Because I don't have a lot to say today...

I liked Katie's post yesterday... so I changed it slightly and am posting a similar post here. This requires people to participate...

Please finish this statement in whatever way pleases you.

If I could. . . . .

My friend Katie...

Is no help. I ask her for ONE favor and she can't help.

Still like her though... even if she is of no help to me.

The one where I can't think of a title so I am just going to ramble for a bit so that I can make a memorable title for all who read my posts...

Well, things are getting back to normal... I think. First 2 weeks since the students arrived have been crazy, but I would think that things would begin to settle down. Wish I could tell you something really exciting has happened since I last posted, but pretty much nothing has. Just been enjoying life with the family.

The exciting news is that this weekend I will be preaching at my church. We are in between pastors and so the elders have been given an opportunity to preach if we feel led. So I volunteered to preach. I will be preaching on 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul is amazingly accurate when he compares our walk with the Lord with the idea of running a race. So, from a runners perspective, I am going to take my experiences as a runner and compare them to what Paul is telling the Corinthians. I used to be a runner in High School... and I quit running for about 14 years... but I am back into the swing of things running everyday... so I guess I can classify myself as a runner again. After all, a runner is someone who runs. And I have been running... so I am a runner. Follow the logic? ANYWAY, Should be a good sermon I hope. I don't have to worry though... for it's not me that is doing this, but it's the Lord who will be speaking through me. I think too many times we, as Christian,s feel like we are doing this on our own. What we need to remember is that it is God who is speaking through us. We just need to be willing vessels. So I have been praying that He uses me in a mighty way.

Anyway, I am excited to preach the Gospel. Should be fun.

Happy Birthday...

Sydney!

She is 30 today...

After doing the math... Sydney has spent a third of her live with me. Isn't she lucky?

Or maybe the question is: Aren't I lucky?

Happy Birthday Sydney! (You are much sexier at 30 then you EVER were at 20... just so you know.) :)

Still Alive.

Quick post... I am still alive... I didn't die running my 10k. Actually I took 5th place. I ran 6.2 miles in 44.26 which is a pace of 7 minutes and 11 Seconds per mile. Sydney ran her 3.1 miles in 28 minutes which is 2 minutes faster than her quickest pace. So we had fun... Ate some italian food to pack in the carbs... then after that, we ate a little pizza... then we raced at 8:30 on Saturday morning... and then after that did a little shopping. So, we had a great date weekend.

This week has been crazy with new student orientation. Crazy, psycho, busy... Busier than all get out even. So that is why I haven't been blogging. But it is a short break... I will be back before you know it... and then you will be sick of me again.

Cheers!

I woke up this morning...

Not wanting to go to work at all... I just sat on the edge of the bed for what seemed like forever... just sitting there looking out the window. Ambitionless. I had no desire to do anything. I just sat there wiping the sleep out of my eyes thinking to myself: "I should really get going." I finally willed myself to move. I made it to work on time, just barely. It's a good thing I have a beautiful wife and 4 kids to provide for... otherwise I would have become a failure a long time ago.

Right now, I have no ambition. I keep thinking, what's next? I wish happiness wasn't so fleeting. Each pinnicle of achievement leaves me feeling empty. I am a modern day Solomon of sorts.

I try and hold steadfast to His truths, but they just slip through the fingers of my mind and I find myself unable to grasp a firm hold on that which will keep me grounded. Instead, I find myself not knowing how I will feel from one day to the next... frustrating.

The good thing is: Tomorrow is a new day.

It's a date!

Sydney and I are going to be running a 5k and a 10k on Saturday. The day has finally arrived. I started working out to get in shape and lose some weight... but I figured since I was running I might as well have some fun and run a race. I asked Sydney if I found a 5k for her to run if she would and as always, she was a trooper and said yes. So we are going out on our first "running" date. Should be fun. Sydney and I will farm out the kids and on friday night, drive up to the cities to enjoy an evening out. Then we will wake up at 6 am on Saturday morning so we can be at the starting line by 8 o'clock. And then... we will see what happens.

No matter what, it is something that Sydney and I are doing together and that will make it special. We have been an encouragement to each other and it has helped us to remain dedicated to this lifestyle change. To date, I have lost 19 pounds and Sydney has lost around 10 pounds.

Both of us are looking fit. It feels good.

Back from Fargo...

It was a good trip. On the way up, Micker Mackers and Bug Bug fell asleep about a half an hour into the trip and Jake played gameboy the whole time... so, I didn't even have to stop once for the bathroom. How freakin' cool is that? We had a great time... went swimming in the Neighborhood pool Saturday morning and then I went to Ethan and Angie's wedding that afternoon while grandpa and grandma watched the kids. Sunday I woke up and we headed home so we could make it back for a friends wedding reception down here... we went to their wedding in Denver but they were having a reception for all their friends back home who couldn't make it. So that was fun... and then last night was the first night of Vacation Bible School and... once again, Sydney pulled off an absolute miracle decorating... It feels like you are in Bethlehem. There are Oxen and Asses and Camels and Sheep and a huge star of Bethlehem hanging from the ceiling and the market place and it goes on and on... She is amazing for having the ability to turn cardbord into something of worth and her creativity won't quit.

As a result, the kids are having a great time.

So there you go... I went from Fargo to Bethlehem in approximately 6 hours yesterday... Beat that.

Traveling to Fargo, ND...

...with 3 kids and no mom. Hm. I wonder how this will work? Because, let's face it... moms do this all the time... but Dads? Not so much.

Anyway, I am heading up to my folk's place for the weekend and I am bringing Jake, Micker Mackers and Bug Bug with me. One of our former youth kids is getting married and so I decided that I would go to his wedding. It happens to be in Fargo, where I grew up... so Grampa and Grandma will watch the kids while I am at the wedding. Works out great. Sydney's staying at home with Benji while she is finishing up Vacation Bible School Decorations.

But I am dreading the drive. Sorry guys... But NO kids music. It's just not happening. I know, I am a grinch...

I am okay with that.

A New Look

Trying to think of something brilliant to say...

But:

Nothing is coming. Life just "is" right now. Nothing exciting, but nothing bad is happening. Just living life. I run each day... I work... I eat a little... I watch TV Shows... that's life right now.

I am okay with it... but for some reason, life seems kind of anti-climactic.

And when life is like that, then I tend to be a little melancholy...