Sunday, April 27, 2008

RIP and my heartfelt thanks, Spc. Joshua A. Molina

Paula Fredrickson was sleeping on the living room couch when her younger brother woke her up to say goodbye. The 20-year-old soldier was on his way back to Iraq at the end of a three-week visit to Houston in January.

"I was going to get up and give him a hug and he said, 'No, just stay there. I'll see you again,'" remembered Fredrickson, 27. "I told him, 'Don't be a hero. Just do what you have to do and come back safe.'"

That was the last time she saw him alive.

Her brother, Spc. Joshua A. Molina, died in Baghdad on Thursday from injuries he suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Molina was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany. His tour of duty in Iraq was scheduled to end in November.

Born and raised in the Houston area, Molina joined the Army Jr. ROTC at Bellaire High School. When the family moved to Alief, Molina transferred to Elsik High School. He enlisted after graduating in 2005.

He wanted to be a soldier since he was a little kid, said his younger brother Manuel Molina. "He just liked to play war."

Molina never planned to spend his career in the Army. He wanted to enroll in college in 2009. Some day, he told his family, he would like to work as a Border Patrol or FBI agent.

"He was a good kid and doing what he wanted to do," Fredrickson said. "At least he accomplished one of his dreams. And he paid the ultimate price."

Molina deployed to Iraq for the first time last summer. Before he shipped out, he visited his family in Houston in June.

"He disappeared for two hours the day he had to leave. When he finally came home he was crying and he said, 'I don't want to go,'" Fredrickson recalled. "He was just scared because he didn't know what he was getting into."

Molina's brother-in-law Rope Fredrickson, a Marine, told the young soldier not to worry. Everyone's afraid the first time they ship out to a combat zone, he said.

The family kept in touch through e-mails and phone calls.

"He only told me the good things. He never wanted to tell me the bad things," Manuel Molina said. "He told me, 'I'm just doing my job and patrolling the street.'"

The brothers last spoke on the telephone Monday. "He wished me a happy birthday and I just told him that I love him and I'll be praying for him," said Manuel Molina, who turned 20 on Tuesday.

"We were all so proud of him and even though we didn't like him being over there, we were still proud because he was giving us the freedom that we have in this country," he said.

It was midnight on Thursday when the doorbell rang at the Molina family's southwest Houston house.

"I saw the two soldiers standing there and all I could say was 'no,'" Fredrickson said. "I wanted to tell them they had the wrong house, but I couldn't get the words to come out of my mouth."

In addition to his younger brother and older sister, the soldier also leaves behind parents Maria and Josue Molina and an older brother, Henryk Baldizon, 34.

Still in shock, Fredrickson says she won't really believe her brother is gone until she sees his body.

Both sports nuts, the siblings played pickup basketball at their neighborhood park and watched football games together, sometimes betting on them for fun.

"He lost a lot of money on the Super Bowl," Fredrickson said, laughing. "Me and him were really close. I didn't just lose a brother, I lost a really good friend."

If you're reading this....Tim McGraw

Yep more Charlie!










Friday, April 25, 2008

Starting one's own business

Is more than a notion.  There are so many things that need to be done before you can even think of ordering your business cards.

Yep, in this year of change, I'm finally launching my business.  Many factors have contributed to this decision.
  1. Job I don't like
  2. price of gas
  3. construction tie ups
  4. 25 years of working to make a corporation rich
My goal is not to be the next Bill Gates, just to live comfortably and more on my own terms.  I'm looking forward to being my own boss. Let's see how this turns out.

Entrepreneur-ly yours,

~~Cee...Level

Sunday, April 20, 2008

My all time favorite joke is:

A few minutes before the services started, the townspeople were sitting in
their pews and talking.  Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the
church.  Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance,
trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate.

Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who
sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that
God’s ultimate enemy was in his presence.

So Satan walked up to the old man and said, “Don’t you know who I am?”
The man replied, “Yep, sure do.”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” Satan asked.
“Nope, sure ain’t,” said the man.

“Don’t you realize I can kill you with a word?” asked Satan.
“Don’t doubt it for a minute,” returned the old man, in an even tone.

“Did you know that I could cause you profound, horrifying, physical AGONY…
for all eternity?” persisted Satan.
“Yep,” was the calm reply.

“And you’re still not afraid?” asked Satan.
“Nope.” More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, “Well, why aren’t you
afraid of me?”

The man calmly replied, “Been married to your sister for over 48 years.”



I freely admit to laughing like I've never heard it before. Yes I may need to get a prescription for that, but it's still funny. I bet you KD and my cousins would say "Sounds like Granpa," because nothing could throw him, and he always had an answer for everything.  I miss you Granpa.  

Church Bulletins....I love 'em

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The sermon this morning:
"Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight:
"Searching for Jesus."
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Our youth basketball team is back
in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the
recreation hall. Come out and
watch us kill Christ the King.
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale.
It's a chance to get rid of those things
not worth keeping around the house.
Bring your husbands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The peacemaking meeting scheduled
for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick
of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to
love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care
much about you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off -
Let the Church help
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang
"I will not pass this way again,"
giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who have children
and don't know it,
we have a nursery down stairs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.
They need all the help they can get.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rector will preach his farewell message after
which the choir will
sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter
were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school
days.
------------------------------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic
will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
------------------------------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed
due to the addition of several new members
and to the deterioration of some older ones.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans,
bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Please place your donation in
the envelope along with the deceased
person you want remembered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining,
super entertainment, and gracious hostility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM -
prayer and medication to follow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held
Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies
are invited to lunch in the
Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies
of the congregation would lend him their
electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next
Sunday.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Low Self Esteem Support Group
will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back
door.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting
Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church
basement Friday at 7 PM .
The congregation is invited to attend this
tragedy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM
at the First Presbyterian Church.
Please use large double door at the side entrance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's
new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday:
"I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours

We are family!!












Trevor and some of my family from our last gathering two years ago.

I am soooo looking forward to seeing my family in June. It's not often we get together, since we are scattered hither and yon, and prices for any type of travel are beyond reason when more than one person has to make the jaunt.

My cousin Sean is getting married! I'm so happy for him that I can barely contain myself. He and his bride to be are settling down not to far from us, so we'll have the pleasure of adding one more to our Saturday night movie watching and/or board game playing sessions.

Only downside is my 12 year old cousin Trevor won't be attending. My Uncle Alex suffered a stroke last year and we figured he and my Aunt Darcel would have challenges in coming. However, we were looking forward to Trevor being allowed to come and "hang" with his family. Unfortunately his parents have nixed that idea. Too bad, we don't get to see him often, and he really doesn't know us at all. He'll miss out on family togetherness, as well as meeting Fuss, and Senitra's family, and we'll be deprived of his company.

My cousins Jason and Leida won't be there either.  Jason for some unknown reason, and Leida because she has an exam.  Since they're grown, they know us, so although they'll be missed, it's not the same as not having Trev there.

He's a hoot! He's adorable, funny, smart, and well I just love him to pieces. I'm going to keep praying that his parents will change their mind, and let us buy his ticket Chicago. Heck even Fuss is getting on a plane and she'll only be 5 months old!



Let It Flow

I've discovered that my dream job is a nightmare. My spirit was so unhappy there, that everything was becoming tainted. Within the next 60 days, I'll have a new position within the same company, and with God's grace, it'll be something that both challenges and is satisfying to my soul.

I'm also working on launching my business. Wow, me, a successful business owner, who while not Bill Gates rich, won't be doing to shabby. Yep, think positive, claim positive, live positive. Let it flow.

Moving, something I didn't think I would do until I purchased my residence. However, since I don't use 1/2 the apartment, and I never intended to bring my clients here, I can live with smaller. Besides y'all know I despise housecleaning. Having less space not to clean suits me just fine. Nope I've not yet found a replacement housekeeper, nor have I called the other one. Anyone who comes to visit can attest to that : D Another positive is my washer/dryer is about to bring happiness to another family member. My cousin is about to move into his new place, which doesn't offer machines. My son and I live in units that have full sized machines. Woooo Hoooo, definitely a win, win. Now if I can just convince them (his bride to be and he) that they really do need a 4 poster king sized cherry wood bed frame...

I love my life! I've divested myself of those who mean me no good, and am lucky enough to say that I've still a large extended family. Yes there are times I get down, and times I get frustrated with situations and people, but that's what keeps me appreciative of the good. Hoping you can say the same.

Peace be with you,

~~Cee...Level~~~

Saturday, April 19, 2008





Laughing, and growing...that's my Fuss


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Catherine Barbara Agnes Whitten-Michael.

Aunt Bob-Doo to my cousins and I.

Richard Pryor & Johnny Carson

Friday, April 18, 2008

Changes

Don't know what came over me, but I'm changing jobs AND downsizing my living quarters. Yuck, the prospect of moving again is horrifying, but the thought of paying all this money for the same apartment is even more horrifying.

Besides the newer apartments were updated, and I like how they look. I've never lived in a townhouse with a loft bedroom. Should be exciting eh?

Hmmm have to find a space for C-Jae and her "things"

Job change is something that I've been considering for a while. Trying to decide whether to launch my new business or just go on working for someone else.

I'm hoping that I am on the road to the change I want to become.

Be safe,

Cee...Level

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.