The Last Blog of 2007

Hi, or should I be saying Bye?? Today is the last day of the year 2007. It is amazing that one moment separates 2007 from 2008. I plan on being up at that moment. Even though some where in this world folks are already in 2008. I am going to celebrate the change at 11:59:59 pm eastern standard time. So that tells you when the new year will come in for me.

What does the new year hold?? Is it just a series of multiple days stacked in rows of months and so forth?? Is it a set of daily sunrises and sunsets?? Is it a steady flow of paychecks?? Is it another opportunity to go shopping and buy more stuff we hope will make us happy, just to find out that stuff never makes us happy. I did by the way make two last purchases today. The last stab at finding happiness in 2007. I bought a pen from Fahrney's Pens out of Washington DC. It is a Parker ballpoint and it looks like this:

It is being shipped out today. My wife said it would be a belated Christmas Gift. Will it make me happy?? Yes, for a moment. I love pens. They are one of those things that I just can not get enough of, if you know what I mean. What is something that you like, that you can never get enough of?? I would love to hear your story. I am also going to try to take a one year sabbatical from buying any new pens. So for the year 2008, I am going to try to use only the pens I have and enjoy knowing that someone else is enjoying a new pen this year. I know it may seem odd, but I want to learn to be content.

What is Happy? Is it possible to be a happy person? I am basically a happy individual. Most of the time I am upbeat and jovial. Who does not have a down day?? What do you do when you have a down day?? How do you deal with the things that begin to press in and rob you of your happiness? Is happiness the goal exactly, or a byproduct of another goal accomplished? Is there a continual state of happiness that we should be trying to attain to?? Well, that is enough on this happiness thing. Are you happy?? What makes you happy?? OK, I said it would be enough, so that is enough.

Do you have plans for 2008?? I have some hopes or dreams or goals if you will. I usually start off my Journal with Today . . ., But in this new year I am going to start my Journal entries with Today, I open my heart . . . I want to be good soil that is ready to receive the seed of Gods word. I will place myself before God this new year in hopes that his word will grow up in my life and produce great fruit. The Fruit of the Spirit is the fruit I seek. In Galatians 5:22 it tells us that the fruit is - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Some of my thoughts come from some of the things that my friend Chris said yesterday at church. here is the link if you have time to listen. http://www.orchardgrove.org/?p=86&p_id=59 choose "What kind of dirt are you?" and listen to it. It was amazing. I loved it. But it has to be more than just words I hear. I want it to take root, deep root in my life. I hope that this year will bring me closer to my wife and children. I will begin to do things that my kids like to do. My oldest son loves video games, so I will sharpen my skills this year. My youngest son love to do outdoor sports. So I will get involved with his sports. One sport we are going to do this year is Golf. I am so excited. We will see how it goes. I have to learn what my daughter loves to do, or would want to do with her dad. My wife and I are celebrating our 20th year of marriage this year. I do not know what to do with her. If you have any suggestions I would gladly take them. We are planning on Hawaii on our 25th. So that one is out of the question. I also hope to make a dent in my big man status. I want to restrict my eating and lazy lifestyle, so my lack of health begins to restrict what I am able to do.

I have a three prong goal for 2008 -

1. My Heart. - Spiritual

2. My Family. - Social

3. My Health. - Personal

Well, I am thankful to be looking back on a crazy 2007. I am excited to be looking forward to a optimistic 2008. I do not know what this New Year will hold, but I do know that I will grow with each step along the way. I will take each moment of this New Year with an attitude of thankfulness, knowing that it may actually be my last moment. I want to thank my friend Sam for teaching me to blog. You have had an influence on my life. I also want to thank Krista for her encouragement. It is exciting to know that you both read my blogs. I know you will have an incredible year filled with many emotions. I am praying for you. And to anyone else who reads these blogs, know that I am praying for you as well. Post a comment if you will. I wish you all a Happy New Year.

To bleed or not to bleed . . .

Here in lies the question. Oops, I did it again . . . and no I am not Britney Spears. I went out looking for a place to give blood. I want to be an every eight weeks donor. They are rare, or so I hear. To give blood, what is the big deal? I use to be afraid of giving blood, but now I am like well, it will just be a pinch and it will be over in a few, and hopefully some body will enjoy life for another day. Also I want to give, what I have. And blood I have at this time. I can not spare an arm of a leg, but blood is not a problem. What do you like to give?? Do you give your time to help those in need? Do you knit, and share your gift with others. That is for you my friend. Do you like to share your abundance, if so I could use some help with some student loans we can not get rid of. Ha ha, well, that would be a dream come true. What do you do to make a positive impact on your world?? I would love to hear from you. I am a crazy man for an audience. I love dialog. Have a wonderful day. . . Peace.

Home Alone . . .

It has been a busy few days. I am home alone right now. Quiet. What is it about the absence of movement that is so wonderful and at the same time unnerving? I enjoy being alone sometimes, but in my mind there is this nagging sense that I should be doing something. I have many things to do, but I just do not feel like doing them. All that is on the schedule for today is "the dentist" and that is at 5 pm. I have to have a spot filled. That is no fun. I am not looking forward to this visit. I will be glad when it is over.

I like being on break from school, but I miss hanging out with the students. There is some sense of security that comes from a daily routine. I enjoy getting up in the morning and getting my day started. I enjoy seeing the people that I work with. I enjoy the few quiet moments at home before anyone else comes home. I am happy to be off for a few days, but I look forward to school starting again.

I gave the Porsche back to my friend last night. I am so thankful that they were kind and allowed me to use it for the past 4 months. It was a true blessing and it filled my need for mobility. I now have a 1989 Buick Custom. It is grey and has a cloth interior. There are only 110,000 miles on the car. It is the most beautiful thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is God's provision for me in this time in my life. Therein lies its greatest beauty.

I am still trying to figure this thing called life out. Do not get me wrong. I am content where I am in life. I am under a little pressure financially, but this will pass with time. I am also trying to figure out where a guy like me fits into this world. I want to have impact on my world. I also would like to find a Job that would provide a little more money. Or better yet, find a way to reduce some of my load so I could just enjoy the job that I have. The job I do now does not pay much money, but it is such a blessing to me. It pays in satisfaction. I love my job.

I got on the scale today, and I will not share the numbers, but I need to get this current inflation under control. I do not like being a big man. Lets just say, I am currently twice the man I was when I was in college some 20 years ago. This is not a good thing on many fronts. I want to be around for my wife and kids. I want to be able to enjoy life. Well, that is to say it is time to cut some weight and reduce the waist.

You see what happens when there is time and no interruptions. I love to be alone, but my mind runs wild. Have a wonderful day. I trust you had a great Christmas.

Just a baby blog . . .

HI. I hope you are having a wonderful day. No, a wonderful hour. Better yet a wonderful minute. How about a wonderful second. Lets just not put time on it. I pray that you will enjoy each MOMENT. We are not promised even a second. We can however focus on the moments we have and find Joy in them. Have a wonderful day. Share a smile, or a hug with those you care for. Peace

Snow has beauty . . .

Today, and tomorrow. That is all that is left of the school for this year 2007. After Friday, I will not see my students until next year. That is so strange. Next Year. It seems just so far away. It is not this year, it is NEXT YEAR. The amazing thing is though, only a moment separates this year from next year. Does it happen in a blink, or a tick of the clock. What is it that makes next year seem so, well next year?? Once we are in 2008, will we look back at the near past and call it Last Year. Like Last Year I was so and so, Or last year I did this or that. It is nice to start a year out clean. The entire new years resolutions thing. Where do you go with that?? I work to better myself at each new year. Believe it or not, this will be my 41st celebration of a new year. I always want to be a better person, a better husband, a better dad, a better teacher, a better citizen, a better son, a better brother, a better man, a better human, a better driver, a better follower of Jesus. I always strive to do my best, even at times when I am just sitting around the house doing nothing. I want to be the best nothing doer. Ha-ha. Now that makes me laugh. But I am not always the best. Many times I mess up and give something less than my best. I use to allow those times to really bum me out, but not any more. I was wasting time feeling bad for not doing the best in a certain thing that I would not do my best on the next several things. So I decided that I would do my best, and if it ended up being something not that good, I would get up and learn from my mistake and move forward and do my better best. That is enough on this best thing. I hope to always improve in my life. Improvement to me is learning and growing from each step or mistake. Sometimes I am flying forward at an incredible rate, and at other times I am getting up over and over again.

I love snow, You know it happens. I know that it doesn't just happen. I know that there are certain requirements in order for snow to happen, but when it happens it is awesome. You know how snow covers everything and makes it look beautiful?? I love the picture that we are given in Isaiah 1:18 - 20 where it says: 18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (NIV) Now you may say, that is harsh. Think about it for a moment. anything that is first covered by snow looks beautiful. Many, very ugly things are beautiful with a blanket of white covering them. The questions comes in when we begin to wonder what it means to be willing and obedient?? I love the fact that God offers Grace and Mercy. He knows we will not always be the BEST. He knows that we will not be able to be perfect, we can not always be the best. I challenge me to think about what it means to obey God, to follow him in willing obedience. and know Snow is beautiful.

Snow Day . . .

Can you say Snow Day. I love working as a teacher in Education. How many other Jobs do you know of that have a snow day? A day that you get off just because it snows. So, I received a call on Sunday Night saying that Monday, would be a snow day. Wow, a Monday of all days. Many people hate Mondays. I do not mind Mondays too bad, they are just another day to spend with students. I also enjoy swimming with some of my students on Mondays. Part of me missed swimming, but I loved being off. I was able to get my check book caught up. I also had the joy of going to eat lunch with my Dad. That was a blessing. What would you do if you were given a free day? How would you use your time? What do you need to get done?? Have a great day.

Following Jesus . . . What does it mean???

I want to follow Jesus. I love to write personal notes to folks, actually if you want, post your address in the comments and I will write you a personal note. As I begin my notes, I almost always start with "Greetings" and I end my letters with "Following Jesus" then my name.

Well, anyhow. I want my life to be lived out as a follower of Jesus. Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) I have a hard time denying myself. Why do I allow myself to get in the way so often. I want to serve and follow Jesus fully. What does that mean exactly?? Have you ever heard of a guy named Dietrich Bonhoeffer?? He wrote an amazing book called The Cost of Discipleship. I have only read about half of the book because it was so challenging to my own soul. I want to be real and authentic. I do not want to be a Sunday only follower of Jesus. I want to be a full on follower. I know that I will struggle in this quest. I want my life to bring Glory to Jesus. I want my life to be a blessing to those in this world.

I am praying for you today. Have a wonderful day. I am choosing today and now to continue to Follow Jesus in this life. Peace

Keep Looking Up . . .

When you feel down, it is best to keep looking up. I have not been working my second job at Covenant for about 4 months now. It is getting tight financially. I am looking for another part time job. The move from Covenant was driven by my desire to follow God. He has me in a place to learn from him. I am reading a book and in the book the author says, "Setbacks are often setups for God to act." I know God wants to teach me to trust him fully with my life and my future. I am not saying that I can sit and watch Jerry Springer episodes and God will bail me out. NO that would be the way of a fool. But to seek God and follow him as he leads me is the way I want to go.

So, what are you thinking about today? I am thinking about all the stuff that needs done. I have to take my daughter to Winter Guard tonight. I have to work on organizing my Garage. I have to clan out the basement. I give it about 12 - 15 hours of work to do all these things, but life will be much better with these areas in order. I am thinking about what type of Job I would like to have. What it is that I am created to do. I love my work at the High School. I love to encourage students. I love to watch them learn a grow. I really enjoy laughing and making others laugh as well. It is nice to see folks have a great time. I am going to hit the road. I look forward to the coming days. Have a wonderful day.

Snow Happens . . .

I went to my car today, and it was covered with snow. I was surprised. I love the snow. If it is going to be cold outside, then at least let there be a nice blanket of snow. My life is so busy right now. I am driving a freinds car, a Porsche 944 turbo if you can believe that. I am reading a great book called Chazown by Craig Groeschel. My son is in the musical "It's A wonderful Life". My daughter is in Winter guard. My wife is busy with her passions of teaching and learning. My youngest son and I are hanging on for dear life. I have to run the kids around today, and we barely fit into the Porsche. I have to run to class. You all have a great day.

Is it December ? ? ?

How did we get into the end of the year already. Christmas is just around the corner. I can not believe we are here already. What does Christmas mean to you. I have a hard time dealing with the entire manufactured Christmas thing. I am not a big do it on the day, because that is the way it is to be sort of Guy. I am kinda a rebel in that regard. I would rather get folks a gift, because I wanted to get them a gift. I love giving, just because. Not because it is what everyone is doing. I love writing and giving gifts to folks when they are not looking for a gift. Just the other day I sent many of my friends a photo we took at a wedding. I put them in a frame and sent them a note. It was fun, and they were not expecting it to come. That is the best part. Making someones day, when they least expect it. If you read this blog, I ask you to tell me how do you get into the spirit of Christmas? What do you do to have fun, and be fun during the holiday time. Well, love ya. you all have a great day. Peace