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Next up in my series of tributes to important people in my life is one that's going to be a little more difficult than the previous ones, because this is a person that I don't know as well as I should but that doesn't lessen her importance to me.

I'm talking about another one of my Aunts, Kathy Paul.

I mentioned that I don't know her as well as I should and that's my loss. From what I've observed, Kathy is an amazing person. There is no better evidence of the importance of hard work and dedication than watching what she's accomplished in the last several years. Completing the CGA course while still managing to run a household and raise two amazing children is damn near impossible but Kathy did it. I tried and couldn't do it(although her inspiration tells me that it's not too late, it'll never be too late).

I also strongly believe that Kathy is a woman of very strong convictions. If I, somehow, could manage to earn her approval, then I know that I've done something right. Even if her view doesn't coincide with the "popular" opinion, Kathy will stick to her guns and I've yet to see her proven wrong. That is something I admire and wish I could live up to.

My five aunts all played different roles at different times of my life. I already talked about Darlene, but Kathy's role is a little more difficult to define. She was in BC for a good portion of my life, although our family was out there for a little while too, but in the time she was here, even from afar, she managed to impact me and still does. I consider Kathy something of a moral conscience. I'm not sure if that's exactly right, but it's the best phrase I can come up with. I have a way of telling people things to get the reaction that I want, or slanting stories my way to make it appear as if I'm in the right, even though I know I'm in the wrong. I don't dare try that with Aunt Kathy because I know that she'll call me on my BS and set me straight. So, I have to tell things to her the way they actually are and take my lumps if I was wrong.

People need people like that in their life and I'm glad to have my Auntie Kathy there, even if I don't see or talk to her as often as I should. Kathy, if you read this, just be left with the fact that I admire you tremendously. You are an inspiration not only to what can be accomplished through hard work but in how to live your daily life in a way that pleases your family and, more importanly, God. If I can keep striving to reach your example, I know that I'll come out of it a better man myself.

Paul

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Next up.......

Mischeivous, talented, devoted, creative, fun, loyal. A mystery wrapped up in an enigma(not 100% sure if that applies, but I love that saying).

All of those words and phrases can be used to describe my Auntie Darlene, Darlene Schacht.

Darlene has always been my big sister. Both of my sisters(and brother) are a number of years younger than me, and Darlene is closer to me in age than any of them. I've always had a special relationship with Darlene. In some ways, we grew up together, yet I had a chance to observe her from close and from afar when I was growing up and learned what to do and(in some cases) what not to do.

What I found in my observations, and most of these I've taken up in my own life are facts like this:

Family is VERY important, because they will always be there. Be true to your family above all else.

Be a loving, devoted spouse, always supporting your mate but keeping your own ground as well. Marriage is a partnership and I've tried to live by that.

Life if fun. LIVE IT!!! Every day is a new day and if you have a chance to do something you want to do....do it! Even if you might be a little afraid, you might come out of it for the better. At the very least, you discover something you don't like and you can stay away from it in the future.

Beef stroganoff rules! Not sure if I agree with that, it's just something that I've picked up from her.

Always make time for your children, even if it doesn't seem as if you have the time. Before you know it, your kids will be gone and you'll never get that time back.

Now, all these things I haven't learned JUST from Darlene. I've had very good examples from all of my aunts, and grandparents and others, but all of these things I have observed in my Auntie's life. Every one of my Aunt's is very important to me in very different ways. I'll get to the rest of them eventually, but for Darlene, I can't say it any better than she is my big sister and I'm guessing she learned from her big sisters what a big sister is supposed to be. When we were younger, I annoyed her and she tried to keep me away. As we got older and became more or less contemparies we became friends and always tried to do whatever we could for each other. Now, we're still friends, both parents of big families, disciples of Christ, karaoke groupies, movie lovers......the list goes on. I'd like to think that we would be friends if we we weren't related but I also know that our relationship wouldn't be the same.

That's not to knock any of Darlene's friends, who I'm sure she is a good friend to. I could be wrong, but I think(and this is the way I feel, basically) that to Darlene, no one is more important to her than her family. Starting with her husband and children, obviously, but extending to her close extended family of parents, sisters, brothers-in law, nieces and nephews et al.

Out of all those people in that above group I've mentioned, out of any of them that I've talked to there is a consensus. Darlene is a wonderful person who is always there when needed, usually without even having to be asked.

She also loves Stroganoff......

Later,
Paul

First of a series

I said I'd be back and here I am, with the first of a series of posts that I have planned to honour the people that are important to me in my life. I think that too often we don't tell people how we feel until it is too late and I hope that this helps to rectify that. If, in this series, I happen to forget someone or don't get to them till much later on, it doesn't mean that you're any more or less important in my life. This isn't a "top ten list" or anything like that. I just want to let some people know how I feel about them, and also let others know as well and know more about these people and why they're important to me.

So, first up on my list is someone who is and always has been one of the most important people in my life for as long as I can remember. Even though we haven't always been as close as I'd like, I have never stopped caring about this person and their feelings have always been important to me. I'm talking about my cousin, Sharleen Humphreys.

Shar has always been like a sister to me. Growing up, we were both the oldest in our families by quite a number of years and since our mothers were close, we naturally became best of friends. All the way up to my teenage years, Shar was always there and she was a very important part of my life. Naturally, as we got older, we drifted apart. As we both got married and I became best friends with her husband Doug, our relationship changed alot, but I've never been very far away from Sharleen and she's still, to this day, very important to me.

Sharleen is a kind, intelligent, talented person who gives as much of herself as she possibly can, when she can, and I admire her for that. She's soon going to be a mother and I know that she'll raise her son to be the same way. I see alot of her father in Sharleen and I hope that she is able to pass that on to her son. With the help of her husband and growing up in a loving, stable home with lots of support, I'm quite confident that will happen.

Another thing about Shar that I really admire is her dedication to Christ. I know that she's had her struggles in the past and I know that it's not always easy but I admire what I've seen in Shar's life in that regard. She is always studying the word, talking with people about it and helping out at her church with sound and with her friends in the band. I hope that that doesn't have to change with the new arrival on the way and that Tyler can just slide right in there and have the very best example to learn from.

I also know that family is very important to Sharleen, as it is to me. She will do whatever she can for her family and does often. I wish that I had that devotion.

To sum it up, I'm lucky to have a sister like Sharleen and I'd like to think that even if we weren't related, we'd be friends. Doug, you're a lucky man and Dallas, you raised a great daughter.

More to come in the coming days and weeks.

Later,
Paul

I'm baaaaaaaccckkkk!!!!

Hello again, everyone. I am going to make a point of doing this more often. I know I've said that before and I'll probably say it again, but I do have the best of intentions.

First off, congratulations to Angela(and also to Shar and Auntie Dallas) on the arrival of her new baby. He looks very handsome and he's very lucky to have 2 loving parents like Ang and Rob. More babies to come and it's very awesome.

Also, for those of you that don't know...and pls PASS IT ON.......my first novel, Deuce is Wild, was recently published and is now available at McNally Robinson, either in person or via their website, mcnallyrobinson.com. You can also order it directly from me. Just contact me via comment or email for details on that. I'd actually prefer people to get it directly from me, so I save paying McNally a commission, but if it's easier for you to order it from them, feel free. By all means......JUST BUY THE BOOK!!!!!

Just kidding...kind of.

It's a very personal story of one man's battle with addictions, while he strives to acheive his life's dreams. It's what you would call a fictional autobiograpy and I'm very proud of it, and I hope anyone that buys it will enjoy it. My email address, for those of you that don't have it is pafon@mts.net and I hope to hear from you.

Hope to be back tomorrow with the first of a series of posts honoring the people in my life. First up is ...... tune in to find out. lol

Hello again

I never realized how ironic the title of my last post would turn out being. Thanks Dar.

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I just haven't anything worth saying and I've been pretty busy as well.

A friend that wasn't real close but someone that I saw at least a couple times a year died last week. He led a good life and wasn't exactly young but it was still kind of hard. I went to his funeral on Wednesday and it kind of reminded how much we have to take advantage of opportunities while we have them. He had been in the hospital for a few months and I had intended to see him while he was there but I never got around to it. It's not I'm overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or anything but it's just that I can never have that chance again. Maybe next time I'm in the same situation, I'll make more of an effort to disrupt my life just a little bit to encourage someone else.

On to lighter things, American Idol is up and running again, and I want to get it down now that I already have three people that I'm going to rooting for. Shawn, who was one of the first people on the first show, who is a youth paster is one. Ozzie Smith Junior blew me away on I think the second show and there was a guy on Tuesday this past week who was also a youth pastor or worship leader or something whose name escapes me......I wanna say Jack or Jason, but I might be wrong. Anyhow, that guy might be top three in the whole competition. I guess time will tell but at least I've got it down now.

That's about it. See, I told you I didn't have alot to say. Hopefully it won't be two weeks before you hear from me again.

P

Why wait?

I always hear it said around Thanksgiving time that we shouldn't have to wait until that Monday in October to give thanks so I figured what better time than now to list some of the things that I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful that God has delivered me from the same disease that has adversely affected so many of my family members, alcoholism. If not for him, I wouldn't have any of the wonderful things I have now, I wouldn't have been entrusted with the care of my niece and nephew by CFS and I probably wouldn't even be with my wife and kids anymore.

I thank God for the wonderful extended family that I have that I know are always there for me when I need them. Who else can say that they have an uncle (and I'm not going to specify anyone cause I know that they all qualify, on my mom's side of the family) that isn't even a blood relative who even though I may not call or talk to them for upwards of a year that if I called and needed something, they would be there, no questions asked, cause that's what we do? I don't know of ANYONE who has family like I have in that regards and I really appreciate it and don't say it enough.

I thank God for the support of the great Church that I'm a part of and the opportunity to serve it in the small way that I do. Again, if not for his grace in delivering me from the perils of alcoholism, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do the little that I do at Evangel but it just goes to show you that when God blesses you, the blessings increase multifold if you take advantage of them.

There are ALOT of other things that I could be thankful for but these were the main ones that I wanted to get down today to remind me how lucky I am. All the problems I have now are nothing compared to what they could be and my worst day now is better than my best day would be if I didn't have Jesus with me to help me through it.

I don't know how much, if any, sense this post made and this is WAY off-topic from where I had been intending this blog to go but what can you do? I may be seating in the driver's seat, but God's steering this vehicle!

P