Saturday, June 30, 2007

Walmart & Waffle House


Thursday night Bryan and I had an impromptu “Dad and Lad” night. Since Bryan’s surgery and recovery he has had LOTS of cards sent his way…in one of them he scored a Wal-Mart gift card that was already burning a hole in his pocket even before he put it there.

So we went to Wal-Mart Thursday night around 8pm…as always it seemed like EVERYBODY was at Wal-Mart that night…I bet we saw 15 people from the church, so we spent some time talking and chatting with folks.

Bryan shopped for a new CD and got an MXPX disc, which is really good! After that we went over to Hastings to browse around…I found a DVD that I’d been looking for. It’s U2’s Vertigo Tour live from Chicago…good stuff…I think they played like four really old songs from back in the day (for U2 fans I’m talking from Boy and October!).

We then started to head home when Bryan suggested some Waffle House. I’m thinking “Waffle House??? Hmmmmm…yea why not, lets make a waffle house memory.” So we pulled in, gobble up some breakfast grub, laughed and made some memories. Even took a few pics of the night.

I love spending time with Bryan…

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Randomness

*Bryan is getting better each and every day. He's still pretty sore and needs a little assistance getting up and laying down. He's tough as can be! I'm so proud of my son...its been a pretty painful past few days for him when we have to change the "dressing" on his wound (two times a day!). He just sucks it up and goes with it. I can't wait until he's fully recovered from all of this.

*Went and saw Evan Almighty last night with the fam. Although critics really hammered it...I thought it was good. LOTS of great teachable clips that could be used!!

*On Monday I purchased a new game for the Xbox-360. Of course I got it for Bryan...hmmm, sure I did...anyhoo, we got Guitar Hero Two. Crazy game...all of us were playing it together last night trying to out do each other. Bryan seems to be a bit of a natural. The coolest song we have so far is "Sweet Child of Mine." I'll have to get some pics of us playing...Holly-bird can rock the house!

*Vacation is drawing near. I don't think I've ever looked forward to getting away on vacation as much as this one. It's been a really different/difficult year for us as a family...lots of challenges to say the least. I'll have to post about the past year sometime soon to give you some perspective. Soooo...we are taking off to sunny California here in a few weeks to go see the sights. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Sea World, maybe a baseball game...it's just going to be us three and my mom this year. I'm really enjoying looking forward to getting away...does that make sense?

Monday, June 25, 2007

Trying to kick a HUGE habit


For years I've been a diet-pop-oholic. I love the taste of an ice cold diet pop, I prefer diet Pepsi or diet Mt. Dew. But when I say I'm a diet-pop-oholic...I'm talking some days downing like TWO 2-liters a day.

So as of last Sunday I decided to try and kick the habit...at least try and really cut back. I tried this once with a former yute, Jessie Russell. I think she was a senior in high school and we had a bet to see who could go the longest with no soft drinks. Well, I lasted like four hours because my head was pounding from caffeine withdrawal. Oww! Jessie went like a year with no pop...my hero.

As of today, Monday, June 25th I have gone seven days with no diet-pop or for that matter any kind of carbonated drink. Yep, the caffeine headaches have tried to creep up on me, so I've been downing a cup of coffee to help ease the pain.

I'm not saying I'll never drink a diet pop again...my goal is to go at least two more weeks before we go on vacation. I've been drinking lots of water and lots of juices in the mean time...and they taste great.

Hold me accountable these next few weeks...even the thought of a nice icy cold diet Mt. Dew sounds refreshing.

God Tube

Came across this today while surfing around...it's the alternative to YouTube.com. It’s called GodTube. You can go here to check it out. Pretty interesting stuff…I watched a handful of videos. Check it out, let me know what you think.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

we're home!

Thanks to those who prayed for our son Bryan...his surgery went very well. We ended up spending two nights at UK (dang they have a incredible staff of docs and nurses). We got home this morning and Bryan is resting comfortably as a type.

We pray this is the last of the surgeries...docs seem to think it will be. He'll be out of action for a little while. These next few weeks he'll spend recouping...just in time for some family vacating! Thanks again for your prayers...our God is an awesome God.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A prayer request

Tomorrow our son Bryan will be having surgery. Almost a year ago he had tube placed in his side to help out things involving the colon. If you have followed my blog you will know that over the past year, it's been a real adventure to say the least...he's had several surgeries all related to this tube.

But tomorrow the tube is coming out...along with his appendix. So we would really covet your prayers for our son tomorrow and the days to come. Bryan is an INCREDIBLE, TOUGH AS NAILS, RESILIENT boy. He’s gone through all of this with an extraordinary spirit…something that I would have really struggled with! BP rocks the house!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Ichthus Recap...


Great weekend at Ichthus. Nice and warm, but hey there was no rain or snow or hurricanes or tornados!

Heard some great bands throughout the weekend...Here are some of my favorites: Skillet, Chris Tomlin, Reliant K, Newsboys, Toby Mac, Phil Keaggy (yup, I said Phil Keaggy...one of the old school guys who can still out play any guitar player there!).

I even went over to the deep end stage...this is where they would have your harder sounding bands...I mean really hard. Now some of them I must say were EXTREMLEY talented with the instruments, but the singing part...I just didn't get. I can't even call it singing...it was the monstrous, barking like a dog / throaty, thrashing sound that just made me go hmmmmm... I don't get it. I know I sound old in saying that, but I just don't get it.

The surprise band for me and the one that I thought had the best stage presence was Hawk Nelson. These fellas were rocking the house...great punky sound, heavy guitars; fun lyrics...even went and bought their disc.

Another surprise for me was the fact that my lovely wife Holly went with us on Saturday. Just know this...Holly is NOT a big concert go-er, let alone a music festival go-er. But she came along and we had a blast together. We both enjoyed dancing around to Toby Mac and crew. So that was plus having my bride with me!

Another plus, was hanging out with my good old buddy Robert (Robo) Coffey and his daughter Taylor. Robo and I go waaayyyy back to the college days. Since then we've been in each others weddings, been there for one another when our children were born...just a great bud.

So another Ichthus down...would love to go back next year, maybe even take Holly for two days!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

ICHTHUS 2007


This Friday and Saturday my son Bryan and I are going to tackle huge crowds of sweaty, stinky bodies and rock out to many bands at ICHTHUS. I've been going to Ichthus for many years now...I must admit I really don't enjoy it like I used to. The crowds are just too big for me...I have no desire to squirm my way up to the front (like I used to!) to get the "good view". I guess I'm just getting old...I don't know...

Anyhoo...we are going to hang out together...I'm looking forward to hearing some of my favorite bands like Newsboys, Toby Mac, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, etc. Bryan is really into some of the "harder" bands...not me...I find myself souding like my dad when I was a teenager listening to Billy Idol and Prince. It kinda comes back doesn't it!

I'll enjoy the fact that we'll spend some time together as a dad and lad!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

The last two weeks

I REALLY am trying to be a more consistent blogger, but sometimes things just get too busy. Summertime is here and things have been extremely busy...so here's what's happened the past couple of weeks.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION / ROAD TRIP

Two weeks ago I turned 39 (dang...I'm knocking on 40's door). We decided to celebrate by going to visit some best friends in the whole wide stinking world...the Brown family in Chattanooga. Went down on a Thursday night and it was our first official "family" trip in our new van. Had a great drive down...cranking out some tunes on the iPod, etc.

Geron and Lydia Brown have been dear friends of ours for many years...they moved to Chattanooga about three years ago (i think). Chattanooga is a great town...we basically just hung out together, playing cards, catching up on everything. One of the highlights of the trip was to see their little girl Cora...man she's a sweetheart! We had to come back Saturday night...it's never long enough, but we had a great time together.

Oh yea...birthday gifts that were received! Holly and my mom chipped in on golf lessons with a local pro here in Richmond. If you read some previous post you'll see I'm trying to get a little more consistent in my game. So a great gift! (I'll let you know how that pans out). I received some $$$ from my in laws...thanks guys...I'll probably use that for something golf related. My good buddy Geron bought me lunch at Chi Burger, Chi Burger while we were in Chattanooga...mmmmmm good! And I received several cards from friends. So overall...a great b-day! And "no" I don't feel 39.



MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP
Last week I took our middle school group to a week long camp at Crossings at Cedarmore. We got back yesterday afternoon...what a great week! My son Bryan is now part of our youth ministry so this was his first camp with his pop being his youth minister.

The plan has been that I won't begin my transition to my new position as Associate Pastor until we have an interim in place. So last week was probably my last camp experience as a youth minister being that we should have an interim in place sometime in the next two weeks.

Again, a great week with a great group of youth. But man, the schedule was BUSY...and it started EARLY. Most camps begin with breakfast around 8am or so...last week we were all up at 6am to make a 7am breakfast time. But I gotta say our middle school guys were all over it...after about making 3 to 4 wake up calls each morning.

It was cool to be there with my son Bryan...I told him that I would make sure and play the role as youth minister to him and not dad. Unless of course he needed money for something! Love ya big guy!

TODAY
Today I slept in...I mean really slept in. My body was so tired from the week that I slept until 11am! I haven't done that in a L-O-N-G time!

We went to see Oceans 13 up at Hamburg. GREAT movie! A definite thumbs UP! I am a big fan of the Ocean movies...the first one was excellent, the second one was so-so, but 13 is really good. Almost as good as the first. Same cast as in the past along with Al Pacino, who plays a great character. We ran into some good buddies from FBC and enjoyed the movie together.

Came home...did a little weed eating...washed and waxed my truck...had a pretty decent water fight with Bryan...now I'm blogging and getting ready to munch down on some pizza. I'll see ya soon...