It All Started With A Phone Call…

A couple of days before Thanksgiving my Brother-in-law called me to ask if I would be interested in going to the Arkansas/LSU game. Now, what made the decision easier was the fact that he is a pilot and we would be flying to the game! I’m not sure if it was  a record or not but I gave him my answer quicker than a presidential candidate can change their mind on policy. I mean if we are going to fly… and I’m going to be in the cockpit, well of course, I’m going!

Before I get into the game and all the amenities that came with the trip let me tell you about our family Thanksgiving. I told you in my last writing that things were changing because of the passing of family… my grandmother. This year we were at my Sister (in-law…although I’ve just about dropped the in-law part because Lisa is more like a sister…although she is “older”) to celebrate Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time with all Georgette’s family and my brothers family’s as well. It was so good to see the nephews and nieces… they are all growing up so fast. We had a pleasant meal (at 5:00pm) with more than you could want to eat. We enjoyed visiting and getting caught up on each other’s lives.

Now back to the game… so my brother-in-law, Jeff,  is flying some clients to the game and they have an extra ticket that I get to have. We fly from Fort Smith to Baton Rouge where we are picked up on the tarmac and driven to the stadium. We enjoy the atmosphere before the game, watch as the Razorbacks upset the #1 LSU Tigers in Death Valley, and best of all the tickets were behind the Razorback bench on row 1 between the 40-50 yard line. I was so close that during the game I’m talking to the players, giving them high-5’s and encouraging them to keep playing tough. After we celebrated with them following the 3rd overtime we went back to the airport and flew to New Orleans for our overnight. We had a chance for a delicious dinner that evening and finally some rest. The game wore me out! The following day (saturday) Jeff and I went for some French donuts, for lunch we ate some seafood at a local French quarter restaurant, and by late afternoon were back at the airport to fly his clients home to Fort Smith. Did I mention I love flying? After getting home I gathered the family up and we made our way home to Maumelle. Blessed… The Lord blessed me is all I can say. I’m so thankful for so many things. Thanks, Lord! I give HIM praise for the whole Thanksgiving week.    

Jeff

Pilgrims & Indians… Thanks!

In just a few days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. I’m sure you are excited for the chance to slow down, see family, eat more than we should, and watch the Cowboys beat the Jets! This year my Grandmother passed on to Heaven…so we start new traditions as we remember the old ones. We will be in a different place for our family gathering, eating at a different time, and trying some different foods. The change is inevidable I suppose.

  I’m a person who loves history…and thinking of the history of my family is no different. The first Thanksgiving I can remember was with just a few people (me, my brother’s, mom, aunt & uncle, grandpa & grandma). I remember my uncle and grandpa fussing about the drumstick. Grandma always made homemade bread, cookies, and cakes. The family would sit down and fill up on all the good foods as a pre-cursor to the Dallas Cowboys game. The bonus of the day would be if it was cold and snowing! Of course the family grew over the years to the point that there was hardly room for everyone to find a place. We would be in bedrooms, living room, etc.. There was a pecking order for the big table! Being the first born had its priveleges.

  Now that chapter has been finished. My family will begin a new way of (doing) thanksgiving this year. I’ll tell you more about it next week.

I hope you have a blessed time this week and weekend. I pray you will have chances to share your faith with family and extend to them the love of Christ. Count your blessings…name them one by one.

Jeff “I’m gonna miss those pinwheels” Beshears             PS: Look for me on CBS at the 50 yard line of the Arkansas/LSU Game!!!!

Israel & Egypt

  Our group has just returned from nearly two weeks touring Israel and Egypt. This was my second trip to Israel and first to Egypt. I can say that the second time in Israel was better for me than the first. I was not in sensory overload as the first trip… but was able to take more of the places in with respect to Scripture. Also, this trip I was the “teacher” although the land sort of teaches itself. I enjoyed helping our pilgrams have a better understanding of the places where we were as I would read Scriptures and explain its relation with us today.

  I’m proud of our whole group for hanging in there when the days got long or when the steps never seemed to end. We had several older adults who were a blast. They showed their stamina and wit at the same time. They made the trip so much fun for all of us. Nobody got hurt and only a few had any ailments…mostly when we began traveling home.

  There were 18 of us who traveled on to Egypt. We landed in Cairo which has 22 million residents! We had a chance to see the Pyramids (where Tony B. held up the Razorback Flag!!!), we went to Memphis, the Egyptian Museum, and the Christian Churches in the city. I’m glad to have had the chance to go to Cairo.

  The best part of the trip for me however, besides the group and my brother going, was Jerusalem. I love to be in Jerusalem and fill the excitment of this important city. So much has happened here Biblically… and so much will happen there in the future! Beautiful sunsets, perfect temperature’s, and good friends made for many good memories in Jerusalem. If you ever have a chance to go to Israel… Please do. You’ll be glad you did…