Leaving a Legacy...

("Legacy" by Nichole Nordeman)

Hello and welcome to a very special Keil's Comments (kinda like those "very special episodes" you may have seen back in the day -- yes I have watched entirely too much television, but that's not the point right now).

To say the past 24 hours has been a whirlwind of emotions for Sharon and I as well as Sharon's family is the understatement of the year. Even with all the madness about COVID-19, who would have guessed that we would be dealing with such a loss.

I have only known Mom for 4 years and one thing that is standing out in my mind as I am typing this is the reason I broke out the song at the top of this post.

Mom left an indelible legacy on this earth. For 40-plus years, she served with her husband (my late father-in-law) in ministry as he pastored churches in Arkansas, Colorado and California and developed ministries like one in Colorado for whitewater guides. All of this while raising three wonderful children to know and trust God in everything. She used her gifts in a tremendous way, using crafts as her way to minister to people (I guess you would say in a sense she was crafty). She had a gift of card making that will probably be unmatched.

If you know David or Joe or Sharon, you can immediately see the impact that legacy has, whether it is teaching 4th graders to sharpen their reading skills or ministering to college students or serving their community. Add to that the support of their spouses (Tonya, Angela and myself) and the grandchildren and eventually her great granddaughter Erza and future greats, it's easy to see that the legacy will hope to continue until Jesus returns.

Just sitting here typing out this post, it is going to be hard going forward to mention anything about Mom and it being in the past tense. As a family, we know that one day we will see Mom again and she will definitely be showing us around her Mansion.

Wanda Lou...it's been a pleasure to get to know you and to be your 3rd son! Thank you for instilling your wisdom into me and for giving me the figurative swift kick in the pants when I needed it. I will be forever grateful for this short time that I have had with you. I am running out of words to say so I will let Carrie Underwood finish this post out for me.

(Human) Malware Protection...

Hello and welcome to this edition of Keil's Comments. Before we begin, you may have noticed I changed up the look a little bit. I wanted to freshen the blog up and keep things looking pretty good.

Now to the subject at hand, knowing that this will probably look dated in a few years.

I have had loads of thoughts rolling through my brain regarding what's going on with the coronavirus, or as a YouTuber I follow calls it "Human Malware" because if you say the CV word, YouTube demonitizes the video for some stupid reason. Anyway...I have seen lots of comments on it, especially when it comes to blaming the media for supposedly "overblowing" coverage and making it sound apocalyptic. Let me defer to someone who actually kinda knows what he's talking about...former Tulsa radio newscaster John Durkee.

“This is being overblown.” Maybe. Time will tell. However, sometimes you have to slap people upside the head to get their attention. You are much more likely to get the seasonal flu, but the mortality rate is higher for Covid-19. Do the math.

Also...as far as "the media" goes, odds are you're listening to State-run Television aka Fox News Channel. If you follow any of the network newscasts or even local news (whether it's our local folks in OKC or elsewhere around the country), you're going to at least get it straight. Once you get to CNN or MSNBC or the aforementioned Fox News you're going to run into either the doomsday prophets or those who think this is one big joke (ie followers of our illustrious POTUS)

Another thought that people have that I want to address...there was a meme that there was no panic about H1N1 or Ebola like there is with the current "Human Malware". Did you ever stop to think that maybe back when H1N1 and Ebola were around that Facebook/Twitter and all the socials were in their infancy and people hadn't developed their lack of intelligence in regards to this? Also, there were actually folks at the CDC that were nipping them in the bud...the same folks who would have done that this go around but they got fired two years ago because of said POTUS.

There's more I want to say but at this point I've probably rambled long enough. I'll do another go around at another time. Until then, take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbors.

Lent 2020 Thoughts...

Hello and welcome to another edition of Keil's Comments.

Before I start talking about the subject at hand on this blog, I wanted to give an update on my mother in law Wanda in case you don't follow Sharon's Facebook page. Mom is doing extremely well, but her heart surgery that had been scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. Apparently Medicare couldn't see the "benefit" of doing another surgery in the same hospital visit so today Mom is being transferred to a skilled nursing facility in Norman (why there? So she would be close to the folks doing her prosthetic leg -- Hanger Orthopedics -- could help her get used to it and help her in rehab) and stay there until Sunday then go back to the hospital and have the surgery Monday morning.

In the meantime, I have decided to scale back on my Red Cross duties for a couple of weeks while this unfolds so I can be the support that Sharon needs at this time.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get into what I wanted to write about on today's post.

For the last few years, I have shared my thoughts as today we enter the Lenten season on what it means for me. In fact, here it is...


As we start the Lenten season, you see posts on Facebook and Twitter of people announcing what they are giving up.  I say this every year...is it our business what you are announcing you are giving up?  Not really...it's really between you and the Lord.  It's the case of not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing.  And it doesn't always have to be anything physical (if that makes sense) like meat, sodas, sweets, etc.  It could be something like giving up an hour of TV or computer time or whatever is hindering your walk with God.

I always hearken back to Hebrews 12:1,2 (New Living Translation)

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

We don't all have to walk around like modern-day Pharisees and proclaim what we are giving up for 40 days. Pray that during this season God will strengthen your walk with Him...and if it means going without a Dr. Pepper or a Braum's hamburger, so be it!!!

And in the meantime, I'll continue trying to work on me.

That's about all I have for now. Please continue to keep Mom in your prayers for healing and strength...and keep Sharon and I in your prayers also.

Until next time...

One Year Later...

Hello and welcome to another edition of Keil's Comments. Before I begin with my post, I want to direct you to Sharon's blog called the Whimsical Warrior. She usually has lots of good stuff on there related to anything and everything, kind of like this blog.  

Now to my thoughts...

A year ago I mentioned on this blog and on a video I posted that I had been dealing with some anxietal issues and I am taking medication to help with it. How have I been in that year's time? 

I have had my good days and I have had my "argh" days but the good days far outweigh the "argh". This past Tuesday was one of those "argh" days.

If you do follow Sharon on her Facebook, you know she's been having some issues related to lupus and having pain in her hips and neck. While she's been dealing with that, her mom Wanda has not been feeling well either. We were having to get schedules rearranged so we could get Mom in to see her doctor. 

Needless to say, I wasn't handling it very well. I even told Sharon when we were coming back from school "with you breaking down and Mom breaking down, I feel like I'm having a breakdown". Reason for me saying that is simple...I wished I could do more in making sure they are taken care of.

Good news here is that Mom's feeling better. Sharon's still in pain but it's manageable.

That's about it for now...

2020 Vision

Hello and welcome to the year end edition of Keil’s Comments. As I am writing this, I am almost at tears because we will be on the cusp of a new year/decade (for those of you who argue that tomorrow/next year won’t be the start of a new decade...SHUT UP!)

Anyway, I wanted to look back at the goals I set for this past year and see how I measured up since I wrote them as well as what I can do to maintain the momentum. Without further ado, here we go...

Continue to be the husband that God has called me to be and to improve in my listening and communication skills. (That is still a work in progress...and will continue to be so in this next year)

-- Keep up my weight loss...I'm not going to set a specific number but keep going down one or more pounds at a time. Also to keep up the progress in other areas of my health...  (I did great in that department but gained some weight back toward the end of the year. My goal for 2020 is to lose the weight I regained and keep it off) 

-- Stay involved with Community Renewal and the Red Cross, getting more experiences under my belt. (I got to host a block party this year and hopefully I will do more this next year. I have also gotten to do more with the Red Cross, including being the media guy for our chapter and training to be a DAT supervisor)

-- Be more involved in ministry at Immanuel and be open to where God will lead me there. (I got to go on my first mission trip this year to Ponderosa in Colorado this past August... and will be going back this next year. I am also as I am writing this post excited to be leading the men’s breakfast devotional on 1/11)

-- Be a great employee and do my job as unto the Lord. (I got to start cohosting Tradio and filling in on occasion, also producing high school football. Here’s to more of the same if not even more this next year)

That is all I have for right now. From myself, Sharon, Wanda and Spike, here’s to an amazing 2020!!!

2019 Not-So-Corny Christmas Letter

Hello everyone and welcome to another fantastic edition of Keil's Comments.

It's the time of year that everyone looks forward to...getting recap letters from friends detailing almost anything and everything that went on in the past year.  Here at Keil's Comments, I don't go quite into detail, but I do my part in the "tradition unlike any other". So without further adieu, here's the 2019 Keil's Comments Christmas Letter.

Dear Friends and Family:

Well, we made it through another great year. Some of the highlights of my year --

I continued making strides in my weight loss. I made it down to 318 before gaining about 20 of it back while on a mission trip in Colorado (more on that later). I made it a goal to get to 200 lbs down and I was so close. I look to get to that goal in 2020...

This year I got to go to Colorado not once but twice. The first time was in June/July when Sharon, her Mom and I went to visit with Joe and his family. We had lots of fun and got to take in a lot of great Colorado scenery, food and great family time.

August was my second visit to Colorado, this time with a group of guys from church as we went to build a new deck on a cabin at Ponderosa just north of Colorado Springs. It was a great experience. I didn't go a lot as far as actually building but I did shoot video of the process (which you can see here)

This year was also the year I started to get to speak to a counselor about anxiety and getting that managed. I do well when I remember to take my medication.

I also this year wrote a list of things I would like to do between now and my 50th birthday in 2021. So far I have one major project knocked down which was to donate to the Clinton Public School Foundation -- we managed to raise $200 for the organization. (If you want to revisit the list, it's on my last post called The (Not Quite) Bucket List)

I also became more involved with the Red Cross this year. I got to help with three smoke alarm campaigns (Shawnee, Ada and Ardmore) and most recently becoming a volunteer spokesman for our chapter. This past Friday (12/13), I went back to Ardmore with our chapter Executive Director to meet with our new CEO Alice Townsend. She was very personable and a very nice lady.

Last but not least -- Sharon, her Mom and I got to host a block party in our neighborhood in September. It was a huge success despite having a little rain. I am planning to do more block parties this next year.

I look forward to doing more of all the above in the new year, as well as hopefully becoming a dad once again.

That is it for now. On behalf of Sharon, Wanda, myself and our dog Spike we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and may 2020 be one of your best years yet!

Robert

The (Not Quite) Bucket List

Hello and welcome to another edition of Keil's Comments. I'm spending my Sunday multitasking...watching football and making sure Sharon gets a fresh supply of sharpened pencils but right now I'm taking a break to enter this blog post. So let's get crackin'.

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have noticed that I am doing one of their birthday fundraiser things...kinda as a way to pay it forward. I mentioned that it's part of a list of things I am hoping to accomplish before I turn 50 in 2021. Now before you say "ahhh, so you're doing a bucket list", it's not a bucket list!!! A "bucket list" per se is some things you want to accomplish before you die. I'm not planning on going any time soon. I'm either going to hopefully live til I get to be 100 or go when Gabriel blows that trumpet, whichever comes first.

Anyway...here are the things I want to accomplish in the 2 year time frame:

1. Become a Dad again
2. Go on an overseas mission trip
3. Teach a small group
4. Guest speak to Joe’s Christian Challenge
5. Be a mentor to someone 
6. Restart my podcast but maintain my blog
7. Continue in radio hopefully in a bigger capacity
8. Be a bariatric or life coach
9. Do more video content...maybe take videography class at Gordon Cooper
10.  Write (as in actually putting pen to paper) letters to people who have made a difference in my life
11.  Walk the 5K part of the OKC Memorial Marathon
12.  Walk the 5K part of the Williams Route 66 Marathon (Tulsa)
13.  Walk a 10K (6 miles)
14.  Go on a Saturday getaway with Sharon at least once a month
15.  Host more block parties w/ neighbors (2x/year)
16.  Go on a cruise
17.  Visit Florida and the Gulf Coast
18.  Visit Washington DC and Colonial US
19.  Visit New York City
20.  Visit California and Hawaii
21. Take my parents on a vacation with us
22.  Make a donation to Clinton Public School Foundation
23.  Go to an Oklahoma Sooner game (football and/or basketball)
24. Go to a Dallas Cowboys game
25.  Go to an Oklahoma City Thunder game
26.  Go to a Texas Rangers or Houston Astros game
27.  Buy a whole new wardrobe
28. (Long shot) move to a house with more room to roam

I am starting on 22 on the list right now...and that's the fundraiser going on over on Facebook. As soon as that is done I am going to work on other projects like walking the 5Ks and/or the 10K. I may not complete all these things in the two year period (like the trips) but at least it would be a start...and maybe put those on the other list -- that would be the aforementioned bucket list.

That is about it for now. Guess I will go back to sharpening more pencils.

Until next time...