Happy Butter-day To Me (March 20)

For those of you wondering what in the world that is on my nose, it's simple...

it's butter.

Now I know many of you are asking why I'd have a huge glob of butter on my nose. In actuality, it's a crazy family tradition passed on from Jennifer's father and has become even more alive with my kids hearing, learning and continuing this tradition for whomever's birthday it happens to be.

Whether it's for me or my wife or any of the kids, whenever we have a birthday, family tradition says we must glob the nose with margarine as we "butter" that person up for another year.

Allegedly, it's based on an old Tibetian ritual of what they do when babies are born but I've yet to see any real documented proof of it's accuracy. However, it causes great amounts of joy for the givers and enormous amounts of clogged pores for the receiver. Thusly, yesterday morning as we were trying to get ready to leave for Austin, my family found the time to plaster my face with a large glob of Blue Bonnett and my wife just happened to have a camera on hand.

Lucky me, eh? LOL

While I really wasn't wanting to drive 12 hours on my birthday, we've had an absolute blast here in Austin as we're really enjoying some time away as a family. The ride down, albeit long, was uneventful and the kids didn't spat with each other too much so that was definitely something to be thankful for. Kris and the boys even had a cool Batman cake & balloons waiting on me, along with a huge pot of shrimp scampi on the table!! What a great way to be welcomed to Longhorn country!

I do have to take the Sequoia in for an emergency brake check tomorrow and have been assured that even though I'm a Razorback, these TX Toyota guys will not overcharge me one bit! LOL

Tomorrow (Thursday) we'll be doing some exploring in an underground cave and then on Friday, we're going to go visit Shamu at SeaWorld in San Antonio. Saturday, we start back for Dallas, where we'll get to meet up with GG & Bapa, who just happen to be there visiting my aunt, for dinner and then head into Fayetteville Sunday afternoon, hopefully in time to take the family to see TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). And then Monday, as the kids are back in school and life gets back to normal, as I reflect on becoming 38 and I realize half of my life is probably gone, I'll tee off for a nice relaxing round of golf.

Good times for sure.

Until then, I'm hoping to keep the kids from scraping the excess butter off the bridge of my nose for some movie popcorn.

Hope you all have a great week!!

The Day Before My Birthday

I'm in a reflective mood this morning as I think that I'll be celebrating another birthday tomorrow. I don't know where it came from but the thought just came to me that if I died right now, would I have done all that God's asked of me? Would I have even come close to obeying Him in all things He's intended for my life? Have I left enough of a legacy that if I were to die, people would say my life reflected Philipians 1:27?

Have I "lived my life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ"?

Hopefully, that answer will be more of a "yes" than "no".

I just got back from dropping my SUV off at the Toyota shop and had a shuttle bring me back. The driver was an 80+ year old man who reminded me that we should live each day to the fullest for the glory of God. We initially started off with small chit-chat but quickly found ourselves talking about how we've both been blessed by God's plans & protection for each of our lives. Although I'd just met Buster, I felt like I could've stayed in that van for another 2 hours and just listened to him talk about his life, his travels and his faith.

There seemed to be a sense of sadness, however, in some of what he said. Although he never mentioned any specific instance, other than his getting older, there seemed like there was something just beyond what he was saying that said there was some hurt in his life. I would have liked to have had that extra hour with him so I could have offered him some encouragement...even more than I was able to do in those short 10 minutes.

My prayer this morning to the Lord was that I would have the chance to have SOME sort of impact for His kingdom and that the glory would be for Him, not me. I hope that the presence of the Lord was felt through me today and that Buster didn't see "me" in that seat next to him but a reminder that God is with us at all times. I hope that I was able to show him that Christ lives in me and has promised to never leave nor forsake us...that He will be with us 'til the very end.

That is what I wish for you who read this today as well.

That you didn't come by some random website blog to see what someone's profile is like or that you may just be checking in to see if I've updated things recently...

I want you to see, hear and feel Christ right there next to you this very moment.

I want you to know that whatever you might be going through today, Jesus Christ loves you. He loves you so much that nothing you've ever done could ever make Him love you less and nothing you could ever do could ever cause Him to love you more.

He loves you enough that He came to die for you and regardless of what you have heard or read in the culture today, He wants to know you intimately...one on one.

Whatever hurt your feeling, whatever fear your facing, whatever trial or situation you're going through, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and His love reaches down from Heaven today to right where you are this very moment. Call out to Him and He will be there.

The Bible says "ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

Although something so simple can be so profound, never ever doubt the power or truth in this statement:

Jesus Christ loves you.

Call out to Him today and just see what He wants to show you. His plans and directions for our lives are so much more than we could ever hope but to see them come about, we need to put our faith, trust and life in His hands. However, remember that those plans He has for us "are plans for your welfare, not for disaster; to give us a future and a hope."

May God richly bless you today!! Have a great week!

Sock Hops, Springtime and Spades

Well, after another break in the action, it's time to play a little catch up on things. Recently, we did a little 50's retro thing where Kate had a sock hop at her school. A note was sent home encouraging both parents and kids to dress up in 50's style clothing.

I was a bit reluctant, not quite believing all the dads would be doing the same thing but was reassured a few times by my wonderful wife that we would NOT be the only family dressed up. As we walked toward the front door of the school, I noticed numerous dads and moms wearing after-work casual clothes, jeans, polos and relaxed shirts. Basically anything BUT a 50's attire!! I knew I could not escape the jeering glances and pitiful looks from moms & dads alike. The moms' glances quickly turned from shock that anyone would actually dress up to sympathy for me to disdain for their own husbands.

I could hear them saying in their minds "...and why wouldn't YOU dress up like that dad did over there?"

Sure, it was nice to get some brownie points from the other moms, but the other dads all looked at me like I was itching for a rumble. It was almost like they were saying "dude, what are you doing? Don't you know that I'm about to get in trouble for not going all out like you did?"

One dad, however, did have pity on my and told my wife that I should be rewarded with 2 days of golf. My wife giggled and agreed with him. I was grateful to my friend for I had only wanted 1 day but, as he told me, "I thought you deserved 2 for going all out."

Sweet.

Although I looked more like a Fat Fonzie and felt a little out of place, we all had a good time and the kids were more than worn out by the time we got home.

Warmer temps are finally starting to creep into NWA as well. I was able to go out this morning and play some golf. Well, I wouldn't call it "playing golf". It was more like hacking and smacking. The nice thing was I was the first one out there (amid all the construction crews and maintenance buggies) and for once, I didn't have to wait for the foursome of elderly men to finally wave me through. Even though it was an absolutely beautiful morning to watch the sun come up and take some time to reflect on how God has blessed us all, I left PLENTY of golf on the course for some other fortunate soul to find later on. HA!

Happy Birthday a day late to my sister Kim!! She and Jennifer graduated in the same class so that'd make them the same age...although I'll never tell. :)

My birthday is coming up on the 20th and on that day, we'll all be in the Sequoia heading to Austin for a few days with Kris, Dave & the boys. We are ALL looking forward to it, especially Dave and me who will be exacting some much deserved revenge on the ladies for their trouncing of us in the latest game of spades.

Oh yes, miladies...the wrath is coming and it looks like the King of Spades!!! HAHAHA!

Have a great week and in all things, may we strive to make our Father proud.

God is good all the time...