Another Soccer Season Has Started

Seth is about to play in his fourth soccer season and he just had his first practice this week. He has made considerable progress from where he was this time last year and it was fun to watch him because you could tell he was really proud. They did some drills that he once had a really tough time with and now he is able to keep up with the other kids. He recognized this because he had the biggest grin on his face.

The other story line as soccer season starts is that it is another soccer season where Chase still isn't old enough to play. He went to Seth's practice fully outfitted with soccer ball, soccer shoes and shin guards. He is ready to play if they need him.

The sad thing is he could be as good as most of the other kids on Seth's team and I know he wants it more than any of them. There were two little boys who were crying and not wanting to practice and I could just see it in his eyes that he would gladly take their place. I can't wait for that first practice when he gets to be on his own team. It will be a lot of fun to watch.

Faking It

The main purpose I created this blog was so that when our boys get older, they can have a place to go and read what was going on in our lives when they were little as well as have an opportunity to learn more about their parents. I know I would have loved to have something like that.

So, boys when you are reading this in the future, I just want you to know that your Mother and I are faking it. It may seem like we know exactly what we are doing and have everything under control but we don't.

As an example, over the past few days our bedtime routine got messed up so Shelley and I came up with a brilliant plan to get us back on schedule. The end result was Chase went to bed at 6 pm and Seth was up past 10 and I ended up sleeping on the couch. Needless to say, it didn't work as planned.

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Update

Here are the latest pictures of the new stadium.

What I learned this week

When you are in the pit, don't look down but look up to God - Ed Young
God can do amazing things with nothing - Brian Houston
God has me covered - Bishop T.D. Jakes
God is preparing me for what he has prepared for me - Ed Young
God puts things in us that we don't know we have - Joel Osteen
Delegation without investigation is relegation.- Ed Young

Income Taxes

I spent this afternoon doing the painful tasks of doing our income taxes. I hate it and always have to psych myself up to do it so I'm really glad its done.

Also, I think Turbo Tax might be one of the greatest software packages ever created. I can't imagine trying to do our taxes without it.

Sad Note

Last night I met Shelley and the boys at church so we could attend one of the conference sessions and the first thing she says to me is that Seth had something to tell me.

But, Seth said he didn't want to so Shelley proceeded to tell me that he had gotten a "sad note" from school. When I heard that, I took a deep breath, processed the information and tried to understand what I had just heard.

Everyday his teacher sends home a notebook and for that day they either get a sticker or a "sad note." When school started last August I would ask everyday if he got a sticker and the answer was always yes. I finally started taking it for granted and quit asking and had even forgot that the system was still in place.

Seth was on an incredible run, he had not had one bad report of any kind so when I heard this news I was shocked.

Now my dreams of Seth having some type of Cal Ripken streak has ended. Oh well, I think he has learned something from this incident and so I think it may have been more valuable than getting a sticker.

Church Conference

Our church hosts an annual conference every year where thousands of pastors come from all over the world to attend. This is the week of the conference this year. The conference is targeted towards church leaders but anyone can attend. Also, they bring in outside pastors to speak and these are usually some of the top pastors in the country like T.D Jakes as an example.

I've always wanted to attend and for one reason or another haven't been able to and this year is no exception. But, Shelley is actually going to attend and we will have an attending pastor and his wife staying with us so I'm getting a little closer to actually participating in the conference. Also, they are offering a free general session each night of the conference that is open to anyone and I will get to attend one of those.

I'm excited and it should be an interesting week.

"It's Boring"

Seth has a new catch phrase he uses whenever he doesn't want to do something. He has started telling us "It's boring."

It is obvious he doesn't have a clear understanding of the meaning of "boring." For example,"Seth, let's go take a bath." "I don't want to, it's boring."

Everything from playing, to eating, to picking up toys has suddenly become boring.

The Pit

Our church just finished a series on Betrayal. The visual used throughout the series was that of a pit. When you are betrayed it is like you have been thrown down into a pit, the pit of betrayal. Much like the pit Joseph's brothers threw Joseph in before they sold him into slavery.

Well, I haven't been betrayed but I have been feeling like I am in the Pit. Things have been very rough around our house over the past eight months or so. I've been having a hard time with my new job and it just doesn't feel like the place I am supposed to be.

But, Shelley and I have remained faithful and the word's of our pastor keep ringing in my head. "God is preparing me for what he has prepared for me."

I am anxious to find out his plan and I have to admit I am inpatient and want to know NOW!

"Let's Keep it a Secret"

Tonight Seth and I were sitting on the couch together and just as Shelley left the room, Seth spilled some of his drink on the couch.

He looked at me with a frantic expression and said "Daddy, I'm sorry. Can we not tell Mommy? Let's keep it a secret."

I said, "Let’s clean it up before she comes back." So, I headed into the kitchen to get a wet rag. As I was entering the kitchen we could hear Shelley making her way back into the living room.

"Hurry Daddy!"

As he waited for me to return he threw his entire body onto the couch to cover the mess. I wiped it up and then he promptly sat down over the spot so Shelley wouldn't see it.

We have entered the "cover up" phase which will now last until he graduates from High School.

Never Lost??

I just got back from spending 3 days in San Diego and while I was there I rented a car with a navagation system. My truck doesn't have one because, well, it is old. I have had a few other rentals with them but I was always in a city where I was pretty familar with the area and didn't need to use it. This was my first time really trying to navigate with one.

What I found out was when I was using it I forgot how to drive. I spent more time listening to directions than reading signs and this led to me missing MANY turns. It reminded me of a kid who grew up using a calculator and not ever learning how to add and subtract. My natural sense of direction just shut down when I was trying to use it.

So, what did I hear during most of my journies? "Recalculating!" Yes, the GPS did a lot of recalculating following all the turns I kept missing.

This is for Shelley

This is for Shelley. I love you!

9-1-1

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been sick. When I get sick, I get really sick. One tendency I have is to become dehydrated. One of the first times this happened was back in 2000. Shelley and I were living apart because she had been transferred for her job. Read more about that here. So, I was home alone and had spent a significant amount of time at the toilet until I was completely dehydrated. This led me to passing out, bashing my head on the toilet, cutting my head open and getting a black eye.

Well, it happened yesterday but apparently it was even worse. This time I was in the living room, talking with someone who had come to meet with me when everything started to fade out. I remember getting to a chair to sit down and then the next thing I remember was waking up to Shelley over me crying. Apparently not only did I pass out but I actually quit breathing and started to turn blue for a short period of time. This prompted Shelley to dial 9-1-1 but before she hung up with them, I came around so the EMTs were never dispatched.

I don't remember any of it but I have to admit, I was scared after that for awhile.

Home Sick

Today I am home sick and I believe that is a sign of my growth as a person. Since I was in Vegas last Friday and this Monday, I can not afford to take any time off. Plus today I had 2 meetings with clients that I really can't afford to miss but I am going to have to.

In the past I would have forced myself to go into work and then spend the entire weekend in bed sick all while I refused to go to the doctor. But today, I am home and trying to get in to see a doctor.

Why the change? I guess I am finally growing up. Now, if I could just figure out what I want to do with my life.

Birthday Ring

I am not a bad father but I don't think I will ever win a "Father of the Year Award." I make a lot of mistakes but I finally got one right.

Last week when I was preparing for my trip to Vegas, Seth gave me a plastic ring he calls his "birthday ring" (not sure why) and said I could take it with me to Las Vegas.
It really touched me so I made a point to set it out where I wouldn't forget it.

The next morning we had to leave the house at 6 am to drop me off at the airport so we loaded two very sleepy boys into the car and headed to the airport. On the way, a sleepy Seth asked "Daddy, did you bring my birthday ring?" As I pulled it out to show him I was so glad I had actually remembered to bring it.

The smile on his face said it all to me.

Back from Vegas!

My blogging has been light because I have been in Las Vegas the last several days. I got back yesterday and was it a day. I spent 5 hours in the emergency room (everything is fine) and then another 11 hours in airports or on an airplane. Want to trade days?