To My Children:

I made this website for you. It's not the fanciest website, and I didn't ask anyone else to make it. I wanted to make something for you myself, so here it is. I hope these photos, and the brief comments I've made, will help you to see who I've been over the years. Too often photos are tucked away in one person's closet and no else gets to see them. Other times photos are lost in fires, misplaced, etc. So although it has taken weeks to scan in, crop, and resize the photos ... since I had you in mind as I made this site, it was a joy.

I hope from time to time you will return here. I have more photos and comments to add. I am already hearing from some people that they are going to send more photos and/or comments to be added.

I want you children to know, that YOU are the happiest memories I have on earth. The times I've been blessed to share your company, to see you smile, hear you laugh, listen to your concerns, and observe your growth -- has given me more joy as a father, than I could possibly describe in mere words.

My dream in life, is for your happiness, and for your successes in life (however you wish to define success). I pray for each of you every day. I long for any future visit with you. May you draw closer to God every day, and may the love, grace, and forgiveness of God flow through you to all who know you.

Love,
Your Dad

Please watch this brief video.  I believe you will want to pass it on!!

CLICK TO WATCH "THE BLUE RIBBON VIDEO"

p.s. Yes I made the ribbons above too. (smile) 

First Home: 3408 Dakota Ave, Flint, MI
Lived there: Birth - Age 5
House size: 2 BR, 1 Bath, 725 sq ft
Lot size: 1/4 acre (12,000 sq ft)
Built: 1946
How: My Father (Ron) sold his 1932 Ford Coupe for $600 without the engine to buy this house, then put the engine in his racecar.

Second Home: 401 W Parkway, Flint, MI
Lived there: Age 5 to Age 18
House size: 3 BR, 1 Bath, 885 sq ft
Built: 1950
Note: Neighborhood was going "downhill" so parents sold the house, and bought my paternal grandparent's house (below).
Note: In 2007 I visited this house, and the woman who bought it still lived there.

Third Home: 4178 Weston Dr, Burton, MI
Lived there: ONLY A few months while age 18
House size: 3 BR, 1.5 Bath, 1,440 sq ft
Lot size: large lot (big front & back yards)
Note: Parents lived here until after my father's death in 1988.

NOTE: From around age 5 onward, my parents had a "vacation place" at Houghton Lake on the North Shore.  First renting a cabin at Pine Toppers, then buying a trailer and leasing a spot at Triple K Court (later called Lamplighter), and then finally buying a lake-front log cabin, that was torn down after my father died, and mother built a retirement home there.

Fourth Home:  Basic Training, Age 18

Fifth Home:  Peterson AFB, CO, Age 19 - 22

Sixth Home:  Ramstein AB, Germany, Age 22 - 23

Seventh Home:  Bible College, Age 24 - 27

Eight Home:  On the Road USA, Age 27 - 28

Ninth Home:  Landstuhl, Germany, Age 28 - 32

Tenth Home: On the Road USA, Age 32

Eleventh Home: Higgins Lake, MI, Age 33 - 37

Twelfth Home: Prattville, AL, Age 37 - 38

Thirteenth Home: Jacksonville, FL, Age 39 -

1. Shoveling snow - living in Michigan there was plenty of snow in the winters. I shoveled a few neighbors driveways and sidewalks. However as a 10 year old boy in 1967 being paid a huge $2 per hour to shovel my allergy doctor's corner lot sidwalks and double driveway was a goldmine.

2. Paper boy - from age 15 to age 16, I delivered the early morning Detroit Free Press. Folding these papers long before the sun came up was very tiring. Riding my bike (except in the winter) was difficult, but it made the delivery time much quicker.

3. Ponderosa Steakhouse - at age 16, I landed my first "real job". I started as dishwasher making $1.60 per hour. I worked my way up to cook. That is if you can call flipping steaks, dipping french fries in grease, and baking potatoes in an oven being a "cook."

4. Scotty's Grocery Store - at age 16, I worked for only a few months as a "bagger" at this grocery store making a huge $2.42 per hour.

5. PX Steakhouse - at age 16, I worked for 1 month as a dishwasher, busboy, and food preparer for a man no one liked. He worked me 12 hour shifts on the weekends from 4pm til 4am. Needless to say, I did not like working there and soon quit.

6. Liberty Family Restaurant - at age 17, I worked as a dishwasher and short order cook for another very angry man. I thought the owner of the PX was bad, but this man was worse. I may have worked here for 6 months before I found a better environment to work in.

7. Sanitation Engineer - at age 18, I worked as a private school janitor (i.e. sanitation engineer). The school was in a very old 3 story building. They believed in an "open environment" type classroom, where the students pretty much ran the show. This meant the classrooms and bathrooms were far messier than I EVER experience when I went to school. I worked here until I joined the U.S. Air Force.

8. U.S. Air Force - age 18-24, I was a disbursement accountant specialist. One summer I was tasked to learn a second trade by working with the Civil Engineering Squadron, and for 1 of the 2 years I was assigned in Germany, my secondary position was working Security Police.

9. College Work Scholarship - age 24, I went back to college. My first 2 semesters, I worked the college "work scholarship program" working the first few weeks cleaning the grounds, but for the rest of the 2 semesters I worked as the librarian assistant.

10. Barber & Beauty Supplies - age 25-27, while I worked my way through college, I worked at a chain of Barber and Beauty Supply companies.  I stocked shelves, did sales to beauticians, and delivered products from the warehouse to several stores..

11. Ministry Fulltime - age 27 - 39. I started with 2 years of deputation to raise financial and prayer support to be a fulltime missionary to the U.S. military in Germany. Then 4 years as a missionary in Germany. Then 1 year on furlough to supporting churches and families. Then 4 years 3 months as a pastor in Michigan. Then 1 year 4 months as a pastor in Alabama. Then 1 year teaching Bible in Florida.

12. Network Marketing - age 26 to present. I have worked about 26 network marketing businesses. None of them provided a full-time income, until 1999.  I love it because I get paid to help others succeed and to be their friend and supporter. 

13. Computer Consulting & Programmer - age 40-41, I was hired to be a Project Manager in Jacksonville, FL for a computer consulting company. Unfortunately the regional manager in Jacksonville had not secured a contract for me to manage, so I worked as a computer programmer for them for about 2 years and the last couple months as a head-hunter recruiter.

14. Health Care Benefits - age 41 to 53. Discounted benefits. That all ended on April 8, 2011 for me, after being a National Vice President for them for the last 5 years plus.  For details send me an email. Link below.

15. Consultant Coach - Age 53 to present.  Today I coach and mentor people to start a part-time business from home that will more than replace their highest income.  If you would like more information, just email me and I will call you back.