Let me begin by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope you all have been very good this year and get everything you want. If not, do as I do, and try harder to be good for next Christmas.
Next, let me issue an apology for neglecting to post before now. My good friend, Angie, sent me an e-mail reminding me to post. Thank you Angie, I really didn't think anyone was checking. I'll try harder from now on.
Patrick surprised me the other day by announcing his middle school band was joining the high school band to put on a Christmas concert. My cousin Colleen went with Nancy and I to the event. We had a great time listening to all of the talented young musicians and left filled the Spirit of the holidays.
Other than that, I haven't had the opportunity to spend any time in one of my favorite places, the woods. It has been all work and shopping, but it's not all bad. I start two weeks vacation on the first of the new year. Guess where I intend to be. Look on the Louisiana road map and find the corner in the boot, adjoining the state of Mississippi. You'll see a small community named Shaw. To the west of Shaw is a green shaded area named Red River. It's one of my most favorite places to hunt and I'll be right in the middle of it. The boys and I, along with several friends, have had some of the most amazing adventures in those woods. Some of which, I am writing about. I think you'll enjoy them
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Parade Results
Good Morning,
I have good news to report to you. All of your well wishes and prayers were well recieved. I'm glad to to tell you, we all had a good time and arrived home safe and sound. Oh yea, along with the many blessings we recieved from all of the people, we made new friends and won, not one, but two awards! One beautiful award was for the "Best of Show." This one included a beautiful plaque to hang on the wall and a one hundred dollar gift certificate, to be used at West Marine. The second award, a plaque similar to the first, was for being the "Most Creative."
As happy and proud as I am to be honored with the awards, I am most pleased with the great jobs Patrick, his friend Aaron and Aaron's dad, Ted, did. Patrick put forth an excellent effort playing carols with his trumpet. Evidenced by the applause he recieved from the generous audience. Aaron and Ted also did a great job, throwing out the goodies to the crowd and interacting. These three deserve all the credit for winning the awards.
I didn't do so well, personally. I frequently sounded out between carols with my genuine home-made bull horn and managed to scrape the concrete wall once, with the canoe. Other than a couple of busted Christmas lights no serious damage was done, unless you count my bruised ego.
While waiting along the seawall for the start of the parade I met a new friend, from Memphis, TN. His name is William. It was a great pleasure visiting with him and I hope to hear from him again. One thing William told me that I would like to share with you, is that he has two sons currently serving our country, in Iraq. Please join me by remembering to pray for all of our service members and their safe return.
Also at the seawall, A young mother with two little girls, after discovering I have seven sons, graciously allowed me to interact and visit with her daughters. She gladdened an old man's heart with her generosity, may God bless her.
One more little note of consequence happening at the end of the parade occurred, when a mysterious-dark barge suddenly appeared out of the darkness, seemingly out of no where. We were only yards away, before I saw it. On deck, stood a dark human figure waving his arms at us. The boys, by now trained to act accordingly, responded. They smiled, shouted Merry Christmas and waved back to him. Seconds later, a glowing fire ball ignited on the deck of the barge and shot skyward, leaving a sparkling trail in its wake. The fireball quickly gained altitude and burst into a beautiful fireworks display, right above our very heads. Needless to say, it had caught us all by complete surprise. With hindsight, we all figured it out. The waving figure standing on the deck, had been trying to warn us to stay away from the barge. Another great moment, included in a special night where
wonderful new memories, blessings and friends were discovered.
Until next time, may your new memmories be as special as ours are, thanks to you and Others.
Rodney
I have good news to report to you. All of your well wishes and prayers were well recieved. I'm glad to to tell you, we all had a good time and arrived home safe and sound. Oh yea, along with the many blessings we recieved from all of the people, we made new friends and won, not one, but two awards! One beautiful award was for the "Best of Show." This one included a beautiful plaque to hang on the wall and a one hundred dollar gift certificate, to be used at West Marine. The second award, a plaque similar to the first, was for being the "Most Creative."
As happy and proud as I am to be honored with the awards, I am most pleased with the great jobs Patrick, his friend Aaron and Aaron's dad, Ted, did. Patrick put forth an excellent effort playing carols with his trumpet. Evidenced by the applause he recieved from the generous audience. Aaron and Ted also did a great job, throwing out the goodies to the crowd and interacting. These three deserve all the credit for winning the awards.
I didn't do so well, personally. I frequently sounded out between carols with my genuine home-made bull horn and managed to scrape the concrete wall once, with the canoe. Other than a couple of busted Christmas lights no serious damage was done, unless you count my bruised ego.
While waiting along the seawall for the start of the parade I met a new friend, from Memphis, TN. His name is William. It was a great pleasure visiting with him and I hope to hear from him again. One thing William told me that I would like to share with you, is that he has two sons currently serving our country, in Iraq. Please join me by remembering to pray for all of our service members and their safe return.
Also at the seawall, A young mother with two little girls, after discovering I have seven sons, graciously allowed me to interact and visit with her daughters. She gladdened an old man's heart with her generosity, may God bless her.
One more little note of consequence happening at the end of the parade occurred, when a mysterious-dark barge suddenly appeared out of the darkness, seemingly out of no where. We were only yards away, before I saw it. On deck, stood a dark human figure waving his arms at us. The boys, by now trained to act accordingly, responded. They smiled, shouted Merry Christmas and waved back to him. Seconds later, a glowing fire ball ignited on the deck of the barge and shot skyward, leaving a sparkling trail in its wake. The fireball quickly gained altitude and burst into a beautiful fireworks display, right above our very heads. Needless to say, it had caught us all by complete surprise. With hindsight, we all figured it out. The waving figure standing on the deck, had been trying to warn us to stay away from the barge. Another great moment, included in a special night where
wonderful new memories, blessings and friends were discovered.
Until next time, may your new memmories be as special as ours are, thanks to you and Others.
Rodney
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Boat Parade
Good Morning,
Today is Saturday, the sixth day of December. Today is the day the city of Lake Charles is hosting Christmas celebrations. The city will be filled with celebrants enjoying the parades, choirs, fireworks and other fun filled activities, including the boat parade.
Some of you know how special the boat parade is to my family and I. The boys and I had an amazing adventure and endured personal trials of faith during our first attempt to join the parade. We simply wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and enjoy seeing the fireworks from the water. That fateful night ended and left us filled with awe over the many blessings we recieved from both, God and the wonderful people, who attended the parade as spectators. Special gifts that David, Daniel, Matthew and I will always deeply appreciate and will never forget. I will reveal and share them with you in my first book, with a humble heart. My hope is that it will strengthen your faith and inspire you to spend as much time with your family as possible. That's what the experience did for me.
My youngest son, Patrick, announced to me some time ago that he wanted to be in the parade this year. So once again, I have to overcome my own senses telling me to play it safe and remain at home, to enter him into the parade.
I must admit as the time of the start of the parade nears, I feel a growing sense of excitement. Pat joined the middle school band this year and is playing a trumpet. He has been practicing daily at home in order to play carols for the crowd, as his special gift. I hope he is well recieved. All of my remaining boys feel as if they have grown too old to participate with us, or perhaps found some common sense. Patrick intends to ask his good friend Aaron and his sister Lacy to ride in the canoe with us.
If you can, attend all of the fun festivities and stay to watch the parade with the fireworks afterwards. If you see us, shout out or better yet, join in our celebration of Our Lord, Jesus' birthday, by singing with us. If you can't carry a tune, don't worry about it, I can't either. Together we can make joyful noise. If you can't come, please pray for us, that we are successful in spreading the good news by lending our voices to the Good Spirit of the season.
A heartfelt Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for your support,
From Rodney and the rest of the Hennigan family
P.S.
The parade starts at six thirty p.m., behind the Civic Center. Stand near the seawall and listen for the horn.
Today is Saturday, the sixth day of December. Today is the day the city of Lake Charles is hosting Christmas celebrations. The city will be filled with celebrants enjoying the parades, choirs, fireworks and other fun filled activities, including the boat parade.
Some of you know how special the boat parade is to my family and I. The boys and I had an amazing adventure and endured personal trials of faith during our first attempt to join the parade. We simply wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and enjoy seeing the fireworks from the water. That fateful night ended and left us filled with awe over the many blessings we recieved from both, God and the wonderful people, who attended the parade as spectators. Special gifts that David, Daniel, Matthew and I will always deeply appreciate and will never forget. I will reveal and share them with you in my first book, with a humble heart. My hope is that it will strengthen your faith and inspire you to spend as much time with your family as possible. That's what the experience did for me.
My youngest son, Patrick, announced to me some time ago that he wanted to be in the parade this year. So once again, I have to overcome my own senses telling me to play it safe and remain at home, to enter him into the parade.
I must admit as the time of the start of the parade nears, I feel a growing sense of excitement. Pat joined the middle school band this year and is playing a trumpet. He has been practicing daily at home in order to play carols for the crowd, as his special gift. I hope he is well recieved. All of my remaining boys feel as if they have grown too old to participate with us, or perhaps found some common sense. Patrick intends to ask his good friend Aaron and his sister Lacy to ride in the canoe with us.
If you can, attend all of the fun festivities and stay to watch the parade with the fireworks afterwards. If you see us, shout out or better yet, join in our celebration of Our Lord, Jesus' birthday, by singing with us. If you can't carry a tune, don't worry about it, I can't either. Together we can make joyful noise. If you can't come, please pray for us, that we are successful in spreading the good news by lending our voices to the Good Spirit of the season.
A heartfelt Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for your support,
From Rodney and the rest of the Hennigan family
P.S.
The parade starts at six thirty p.m., behind the Civic Center. Stand near the seawall and listen for the horn.