturalization ceremony.