Holly and Guy Zabka, our younger daughter and son-in-law, are delightful and talented young people. What oftentimes ends in disaster became a classic marriage after the soon-to-be mother-in-law introduced them. Guy comes from an excellent Christian and talented family, his father having written the original theme song for the long running television NBC program called "The Tonight Show." Guy's brother, Billy, was the mean kid in the movie "The Karate Kid." Holly was chosen to be a member of the varisty St. Charles High Dance line when she was a freshman and a cheerleader in her junior and senior years. Enrolling in Missouri State University, Holly was a member of the university's dance squad known as the Sugar Bears. Following graduation from MSU, Holly became a cheerleader for the St. Louis Rams. She grew up singing with One Accord and ended up loving Christian music.
Holly and Guy just had a beautiful baby girl. When Granddad says beautiful, we know it has to be true. If you have one brain, you cannot help but see the hand of God in the birthing process. How precious that is and to think that Jesus came into the world through the process is almost unbelievable. Almost unbelievable!
The Zabka's two sons, Jacob 6, and Houston 3, were at first a bit standoffish with their little sister, but now have warmed to the addition to their family. Those boys make me laugh and be grateful for their lives. I told Jacob I was going to arrange for him to go to a baseball camp next summer sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals. He told me he already knew how to play baseball.
Sue and I have a little car for the grandkids to drive on the basketball court in our backyard. Houston says it is his car and grandpa says it is his. We tease each other as each says "my car."
I came home on Saturday to face some challenges which I will share at another time. Sue and I are indeed grateful for Jesus, family, and friends.
It's getting close to WAJ!!! Watch for announcements on the web site.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE - PART TWO
Last week, I began a series of blogs on people of influence. In continuing this process, I have thought of several folks who have exhibited influence on my life. Today, I want to focus on my wife, Sue, who has grown into a person of influence.
As a public school teacher, a person has little power over her students, but can greatly influence them. Sue was a high school journalism teacher and at one time also taught English and drama. What a schedule - yearbook, newspaper, dramatic productions. Sue did her job and did it well. After taking some time off to work for One Accord, Sue went back to teaching. Finally, she had only journalism and English to teach. Producing the high school newspaper was also part of that job. Properly influencing students in journalism is an area of great need in our country and Sue did just that in underscoring the responsibility of making sure stories are accurate, truthful, and well-written. Editorially speaking, many radio, TV stations and newspapers should embrace Sue's teachings. During these years, many of her students went on to college and have shared with her how much the years in her classes have meant to them. On the wall in our office is a plaque from her students at Hazelwood West that reads:
Mrs. Sue Smith
The Great Advisor at Hazelwood West
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
With Love from the 1998-99 Gazette Staff
Josten's Yearbook Company representative, Jim Combs, said Sue was one of the two best journalism teachers in the greater St. Louis region.
She went off to Nashville as a relatively unknown "Want to Be" Christian writer with the desire to be the best she could be. She has influenced so many aspiring writers personally and through WAJ. Like her mentor, Dave Clark, she is just as happy when one of her friends finds success in the writing field as when she does. She loves sharing her experience and expertise, the result of which is a number of people who write about Jesus better than they ever have. WAJ is a story of influence in itself.
Sue is greatly loved by her parents. Can you believe how very proud they are of her accomplishments? It was their influence as Christian parents that made her the special person she is today.
As a mother, she is dearly loved by Jamie, Rick, and Holly. They love to say that Sue Smith is their mother. She is just as proud to say that they are her daughters and son. Sue's consistent godly life has influenced each of them to be more like her in the endeavors in which they find themselves. Each of our children always, always tells her how much they love her. Influence? You better believe it. Our son-in-law, Kendall Lucas, is minister of praise and worship at the Denton Bible Church in Denton, TX. He loves to tell folks about the music his mother-in-law writes.
Sue is a great wife. We are not together as often as many married couples, but that is alright because it has allowed her to follow her dream. She has, by example, lived the Christian life in front of me. Influence? You better believe it.
Growing up, my early heroes were Stan Musial in baseball and the Blackwood Brothers and Statesmen in Christian music. Today, Lou Brock is a hero, not only because of all he accomplished as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, but because of his commitment as a Christian. All these folks were and are people of influence. Into that category has come Sue Smith. Influence? You better believe it.
As a public school teacher, a person has little power over her students, but can greatly influence them. Sue was a high school journalism teacher and at one time also taught English and drama. What a schedule - yearbook, newspaper, dramatic productions. Sue did her job and did it well. After taking some time off to work for One Accord, Sue went back to teaching. Finally, she had only journalism and English to teach. Producing the high school newspaper was also part of that job. Properly influencing students in journalism is an area of great need in our country and Sue did just that in underscoring the responsibility of making sure stories are accurate, truthful, and well-written. Editorially speaking, many radio, TV stations and newspapers should embrace Sue's teachings. During these years, many of her students went on to college and have shared with her how much the years in her classes have meant to them. On the wall in our office is a plaque from her students at Hazelwood West that reads:
Mrs. Sue Smith
The Great Advisor at Hazelwood West
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
With Love from the 1998-99 Gazette Staff
Josten's Yearbook Company representative, Jim Combs, said Sue was one of the two best journalism teachers in the greater St. Louis region.
She went off to Nashville as a relatively unknown "Want to Be" Christian writer with the desire to be the best she could be. She has influenced so many aspiring writers personally and through WAJ. Like her mentor, Dave Clark, she is just as happy when one of her friends finds success in the writing field as when she does. She loves sharing her experience and expertise, the result of which is a number of people who write about Jesus better than they ever have. WAJ is a story of influence in itself.
Sue is greatly loved by her parents. Can you believe how very proud they are of her accomplishments? It was their influence as Christian parents that made her the special person she is today.
As a mother, she is dearly loved by Jamie, Rick, and Holly. They love to say that Sue Smith is their mother. She is just as proud to say that they are her daughters and son. Sue's consistent godly life has influenced each of them to be more like her in the endeavors in which they find themselves. Each of our children always, always tells her how much they love her. Influence? You better believe it. Our son-in-law, Kendall Lucas, is minister of praise and worship at the Denton Bible Church in Denton, TX. He loves to tell folks about the music his mother-in-law writes.
Sue is a great wife. We are not together as often as many married couples, but that is alright because it has allowed her to follow her dream. She has, by example, lived the Christian life in front of me. Influence? You better believe it.
Growing up, my early heroes were Stan Musial in baseball and the Blackwood Brothers and Statesmen in Christian music. Today, Lou Brock is a hero, not only because of all he accomplished as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, but because of his commitment as a Christian. All these folks were and are people of influence. Into that category has come Sue Smith. Influence? You better believe it.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE - PART ONE
More and more I am interested in people of influence and so I am beginning a series of blogs about people who have had great influence on my life.
To begin, I have to start with my parents. My dad was born in the family home on a farm between Ozark and Springfield, MO. He only went to the 8th grade because he was needed on the farm. Later, he went to work for a company owned by his uncle in Springfield and sold butter to grocery stores in that city. When asked how he met his wife, his response always was at the zoo where she was in a cage. Later, my father became a wholesale milk salesman for Foremost Dairy. He chose a route that went to Branson long before Branson was a great place to vacation. I remember he would often break the roads on snowy mornings just so the people who lived in that area could have their milk. He serviced them in a creative way. There was a restaurant in Forsyth, MO called "Paul's Cafe." Paul was having difficulty in obtaining meat delivered from a Crane, MO meat company. My dad said he went to Crane every day and he would deliver the meat order to Paul. That is just one example of his caring. Taking care of people six days a week, getting up early every day to meet people's need. I don't think he ever saw me play football, basketball, tennis, or run track because of his work. He was a great role model for a son. Early on, I can't remember his saying that he loved me, but I knew he did. In his family, that just wasn't done. Later, he did say that not only to me, but to Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly. He went to Sunday School and church regularly, and helped in any way he could. He was a good and faithful husband and father.
My mother took care of me in the formative years not only because she wanted to, but because of my father' job. She enrolled me in Greenwood where I went to school for 13 years, beginning in kindergarten. She was strict. I still have the 15 inch ruler she often applied to my backside. She was always incredibly interested in me and my activities. In adulthood, I jokingly called her "Nosey Mary." She would sit me down and inquire what was going on in my life. She did the same to Rick before Sue and I were married. In the years when it was just Rick and me, she would always want to help if he were ill. As a believer, she helped introduce me to Jesus and took me to the pastor's study to confirm my decision. My mother and Mrs. Leona Jones often sang duets in sunday schoold departments. They would practice over the phone. My mother was an alto, so you can imagine how that sounded on our end of the phone. When I was home, she would have me play the piano when they practiced and also when they sang in front of folks. She was president of the Women" Missionary Union of FBC, Springfield, and loved researching stories of those who served as missionaries. She attend most of my programs in elementary school and a few of my athletic endeavors in high school. Later in life, she managed the Kentwood Arms Hotel, which was THE hotel in Springfield. My mother was a classy and attractive lady.
What was the influence of my father and mother? Let's take a look:
1. She told me about Jesus and influenced my decision to accept Him as Savior.
2. They were both role models of a godly life.
3. Without a doubt they revealed their love for me.
4. They were interested in my activities and later in life, came to One Accord concerts in cities a good distance from Springfield.
5. They loved Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly very much.
6. They helped me financially many times.
7. We are always lovingly received when visiting them.
8. They took care of Rick and me when we were ill.
9. They saw that I had a good education.
10. They saw to it that I learned how to play the piano.
They were married for 65 years, before my mother passed away in 1993. My dad died in 1998. Some kind of influence!
To begin, I have to start with my parents. My dad was born in the family home on a farm between Ozark and Springfield, MO. He only went to the 8th grade because he was needed on the farm. Later, he went to work for a company owned by his uncle in Springfield and sold butter to grocery stores in that city. When asked how he met his wife, his response always was at the zoo where she was in a cage. Later, my father became a wholesale milk salesman for Foremost Dairy. He chose a route that went to Branson long before Branson was a great place to vacation. I remember he would often break the roads on snowy mornings just so the people who lived in that area could have their milk. He serviced them in a creative way. There was a restaurant in Forsyth, MO called "Paul's Cafe." Paul was having difficulty in obtaining meat delivered from a Crane, MO meat company. My dad said he went to Crane every day and he would deliver the meat order to Paul. That is just one example of his caring. Taking care of people six days a week, getting up early every day to meet people's need. I don't think he ever saw me play football, basketball, tennis, or run track because of his work. He was a great role model for a son. Early on, I can't remember his saying that he loved me, but I knew he did. In his family, that just wasn't done. Later, he did say that not only to me, but to Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly. He went to Sunday School and church regularly, and helped in any way he could. He was a good and faithful husband and father.
My mother took care of me in the formative years not only because she wanted to, but because of my father' job. She enrolled me in Greenwood where I went to school for 13 years, beginning in kindergarten. She was strict. I still have the 15 inch ruler she often applied to my backside. She was always incredibly interested in me and my activities. In adulthood, I jokingly called her "Nosey Mary." She would sit me down and inquire what was going on in my life. She did the same to Rick before Sue and I were married. In the years when it was just Rick and me, she would always want to help if he were ill. As a believer, she helped introduce me to Jesus and took me to the pastor's study to confirm my decision. My mother and Mrs. Leona Jones often sang duets in sunday schoold departments. They would practice over the phone. My mother was an alto, so you can imagine how that sounded on our end of the phone. When I was home, she would have me play the piano when they practiced and also when they sang in front of folks. She was president of the Women" Missionary Union of FBC, Springfield, and loved researching stories of those who served as missionaries. She attend most of my programs in elementary school and a few of my athletic endeavors in high school. Later in life, she managed the Kentwood Arms Hotel, which was THE hotel in Springfield. My mother was a classy and attractive lady.
What was the influence of my father and mother? Let's take a look:
1. She told me about Jesus and influenced my decision to accept Him as Savior.
2. They were both role models of a godly life.
3. Without a doubt they revealed their love for me.
4. They were interested in my activities and later in life, came to One Accord concerts in cities a good distance from Springfield.
5. They loved Sue, Jamie, Rick, and Holly very much.
6. They helped me financially many times.
7. We are always lovingly received when visiting them.
8. They took care of Rick and me when we were ill.
9. They saw that I had a good education.
10. They saw to it that I learned how to play the piano.
They were married for 65 years, before my mother passed away in 1993. My dad died in 1998. Some kind of influence!
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