March 11


Names


A good name is better than precious ointment.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NKJ)


These are the names of the mighty….

II Samuel 23:8 (NKJV)


Have you ever googled your name or a friend’s name on the internet? I did it last year to have a little fun at our annual family reunion. What a hoot! There were quite a few castaways, but consider these top-drawer, overachievers. Look at the accomplishments of my pseudo-relatives:

Who Are You?

Jeff Thompson (not my cousin Marcia’s husband) A famous Confederate General aka the Missouri Swamp Fox - a gambler and ladies man - later imprisoned at Fort Delaware

Sheldon Craig (not my uncle in Ramona, CA) An inside trader on Wall Street (and you wondered where he got all that moola!)

D Soderquist (not my son in Newberg, OR) Business Executive honored with the newly christened Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University

Bob Stanley (not my cousin in NH) Professional Baseball Player - played with the Boston Red Sox from 1977-1989

Tim Craig (not my cousin in Southern CA) Biology Prof at University of Minnesota specializing in insect behavior and plant - insect relationships

Larry Robidoux (not my brother-in-law in Eugene, OR) An officer of the Melrose Landing Homeowners Assoc - in Melrose, FL -championing fire safety and disaster response

June Soderquist (not my mother nor my niece from West Linn) A Brooklyn Camp Fire Girl selected to go to the prestigious Camp Akiwa this summer … enjoy camp … both of you!

Thelma Soderquist (my sister) Highly regarded hypnotherapist from Eugene, Oregon … true!

David R. Soderquist (not my son) Author of the highly acclaimed Psychology textbook, Sensory Processes, published in 2002

Rachel Pratt (not my aunt in Sturgeon Bay, WI) Australian Nurse wounded in WW I - awarded a distinguished military decoration for heroism

Kris Soderquist (not my wife) Hollywood Production Accountant: Credits - Kill Bill Vol. 1; The Scorpion King; Drive Me Crazy, et al

Jeff Craig (not my cousin in San Diego) Traditional Country Music artist who has just released a new CD: Baby

Marcia Thompson (not my cousin in Bloomington) Virginia lawyer at the Resolving Conflict Institute

Phil Soderquist (not my dad—though it sounds just like him!) A San Francisco Discount Real Estate Agent

Marty Bell (not my brother-in-law in West Linn … though he loves music) Award winning Broadway producer

Craig Soderquist (not me … darn it all!) Com21's new President and CEO needs running shoes to keep up with this fast growing cable company

Jennifer Craig (not cousin Jeff’s wife) Harpist for the Oregon Symphony

Alex Soderquist (not my son) Spokane Soccer Player with Shadow Sky

Richard A. Krueger (not my brother-in-law in St Louis) Professor at University of Minnesota with 12 years experience as a 4-H extension agent

Mae Soderquist (not my sister in West Linn) Author of the ever popular Understanding Sports Massage

Lora Stanley (not cousin Bob’s wife) Actress in the 1951 film American Nightmare

Joyce Craig (not my Uncle Sheldon’s wife) aka Batgirl; she dated Elvis Presley in 1962


Pretty impressive, eh? But you know what? I like my relatives as is. So, forget Batgirl and Understanding Sports Massage books and harps and Wall Street. Let me enjoy you guys and all our memories for just what you are … my family. A family with some mighty good names!


Lord, thank You for family. May You bless each one of these this day and every day to come. Amen.