30 Random things about me.

I originally posted this on Saturday, January 16, 2010, but have just now updated it, so here it is. . . . .

30 Random Things About Me.
::::: ::::: ::::: ::::: :::::

1.Once I gave White Kitty (yes, that's his name, but he's deaf) some cat treats and he snarfed them right down. Right after that he walked over to the doorway and yucked them up all over the floor. That's cats for ya.

2. In my job, I get to meet people from other countries and I enjoy that because they are so interesting, and I have learned a lot.

3. In later years, I've thought I wanted to be a writer, but I'm afraid that if I start something, I'd never finish it. I also would not know where to begin. So I guess I'll just blog instead.

4. My sister Lesley went to be with Jesus 7 years ago at age 57. She got pneumonia while having chemo for Hodgkins Disease. We were all stunned. The first one of us 4 kids to go. Knowing she is with the Lord encourages and comforts us, so that our faith does not falter.

5. My wife, Barb has a really important job. She's Administrative Assistant at Unity Christian High School (35 years now), and she's really, really good at it. I don't think she knows I think so, though. And I love her very much!

6. I love to visit with my children and grandchildren. Anytime, anywhere. We spend our spare weekends visiting with them. They are really fun, and a blessing to me.

7. I have enjoyed studying foreign languages since I was introduced to the French in High School. I have learned to speak, read and write French and German. But the German is by now quite rusty. My current endeavour is learning Kiswahili. I think if I could go back and do college over, I'd have majored in foreign languages.

8. My favorite TV shows are Friday Night Lights, Combat Hospital, Off the Map, Outsourced, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, AGT, and Globetrekker. I watch a majority of these on Hulu Plus via my ROKU, which is awesome technology by the way. I also watch the Today Show most mornings.

9. I have read and enjoyed all 7 of the Harry Potter books and have seen all of the movies too. They are really not evil as some people who have never read them imagine. They are about the triumph of good over evil, much like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

10. I really loved our trip to Kenya, and I really, really want to go back. Next time I want to spend part of the time volunteering in a mission. God has given me a deep caring and a heart for AIDS orphans in Africa. They are orphaned because both their parents have died from HIV/AIDS. There is such a need, and there are so many of them. Over 600,000 now just in East Africa.

11.Two Bible verses that stick with me every day are Micah 6:8. "And what does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before your God", and James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

12. Hard water is hard on your skin, hair, household plumbing, and appliances that use water. I'm grateful that we have a water softener. I've even gotten used to the 'slippery shower' feeling, as my boys put it.

13. My favorite music used to be Rock and Country, but of late it has been Contemporary Christian, African, Zydeco, Blues, and Soft Jazz. I also listen to K-Love, and have also listened to a radio station from Kisumu, Kenya streamed on the internet. How cool is that! A generation ago that was impossible.

14. The trouble with small towns is that your kids grow up, go away to college, get married and never return. Living in Fulton has been great these last 40+ years and it was a great place to raise our 3 boys. We have roots here. But I wouldn't mind living somewhere where winters are much warmer.

15. I love airplanes and finally got my Private Pilot License almost 20 years ago. But I don't fly as pilot-in-command anymore because it has become too expensive. Also, it's no longer at the top of my list, but I do kind of miss it. As for commercial aviation, I've always been a big Boeing fan (my cousin works for Boeing), and thought Airbus products were inferior. . . until we flew on an A340 on our trip to Kenya. Now I'm convinced that both are quite nice.

16. When I was a kid you couldn't get me to eat any green, yellow, or orange vegetables, except corn. However, now I will even eat romaine, brussels sprouts, asparagus, spinach, carrots, matoke, ugali, and greens - even stinging nettles. I've liked green beans, sweet potatoes and peas since high school, though.

17. If you know me and my boys, my oldest granddaughter, and one daughter-in-law, you know we're avid Pittsburgh Steelers Fans. (The other girls & Barb are either too young or don't like football.) I'm trying to teach my 4 yr old grandson about the Steelers, too. (His other Grandpa is a Vikings and Chargers fan.) J used to think the Steelers logo meant Grandpa. We are still trying all to go to a Steelers game together . . been to two in recent years, but not all of us together. GO STEELERS!

18. The death of our beloved baby granddaughter Angelique Muthoni Wright has strengthened my faith and my dedication to the Lord. But I get very, very sad at times and wish I could hold her and talk to her, and help raise her to be a Godly woman. When I think like this, tears come. . but then again, she doesn't need that because she's already ahead of all of us. . . She's with Jesus, PTL; I look forward to meeting her in Heaven someday.

19. The Lord chose me by lot to be an Elder in our church, Bethel Christian Reformed, for 3 years. Wow! Why me? I have wondered. But the Lord is already showing me that daily. And I have had awesome experiences during this time such as leading the congregational prayer, praying with members having special needs, hosting the Watoto Children's Choir from Kampala, Uganda, being a delegate to Classis Northern Illinois, and a delegate to the Synod of the CRCNA, all of which have deepened my faith. It's all been quite awesome. And I guess it's not over because I was just elected to a term on the Board of Roseland Christian Ministries, an inner city ministry in the Roseland neighborhood of the City of Chicago.

20. We have quite a detailed written history of our family on my Mom's side dating back as far as 1636. . .the Shaws from County Antrim in Northern Ireland, and the Simkins from Wales. All Presbyterian Calvinists. They came to America back in the 1760's and settled in Armstrong and Allegheny counties in Pennsylvania. It's very interesting to me and I like to read stuff like that.

21. Barb and I have three great boys (Dan, Bill and Dave) that we are very proud of. Also, these boys have brought 3 wonderful daughters (Toni, Njeri and Shannon) to us via marriage. We actually prayed for these girls when the boys were young, and before we knew they even existed or who they were. One from Illinois, one from Kenya, and one from California. All different, but so wonderful, and all of them love Jesus. Who knew? God is SO good!!!

22. If you'd have told me 40 years ago that I'd spend almost month in Kenya, East Africa at age 64 and meet new in-laws, cousins, and make many wonderful friends, go on a Safari and walk in the Indian Ocean, I wouldn't have believed it. But now . . . I wouldn't have missed all those experiences and wonderful people for all the money in the world. They really mean a lot to me.

23.I've had actually 4 different careers in my lifetime. Some were enjoyable, some not so. What's next? It's all up to the Lord.

24. I've seen three oceans, the English Channel, The North Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea . . . . . and they are ALL wet. And Mt Kilimanjaro does still have snow on the top. I've seen it.

25. "Jesus, my Lord will love me forever! From Him, no pow'r of evil can sever. He gave His life to ransom my soul. Now I belong to Him!" - first verse of a chorus from my Young Life years that still echoes in my heart and mind. And Harry MacDonald, our Mt. Lebo Young Life leader, had a big influence on my life and future then.

26. We have 4 grandchildren from ages 2 to almost 9 years. Bridget, Jonas, Angelique, and Carilynn. They are a great joy to us. However, Angelique is with Jesus in Heaven. Asante Yesu!

27. Had a Shaw family reunion at my sister Amy's in 2008. My Aunt Marion and Uncle Jim Black were able to come. We lost Aunt Marion and Uncle Jim this year. They are the last of my Mom & Dad's generation in our family. I'm so glad we had Godly parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents. I will forever be grateful for all of their prayers for us. Now it's time to stay connected with my brother, sister and cousins, which we do in part via Facebook. We should have another reunion in a couple of years.

28. Bucket Lists - What's on yours? Sometimes an opportunity presents itself, then you realize it is something you are glad you had the chance to do, so it becomes a checked-off item on your list. The pilot's license fits that category. After I retired from Equistar Chemicals, I went to truck driving school in Green Bay and got a CDL. So for 5 years, I drove a big truck & 53' trailer, and visited states and cities I'd never been to. It was cool. Now I drive a charter bus and take people to a lot of places that I've not seen before. This is way cool.

29. Our denomination (Christian Reformed Church in North America) has a general Synod meeting every summer. One hundred eighty-eight delegates are chosen from the US and Canada each year, and I was selected for two consecutive years. It was really an awesome experience. Some deeply spiritual experiences, reconnecting with a few people from my past, and meeting new people of other nationalities and race. Making decisions that determine how we do ministry and mission. What a blessing to have been a part of that.

30. ♪♫Yesu ni wangu,♫♪wa uzima wa milele.♫♪
Mungu akubariki sana leo na kesho na milele na milele!