Operation Mommy's Gone has officially begun.
Late night packing and instructions, baby's got a fever, lousy night's sleep... perfect... wouldn't have it any other way.
We're going for full effect here!
She was at 5:00 and out the door at 5:45am.
Baby wakes up at 5:50... fever reducer from the command center and bam... she's back asleep.
So far so good.
I'm going to work half days this week.
Number 2 [my eldest son - henceforth called RAVEN] will watch/guard the fort while I pop off to keep the papers shuffling at work.
I plan to work 6am to 10am to appease the queen and her evil henchmen.
Home by 10:20ish is the plan.
The phone hasn't rung yet... a good sign.
Raven will be getting them breakfast soon.
It's quite... too quiet.
Must stay alert.
Over and Out
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
Jamaica Missions Trip and Survival of the Fittest
My wife and two oldest daughters are leaving tomorrow on a Missions Trip to Jamaica.
The team has 24 members from 2 churches.
They plan to minister in construction, community development, small group evangelism/discipleship, sports ministries, Bible teaching and preaching.
The team staying home is ME.
I plan to minister in survival training, scavenging, groveling... and search and rescue operations... I may try to have some fun too.
I have been getting ready by stock-piling hot dogs, chips, cereal and spaghetti.
I put all the first aid equipment on the dining room table which I will use as a main outpost center.
Pray that my 3 sons and one tiny [2yo] daughter and myself survive the week.... Oh... and also that the missions trip is a blessing to many.
:)
The team has 24 members from 2 churches.
They plan to minister in construction, community development, small group evangelism/discipleship, sports ministries, Bible teaching and preaching.
The team staying home is ME.
I plan to minister in survival training, scavenging, groveling... and search and rescue operations... I may try to have some fun too.
I have been getting ready by stock-piling hot dogs, chips, cereal and spaghetti.
I put all the first aid equipment on the dining room table which I will use as a main outpost center.
Pray that my 3 sons and one tiny [2yo] daughter and myself survive the week.... Oh... and also that the missions trip is a blessing to many.
:)
Friday, June 25, 2004
Yeah, like... Whatever...
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.
Philippians 4:8
Philippians 4:8
Friday, June 18, 2004
Fatherhood
One for Father's Day.
Here is a GREAT article that a friend passed on to me... Put up the Hoop Sooner.
I have 6 kids.
I love them all dearly and can't imagine my life without them... Honestly.
I figured I knew all the tricks of the trade - 'Fatherhood', but it seems every time I read something, I glean a bit from it that makes me a better DAD.
I think I will dedicate this Father's Day to the ones that call me DADDY!
Here is a GREAT article that a friend passed on to me... Put up the Hoop Sooner.
I have 6 kids.
I love them all dearly and can't imagine my life without them... Honestly.
I figured I knew all the tricks of the trade - 'Fatherhood', but it seems every time I read something, I glean a bit from it that makes me a better DAD.
I think I will dedicate this Father's Day to the ones that call me DADDY!
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Happy Birthday to ME!
Well.
I made it.
As unbelievable as it is... even to me... I made it 40 years!Yesterday was my birthday.
I don't think I look 40... nor feel 40... but I honestly don't know what 40 is supposed to look and feel like anyway!
I took the whole day off work because for the past 10 years or so... I haven't worked on my birthday and I'm not going to start now.
It was great.
Besides the new shirts, underwear and misc. treats I am fond of...
My wife brought each of my kids and presented them to me as Gifts.... and they certainly are the most wonderful gifts God has given to me.
They proceeded then to make me an incredible breakfast of an omelet, toast with jam, mango slices, cooked ham, and juice... A fresh strawberry/banana shake too.
We rode bikes and played in the yard, and later all went to pizza.
Fun was had by all.
Not everyone gets this when they turn 40... so I am blessed.
Someone along the way told me that when one turns 40, they turn in all their mental problems for physical ones.
Well, I'm not so sure I am ready to give up all my mental problems!
I have taken YEARS to develop these multiple personalities and I'll be darned If we are going to get rid of them so fast!!!!!
And besides, I'm not even half way yet!
:)
I made it.
As unbelievable as it is... even to me... I made it 40 years!Yesterday was my birthday.
I don't think I look 40... nor feel 40... but I honestly don't know what 40 is supposed to look and feel like anyway!
I took the whole day off work because for the past 10 years or so... I haven't worked on my birthday and I'm not going to start now.
It was great.
Besides the new shirts, underwear and misc. treats I am fond of...
My wife brought each of my kids and presented them to me as Gifts.... and they certainly are the most wonderful gifts God has given to me.
They proceeded then to make me an incredible breakfast of an omelet, toast with jam, mango slices, cooked ham, and juice... A fresh strawberry/banana shake too.
We rode bikes and played in the yard, and later all went to pizza.
Fun was had by all.
Not everyone gets this when they turn 40... so I am blessed.
Someone along the way told me that when one turns 40, they turn in all their mental problems for physical ones.
Well, I'm not so sure I am ready to give up all my mental problems!
I have taken YEARS to develop these multiple personalities and I'll be darned If we are going to get rid of them so fast!!!!!
And besides, I'm not even half way yet!
:)
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Dear Editor
We are not born with character... good nor bad... we develop it slowly over time.
Same goes for habits.
Good or Bad habits are not part of our life when we arrive here on this planet.
So if you have something in your life that you don't like...
or something that you DO like...
it's because you've taken precious time to place it there.
And if you wish it gone... it will take a precious long time to change.
No better time than today to... EDIT YOUR LIFE!
:)
Same goes for habits.
Good or Bad habits are not part of our life when we arrive here on this planet.
So if you have something in your life that you don't like...
or something that you DO like...
it's because you've taken precious time to place it there.
And if you wish it gone... it will take a precious long time to change.
No better time than today to... EDIT YOUR LIFE!
:)
Friday, June 11, 2004
Fire Fire Fire
My church burned down [well half of it] last night.
I got a call on my cell phone at 1:30am and rushed right over.
Of course there was nothing we could do but just watch the fire fighters blast our church with water... tons of smoke billowed into the cool night air.
It was hit by lightening around 9:30 in the evening while some of my friends were there for worship practice. They said it was incredibly loud and blew out a couple of the channels on the sound board!
They checked all around and even in the attic... nothing.
A fire broke out sometime after 10:00pm.... apparently it smoldered until it caught onto something flammable in the attic.
It's not all bad news though!
We were wondering which way to expand and now it's fairly obvious!
One of the pastors said something really cool...
"The CHURCH didn't burn down... the BUILDING did!"
:)
This whole thing brings new meaning to being "On Fire for Jesus"!!!!
I got a call on my cell phone at 1:30am and rushed right over.
Of course there was nothing we could do but just watch the fire fighters blast our church with water... tons of smoke billowed into the cool night air.
It was hit by lightening around 9:30 in the evening while some of my friends were there for worship practice. They said it was incredibly loud and blew out a couple of the channels on the sound board!
They checked all around and even in the attic... nothing.
A fire broke out sometime after 10:00pm.... apparently it smoldered until it caught onto something flammable in the attic.
It's not all bad news though!
We were wondering which way to expand and now it's fairly obvious!
One of the pastors said something really cool...
"The CHURCH didn't burn down... the BUILDING did!"
:)
This whole thing brings new meaning to being "On Fire for Jesus"!!!!
Pet Update
Eggs
Maya [cockatiel] has 3 eggs now... and probably laying another today.
I wired a make-shift plastic nest into the cage and she is using it!!!
She lined it with tissue and is taking turns sitting on the eggs with Rico... the daddy.
Maya is eating the plaster off the wall behind the cage - a good thing I think. She's getting her necessary calcium.
I think.
What is in plaster anyway?
One Legged Gecko
I had to separate the lizards.
Papa lizard was continuing to hurt Mama... [but her tail nearly off] so I build a nifty little separator wall out of wire mesh.
It effectively divides the 20 gallon tank into 2 separate lizard environments.
Mama hasn't been the same... it's like battered women... the love the guy that is hitting them.
Anyway... she isn't eating and it's only a matter of time unless she gets counseling.
Maya [cockatiel] has 3 eggs now... and probably laying another today.
I wired a make-shift plastic nest into the cage and she is using it!!!
She lined it with tissue and is taking turns sitting on the eggs with Rico... the daddy.
Maya is eating the plaster off the wall behind the cage - a good thing I think. She's getting her necessary calcium.
I think.
What is in plaster anyway?
One Legged Gecko
I had to separate the lizards.
Papa lizard was continuing to hurt Mama... [but her tail nearly off] so I build a nifty little separator wall out of wire mesh.
It effectively divides the 20 gallon tank into 2 separate lizard environments.
Mama hasn't been the same... it's like battered women... the love the guy that is hitting them.
Anyway... she isn't eating and it's only a matter of time unless she gets counseling.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Tae Kwan Do for Inmates
My wife was checking out the local Tae Kwan Do school [just to see what it was all about].
The instructor let my kids participate in the back row of his class.
They LOVED it.
Of course they would... this would be an excuse to smack on each other.
Anyway, the guy asks my wife what I do for a living... and instantly she was aware that her answer was going to set the price of instruction.
She, like George Washington, cannot tell a lie.
After he heard that I was an Architect he smiled and told her some ridiculously high price.
I told my wife later that the best response would have been:
"He is in PRISON. And hopes to be paroled soon".
Since that is actually more the truth.
:)
The instructor let my kids participate in the back row of his class.
They LOVED it.
Of course they would... this would be an excuse to smack on each other.
Anyway, the guy asks my wife what I do for a living... and instantly she was aware that her answer was going to set the price of instruction.
She, like George Washington, cannot tell a lie.
After he heard that I was an Architect he smiled and told her some ridiculously high price.
I told my wife later that the best response would have been:
"He is in PRISON. And hopes to be paroled soon".
Since that is actually more the truth.
:)
Life in a Comic Strip
I saw something that made me laugh out loud.
I shouldn't blog about it in case she reads it... but I'm fairly safe because only 2 people I know have ever read this.
Anyway... There is this college student that works here at our office [for the summer]... we call them "Summer Scholars", but the truth is we needed some supplemental slave labor.
She is a pretty girl, totally skinny and a very tall.... VERY tall.... with an BIG afro.
She honestly looks like a giant Q-tip.
Her face is like a cartoon character for some reason that I can't place... like I have seen her among my daughters dolls or on Nichelodeon.
It's like having a 'characature' from some comic strip walking around.
Perhaps I AM IN A COMIC STRIP!!!!
:)
I shouldn't blog about it in case she reads it... but I'm fairly safe because only 2 people I know have ever read this.
Anyway... There is this college student that works here at our office [for the summer]... we call them "Summer Scholars", but the truth is we needed some supplemental slave labor.
She is a pretty girl, totally skinny and a very tall.... VERY tall.... with an BIG afro.
She honestly looks like a giant Q-tip.
Her face is like a cartoon character for some reason that I can't place... like I have seen her among my daughters dolls or on Nichelodeon.
It's like having a 'characature' from some comic strip walking around.
Perhaps I AM IN A COMIC STRIP!!!!
:)
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Sand Soccer and Swim Suits
What a fun departure from typical soccer.
My kids were involved in a Sand Soccer Tournament in Virginia Beach this past weekend.
It was great fun for all.
The game is 4 and a goalie against 4 and a goalie on a significantly smaller field - if I had to guess it would be 40 x 60 feet or so. Dinky for soccer.
It was lightening fast despite being in deep dry soft sand. The ball must be airborne to go anywhere - on the sand it rolls a few feet and stops.
At one point in the game the two goalies were throwing the ball at each other, each attempting to make a goal!
They broke the game into thirds rather than quarters and took a 1 minute break in between each.
My kids loved it... though their team lost the tournament.
We all ran over to the ocean surf between games to cool off.
Sand castles, waves, beach soccer... perfect weather [partly cloudy with a nice cool breeze].
In the car on the way home I had this glassy look on my face.
My wife looked over and said "What... is anything wrong?"
I said, "Too many boobs."
She smiled. She knows I'm a man and that I love her more than anyone in the whole world.
Still...
I tell ya, it's tough for a guy with integrity when the swim suits all come bouncing by...
Woof.
My kids were involved in a Sand Soccer Tournament in Virginia Beach this past weekend.
It was great fun for all.
The game is 4 and a goalie against 4 and a goalie on a significantly smaller field - if I had to guess it would be 40 x 60 feet or so. Dinky for soccer.
It was lightening fast despite being in deep dry soft sand. The ball must be airborne to go anywhere - on the sand it rolls a few feet and stops.
At one point in the game the two goalies were throwing the ball at each other, each attempting to make a goal!
They broke the game into thirds rather than quarters and took a 1 minute break in between each.
My kids loved it... though their team lost the tournament.
We all ran over to the ocean surf between games to cool off.
Sand castles, waves, beach soccer... perfect weather [partly cloudy with a nice cool breeze].
In the car on the way home I had this glassy look on my face.
My wife looked over and said "What... is anything wrong?"
I said, "Too many boobs."
She smiled. She knows I'm a man and that I love her more than anyone in the whole world.
Still...
I tell ya, it's tough for a guy with integrity when the swim suits all come bouncing by...
Woof.
Quotable Quote
Sitting on my couch the other day, an old idea I had wondered by.
It looked me straight in the eye and said,
"Hi... I'm your great idea. One day you will look for me and I will be gone."
I think it was wandering around as it anticipates my birthday... another year passes.
It looked me straight in the eye and said,
"Hi... I'm your great idea. One day you will look for me and I will be gone."
I think it was wandering around as it anticipates my birthday... another year passes.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Eggs in the Nest
Our cockatiel layed 2 eggs this past weekend!
My kids spotted them first of course.
"Daddy Daddy... Maya layed an egg!"
We all rushed up stairs and found Maya trying to sit on an egg in the bottom of the cage - on the bars.
Sheesh.
I quickly grabbed a shallow plastic bowl, lined it with come tissue and set the single egg in it.
Maya hopped over and sat on her egg in the new nest.
Too cool.
I just got a phone call from home regarding yet another egg in the nest!
Woof... think I better read up on breeding cockatiels.. no wait... we're past that... I need to read up on what to expect should these two eggs ever actually hatch!!!
And as I have just read [on the above link] I can expect MORE EGGS!!!!
YIPE!!!!
:O
My kids spotted them first of course.
"Daddy Daddy... Maya layed an egg!"
We all rushed up stairs and found Maya trying to sit on an egg in the bottom of the cage - on the bars.
Sheesh.
I quickly grabbed a shallow plastic bowl, lined it with come tissue and set the single egg in it.
Maya hopped over and sat on her egg in the new nest.
Too cool.
I just got a phone call from home regarding yet another egg in the nest!
Woof... think I better read up on breeding cockatiels.. no wait... we're past that... I need to read up on what to expect should these two eggs ever actually hatch!!!
And as I have just read [on the above link] I can expect MORE EGGS!!!!
YIPE!!!!
:O
Friday, June 04, 2004
Chiggers
I seem to have stepped into some chiggers and pick up 2.
If you've never had one here's what happens:
The little buggers are just that... bugs.
They climb up from the ground until they reach the top of your socks... the first SKIN they come to... and then they burrow IN at the edge of a hair follicle.
Yep... they don't just BITE... they actually tunnel in about 1/16th of an inch or so... THEN they start munching on your flesh!
For some weird reason, it itches rather than hurts!
Talk about ITCHY!
A friend of mine stood in a nest of them while we were in Jamaica last summer.
He had over 50! I only got 8 or so that day!
He said the best thing to do was to put fingernail polish on them which would shut off their air supply and kill 'em.
I just left mine alone - ABSOLUTELY NO SCRATCHING.
Mine went away in 3-4 days... his lasted for nearly 2 weeks since they didn't like the fingernail polish and contunued tunneled all around under his skin to get away!!!!!
My advice is simply to leave 'em alone.
:)
If you've never had one here's what happens:
The little buggers are just that... bugs.
They climb up from the ground until they reach the top of your socks... the first SKIN they come to... and then they burrow IN at the edge of a hair follicle.
Yep... they don't just BITE... they actually tunnel in about 1/16th of an inch or so... THEN they start munching on your flesh!
For some weird reason, it itches rather than hurts!
Talk about ITCHY!
A friend of mine stood in a nest of them while we were in Jamaica last summer.
He had over 50! I only got 8 or so that day!
He said the best thing to do was to put fingernail polish on them which would shut off their air supply and kill 'em.
I just left mine alone - ABSOLUTELY NO SCRATCHING.
Mine went away in 3-4 days... his lasted for nearly 2 weeks since they didn't like the fingernail polish and contunued tunneled all around under his skin to get away!!!!!
My advice is simply to leave 'em alone.
:)
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Fort Copperhead
My kids helped me move the wood pile that the copperhead was hiding in.
We carefully lifted each peice and relocated it into the woods... no snake.
Good and Bad.
I wanted to terminate it because now I know it lurks around the yard/woods behing our house.
Bummer.
We relocated the wood pile behind our property in the woods... we stacked it up around some elevated planks and made the coolest fort! I fully expect the snake will return to reside under the new fort, but that's actually fine... since the cracks are too small for the snake to get a bite on our feet!
Fun was had by all... expecially when we found 10 wood beetles and some skinks.
We carefully lifted each peice and relocated it into the woods... no snake.
Good and Bad.
I wanted to terminate it because now I know it lurks around the yard/woods behing our house.
Bummer.
We relocated the wood pile behind our property in the woods... we stacked it up around some elevated planks and made the coolest fort! I fully expect the snake will return to reside under the new fort, but that's actually fine... since the cracks are too small for the snake to get a bite on our feet!
Fun was had by all... expecially when we found 10 wood beetles and some skinks.
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