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Extreme Poverty

On the return trip back to Port-au-Prince, we traveled through the other side of town. We thought we had seen poverty the day before, but we were wrong. These pictures don't do justice to the scope of the homelessness and the vast shanty-town dwellings that spread as far as the eye could see, nor to the scope of dire helplessness and hopelessness that you could see on the faces of people as we drove down the street. We were told that Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere and that it rivals that of many African countries.

The image of people washing clothes and collecting water from the murky, dirty and undoubtedly unsanitary water in the canal and gutters in the streets was absolutely heartbreaking.

For those that may wonder, the average annual income in Haiti is $350 us dollars per year. To put that in perspective, most americans spend more than that on their car payment each month, or on cable or internet in 1 year.

You can click on the pictures for a closer view.

More from Haiti trip

Well, we did make it back home safely on Tuesday after a prolonged stay courtesy of American Airlines :) They were nice enough to put us up in a hotel in Miami for about 5 hours since we had a 6 hour delay due to mechanical issues in Haiti and then missed our connecting flight out and had to reroute on Tuesday. I couldn't help but think of the people we had left in Haiti, and how grateful I was to be returning to so much, so how could I complain! We kept a positive attitude and enjoyed some down time in the airports.

But, on to the important things - our visit to Value Baptist Church on Sunday to spend time with our new extended church family and see the building that our church family was able help them build was the highlight of our trip. The people were such a joy to be around -



Try to picture people who are so poor they live with no running water or electricity, with no transportation climbing a steep mountain 5000 meters (several miles uphill) on foot - I thought it was a rough journey in the back seat of a 4x4 truck - one guy with only 1 leg comes up with a crutch & a stick - Oh what I would pay for video of that! They all dress up in their finest clothes and gather together for the highlight of their week.

Watching them for 3.5 hours, truly and passionately worshipping God together was amazing - and nobody got up early to leave or walk out during the last song! Wow. they could teach us all a few things.



They were so hungry to learn and so grateful for a meal that they could share together - I couldn't help but think of the early church in Acts 2:

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.




For all who gave to Palm Valley Church as part of the vision of the Seize the Moment campaign, which helped to also build Value Baptist church in Haiti, thank you for your gift to God and your love for others - I hope as you view some of the pictures you will reflect on the joy of giving as truly "it is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35

Haiti Pictures, take 2

Some new friends from Haiti


Part of the daily grind for women (all ages)


New definition of a "Buyers" market

Daniel speaking to 1st year theological students at the Port-Au-Prince Christian Ministry Center


U.N. "Peace"-keepers giving the intl peace sign. Interesting to note that this vehicle was "manned" by young females for other nations, probably in early 20s.

Hello from Haiti

For those that don't know, I am in Haiti for a few days with Daniel Conner, one of the pastors at Palm Valley Church. We are visiting Value Baptist Church in Value, Haiti where Palm Valley Church has helped them to build their church building, to visit and encourage them and to see what is happening in the community and surrounding areas. Yesterday we visited the Christian Ministries Center in Port Au Prince after arriving and got to meet some of the theological students and pastors/leaders, as well as tour the facility to learn about the other vocational training classes they have there.

Today we spent the day in downtown Port Au Prince and the surrounding communities. I was reminded time and again of the many things that we take for granted living in America, from our freedom and security, to basic sanitation, electricity (which went out several times in the 1 hour visit to the ministry center as well as last night at our hotel), to the convenience of clean & running water that we don't have to go and purchase and carry uphill several miles on foot to our home, to paved roads, not to mention luxuries like"High-speed" internet, cell phones that work (Verizon could make a great commercial over here - Can you hear me NOW?)etc. Daniel thinks the worst thing is that ESPN over here covers only Cricket, Rugby and soccer - they had a 20 second byte on 1 NBA game and it was a hoot listening to French & British broadcasters trying to report on it - That was Jolly-good 'ol chap.

Well, too much to share in a short time - we are so blessed with all that we have.
Here's a couple pics - hopefully they will load before the power goes out... 5 minutes and counting, don't hold your breath. Seems Haiti is a little cleaner and safer than even 6-9 months ago - not many U.N. left around, but we did see a few - including an armored vehicle full of soldiers driving by the Haiti Palace (where the President it) taking pictures.

Love you all at home - you all need to get skype as any other type of communication just isn't feasible and/or cost effective. Daniel got a prepaid cell phone when we arrived at the airport - we (he) had to ask the waitress to interpret the instructions (French) for us this morning at breakfast and she explained that the reason our call wasn't going through is that we had about 2 gouldes of talk time left (1 dollar = 36 gouldes... you do the math) (not sure where all our minutes went, obviously lost in translation but I'm sure the salesperson had a good laugh at us tourists)??

Return of the Ice Cream Man

Grandparents are great. They love to spend time with the kids and do fun things that grandparents do. You have to love them for all they do and for how much they love their grandkids, but.....
Sometimes grandparents can swoop in and do something that becomes an expected standard for parents to carry on (aren't kids great!).
My dad loves the Ice Cream man - he always has, and he has passed that love on to his grandkids. Buy them ice cream once, and they think you're awesome - do it twice and it becomes an expected ritual. They can hear that annoying music from miles away and they sprint to the door every time (this is several times each week mind you), and of course you know that the Ice Cream Man knows a sucker when he finds one, and drives really slow going down our street, just hoping that maybe grandpa is here today.
The worst part of it for me is that I just can't bring myself to pay $3 for an ice cream sandwich when you can get a whole box of them at Walmart for that price - If you know me, then you know that would be excruciating punishment. I'll bet that guy drives a really nice car though :)
Maybe I should try that out... 100 ice creams per day at $2 profit each= 73k per year???

Job possibility...

I have really enjoyed spending some extra time with the kids the last week or so. I have played many board games (including pretty princesses - luckily Julie didn't have the camera handy to snap a shot with the earrings, necklace and crown) and being there when they get home from school etc is fun.
So the thought popped into my head - I wonder what it would be like to become a stay at home dad?
Today sealed the deal. I was cleaning up around the house (yes, mom, now pick yourself up off the floor) and as I joyfully went about the duties that many men never know about around the house, I was picking up the wayward dishes that somehow found themselves into the weirdest places around the house. My naive and unsuspecting nature went to pour out a sippy cup that certainly had some juice in it - but upon opening it and dumping (or lumping I guess) the clumps of curdled milk, I realized there are just some things that women can endure (like childbirth, cleaning up after a sick child - you know, the "puke" parent) that men were obviously never meant to do.
And thus, I am back to the drawing board on seeking what is next.

Day 3 - My 1st Job Lead

We were eating dinner tonight and Noah asked if I had a new job yet (after all its been 3 days now, right!?). I told him that I was still "looking" and that right now we were being patient and waiting on God, but reassured him that everything would be fine, and God would bring the right job at the right time.
To which Natalie replied in her very excited and animated voice, "Dad, I know, you could get a job at Petsmart! Then you could get us a free pet, maybe a new dog or a hampster!"

I assured her that I would keep that in mind, and who knows??? Of course if they ever found out about my blind 13 year old Bassett hound with no tail and our adopted 12 year old, deaf Cocker spaniel (what a dynamic duo they make!), I 'm not sure that I would pass their screening and reference process.

The only thing funnier than this was when Noah informed us that his arm was going numb from eating his broccoli. Now that was a new one for me.

My verse for today:

Isaiah 40:30-32 (New American Standard Bible)

30Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

New Beginnings

For those that may have missed the announcement yesterday, I have stepped down from my job as Executive Pastor at Palm Valley. This was a rough weekend with lots of tears (many more inside than I let show - I didn't know if I was going to be able to hold it together on stage for 4 services, but somehow God got me through) - so many memories of the people and experiences that God has let me be a part of over the last 6 years. So many close friends/co-workers that I will not be doing life with everyday (guys I will certainly miss lunch at Barros every week :)
The thought of not greeting every person that walks onto campus each weekend, which I have come to love. The hugs and thanks and emails I received from people who God has let me serve and help in some way. I treasure all of this and truly give thanks to God for allowing me to serve Him these past 6 years, as He has grown me and changed me along the way, drawing me closer to Him.
But at the same time, I know it was a close to one chapter in my life and a fresh start to what I believe God is tugging on my heart and calling me to - not exactly sure what that is yet, but I truly believe that God has something new prepared for me to help meet people's needs and build the kingdom of God.
So, today is a day of new beginnings. Please pray for peace, patience to wait upon God (I need it), and provision, for me and for Julie and the kids. And for God to direct my path and open the doors that He desires.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Gumm Family Update

I have been meaning to post our latest family pics taken before Christmas. So finally, here they are. We can't post name or pictures of our 2 newest family members until the adoption is finalized, but you can keep updated on our adoption blog www.fourplusmore.com and we will post pics as soon as possible.

The Will of God

Have you ever asked yourself or someone else or asked God what His will was for you? I think sometimes I/we have this idea that the will of God is this thing we can never comprehend or know. But I think that God is clear that he wants us to know and do his will (Psalm 143:10, Ephesians 5:17, Colossians 1:9)

All of God's word (the Bible) contains God's will for us - both what he wants us to do and not do. As we read and study the Bible, it guides us in the moral attributes and heart of God, and the love he has for us and the abundant/good/eternal life that he desires for us (John 10:9-10) that we can experience if we will put our trust in him and follow his plan.
God's will is always good, acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2)

Let us know and follow God's will in our every decision.

I came across this "Quote" a while back, and hope to go through and quantify some of these thoughts from God's word.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

What is Faith??

I've been thinking/studying about faith recently. What is it and how can I wrap my mind around it and tangibly explain it to others? Well, the answer is I can't.
But I have come across several things recently that have been an encouragement to me in my faith journey, so I thought I would share just a couple.

From A.W. Tozer
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading."
"Faith in God is to be demonstrated, not defined."
"True faith commits us to obedience."

Hebrews 11 is a who's who of great stories of faith. Below are a few select thoughts, but I encourage you to read through it all.

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Family Worship Time

We try to be very diligent about setting aside time for our family to spend time together reading God's word and praying together after dinner. Admittedly there are times when we do better/worse than others. Honestly, often it can be one of the most exhausting things I do all day, and make me just want to give up trying ever again.
So, I had a thought last week in reflecting on a week of really "difficult/goofy/crazy/distracted" times - maybe family worship time is more for the parents than it is for the kids?? Maybe its just part of God's training ground for parents to teach them patience and perseverance :)
So, I hope I learn patience soon!
Seriously though, in the meantime, I am encouraged to keep on doing what I know really is making an impact on my life and my family's lives. I hope that if you don't already, you will make it a priority of your family to spend time together with each other and with God. This is one of my resolutions for improving this year and seeing how God grows us together.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The Energy Nazi

This is one of the nicknames Julie has for me - I have always been "frugal". The last couple months I went all out to get our electric bills back under control as they went through the roof this summer (which I found out was partly due to the increase in the APS rate hike). But still, it was just insane - Almost $400 in July!.
So I did some googling and looking at ways to decrease our electric consumption without having my wife kick me out of the house. So I installed programmable thermostats on both the upstairs and downstairs A/C units (which also control our electric heat pump as we don't have gas) and then last month installed an electronic water heater timer. Got them all on ebay - Motorola thermostats are $99 each at Home Depot but got them for $50 each including shipping and the water heater timer retails for $149 but got it for $60 - you can also get a mechanical timer instead of the digital one for about $25-30. (Just be sure you disconnect the power before doing these as its 240v :)
So we reduced our Nov bill by $60 over last year same month, and December (with addition of WH timer) reduced our bill $100 (53%) over last December - our $94 December bill is our lowest electric bill in 3 1/2 years (which is probably still a little high, but no gas heating costs, so I guess that will have to do). So these basically paid for themselves in 2 months time. Will be interested to see what type of savings we get from these in the summer months. I won't hold my breath on cutting those 50%, but anything we save will be a welcome change after this last summer's bills.

Oh and yes, we instituted a total laundry ban during peak hours which I am sure helped some too - the only catch is that now I have to do the laundry on Saturday mornings - a little compromise on my part :)

Our Big News

For those that haven't heard yet, we have decided to reach out and adopt - 2 kids, hopefully a brother and sister from Ethiopia around Noah and Natalie's ages. Julie and I have both been thinking and praying about this for a while and God has really made it clear to us. We, and the kids are so excited. Of course there are a lot of unknowns at this point in time, but we believe that God is in control and trust in Him completely to see us through the process and bring us 2 of His special children in His perfect timing.
Julie started a separate blog to post updates along the way and if you know my blogging habits, that's a good thing. www.fourplusmore.com

James 1:27 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Cabo

Cabo was the prettiest stop along the way - probably the most touristy too. We enjoyed it other than those pesky beach vendors trying to sell you something every 30 seconds.


Sea Lions at Land's End


Julie on Land's End Boat Tour


Cabo had warm, beautiful blue water!

No Place Like Home!

We really enjoyed our vacation together. I love to travel with Julie - we have so much fun together. But, as with anything, all good things come to end sooner or later. And, getting sick on the last day of the cruise really helped me be ready to come home. I love my house and my bed and my kids (although Julie and I were eating breakfast today cracking up at how loud our kids are.

We got to see a lot of really cool sites that just reinforce to me what an awesome and creative God we have. For some reason I really wanted to see a whale on this trip - just thought that would really be cool. Kept looking for them throughout the week and mentioned to Julie (who kept telling me that whale season doesn't start til December sometime. So Thursday morning I went to one of the deserted lounges where I had my quiet time while peering out over the ocean and was reading through several passages in Psalms. After re-reading Psalm 37, I prayed my hearts desires to God and spent time thanking him for all He has done for me and my family, and just praising him for all of his beautiful creation.

Later that day, God gave me one of those small hearts desires...
I saw what seemed like an endless line of whales spouts in a long line like a train. Ran up to the room to grab my camera, and Julie... Here's a couple shots - click for close-up.



Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Just Cruisin

Julie and I have been cruising. A big thanks to her mom and dad for watching the kids for 8 days! We will have to post some more pics and highlights when we have some time, but for now here’s a short update:

Saw the cliff-divers in Acapulco. Went to a cool, small fishing village (won’t even try to spell it).
Today we were in Puerto Vallarta – we did a jungle canopy tour “zip-lines”. Had a blast. Got to hold and feed some Mexican monkeys and a Boa snake (Julie took a rain-check on the snake, and I’m sure she will have nightmares for some time to come.)

Norwegian Cruise Lines is great with their “freestyle” dining – whenever you want, wherever you want. Cagney’s steakhouse is our favorite – going back again tonight. So much food, so little time!

Beautiful sunrise this morning – got some pics that just don’t do justice. There was only one other person up and out this morning at 5 am – but he was laying on a lounge chair on the deck and may have been left over from last night?? 

Meeting one of my Heros - Catalyst Part 2

Ok, so it took a little while to get to this 2nd post. I know some of you passed out while holding your breath.
Catalyst was awesome - 1 of the highlights for me was meeting Dave Ramsey

Dave is a real American hero to me - he has a nationally syndicated talkshow on getting out of debt and handling money wisely - also was just named as a host for the new Fox Business channel.

While I give God all the credit and honor for where we are in our financial life and the blessings of almost being totally debt free (check back for an update on this), I know that a lot of the inspiration and practical steps we took to get where we are today came from Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University. If you're struggling with debt or want to do better with what you have, you absolutely need to take Financial Peace - it will absolutely change your life.

Highlights from Dave's session:
- Main point = What could the People of God do for the Kingdom of God if they were debt free?
- Quote from Bill gass "Prosperity is having the money to do God's will in your life"
- Its not your money - You are just a manager for God. Start using it as if it belonged to Him, not you.

Dave showed a video testimony from a couple that received $10,000 from another couple in their church (who had been through through financial peace and were debt free) to pay off their debts so that they could afford to adopt a child. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen or heard - I was crying like a baby.

I left that session with the verse ringing in my head, "remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Acts 20:35

Catalyst Rocked my world

This week, I attended the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta. I was pretty excited about this conference and the line-up of speakers, but I had no idea how this conference would challenge me.

Some highlights from the conference:

The worship was absolutely awesome. Worshiping God with 11,000 people was amazing - I know we can worship with 1 or 11,000, and its not the size that matters - but it just made me think - I can't imagine what it will be like to worship God in heaven someday with ALL of his family singing and shouting praise to the God who created us all!

Andy Stanley is perhaps one of the greatest speakers and communicator I have ever heard. I love his down-to-earth style and practical & wise instruction.
He said spoke of how to use your power, position, influence etc to honor God as a leader - whether you're a teacher, a pastor, a parent, coach, etc. As true leader, always use your position/influence to leverage power for the benefit of others, never for yourself.

Patrick Lencioni, author of The 5 dysfunctions of a team, had a ton of great points on management. MANAGEMENT IS MINISTRY. As someone who manages people, a major part of our job should be to care for and coach the people under us.

Francis Chan was one of my favorite speakers at the conference. This guy challenged me to the core - If I love my neighbor as myself, does this mean I should be willing to spend as much on my neighbor as I do on myself?
Wow, that was profound and something along the lines of what I have been tossing around the last several months - what if everytime I was going to make a purchase for myself of something I don't really NEED (vacation, new clothes/shoes, new toy etc), I gave away the same amount to someone else in need, or chose not to buy the item seeing that I probably don't really need it anyway? I think this would help me to evaluate the cost of that thing and whether I really needed it and would also help me to become less self-centered and a person who had an even greater heart for those in need.
Francis also shared the story of accepting Christ as a teenager and how he had this burden to share Christ with those he knew - as a Junior & senior in High School he made it a point to go through his yearbook at the end of those years and talk with each of the people he knew to tell them about Christ and how he loved them and didn't want them to go to hell. That was powerful.

Well that's all the time I have for now - Check back for my other thoughts on CATALYST.

Rockin out with the gang

I love the guys & gals I work with. Without sounding too proud or boastful, they work hard all week long and especially on the weekend, behind the scenes to prepare for what God does at Palm Valley Church every weekend. Its so worth it, as we are blessed to see 1st hand what God is doing in people's lives as he changes them and grows them (and us) along the way. It's awesome to be part of a team that loves and supports each other and works toward a common goal that is so much bigger than ourselves.

We have a great time together whether in staff meetings, creative meetings or at lunch together. We also have a great time having fun together outside of the office from time to time. Last week we rolled back the clock and I got to re-live my glory days from Jr High & High school vicariously through music on Playstation2. I've never played a guitar in my life but this Guitar Hero game rocked! Derrick (our worship director) and some of the other guys can actually play, but I am just a poser who loved the music. All of us singing American Idol style was pretty hilarious too! Wish we had this night on video.

Friday Funny

This post by my wife is one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time! You have to check it out. Wish I had been a part of the conversation - if you know Julie you know that she tells this story much better in person.

Nothing but the real thing

Yesterday morning as I was carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and a bowl of cereal balanced on 3 fingers with the grip pressure of my thumb and middle finger, I had a couple thoughts -
1. This is stupid, I'm going to drop this bowl and break it and have milk all over the kitchen floor.
2. I think I can, I think I can...
3. Whew, I made it to the kitchen table without spilling - I have mad skills!
4. How did I pull that off?
Ok, so maybe you're thinking that's a lot of excitement over nothing, but as I sat there eating my breakfast I started looking at my thumb and realized that joint that goes in multiple directions and the strength of my hand is pretty unique (How could that evolve?). God has made so much and it can't be duplicated.
I thought of a young girl I know who has lost her sight - even with the great technological advances of science, we can't create anything to replace the intricate design of the eyes that God gave her and the way they were wired to the brain. And another girl who recently went through a waiting period for heart transplant, and an older man I have been praying for who is on a waiting list and suffering from many other ailments - thinking of the artificial hearts that have been tried in so many - why can't we perfect them and give life to all who are suffering in the waiting time? And even the real hearts that come from others that are rejected when transplanted from others because they are not a perfect fit.

As I was sharing this with some guys yesterday, Darius brought up his own experience as a major in Biomedical Engineering. He described a class discussion they had about artificial limbs, organs etc where the professor stated emphatically - If you ever have the choice between something artificial that has been developed or the real thing (whether artificial limb, heart, etc), ALWAYS choose the real thing. As good as technology gets, it will never be as good as the original.

God has the patent on the real thing - and we can never come up with a substitute that is better than what God created. Praise God today for the way he has created every living thing - especially YOU!

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Revelation 4:11
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

You know its hot when...

Mom & dad let us keep have the dogs for a few days. The kids have love playing on the waterslide with the dogs out there. Yesterday Noah made a mess when he was filling up the dogs water bowls (its always dangerous to give a 7 year old boy a hose). So I looked out the window during dinner last night to see that Winston found a new sleeping spot.

Happy Independence Day...

This post is in tribute to my brother-in-law Rob & my sister Jen - I'm sure you guys are working today in the UK - they don't celebrate thanksgiving, and certainly not 4th of July (You guys do have Boxing Day though) - One of these days I hope you chaps can appreciate the whole "The British Are Coming!!" thing - I know it still gets you guys that we through out all that perfectly good tea in Boston. But, seriously, I have to give you props - you guys did have "football" before we did.

Too hot to BBQ today - We took the kids to see "Night at the Museum" - had ice cream cones at McD's for "pudding" - Julie was going to make homemade ice cream in honor of the 4th, but I reminded her of her 1st and only attempt at that right after we were married - the recipe called for egg, but it wasn't supposed to taste like egg.

Besides the memories of fireworks on the 4th and hanging out with family - including when we almost watched all of South Mountain go up in flames one year due to some drunk people with sparklers, I also have memories of the Air Shows in San Antonio and marching in Parades in 112 degrees with 99% humidity, and of course the great downtown Phx 4th fiasco to go see the Dixie Chicks (what were we thinking??) when Julie was like 7 months pregnant and we had to park and walk like 2 miles in 122 degrees only to realize that we are waiting in line for 30 minutes for porta-jons that 100,000 people have already used.

Guess that's why I now choose to spend my 4th indoors and watch firework's from my backyard when at all possible so that I can walk back inside and use my own bathroom and get a drink of water without paying $5 and sit in the A/C until the fireworks actually start.

Don't get me wrong - I love America - REAL football, hotdogs, baseball, ice cream, apple pie, and ESPN.

Father's Day

Father's Day is usually a special day for me. Aside from getting extra-special hugs and gifts from the world's greatest kids and wife, it always falls on the weekend surrounding my birthday (actually on my birthday like every 4 years), so we end up killing 2 birds with one stone, having all the parents/grandparents over for father's day and birthday celebration. And, if I plan it right, I get to fit in the final round of the US Open - perfect timing this year as it ended right as everyone arrived.

Also, I am truly blessed to have one of the Greatest dad's on the planet. Anyone who knows my dad knows that he genuinely cares for people. Thanks dad for being the man who left his career that he loved so that you could be around more and spend more time with your family. Thanks for working extra jobs and long hours to provide for our family and give us so many of the little extra things, whether sending us to church camp, or new shoes for wrestling, a new baseball glove, money for gas & a date in high school, or tuition money, or buying us a car. I know it wasn't easy for you, but you always had a smile on your face and a song in your heart - (Guess 2 out of 3 isn't bad :)

You always had time for anyone who asked of you, and always willing to give $20 to anyone who looked like they needed it. Thanks for teaching me about that heart of giving in your own way. You're a great role model for so many kids who truly look up to you. Keep drawing near to God and he will draw near to you and continue to use you to impact the lives of others. Thanks for being a wonderful father and an awesome Pa to your grandkids.

Sorry dad, guess I don't have any pictures of you - maybe Julie can send me one so I can post it - in the meantime, here's my fam instead. Sorry, they're the best we could do for self portraits.

Friday Funny

Here's some pics from dinner the other night. Noah got up to get a spoon for his ice cream and then it all went down hill after that. Enjoy a glimspe into my everyday world.

Dinner with Dad

Ok, if you don't have young kids and/or haven't seen the McDonald's commercial "Dad's Making Dinner" then watch this. Just because I forgot to feed Noah breakfast 1 day while Julie was gone doesn't imply I am not a gourmet cook (I make a mean pepperoni quesadilla I'll have you know, and Mickey Mouse pancakes too!),

but on nights like last night an FPU night out with dad, who hates McDonald's and is not too fond of other fast foods, found me browsing the aisles at Sam's Club with 2 kids, followed by hotdogs (actually Dad had a polish) and Icees, while we killed time waiting for mom to be done at her appointment.

Then came dessert - Natalie's favorite the Churro, which she proceeded to inform me,
"Dad, look, churro's are made with sand (insert blurting laughter from dad and brother). Really dad, look, it's a special kind of sand that tastes yummy - I don't know where they get it though."
I love spending time with my kids - they are truly gifts from God that bring me unending joy and lots of laughs.

Happy Belated B-day to the Queen

Well, the last several weeks have been wheels off busy - No excuse I know. But, I didn't seem to have the time or the brainpower to post a tribute to my beautiful and awesome wife. (I did actually remember her birthday for those who may be wondering).

This week she is enjoying the beach in Florida with her friend Kristin, so I have come to miss her and appreciate her so much more (as I always do when she is gone). God knew better than to make me a woman because I would have been a horrible mother and wife. Just as an example, I actually forgot to give Noah breakfast before school yesterday, not that he cared or noticed, but I realized it this morning (and yes I made him eat something today even though he didn't want to.

Anyway, sweetie, I miss you and you're the best. Best wife, best mother, best friend, best cook, best housekeeper, best everything else that I can't recall right now since I still don't have much brainpower.

Proverbs 31
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Happy belated birthday.
I love you... Infinity :)

You are the "Grace of My Life". When you get home I'll let you listen to this new song I found (for the rest of you, the lyrics are below)

"Grace of My Life" By Brian Littrell

I lie awake so often at night
With something to read or something to write
In the silence my mind is free
To think of the ways that God has blessed me

It's easy to see how He's been so kind
Any proof I might need is right here by my side

You are the grace of my life
So tender, so undeserved
Hard to believe you're my wife
Even harder to put what I feel into words
If I need evidence God is good
Just looking at you is enough
You are the grace of my life
For you grace my life with your love

Love that is pure, so faithful and strong
You forgive me when I do you wrong
I've seen in you time after time
A picture on earth of love so divine

Oh, I am amazed for how can it be
That someone like you would love someone like me

You are the grace of my life
So tender, so undeserved
Hard to believe you're my wife
Even harder to put what I feel into words
If I need evidence God is good
Just looking at you is enough
You are the grace of my life
For you grace my life with your love

"24" Promo Video

We are starting a new series at church next week called "24". Looking at how we can live for God "24" hours a day, not just at church on the weekend or just for an hour a day.

You have to check out the promo video, especially if you're a fan of the "24" series.

Click here to view the video.

Psalm 1:1-3 Amplified Bible (AMP)

1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

Honoring Mom

I heard it said once on Mother's Day that we should all be thankful for mom's, because without them the world would be a very lonely place. Duhh.
Well, mom's are special to all of us for so many reasons. Mine is the world's best (with the only possible exception being my kid's mom - we'll just call it a tie).

Mom I love you for so many reasons. You were always there to hear about a bad day at school, to make me a hot breakfast every day and send special notes in my lunch (I always looked forward to reading that encouragement, and I think I actually have a couple of those notes somewhere in those boxes in the attic that Julie always harasses me about keeping). You were always there to cheer me on playing sports or to console me when I got hurt. You were the mom who gave up working to stay home and take care of us kids, to volunteer in our classes, to go on field trips or whatever was needed. You were a beacon of love and compassion in our house.
You taught me so much about life - Like its ok to cry and show emotion, and how to be a humble servant and how to love your kids. Thanks for all you did for me and all you do now as a meema (grandma) to our kids. You are the best and I love you.
Hope you had a kleenex nearby.
Happy Mother's Day

Ephesians 6:2-3
"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Forever a Daddy's Girl

Last night after we prayed and read together, Natalie in her whiny voice, said "Daddy, when I grow up and get married and become a princess, I want to live next to you." I told her I would love that (guess I should've asked Julie 1st before comitting - wonder what her future husband will think of that idea too :)). Then she started crying and said, but Daddy somebody already lives next to us, so how can I live there?

She also wanted to make sure that I was actually a king, so that she can be a real princess. Times like that make you hope they never grow up and move away (again, I better check with Julie on that thought too :)

Love Languages - part 2

Does our "Love Language" (LL) change over time, or during certain seasons of life? I think there are times when our primary LL may be overcome by a secondary or different LL, as might be the case during a time of loneliness, loss, etc when we need something else. But I guess maybe my question may be more related to age and possibly life stage.

As I was thinking about my kids, I recognize that Noah (7) is definitely a "Receiving Gifts" kind of guy. He cannot stand certain types of physical touch, ie a hug or kiss, no matter who its from. He's always been like that too. I wonder if he will outgrow that once he learns that girls don't have cooties, and if his LL may change as he grows up?

Natalie (4) is a little more difficult to assess, as she likes just about everything & everybody. But I think that one of the things she likes most is "Quality Time". She loves nothing more than to have me come and play puppy dogs with her or read her a book or just sit and watch Dora the Explorer with her. She also love to give hugs and kisses, and I can never get out to the car in the morning without her running into the garage frantically screaming "Wait daddy, 1 more hug, 1 more hug!"

So I guess I have to wonder what my LL was as a child, and if, as I grow into my older years (much, much older, mind you), if I will grow out of "physical touch" LL? Maybe Julie will grow out of "Do the Dishes" LL too??

Maybe the best thing we can do is COMMUNICATE with and SUBMIT to each other. Instead of guessing (and probably getting it wrong) we should ask each other how we can meet one another's needs the best and tell the other person what we would love for them to do - and then comes the hard part - actually doing what we know we should do to show love for the other, even when we don't feel like it... Guess I better go get started on the dishes before Julie gets home :)

Philippians 2

(Imitating Christ's Love & Humility)

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Love Languages - part 1

I recently helped with a marriage seminar at church. It was very refreshing and instructive to dive into my & Julie's love languages and really think about how I can improve in communication with her and be a better husband and father.

It was interesting for me to notice again how often we expect others to act in love according to OUR own love language, and when they don't it is easy for us to get upset at them for not doing what meets our needs (ie, we're selfish). Conversely, we often act toward our spouse or others in OUR love language instead of their's, thinking that we are meeting their needs when in fact we're not. Someone at the seminar shared that their spouse of over 20 years always bought her this huge bouquet of flowers every year and it never met her needs as she thought it was a waste of money and would have much rather had the $50+ to spend in a different way, and that her love language is acts of service, NOT gift giving.

Julie commented to someone recently that the seminar must have been really good because I put the new roll of toilet paper on the holder for the 1st time in years - who knew that toilet paper replacing was Julie's Love Language! It's all about communication. Yes, Julie is Acts of Service and I admittedly struggle with doing the dishes and laundry and can never understand why a kiss and hug etc don't get me any brownie points. Maybe God grows us in true love by putting us with people that will stretch us to meet their needs :) Be sure to check back soon to read Part 2 - God's "Love Language". I'm still percolating on this one and have to pull my thoughts together.

Anyway, this past week I was thinking about love languages and living out what I was reading in Ephesians 5 - (You should really click here and read this), one of the classic passages on the Christian marriage and roles of husbands and wives -(Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord; Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her). I had always read this ending part of chpt 5 as a separate section - It dawned on me that it seems more of a flowing narrative tying in vs 1-5 and the following 20 verses.

There it is - until we start to be "imitators of God and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice, pleasing to God." v 1-4 and until we are "filled with the Spirit" and "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" v 18, 21, then we will have a very hard time meeting the needs of others in love for them. We will have a hard time giving up our own selfish desires (ie love me the way I want to be love and let me love you the way I want to not the way that meets YOUR needs). Submit 1st to Christ, and then we will be able to truly walk in love, as Christ loved us (surely not to the extent or perfection of His love, but better than we are now), and be able to submit to others loving them.

By the way, here's the 5 Love Languages, from the book by Gary Chapman as well as a ton of great info.

Better Days

This week was a tough one. I spent Monday afternoon at the hospital & home of a family who lost their 25 year old daughter/sister, the same family who just in January also tragically lost their husband & father. I realized as I sat and cried and hugged and prayed with the family that I had absolutely nothing to offer them - no words or thoughts that could help them with what they were going through. Only God can bring comfort at a time like this. It was just a time to grieve and mourn with them.

Stephanie was a wonderful, caring, loving person. She was a school-teacher who planning to go to Africa later this year to be a dorm mom at a missionary school. She loved her family, loved God, and loved her church. We are all filled with grief over her sudden loss.

I was completely exhausted emotionally and in no way wanted to go to work on Tuesday. I was reminded of what I read Monday morning -
2 Cor 12:9-10

9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

As I sit here on Good Friday thinking of Christ's sacrificial death for my sins on the cross, I am reminded that better days are ahead for those who know and love Him.

You must take a moment to
WATCH THIS

Adios, Legoland

We are officially done with our annual Legoland passes (no tears here). Apparently 6 visits in 1 year is enough to make even the biggest fan a little apathetic...

Yesterday we went with much anticipation. Upon entering and making a b-line for Project-X, the best of the roller-coasters, Noah tells me he doesn't want to ride it. After asking him if he was sure, I asked why and he said "the line is way too long!" I guess he's really starting to take after his dad.

So we went to find mom and sister and he didn't want to go on the Dragon roller-coaster either (we dragged him on that one though, since Natalie wanted to ride it and there was no line). The only things he really wanted to do all day was to play mini-golf and go to the lego building areas so he could build things. I told Julie next time he wants to go to Legoland we should just buy some legos for him to build with.

Today's Recap

Today in a nutshell:
The kids and I ate all the donuts before Julie got out of bed.
Hit the pool/water-slide/slash park area - kids loved it.


Beat Noah 2 games to 1 in foosball. I was trying to let him win but then he started talking smack (plus he kept scoring on himself and I was getting really hungry for lunch.)

Took one for the team and agreed to lunch at Chuck-E-Cheese.

Beat Julie in the basketball pop-a-shot (she was talking smack too - still thinks she can beat me since she played basketball as a freshman in H.S.)
Played NASCAR pinball - I love pinball - even though I'm not the pinball wizard - (great song by a great band though - "The Who" for all of you born too late/early to appreciate real music).


Found the local thrift stores so I could get some golf shoes since I left mine at home and really I have at least 5 pair so I couldn't rationalize buying another pair at full price - Got em and hope to use them tomorrow morning.

Rushed kids back to resort so we could check them into the kids Jungle Night.

Off to date night with Julie - I enjoyed a date night dinner that could only be on vacation - a chocolate shake and skinny fries at Fat Burger. (We didn't eat lunch til after 2 so I was not really hungry yet.

Reluctantly went to see "The Gift" - it was a really sappy, but good movie. Not too many movies out anymore that are worth sitting through. This was a good one.

Rushed back to pick up the kids. They didn't want to leave. They had a great time and made some new friends. Hopefully they will get another chance on Thursday night as well!!

Good night.

Laziness is a virtue

Its 10:00 am and we're all still in our jammies. :)

Hit Pacific Beach yesterday and the kids had a blast. Noah built an impenetrable sand castle fortress and had all us peons working hard at his command (sorry, the camera batteries were dead). Natalie had fun collecting shells, and they both loved screaming as they tried to outrun the tide coming in - I am sure all the locals had a good laugh at us crazy tourists!

Not sure what's on tap for today - probably the pool and water-slide for the kids. Dad is hoping his stiff back improves enough for a round of golf.

The resort has a kids club Jungle Night tonight, so Julie and I are hoping to get an actual date night!

Here's a picture from the patio on our condo overlooking the 10th green - Ebay rocks!

Vacation started off right

We arrived safely last night after getting a late start. It was a blessing in disguise - They were out of 1 bedroom condos so they "had to" upgrade us to a 2 bedroom. We had debated over spending the extra money for the 2 bedroom for the week and figured it would be better spent elsewhere. We didn't know how it would work to lock ourselves in the master after putting the kids to bed on the sleeper sofa in the living room, but now they have their own beds and this dad is elated.

Off to the beach today.

A Child After My Own Heart

I finally broke down on another thing... We have had the same refrigerator since we moved into our 1st house in 1995. It has been through more moves than most people do in their entire lives - I believe 7, but I am sure that Julie will correct me if I'm wrong.

Just to clarify, I didn't COMPLETELY break down - I have a great wife and she is as frugal most of the time as I am (most of you just call me cheap, but I take it as a compliment - thanks) I just couldn't bring myself to replace a perfectly good, working refrigerator (Yes, its white and all our other appliances are black - my saving grace (insert excuse) has been that the water cooler sits right next to it and its white too). As Julie put it last night "I know this has not been on the top of your priority list". So, out of the blue yesterday she called me at work and said, "Uh, I saw a refrigerator on Craig's list that's only a year old - Do you want to go take a look at it?" To which I correctly responded something along the line of, "Sure sweetie, I'd love to do that for you." - while thinking to myself, did ours finally break down?

We got the new (new to us) refrigerator and save a couple hundred dollars. So tonight Noah tells Julie at bedtime - "You know mom, you didn't NEED a new refrigerator, you just WANTED a new one " (this one of my favorite phrases while walking through the Wal-mart toy aisle - that and "Ok, well add that to your birthday list and we'll see" and "Ok, well you better save up your money". Way to go kiddo! I'm proud of you.

Proverbs 22:6-7 (New International Version)

6 Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Finally Gave In to the pressure

I really hate being bullied - Blogger has slowly made it more and more difficult to sign in and use the old blogger - I finally pulled the trigger and migrated to the new blogger tonight. Change is not always a good thing. Not sure if this will really have any affect on my blogging habits...

What if God went on vacation??

I was reading this morning in Psalm 104 and for some reason the thought came to me, what if God went on vacation? Really, what if he just said, hey I'm checking out for a couple days, you guys fend for yourselves and let me know how that's working for you. Sometimes its so easy to sit back and think of all the technological advances of man and think we can do anything - I mean really, what did God have to do with putting a man on the moon, right? (except making the moon, and the man who went to the moon, and the man who designed the rocket that sent Apollo to the moon, etc). Or medical advances and technology, or whatever else we want to take credit for today.

So while I was reading about God being the one who pours water out of streams to feed the animals, (PS 104:10 ff) I thought - well, we haven't figured out that one yet. How can we create good ol H2O? And without it, no food for animals, crops for food, and pretty soon everything ceases exist because the entire food chain dies off.

Oh and it sure would be cold tomorrow if God didn't cause the sun to rise (Matthew 5:45). I recall the news report I saw last week about the huge increase in the price of citrus and avocados because of 1 week of freezing weather in California- what if God let it freeze all year or all across the U.S. or the whole world?
Or what if he dried up the oil in the ground... Oh, yea, I guess we forgot that he makes that too (and, no we haven't figured out how to make that either) - our country and most of the world would soon come to a grinding halt - no planes, trains or automobiles.
Or what about the cows that give us milk (can you imagine having to use milk substitute on your cereal, and who could think of a chocolate shake made out of imitation ice cream?? YUK!)

What about God's control over all nature... Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami's, hurricanes.
PS 104:32 32 "He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke."

He sends rain, snow and wind, and causes then them to stop.

What an awesome and unfathomable God who created all things and sustains all things! I hope I'm not around when he goes on vacation :)

You should really read through Psalm 104 today.

Cool Video - Reaching Out

Our church did several outreach projects this fall/winter.
Here is a cool video with some of the highlights and pics from the different events - the one that was the coolest to me was the soldier be baptized in Iraq at the end of the video - we adopted 160 soldiers through an Army Chaplain there and sent them stockings/boxes stuffed with everything imaginable - there is a short interview with the chaplains wife as well.

Enjoy!

1 John 3:18 (Amplified Bible)
Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

Name Game

For those that have not noticed I did make a name change to my blog.

Yes, I know this is really short - I am trying to pad my posting record...

Movie Review - Rocky

Well, as a devoted Rocky fan I couldn't NOT see this movie - yes I realize that Sly is now like 70 years old and I was only 5 when the 1st movie came out some 30 years ago now - but come on, its kind of like missing a Star Wars episode or something. Or maybe going back to see Cpt Kirk and Spock in a Star Trek reunion.

I realize that the idea of Rocky coming out of retirement (lets see this is like the 6th time now??) at fighting the current champ is a little overdone, but...

The computerized matchup on ESPN they showed is actually something that was really cool.

So to the actual review... the movie was somewhere around 2 hours and they could have done without about 1 1/2 hours and just cut to the actual training and the fight (thank goodness they didn't do like the 45 minute training scene from Rocky 4, that would have really made this a bear to watch, and I don't think Rocky would have lasted that long in training). The fight was pretty good, but the rest of the movie was typical - really bad acting. Of course there was the traditional run up the stairs scene right before the fight to get you all pumped up, but with no "YO, Adrienne!!!" this movie was not very good - although I think maybe still better than the last one (was that Rocky 5??) So, I would have to give this movie a thumbs down. Don't waste your money. The biggest disappointment is that now I have to go see a chick flick to make up for this loser.

Now, I do think that people might actually pay money to go see a re-make of Rocky 2 with Mr T as Clubber Lange, and Hulk Hogan as "Thunderlips" - Can you image those 3 60 year olds in a Rocky re-remake... possibly the male Gen-Xers dream movie... Ok, maybe not. Guess we'll have to hold out for the next episode of Star Wars. Or maybe Rambo 6 where they call him out of retirement to track down Osama BinLaden in Iraq - now there's a plot that would sell in Hollywood!

Noah's New Game - AKA Rock, Paper, Scissors update

Noah is very creative in making up his own rules to games we play - or even better just making up his own games. Some of you may recall my past posts on my triumphal Rock, Paper, Scissors matches with Noah (For more on the this epic battle, click here). He finally got tired of losing all the time so he came up with his own version -

Laser, Booger, Nail - here's the rules for those of you who want to play and teach your kids...
Basically the same as R,P,S except Laser (gun) kills Nail, Nail (that's fingernail by the way) beats (or insert "picks" for a better understanding of the rationale here) Booger, and Booger somehow beats Laser (the rationale is a little weak here, but apparently he thinks a Booger could cover up the end of the Laser gun and keep the laser from working).
So there you have it.

And by the way, someone needs to inform Blogger's spell check that Booger is an approved correct spelling.

In unrelated funny Noah stories, for those who haven't seen him lately he is now proficient in not only armpit farts but also in behind the knee farts and ear farts and I think he stays awake at night trying to perfect others. Oh, the joys and talents of a 1st grader!! Keep watching the Suns halftime show - we're hoping he may make it on right after one of the dancing dogs or something.

Sorry to any of you who may find this post crass in any way - guess you've never had a 7 year old boy. I'm sure my mom never had to deal with anything like this :)

Holiday???

Yesterday was a somewhat relaxing day with the fam, although very unproductive (as holidays should be).

Noah was very disappointed though - follow this train of thought...
Q: So do we get presents? A: No
Q: What about candy? A: No
Q: How about fireworks? A: No
Conclusion of a 7 year old: This holiday is no fun.

So we went on to explain the significance of the day and of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on America and the world - It really made me angry as I thought of the way people were treated and nearly got choked up as I tried to explain this to a naive little boy - I just hope that he will grow up to understand fully and respect the high value of every human life as a person created in the image of God - no matter the color of their skin, the economic status or neighborhood/country they live in, their position or lack thereof, or any other discriminating factor, and that he will have the courage to stand up for and have compassion and kindness for all people.

Colossians 3:8-17 (NASB)
8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--

11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Just in time

Yes I am still alive. I had to get this post in under the wire before someone(s) could accuse me of going a whole month without posting again.

Its been a whirlwind this past 30 days, but almost all good, just busy.

I will have to post some pics of our Christmas trip to Arkansas - we had a great time seeing family and the kids had a blast on the farm. They did surprising well on the road - don't know what parents did before the gamecube and portable dvd players. Guess just more yelling and pulling their hair out :)

I am looking forward to a great year and am excited to see what God brings our way. It continues to be fulfilling to meet the needs of hurting people on a daily basis, and I pray that I will be attentive to God as he brings these opportunities along.

On a somewhat funny note, I had a great time teaching Natalie how to blow her nose at bedtime the other night - she is a hoot! We both laughed uncontrollably.

A snip of something encouraging from my reading this morning:

Psalm 37 (Psalm Of David.)

1Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

TIVO in Heaven

Yes, we have a DVR (not officially TIVO, but same technology - we just pay less :) thanks to DishNetwork - you should checkout their pricing if you're a Cox or Directv user on a budget)... anyway, I don't know how Julie lived before the invention of TIVO. I use it on occasion if the game starts before teardown is over at 1 pm on Sunday's, but I think Julie has worn out the record button.

Anyway, sweetie, before I get into too much trouble, I thought you and everyone else should read Paul's theology of TIVO in heaven... my pick for post of the week/month/quarter - yes I realize its an old post but I am on the delayed reading plan, much like my posting schedule (please no hate mail from all you other bloggers, I'll get around to reading your's some day too).

http://ptlewis.blogspot.com/2006/10/is-there-tivo-in-heaven.html

Down Time

I have found that I watch less and less TV these days - unless there's a Suns game on in the evening or a Sunday afternoon veg time watching the Cowboys, I generally don't watch much anymore, other than the 1 show that Julie and I record and watch about every 2 weeks or so - the Unit (Special Forces Group on various missons, etc).

However, recently I have found that Noah has taken an interest in a few things other than Gamecube and Toon Disney... So I am working to promote any father/son bonding opportunities (we also have Tiger Woods golf for Gamecube which we play until dad gets up by too many strokes and then Noah quits and says "you can finish playing for me" - it's only fair since he kills me at any Sonic games.)

Anyway, he actually looks forward to some time to sit and watch something with Dad (or possibly just wants to postpone bedtime for an hour, but that's usually fine by me since it lets him wind down a little before the ). We enjoy watching Dogfights on the History channel and some various "top 10" military channel shows (top 10 fighters, top 10 helicopters, etc - he loves all the facts- he's like a walking encyclopedia) and we also watch various shows on animal channel together.

A couple of recent shows on Animal Channel were a great reminder of how awesome and creative God is. We were watching a show about polar bears that documented their travel patterns. They put a satellite tag on one of them and then followed them around for 4 months - traveling 3500 miles! It was amazing to see all they went through and how they were created so uniquely to be able to survive in that climate (40-60 below zero) without any shelter. Can you imagine traveling 3500 miles on foot in 4 months in any temperature, much less in blizzards and sub-zero temps?

Then there was the "Real Leave it to Beaver" that was fascinating about the beavers - I won't bore you with the details... but its amazes me how evolutionist can claim that everything evolved... while the large stretch to chronicle how man evolved from an ape is ludicrous, the beaver with his eyes , ears, nose all on top of his head so that he can swim and still see predators and how it has flaps on its nose that close when it goes under water and its lungs that can allow it to breath under water for up to 25 minutes, all that from a cosmic atom that collided and then from a tadpole to a beaver all by happenstance ... come on, you've got to be kidding me.

The one and only God, almighty creator of heaven and earth, merely spoke the words, and created all things!

Genesis 1 (selected verses)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Conspiracy

Ok, so now there's a conspiracy out there to make a liar out of me too :) - So I'm up to 6 readers - welcome back from your 90 day blog reading hiatus. Just don't get your hopes up too much.

Any other recommendations for my new Blog title should be submitted asap.

I'm Back

Ok, so its been a little while. Got an email from a good friend and probably my one and only devoted reader that said merely "86 days". I had no idea what he was talking about and had to email him to ask... his reply the next day, "87 days". So today's email said "up to 89 days".

Upon threat of bodily harm he finally told me what he was talking about... "I’ve been checking your blog daily and apparently you’re still “Remembering Katrina” - alluding to my last post on Sept 11th. His recommendation was to rename my blog to "month by month " or possibly quarterly update. So here's to my good friend "D" - hope your other daily reading provide you with inspiration.

Remembering Katrina

I can’t believe it was 1 year ago today I left for Mississippi with 8 other men and a family of 5 from church on a relief trip to help people who were suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching the news for a week after the storm hit and how the destruction seemed so bad on the news. A 32 hour drive later we arrived to witness something that news cameras and reporters could never do justice in conveying to us even in today’s high-definition world. The extent of the damage and destruction left me in tears as we drove into Pascagoula Mississippi, and later into Biloxi where the total devastation looked like a war zone.

The people we met and helped for a week left a lasting impression on my heart and mind. The long days of grueling work gutting water and mud filled houses was so rewarding for all of us as we saw God bring people across our paths that we could help out in practical ways, listen to their stories, give some hugs and cry with them and pray with them.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Although this past year has undoubtedly seen me become a year removed from this experience and probably all too comfortable again back home with my family and all the amenities of everyday life, I know that the week I spent in Mississippi and the things I experienced during this entire trip, changed the way I think about material possessions (especially after seeing so many people that lost everything they owned in an instant). I am intentionally more thankful for the blessing I have in life and I believe that I am much more aware of those around me who are in need than I was a year ago. I think its important for us to look for the people in our own communities who are struggling with tragedy in their lives every day - whether they are homeless or have lost a loved one, lost their marriage or in financial despair – we need to see the need and reach out to them to share love and meet needs with compassion. I hope that this next year I can grow in this even more.

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."
Matthew 6:19-21

I will try to get a slide-show up soon with the rest of our pictures from the trup. For more on my (and others) remembrances of our Katrina Relief Trip, see the blog about our trip http://www.palmvalleyrelief.blogspot.com

Top Story

Labor day is apparently a slow news day... Top story is that that the Crocodile Hunter was finally killed by one of the animals that he messed around with - I have to admit that I watched him do some pretty crazy things, it was just a matter of time. CNN was prepared though - they already had a special ready to commemorate him. Hopefully this doesn't sound too heartless, but the guy seemed to take it too close to the edge many times. Hopefully there aren't too many young wanna-be's following in his footsteps.

Family Funny

Tonight we were doing family devotional and we read a story about being kind to your bother & sister. We asked the kids to think of some kind things we could say or do for each other -

Noah said "well I could ask nicely to get a new game for the gamecube". After we discussed the idea that this was actually a selfish thing, I tried giving him a better example "How about if you told mom thanks for making your lunch" to which he quickly replied, "Well that would be good except the cafeteria usually makes my lunch". We all busted up laughing over that one :)

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What I Learned or Remembered While on Vacation

1. Warner Bros Studio tour is a rip-off (Julie would disagree, but the only thing that impressed me about the tour was getting to sit on the "Friends" couch.

2. A picture isn't always worth 1000 words (it looked nothing like their website!!)... a.k.a., don't try a 2.5 star hotel on Priceline in San Diego in August. We have had really good luck with hotels on priceline until this one - I think we've been spoiled, but for the small price difference, we'll stick to the 3-4* and book around the holiday and end-of-summer times.

3. Its REALLY hot in Phoenix. You forget this while living here but it comes back to you quickly as you drive home after a week near the beach in the 70's!

4. I'm not as young as I used to be... I can remember driving 18-20 hours back and forth to college no problems, and that was after staying up all night to study for finals the night before (sorry Mom, but I'm sure you're glad you didn't know that back then anyway.) I was really struggling the last hour of the of the 5 hour drive to O.C., and that was after a good night sleep.

5. I love my kids - While I love getting away without them sometimes, I miss having them around and am very ready to see them again.

6. Our parents are the greatest - they often watch the kids for us to get away for a short or sometimes longer vacation. Met some old friends friends that had their kids on vacation with them and have never had a vacation without kids (6 years) even though both their parents live close by. Thanks Mom & Dad and Nat & Sherry.

7. I love spending time with my wife! Julie is so much fun to be with and our vacations alone remind me of the fun times we had in our previous life without the cares and responsibilities we have now.

8. I need to rest & slow down more often - like every week. Ok, not necessarily a vacation, but seriously, I spent some time reading and studying about the sabbath this week. Can you imagine God resting on the 7th day (not because he was tired and needed it, but as an example for us) and his command for Moses and the Israelites to remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. I know I can get so busy and fill every day to the max with things to do and work that needs to be done. I know I need to do better at getting back to remembering and setting aside the sabbath day, not as a ritual or rule, but as a lifestyle that puts God 1st and not my schedule or to-do list, and soaking in the rest that comes from putting Him 1st above all else.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Geneis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from (OR CEASED) all his work.

Exodus 20:8-11
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

No Longer my Baby Girl

A sad day arrived for me this week- one of those that sneaks up on you - like when your baby outgrows the bottle and you don't get to burp her any more, or the day when she decided she didn't want me to rock her so sleep anymore, or when she started playing computer games and gamecube and stopped running to greet me at the door with a hug and "Daddy's Home!" And the dis-enchantment with butterfly kisses and daddy singing her "special song" at bedtime.

Natalie corrects me all the time now - 2 of my nicknames for her have always been "baby" and baby-girl" - the latter she got early in the pregnancy before we picked a name and has stuck - but now she has to remind me that "I'm not a baby dad!"

Thursday was one of those days for me. I left work to go and pick up Natalie from her 1st day of Pre-school. I can't believe my baby girl is going to "school". It seems impossible that she has grown up so fast. Oh, to keep her that sweet little girl forever, but I know that God has great plans for her life.

My sweet baby girl is growing up too fast - I dread the day she starts dating (age 18 I think), and don't know how I could hold it together to walk her down the aisle one day. But for now I find some consolation in hearing her tell me about her day at school (a lengthy ordeal) or her asking me to "sleep with me a little bit daddy" after bedtime stories and prayers.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT)
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Win at All Costs... Revisited

A quick update for those who have been following along - apparently someone has tipped off Noah to my strategy in Rock, Paper, Scissors (click here for more on the ongoing battle). So he has me thinking a little now. He beat me 2 in a row before I got him figured out again, but now he is figuring out how to win even when he loses (a trait passed on by his grandfather and great-grandfather).
It started that he would lose and then say "Ok, tonight loser prays 1st". So then the next night I let him win, and he said, "that rule is only if the kid loses". So we had to start clarifying if winner or loser goes 1st. But then tonight he informed me that sometimes rock can break paper because rock is really stronger than paper most of the time... I suppose tomorrow there will be some really sharp scissors that can cut through rock.

Helping the Hurting & the Helpless

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we as a society (and yes, me specifically) get so caught up in ourselves that we miss the needs of others or become callous to their needs. From the homeless person on the corner to the single mom in need of assistance, to the handicapped person who we could give some assistance to, to the person who's going through a tough time after the loss of loved one and so much more. I know I am so often in "on a mission" mode that I don't even see the needs around me - much less actively seek them out.

I have recently tried to make it a point to start watching for these opportunities, and to do something to make a difference - No I'm not trying to pat myself on the back or look for applause - just to make ua all think a little. I often pray, "God, help me to see the people you bring across my path today and to get out of my comfort zone to do something to help" - it may be just simple thing like a smile and a kind word, to pray with/for them, an offer to help them carry something - it may be some money to meet a need or a hot meal. The point is that I stop walking through life with the blinders on and see the faces and the needs of people around me and take action. God did not bless us just for ourselves - he blessed us so that we would be a blessing to others in need.

Isaiah 1:17 "learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Theology of “Cars”

We took the kids to see the movie Cars a couple weeks ago. It was a great movie for kids and Julie & I loved it too. Without ruining the plot for you, one of the story lines is the little town that died off when the interstate went in and how people now are too busy to drive the old scenic road and see beautiful sites.

I was driving home from work last week and happened to notice all these birds flying back and forth over the road and everywhere. As I approached the freeway, I was looking straight ahead at the White Tank mountains with the sun going down. I realized that although I often start off my day with God and am often notice his beautiful creation around me as I drive to work (and point it out to the kids if they’re in the car), I couldn’t recall the last time I did that on the way home from work. I get so busy and things are often hectic and I may be tired or late for dinner and just fly down the freeway with 100 thoughts going through my head from the day and all that I still need to do.

Anyway, so I decided to take the side street home (yes, I was a couple more minutes late for dinner). As I was driving, a verse came to mind… “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) I looked around and saw the fields of cotton, the plants and trees with the wind blowing through them, hawks soaring high in the sky with cool clouds above, some dogs and cows, and so much more… It was a good reminder for me that we should not get too busy to enjoy everyday the beauty of creation, the beautiful people around us, and that we need to slow down and praise God all through the day, not just in the morning, at meals and bedtime.

A couple days later we got home late from somewhere and the kids were a little cranky and past their bedtime. As I was rolling in the trash can, I was caught by the beauty of the moon and stars and sky on a very clear night – it was almost like being at a cabin in the mountains (ok, except it was still 105* at 9 p.m.). I grabbed the kids before they got into the house to take them to see as well. Natalie said wow! Thanks for showing me the moon and stars tonight daddy. Noah said "that’s awesome dad… can I have a snack before bedtime."

Pictures are worth...

Family photos can be a nightmare to coordinate and a huge test of patience, trying to get a strong-willed 6 year old and a giddy 3 year old to sit still and smile when they're suppose to.
But they are worth it.

I love my family!!

My Mugs

Julie tagged me on this.


I started drinking coffee in the Army while on out in the field in the cold, wet Ft Lewis Washington terrain. It carried over to the office and it seemed everyone in the Army drank coffee (I needed it after getting up for PT at 4 a.m. and running several miles and getting into the office at 7). Shortly after arriving at my 1st assignment I became the "links lieutenant" because I was always on the golf course after getting off work at 4:30. This mug got knocked off my desk and chipped so now it serves as a trusty pen holder on my desk.

Today my mug of choice is the Dixie 20 oz insulated paper cup so I don't have to wash it or remember to bring it home, though I am on a coffee hiatus until temps drop under 90 - can't wait for November...

Make Me Laugh Monday - eni mini minie moe

Yes, for those who have always wondered, that is officially how its spelled, at least according to a google search...

So the kids have started using this (since I always beat them at rock, paper, scissors - click here for that story) for various things most recently to try to decide who prays first at bedtime or who gets to pray for a meal.

Natalie's version changes everytime, but tonight it was (picture my sweet 3 year old pointing her finger back and forth) "mi-ne, mee-ne, catch a lion, tiger, zebra, mo!... daddy's it".

Make Me Laugh Monday -

Funniest thing I heard (at least that I can recall) on our road-trip so far...
We're driving across the Bay Bridge and Julie is telling the kids all about San Francisco.
She says "And then there's China-town".
Noah says, what's China-town mom?
Julie replies, "It's like a miniature China with lots of Chinese food restaurants."
I burst into laughter and Noah replies, "Do they have a miniature Great Wall of China there too?"

Friday Five – My Top 5 inventions for a road trip

5. The compact, portable sleep number bed. I still have never found a hotel bed that doesn’t make my back ache in the morning. My sleep # is 100 – so I guess I’d probably do better to just sleep on the floor when we travel.
4. The P (pee) Pill – to be taken by all children before you get in the car – lasts up to 5 hours or 400 miles so that you can drive without stopping for the kids to pee. As usual, we made the kids go potty before we left the hotel in the morning and not 5 miles down the road Natalie says in her high pitched voice “I need to go potty really bad”!
3. The other P (patience) Pill – to be taken by all parents/drivers before getting in the car – lasts 24 hours or until the conk out for the night.
2. The mini-van limo – equipped with the roll-up window between the driver’s front seat area and the passengers in the rear, as well as satellite tv (Natalie needs her Nick Jr) and high speed internet – Noah refuses to believe that you can’t get internet on the laptop in the car, and continues to ask if he can play Toon Disney.
1. The Back-to-the-Future Delorean Time Machine Car (Ok, so this one I didn’t come up with – Credit to Michael J Fox). But it would be the bomb if you could just get in the car and not have to hear in the most annoying whining voice possible“Are we there yet” and “When are we gonna get there” every 10 minutes for 700 miles.

Thursday Thirteen - My Favorite TV shows growing up

Not in any particular order…
1. Gilligan’s Island - a timeless classic
2. Dukes of Hazzard - I wanted to be Bo Duke when I grew up - I can remember rolling down the windows on my parents car to practice sliding in the window. I also got a bassett hound because flash was awesome! And who can forget the name and character Roscoe P. Coltrain
3. Six Million Dollar Man – I still make that noise when I run sometimes
4. Hogan's Heroes - Sgt. Schultz has to be the most gullible tv personality of all time.
5. Knight Rider - David Hasselhoff was a dork, but KITT was awesome!
6. Miami Vice – Don Johnson is the only guy who could get away with wearing pastels year-round and still be cool.
7. The A-Team - B.A. Barackus, Howling Mad Murdock, Hannibal, and "Face" - Lots of shooting, blowing things up, beating people up, cars chases, and humor - what more could an adolescent boy want?
8. Mork & Mindy - Robin Williams (Mork from Ork) - "Shazbot!", NA-NU NA-NU
9. Happy Days - The Fonz has to be the coolest TV personality of all time - "Aaaay!"
10. The Brady Bunch - All kids could relate to every episode.
11. Diff'rent Strokes - Arnold was so funny - "Whatcha talkin bout Willis?"
12. Cosby Show - Probably the funniest family sitcom ever
13. I dream of Jeanie – I think every 70s boy had a crush on Jeanie

Honorable Mention:
Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom – Ok, this is a strange one, but it was always on Saturday mornings while I was flipping to see what cartoons were on and I loved to see the cheetah (or lion or any other predator) chase down the deer. The only way that Discovery Channel and Animal Planet can compete these days is that all of us 70s & 80s kids still channel surf and get stuck waiting for the cheetah to eat the deer.

I think we all need to petition TV-Land to get these timeless classics added to the lineup.

I'm sure I missed a couple good ones, so you'll have to post your own lists and leave a comment to let me know.

Hugs Can Change the World

This past week has been a real reminder to me of how short life here on earth is and made me think a lot. A week ago I met with a couple from church who just lost their baby - carried until 32 weeks and delivered stillborn. What faith they had in the midst of this trial - No coincidence I think, that they had given her the name Faith. We shared some tears and hugs.

On Monday I did a funeral for my mom's aunt Marie. She was a wonderful woman - I shared about my memories of her - mostly of soft and gentle spirit and of how I will never forget her hugs - She gave a hug like few people I've ever known. She definitely loved God and loved her famliy.

On Wednesday afternoon I met in the office with Barb Cassell - She has been severely hampered for months after a foot surgery and I talked to her about some things and encouraged & prayed with her. She shared with me that her foot had made some great improvements and she was bursting with joy and excitement that she was going this weekend with the youth missions trip to cook for them again this year. She also shared about the Bible study she was leading for women at a half-way house and the youth she worked with in our "Project Freedom" group for troubled youth, and how she was trying to gather donations for the women who had nothing and even using much of what little she had to share and provide for these women.

I got a call yesterday (thurday) afternoon that Barb had been broad-sided in a car accident. A little later I got a call that she had passed away. Barb, I will miss you - Everyone who met you saw your sincere love for people, and your love for Jesus, and surely remember you for always having a hug to give. Thanks for being who you were. I only wish I had taken a little more time to talk to you this week, but I know we will catch up one day in Heaven.


Life is short - slow down and enjoy the wonderful people God brings across your path each day.

Ecclesiastes 3 - Selected verses
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
11 He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Psalm 144:3-4
3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

Make Me Laugh Monday - I'm Going to Princess Land!

My kids crack me up on a consistent basis. The most recent was tonight when Natalie, my 3 year old told me that she really wants to go to Princess Land - this infatuation started several months back when we decided to take the kids to Lego Land, and she insisted that she didn't want to go there, but instead to Princess Land. Being the seasoned parent that I am, I knew not to argue with her on this or tell her that there was no such thing as princess land, and so we appeased her by saying that maybe another time, but this time we are going to Lego Land.
Well, she enjoyed Lego Land and loved the Dino roller-coaster, but she continues to talk about Princess Land on a fairly frequent basis. So.....

tonight I took the bait and said, "well I don't know where Princess Land is". Just what she was waiting for - she launched into a 15 minute description of of where it is and how there is a special princess roller-coaster that picks you up at Lego Land and goes really fast up and down (insert animated 3 year old re-inactment of a roller coaster here) from Lego Land all the way to Arkansas (Ok, now that is a REALLY big stretch of the imagination there - that's where her cousins live - sorry, no chance of a roller-coaster there, although I heard they were getting some paved highways soon :), and then it takes you all the way back to your house. And the best part is there are no lines! Ok, that last part sold me - Sign me up!

We then got off track and she launched into her new rule of the day - not sure where this one came from, but apparently we are only allowed to touch snow with our feet and hands, NOT with our eyes or our elbows. Good luck touching any snow in Phoenix, sweetie.

Natalie you will always be MY little princess. Nothing makes my day more than putting her to bed so I can hear her say "I Love You, Daddy".

So for those of you that have kids, what's your funniest kid saying this week?

Friday Five - Top Five Ways You Know Summer Has Arrived

Seasons come and seasons go, but some things never change. In Phoenix, we have 2 seasons: Summer and the rest of the year. Lots of places know summer has arrived when school lets out. Kids or no kids, here's 5 ways you know summer has arrived in the Valley of the Sun:

1. The forecaster says "Temperatures will be in the teens tomorrow" (Yes, that would be over 112).
2. The gum that was on the ground in the parking lots and sidewalks are now just grease spots.
3. Your 3 year old refuses to get in the car because "my carseat burns me, daddy".
4. You can't drive more than a mile on the freeway without passing an overheated car on the side of the road with their hood up (knock on wood).
5. You think the A/C is broken in your car as it blasts you with warm air, and it just starts to cool down by the time you get to where you're going.
P.S. If for some reason you miss these obvious clues that summer has arrived, it will finally hit you when your June electric bill arrives :)

How do you know summer has arrived?

Daddy’s Boy

For those of you who know Noah at all, you know him as being full of energy and usually bouncing off the walls with excitement. Yesterday he was watching the Fox & the Hound (my favorite animated movie of all time, by the way) and at the end when Copper (the hound) stands over Todd (the fox) so the man won’t shoot him, Noah starts crying and said the end of this movie makes him very sad.

So for those who know Noah well, you know he has a gentle, soft heart that many people may have never seen. I love that about him. Whenever someone is sick in our family, he will try to do something to help out or cheer us up. When his sister gets hurt, he’ll run upstairs to get her doll or bear and bring it to her. Or like when I was really sick laying on the couch recently, he went in the kitchen to get me a bowl so I didn’t have to get up to puke in the toilet – (what a thoughtful gesture!)- and then went on to bring me one of his favorite HotWheels cars for me to sleep with. I think the softie gene must get passed down on my side of the family - he gets it from his Grandpa (pa) and great grandpa (granddaddy) who are both big softies at heart too.

Philippians 2:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Make Me Laugh Monday

I’m starting a new one today – may need you guys to help with some material, so let me know if you have anything good.

For today, on the heels of my Memorial Day post on fighting for our freedom, I went to my buddy Gary Lamb’s blog. Gary is a pretty funny guy but this had me rolling on the floor – partly because I went to college in Arkansas, and its dead-on accurate. So I stole this from Gary (since I wasn't sure if a certain few of you, who will reamain nameless to protect your identities, have learned to follow links yet - Hope you're having a great trip - I will give you a tutorial when you guys get back in town :)

New Elite Fighting Force


The Pentagon announced TODAY the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces (USRSF). These Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia boys will be dropped off into Iraq and have been given only the following facts about terrorists :

1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickup trucks, country music or Jesus.
5. They are directly responsible for the deaths of Elvis & Dale Earnhardt.

The Pentagon expects the problem in Iraq to be over by next Friday.

Happy Memorial Day

"It is the Soldier, not the Reporter who has given us the freedom of press.It is the Soldier, not the Poet who has given us the freedom of speech.It is the Soldier, not the Campus Organizer who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the Soldier who salutes the Flag, who serves beneath the Flag, and whose coffin is draped by the Flag, who allows the Protester to burn the Flag."

Having served in the Army, I think there is kind of an unwritten, unspoken covenant that soldiers make with their country. They say “I’ll risk my life, maybe even lose it, in a cause I may not fully grasp or agree with. I’ll do it for you because I am one of you and you have asked me to do it – It’s my duty, this is my country, and my country has called upon me. I will answer the call wheneverand wherever it comes and I will fight for you.
My dad gave me a quote (not sure who its from) when I graduated from Officer Basic that has always stuck with me – “For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.”

Unfortunately, I think its often easy for us to lose sight of the soldiers (and the airmen, sailors and marines) as the battle wages on. Its like a favorite team that has gone on an extended losing streak. When they’re winning and in the hunt for a championship, we are there cheering for them. When things get tough we don’t even think of them or read of them in the newspaper or watch to see how they did on the newscast. So many of our military men and women in uniform sacrifice so much for our country and they deserve our support and prayers at ALL times – whether we support the conflict/administration or not, we should always support our troops.

I talked to a gal at church this weekend (with her 2 young boys hanging on her leg) who’s husband is in Iraq for a year. As she walked away, I thought of the sacrifice he and their whole family is making for ME, and it brought tears to my eyes as she walked away. The sacrifice of a soldier effects him/her, their spouse, children, family and friends in ways that we seldom stop to think about.

Take some time to remember and pray for our troops, not just on Memorial day and Veterans day, but on a regular basis. Don’t forget that our freedom is not free. Thank God today for the freedom that he has given us all in this great country. Happy Memorial Day.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

For any History buffs, go to this link for the Smithsonian Military History Museum’s The Price of Freedom Online Exhibition

Win At All Costs

Ok, I know its not a great lesson to teach your kids, since its all about having fun and the love of the game. But we all love to win, and I love it more than most! I think that Noah, who is 6 has inherited my competitive streak - so I am working on trying to teach him that its ok to lose and not to get so upset and just have fun. And what better way to learn how to be a good loser than to lose repeatedly, right??

At bedtime we sometimes play rock, paper, scissors for who prays 1st. He always go scissors and then gets upset that he lost again - dad has his strategy figured out - one of these days he is going to suprise me and I'll have to think a little, but for now Rock is undefeated! Please don't let him know my secret :) He is actually taking the losses (I think I'm up to 11 in a row) a lot better.

You know what they say - everything you need to know you learned in Kindergarten. Don't we wish all life lessons could be taught as easily as playing a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Friday Five

Ok, whoever thought up the Thursday Thriteen thing has way too much time on their hands and way too much left-over brainpower at the end of the day - I always get stuck around #7.
So I'm starting something easier.

5 things I'd like to do on my day off
1. I sleep in - that would be til at least 10 unless...
2. I play golf
3. I spend some quality time playing with my kids - (trampoline is often a favorite, although Noah really likes anything that involves shooting, and Natalie likes playing roller-coaster on the couch)
4. I go on a date with my wife - usually its dinner and a movie, but she is awesome and doesn't drag me to the chic-flicks (just for the record, so I don't get in trouble here, this list is not in rank order!)
5. We come home after the date and ........................... go to bed (Ok, definitely not rank ordered :)

I tag Julie, and Matt

Avoiding Stress & Burnout

This is a great post for all of us - it was originally written for people in ministry but I think a lot of the implications and suggestions are something for anyone no matter what your age or occupation (and I'm sure for full time moms!) . Be sure to read the "signs" and "suggestions".
I will follow up with a post on priorities, once I get mine straightened out :)

DaVinci Debate

Some good sites for anyone looking for truth about the DaVinci Code
http://www.thedavincichallenge.com
http://pcgmedia.org/davincianswers.html - Download free audio podcasts about DaVinci code answers

A Child's Prayer

During bedtime prayers last night, Natalie (3 yrs old) stopped in the middle of her prayer and said, daddy, I don't want Jesus to have to die on the cross. So we had a long talk through all the doctrinal concepts of the atonement, grace by faith, the New Covenant vs Old Covenant (just kidding), and then she finished praying and she was in tears that Jesus had to die for us, and doesn't want to wait to see him because she is sad about the scars on his hands. I really wish I recorded our kids prayers on a regular basis - they are so precious and so deep and thought provoking at times.
Anyway, so it reminded me about the importance of praying for our kids, which I try to do on a daily basis and of teaching our kids how to pray. Below are some tools that have been helpful to me and I hope you find them useful as well. Take them for what they're worth and adapt them as you see fit.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 22:6Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Jesus Teaching his disciples to pray - Matthew 6:5-15
40 Ways to Pray for your Children
Monthly prayer guide – 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids
Develop a personalized prayer plan for your child’s unique needs
teaching your child how to pray
Good book on teaching children how to pray
Developing a specific prayer guide
12 Ways to Pray for Your Children - From Motherwise

Greatest Gift

What is the best gift you have ever received? I remember some of them as a kid - the new bike or big-wheels (yes that dates me somewhat, but all you 30-somethings are having flashbacks), and when we finally got a b-b gun (I loved shooting the pigeons off the telephone wire in the backyard). I remember the cabbage patch craze in the 80's when they 1st came out and how you couldn't find them in stores - my sister finally got one and was ecstatic, and my brother and I tormented her by hanging it from the curtains (Sorry Jenners, but we loved to make you scream - Mom, now I know how it must have felt as Noah does it to his sister and it drives me crazy!) How about your most memorable gift & prized posssion, then & now?

God is the source of every good gift - James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights". God gave us the greatest gift of all in His son Jesus, who he sent to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).

Aside from that, the next greatest gift is that of my 2 kids. What a joy they are to me. In a world where we choose everything from the car we drive, the house we live in, the job we work at, even the person we marry (Yes Julie, you are a keeper gift too, but I already posted about you), some of the only things we dont get to choose are the family we are born into and the kids that God blesses us with. What a joy my 2 children are- unique in every way, full of love, personality, energy!!, wisdom (a good future post). Although I sometimes wish they could stay a baby forever (I sure miss falling asleep on the couch with my little boy as we watched a baseball game together or holding and rocking my baby girl to sleep at night, I look forward to continuing to watch and help them as they learn and grow. Thank you God today for the special and wonderful gifts of Noah and Natalie. Take some time to thank God for the special gift of your kids on a regular basis.

A meme
Ok, Julie tagged me on this, but I have to confess, I have no idea what a meme is (yes I'm kinda new at this whole blogging thing). Is that like when your 6 year old keeps yelling Dad, look at me, look at me? Or is it when your 3 yr old wants you to try swinging her like a monkey and says ME,ME?
Anyway, here goes...

Accent: None - but for those that do, it always helps if you put the correct em-phas-is on the right syl-lab-le
Bible Book that I like: Ephesians, James, Matthew
Chore that I don't care for: Hm... truthfully, that would probably have to be all of them - but I think the worst is doing the dishes when Julie stacks them up with food and water and it grosses me out and I gag at all the squishy stuff I have to scrape off into the disposal - the world would be a much better place if we could go back to the good 'ol old days and scrape our leftover food into the garbage and rinse our plates. (Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now and go hide while she reads this one).
Dog or Cat: Dog - truly man's best friend - miss having snickers around to lay on the couch and watch basketball with me (although she does snore - and has bad gas too, but she pretends like she's sleeping). Besides, I'm allergic to cats and they are way too snobby to be a real pet anyway.
Essential Electronics: Laptop, iPod, cell phone
Favorite Cologne: haven't worn cologne since high-school I think it was Drakar
Gold or Silver: Aluminum - much cheaper
Handbag I Carry most often: laptop case - (the only one I carry by the way)
Insomnia: Never - I'm out when my head hits the pillow (except in a car or on a plane)
Kids: Two - Noah 6.5; Natalie 3.5
Living Arrangements: No kids or pets allowed in mom and dad's bed - except after they wake up if dad is already out of bed and then mom gives in, mostly because she's too tired to fight with them - not a morning person)
Most Admirable Trait: Not sure, ask my wife. Some people have told me its not the gift of mercy or patience.
Naughtiest childhood behavior: Contained in a veggie tales episode...
Overnight hospital stay: Knee surgery (very painful - not recommended) & twice for childbirth... I think... It was all a blur to me after the epidurals... those were some big honkin needles!
Phobias: Car payments. and bugs crawling on me - I remember leaning against a 6 ft ant hill at Fort Lewis Washington (no, really, you have to see these things - I plan to take Julie there some day to show her) during a night ambush at ROTC camp - they were all over me.
Quote: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phillipians 4:6-8
Religion: Christian = a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ who died for my sins and yours
Siblings: 1 older brother (aka, dude) - just had his 5th child - way to go bro!; 1 younger sister (aka, cooterhead) - she's 30 today!!! and lives with Hubby Rob in England (love his accent by the way - its cool to just listen to the Brits talk, but we have real football)
Time I wake up: 4:00-4:30 - (except for saturdays)- thats a.m., by the way, for all of you recent high school or college grads
Unusual Talent or skill: I can do Taco Tongue - I once ate a dozen donuts in under 3 minutes.
Vegetable I refuse to eat: Peas - just the smell of them makes me gag
Worst habit: Have to ask Julie- probably tuning people out while I've doing other things even though I seem to be listening - I'm sure there are many others
Yummy stuff I cook: Cheese crisps (whenever Julie is gone), Gourmet Pizza (DiGornio), and pretty good omlettes on rare occaisions.
Zoo animal I like most: orangutang - those guys are the craziest, funniest animals around - remind me a lot of my kids
X-rays: Lets see, wrist, ankle, knee, chest, leg, arm, teeth (those are the worst), foot, shoulder, collar bone, thumb, spine, neck, I'm sure there were others. I'll have to ask mom.

Thursday Thirteen - Thirteen things I love about my wife...

Today is Julie's 33rd B-day, so here's lookin at you babe.
1. She is very independent, and let's me be the same
2. She is the world's best mom (sorry mom, I need some brownie points, but you are definitely up there at the top with her - Can we call it a tie :)
3. She makes great chocolate chip cookies
4. She makes the best german chocolate cake (usually 2 of them on my b-day; 1 for the party and 1 me all to myself)
5. Ok, so she is just an all-aroound great cook (from her 6 year old "Mom this soup (campbells chicken & stars) is awesome)
6. She is a the most multi-talented person I've ever met - from web design & graphics to building a playhouse, to interior design and landscaping, she gives wonder-woman a run for her money!

7. She goes to action flicks with me and doesn't drag me to the chick flicks
8. She is a frugal shopper and loves to save money
9. She can read a 400 page book in 20 minutes :)
10. She is lots of fun to be with - I love to hang out or go on vacation with her
11. She is a great planner - takes care of all the details for everything and I just have to show up - like our wedding, our vacations, our date nights (ok, just so you don't think I'm too lazy, I usually have to pick the restaurant and the movie)
12. She loves, supports and encourages me even when I fail to be the person she deserves
13. She is a a Proverbs 31 woman! (Follow link for full reading)

Proverbs 31:10-31 selected verses (NIV)
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Dunked in the Desert

When I think of the desert, I think hot, dry, no water. Here's a picture of life in the desert for some of our troops in Iraq. Where there's a will, there's a way. It was cool to see this, especially after an awesome weekend of baptisms at church where we saw over 80 people come forward to publically profess their faith in Christ. I was brought to tears as people stood up and came outside to be baptized - what an awesome experience with my church family.
Baptism is an expression of our commitment to Christ, but the way we live our daily life is a real indicator of our true commitment level to Christ.

Romans 6 (selected verses) 4 We were therefore buried with him (Christ) through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

When the Going Gets Tough...
Grandpa had a quote in his office and above his bed that said, "Circumstances don't make a man, they merely reveal him". That has always stuck with me - from a motivational and personal perspective. It would come back to me time and again in tough or challenging situations. As I was reading back through Psalm 34 again, this quote from grandpa took on a whole new meaning to me. Its easy to praise God when he has done great and awesome things in our lives - when we see the miracles, and when he answers our prayers the way we want him to. But what about when things are really hard? What about when we don't understand or something devastating happens in our life? I was thinking about this as I was giving thanks to God for my wonderful family and pondered what could have been in the accident yesterday. How would I have responded to a devestating tragedy? Could I have praised God in the middle of that storm (love the song, Priase you in the storm by Casting Crowns - someone gave that to me after our difficult Katrina Reflied trip to Mississippi). In everything, it should be a comfort to us to know that we have a sovereign God who loves us and cares for us. The stories of Job and Lazurus reaffirms to me that for those who know him, nothing happens that he does not allow, or that he cannot use to grow us in our faith and to bring glory to His name. (See Romans 8)

In psalm 34, we read, "1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Thats a tough one - at all times, in every situation. I challenge you to read through Psalm 34 and let it resonate in your heart today.

God is in control

Yesterday after church, I was tearing down equipment in the gym when someone came in to tell me that Julie was just in an accident leaving church. Thoughts ran through my mind, and I raced to my car to go check on her and the kids. As I approached the scene and saw the fire trucks and the demolished front end of the van, it really shook me up. I walked past the other vehicle, a full size truck that apparently ran a red light and hit Julie as she was turning left. Then I saw a truck on the side of the road with firemen huddled around (it turned out to be people from the church that stopped to help out and gave Julie and kids a place to sit and decompress - it was really cool to see all the people from church that were there on the scene helping out - I love my church family!). I ran across the street and could hear my kids crying frantically as the paramedics checked out Julie for injuries. As we worked through all that happened - and saw the aftermath, it is evident to me that God protected my family, as well as Pastor Greg and Pastor Dave's sons who were in the van with Julie - it was only by a miracle that all the kids walked away ok, and Julie with only minor injuries (a big bruise on her left leg and a severe sprained ankle that may have ligament damage - she is on crutches with an aircast, a pretty entertaining site :). I think of the devestation that could have come to our 3 families, and I thank God for his protection.

As I was laying in bed last night, Psalm 34 came to my mind: "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." This was definitely the hand of God at work in our lives. Take time to praise Him today for who he is and for what he has done in your life.

WWJD
While I was away this week, in the airport, hotel room, on the subway, at the coffeeshop - I enjoyed many of the technological advances of our day and experienced all the business/busyness and excitement of all this there is to do and see (yes, I stayed up til 2 am EST to watch the Suns beat the Lakers last night!). DC was a busy place - packed with people at all times of the day, and everyone had an iPod, laptop or palm pilot to keep them busy on the subway, in the station, at the coffeehouses. Didn’t see anyone reading a bible the whole time I was there (except for Darius on the plane – D you’re the man!). It was so easy to get distracted and my eyes off the author perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ and spending time with Him, in prayer and in God’s word – whether rushing off to a conference in the morning, too tired to really concentrate on what I read, too many people around to be still and alone. When this happens, we often can open the door for Satan or selfish desires to creep into our lives. We haven’t put on the full armor (read Ephesians 6:10-20), and he comes ready to pounce on us or sin comes knocking and can entangle us when we get busy and let our guard down because we’re not focused on being like Christ.

What would Jesus do today… Would he have a cell phone, email, ipod, Tivo, laptop computer, video games, and all the other things that make our lives so fun and convenient, yet so busy today? Jesus was a pretty busy guy – always on the road and always a full day of activities. I’m not sure of all of the technological distractions of His day, but as I read the Bible, he repeatedly made it a priority to get away from everything and spend both quality and quantity time with His father. What a great example for us.

I can remember growing up – we never had a computer or a cell phone or a video game or an ipod or TIVO, or ________ you fill in the blank. Life was a lot less busy, and probably a lot easier to prioritize. I can’t wait to be back home tonight and to a place where I can shut the door and be alone with God and get back into my daily routine with Him (not to use this busyness as an excuse – I’m just glad to be back to a normal routine.)

Don’t let your life get too busy for the most important thing in life. Set aside your best time for Him 1st, your family second, for other believers who need your support and encouragement, for non-christians who need your witness. God has given each of us enough time in every day to do ALL that HE has planned for us – it just may be that some of the things WE have planned or want to do need to be scrapped for the greater good of HIS will in our lives, and for spending time with Him. These things aren’t bad, but they shouldn’t take priority over our time with God.

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. [4] In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

My Star Trek
I used to watch Star Trek as a kid. My brother was a huge Treky. I loved to use the spock death grip on kids at school, but whenever we played Star Trek, I had to be Captain James T. Kirk. How is it that we could turn any object (a stick, some lego blocks, a bananna) into a phaser. My son Noah cracked me up last week taking a bite out of 2 potato chips and proceeding to shoot his sitster. I digress from my Star Trek post... I remember my 1st flip cell phone a couple years ago - I know you 30-something trekies drive around in your car and pretend its your communicator.

I took a quiz to see which Star Trek-er I am most like (I never watched the newer shows and am glad to know that the TV we watch impacts who we are - makes me a little concerned for what our kids have as role models today.
My results: You are James T. Kirk (Captain)

James T. Kirk (Captain) 70% Geordi LaForge 60% Will Riker 60% Chekov 50% Worf 50% Deanna Troi 50% Beverly Crusher 45% Jean-Luc Picard 45% Mr. Scott 40% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 40% Data 38% Uhura 35% Spock 32% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 30% Mr. Sulu 20%

You are often exaggerated and over-the-top in your speech and expressions. You are a romantic at heart and a natural leader.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test

Live & Learn
My Grandpa was a smart guy. One of his best quotes... He used to always say"Do what you do best and hire out the rest". I've learned this the hard way too many times in life - partly because I'm cheap, and partly because I'm a guy and don't want to admit I can't do something. I am getting wiser as I get older and now I hire out a lot of stuff - probably more because I don't want to waste the time to do it - rather be playing golf. $60 for the garage door opener installation was a good call for me - and hiring painters and movers. Some of the best $ I've ever spent, and made the princess happy too :)

Was reminded of this principle at a conference today - won't get into the details, but suffice to say that we need to focus on what God calls us to do individually, vocationally, relationally, and corporately as a church body and not get sidetracked by trying to do what other people are doing or what other people want us to be doing. Have a vision and stick to it - change is good but only if is accomplishing the vision that you have.

Best quotes of today - Ed Young Jr (not his conference by the way - he's a great pastor, communicator and leader, and they do a great conference in Dallas) one of his pet peaves is "Christians that talk the smack but don't do jack".
Erwin McManus was quoted "Don't let an arrow pierce your heart unless it passes through the filter of scripture" I've learned that we need to distinguish and take to heart criticism that is meant to build us up and conform us to Christ's likeness, but if it is to tear us down or just to be negative, then don't even listen to it.
Worst quote of the day (not Ed Young) - Its time to get busy in the hizzy??? Whatever - must be an east coast thing.

(Thursday Thirteen) - Things I don't eat
Julie got me onto this, so I thought I would post my 1st. Its a lot easier than coming up with something original to post.

1. Onions
2. Garlic
3. Mushrooms
4. Olives
5. Tomatoes
6. American cheese on my burgers (This for a future post on biggest pet peaves)
7. Deviled eggs
8. Cranberry sauce
9. Soggy cereal
10. Browned or crispy toast
11. Meat that is still red/pinkish (If its not blackened, put it back on the grill)
12. Leftovers more than once
13. Sushi or any other slimy foods - see also #3 & 8

The Long Way Home
Hooked up with some church planters from Atlanta area. Lots of laughs with some them. Walked to dinner tonight (probably like 2 miles? and then to the Capitol "mall" area, up and down the subway steps, past the white house, 1st time to the WWII Memorial (very cool), back to the Lincoln memorial (hasn't changed, but well worth the walk since they had a public restroom and I had 3 Pepsis at dinner) - by now my feet are killing me (should have packed my reeboks) and my arthritic, 17 year old surgically repaired knee is ready for an allieve and an ice pack... then back past the reflecting pools past the Korean War Memorial (my new favorite - more than just arcitecture, very meaningful especially to someone who knows anything about the Korean War). Past all the other big buildings that pretty much are like any other in D.C. (Treasury, Agriculture, Holocaust Museum, blah, blah, blah museum, etc).
We must have walked 20 miles today. I'm not out of shape and if that had been a day long golf outing, I wouldn't be complaining (though I would've been in a cart, not walking mind you).

Ate dessert at a coffee shop across the street from the hotel (nice, but can you believe a 4 star hotel only has wireless B 11mbps?? What's up with that. ) Best apple pie I've ever had. I think we'll go back there for dessert tomorrow night.

DC, Day 2…

Ok, I know that’s a lame tag line, but I was up til 3 am and got up at 7 and walked across DC today, so my creative juices are non-existent.

D.C. is not as exciting the 2nd time around – I think we saw all the cool stuff the 1st time around – want to do the WWII memorial and the American History museum before we go home. We did a tour of the Capitol today – had an intern from Sen Kyle’s office that showed us around and it was cool to get some inside stories and history – interesting stuff – I highly recommend it over a self guided tour – Just call ahead and setup a tour with your senator’s office. Big Jon was apparently too busy for us. Saw a few cool things that we didn’t see last time since this was a guided tour. Found it interesting that there were only 3 senators in the senate floor voting on amendments that were being presented. Our tax dollars at work – pretty boring stuff – save your money and watch S-span. Much more security and the capitol police had some really cool guns – they were loaded up. I thought the underground senate trolley car was the coolest thing, but a pretty big waste of money… it’s a pretty long walk that they have from their offices anyway, and the trolly can’t be more than ½ mile – maybe they figure they’re all old geezers or Kennedy’s and can’t walk that far. One tip: Be sure to leave your hand lotion and perfume at home if you plan to come (luckily I left my purse behind on this trip).

We went to the International Spy Museum. It was pretty cool, all the guys thought it was awesome, but it pales in comparison to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum in Berlin. That has to be the coolest museum I’ve ever been to. Berlin was awesome – maybe a future post on best touristy vacation spots.

Subway system here is much easier than in London or Berlin. There’s another future post there about traveling with navigationally challenged people. Lots of cool shops in Union station – more like a mall than a train station, complete with food court and AMC movie theatre. That’s where the church conference is (movie theatres).

Good intentions...
seldom get things done. Julie setup my blog for me several months back. Finally getting around to my 1st post. Guess I need to change the title of my blog. I don't know how Julie does it all, but if you know her you know she's pretty amazing.

We got away with some of the staff to DC this week for a conference - nice to be out of the office for a short break. Not used to all the greenery and trees. People sure do honk a lot here - a lot of angry drivers... and lots of joggers. Wonder what their hit and run stats are here? Its a fun time with the guys and lots of laughs. A long walk for some below average Chinese for dinner. The Suns game doesn't start til 10:30 EST! Gonna hit some of the sites tomorrow.

Not sure exactly what my Blog will evolve into - you may have to check back in a couple months for my next post to find out.