It's Your Birthday...

This Saturday was Tim's birthday! So he decided he'd like to spend the afternoon in South Bend. First of all, I have to say, I was shocked with downtown South Bend. I'd been there a couple times for Notre Dame games and had walked the campus, but I never realized how big, clean and updated the city was. I also had no idea how much there is just a few miles down the road from us. Our first stop was the College Football Hall of Fame.

Of course with the Hall of Fame being in South Bend, I personally, thought it was a tad "Notre Dame" heavy... cough, cough. So my eyes were peered for anything scarlet and gray. Thankfully with the rich, highly successful heritage and tradition that OSU has... it didn't take long to find some. Here, striking a pose with Brutus. (actually, Tim made me...)

In the end, it only took us a couple hours to tour the Hall, but if you're a pretty big football history buff and enjoy reading lots and lots of plaques and signs... you could easily spend a whole lot longer. Overall - 3 1/2 stars in my book :)

Then we decided to take a walk down by the river. To our surprise - and enjoyment - they had the river open and people were taking on the "rapids" with their rafts and kayaks. Hhhmm.. maybe we'll have to remember that for next year...

Happy Birthday Tim - I had so much fun spending your day with you!

Guest Post by Tim

I noticed this blog was a little Sondra-heavy, so I figured I needed to add a little testosterone (besides my gunshow picture below - and don't worry, no children were harmed in the taking of that photo... refer to this blog) Anyway, here's a little of what Timmy has been up to...

Gener (my dad) and I made a recent road trip to Toledo, Ohio. Some of you may not know this, but I penned my first book entitled, The Palm Sunday Tornado, two years ago. There have been schools that have incorporated the book into their curriculumn. One of these schools is Jefferson Junior High, in Toledo. Last year I was asked to make an author visit, which I did and had an absolute blast, so this year I talked my dad into coming with me. We were asked to speak to a room full of 150 seventh graders, and every one of them had read the book. This year was another incredible experience. I loved it and I know my dad did as well.

That same week I was flown out to Baltimore, MD to meet some people I will be buying lumber from for my "real job." I am in transistion, switching positions from outside sales to purchasing. This is a GARGANTUANT move for someone that loves to be out and about with people and selling things, but it's a great opportunity. I am also doing more marketing and promotion, which are both things I am excited about.

Well, that's about the gist of it for now. I'll turn the reins back over to Sondra. Keep it real.

2007 Anderson Get-Together

Well, a year has rolled around since I first began bloggin, and we again just had the Anderson Gang Get-Together. This year Tim and I hosted, and of course this year - like every year before - was full of fun, laughing and quality time catching up.

Isabella & Uncle Timmy

There were 11 of us here, including the newest addtion to the group - Rob & Greta's little Isabella.

Saturday we loaded up the gang and dicovered this "hidden treasure" in Elkhart - yes, IN Elkhart. "Ideal Beach" was the perfect place to spend a HOT afternoon with a swimming beach, kiddie pool and water slide (that guy in the background) which all the guys had to test out.

And of course, there were the ever-popular yard games inclduing corn hole.

Saturday night we threw a shower for Steve, Jenni and the coming Baby Aden.

The Anderson boys who started it all...

... and their beautiful wives and daughters :)

Thanks for the great weekend guys - can't wait for New Years!

Happy 4th

Supposedly, this is a pretty famous and widely used and recorded rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance given by comedian Red Skelton on CBS, January 14, 1969. But I had never heard it until this year, since which, I have heard it numerous times.

RED SKELTON: "I remember this one teacher. To me, he was the greatest teacher, a real sage of my time. He had such wisdom. We were all reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance and he walked over. Mr. Lasswell was his name... He said": "I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge Of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word:

I -- me, an individual, a committee of one.

PLEDGE -- dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.

ALLEGIANCE -- my love and my devotion.

TO THE FLAG -- our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!

UNITED -- that means that we have all come together.

STATES -- individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC -- a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION -- one nation, meaning "so blessed by God"

INDIVISIBLE -- incapable of being divided.

WITH LIBERTY -- which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.

AND JUSTICE -- the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.

FOR ALL -- which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance...

UNDER GOD Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?

Happy INDEPENDENCE Day!