Happy Birthday??

Is it really a "Happy" Birthday when you are turning 40? I'm not sure why, but the idea of turning 40 is kinda bothering me just a bit. I know, I know it's just a number...or it's not about the age only how you feel...it's a number that measures where you are in life...hmmmm...am I missing any others?

Here is just a few minutes I'll officially turn the big 40. After church tomorrow we are going to Frankfort to meet my sis and her family at Carino's. I'm looking forward to being with my family and celebrating...it's just a number right? I shouldn't make it a real big deal, right?

Oh check this out! My birthday gift from Hollybird...2 practice round tickets to the PGA Ryder Cup on September 16th. I AM STOKED! What an awesome gift! And I'm taking my beautiful bride with me. She told me I could take anybody I wanted...easy decision there! Love you Bird...

Please don't anyone call me old tomorrow or any days after that! Bring on the next 40...now that's really hard to imagine.

Up's & Down's

As you can see I haven't been a very good blogger lately. I've been in a little bit bit of a funk with an array of life happenings. Now I typically am one who tries to live out life to its fullest...even in those moments of struggles and doubts, in the moments when life is just "golden"...in those moments of uncertainty...you get the picture?

I've had some struggles of late:
-Questioning God about life and death
-Parenting my beautiful son Bryan
-The church and trust

Those are the big three! I could speak to each of them at great length. In the midst of some of the confusion of them all I can see God at work. It's odd to watch, but I can really see God chipping away and sculpting a great piece of art in the end. I guess it's that waiting for the end that's tough to do...is there really an end? I'm sure there is, but who knows what it will look like then. And I'm wanting to find joy in the middle of the struggle...and I am!

I've been able to find some good rest the past few weeks. I went on a three day golf outing with some buds last week...great time (I'll post some other time!) This week at FBC is Family Home Week. That means no nightly meetings this whole week, and no services tonight...we encourage folks to spend time with their family, so that's what I'm doing. We love family home week.

Lot's of updates to give you...
1. Basement / Looking good and almost ready for drywall
2. The Big 40 is coming this Sunday...my birfday
3. Holly's big birthday present to me
4. We got a new cat

Whewww...

Been awhile since I last posted...it's been an overwhelmingly past few weeks. I'll get back into "blogging" mode here soon. God is faithful and true...enough said!

Sparks the Cat

Sad day today...our cat Sparks died. This was the first "real" family pet that we've had. Bryan had a hamster once, even a fish a time or two. But this cat was part of our family for almost 7 years.

It was pretty unexpected...Bryan was home with her this morning, Holly was headed to the grocery and I was coming back from a deacon's retreat. Apparently Sparks had coughed a little while, kinda like all cats do when they get a hair ball...but then Bryan said she just fell over and died. Pretty traumatic stuff for Bryan being here by himself. He called Holly and she came home immediately. They called me as we were already headed home from the retreat.

I got home...we all shed some tears...we then took Sparks and buried her in the back yard.

I know some may read this and think, "oh it was just a cat!" But you would then be wrong...because she was part of our family. There's something very therapeutic about pets...Sparks was able to make us smile and laugh...then there were those times when she would just curl up to you and sleep.

Dang I'm going to miss that cat. Please pray for Bryan...pretty tough stuff for our little guy...for that matter pray for all of us, it's been a tough day.

Stupid Lawn Mower

Today I took a half day off...I'm helping lead a deacons retreat this weekend as well as a funeral so I'm exercising a 1/2 flex day.

The plan was to come home...and cut the grass. BUT my lawn mower wouldn't turn over...urghhhhhh!! I think it's bad spark plug, I hope...so Holly is picking one up on her way home thus saving me a trip to the hardware store.

I don't mind cutting grass, actually I enjoy it...I typically do some serious thinking about life...that seems to be the place where I get creative in my thinking. I've had lots of sermons and talks stem from cutting the grass.

Stupid Lawn Mower...