Still Here :)

I'm still around, just have taken a sabbatical to do some regrouping related to the family and priorities. The kids are well and we're getting things done. Here's a couple pix. More to come...

Finally...

We had a big visit at work by some VPs and other important types which has kept me quite busy for a couple weeks. Maddie had a great time in Texas with her aunts and uncles and cousins and starts 4H camp next week, and also made friends on her first solo plane rides. Katy is awesome and we love having her here. Chris has had some health related issues lately, but is fighting through them. Good quote in my inbox this morning: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:27

Early Education

Ok, that Einstein guy, you know - the one that's a baby with all the music? Anyway - that Einstein guy said something about pie...

The girls- together (and getting along) at last!

Startin' Young

Ok, let's see... that big knobby thing must make it go, I guess I'll hold on to the big wheel like Dad does and, wait! Where's my dictionary???

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Been doing some thinking... but that smoke you smell is from the wildfire to our west. More to come as my thoughts crystallize.

Good Ride

I will, of course, preface this by saying ANY ride is a good ride. The past couple of days I have had the chance to go out and work the legs on the Fuji and they have been enjoyable and beneficial. Monday was 25 miles around the Marketplace loop and today was 16 out and back with some beach road time. I saw license plates from PA, NY, OH, VA (lots), and Quebec (one of those Smart cars - long trip in one of them, I wonder?) I learned: 1) I need to keep doing that to get ready for this fall's ride, 2) boy I love to ride, 3) This is a great place to live which we are reminded of as each season commences with the influx of visitors. Now I need to figure out a way to save gas and ride to work!

Been Busy

I know I haven't posted in a while and the reason is because several things have been keeping me quite busy. It's settling down into a routine now so I hope to be adding posts more frequently. On a side note Maddie has acquired an appreciation for fishing almost by accident. All she has done to this point is cast and reel and I can't wait for her to get her first fish! She'll be "hooked"! HeHe.

She's pretty awesome too!

That's my boy!

FROG

I have duplicated the name if this blog to illustrate a couple of points. In the last week God has been instrumental in my life in more ways than I can comprehend:

He has placed Himself right square in the middle of my marriage, since we haven't been doing very well on our own.

He has communicated in no uncertain terms what my role in my family is supposed to be and that He expects me to abide by it (thanks, Andy - another on the spot sermon)

He has led me through truly disconcerting circumstances then capped it with a pleasant Sunday surprise ( great to see Nate).

His still, small voice wasn't getting heard very well, so He turned up the volume. I have a goal now to follow up and be accountable to my God, family (immediate and church), myself and friends so that I may be a proper steward of what I have before I lose it all. There are habits to break, mentalities to change, issues to overcome, trusts to rebuild.

FROG - it's the only way it will work. Please pray for strength for us..

ESL? Not So Fast!

I usually take the news with a grain of salt but had to say something about the fact that the Dare County (where we live) Board of Commissioners recently passed a resolution declaring English as the "official language of the county". Oh boy, the irony is so thick on so many levels you could cut it with a knife. What would MLK say 40 years later?

Kerbey Lane Cafe

We lived outside of Austin for a while in Round Rock, which is profoundly named for...a round rock. More like a round boulder in the middle of a pond actually. Texans kept it simple back in the day! Anyway, Austin is a liberal oasis in the middle of Texas - a bohemian college town with a computer oriented, outdoors loving culture. Lots and lots of great places to eat too! Right next to Zilker Park are two great restaurants, Shady Grove, which is 90% huge patio under massive pecan trees, and Chuy's, which is a mexican place with hubcaps hanging from the ceiling and good tex-mex. Now for Kerbey Lane:

They have several locations around town serving 24 hour menus. It is a truly eclectic place with kids' drawings on the wall next to local artist's wares; a jar at the cashier stand collecting funds for the cook who has a sick family member; mismatched coffee cups; beat up booths; friendly servers and awesome food! Any place that puts avocado, cream cheese, green onion and pico de gallo in an omelette has gotta be good. We ate there many times with the kids when we lived there. We have a great friend who watched the kids from time to time who actually introduced us to it and we were hooked - love at first sight. Check 'em out! www.kerbeylanecafe.com. Just waxing nostalgic about great restaurants we have been to...more to come I'm sure.

Render Humble Service

I heard it so many time in my previous professional life. At that time it was relative to how we were expected to approach doing our job. We were charged with humbly serving our employees and customers from a servant perspective.

Now, thanks to all the repetition of that statement over the years, I am programmed to think it in professional situations. However it has been taking on a different tone in my life as things slowly cycle into a proper position. Here's how I envision rendering humble service now:

• To God through doing any little thing I can to help in our church family and living a life that reflects my growing faith for His glory.
• To my family by helping them grow strong in their beliefs and to help them to achieve their goals. By being a caring, giving, compassionate, loving, committed provider. By praying for them constantly. By role modeling good behaviors.
  
• To myself by engaging in positive, productive thoughts and disciplining myself to change poor habits into good habits and establishing achievable goals - starting small and growing them. By taking care of my health, mental and physical, and keeping the saw sharp.

This vision is not all-encompassing and will evolve as time goes on. I guess it reflects some of my value structure now that I look at it. Not a bad thing necessarily. Things continue to roll along!

Tricia & Nate

The worship pastor at our church and his wife (see www.confessionsofacfhusband.com, the link is on my links list to the right) almost got a new set of lungs last night for her. She has Cystic Fibrosis and they both have a new baby and they are basically living at the hospital waiting for a set of lungs that could prolong her life. It is an amazing story that is a testament to faith and trust in God. Check the link out. Our little family prays regularly for them.

Blowout!

My intrepid young son presented me with a gift only a parent could love (and that's really stretching it!) this morning. Yes, a blowout. A pick him up by his wrists, hold your breath, hope nothing drips, do not pass go, go straight to the tub, blowout. If you're a parent please have a laugh at our expense since you have probably been through it. Wow! Thanks for getting the adrenaline going nice and early Jack!

Good Samaritans

They come in all shapes and sizes and one showed up for me yesterday in a well traveled Toyota as I was struggling to figure out why my car was completely dead. It tanked as I was passing the airstrip while on the way to get Jackson from daycare. Went totally dead - no lights, nothing. I drifted to the side of the road and proceeded to get under the hood to wiggle (highly technical term) the loose battery cable that was the culprit. John was classic OBX, easy going construction worker who passed me then turned around and zoomed up. He assisted me cheerfully to resolve the problem and deferred any kind of payment; "Do it for someone else when you get a chance". Know how I know it was a God thing? The "God bless" he sincerely provided as he got in the truck to leave. Grace is rarely more appreciated than when it appears out of nowhere as it did then. Thanks John!

It Ain't About Me

I have not really blogged until recently (last few months). It has become sort of a journal for me that is really pretty cathartic. I can say also that I have viewed the blogs of some other people I know and have a lot of respect for the way they are able to communicate with the written word, thinking maybe I can emulate that a little bit along the way.

The purpose of this blog is evolving, but as nearly as I can say it, I hope to be able to provide a glimpse into the life of someone who is part of something much larger than they are. Obviously, from the title of this blog, you can surmise that I am attempting to live a God-centered life. Some days are better than others and I need to remind myself why I'm here sometimes, but I know for sure that God is there with me along the way. Good part is that I can share the joys and trials as they occur - maybe it can benefit someone else as we go along. I am grateful simply to be able to do it! As a friend has said to me before, it's a God thing!

Good News!

Chris is starting to help make calls and connect with people about the ride ( registration starts April 1 ) and we have gotten a very positive response from the NC chapter of the LFA! They want to support and communicate the plan to see if any other riders want to join up for the cause. Neat stuff.

You know what assuming does...

Wow! Sometimes you really stick your foot in your mouth and it simply surprises you. Ok, maybe not you, but I sure can. Ouch. I managed, through making assumptions, to truly offend someone today without meaning to do so at all. Now you know that making assumptions will make a donkey out of you, to paraphrase, so I will be apologizing in person to mend fences for this error on my part and get things right. I also intend to reflect a bit about the "files" I have in my head regarding certain things. Could be I need to change with the times and create more current files!