Happy April 19th to everyone! This has been a fast paced and hectic first quarter for everyone. We have all experienced economic setbacks, stress from tax deadlines and the fears of what can happen next in our lives. But there is good news, just wait for the third day! Let me recap my own first quarter in explaining my words.

The year started out with having to find a suitable facility for Hazel, my mother in law, Diane’s mother. Hazel has Alzheimer’s and it has grown worse through last year. We have all either experienced the effects of this terrible disease within our own family or know of a close friend or relative who has had to cope with it in their own family. It robs the family of a beloved member and the younger family members of a link to the past, the history of their family. It robs the dignity and independency of the one afflicted member, and there is no known cure. Family members having to make the decisions of how to best care of their mother/father/family member with Alzheimer’s face the guilt of wondering if they are doing the right thing even when they know there is no other alternative.

During one of Diane’s almost daily visits to the nursing facility caring for Hazel she slipped on a spot of wet tile and broke her right arm. This required a 6 week cast and surgery to insert pins into her wrist to aid in the healing. Now I must include here that men may take such an injury in stride, right handed women can better understand the almost insurmountable obstacles this presents; how do you apply makeup, fix your hair or dress properly with only one hand. I must also say that Diane showed great adaptability during those days and, her own words here, learned some humility in maybe not looking the best as she saw herself. I always think she is a very beautiful lady, with or without makeup and her hair looking perfect. She has healed and has been back to work for many weeks, perfect hair, makeup and all.

Tax season, many times, is a stressful event for us all. Many are getting a refund, many more have to pay additional taxes and many of those have to come up with additional monies to pay. I know that Jesus said to render unto “the government” what is theirs, and we should but I am also remembering a popular tax song - If 10% is good enough for Jesus it should be good enough for Uncle Sam. The last part are my thoughts.

April 18th my youngest daughter, Jennifer, was married to Vince LaShum. While this is her second marriage it is Vince’s first. It is also a first for me because this time I got to dance with her at her wedding. The first time I was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack and my brother Rick had to fill in for me. Thank you, Brother. It was a great feeling to be there with my daughter and family on her day.

The third day! Now during this time I attended Easter services with my children and grandchildren at Kevin’s and Shannon’s church where I heard a very uplifting message to wait till the third day, to be a Third Day Christian. The message showed the reference of the third day throughout the bible and I cannot remember them all, but naturally the biggest was Easter Sunday or the third day and the resurrection of Jesus as Lord and Savior. We need to keep faith with God and wait, the third day is coming. Good things are coming!

July 11th, 2009 is the date for the Family reunion and I am very excited! I want to dedicate this year’s reunion to remembering family that will not be attending. I will miss Uncle Joe. If you have others that cannot attend due to illness or other reasons, please tell us so we can remember them as well. I have also decided to personally cook my WORLD famous grilled chicken for all that attend. It does involve my “secret” family recipe marinade. Please let me know if you can attend so I can assure we have enough chicken for all. If you are bringing your own “secret” family dishes please do so. If you have a recipe you want to share with the family send it on and I will post it on the website.
Also remember we will be at the same site, next to the lake and playground. It has a full playground for the kids and a roped off swimming area as well. So bring the kids, the swim suits, fishing gear and your love. Family is what matters most, makes us stronger. You can break a single stick but bundle that one stick with others and it is stronger, many times unbreakable. That is Family. So with that I close for today and look forward to a great family gathering on July 11th.

Love to all, Wayne and Diane

Uncle Joe's Obituary

Joseph M. "Joe" Ratliff
GREENSBORO — Rev. Joseph M. (Joe) Ratliff, 83, died Monday, February 9, 2009, at Beacon Place under hospice care.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 13, at the First Baptist Church. Internment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
Joe was born November 2, 1925, in Clanton, Ala., to George Wesley Ratliff and Lula Belle Deason. He was the youngest in a family of four sisters (one died at birth) and six brothers (one died in World War II and one died a week after birth), all deceased. On June 12, 1960, he married Joan Carol Price in Washington, D.C. He said, "This was the most significant and happiest event of my life." Joe and Joan have two children, daughter, Gerri and husband, Len Gradowski reside in Arlington, Va., with granddaughter, Lindsey Grace; and step-granddaughters, Lauren and Jennifer Gradowski; son, Stephen and wife, Paula live in Boones Mill, Va.; with grandson, William and granddaughter, Hannah. The family includes nephews, Lee (who is more a brother than a nephew), Ottis, James, Bill, and Wayne and nieces, Jean and Ann. The Ratliff's extended family consists of Doris Melson of Greensboro, N.C., Rafaela, Tony, Roberto, and Mikhaela Meznaric of Toronto, Canada, Kuldip, Kazu, and Rita Kawahara of Durham, N.C., Apple, Rom, and Arvin Vallabha of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Sailaja Sajjala of Fayetteville, N.C.
Joe was inducted into military service in 1945. He served in the U.S. Air Force until 1975, primarily with the Office of Special Investigation.
Joe came to a personal relationship with Christ at age 25. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he felt God's call to more than leisure. At the encouragement of a close pastor friend, Joe entered Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with the Master of Religious Education degree. First Baptist Church, Greensboro called him as Minister of Education and Administration and he served there for 14 and a half years.
Upon a second retirement, he found great joy in helping wherever he could. International students who lived in the home became family. He served several terms as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shepherd Center of Greensboro and also taught computer classes there a number of years. He was a member of the Greensboro Genealogical Society and served as treasurer. Following his own experience with prostate cancer, he initiated the prostate support group at Wesley Long Hospital.
He was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Grensboro in 1986.
He enjoyed the fellowship of the Men's Service Class at church and often taught Sunday School classes. He served as president of Alpha (the church Senior Adult Fellowship) for several years. He loved the church and contributed to its programs whenever he could. One great love was the church's summer mission building trips, both in this country and overseas. When he became too sick to hammer, he would appear just to give support to those working.
His grandchildren became another focus of his life, including those "acquired" from international families. He was never too busy to speak to anyone no matter who or what their need. His sense of humor was with him even throughout his illness. He served his God and fulfilled His mission for him in humility and love.
The family will receive friends in the church atrium following the celebration of life service.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Donald Murinson and all those at the Cancer Center for their loving support during the years of treatment.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 1000 W. Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401 or Beacon Place-Hospice & Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2502 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.
Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm Funeral Home is assisting the family and on line condolences may be made to http://www.mem.com/

Family Reunion July 11th, 2009

I want to apologize for being tardy on the announcements and not keeping this site updated. My resolution for 2009 is to do better. I ask you all keep reminding me and hold me accountable to my resolution.

The Family Reunion is scheduled for July 11th, Cheaha State Park, same location

as last year. It has a playground next to it and a small lake setup for swimming.
The lake has a gradual slope which is great for our smaller family members.
Click on the slide show to see a few pics of the playground and lake.

The day rates for the area are (6 and up - $1.00, 62+ - 50 cents).
Fishing is available as are paddle boat rentals ($5.00 per hour) are available.
If you want to fish you can purchase a license at the store inside Cheaha State Park.
I am sure there will be a limited selection of fishing tackle as well, if you
chose not to bring your on gear.

As you come up the mouintain on 281 do not turn into the park as in previous years (unless you are registering for a Chalet, cabin or hotel. The lake entrance is approximately 1 and 1/2 miles past the park gate where you turm right and continue for another mile or so to the pavillion. There is a gate keeper there to collect the entrance fees.

The telephone number is 800-610-5801 for the pavillion and store. The Chalets are 800-846-2654. If there are questions about the telephone numebrs contact the store.

If there are any questions or concerns please contact me (205-602-4373-cell Number) or email. We look forward to seeing all that can attend.

Wayne and Diane

Nick, I have been there

Monday night football, Spain Park vrs Hoover, big rivalry. It was a hard fought game and the final score was 7-6, in Hoover's favor. The first string players from both teams stay on the field, but there were substitutes going in and out. Monday night I saw something that took me back to 46 years ago.

My oldest grandson, Nick, plays half back for the Spain Park Jags and this is his Junior year. He has been trained to block and run, and I have seen him do both. But Monday night Nick was on the kickoff receiving team, two positions up from the return specialist. This is not a position that normally receives the kick off, but on Monday, Hoovers kicker didn't kick it as deep as he normally does and it went straight to Nick. Now, when you are receiving a kickoff or a punt there are certain "rules" that need to be observed, the first of which is concentrate on the ball and nothing else, not the two huge defensive players bearing down on you, with full intentions of making you lose your concentration and possible causing some pain. I know we have all seen this happen to the best college and pro players, the ball went into Nick's arms and out thru the bottom, a fumble. Another Spain Park player recovered the fumble and a Monday night "disaster" was avoided. Keep in mind this "disaster" will be nothing compared to the errors that will be made in one's future, but for a Junior in high school , it can rank up there as the worst nightmare imaginable. If you have trouble understanding that, listen to Brad Paisley song about writing a letter to himself when he was 17. It does put it in perspective.

Nick, when I said I have been there, my results were much worse. My step-father was career Air Force and for a while we lived in England. While I attended a US high school on one of the Air Force Bases, we didn't have an "American" football team because there were very few other US HS team to play. We did have a English "football" team (soccer) and we played the local British schools. I must admit that I thought I was pretty good because I was first string full back (goalie guard). My job was to help keep the ball away from our goal, the goalies job was to keep the ball from actually going in. Now saying I was pretty good is like saying you are a great quarterback in a high school that has a total of 200 students, I was a big fish in the smallest pond you can imagine.

Our first game taught us all just how good we were....we lost 12 to 1...this is soccer, where 5 to 1 is a runaway game. The school we played scored 11 goals and they were given the 1st, by me. It seems the entire game was played on our end of the field and I was running myself to death when I saw the ball rolling toward me and made a great kick to get it back down field. It was a great kick but "down field" was behind me. I saw our goalie dive to block it but he couldn't make the play. So thanks to me, they scored their first goal. I was so embarrassed that I took the easy way out, I ran to the sidelines and pulled myself out of the game. Coach sent in my backup and then let me sit for a while..I actually wanted to hide. Kind of like the Alabama player who came off the bench to tackle the Rice player running by the bench with the ball and heading for a touchdown. He tackled him (he didn't even have his helmet on) and immediately got up and tried to hide and disappear behind the other players on the bench, that was how I felt. After a few minutes Coach came over and asked if I was over feeling embarrassed and was I ready to go back in, I did. Like I said we were slaughtered that first game. After the game Coach asked what I had learned that night; know where our goal was, which way I was facing and do not get embarrassed, just do not make the same mistake twice. We played that same school toward the end of the season, I was still first string, I didn't score a goal from them and they beat us 2 to 1. You would have thought we had won the super bowl.

Nick, if you were able to shake it off, like all coaches tell their players to do, and get ready for the next play, I am proud of you. If it took a few minutes, I know what you were feeling. I love you, Papa

Scout "Tiger" Johnson

I like to play golf....and I mean PLAY because I will never make any money doing it. Golf is a game in which you are always playing against yourself, your last round, your last hole. In golf you do not have to be faster or stronger or bigger than anyone else. Even though you may play on a team you are still out there by yourself, performing to your best ability.

My middle grandson, Scout, and I went out two weeks ago to a driving range. I wen to work on my slice/hook/topping/drives and everything else that happens when you attempt to hit a small ball with a specifically designed club. Scout went because he is interested in maybe playing. After the first three or four bad hits he started to improve enough that I think with lessons he could be a good golfer. The owner and golf pro said that Scout had the right poise and posture when he was addressing the ball and could also develop into a good golfer (much better than me). As a proud "papa" I started thinking of him getting a golf scholarship and maybe one day turning pro and winning the Master's and one day buying his Papa a house on the beach. But that is still in the cloudy future. But for the day I got to spend time with my grandson, passing on what I knew about the game and instilling a good feeling about golf. I also enjoyed it that he thought I was good when the ball went 125 yards. I also explained how you can have the worst day on 17 holes, slicing or hooking, all the things that can go bad and want to almost throw your clubs in the first water trap you can find. But then on the 18th hole, when you tee off and everything goes like it should and you par the hole...that makes it a good day.

So Scout, football is fun to play and you have to function as a team with precise timing, almost function as one heart and mind. In golf you are there on your own and when you make a bad hit (which happens more often than not) it is because you did something wrong. But when everything is in sync; the poise, the swing, follow through, the hit and the ball flys thru the air straight to where you wanted it to go...it is a great feeling. It makes you want to play again or come back the next time and do it again. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed spending the time with you. In my life it was another GOOD day! Thank you Scout

Nick, Football and Homecoming

Tonight Spain Park put a double whipping on Thompson. First the Spain Park Freshmen Team beat Thompson's Freshman team by 21 to 0. Not to be out done, Spain Park's JV beat Thompson's JV 28-0. So tonight was a good night for Spain Park all way around. The best part for me was watching Nick, my oldest grandson, play.

Nick plays full back, which surprised me when he first told me because I always thought full backs were like nose guards, big and build like a fire plug. When a full back is not carrying the ball he is expected to be a blocker and Thompson's defensive line looks bigger than Nick, but when you add in his heart he gains 30 pounds. He ran for a two hard fought yard gain and blocked the defense trying to get to his QB many times. He did a good job. And I am so glad I was there to see it.

After the game we spoke about homecoming and his plans. Nick has a friend that I believe is now more than just a friend. He asked her to be his Homecoming date in a very cool way, with a song he recorded for her. He played the guitar and was singing when right in the middle he stopped and asked her to go to homecoming with him. I have to admit that was pretty cool. He also told me the idea came from his dad, Kevin, and that he would be listening to him for advice from now on. Good move Kevin!

I trust Nick, he has earned it, so tonight I asked if he wanted to use my Mustang Homecoming night. If they are going with a group the Mustang is not the best choice because the back seat was designed for carrying small kids or small pets but nothing bigger than that. He thanked me for trusting him with "Baby" (what I call my Mustang Convertible) and said he would take care of "her"...but I already knew that.

So tonight was a good night for Spain Park and a good night for Nick.....and a good night for me because I was there. Thank you Lord.

Football Season and Papa Duty, I love it

Well, we have a new football season underway at Berry Middle School (Scout is in the 8th grade) and Spain Park HS (Nick is a Junior) where two of my grandsons attend and both play football. So I will now be attending games on Thursday night, Friday night and then on Saturday watching my Alabama Crimson Tide. Now on Saturday, the main event is the game itself but on Thursday and Friday night it is the pre and post game activities that I enjoy as well, spending time with my grandsons and just talking.

Shannon, my daughter, has to travel occasionally and as many of you have experienced that places the parental duties on the remaining parent, Kevin. During this time I try and pitch in to help relieve the scheduling conflicts that are always present when raising a family, their trying to be in two places at one time. This is especially true during sports events.

Thursday night was Scout's season opener, a pre-season game sort of, but important never the less. Kevin had to work a little late so I went by and picked up Max (youngest), we grabbed something to eat and headed to the game. During our meal at McDs we discuss a lot of different things and some I have to wonder how we got onto that particular topic but I just go with the flow and enjoy it.

Once we got to the game, Max headed on to enjoy the social aspect of the games, visiting with his friends he had not seen in a awhile while I sat and watched the 7th grade team play...waiting on Scout's 8th grade team. I believe those aluminum bleachers are getting harder on my rear end or is it the weight I now have bearing down on it??? When Scout's team came on the field I saw him line up at wide receiver and he played a good bit of two quarters and I saw it all. I know that it is hard for me to watch an 8th grade game without having a family connection on the playing field. I know they want to win and I want them to win as well, but I really enjoy seeing the development of my grandsons on the field, year after year. From my seat I can see the plays develop and also see where they breakdown. On one play Scouts job was to drive the line backer back and away from the side lines, but he was not going to be carrying the ball, so maybe it didn't seem as important to him being the 'diversion". But that is something we all suffer from sometime, being the helper and not the star. If I sometimes find it hard showing the intensity and urgency when I am just a member of the backup, how can I I expect Scout to perform like a college or pro player in the assignment of faking out the defense....it shows up in the plays development. But he will get better with experience. I don't think the line backer was taking the bait. That we could talk about after the game. I truly believe football or any team sport builds character. Like Bear Bryant said to his players, football can help prepare you for life's challenges. How you prepare and practice and do not give up in facing adversity on the field can help in life.

"I have always tried to teach my players to be fighters. When I say that, I don't mean put up your dukes and get in a fistfight over something. I'm talking about facing adversity in your life. There is not a person alive who isn't going to have some awfully bad days in their lives. I tell my players that what I mean by fighting is when your house burns down, and your wife runs off with the drummer, and you've lost your job and all the odds are against you. What are you going to do? Most people just lay down and quit. Well, I want my people to fight back." -- Paul "Bear" Bryant

On the way home we stopped by McDs and Scout ordered some food to go and we headed to the house. Scout said "thank you for coming to my game, Papa" and that was all I needed. I think it made a difference to have me in the stands watching. And the fact that we could discuss and analyze his playing shows I am watching and I am interested and in a sense I am on the field with him during those times.

As I said, Football and Papa duty, I love it!