Working for Ford

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TF American Racing....is BACK!!!

Hello everyone,

Ah yes...it is good to be back. It has been a while. Seems everything is the same as I left it here...much has changed elsewhere.

1) Jasper is now five years old. And he turned some track time in early May 2017.
2) Raelee is adorable. Smiling and dancing as she see fit.
3) My wife Jenna has allowed me to do something crazy. Purchase a vehicle for off-road derby. It shall be fun.

Yes TF American Racing is back.

Below is the beautiful 1998 Chrysler Cirrus, and there is nothing serious about it....;-)

Jasper taking the checkered flag at Michigan Midget Racing Association (MMRA) arrive and drive event in early May 2017

 Suit Up!

 That smile!!

 Did a little work getting this thing ready already!

And yes that is an ice cream maker on the ground that came with the car!

If I am honest....

If I am honest…on my 33rd birthday 

Today is my 33rd birthday. I figured this was a good time as any to be honest with myself. 

I have been happy, sad, anger and mad. But it is best knowing that I am forgiven, giving grace and mercy with tomorrow being another fresh day. 
I have gone to a NASCAR race for free and paid to sleep in a tent for a week.
I have worked in Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio and North Carolina. Been in airports more than I care to say and hotels too. But plenty of rental cars have been driven (not commuted) and hit their governors!!
I have crashed two racecars, and two street cars. Plus a ton of Figure-8 and demo derby cars (turning a Delta 88 into a Delta 44) and auto-crossed for a magazine one time. And had a time I was saved from getting plowed by a grey Dodge pick-up going the wrong way on I-75. 

I am blessed 

I have built houses in Newport News, VA and shovel three foot of muck out of living rooms in New Orleans and Mississippi. Been to West Virginia after floods, Tennessee after storms and went to Mississippi 8 weeks after Hurricane Katrina.
I have danced to Cotton Eyed Joe and N’Sync, looked crazy too. Been crazy on a dance floor, in a go-kart and at the breakfast table. 
Been to Cedar Pointe, Sea World, Disney World, museums, zoos, aquariums and auto shows 
I have gone fishing, gone hunting (but mostly sat in the woods and froze) and gone racing.
Been to many churches, wish I could go back to some and some I wish never to step back into. 

I am blessed 

Went to Italy, went to Canada and went home too. 
Been in the newspaper and magazines
I have ate at McDonalds, Taco Bell and Wendys…all in one day.
I am a former board of director’s member, secondary response disaster relief worker, youth mission trip chaperone and camera man 
I have cried after a football game and laughed at funerals. I have driven a racecar called Old Glory and been called Captain America 
Been to racetracks at Indy, Bristol, Daytona, Michigan, New Hampshire, Grattan, Flat Rock, Toledo, Dixie, Auto City, Merritt, Mid-Ohio, and Waterford Hills. The last two I actually raced at. 105 mph at Mid-Ohio and flipping at Waterford Hills (with a few wins). Plus I have a sand trap named after me! 
I have played softball, baseball, basketball, 7 man football, volleyball, tennis, golf (well at least I continue to attempt to play), racquetball, croquet, and I know a ton of card and board games. 

I am blessed

Concerts - I have seen newboys, MercyMe, Jars of Clay, TOBY Mac, S.C. Chapman, Michael W., Rebecca St. James, Tomlin, Chrowder, American Idols (Mandisa, David Dunn & Colton Dixon), Kid rock, Chicago, Trans Siberian Orchestra, the Doobie brothers and many more. 
My kids are awesome, 1B and 1C to my amazing wife (and she did not require me to write that)! 

I am blessed 

The best days of my life…knowing Jesus, being baptized, my best-friend telling me she would marry me, wedding day and the day Jasper and Raelee were born. 
The worst…there are those too.

I am blessed 

When you ask me what I do for a living, I usually say I am an engineer. I work for a great automotive company. I wanted to be an engineer since 7th grade. I was inspired by Alan Kulwicki. A Polish Catholic engineer from the mid-west (Wisconsin) that left everything behind to be a NASCAR racecar driver and owner. I figure if he, a northern redneck, could be an engineer and go race, so could I! I think it turned out alright. But of course I am more then just an engineer. I should say..."what do I do for a living...be the best husband, father and follower of Jesus Christ I can be. Learn from Him, wiser peoples and be better tomorrow than I was today."
I get to go to Frankenmuth (very soon), Cedar Pointe, Michigan International Speedway, Mackinaw and Winter Jam in 2015…I get to create memories with my wife and kids…and I can not wait.

I am blessed. 

I have loved and been loved and I am loved. I know I have loved and not been loved back. Probably made that mistake too. 
I have great friends, best friends, and people who were friends. 
I have had people walk away and had to do the same.
I have been grateful, been cursed and probably cursed a few times too many. 
Some things God has taken away from me. His choice, not mine. And I am better off for it. 

I am still blessed 

I definitely do not have it all figured out, I just want to be better everyday
I want to give life…not take it. Sometime I don’t do that. I am sorry. I have lived a complete life. I am blessed. 

This may have been a little self serving, self focused and probably with a lot of grammar issues. Thanks for reading.

I love you all. 

 Jesus died when he was 33. When I turned 16, 18, 21, 25, 30…none of it was a big deal to me. But the last few weeks I have just reflected on my life. It was time to be honest…I am blessed.

Welcome Raelee Grace Forst

Hello all, I know it has been a long, long time since I have posted here. My family has been very busy, and I hope to have some time to sit down and tell you all about it. In the meantime, here are some pictures of our new addition to the family.

Raelee Grace Forst born 4/11/14 at 10:05am

For Sale

Selling Old Glory...its time. Oh, and we are moving...that is why...LOL

http://www.waterfordhills.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4650

Quick Update

Yep, been a long while. Jasper is 7 months now. Cute as a button. Brought him a steering wheel toy with a shifter and wonderful (read annoying after 10 minutes) music and sounds. Got to teach them young...

The Caddy is gone.
The Green Machine (Green Mustang) is almost gone.
And Old Glory is still sitting in the garage.

I missed the Waterford Hills race season this year. I visited a few times. Wished my car was on the track, chatted with a lot of friends and watch some good action. Its like home and church rolled into one. Comfortable, and yet surrounded by so many friends.

Jasper visited up there too. I took Jenna's grandparents to the Vintage races. All the volunteers, teams and drivers make that place great.

There is always next year for the racecar, or a rental...maybe.

Ah...fall is in the air and the holidays are coming up soon.

Stay on the road, God Bless.

For Sale - 1979 Caddy

Well, its time. Great friend and TF American Racing car chief Scott has decided he is sick of looking at my car in his barn. I don't blame him. The Caddy is up for sale...or going to the scrap yard May 31st (or before). See below!

http://flint.craigslist.org/cto/3022715025.html.

The new official daily driver of TF American Racing! Had it for about 8 months now, finally getting a picture up.

Jasper - Six weeks

For the record...I am tired from all the home improvements...forgot to mention that last time. But...I have always heard "The house is never finished...". And that is very true. I got a few things still to do but nothing pressing. (Minus figuring out what creature is stirring in the chimney).

Jasper is six weeks old now. He is getting a little more of a personality. Nothing Earth shattering. But he looks at you more focused now. He laughs and is beginning to "coo". I try to get him to say "I love you" or "Daddy" but he hasn't got there yet. He is getting stronger, but still has not rolled over yet. He has the leg strength (I think my ribs are bruised from him), but still needs the arm strength.

Today, Jenna and Jasper are stopping by work so we can go together and pick up Great-Grandma Mona from the airport. She will be visiting her brother JD, and of course here to see Jasper. She also has volunteered to watch Jasper on Monday so Jenna and I can celebrate our first wedding anniversary. WooHoo!

A Fridge is a blessing and Extreme Makeover: Forst Home Edition

It is funny how many blessings there are in life. Its funny how life takes its twists and turns...the areas and times in which you rather not have had happen or want to forget. But going through it all, does make you stronger and makes you appreciate life just that much more. Sometimes its people who setup to the plate from nowhere.

So, how is a fridge a blessing? Simple. We needed one.
Now, it wasn't that the other fridge was bad...but its old, small and no longer matches the kitchen (wait...did I just say that?...JENNA...what have you done to me?!....kidding).  Truth is light tan and white doesn't look good. I even know that...LOL. So, it works but an upgrade would be wonderful....especially since almost everything else has been updated in the last 6 months or so...just a sample list.

New hot water heater
Used water softener with new iron filter
New stand alone freezer
New furnace
New laundry room floor
New kitchen floor...well, top layers tore up and refinished hardwood floor underneath
Shelves installed in kitchen closet
Shelves installed in laundry room
Quarter trim installed (you know since I pulled it out when I refinished the house's hardwood floor when I moved in......7 years ago)
Painting
Oh yeah....and Jasper's new room too...that included closet door install and crib build.

Plus...
New used car
And seeming constant maintenance on Jenna's Compass...that whole Michigan winter versus Arizona summer (with a year in Oklahoma) has been a little bit of a shock to its system.

Ok...now back to the fridge. So Nicole, someone I went to Clarkston schools with, K through 12, posted on Facebook (got to love Facebook), that her and her husband Lance had purchased a new fridge and was looking to get rid of the old one, just come and get it. After a message or two,  a visit (with Jenna and Jasper in tow, per request), and some measurements, the deal was sealed. Got the van rolling over to their house and a new fridge on its way. Of course, the measurements worked for where the fridge would be located in the kitchen, not necessarily if it got through the door. Of course a few bolts and screws and the doors come off the fridge...whew.

So now what to do with the other fridge...well, Facebook again. Pastor Jeremiah at our church posted that a couple-to-be needed a fridge. A phone call and a few measurements. The fridge was on its way to a new home. And that was dropped off this weekend.

See a fridge can be a blessing. God works in many ways, you just got to open your eyes.

Until next time, spring is almost here....drive safe!