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My Wife (Happy Birthday Lady!)

Now that I’ve given the obligatory response, here’s why that’s the truth.

In my life its seemed that my ‘best friend’ has sort of shifted through the different phases of my life. They were the people I talked to most, who I hung out with most of the time, and the people I could rely on(outside of family). So as I grew my friends changed leaving an interesting assortment of ‘Besties’. The level of interaction and friendship also changed as time progressed. Here’s a breakdown of my friendships over the years;

Kindergarten – 3rd Grade: Brad
-Not much going in terms of friendship. I never went to his house or anything outside of school. I guess we were on the same soccer team at recess.

4th – 6th Grade: Randy
-I would ride my bike to his house after school to play Goldeneye.

6th – 8th Grade: Brian, Jake, Jared, Zach
-Most of the interactions were still at school, but the friendships were getting deeper. Parties, and sleepovers and such, junior high was great right?

9th – 12th Grade: Brian, Mike, Seth, Zach
-During this time the friendships really solidified. Most of my memories of high school involve these guys.

College: Jeremy
-Best roommate I’ve ever had(and I’ve had some ‘great’ ones). Too bad it only lasted a semester.

Marriage: The Lady

Some of the friends have carried through the years and others have fallen off. I think its interesting to look back over them and see how I’ve changed since then, and how our relationships have changed as well.

Have your friends changed as you’ve gotten older?

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Getting kicked out of college.

I know, I was shocked too. Not that I should have been, I kinda had it coming.

I received a certified letter in the mail.(I don’t know of any good ever coming from a certified letter) I had to pick it up at the post office so after grabbing it I stopped by the family restaurant to give it a read. It was devastating. Like someone breaking up with you in a text message. Easily one of the top ten worst moments of my life. Personal experience aside, like I said, I had it coming.

I had a bad semester. I hated most of what I was doing, classes/major/etc… and I hadn’t learned to deal with tough situations. Rather than dealing with the problem, I did nothing. I didn’t do homework, or go to class much. This of course made my grades drop off the scale and I was in a hole I wouldn’t make it out of. I didn’t do what I should have and I paid the price. It was an expensive lesson. Mentally as well as financially. Of course on the flip side, as stupid as it was, it was a part of my journey. I would not be where I’m at if I hadn’t been kicked out.

You know that I don’t like failure and this was a huge one. A bonehead move that changed my life.

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Being involved with The Weekend.

This was a very hard question to answer. Am I qualified to rate my own actions? Irregardless I think that the most important thing as been something I’ve done for years.

The Weekend, or Chrysalis as it was formerly known, is a Christian retreat weekend for high school aged youth. It’s a great experience aimed at bringing teens closer to God. I went on my first one when I was 16, and I’ve helped in some way with each one since. I was even given the opportunity to lead a weekend.

Now why is this important? Because of the great experiences people have at a Weekend. I’ve seen some amazing life change take place over the two days that are spent together, and being a part of that is just fantastic. I look forward to being involved in weekends to come.

Sometimes I like to use the word irregardless, just for fun. Did you catch it?

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Who doesn’t?

The Bible mentions around eight times that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. So it would seem that everyone has a certain amount of self-love. This commandment is also one of the most widely known, which could point to it being something that resonates deeply with most people.

But to look at the other side, there are people that struggle with things like eating disorders that would seem to indicate that they lack self-love. So maybe it’s something we start with but can also loose, or have taken from us.

Is love of ones self good, bad or indifferent? Indwelt or learned? Asset or liability?

I’ve got no answers, just questions.

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How could I not on this most romantic of days mention my Lady

Companion, friend, and wife.

Happy Valentines Day Lady! I love you.

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Happy Valentines Day!

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Family Loss

I love my family. Really I mean it. I enjoy spending time with them, and I look forward to holiday gatherings. That’s not to say we are without problems, just that we have a good time together.

I wasn’t aware that everyone didn’t share this feeling until recently. I was talking with some co-workers about the upcoming holiday season and we were mentioning what we looked forward to most. I could see the shock on their faces when I said my extended family is awesome. I’m very thankful I don’t see my family as a burden during the holidays.

That said, I think the worst thing that could happen would be to loose a member of my family.

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Reality Show

I’m completely serious. I want a reality show. The problem is that no one would probably want to watch it.

My reality show would follow me around as I completed items from my ‘bucket list’. Now my bucket list is made up of more than just ‘fun’ items(there are a few of those) but more things like starting a non-profit, or raising a million dollars for a cause. I think it would be great to spend your time thinking of huge things to help others in some way and then finding creative ways to make it all happen.

As I said in a previous post, I’ve got a great life and wishing for anything better for me just seems too selfish. So I think I’d like to help others somehow.

What should I call the show?

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Daily Mental Review

One of my goals for this year was to do regular reviews of myself. Some of these reviews are more formal/thorough, but I do a quick mental review daily.

The purpose of this is just to go over what happened that day. I think about what I did and ask myself if I have accomplished my goals, was time wasted in any way, and what would I have done differently.

I’m trying to be more accountable to myself and this is one method I use to keep tabs on everything I’ve got going on.

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Usually I’m stumbling around in the dark getting ready.

I usually wake up between 6 and 6:30.
I get packed and ready for my day-gym, work, and lunch.
A little breakfast and I’m out the door.

My mornings are usually a very quiet time. Aside from saying goodbye to Erin, I usually don’t speak at all during the first 3 hours of my day. I like that my whole morning is a very peaceful, prayerful time. I try to keep a continual conversation going with God the entire time.

People tell me I stay pretty even keeled, this may be the reason.

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