AUSTIN AND ME

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Cancer is something that I have always been familiar with. Ever since I can remember I have been checking for symptoms and worrying about the fact that I could be next. It started out when I was really young and my cousin Greyson was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. After going through a lot of chemotherapy we were glad to hear that the cancer was gone. Knowing cancer is rare its hard to believe I had to watch another one of my cousin suffer from it only a few years later. His name is Austin and today that's who I am going to talk about.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein. When I first saw this quote, it made me think about how I treated life and all the things I had taken for granted. One of the things I took for granted the most was the time I got to spend with my cousin Austin. The times that we got to spend together were always fun, but I didn't realize how precious those moments would be until later. Austin grew up in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Austin participated in every sport you could think of and had many friends. Every year our family would get together for a family reunion. When the family reunion rolled around in 1998, I couldn't wait to see Austin again considering he was the only person around my age in my family. To my disappointment, I didn't get to hang out with him much because he had been having severe headaches and had to stay indoors most of the trip. Soon after the reunion, even simple tasks became difficult for Austin. His parents realized something was terribly wrong when his headaches grew worse and were more frequently. His parents rushed him to Children's Hospital and we all waited anxiously to hear the results. I can still remember hearing the news. At the time, I refused to believe how serious it actually was. Austin was diagnosed with a very rapidly growing brain tumor. The doctors only gave him six months to live. After hearing the news I wanted to see Austin very much. I remember my mom sneaking me into the hospital to see him. I can still see him to this day sitting in the hospital bed with no hair and with IV's in his arm, but he still had the biggest smile on his face, trying to make me and my brother feel comfortable. Austin's great attitude and confidence gave us another year with him. The last time I saw Austin was on Easter of 2000. I was shocked to see how different he looked and barely recognized him. But once I saw his beautiful smile I knew it was him and almost felt a sense of relief. I knew from then on that Austin would always be with me. Austin lost his battle to cancer on Memorial Day of 2000. Although I no longer get to hear his laugh or see his smile, I know that he is with me every single day guiding me through life. I never got to say goodbye to Austin. I always thought he would get better. I never accepted the fact that one day he wouldn't be with us anymore. Most of my family knew his life was coming to an end when they saw him on Easter, but I didn't. I thought I would see him again at the next family gathering. When I found out about his death the only person I wanted to talk to was the person I couldn't. I think about Austin a lot and wonder how different things would be if I still was able to see him today. Instead of getting upset, I try and think about the good times I had with Austin.

I'm still confused why Austin was taken from us, but I know he is in a better place now and is waiting until the day that we will all be together again. Austin taught me a lot about life. He taught me to live each day to the fullest and to not let the little things bother you. I feel selfish when I think about all the things I complain about everyday. Don't take life for granted and don't take the people in your life for granted, because you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. The message I want to get across to you is that we have such a short time on earth to not worry about the little things. Live every moment of everyday like it's your last and appreciate everything. You only live life once, so live it to the fullest with no regrets. I'm going to end with a poem I wrote for Austin from his point of view:


Please remember forever
Forget me never
Dwell upon me whenever

The sun is shining down
I'm in a happier place now
This is my solemn vow

I was not taken vainly
Its just God really needed me
This is where I need to be

In heaven watching over you
My family you know this is true
This beginning is new

For all of us
A snivel is a must
But please adjust

To our new situation please
I'm okay if that puts you at any ease
Instead of pain I'm living in peace

I got the kiss of death before most
Because of cancer I was diagnosed
But your time is almost

Coming to an end
And then we'll be together again
And then our hearts will mend


Written by Lauren Griffin


"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein.

May your entire life be a miracle, because you are.

Until next time,
Chip

UNUSUAL COUNTRY SONG TITLES

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Hello friends of The Dose. As part of The Dose's commitment, we always want to bring you anything that we feel is of interest, Tonight, we bring you our first ever Country blog.

The following is a list of Country Song Titles, compliments of Mr Aaron Wilburn. May you laugh so hard, you cry.

So here they are, straight from the song writers in Nashville Tennessee:

"How can I miss you, when you won't go away?"

"If the phone doesn't ring, you'll know its me!"

"When you leave, walk out backwards so I'll think your walking in..."

"If I'd shot you when I wanted to, I'd be out by now..."

"If you won't leave me alone, I'll find someone who will!"

"I'm so miserable without ya, its almost like having you here!"

"I'm sorry I made you cry, but at least your face is cleaner."

"Take me out to the corn field honey.... I'll kiss you between the ears."

"The oil is all in Texas, but the dipsticks are in D. C.!!!"

And last but not least, the lyrics to an all time favorite,

"If My Nose Was Running Money":


You ask me if I love you...
And if my love is true..
Well if I were a rich man,
Here is what I'd do..

I'd buy you a diamond ring,
And a new fur coat or two..

If my nose was running money
I'd blow it all on you.
If my nose was running money,
I'd blow it all on you.

I'd buy you a Cadillac
A new Mercedes too.
I'd build you a mansion,
Upon that mountain top.

If my nose was running money,
But honey.... it's snot.

If my nose was running money,
You'd have anything you please.
Anytime you wanted cash,
All I'd have to do is sneeze.

Honey you'd win the lottery,
When I have a cold or flu.
If my nose was running money,
I'd blow it all on you.

It's a booger of a problem I've got,

I wish my nose was running money,
But it's snot.
I'd buy you a diamond ring,
A new fur coat or two.

If my nose was running money,
I'd blow it all on you.



Check out Aaron Wilburn at AARON WILBURN.

Thanks for reading, writing and participating.

Until next time,
Chip

2WENTY-4OUR UNIQUE PICS JUST FOR YOU...

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Sometimes checking a random junk e-mail does pay off. I received these today and thought they of you, the readers of The Dose. Hope you enjoy them.



























Until next time,
Chip

EASTER AND YOU

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16</sup>"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16 - 17

The most famous verse in the Bible is truly the center of the entire mission of Christ. God sent His Son to fulfill the role of a perfect sacrifice. One totally free of sin.

The following video is just a glimpse into the result of His sacrifice...




May God bless us. May we never stray from His will.

Until next time,
Chip

MEET JARETT WILSON

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Hello friends.

Let me introduce you to Jarett Wilson. Jarett is a guy with a background that would upset most people to even think about. Some of you may be able to relate to Jarett, personally, I can't even begin to imagine what he's lived through. His testimony will give you a little glimpse into his life, but let me give you a little more.

Jarett is an ex gang member. The initiation in the gang he joined was for a group of the gang members to basically beat you to a pulp... But not Jarett. Instead of them beating him to a pulp, he whipped all five of them and was the last man standing.

Jarett has been through it and is a powerful testimony to the power of God and His willingness to meet us no matter where we are or what we have done. He is waiting to heal us, all of us. Enjoy Jarett's testimony.

You can come meet him in person at Conway's First Church of the Nazarene, on the corner of Faulkner and Scott in Conway, AR. You'll know him and Mary right off.. They're the two with the big smiles and the loving hearts.

I want to personally thank Jarett for being an inspiration in my life, and the lives of so many around him. What an amazing guy.

Until next time,
Chip

THE FUNNY THINGS IN LIFE

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Every now and then you see something that just cracks you up and at the same time makes you wonder, "What are they thinking"? Well today, on our way from a great afternoon at Pinnacle Mountain, we ran into a traffic jam. One of those "come to a complete halt and don't move forward at a speed above three miles per hour" jams... If you have driven anytime at all on a freeway, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Although I initially was irritated by the thought of sitting in a gaggle of traffic, probably caused by someone with a led foot on there brake pedal, creating one of those government studied traffic jams that escalated beyond just a crick in the neck to a royal thorn in the side, I quickly overcame that when my lovely bride put her lungs into motion and muttered the words "The Big Rolling Turd".

At first, I was concerned if I had a out loud thought, you know those phrases that have a tendency to just flow from your head to your mouth without you realizing that you somehow, at most likely the worst time, unconsciously stated a thought out loud... Then I realized that it wasn't my voice I just heard, but that of my lovely co-pilot. After a quick blink, I saw what my wife had stated.

Directly in front of me was an older model "Eldorado" RV proudly displaying the unique name "The Big Rolling Turd." A name that brought a huge smile to my face and a giggle on my breath. I quickly thought if I had ever seen a nickname that was more well thought out then this one, and just as quickly, I realized that there was NO way someone could out do this. Who in there right mind would title there RV, "The Bid Rolling Turd"? Well whoever it was must have put a lot of thought into it, at least enough to bring a giant smile to my face.

Thankfully I had my camera. Photo after photo after photo was taken in an attempt to just get a few decent shots of living proof. I kid you not folks, yet I bring proof to you that "The Big Rolling Turd" is in fact, real. Personally, I thought it was hilarious. Only in the state of Arkansas (and yes I am a proud Arkansan) would you find "The Big Rolling Turd" plastered on anything, especially a Recreational Vehicle.

I would have paid to acquire just five minutes with that guy, just to try and extract from his mind what made him come up with this off the wall but totally funny tag name. I never had the chance to actually see who was driving this rolling home, but if I had to guess, I'm betting it was a male, age 56 - 65, possibly retired military and most likely from one of our popular and abundant small towns.

Either way, he or she gets my vote for the funniest Arkansan today, April 4, 2009. I loved it and hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed the reality.

Until next time,
Chip

LOGORAMA

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Help "The Daily Dose" pick a LOGO...

Below are five thoughts, ideas, hopes and prayers... Give us your HONEST opinion please. Put your thoughts in the comment box. Click on the link above...

NUMBER 1NE

NUMBER 2WO

NUMBER 3HREE

NUMBER 4OUR

NUMBER 5IVE

Thanks for your opinions...

Until next time,
Chip

BOB AND HIS ALTER EGO - CHIP

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Just one more crazy item from The Daily Dose. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we have enjoyed making it.

Check out My Hometown, the newest blog from The Daily Dose.


Thanks for reading, watching, writing and participating.


Until next time,
Bob and his alter ego - Chip