Why I Write

     A paper trail.  I’m leaving a paper trail for my children.  Chances are  most of what I write won’t be read by them until I’m gone, which is fine.  I came across a fun activity from Debi.  Debi got the idea from Writer Chic   Take the letters of the alphabet and associate each one with something that describes you.   Here we go…

A  Apple orchard.  We planted 120 apple trees.   I love to watch things grow.  I’m sure it has something to do with that “farm boy” that lives inside of me.    I enjoy it all, the pruning, the blooms, working in conjunction with the bees, spraying, picking, meeting the people who buy our Sun Crisp, Gala’s Royal Courts Liberty’s Honey Crisp,, everything.

B Builder,  I am a carpenter/builder by day.  I love my job.  I love the variety of work, meeting  people, the fact that it integrates both physical activity (to keep me from turning into a toad) and mental.

     B also stands for  Bed and Breakfast.  We own a small bed and breakfast, which we love.  See entry under H

C     Christian.  I’ve been a Christian since 1980.  Drop me a note if you want to know more. 

    Coffee.  C also stands for Coffee.  I LOVE coffee.  Especially dark roasted w/o any sugar or cream.  I love the smell of coffee brewing.  I enjoy the caffeine boost.  I don’t go out boozing and this is one of the simple pleasures of life for me.

D   The first letter in my name  (Douglas)

E Encourager,exhort-er, evangelism…three passions of my heart

F Family….married for 28 yrs to my  soul mate,   5 children (4 we raised and one we recently “adopted” )

G  Generous

H  Humble…hate to be in the lime light….am not an “Alpha male” though I will  stand my ground when I’m challenged at work. 

     H also stands for  Hospitality. The word literally means “a lover of strangers”  Both my wife and I enjoy doing hospitality.  We’ve been told numerous times as a couple we make people feel at home, and staying with us feels like you’re putting on a favorite pair of your old shoes

I   Intelligent.  On an IQ test I recently took it said I was “Highly Intelligent”.  Good thing I’m  humble

J   J is for jealous.  Especially, the first 15 years of our marriage.  Never said I was perfect.

K  Kanga   Recently took a “Winni The Pooh” character quiz  and scored as “Kanga” . yea I know Kanga was a female…I’m the  male version….I will kick your butt if you make fun of it

L   Laugh.  I am a teaser and love to banter and laugh, even with strangers. I find that it is a great way to get to know most people.

M   Musical.  I am musically inclined, but I am  not going to quit my day job.  I love to host live musical events.  Have recently discovered house concerts

N  Nouthetic Counseling    While I am not a formally trained  counselor by any stretch of the imagination,  I did take some marriage and family courses through  this program

O Open and transparent

P Passionate.  When I get excited about something, I will pour myself into it 110%

Q  Quiet   Growing up, I was that shy boy you had in your class.   

R Relational.   I love to communicate and get to know people.   I don’t have a lot of time for shallow relationships.

S   Sensitive.  I tend to be very in touch w/ what another person may be feeling.   Even with other creatures…. I have been known to move a toad or even an insect that is going to get squashed on the job.  Now don’t get me wrong, this is not an obsession, if I’m in the middle of troweling a floor w/ the power trowel-er and you as the bug happens to land right where I’m working, you will get troweled into the floor.

T Teacher.  I discovered  I love to teach.  I have taught in several settings, A “Bible For Dummies course at a community college, bible studies in the home,  have done  some pulpit supply, adult SS.  even a Jr high religion class for 3 years. 

U  Understanding

V  Vision.  I can see things in my mind before I do them, whether it’s something I build with my hands,  something we host (like our music festivals), etc.

W     W is for “Whimsy”  I love whimsy.  When you walk around our property, you will see a tree with a face,  a large shadow box built into the side of our 130 old barn, a barn quilt  ,stuff like that.

     W also stands for “Writer”  I have 2 books published.  Drop me a note if you’d like to know more.

X  X-box  Don’t  have one, don’t want one. 

Y   Youthful.  As I write this, I would tell you  I am 21 with 28 years experience.  You can do the math.  Age is so relative.  I know people who are 59 yr old and they are OLD  and I’ve known people who are 85 and YOUNG.    (they are some of my favorite people)

Z  Z is for Zorro.  If I were a super hero,  this is me.

       If you decide to do this  alphabet  activity, let me know!  Thanks.