Elon Musk and a kitchen sink? That's why I'm back to writing you ask? Yup, pretty much. Well, I guess the journey is much more than that but that's definitely a hinge moment. Can you fit 10 years into one post? Nope, but it's worth a discussion. My last post was 2012, I'll be honest after a conversation with another realtor yesterday I remembered I had a blog at one time but that was the extent of it. This conversation happened because she was encouraging me to pursue my dream and write. She told me I should get a blog. The irony is two days before that I logged back into Twitter, the first time in over a year. All because of Elon Musk. How many of our conversations have that phrase in them now? If he rolls out with a real life Iron Man Suit that flies, no one would even be surprised. After hearing about his purchase of Twitter I assumed it would be worth checking out again, so I decided to reset my password and log back in. I clicked on my profile, since a lot changes in 10 years, and that's when I found a lost coin. My blog link was listed right there for all four of my Twitter followers to faithfully read. I must say it's interesting to see where your head was 10 plus years ago. I thought about deleting them because quite honestly some thoughts I had then were cringeworthy at best but I couldn't. I think there is something special as I recounted those moments and feelings as I typed those words back then. I'm grateful for growth, for forgiveness, for mercy, and I hope you will show me that in some of those old posts along with the new ones I add. I used this picture of Ashley and I with a Marty McFly look-a-like because it's crazy how fast time goes by. Wouldn't it be crazy to be able to have a conversation with the 10 years from now you? Just roll up to a coffee shop and hope I'm driving some cool vehicle that runs on trash and let's me nap while it drives. Imagine having the ability to gain insight and wisdom the future you will hold? What if the future you never pulls up? We have now, this very moment, don't waste it. I wasn't promised these last 13 years since I started this blog, but I'm so grateful for them. Sure they have been seasoned with setbacks and heartaches but they have also been blanketed in love and I harvested wisdom from them. Each pain and laugh created a story, my story. Here's to the next chapter.

Spread the Wealth

Okay, just heard a politician on tv speaking about how the "financial pie" in America is uneven. A small group making lots of money while a large majority aren't and how he was planning on "leveling the pie". Alright...is that the governments fault? My mommies fault? I love living in America for this reason. If one man can any can. If someone can come up with a great idea and financially set his and thousands of other families financially free why not me? Why not you? We have 24 hrs in a day how we spend it determines a lot. I don't believe it's the governments responsibility to solve people's financial woes. If we would wake up and be honest our financial pains are due to bad choices. Sure, sometimes things happen that set us back, rainy days I believe Mr. Ramsey calls them. It's not that anything cost too much is simply that we don't have enough money to buy it. The whole point of this post is that we live in the greatest place in the world where opportunity is not limited to race, sex, age or background. The only crippling factors I see are our own self limiting beliefs. So how about the government stop focusing on spreading out the money and begin to focus on educating young people in schools on financial education. Then maybe our elected officials will truly understand debt and it's crippling powers and create ways to eliminate it. Could you imagine a nation that understands wealth and what to do with it!? Then maybe we could have less paid pro athletes and movie stars and more clean drinking water across the world. See the government doesn't have to "spread the wealth" when compassionate people are financially educated.

Plain Salt

Was recently in a teachers lounge and this was sitting on the table.  I couldn't help but think how many people are okay with living their lives like this. Plain Salt, it just reeks of mediocrity. Most people are happy with the mundane and feel to ask more is to not be content. I feel that we were created with an inner urge to serve, to be more and want more for ourselves and our families. When I hear the phrase, "you just need to be content" I tend to cringe because all I'm hearing is an excuse of why they quit trying. I struggle with this myself, this idea of contentment. I find myself questioning if I should be more, could be more.

I walked into Walmart yesterday to pick up a few items and decided to wheel down the baking section to check out the salts. I was blown away at the vast selection of salts. Kosher Salt, Sea Salt, Natural Sea Salt and the list goes on and on. What amazed me was that the Always Save salt wasn't the one I would have picked. Not because it wasn't the prettiest or best salt for my body but because it would have only saved me 20-40 cents from the name brand salts! Is this what Always Save Plain People do? Take the easier route because it can save us a little time, money, or pain? I read a quote once that said, "I will not trade what I want most for what I want in the moment." Yet millions of people do this day in day out. They trade the beach sunrises, mountain sunsets, debt freedom, financial freedom, and family vacations for the mundane, the safe and the comfortable. What about you? I now more than ever believe that we were not created with a spirit of timidity but one of courage and continual desire for growth. What is going to make you stand out and set you apart? What will you leave on this earth when you no longer walk it?

The Perfect Storm

I was reading through Matthew 8 this morning and came to the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the lake.  Jesus had healed many who were sick and we see the faith of the Centurion soldier just a little earlier who asked Jesus just to "speak the words" and his servant would be healed because he was not deserving to have Jesus come to his house. Jesus actually says "I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." But that's not the story I want to write about, it's while they are in the boat that intrigues me.

Matthew 8:23-27

"Then they got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came upon the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him?"

Here's what amazes me about this situation.  I've been on a lake, in a boat, when a massive thunderstorm suddenly appeared!  I was freaking out!  The winds and waves were crazy but the lighting sent me into a panic.  We were a couple miles from the truck and knew we had to attempt making it back.  That was the roughest, scariest, most painful boat ride I've ever taken!  Looking back it seems funny because we survived but during the moment it wasn't funny at all! So I can sympathize with the disciples, that's not what amazes me it's Jesus reaction that is worth pondering. The comment is "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" I think I would have been, "hello, Jesus we are in a STORM! Isn't it obvious!?" But Jesus rebukes the waves and the winds and it becomes completely calm. He wasn't scared or afraid because of His faith in knowing that storms aren't the biggest things or things to fear.

"Fear and faith can not co-exist." I've heard Johnna Parr say this numerous times and it's always made sense, but really hit me this morning while reading this passage in Matthew.  What are the storms in our lives that we allow fear to control us instead of faith? It was obvious that the Centurion's servant was very sick and must have meant something to the Centurion for him to come to Jesus for healing. The Centurion didn't need Jesus to come to his house to heal the servant but just speak the words, he had no fear that Jesus had the power to heal. Fear can be paralyzing. Fear can keep us from our greatest victories and successes and also cause our greatest defeats. But where faith exists, fear cannot. Do you have faith?  Faith in yourself, your product/service, God, your kids, your spouse, friends? If so then nothing can stop you from rebuking the winds and the waves and allowing God to do mighty things through you. God doesn't call us to a life of fear in the storms but a life of faith that they too will pass and on the other side is calm water. God bless and remember, today's outcome depends on you.

Is the Right the Issue or the Individual?

Amendment II states:

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Why is this being questioned?  I'm confused.  Why attack our right to bear arms because some lunatic shoots someone or some moron walks into a gun show with a loaded gun?  Should we be questioning the right or the individual?  When I was growing up a man drove his van through a preschool playground and killed a child and wounded many more. Do we outlaw vans and our right to drive?  Someone picks up a bat and beats someone maybe even to death.  Now do we outlaw bats and our freedom to play baseball?  Doesn't even make sense does it? How is it that the government wants to attack this so adamantly but they aren't concerned about curing the root of the issue?  Where is the anger and hatred coming from? Who and or what in this person's past has caused the initial wound that has yet to be healed?

Did you know alcohol use is involved in more incidents of sexual violence, including rape and child molestation than any single drug?  Why hasn't the government attacked that? Now, I don't think alcohol or our right to drink should be banned but how about exercising a little common sense and educating people of the dangers, then if an issue arises address the individual.  Are you getting the picture?  It's not the object it's the objective.  What's the person's reasoning and where does the anger come from?

This is simply a call to think before you act or re-act.

24 Miles...

I missed a day and I apologize for that!  We ate supper as a family last night at one of our favorite Italian places and when we came home with our bellies full I laid down with the kiddos to read a book and the next thing I remember was the clock at 1:30 am!

Today was beautiful, reaching almost 70 here and we took advantage of it.  After work yesterday I ran for a couple miles and today a buddy of mine set out to bike a few miles.  We ended up going 24 miles it was a great ride.  First ride of the season for both of us so we are sore but had a great time.

So what's the nugget in the story?  I can't tell you how many times today I wanted to quit, my legs began to burn my thighs cramped on mile 18.  I lead us down a wrong road and so we had to backtrack once which was a momentum killer! Here's the thing though, we never quit.  We never gave up and when we rolled back up to my friends garage and the emotions and feelings of success set in it was fantastic!  Darren Hardy's book The Compound Effect (a must read), shares that it's the daily disciplines repeated daily that created the MASSIVE results.  Simply put; not quitting.  So many people give up on their dreams and their families dreams when things get tough, maybe a wrong turn or choice, pain is experienced or they've never done it before.  What did you do or not do today that will compound over time?  Jim Rohn says be cautious of the little things like throwing our clothes on the bed or dresser instead of putting them away, not washing that one dish, not making that one call. Remember the key is not quitting.

#Hashtags

Living and operating in Twitterland and don't understand the power of hash tags and their value? That's okay because it's not too late! Here are a few simple and quick tips to help you get started!

1. Visit hashtag.org and type in a phrase, product, event, or service. (i.e. apple, stevejobs, marketing)
   
2. When wanting to get more views on your post place a # and something that has to do with the post. Example, "Baking my famous apple pie." #applepie #greatrecipes. People look for these hash tags and choose to follow you and glean information based upon your common interests.
3. Give people something worth viewing on the hash tags. If you are talking about your amazing pie then link the recipe, don't leave us hanging!
4. Hash tags are a great way to find out about your product or service so pay attention. Want to develop better services or better listen to what people are saying about a subject? Again, pay attention hash tags can allow us all to be better equipped in today's market.

Happy #hashtagging!

Life is Full of Choices...

Or is it choices are full of life?

Today I talked to the High School students about choices, probably my favorite day, the day it all comes together. I start the eight day program with students having little to no clue what they are walking into and who they are walking in with. I let them know my goal is to provide them facts, what they chose to do with those facts eight days later is their choice. At no point in our lessons do I cram down their throat my beliefs or opinions I simply speak the truth and always point out that it's ultimately their choice of paths. I always have students comment about that, "I love how you presented facts and then left it up to us." The final day we have a few things we cover but the main thing is we share our goals for life with each other. I'm a firm believer that if we have a vision of where we are heading that will help us avoid the risky behaviors that sometimes can seem to be the "norm" or accepted. If we have a clear picture it drives us to remember no temporary high; physically, emotionally or mentally is worth what we desire in the future. I've had students in my classes that you can watch in the 2012 Summer Olympics, one swimming against Michael Phelps and the other playing volleyball! How great is that? I have students that are going to be famous authors, politicians, school teachers, great parents, travel the world and the list goes on and on! It's so exciting for me to hear and be a part of the lives of these students who have a vision for their future and are going to truly change the world. The Bible says, "Where there is no vision the people will perish." Before the class is all over I always thank the students and here is my following comments to them and I ask you to let it be my final comment to you today as well.

"You are fixing to walk out this door and into a world that has consequences for poor decisions, you have goals, you just shared them with me, these consequences can destroy those goals. You now have good information and you can make better choices, your past does not dictate your future. The best news is the choice is yours and in those choices lies freedom."

Every 6 Months...whether I need to or not.

I just got off the phone with Chris Widener, on our first coaching call regarding goal setting. I mentioned to him how I wanted to blog more and how much I enjoyed blogging and felt I was decent at it. He asked my blog website, looked it up and said, "looks like you blog about every 6 months." Ouch. EVERY SIX MONTHS! Impossible, it must be more! Nope, every 6 months on average. There is power in blogging, power to save, power to change, power to inform and power to empower! I've seen this first hand from the non-profit I work with called Reality Check Inc. We were hosting a fundraiser called "Dancing with the NWA Stars" and had a "blogger mom", aka Kelly Stamps from Northwest Arkansas competing. Her blog has a massive following and the day she announced her help in our fundraiser our website had over 3,000 hits over night! Wow! So what if I treated taking other things that are important like I have my blogging? Like brushing my teeth, or taking a bath? That just wouldn't be right. So here is my commitment to this blog and those interesting in reading. I am marking off 15 minutes a day to blog about something that hopefully will bring value into your lives. It may be a laugh that you needed and can relate to or a challenge in my life we can discuss and glean from. So, hope you have a great night and enjoy!


*If you come across something of value you would like to share feel free to email me at undergrace3@gmail.com. I have twitter, etc and would love to connect in that way as well. I will figure out how to get that on my blog soon! =)

Thank You...

Recently read these comments in an email and it sparked great interest:

It's the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
It's the Veteran, not the community organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Today is a new day, take time to thank those who are willing to serve so that we have the freedoms we do. Next time you stand to salute the Flag or sing the anthem remember those who are serving in dangerous environments because they believe that you are worth it. Thanks to all our service men and women who so diligently serve. God bless you.

A Tale of Two Hares...

So I dropped off my kiddos at the babysitter's to head to work this morning and while I was scooting across this little back road I noticed two rabbits chasing each other back and forth on the highway. From about 200 yards off it seemed funny then the closer I got the more the reality of a squishy bunny set in and the chasing seemed to turn into mass confusion. The rabbits were just running in circles at one point then started to dart to the right quickly reversing direction and heading back to the left. I (out loud) said, "little bunnies you better get committed!" They safely darted off the road and into a field of lush green grass. Then it hit me, "Jimmy, you better get committed." So often we are like these two rabbits running in circles, either playing or in total confusion not sure what to do or where we are going. It's time we get committed and here are a couple reasons.

1. People are watching.

Just like that other little rabbit that was simply following everything the other was doing we are leading someone. I had a gentlemen I hold in high regard shoot me very straight the other night and for that I will be forever grateful. He said, "Jimmy, the reason they aren't doing anything is because they are watching you." I, personally don't want to be the one to lead my team, family, and friends under the wheel of a car because I chose not to get committed.

2. Your dreams/goals matter.

I don't know what that looks like for you. I don't know if it's material things or the time freedom, but what I do know is that it's YOUR dream and you are the owner. The only thing that stops you from achieving your dreams is you.

3. Your family is worth it.

I wake up every day with two little blessings and a wife who puts up with all my faults. If I decide to quit I'm not giving up on just me but my family and their dreams some not even born yet.

Don't live life running in circles waiting for things to change or someone else to get committed, you get committed and achieve your goals. Commitment = Consistency and Consistency = Commitment.

Second Day of Spring...

Wow, Second day of Spring 2010 and we end up with 10 inches on our porch! So crazy! Then on Tuesday they are calling for highs around 65. Jim Rohn who I consider a mentor always said, "You have summer, then fall, then winter, then spring, then summer...WRITE IT DOWN!" Cycles of life happens but there are always constants that we can count on. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. His final comment on the subject was, "if you don't like it that's fine when you get your own planet you can do what you wish." I am constantly in awe of God. I believe that as far as I can remember these may have been the biggest snowflakes I've ever seen, yet no snowflake is alike. Amazing. Have you ever thought about the true splendor of God? I'm amazed as I read through God's word how no one who came in contact with the Father or Jesus left the same person. Wait, I guess there were some. They were the legalism of the time, the law experts, Pharisee's, etc. Even though Jesus constantly showed them miraculous things they were so blinded by the fact of the laws being broken they couldn't see the beauty in the Father. The beauty that He was now sending His Son to abolish what they actually treasured more than a relationship with God which is what was supposed to be the point. How often do we get caught up in the law (typically ones WE created) and lose sight of the fact that the reason we were created was to love the Father...don't overlook the snowflakes.

Man boobs...

Okay, let me just start if you are offended at this post I'm sorry but it's life...I found a picture that I thought was "appropriate" for my readers. Here's the skinny, I don't want my 30's to involve these. Just the other day I was in the kitchen fixing some supper for the kids and Caleb made me laugh and for some odd reason at that very moment I noticed more than ever a slight jiggle on my chest. Now, I'm not ignorant I understand I have developed some flab on my stomach but to feel my chest bounce a sense of fear and sudden anxiety overtook me. It was obvious that even though MY world stopped everyone else's didn't. Caleb had noticed the sudden fear over take my face and posed the question, "What's wrong daddy?". What was I to say I couldn't say, "well son, you're dad is developing man boobs and it's his only fear in life...", that just wouldn't have worked out well. So I began to laugh/cry again to make things better. Honestly, one of, if not my biggest fears is to have a gut so big that I lose sight of my toes. So, tomorrow starts my journey of dropping the weight. It starts with better eating and continuing the exercising. Pray for me and my loss of man boobs.

Thoughts on 30...

Okay so here I am, 30 years after God granted me my first breath and my mom held me tight in her arms. It seems to be a serious time of reflection to me today. What did my mom and dad think when they held me 30 years ago in an old hospital in Springdale? Mom reminds me often of how she hates the smell of tar because that day they were spreading tar on the roof of the old hospital and the smell along with labor was making her very noxious. My Aunt Cathy shared with me today her feelings of exuberance due to my head of red hair. Isn't it funny, I mean really. I have no fear of getting old. I don't desire to get weak or decrepit or die a slow death but age has never frightened me. I understand that with age comes wisdom and just one day closer to my eternal goal. For some reason this year, this day has honestly made me consider my previous 30 years. Tim McGraw has a song called "My Next 30 Years." Fittingly appropriate I listened to it this morning on You Tube and agreed with Tim. So anyways here's what I've learned in 30 years...

1. Life is not all about the goals but the journey you take to reach your goals and who you become along the way.
2. Two things that are most important on Earth. Credit Score and Integrity.
3. If God is for me who can be against me?
4. I am blessed and highly favored.
5. Speak life into every part of who you are; family, friends, job, yourself, etc.
6. Good books and audio WILL change your life.
7. Work Harder on you than you do at your job.
8. Drink more water.
9. Good health and nutrition is important.
10. Hug Ash and kids today b/c tomorrow's not promised.
11. Leave a legacy.
12. I am guilty but pardoned.
13. Who we associate with will effect our attitudes, goals, family, and income.
14. Butter still tastes good.
15. I control my attitude and my actions, no one else.
16. When I see the sun set in the west in all it's splendor at it's largest viewing, and darkness begins to set on my home, the sun, stars, and moon are only one tiny part in a vast space that God has set into motion perfectly and controls. Yet in all His splendor and creations He is most proud of me.

I love you, you are blessed even in difficulty, I believe in you, you will succeed, God is for you, He knows your heart, hug your loved ones, laugh, live. Looking forward to the next 30 with you.

Snow Days

So my job pretty well rocks. I get the opportunity to impact hundreds of lives of students while having a blast doing it, and, I get snow days. I'm like a little kid again. Everyone's praying for no snow and or ice and I'm just saying BRING IT ON! Okay, maybe not the ice but you know what I mean. We have had one of the coldest winters I can remember since I was a little kid. I haven't seen snow stay on the ground this long in years. With another "chance" of a snow tonight it might mean another snow day or two to finish out the week. Sweet. The high on Friday is 5...yeah, I said 5. Wow...looks like I'll be hitting up my new found Atari. Sure I could spend 300 bucks on a system or 50 bucks for 2 with 43 games and joysticks and paddles...yeah...that's right. Brad Paisley is right, welcome to the future. We thought that was intense and when Pit came out the graphics were astounding! Now we play games that are so life like I feel guilty for shooting someone. Anywho. Hope all is well in Blog land for anyone bored enough to have followed along this far. Good day and God bless. I mean that.

Spinning is for GIRLS!

So this was my comment when I told my good friend who had started a spinning class in the summer. He and another close friend told me that I needed to get my large rump on a bike and see what I thought. For those who are clueless a spinning class is a class where a group of girls gather in a room and ride bikes. Or so I thought.... My buddy I was speaking has lost over 60 lbs just in this spinning class alone so I was a little inquisitive to what really went on in the room. Recently Ash and her friend Amy joined a spinning class at the gym. She came home the first night and was sore for a week solid before she went back to her next class. After the second class I think she went 3 times that week. She's addicted. Now, I'm out of shape but I'm not dead. I bike once a month whether I need it or not, and periodically I go to the gym and walk around looking at all the cool machines, sometimes I'll hit the punching bag just to make sure I still got it. Then I'll go back to the locker room and head home. So last night we worked out mom picking up the kids so we could go to spinning class together. I got there at 3:45 shot baskets for 15 minutes, then went to the pool and continued my triathlon training (more about that ludicrous thought later). After 20 minutes of nearly drowning in the pool (okay 10 minutes swimming, 5 minutes in spa, and 5 minutes changing clothes), I hit the weights. I thought since I was fixing to do a little bicycling I had better stay away from the lower body. It's important to note that I do the duck approach. I tend to circle the machines checking out how difficult it looks then after I see other ducks on it I will lower and eventually land on the machine. I kept peering over my machines noticing that all the people entering the spinning class were of the opposite gender. Ash showed up changed and I boldly walked into the little bike class. Now, I left out some important details about spinning class that everyone else did too. There is an instructor in the front on a "stage" with her own personal bike. Sure she looks harmless but you might as well give her five stars slapped right on her shoulder because this woman is a General of the biking world. So we hop on our bikes and Drill Sargent cyclist woman hits her ipod and says, "let's warm up!" After about a minute I was sitting on my bike, still peddling, legs throbbing, while she yells from the front "everyone up, everyone up!" Exaggeration stops here. I couldn't...my legs were mush, Ash peers over at me after about 3 minutes and says, "are you serious this is still warm ups!" I was serious. I wanted to quit...no joke. It hurt. After about 15 minutes I look around the room and the only other person sitting as they spun as much as me was a woman who had to been approaching 60! After the class was over I went up to the instructor and thanked her and told her I could have done it but since I'd had such a rigorous work out before hand not knowing what to expect I had obviously over done it. Then I explained to her and the other ladies that those weren't really tears I just sweat from my eyes when I work out.

Every Choice Matters...

What a whirlwind the last few days have been! For those who have not heard Tobias Lyon's name let me share the story in brief. Tobias Lyons, 25 asked a 14 year old girl for sex and another for nude pictures. He worked for Tree of Life Preventative Maintenance Inc. in Fort Smith, Arkansas. They just so happened to have a program called Reality Check that also "taught" abstinence. Tree of Life is a faith based organization which even added great value to the media. Such headlines came out as, "Man who Preached Abstinence Arrested for Sexual Indecency" (italics added by me). Tobias, according to research was just married in June 2009. Now, let's look at the people impacted by one persons decisions. The young girls, their parents, his family, his young wife, the schools, Reality Check Inc. in Lowell that is in no way even tied to them, our schools, the entire river valley community, our community, the church has even taken a hit because of the tie of a faith based incorporation, and not to mention the thousands of students who may now not hear our message because of his stupidity. You tell me every choice doesn't matter? I tell the students in every class that I teach it's not just your future you could be ruining by bad choices but hundreds and maybe even thousands of others. Here is a prime example. I am in no way defending Tree of Life Preventative Maintenance Inc. because this isn't the first bad choice they have made either but I do stand strong in defense of what we here at Reality Check Inc. in Lowell, Arkansas do within our public schools. We teach abstinence as one part of our program along with the ability to set goals, boundaries, that you have worth and value, and know that you have someone that believes in you. Here's the skinny, what we do is changing the lives of hundreds and thousands here in Northwest Arkansas. I fully believe that most people don't have ANY problem with what we teach but merely that we teach abstinence. I feel strong that it's more of a "word association" problem too. It's not that they aren't intelligent (for the large majority) enough to understand that you are not going to get a STD/STI or pregnancy if you aren't having sex or using drugs, it's that they are afraid of a "christian" message. Let's be honest, "christians" or not the truth is the truth. 2+2=4 will always be true, believer or not. Our message isn't do this or burn, or do this and we "guarantee" you this. Our message is about a choice, your choice, and yes, every choice matters because it's your future.

"One of Those Days"

Have you ever asked someone how they are doing and their reply was, "well, it's just been one of those days." What does that mean? I mean, seriously think about just how generic that statement is. There are 365 days on my calendar so which one of "those" days are they referring to? This weekend I took Ash on a date to Olive Garden, seen a couple of really good friends from Clear Water, Kansas along with 60 bikers for Bikes Blues and BBQ. I believe that was the ruffest looking crowd I've seen at Olive Garden. We had a blast. Was it one of those days? Last Sunday when I came home from Orlando Caleb began throwing up, followed by Ashley, then her mom all through the night, was that one of those days? I just get utterly confused that's all I'm saying. What if the next time someone says that to you your response is, "that's awesome I've had a great day too!" That should at LEAST confuse the mess out of them and will probably even make them laugh as you explain. Who knows could even change "one of those days."

Back In Town

Wow, what a crazy past 11 days this has been from 11, 500 feet in Colorado to just above sea level in Orlando. From Central to Mountain to Eastern then back to Central...I'm so messed up! I can barely keep my eyes open right now. I will post in further detail later about my trip perhaps but just wanted to say I made it back safely. Caleb started throwing up last night not 4 hours after I'd been home, then Ashley, then her mom...all night. Madison and I are the only ones who have seemed, at least for now, to have escaped the horrors of whatever was messing them up. They are all at home (minus Madison she went to school) resting up trying to recoup from last night. My yard is 8 feet tall with all the rain we had while I was gone, sure the neighbors love that. I may fall asleep while on the mower tonight! Funny how life happens...

Amazazing

This is crazy...so there I was in my under roos finishing packing for Colorado when I realized that it was approaching 9 pm. I sprinted to my computer and eagerly awaited the moment. It's really hard to fathom but let me try and paint the picture. Bushnell binoculars on the ground along with business tools, and a few great books to read while in the mountains. There is a "lava" lamp that Caleb got from somewhere that plugs into the computer with hundreds of sparkles in it floating about and it periodically switches colors, totally mesmerizing. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, the clock. The anticipation was so intense I felt like our dog watching me grill a package of hot dogs just praying that one of those little bundles of mystery meat rolls off the grill and into my kingdom. Then it happened, difficult to explain really but within a second I feel my body begin to explode into thousands of little pieces of matter floating around the room. It's as if I was watching it all unfold from the ceiling of my office. Suddenly, I hear footsteps, it was Ashley. What was I going to do, thoughts of my children, my future and my skivvy's lying in the computer chair where I once set so comfortably. She called my name wanting to know if Caleb had brushed his teeth yet and as she came into the room infuriated of my not answering her question she sees me floating in thousands of pieces around the room. She, without hesitation, throws her hands on her hips and shouts, "for crying out loud Jimmy pull yourself together." So here I am.