{Just Us Kings}

In January I started eating better and working out. Last week I stepped on the scale to see 306. That’s down 16 lbs from where I started just a few weeks ago. I’m getting there, headed in the right direction. I’ll probably check weight/body fat one more time before I go on hiatus Wednesday for the rest of the week (more on that later). I’m hoping that my body fat % is closure to 20% than 30% this time. Its been a good feeling working out. I feel better and Kristie says that I’m looking good (which is the most important reason)! The goal is to get under 20% body fat again. It is very obtainable and will be a very good place for me. I’m thinking that I’ll be in the 280’s when that happens. I haven’t been 280 since high school! WOW. I keep thinking of this verse as I go through this experience.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 25:28

In other words, VULNERABLE. It has been hard the last few days. Kristie has been baking. Cookies, granola, puppy chow… I mean, come on! Help a guy out. I am blessed with a tremendous chef and baker. A blessing and a curse for the big man! Plus people have brought meals, which contain foods that look and taste better than my chicken breast, fish fillet or ground beef with vegetables. HELLO PASTA!

Speaking of Kristie, this Wednesday is the day she goes under the knife one more time for her 4th C-section. Stay tuned here for updates. Also check out my twitter feed on the right. Emails, birth announcements and phone calls will find their way to some of you. Can’t wait to share our joy with ya’ll!

Oh man, it’s been a long time since I’ve written on here… months.

So, kids and family are doing well. I’ve been busy with work. We’re trying to make the most of this summer and do things in St. Louis that we haven’t done before.

We’re trying to watch less TV (Tivo is off now) so, I’m making an effort to read more. I had great intentions to start a 2009 reading list and power through it, but I’m still on the same book. That is very sad. As I’m reading more this summer, I’m going to write more.

So, until I have something new to say (which is hopefully sooner rather than later)…

Yesterday was a big day around here. 30 years have come and gone and I’m that much older and wiser. The funny thing is, I don’t feel like I’m 30. It didn’t come over as the milestone I’ve been picturing it to be.
It could be a lot of things really. It’s strange not being established in a career right now. I honestly hoped that I would still be playing football at this point but God has greater plans for our lives. He has taken us on an interesting trip that results in where we are today.
Today we are in a good place. We are blessed more that most of the world.

I could make a list all day of the blessings we have. Simple blessing that we take for granted everyday. When I woke up this morning, I could see. I can walk and run, pick up my kids, talk with my friends. It’s the little things that we overlook. Money, jobs, college education; there is so much we cold be worrying about. Leave these for another day. Today I will seek the Lord’s face. I will trust and obey. I will surrender myself to His will and ask how I can be a part of what He is doing, not what can He do for me.
These words get me through times like we are going through now. Both personally and economically, and as a international community.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mat 6:25-34)

Blessed are you O Lord, who clothes us and feeds us. You O Lord who love us more than all of creation to want relationship with us. Thank you Father for your mercy and your grace. You knew we would need it. Lord bless my next 30 years a fraction of the blessing I’ve already received and I will be a very blessed man.

last thursday, i was let go from my job.  the housing market finally took me as a downsizing victim. so, i´ll have a little time off. some of you know that we had an offer accepted on a house and were about 3 weeks away from closing.  we will not be closing that soon, but are going to hold off for a while to see if i can come up with some employment.  most likely we will not get the house.  unfortunately, that means we´ll lose any money we´ve put in so far.  disappointing.

i have already had a phone interview with another company last friday and i sent my resume to them over the weekend.  i have forwarded my resume on to a few other friends who will keep their eyes and ears open for me.  i have found that the easiest way to find a new job is to see who you know and who they know, etc…

i´m wondering if there isn´t something i can do back in the IT field.  i really do enjoy communication technology.

well, that´s it for now.  we´ll keep you posted on what´s happening with the job search.  God is in control and he has always taken care of us and provided for our needs.  He loves us and we are grateful.

Kristie´s dad, Phil, and I took Caleb fishing today at Castlewood State Park.  We found a little spot with some deep water and tossed in our lures.  A little hot dog on the hook and we had plenty of bites, trouble was the size of the fish.  The water was shallow and clear enough that we could see all dozen or so fish nibbling all our bait.

Caleb and I had our crocs on so we headed up stream through the creek and found another spot with some good potential.  Caleb got soaking wet playing in the creek and I got a little wet going after my snagged lure.  We didn´t catch anything, but we had a blast.

Phil took pictures between casts and we came away with a few good ones.  We also came away with something else.  I noticed what looked like a little dirt under Caleb´s left eye.  I mean right under his bottom eye lash.  I tried to get it off a couple times, but it was stuck and Caleb didn´t want me messing with it.  I left it alone until bedtime, when I had to take a really close look.  Upon further inspection (thanks to the help of Caleb´s creature magnifying glass), sure enough if Caleb didn´t have a TICK stuck on him!  On his bottom eyelid!

He was a brave little boy for sure.  I had to talk him through it, but I am so proud of the way he handled me taking that tick out.  Imagine being 3 years old and having to hold perfectly still while your Dad takes a tick off your bottom eyelid right under your eyelash, WITH A PAIR OF TWEEZERS!  He was AWESOME!  Two tugs and out it came.  We checked it out under his magnifying glass before I flushed him down the toilet.  Afterward, I gave him a piece of Hershey´s and told him how proud I was that he was so brave.

Happy Father´s Day!