I saw God on the News - mom runs back into fire to be with daughter

Here's a story I saw on local news that reminded me of the heart of God - a mom who has a special neeeds child who ran BACK INTO A FIRE to be with her daughter who was scared.

http://www.wftv.com/news/28876245/detail.html


Thoughts?

More Cancer Treatments and Autism Speaks gets more support from Team Tabor

Long over due update: After radiation treatments I got a staff infection which resulted in ANOTHER seizure on July 31 so they had to reopen my skull and clean out the infection.
Unfortunately my skull bone had been compromised with both the infection and radiation so I have lost about 10% of my skull bone. I was on 24/7 antibiotics (PICC line in my arm) for 6 weeks following the August surgery.
My next and hopefuly last operation is reconstructive, that will probably be in December(ish). Until then it's one day at a time. I am actually back to work without part of my skull. God is good.
BTW - thanks to all who supported Team Tabor's efforts to support Autism Speaks. We raised $330.oo this year. Although we can't physically get out there this year - we still were one of the top 100 fundraising teams!

How am I doing? Thanks for asking...

To all who are asking how I am doing I wanted to post a reply.

I could not find the words and then I found out why...they have already been said. OK, maybe not the EXACT words I would use (mine would be so bad in comparison) but close enough to express my heart at this moment in time.

It is well with my soul is a song I have loved for a while but now, it means even more.

A BIG THANKS to all who keep us Tabors in your thoughts and prayers.

If you have or can find about seven and a half minutes of time here is a video of how I am doing that I hope encourages you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3znSDls5Etw

God Bless, David

How to grow in Christ?

BTW - this is a photo of my first radiation treatment on 6/4/10...also National Donut Day...proof that God Loves Me :-)

Oh, my answer to the question (I was asked by a friend the other day)...Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Growing in Christ is like a tree growing - stay close to the river of living water - let Him be your source through all of life's trouble - growth will happen.

Bless ya.

Seizure at work - down but not out

So, for those who don't know on May 11th I had a seizure at work. After an MRI they found out it was a tumor. They removed the tumor from my frontal lobe. It was the size of a small tangerine. It was benign but aggressive - that is why I will be starting 6 weeks of 5 day a week radiation treatments this Wednesday.

This was out of the blue - no warning signs. When it hit me all I could think is that I need to get to Tavia and Davy. I apologize to the EMTs - they tell me I was combative. In the midst of that is when I feel God told me "I've got Tavia and Davy - stay down." People - for those doubters in the cheap seats lemme tell ya - GOD IS REAL.

My mom and brother flew down from Ohio to help be with me at the hospital while Tavia shuttled between Orlando and Poincianna taking care of Davy (along with my great mom-in-law Ruth and respite care worker Divanna).

I am hurting but wanted all to know I am fine and will make a full recovery by His grace and for His glory.

Breakdown at Work

I just had to get this out there...

At times when I am at work and I hear certain songs on the radio or cd player (yes, cd not mp3), I freeze and almost start to bawl my eyes out.

Today it was the Rascal Flatts Single ''Here Comes Goodbye'' - I was overcome with thoughts about my daughter Fairlight. I miss her sooooo much sometimes.

Goodbye comes too soon for some and for all those parents out there who have had to say that terrible word to their child...it's ok to cry. And cry a lot.

Until we get to the place where there will be no more tears, may the God of all comfort show you His love.

Grandpa Vitko's worklife

Saw a video of a wartime film (1944) featuring my hometown of Youngstown. It showcases the place my grandpa worked at. In 15 minutes I learned more than he could have ever told me about his job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni4bwCfa-SU

I think about the price he paid so his kids and grandkids could have a better life.

I need to remember the blast furnace when I complain about how cold the A/C is in the building where I sit in front of a computer and drink coffee to work.

Thank you God for my grandpa.

Belated Mom's Day

Dear Mom,

You were there from the beginning...obviously.

You were the first person I heard pray. You read me my first Bible story.

You always told me i could do anything...except be bad. And when i was, you...corrected me.

When i left home you always left the light on for me.

When your granddaughter flew ahead to heaven - you flew to be by our side.

For all the time you listened...for all the times you stayed up to make sure i was safe...for all the meals, laundry, and never ending faith...

thank you.

Shopping with Davy - thank you everybody

Tavia, Davy, and I went to Wal-Mart today. Tavia met a mom of one of Davy's past classmates in the lobby and wanted to stay and catch up so - Davy and I proceeded to do the mini-grocery shopping.

I was pushing the cart and Davy did a great job of keeping up. I didn't have to hold Davy's hand once. He listened to me and helped me get the shopping done. We didn't see mommy again until check out on register 4.

I wanted to share this wonderful "normal" moment - I will treasure it in my heart for a long time. I love my son.

Thank you to everyone that has ever and will ever help my son. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Life is like chocolate

The sweet stuff makes you fat...the bitter stuff (see also 65% or more cacao) makes you better.

No matter what, I want to be the one to remind you today that God loves you.

Heritage and Heart

Yeah, times are tough. Heritage and Heart are tougher.

I take comfort that my great-grandparents and grandparents lived through the great depression. I remember hearing tales of hard times and working in coal mines. I recall listening to advice to slow down and enjoy the simple things of life...the advice was good in the 1980's when I first heard it and all the more precious now.

My grandma ALWAYS had a pitcher of ice tea in the fridge - it was a hospitality thing I think. No matter who you were, if you stopped by grandma's house you could enjoy iced tea...BTW it usually had a lemon sliced in half in it. Now, here in Florida - Tavia ALWAYS has iced tea in the fridge.

I remembered one of grandma vitko's kitchen treats last month - it's called cherries delight - yummo! Here is a link to a similar recipe http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1813,149191-228199,00.html

I told Tavia I'd like it for my birthday in April - instead of cake. Then I forgot about it.

Fast forward to Valentine's Day eve - I came home to the wife of my youth and she gave me a card and a note that said - check the fridge...and next to the ice tea was another memory from grandma vitko's kitchen..cherries delight - I was floored!

Floored not by a big screen TV or new computer or night on the town...I was floored by the powerfully simple gesture of love and care. You got me Tavia...then again you have had me for 16 years. Happy anniversary.

My brother

Jim Tabor is my brother.

Recently he has had some health issues - heart attack last year and just got out of the hospital a few hours ago after passing out at work a few days ago. It got me to thinking about my big brother (2 years older than me).

Sure, we fought growing up but no one else at school could pick on me...he had my back. Sure, we had some disagreements at home...sorry about the front door mom.

But I still remember the joy when we got that mini-bike for Christmas and raced outside in the freezing weather of North Lima Ohio to try it out. It was a blast.

While I ended up in Florida, Jim and his family still live in Ohio. Jim has stayed close to our roots and is a strong anchor for the family.

Sure, I'm the one who went to College and grad school but truth be told - he is the more avid reader and smarter brother - don't tell him I said that. Traditional education didn't serve his talents well - but Jim has been a Police officer and owned his own small business. Never afraid of hard work he now punches the clock working on the railroad.

Jim, like me, is a man of faith, a husband and a father. These are our sacred vows. Our happiness is based on putting a smile on the face of Our Father in Heaven.

I am very proud of my brother and I know tonight that God is happy to see a man work so hard for his family that he would risk his health and safety to provide for thier well being and comfort.

Get well soon big brother - get well soon. God Bless.

Gingerbread Houses

When I found out my son was diagnosed as autistic - I went through the stages of grief.

I saw my hopes of coaching my son's little league baseball team, watching my son graduate from college, and passing on my family traditions to my son slip from the dreams that were delivered to me on the day he was born.

Notice the focus above - I, me, my.

When embracing my son for who he is and what he loves - dreams are reborn.

Three Christmases ago, as she held a gingerbread kit in the grocery store, the wife of my youth turned to me and proposed an idea "...let's see if Davy would like to do this."

A Christmas tradition was born!

Now in our third year, it is exciting to see that Davy gets excited at Christmas time and enjoys - gingerbread houses.

I was a bell ringer...

Yes, after college and before grad school...I was out of work during the Christmas season and the Salvation Army helped by giving me a job.

That job was as a bell ringer. It was in Virginia. It was cold. I appreciate that job to this day.

Please help me do the most good this Christmas...donate at the kettle in front of the store or right here...

God Bless you, Merry Christmas....

PS - to that guy who saw me shivering and bought me a cup of coffee about 20 years ago...Thank you.

Thankful..is one day enough?

Thanksgiving, it is a word and an event.

Yes, we are encouraged to give thanks for God's blessings on this day. I support that. And, I want to encourage even more...thanksgiving.

When you wake up - thank God for at least one thing. Before you go to bed - thank God for one thing.

What am I thankful for:

• The wife of my youth/best friend (same person)


• Our daughter (who ran ahead of us to heaven - we love you Fairlight)


• Our son (see also my hero and best buddy)


• My family/Posh included


• Life/Health/Laughter/ability to be a servant


• Food/Pepsi and Bacon


• Shelter


• Job


• Creation/Nature


• Film/Video hobbies


• Comic Books


• Video Games

If you pray daily - take one day and do not ask for anything. Just look up to your Father and thank Him for all He does and mostly for who He is...the good God of creation that chooses to love us and show us His love...especially through His son...but that's another story, I hear there is a holiday next month...

Happy 90th B-Day Billy Graham

To: Billy
From: David

Thank you for always focusing on the eternal. You have pointed over 4 generations to the cross of Christ.

Your consistency and reminder of the simple and most powerful truths has helped me see the way to the light in some of my most desperate and darkest hours.

May God Bless you and your family - Happy Birthday
http://www.billygraham.org/

Vote

Early voting starts tomorrow in Florida. If you are registered to vote, you can take advantage of this great convenience.

I don't care who for or how you are voting but I do care that you vote.

Go vote right now.

I thank God we live in a free country.

Participate in your freedom.

Asta La Vista

I don't hate many things but...Windows Vista is one of them.



Bad OS, Bad!



Can't wait for Windows 7 - see the link for news about Windows after Vista. http://windows7news.com/



Did I mention Vista is not good? Why you ask? Here are three reasons:

1. Load times are so slow - I think I started my last session in '79
2. Why does stupid security kick in for its own programs that it starts? How dumb is that?
3. It doesn't recognize anything - does not play well with others

And don't get me started on the new office products...argh!!!

Save 25% on property taxes - at what price?

Florida needs to wake up when it comes to schools. Thankfully Amendment 5 has been shot down in court before it got to a vote. What were they thinking cutting property taxes by 25% by selling out eduction?

Do you really want to save the 25% by putting the school systems in a bigger tailspin than Amendment 1 has already? What do you think would happen to the juvenile crime rate if even more kids couldn't get a proper eduction? How would that impact your real estate?

Charlie Crist lied about Amendment 1 and he lies about Amendment 5! It will crush the school systems if it ever passes...thankfully we dodged this bullet...for now.

Storyboard Wise

So, I was working on a project the other day and was reminded of the import of storyboards.

A few years back I was in film school and we were studying Citizen Kane when someone said Orson Welles didn't use storyboards - he just had the vision and shot on the fly.

"Really," I thought to myself.

As we progressed in the semester we had a chance to talk to Robert Wise - the editor on Citizen Kane. I asked Mr. Wise if storyboards were used and I'll never forget the look he gave me...it was akin to "you idiot" but his words were kinder. He said something to the effect of "Yes, of course we used storyboards - those were some of the most difficult shots on film to date."

So my lesson - plan your work and work your plan.