My Wife is Freakin' Amazing

I just wanted to give my wife some props. She is working tirelessly to get ready for our two week vacation in California. She pretty much planned our entire calendar of activities on her own. She made time with everyone who desires to spend time with us. Although our time will be pretty limited with everyone because we are only there for less than two weeks and there are a lot of people to see, she made sure that everyone had a slot (which was no easy task). She has been packing and getting everything ready for our trip. She planned our groceries and meals so well that we will be pretty much eating the last of our food on Friday, so that there is nothing left behind to spoil while we are gone. She's had to take the car in to get some work done a couple of times and will do that again on Friday morning to get the brakes fixed. She's written a list of things we need from the store for our trip and will be getting those on Friday (with three kids in tow). This morning as I was leaving for work, she was cleaning the house so that we have a clean house to come back to. She's been doing laundry, so that we have clean clothes to take with us. She's been a whirlwind of cleaning, packing, planning, shopping, and managing. Through all of this hard work she has not complained at all. She's definitely a Proverbs 31 wife. She's working hard without compensation, no breaks, and very little praise. I'm very lucky to have her as my wife and life partner. I love her very much and I just wanted the world to know!

Mom Starts Chemo Today

My Mom will be starting chemotherapy today to combat her breast cancer. She has a great and positive attitude. I am very impressed with how she is handling this whole thing. She's definitely a positive role model. My Mom is leaning heavily on her faith in God and God's power to see her through this. She is using all possible modern medical advancements to combat the cancer, but her faith is grounded firmly in God's ultimate power and strength. While I can't do anything medically to help her through this, I can go to our God regularly on her behalf and ask for healing, for strength, for no or little side-effects, and for a safe season of chemo, surgery, and radiation. For the God that holds the universe together, cancer is such a little thing for Him to handle. It wasn't God's design for my Mom to get cancer. This is part of living in a fallen world. We get sick, we decay, and we will all eventually die. But, God has a plan through this. I don't see this plan. As the bible says, "I see through a glass darkly". I can only see the small picture. But, God sees the big picture. He knows how this will all turn out and what differences it will make to everyone involved along the way. My Mom and I both trust Him. And because of that trust, we can both rest in His peace. I love you, Mom.

California Trip

We're getting closer and closer to our trip. This week we will be eating the last of our food, giving the neighbors the key to our place to "keep an eye out", buying snacks and groceries for the long drive and trip, printing out maps, calling hotels to make sure the reservation still stands, getting the brakes on the car looked at, changing the strings on my guitar, and so on. Most of this falls on my poor wife, while I work and make sure that everything is square at my job and that they'll survive without me for two weeks. We're going to wear ourselves out getting ready for the trip. Looking at the calendar of engagements that we have while in California, it doesn't look like we'll be getting much rest while there, either. We've got anywhere from 2-4 events on every single calendar page. It's going to be a whirlwind. Like the saying goes, we'll need a vacation to recover from our vacation. And when all is said and done, we probably won't get enough time with the people we love...since we will be spread so thin. However, I am looking forward to connecting with old friends, visiting with family that I haven't seen in a few years, eating at places like "In and Out", "Vince's Spaghetti", and "Northwoods Inn", and spending an entire two weeks with my beautiful wife and my wonderful boys. I am hoping that in the midst of chaos, we will get those rare moments to rest, connect, and take a moment to enjoy the trip.

Let's Get Physical

I had my yearly physical today. I brought in my list of things I wanted to talk to the doctor about. I asked her about my tendonitis. She gave me some anti-inflammatory meds and told me to keep wearing the brace and icing it down when I need it. I just hope it doesn't hurt this bad by July 7th-8th. Not sure how well I'll be able to play guitar with a messed up elbow. Practicing for more than 40 minutes kills me. Also, I may have tweaked a tendon in my big toe a couple years back. Nothing I can do for that. I guess I'll just have to deal with it. Cholesterol was a little high. Nothing that can't be solved with fish and more fish. Yum! All in all, I'm in good shape. No diabetes warning signs, despite it being so prevalent on both sides of my family. So, that was encouraging. She wasn't even concerned with my weight all that much. I want to drop 15-20 more pounds, but she wasn't concerned. With all of the scary health issues going on in my family right now, it was nice to get some good health related news.

Technology Sirens

In mythology, sirens were women or winged creatures that used to lure sailors to crash into the rocks by singing alluring songs. Basically, a temptress. In my life, technology is my siren. It drives my wife crazy because we can't afford to placate my addition to technology. I appreciate that she has the will and ability to do our finances and that she is strong enough to tell me no. If I had my way, I'd own every new gadget that came out. What drives me crazy is that this temptation is everywhere. When I take the bus in the morning, I take out a good book (right now I'm reading Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation"). Everyone else takes out their iPad, their Kindle, their iPod Touch, their tablet PC, etc. Everywhere I look there's another gadget tempting me....calling to me. When I take the light-rail....I have the same problem. Everyone, including broke college students, are pulling out the latest and greatest Android cell phones or iPhones. I try to keep my gaze to myself...so that I don't drool over their gadgets. Even at church, instead of pulling out bibles, people are pulling out their tablet PC's or web enabled phones and pulling up youversion.com. It's scary. I can't get away from it.

I understand that we have greater financial goals than wasting money on a new gadget that will become outdated faster than you can say "Angry Birds". Goals like someday buying a house. Or getting completely out of debt (including school loans). My poor wife. I can't help it. I love technology. I love gadgets. I'm definitely an early adopter without the budget to keep my habits afloat. Besides, they don't have a 160 GB iPod Touch yet. That's the size of iPod I'd need to keep my entire music library. I can listen to music for two months straight, day and night, without repeating a single song. Scary, huh?

Freaking technological gadgets! You temptress!

Goingtoday.com: A bunch of Crooks!!!

My oldest son, Garrison, wanted a Didgeridoo. Don't ask me why. He just really wanted one. One day while checking my usual round of websites, I found a Didgeridoo on goingtoday.com for $19.99. I did a quick search online to see if goingtoday.com was legit and didn't find anything immediately negative about the website, so I forwarded it on to my wife to show our son. Despite being very frugal with his money, he decided that this was a good buy and wanted to purchase it. So, I ordered it on June 6th. They used PayPal to process my order, so that gave me a little hope that this was a legit website. PayPal charged our account on their behalf almost immediately. The receipt I received via email said that the package would arrive within 3-7 business days. Garrison counted down the days. He anxiously awaited the arrival of a FedEx or UPS truck. When day seven came and went without a package, I began to worry. I used the fill-able form on their website to inquire about our package. It promised a response within two business days. Two days later, no response. I tried again. Same outcome. Joi found a phone number on the receipt, so I called it by day nine. I received a very poorly recorded voice message stating that no one was available to take my call and to leave a message. I left a detailed message and received no response. I called again on day 10 and sent a third email. No response whatsoever. Yesterday (day 10), I decided to call PayPal and open a complaint. They were very nice and told me that they would open a dispute. This would give the company 10 days to resolve the matter or I would receive a full refund via PayPal. Upon further investigation online, I did eventually find a website called resellerratings.com that had many similar complaints about this particular website. My son was heartbroken when I told him yesterday that he should probably not expect his package to arrive. I explained to him about crooked people who desire to play on innocent consumers and steal their money. I explained that unfortunately, he was a victim to this vile practice. He cried. Poor guy! It broke my heart. If this would have happened to me, I would have been upset, but I would have probably settled with just a full refund from PayPal. But, you don't mess with my kid! So, today, I contacted the Better Business Bureau and opened a complaint. Once I receive my refund from Paypal, I will be contacting them to open a complaint so that they will no longer do business with this website and therefore protect the community of consumers who trust PayPal to work with upright sellers. I'm angry. You won't like me when I'm angry, goingtoday.com. I've written this blog to further spread the news about this company's poor business practices in hopes that it will save some consumer the trouble and frustration that we just experienced.

Father's Day Festivities

I had a great Father's Day this year. In the morning, Joi made me blueberry pancakes and eggs (with ham, green peppers, and cheese). Joi and the boys gave me cards. The boys' cards were homemade. Garrison's card had a drawing of he and I playing Wii. Gavin and Gage's card had drawings of them running to give me a hug. It was cute. Then we went to church. Unfortunately, it was a VBS Sunday...so there wasn't a normal sermon or worship, but it was still fun. Afterwards, we went to Walmart because we had to pick up a couple of things. While there, I got some new sunglasses for our upcoming trip to California. Then we went to Red Lobster for lunch. I had lobster, shrimp, and scallops. Garrison and Gavin had broiled fish. Gage had crab legs. I spent most of my time answering questions about how many vitamins are in fish and how nutritious it was for a growing boy. Plus, I needed to show Gage how to get all of the meat from the crab legs. But, it was fun. Afterwards, Gage said that he felt healthier. Then we went to a new lake park by our house and walked the trail. The previous evening Joi and I went there on a date and found two beautiful bull Elk grazing about 10 feet from the trail we were on. Our second Elk sighting this year. I took a couple of pictures with my phone (see the picture I posted on this blog). We were hoping they'd still be there for the boys to see, but they moved on. It was cool to see them. This lake is in town across the street from a Starbucks and a King Soopers. So, it was unexpected, but I guess it happens pretty frequently. After the park, we went back home and I decided that I wanted to relax and maybe doze off on my Daddy chair....which I did for a few minutes while the boys watched the old A-Team television series on Netflix. Then we went to the pool, despite the impending thunder storms that threatened to rain/hail on us. I decided to sun-bathe (or cloud bathe) rather than swim, but the boys enjoyed swimming and splashing around. When we got back, Joi made a special dinner that I requested (chicken sandwiches, fries, and fruit salad). Plus, she made her awesome homemade chocolate cake (with homemade icing) with a side of vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmm...yummy. It was a great day with my family and I got to do everything that I wanted. Sometimes it's nice just relaxing and enjoying time together as a family, rather than running around all day. Thanks to my wife and boys for giving me a special day. Also, thanks to all of you who texted or called me to wish me a Happy Father's Day. It was a wonderful day!

80's Music Bliss

Lately, I've been turning on KROQ Roq of the 80's Online Channel while at work and listening to it throughout the day. I've been enjoying listening to 80's alternative music while I work. Sometimes it plays an 80's song that I totally forgot about. Other times, it plays the old favorites. The tried and true awesome 80's songs that I grew up loving. I've been enjoying my musical trip back to the 80's. You should try it, too. Go here and listen to some 80's awesomeness.

Disneyland

I saw an article that Disney raised their park admission prices...again. Effective June 12th, it's now $80 for a one day adult ticket (a $4 increase) and $74 for a one day child's ticket (a $6 increase). This is for a one park pass. If we get a park-hopper, it will be $105 for an adult (a $4 increase) and $99 for a child (a $7 increase). We plan to go to Disneyland when we vacation in California in July. However, there is absolutely no way we could have handled the cost if it wasn't for the generous Christmas gift that my Mom gave us. She basically sent us enough money for all of us to get into the park and have dinner. However, with the extra $29 that it will now cost my family to get into the park...there goes dinner. We already planned to take a picnic lunch with us (sandwiches, fruit). But, we may want to consider bringing dinner, too. It's ridiculous that Disney is making it so horrendously expensive to enter their amusement parks that even middle class families, like ours, can't afford to go. It's insane. I'm very disappointed. My kids are so excited about Disneyland. They've been talking about it since Christmas. I'm looking forward to it, too. I'm more thankful than ever for Mom's Christmas gift to us. If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't be able to go. Absolutely no way.

Living in the Land of Elk

On Sunday, as we were driving to church, we spotted two male (bull) Elk grazing in the greenbelt across the street from our home. I stopped and took a snapshot of them with my phone. You'll have to zoom in to see them. My phone camera doesn't take great pictures. They were maybe 50 yards away from us and they both looked up from grazing when we passed by to reveal their huge, beautiful racks. Seeing the awesome power of nature up close and personal was amazing. How can anyone look at these beautiful creatures and not believe in a creator? I love where we live and I love the daily reminders of God's power, imagination, and awesomeness.

The Mavs Win It All!

By no means and I am Dallas Mavericks fan. I like Jason Terry and I think Jose Barea has a lot of spunk. Also, Dirk is probably one of the best all time basketball players in the league. But, still....not a fan. But, I am a fan of anyone who can embarrass the cocky, media hungry, and arrogant Miami Heat. And the Mavs did it!! They beat the Heat in six games and in a decisive way with a ten point smashing of the Heat's super-ego. My wife and I were giddy. Way to go, Mavs! You definitely deserved it.

Difficult News

I just received difficult news from someone I love very much. I won't share the details here because it's not my place. But, I did want to ask for prayer for this situation. I know that's a very generic request, but God already knows the details. He has got this entire situation in the palm of His hand and He will never leave nor forsake us.

"Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.17  For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],18  Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."

2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 (Amplified Bible)

Cry for Mercy Reunion: One Month from Today

Well folks, the Cry for Mercy 20th Anniversary Reunion will take place exactly one month from today. The set list has been chosen. Words are being re-memorized. I am picking up my Strat today after $116 dollars worth of repairs (basically it needed all new electronics, some replacement springs inside, a sanded down nut, some adjustments to the neck and pickups, etc). Joe rented the venue and found a sound guy. Dan is getting a practice facility for the night before. We're getting close. If you haven't already heard, the concert will be on July 8th at Christ First Baptist Church at 7:00pm. Dave DePonte will be our opening act. Be sure to RSVP on the Cry for Mercy Facebook Event Page so that we know you're coming. It should be a good show. I'm looking forward to jamming with my old buddies and seeing lots of friends and family. Plus, I'm excited that my wife and boys get to see a part of me that they have never seen before. By the way, it's a family friendly show...so bring your kiddos. It will be a fun evening. I'm looking forward to it.

A Church Parodies a Church Service

This is pretty funny. Having been to a few churches in my time, this is mostly accurate. It was created by a church who are known for their church planting prowess, so it's fun to see that they have a sense of humor about themselves. Take a look!

My Wife's Book is Available for Pre-Order on Amazon

My wife's first book which was published earlier this year is finally available for pre-order on Amazon. Joi emailed me today and told me that someone had already ordered it and I immediately went to Amazon.com and looked it up. Sure enough, there she is! How cool to see it available like this. I know all of the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that she put into this book, so to finally see it available for sale is such a proud moment for this husband. Way to go, Joi. I'm so proud of you!!

Please visit the link (here) and pre-order yourself a copy. It's a great book and an entertaining read. You won't regret it.

On Top of the World

This past weekend was a nice weekend. I took Friday off in order to attend Gavin's kindergarten graduation and Gage's school play. Both were fun and I am proud of my boys! We got license plates for our new mini-van. I got a date with my beautiful wife. We did some swimming with the kiddos (the pool opened on Friday). We tried to take it easy, which was nice. On Monday, we drove up to Kittridge in the mountains and had a picnic lunch with the Ferris family. Then we took a 2 mile hike up to the top of a mountain top for a panorama view of the Rockies. I took a picture from the top. Simply beautiful. Then we went back home for more swimming and a BBQ dinner. It was very nice. I need more weekends like that. It seems like we are always running. It was nice to actually stop and enjoy a few moments of rest and relaxation. Also, I got the chords and lyrics done for the Cry for Mercy Reunion Concert and got them sent off to Joe and Dan. So, I feel like it was a good weekend with getting some rest and getting stuff done. Unfortunately, I got a massive blister on my right heel during the hike and that has made walking in shoes very uncomfortable for the last couple of days. I'm hoping it heals soon. Other than that, a perfect weekend.