First Family Blog

At the age of almost 46, I've decided to try blogging just to keep up with the technology.

I am a skeptical blogger at best because I view blogging as a self-centered way of talking more about me. Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. In a culture where we are so into "self" -- my music on my ipod anytime my little heart desires -- and a culture that doesn't focus on the needs and concerns of others, I think the last thing we need to do is write more about "me or mine." For this reason, I have avoided blogging.

On the other hand, some of the great men of old have "journaled." There is value in journaling because it has proven itself over the ages. There is also value in sharing your thoughts with your wife (especially) and children and close friends through letter writing. These comprise the potential positive benefits of blogging.

Unlike journaling, blogging is public. I'm not bound to post what I might journal. Nonetheless, blogging may allow me to record a bit of the Glenn family history for future reference.

So it is with caution (and optimism) that I enter into this blogging arena.

Wish me luck. Here we go.

Today is Sunday, September 30, 2007.

As I hope my children would be able to tell you, Sunday is the best day of the week. It is not only the first day, it is the best. It is the best because God has set apart this one day of seven for His own glory and our own good. We can (and should) be in His house with His people listening to His word and worshiping Him. How could there possibly be a better day.

Today, after church, our entire family (the 6 of us) went to Jim and Jo Ellen Haizlett's (sp?) home near Bethany, WV. They live on a very large farm with Jo's sister and her husband. Jim teaches graphic arts at West Liberty College just 10 minutes from their farm. Jo Ellen used to home school their children but all of them are either out of school, in college, or attending a local Christian school (Jefferson Country Christian School) near Stuebenville, WV. Ben, Will, Elsie, Rosie, Clara and dear sweet Molly are the Haizlett children. Ben is a diesel mechanic in the Baltimore area (?), Will is doing missionary work in Costa Rica, Elsie is attending Grove City College as a freshman (Jim said it was depressing letting the first daughter go -- he is still adjusting!), Rosie and Clara are dear sweet young ladies -- the type I'd be more than happy to leave my daughters with, and sweet Molly is a Haizlett soon-to-be. They are waiting to adopt Molly. I believe the adoption will be final in January or February.

We went to the Haizletts with the Bruce Howard family -- another fine family. Bruce and Tina, Olivia (roughly Ellen's age), Emma (a very feminine young lady of the sort you wish your son would find when he gets to that point), Willa (energy and vigor personified), Seth (the only boy -- he'll make a good husband some day because he, like Clint, will know how to live with women in an understanding way), and Elsie (the newest addition). All the Howard girls are excellent young women and Clint has my permission to ask any of them to marry when he get's to that age (sorry, Clint for saying so!!).

We had a picnic on a hill side under a newly built pavilion. Jim build the pavilion from rough cut lumber he and his brother-in-law sawed at their mini-lumber mill on the farm. The wood was from their own forest. I believe the farm had 600-700 acres. Jim built the home they are currently living in. The maple floors in the home were also cut from their own woods although he sent it off to be kiln dried and tongue and groove mitered. It is a lovely home sitting atop a WV hill. John Denver comes to mind...."take me home, country road...."

Besides Clint, the only boy there was Seth Howard (2-3 years old). Clint and I, however, had a great time peering off the bridge you have to cross to get to the lower farm (where Steve and Ann live. Ann is Jo Ellen's sister who also attended Grove City.) We saw some pretty good size fish and decided it was worth a trip back to do a little fishing. We'll bring the girls back to play with Rosie and Clara and Clint and I will do some fishing.

The day was perfect.

Thank you Lord for a lovely day worshiping you and enjoying fellowship with some of your finer people.

End of first blog.

Was it too self-centered?

Doug