Four Generations...

We went to see my mom for a very late Christmas with her and my brother. We just took it easy, visited and rested a lot, and all around had fun. My Mom goes by Nona to her grandkids, and boy was Sammy excited to have his Nona back. They laughed and played and Sammy showed off his walking skills.

He more than doubled his total step count in one evening. So we took him and got him some shoes. It's not easy to see him growing up so fast. I already feel like my little baby is gone, I don't need my little buddy to grow up yet. He is an amazingly good baby, and I love him more than I thought possible.

We went to see Mammy and Pappy today. Pappy can't move or see... he isn't doing well at all. Mammy doesn't remember a ton, but she is Mammy. I am so proud when they get to be around Sammy, I know he would love them if he got to get to know them.

Anyway I should wrap this up for now it is late and the trip home was no fun... but that's another post.

Dang Straight....

http://m.yahoo.com/w/news_america/st-louis-hosting-1st-big-parade-iraq-wars-165546527.html?orig_host_hdr=news.yahoo.com&.intl=us&.lang=en-us

I want to add my admiration and thanks and let all our Vets know we love them and are proud of them. Welcome home guys and gals, welcome home.

Incredible...

 

This amazing picture of Earth, taken via satellite, shows how truly awesome God really is. I would love to see space one day, not that it is a realistic expectation, just a wish. All the same, I do dream of it. Never has a painting, photograph, or poem held the sheer beauty that you can tell over awes in space. God's handy work stands supreme. 

I know this is not one of my pictures, but I was so struck when I saw it that I wanted to share. 

Want to make it even more powerful? Imagine the billions of people all over the face of that blue marble and the sheer scope of what your seeing.

Epic Trekkie Win...

Tiny Tunable Terahertz Beam Could Enable Real Handheld Tricorders

OK I absolutely had to share this posci article when I read it. As a massive fan of ST TNG myself I am feeling out a bit, and I know you will want to as well!

So i just wanted to share, this is Sammy and I's song. I found it when he was much younger and he really liked it... so did I. I play it from him every once in a while and we sit and enjoy "our song". It is really kind of a nice thing to be able to share with him.

We got some pretty rough news today, so i thought I would share just cause it makes me feel some better.

Clarification...

I just wanted to clarify the last post because I have heard some questions about some of what was said. The comments I made were in no way intended to be derogitory of my job or anyone at my place of work.

Jenny and I both love our jobs, and are thankful that God has lead us here. Simply put, we know somewhere down the road God has other plans. Until then we enjoy and strive to do our absolute best at the grace currently given us.

I hope this helps clarify things a little.

What a Twisted Web We Weave...

So we are being given the opportunity to take lead on a cottage we would really love to be on full time. The position would come with free housing and a raise plus more stability. Sounds awesome right?

Well that's where it gets complicated.

You see we have been seeing some very glaring inconsistencies with administration's expectations and their own expressions. These most often get blamed on leads, not relief. This is not a job Jenny or I have been called to long term nor feel like we will be at for a long while. Yet we have no indication of what else might happen.

We cannot truly take advantage of the free housing because we have a cat and they wont allow her.

We don't have any guarantee that taking lead would not sabotage certain other efforts involving a resident's future.

In short it gets complicated, and fast. Will we take it? Baring one objection, yes. Am I totally excited about it? I don't really know. Is it a good thing to be called to full time church/missions ministry and wind up in direct care making the most of it? Is it a good thing to advance at a job that you don't really want long term? I suppose God is the only one who holds those answers, even though others may have opinions. And who knows perhaps Jenny and I founded our future on missed signals and our hearts still lie to us to this day and what we are being called to feels short of what we felt called to be because of our own selfish sinful attitudes. Or perhaps that is the view of people to rich in disappointment and to poor in faith. Again only God knows at this point.

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. In whatever opportunity He provides. And I will strive to be content in everything never attempting to reach beyond His grace. I also promise to keep the faith and push patiently and passionately into the promise of a calling that He laid upon my heart. That is God's testimony to me, His promise to me, and I refuse to believe He is one to back track and take a path with less resistance. I pray He uses every moment as a prepitory building experience that forms me into the man I need to be to step forward boldly and succeed, not fall flat from starting out to early.

Top 1%..

ComicReader- Dilbert: January 21, 2012

OK so I know as Americans we are all in the top one percent compared to other countries but I have to admit this Dilbert room is quite funny.

Sooooo you should totally check it out.

Wait... what?

ComicReader- Dilbert: January 11, 2012

Ever had one of those moments when nothing comes out right? I always seem to have the right when I think I know exactly what to say. Life is funny that way.

These past few days haven't been much but a time to recuperate from one insane rotation... but that's OK. We will press on and pray that the tired house parents who never see other adults don't end up putting their foot in their mouth.

I'll make sure to keep you updated though.. for all those waiting with a worm on your tounge.

Robo Buddy...

Survey Establishes What Kids Want From Robots: Homework Help and Friendship

It is amazing how often we underestimate children. A robot teacher? How many adults would just want something to help them be more lazy?

Perhaps we should let children run more...

Wiggle wiggle???

OK, so I know I am an old fart because I listen to the pop station and wonder what dark abyss musical talent has fallen into and why we can not seem to get it back. That being said I believe we have hit a new low.
Now I recognize that the 80's did a lot of damage to American culture in almost every facet; most especially music and fashion, and that due to an over exposure to illegal substances, shameless pop artists, and Disney the youth culture of today is attempting to relive the 80's. I know that. What I did not expect was that we could outstrip the 80's so completely.
Yesterday as I was transporting girls home I was letting them listen to Star 102.1 the local pop station. Right before we exited the vehicle a song, if that is what you wish to call it, came on and my wife burst with laughing. Well given the reaction I decided I too should hear the lyrical content of the music our children listen too... this is about the time I lost faith in humanities future.
You may know the song called "I'm sexy and I know it." If you do, I am deeply sorry. With lyrics pulled straight from Disney sing alongside and bad sitcoms this 80's sounding beat comes across as a farce. I assure you though, this tune touted as one of the most popular on the radio right now, is no joke. As hard as it may be to believe.
My friends we have been cheated. My parents listen to Lynard Skynard, Bon Jovi, Huie Lewis and the News, and other greats as my siblings and I grew up. What do I have to share with my children? Lady GaGa, Justin Biber, and Wiggle wiggle wiggle...
I call shananagans!

Colorful...

I suppose colorful would be one way to describe life right now. We work eight days straight from 7am - 10:30 pm get four days off and do it again. Well ideally. This rotation we are working nine with 3 off.

On top of the long hours has come daily inspections, tours, and pressure from admin to get it all right. As well as great resistance from girls unused to the heightened attention and work.

Add all that to my developing anxiety issues and you have a colorful mix certain sure.

While waves of energy come and go and inspiration seems to ebb and flow as well one thing remains the same... I have no time even when I have the "want to" to get something done that is just for me.

I abandoned the hope of watching foot all before we reached the playoffs and have only kept up with it enough to be sad the Lions are gone and happy the Packers are.

I have a junk yard I've been wanting to photograph for weeks, a campaign I want to write, and an event I am in the middle of planning and hoping this up swing wont end before I get it all done.

I am so tired of seeing marriages struggle all around me, not a ton I can do but pray, and maybe host a marriage conference. That's the event I am half way through planning. I really want to see it done, but I know these things take some time.

In other news I have been irritated and near outraged at the arrogant crap Obama has been pulling lately. "Democracy" has once again led to tyranny even if it is "soft" whatever that means. Loss of freedom never seems soft to me. I fail to understand how Congress takes being ignored or how the American people take such blatant flouting of our own constitution, except for ignorance. Even then it is difficult to understand.

Regardless of anything else God has been gracious full of patience and kindness gently supplying what we need to be sustained, if not always a great amount more. And if we have little, the little is vastly more than many have. I pray He keeps drawing us near and forgiving us for failing to do the same with every ounce of life until that can become our identity.

I do promise to get some more pictures in the works... eventually.