New Year, New Friends, New Direction, New Life!

I am a man of faith and conviction. I eagerly look forward to the new year as 2006 was a year full of many growing pains. This last year brought much destruction around my life. I have felt like I have been wondering in the aftermath of a tornado. In my wondering, I have discovered new friendships and I seem to be finding new direction for my life that is accompanied by rekindling my faith and a re-commitment to it.

In life, there are moments, and people, that seem to define us, to point us toward our next marker, that grow us, that cause us much pain, that are filled with the unknown. These milestones serve as beacons of our past. They show us where we came from and serve to remind us where we are headed.

This past year was a cocooning phase for me in my life. I feel like I have newly discovered a part of me and my life that was always there, just not always visible.

I discarded a friendship this last year. I have no remorse over ending the friendship, though I do have compassion for this person. If this person is reading this, know that I will be praying for you. I know God can do far and above what you can expect He will or can do.


I Thank God and my friends for their love and for picking me up when I was down. I thank those have shown their friendship to me and that have become true friends:
-Tom, Kim, Johnny, Cliff, Rob, Sarah, Mark, Erik, Justin, Shelly, Adam, Tony, Joe, Joan, Karen, Daniel, Dean, Don, Tracy, Kate(s), Fred, Josh, Perry, Ron, Cindy, Steve, Scott... and... my wife.

I Thank my wife for arriving just in time. I know God will continue to do amazing things in your life. Though, you have to let Him. In turn, He will do amazing things in our marriage as well.

To my son, Zack. I commend you. Though you are only six. You listen to your parents. You listen to your teachers. You obey what you are told. You smile and laugh everyday, even if you cry. You care for your friends and you love your family. I love your hugs and our wrestling bouts, even though I cheat and break all of your rules: (which are)
-no tickling
-no kissing
-no zerbers
-no trapping you
-no holding onto you
-no wet willies
-no changing your rules
-no wedgies
One day soon you will be a man of your own. I look forward to that day, but I cherish today. I pray I can be the best father possible. I enjoy seeing you learn everyday. I hate when I have to discipline you, but I do it out of love. I pray you become a man of faith and conviction... and most importantly, a man who is respected and loved.

Good bye 2006,

Welcome, 2007!

Christmas Peer Pressure .... Screewged

We struggle as parents to let our kids know what the true meaning of Christmas is. Simultaneously, we want to give them a Christmas to remember. To me, Christmas is about giving. It is also as much about creating memories that will last a lifetime.

My son is 6 and for two months I've been hearing, "How many more days till Christmas Dad?". "Christmas is the favorite time of year", he says this as a fact, not necessarily as just his favorite.

I for one, am not to prone to peer pressure. I have been accused, on many, many occassions, as being the one who creates peer pressure in a group, but not prone to it (doesn't mean I don't give into it from time to time).

I guess I am voicing how tired I am of having the same family conversations every year with brothers, my wife, her family, my extended family, etc. about who's buying for who and how much. Screw it! I am not doing it this year. It's about giving, and I WILL NOT do it according to whom I am suppose to buy for and for how much. . . again I say Screw it! No more buying beyond my means to appease the "Family". It's the same thing every year.... don't save for it, Charge It! ... well, ain't gonna do it nooo more. They can either be happy or pissed, I don't care. I will give out of what I have, for who I want, and I will give what comes from me and not the latest Techno-Gotta Have-Unique-Stand in Line-no-ones got-Advertising on TV or the nearest billboard. Screw-It!

Merry Christmas!