That elf in the little brown outfit just yanked my SS recipiant’s kit outta my hand. He was grumbling about how far he had to take it.
Picked up the kit for my SS today. I think I made a good choice. How do I know? I wanted to keep it[:-^] Off to the post office in the morning.
HO HO HO
Is is Christmas yet? A gift appeared in my mail box tonight from my Secret Santa. Feeling kinda like a kid in a toy store right about now. What’s in the box? What’s in the box? Too bad I don’t have that Superman X-ray vision thing … [:-^] Waiting till Christmas is gonna be hard but I can do it, I know I can …
Steven
[:P] Good thing plastic doesn’t show up on x-rays[(-D]
Well my SS “Item” went out today,
What could it be and where could it be going Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bud
For the second year in a row, we’ve invited a special guest to be part of our Group Build, so that we can share the joy and friendship with a fellow modeler.
This year, we welcome PaPa-John to the Group Build. [#welcome][bow][party][#toast]
PaPa-John is facing some tough medical issues, so we thought we could show him our support by asking him to join us in this Group Build. Please send him your encouragement, prayers and best wishes!
OK- please resume your box packing and box rattling! [:D]
Heeyyy! I got a package from a land far, far away! 
[#welcome] PaPa-John to the Group Build. Looking forward to having you join us. [tup] Read your posts about your problems and I hope and pray that everything turns out okay in the end. In the meantime there’s nothing like a great hobby to keep your mind occupied on something positive. [:D]
All Participants in this great SSGB.
At this time I would like to express my heartful thanks and gratitude for the Special Invite from Jon to join at this late stage. Yes, I am going though some tuff times, but I have the support of my wife [angel]. We have decided to and brought our two daugthers up to date. They are very supportive and I feel that it was a positive move to tell them. I am staying positive that this will only be a minor set back.
Again thank you very much. Looking forward to conversing with you. I never realized how friendly and supportive people (especially people you don’t even know but through this type of contact) can be until one gets a wake up call. [bow][bow][bow]
PaPa-John
Alright, PaPa- John!!! Great to have you here!!!
PaPa-John
If there is one thing I have learned through my recovery from addiction its that good people are good people no matter how you communicate with them. I have spent my entire 11 month sobriety here and not only have I learned a great many things about modeling allowing me to become way better than I should be in 11 months(dont get me wrong I am no superstar). I have also had an amazing amount of support in my quest to be a good man and a good father. On december 19th I will have had 1 year without any drugs or alcohol and I couldnt have done it without three influences, My loving wife, my beautiful son and this forum.
Regarding the issue with your health, I give you all of my prayers and hope. I have a small amount of experience with your situation. Growing up playing national level hockey I was in the best shape you could be in, I got out of high school at 16 to work during the dot com boom. At 16 I was a star hockey player with more money than I could spend. Thought I was invincable, started partying and doing a lot of drugs. My health as you can imagine took a nose dive and at 18 I took a hit in a hockey game that turned me into a cripple, all the nerves and muscles in my back went banzi and my hockey carrer was over. I tell you that, to tell you this. (I will apologize to everyone for the too much information you are about to receive). At 19 I found two hard masses, one on each testicle, I knew in my heart it was testicular cancer, I knew I wasnt gonna be able to have kids, I knew it was just another wrench in what started out as a good life. I was so scared, so sure, I refused to see the doctor, I just let myself go deeper in depression and use more. That was, until I met Pink Chevelle, my beautiful wife. Within 2 months of knowing her, she had me at the hospital…Non cancerous cysts, calcium deposits. Within 2 years she had me out of my dark dark world of depression and addiction, Working 40 to 50 hours a week loving the boy and wife I had known in my heart I never would have. Never lose hope, never give up. At 24 years old, I have counted myself out and felt I have had nothing left more times than a lot of people will ever experience. With support, love, faith, hope and all the other cliche words you could think of, I pulled through my dark days and we will all be here to help you through yours.
Now since a picture is worth a thousand words we will do some before and after(addict and sober) of myself and some progress shots of my builds over the last year since I have been back.
BEFORE
AFTER
FIRST MODEL TO PROGRESS OF CURRENT BUILD
Dont lose your stride my new friend
[#welcome] to this build, PaPa-John!
I’m kinda like a “gatecrasher” here in the SSGB since I mainly build helos and figures and this is actually an aircraft build; but I must say the feeling of friendship and family you can feel here can hardly be found in any other section of this forum or other forum.
Cheers to all of you guys (and gal)!
[#ditto] , [#ditto] and [#ditto]
Bud
Brother- that is moving. Thank you for sharing that with us. What an awesome testimony!
God bless you and yours.
And I don’t mean to sound sappy… but this is the second year for this GB, and my second year on the forums, and you folks are just some incredible people. I am blessed to know each of you, and I have been blessed by each of you, with your friendship, kindness, prayers and encouragement.
Now all of ya come 'ere and give me a big old hug! [:D]
And 10,000 Ninja Bonus points for the Spitfire! Nice work! [tup] [tup]
[#ditto] Congratulations on winning your battle with addictions. I have had more than one person who was close to me battle the same addictions and only 1 ever won.
Well I cant take the credit and say I won, I did not stand up to the demon and wait for him to flinch first. I instead, had to submit. Had to finally admit that I was not perfect and couldnt do it on my own. I took my wifes hand and follwed her out. Though it was a winning result for me, I cant say I won. Im pretty sure its how a stick boy feels when his team wins the stanly cup
I haven’t been around very long, but welcome to this GB PaPa-John!
Today, the gift for my Santa-ee is on it’s way to it’s destination.
Azgaron
No shame in saying you got a little help, Priest! I’m glad the forum could help you so much… it’s hard to believe such a big place like this can feel like home sometimes. Papa-John, thanks for stopping by and becomming a member of the community! You won’t regret it! P.S. Hey Santa-ee… your presents coming!!! Wonder who it could be…
Oh man… mine arrived today…
I had to have my wife hide it, at least until we get the tree up. I just sat and stared at it.
I have a whole stash full of kits, and yet I’m being driven crazy by this one brightly colored box!
I love this GB! [:D]