How ya like my hat?

How ya like my hat? Tennessee hat

/ Jim McDonald / 2 Comments

How ya like my hat? Tennessee hat

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This and the next two pictures were taken today, November 3, 2016. I’m going to keep this one.

I think I’ve told you guys I’m from the DMV, (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia). I was born in Virginia, worked many years in DC and lived most of my life in Maryland.

 

Dad’s family is from Sulfur Springs, Texas. In my childhood I visited there only twice. It took me and dad twenty two hours of non stop driving, to arrive at the family house in 1972. It’s half way across the country and we didn’t have the cash or time for many lengthy stays.

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Mom’s family is from Mountain City, Tennessee. It only took eight hours to get there, now with better roads I can make it in six and a half.

 

Dad probably went to Mountain City only a half a dozen times, so normally mom took us. Our stays typically lasted two weeks and that was every summer. Needless to say, I became very attached to Mountain City.

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I have a whole mess of family buried down there, but still have at least six first cousins and their off springs living there.

 

Raymond and I stopped at a small roadside flea market just outside of Marble, North Carolina and I came across three hats with the Tennessee Volunteer colors and the big “T” on them. I paid a dollar apiece for each of these hats. I posted the fourth hat on Facebook four years ago, now it’s on WordPress.

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Picture taken 2012

I’m going to keep the first one, so if any of my cousins wants one of the other two let me know.

How ya like my hat?: Little hat.

/ Jim McDonald / 5 Comments

How ya like my hat?: Little hat.

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Raymond and I, were at a thrift store in North Carolina a few years ago, where I found twenty or so hats for cheap.

 

I was trying some of them on, when one of the salesman walked up to me and asked, “What kind of hat are you looking for?”

 

I told him, “I have this bit on Facebook called, How ya like my hat? I often look for Washington Redskin hats, but sometimes I come across one that say’s, Write about me.”

 

He picked up this little one and asked, “What does this one say to you?”

 

“It says, I have a big head.”

 

“Well it doesn’t fit very good that’s for sure.” We both laughed at his little joke. “But it’s funny looking. Think of the story you can write!”

 

Afterwards I took the hat up to the cash register, but had no idea what kind of story I was going to tell you. As I was walking away from the counter, I heard him tell the girl who took my money, “Did you see the stupid little hat I sold to that Redskin fan? I told you I could sell it.”

 

She said, “If he only knew you were a Dallas Cowboy fan.”

 

 
Just messin about the guy talking me into buying it. I saw it and bought it for three dollars, just so I can show it to you.

How ya like my hat? Jesus hat

/ Jim McDonald / Leave a comment

How ya like my hat? Jesus hat

 

I already included this hat under the guise of “Your three words, my little story”. Here is my final edition of this hat.

 

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How ya like my hat? Jesus most certainly is my Boss

 

Some hats I buy, because I like the sport team. Some because they’re funny, interesting or simply I like what’s written on them. This one is the later.

 

My boss IS Jesus! In 1990, I made a decision that affected my whole life. It was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savoir. I am not perfect by no stretch of the imagination, but I am a much better person now that Jesus is in my life.

 

I lost my home several years ago and now I live on a fifty four foot houseboat. This means I have very little room to store or keep things.

 

After I buy a hat, take a picture of it, I then try to find a nice home for it. This nice looking head covering was sitting in my van for weeks, when I came across an old friend walking the neighborhood.

 

I put my van in park and we talked of old and new times. I’ve always felt this is how people should visit, right where the time presents it’s self.

 

She was leaning on the van, telling me about the conversation she was having with God, while shading her eyes from the sun. It was so nice to see how enthusiastic she is about her relationship was with God. I peacefully listened in silence.

 

God often presents me with little signs, reminding me of His presence. This one was perfect. I reached into the back seat to get my friend Debbie, her new hat and I sat quietly in my seat as I handed her this gift from God. It was a flawless moment in time, that I shared with Debbie and most importantly we shared it with God.

 

Love y’all.

 

Have a great day, unless you have made other plans.

Your three words, my little story: Eric’s words

/ Jim McDonald / 6 Comments

Your three words, my little story
Eric’s words: depth, sinner and lost

I am going to use this in another category also. How ya like my hat?

When I read these words I immediately thought of, Psalms 130:1.

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Don’t worry I’m not going to get all, Holier than thou on you. Most of you know that when I am given three words, I don’t write a story in the expected direction or genre.

In this case I’ll tell you what this particular scripture and the words mean to this SINNER.

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How ya like my hat? Jesus most certainly is my Boss

In the late eighties I was alone in my room kneeling on the shag carpeting, looking for little pieces of crack that might have fallen into the carpet fibers. As my gaze lifted up from the floor and into the mirror, I noticed this pale, frail, shell of a man and at that moment I saw the DEPTH of my depravity.

In that split second I knew some changes needed to be made. My head continued to rise toward the ceiling and I prayed with my eyes wide open, “Lord please help relieve me of my addictions, drinking, drugging and smoking cigarettes.”

However, there was nothing I could possibly do at that time, since I was anchored and LOST in the grips of addiction. I found out years later, that was my turning point.

God doesn’t give us more than we can handle and He answered my prayers in a manner that He knew I could understand.

A few months later I was arrested for driving on revoke license for my umpteenth time. I was sent to jail for a year and I lived there for nine months, while my mom took care of my sons.

While in jail, I began going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, church services and I had visits from my moms Pastor. During one of the Church Services the reading that day was Psalm 130:1 and that reminded me of the evening I asked God to help me. At that time I was four months dry in jail and I realized my prayers were answered.

I could go on and on with this topic, but I won’t bore you anymore. Not today anyway.

How ya like my hat? Forest Park Baptist Church hat

/ Jim McDonald / 7 Comments

How ya like my hat? Forest Park Baptist Church hat

 

This is not a very good view of the hat, but I like the action photo of me playing slow pitch softball. Well, except for that big belly. Our team was “Forest Park Baptist Church” and it was part of the “Southern Maryland All Faith League”. Lot’s of fun to be had all around, winning or losing.

 

I can tell, that I was the coach that year, because of the color of the hat and jersey. They used to be light blue, but I thought green would fit the name, Forest, better. So we took a vote and changed the color.

 

Considering the direction everyone is looking, I must have hit the ball towards left field. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a dribbler to third.

 

During my tenure at the church, I played every position except pitcher, first, left field and center field. I normally played third all my life, but by this time of my life my best position was second. I still had a good glove, but my arm was old.

 

One year when we were still in the blue jerseys, God used me to schedule and play a game against the local “Southern Maryland Pre-release Unit”. I used to deliver the Gospel Message there for several years, till there was an incident. The state shut down all incoming volunteer outreaches to that facility. The game was before that happened.

 

Some of the guys were apprehensive about going into the intitution, but again we took a vote and everyone on our team stepped up and played for Jesus. There was no sermon, no preaching just the good ole American past time. Can’t remember who won, but it was a great game and day.

 

It wasn’t this game, but I do remember hitting one to short and the fighter in me wanted to run it out. My mind and the top part of my body were going faster than the bottom part of my body, so half way to first I fell flat on my face. I gave the safe sign, which got a good laugh from everyone. Thank God there was no camera that day.

 

I think I would like to lose the weight and play some more, if my lungs and back would allow it.