Sand Art

This is kind of fun to do...sand art

Blue Man Group

This past Saturday night me and the fam along with my mom went to the Blue Man Group performance in Louisville. I've seen these guys on TV several times...Holly and I even tried to see their show while in New York years ago (with no luck). What a great show! Kinda hard to put into words what the show is about or what it looks like. Here are a few words to help describe the "Blue Man" experience:

lights, loud, music, very high tech, DJ's scratching, funny, odd, weird, dancing, things that made you go WOW!, little bit messy, creative, lots of colors, more lights, shadows, strobes, oh yea...blue men!

If you ever get a chance to go...go...it's worth it!

Going GEEK

For years now I've been an old school daytimer kind of a guy. As far as keeping up with dates, contacts, every day tasks, etc. again, old school using a good ole pencil and daytimer.


Yesterday I went GEEK...got me a Palm Treo! I've been researching these guys for awhile now, trying to get the most for my money and getting the most practical tool for everyday use...so I did just that. The Treo 680 is my new calendar (so long Daytimer!), all my contacts, e-mail, daily tasks and cell phone. Not to mention I can access the web and who know's what else. I heard you can download a death ray of some sorts on this thing! That's what I really want!

I'm a geek and proud of it.

MARCH MADNESS

It's like Christmas in March! Love me some college basketball...particularly the Louisville Cardinals (who by the way gave Stanford a well deserved BEHIND WHOOPING today). I was hoping to go to the game, being it was at Rupp Arena. But I had some meetings this morning and afternoon...but I did see part of the first half and all the second. Go Cards!

Of course every year our staff does a tournament pick-em' contest...I've got a few dark horses, but ultimately I've got my Cards going to the final game to face Florida. When I filled out my brackets, I originally picked Florida to win in the end. But tonight Bryan convinced me to put Louisville in the win column. He said, "Dad you can't be a true fan unless you have them going all the way!" Spoken like a true Cardinal fan! Made me proud...and I changed my bracket! Go Cards!

I hate being SICK!

Ugghhhh...Sunday night something got inside my body! Ughhhhh...not real sure what is was, but it laid me out all day Monday (literally!) and most of today. Some kind of stomach virus...whatever it was I think I'm on the other side of it.

I hate being sick...I mean I sometimes feel guilty for staying at home when I'm ill-ing, not real sure why...I'm not one that gets sick very often. I was trying to think back to when I had been this sick before. It had to be when we were coming home from Africa in 2005. From London to Chicago I was hurting something awful...and it's not like I was able to lie in the bed because we of course were on the plane. Luckily my seat was right behind the bathroom!

So...today I'm feeling much better. Even ate a little dinner tonight and kept it in! (Sorry for the details) Looking forward to going back to work tomorrow.

What made things worse today was the fact it was like 75 degrees outside! Tomorrow is a NEW day.

Weekend wedding!

There are a plethora of highlights being involved youth ministry...one of those highlights took place for me this past weekend. Before moving to Richmond, KY we lived in Stanford, KY (like a John Mellancamp small town!). While in Stanford I served as minister to youth at Stanford Baptist Church. Lots of great memories in Stanford, some really great youth that we had a chance to minister to.

One youth in particular was a guy named Kevin Deatherage...he and his family actually lived down the street from us. He was one of the very first youth that I met...he even helped us move into our house that day! I think he was in 7th grade at the time.
So I had Kevin in our youth ministry for 4 and half years...saw him grow up not only physically, but spiritually.

Well yesterday I had the opportunity to perform his wedding in Lexington. He got engaged last year and called and asked if I would do the ceremony. A great day! His new bride Brittany was stunning looking...most of Kevin's groomsman were former UK football players (Kevin himself played for a season or two) so they were giants...a beautiful wedding and a great day.

Day off...

Friday's are one of my "official" days off from the church...all of us on staff try to protect our days off (in other words not going in to work, even just to do a few things). I'm guilty of doing this a lot...BUT not today! I'm not even going by the church today...

So what should I do?? I took Bryan to school this morning...I'm now back at the house waiting for the plumbers to come and fix our tub. I've got boat loads that I could do around the house...I've been trying to get my utility garage all set up, making storage shelves, getting the basement cleaned out.

Hmmmm...it's supposed to be a really nice day today...I think I will take advantage of a way cool gift that Holly and family got me as a graduation gift back in December. I've got a season pass to Gibson Bay golf course...I think it's time to start putting it to good use

Happy B-day to the "B"

This past weekend was a big birthday celebration for our son Bryan. The celebration started on Thursday and went until Saturday. Bryan birthday is on Leap Day, so he's actually only 2 3/4 years old (11 in people years).

On Friday night he got to choose the restaurant and bring a bud with him. We went to Miyako (hibachi grill...hmmmmm gooood!), then we went to the Fayette Mall so he could spend some of his cash that he got.

Saturday was the party here at the house. Family and friends all came over to continue the celebration...Bryan's scored even more with cash, gift cards and if you look real close in one of the pics...Bryan is holding a ticket to go see the Blue Man Group in a few weeks. Mom got not only him a ticket, but for me and Holly too...ought to be a fun night!

I love my son! Hard to believe that he's 11 now...he couldn't make a dad any more prouder. Love ya buddy! And could you possibly spot your dad a twenty spot?

mom's retirement party

A few Sunday’s ago my sneaky sister and I put together a surprise retirement party for my mom, who retired back in January. Mom had worked for Sysco foods for about 29 years...that's a long time. She was the payroll manager there so of course everyone loved her!

As Hannibal from The "A" Team used to say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"...well that's what happened...and what a plan we had. We cooped up about 50+ people in mom's house (of course we both still have keys!). Lisa gave her a story about needing her to come home from a friends house...she did and whala! SURPRISE!

It was great time! We had folks from her work, church and of course family. My mom is something else...she is one of the most humble and loving mom's I know. She is still to this day one of my hero's for life...she has taught me so much about life and still does to this day. I'm glad she's retired now...I hope to see her more often!

Check out some of these great pics of her...doesn't she look surprised!

Gearing up for a b-day celebration

Tomorrow is Bryan's unofficial birthday...he's birthday is on Leap Day which of course occurs once every four years. So in all actuality...he'll be 2 3/4 tomorrow! We've got a big weekend in store for him and dang if doesn't deserve it...Friday we are letting him invite one buddy to Miyako for his b-day dinner (great food and a great show!), then we are going to the Fayette Mall to let him shop around a bit. He's become quite fashionable in the past several months. On Saturday we have family and friends coming over for a party to celebrate the "B". I'll have some pictures up afterwards of all the action.

Here's a pic of him from the Believe conference this past weekend...I love my boy!

a weekend spent with 4,000

This past weekend I took 37 of our middle school yutes and leaders to the Believe Conference in Cincy, OH. This was like the 4th year that we've been...and what a weekend!! Dang...4,000 middle schoolers!! Craziness, but a real blast.

C.I.Y. (Christ In Youth)is the ministry that puts this on and let me tell you, they do an incredible job. Great worship...great speaker...great weekend.

A highlight for me...my son Bryan went; it was his first conference since with us. I told him before we left that I would do my best to be his youth minister this weekend and not a dad (unless I deemed it necessary). We jumped around together as we worship in the "mosh pit"...at one point during a slower set he came up and leaned against me and grabbed my arms from behind...what a moment that I tried to really savor. I love my son...and that moment was just one of those "I'll never forget this time" experiences.

When we got home last night I crashed and was out. What a way to spend a weekend...4,000 yutes!

More surgery...

My son Bryan had some out patient surgery today at UK Hospital. They had to replace the tube that he has in his side...seems there was a leak in the old one. Everything went very well, Bryan is such a brave little guy. He really amazes me at how he has undergone five surgeries since July 2006. Most of those surgeries had been because of infections that would develop due to the nature of the colon and all the bacteria. Once his colon has been retrained, they'll take this tube out (prayefully by summertime!) So please continue to pray for Bryan...

UPDATE on a much, much less important injury:
My butt still hurts from the sledding acident!

A GREAT week for Cardinal Basketball

Lots of folks have written off the Cards this year in basketball...some even saying that Ricky P. has lost some of his 'umphh.' BUT this week alone the Cards went to Pittburgh (ranked #2) and beat the them from start to finish. Then tonight they went to Marquette (ranked #13) and beat them with a last second three.

Go Cards...I'm smelling the NCAA tournament already!

Snow Daze...

Got some snow today...finally! It seemed like all we ever got around here was a threat of snow, but not today. I think about 2 inches fell! So Bryan and I took advantage of the snow and our new backyard that has a serious snow hill. I took my first run down on the plastic sled...going pretty fast...hit a rock and I think I've bruised my tail bone! Dang, it hurt...still does. Kinda hard to sit down. Oh yea, the sled sorta got a crack in it as well!

Of course after hitting the rock and spending a little time moaning in pain at the bottom of the hill...rolling around in the snow...my son, my boy, my legacy, who was obviously concerned for his dad's well being asked the question..."Is the sled okay?" Love ya buddy!

Exclusive rare photo

Last Saturday night something rare happened...not just rare, but odd even. My good friend Greg Powell gave me his UK vs. Florida tickets (he couldn't go), but the only stipulation was I had to wear this blue piece of clothing.

Now understand I grew up in Louisville and have ALWAYS been a Cardinal fan. I like the Cats, but not to the point that I have UK apparel...that would be too overboard. But for my friend Greg, I wore this blue UK pullover...it was cold outside so at least it kept me warm.

My other buddy Jon Barron went with me to the game, and what a game it was...and yes I did cheer for the Cats. But it was sorta hot in Rupp Arena, I mean there were like 24,000+ fans there...so the UK pullover came off from the get go.

It was a great night of basketball...experienced some very passionate UK fans...or should I say scary passionate fans! The Cats fell short because they couldn't hit the three or shoot free throws...but what a good time...except for this strange rash that I got all over my upper body...had to be that pullover.

Thanks Greg for the tickets!

Surprise for Holly

Finally! After 13 years of marriage to my best friend...I finally surprised her with something. Now, let me make this clear...Holly does not like surprises in any form or fashion. But last night for a Valentines Date I got her good.

Holly has always wanted to ride in a limousine...didn't matter where to, she just wanted to ride in one. So yesterday I told her we needed to leave around 6pm to go to dinner...as we left and got to exit 95, I pulled over at the Shell station to go in and buy some gum (I was stalling!) About 5 minutes later up pulls the big ole' white stretch limo that I had arranged. She was a hoot as she saw it drive up...we got in and then we went to dinner at Malone's in Lexington (mmmmm-gooooood!).

It was a great night together, lots of fun riding in the limo...after dinner we went over to Barnes and Noble to browse for awhile. Kinda odd getting out of a limo in front of a book store, or for that matter at a restaurant. People are starring thinking, 'who are they.' In which my reply would have been NOBODY!

We then headed back home...David Kelley (our driver and good friend) dropped us off at the Shell station where the car was parked. I'm sure the Shell station doesn't see that sort of thing too often!

I love my wife! I mean I'm really crazy about her! She has blessed my life so much...here's to many more years together Bird!

Old Crow Medicine Show

Something maybe you didn't know about me...I'm a fan of bluegrass music. No really, I am...I've always enjoyed this very unique genre of music. Maybe because I’m a guitar player and one of the first songs I ever learned was ‘Rocky Top.’

Tonight after I dropped Bryan off for aikido, I figured I had about an hour and a half to kill…I had heard that a bluegrass concert was going on at EKU (now I’m thinking bluegrass and college students? No way!) Way! Soooo I headed over to Brock auditorium and scored me a ticket (it was a sell out!). The band…Old Crow Medicine Show…WHO? Never heard of them, but they had a huge following…I guess sorta like one of those underground cult followings.

ANYhow…got to listen in on about 6 or 7 songs and wow! Very talented musicians, very versatile musicians…I found myself tapping my toes a bit…the crowd was rowdy and pumped…and all the while I’m thinking, ‘Who are these guys?’ You can go here to check out them out…I enjoyed my hour of bluegrass tonight. It was kinda nice to mix things up a bit in my schedule…doing something a little out of the ordinary.

Oh yea…it was THE first BLUEGRASS concert that I went to where they were frisking people before you went in! That was kinda odd…wasn’t sure what I was getting into at first.

Super Bowl

Watched the Super Bowl last night...our youth ministry had a "Super Bowl Bash", great turnout, lots of food (20 pizzas were GONE in 15 minutes!!), and lots of football. I was pulling for da Bears, but really didn't care who won...I thought Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith were two class acts. Did you see the USA Today on Friday? Sports page? Very back? An entire add was taken out by both coaches to share what was really important to them, other than football...very cool! I'll try to find and post it sometime this week.

If you missed any of the commercials, you can go here and check them out. Let me know what your favorite one was!

Until next year! Go Steelers!

Finally some snow!

After several promises of snow coming into the Madison Co. area we finally got some today. Bryan even got the day off of school, which meant we both got to sleep in a bit (except for Holly, she still had to be up at 5:45am to go to work...bummer!).

Anyhow, here's another sunset pic with some snow...I'm lovin' the view here!

The Karate Kid strikes again...

Last Saturday my son did it...he became an official BLUE BELT in his Aikido class. He's been taking aikido for sometime now and has really stuck with it, really faithful and really good.

So here are a few pics of the testing...along with a group shot at all of those who recieved their blue belts. The guy in the middle is my good friend Ron Boyd. You can go here to check out his website...and believe me, this guy is the real deal, I mean like Steven Segal stuff!

I'm very proud of my son for this accomplishment, just as long as he doesn't try to put the "mojo" on me! Remember buddy, dad will always be able to take you! Love ya!

Next up...Green Belt!