Journey of my Heart

Potty Training

2010-01-27T11:56:00.002-05:00

I've got to start writing these things down.

The past few months Max has been in potty training...actually for quite a few months now. He graduated to big boy pants a month ago or so.

The process started with teaching him how to pee in a potty and not in his diaper. I think we started with putting cherrios in the potty so he had something to "hit" and then if he was successful in that he got m&m's.

Part of his weekly fun with dad is going to get milk from a dairy that we get milk from every Sunday. This takes us by our tree farm in Lowell and we often stop to ride the "red tractor" Mule ATV or "green motorbike" 4 wheeler. In the early stages his potty training was dictated by the clock...he didn't "know" he had to go until it was to late. So at some point on one of our visits to the tree farm I realized he probably had to go...so Max learned to pee in the woods and he thought that was great fun. Soon visiting the farm meant riding the tractors and motorbikes and peeing in the woods.

Last week Max and I went out to the farm with papa. We went for a long walk through the woods and swamps so I towed Max behind me on a sled. At one point we got to a path from snowmobiles and Max wanted to "walk by self"...typical two year old talk, at least ours. It wasn't long and I think he realized, hey I am at the farm and in a woods...its time to pee. He announced, Max pee by self...which means everyone stop so I can pee.

He was thrilled to see that the fresh white snow turned yellow...which he kept pointing out to me over and over as I helped him cover up his now cold cheeks. Which brings me to the reason of writing this down. I got a voicemail from Natasha today while I was in a meeting. After the meeting I checked my voicemail to hear: "I'm just calling to tell you that your son just opened the slider door and pee'd out the door onto the deck".

I'd say we can throw away the clock...he has figured out when he has to go.

Hernia Repair - ALL DONE!!

2008-12-16T21:15:00.006-05:00

Waking up was hard to do.

It's a...

2008-09-17T05:49:00.001-04:00

Having your second child is a lot different than the first. This time around for me has felt a whole lot different...the fact that I know what life change lies around the corner for us probably has something to do with that.

For first time parents to be there is nothing you can do to prepare for life with a child. You think you have an idea of what things will be like but really you have no idea.

For me this time around it has seemed surreal. To the point that I have had to keep reminding myself that Natasha really is pregnant. That is starting to change. In less than a week we have the Dr visit where we can find out the gender. I am a visual person and I know that when I see the screen showing those little hands, feet, and nose that my heart will be racing. I am excited to see that little face and to know girl or boy.

Dad went fishing and all I got was this life jacket

2008-09-08T22:17:00.002-04:00

St. Joseph, MI

2008-08-12T17:42:00.000-04:00

Tony Snow

2008-07-20T19:42:00.000-04:00

http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/

Catsup

2008-07-01T20:17:00.006-04:00

How is the lawn mowing going?

2008-06-04T06:37:00.006-04:00

This one is for all who wonder what exactly I(we) do at work. A couple of our projects have made the news and our good examples of the work we do...not lawn mowing.

This project was at the John Ball Zoo for their new Lion exhibit. We installed all of the plant material including some huge Locust tree's we grew at our tree farm, moved in all the soil, placed the boulders, did the seeding, and installed the green roof.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=93110
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=93123

This is a project that we just started in Grand Rapids called Cathedral Square. There is a huge amount of brick that we are installing along with lots of trees and a very large green roof later this summer.
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8421834

Lemons

2008-05-30T20:01:00.005-04:00

Despite a delicious kid's meal sitting in front of him, Max preferred eating the lemons for the water. He is one funny kid. You would think after one taste he would move on to his chicken tenders, but no, he kept going back for the lemons.

One year old!!

2008-05-29T19:52:00.001-04:00

Ha! You think this will stop me.

2008-04-22T08:36:00.003-04:00

This could be one of those "caption this photo" but let me give you the real one.

As Max began crawling, a while ago, he, as I am sure with most boys, he found the cabinets very exciting. You know, doors that were his size and the right height for swinging open and then slamming shut. Since some of the cabinets contain things we wouldn't want chucked across the room we purchased some child proof door locks. Yeah, I think this is like day two of them being on...meet Max Houdini, escape artist extraordinaire.

Riddle

2008-04-17T13:27:00.003-04:00

How do you get a 11.5 month old named Max to eat anything?

Put tomato sauce on it.

Max Walking

2008-04-13T20:06:00.003-04:00

I can walk...just not very far yet.

Basket Ball

2008-04-13T08:59:00.006-04:00

Max played his first game of basketball yesterday. He took on his Nonny (Grandma V). It was an intense game of putting a toy soccer ball into Nonny's magazine basket. He displayed his great strength as he slammed many of them home.

2008-04-07T16:15:00.006-04:00

Natasha here. For those of you who know Max, you know that he marches to his own inner drummer boy. Here Max is reading in the way that only Max could.

Actually he can do a little better job of reading than the first video. Here he is turning the pages. Sometimes he sits there and turns the pages jabbering away. I, of course, think it's the cutest most genius thing ever, but will admit my bias.

Max goes to work with daddy.

2008-04-05T11:35:00.005-04:00

Max-al Wave Protection

2008-03-28T22:32:00.007-04:00

Max loves bath time. We are in the midst of redoing our kitchen and part of the redo is a new sink. It's a perfect size for Max. The only problem is that Max likes to conclude bath time with about 5 minutes of splashing and this isn't your typical splish splash. No, Max likes to empty the water out of the sink by splashing it all over me, the floor, and the rest of the kitchen. Mommy has had only has one rule...move the paper towels. Recenty she added another, don't get the new paint wet. Ugh...how is a kid supposed to enjoy a Man Night bath with out some serious splashing. Thankfully with all the construction going on we have plenty of cardboard and not to mention a genious of a daddy. Splash away my son splash away. (It's Maxal Wave for a Max Tidal wave) I do have model #1 available...it failed during innitial testing.

Mommy is sick we are out of here!

2008-03-28T22:12:00.005-04:00

Natasha came down with the flu this week. Thankfully Grammie could come and watch Max so I could go to work for a half day. It was a beautiful day out so Max and I went for a walk to enjoy the spring like weather...before it snowed again.

Here are before and after pictures. He almost stayed awake the whole way around the block...not quite.

Garage Door Burgler

2008-03-16T19:18:00.002-04:00

Saturday, after we watched the dog jumping, we went for a walk since it was a beautiful afternoon. Max likes riding on my back in his backpack. It gives him a birds eye view of the world or at least our neighborhood. It was a great day to be outside; the sun was out their were big poofy clouds set in a deep blue sky, the birds have returned, and there were all sorts of people out doing various things.

After the walk we played for a while and then sat down for dinner. We did something that we don't often all do...we sat at the table to eat, all of us at the same time. It seems like we were about half way done eating when I heard something and Natasha turned to me and asked, "What was that". We both thought it was the garage door. She opened the our door to look into the garage and sure enough it was up about 6 inches. Strange. My first thought was that someone was either playing a great practial joke on us or someone was casing the neighborhood for a burglary. We returned to dinner and after 5 minutes we heard the garage door start going up again. This time I was sure someone was looking into breaking in so I ran out through the garage looking up the street both ways...nothing. Natasha had followed me out and we walked back into the house confused.

We both were about to sit down when Natasha realized we had left the garage door opener in her jacket after the walk and her jacket was on her chair and if she leaned back just right it pushed the button. We enjoyed a good laugh about that one.

Flying Dogs

2008-03-16T07:37:00.001-04:00

Saturday we went to an outdoors show in Grand Rapids. Natasha had gotten some free tickets. When she first told me about it a month ago, she sold it to me as an RV show. I agreed to go but was wondering, why are we going to an RV show.

It wasn't until Friday that I saw anything about the show and the events. I was thrilled to see there would be Ultimate Air Dogs!

It was pretty sweet to see. There were dogs that jumped 9 inches and there were some that jumped out to 24 feet. There was even one handler that walked backwards right off the dock into the water. Max liked seeing the dogs as they walked by but he screamed everytime the crowd cheered after a jump.

I am glad he is only 10 months old...if he was 22 months old I could see me finding him training Abby in the bathtub.

Toilet Flusher

2008-03-14T10:26:00.002-04:00

Last night Max and I were left home alone...always a dangerous thing. We are in the process of redoing our bathroom and I was putting some things from that away. Max had crawled into the bathroom to see what I was doing. I remember seeing him standing up against the bathtub and he was making his usual Max noises while blowing lots of bubbles. Things got quiet for a while until I started hearing the toilet flush, over and over. Yes, Max knows how to flush now. He had the biggest smile on his face, when I peaked around the corner, as kept flipping the handle while smiling at me.

We bought a cow

2008-03-10T19:43:00.005-04:00

I am not sure what you did this weekend but we bought a cow. No, not a dead one and not one that's going to be dead soon...it's a real live cow. Her name is Alice and she is a beauty. We bought her for the milk and let me tell you it's incredible.

A Max update

2008-03-06T17:50:00.000-05:00

So Max is now 10 months old...that is crazy. I am constantly amazed at the developmental process. It is like he learns something new everyday...not always good things. For instance he has figured out if he drops his fish crackers, while in his high chair, Abby will be his best friend. She learned long ago to park herself under his chair to feed off the food that was dropped from above. He is also crawling at about a level 9 speed and although he hasn't taken any steps on his own power with out holding onto something, I think he could...he just doesn't know he is capable of it yet.

I love getting home from work. I look forward to seeing what he has learned and seeing his face light up when he sees me. He is usually off playing in some part of the house, if he has heard me he will be crawling to find me with a big smile on his face other wise when I find him he will turn his head with a huge grin when he realizes it's me. That is one of my most favorite moments in life right now.

So I am off to see Mr. Smiles

Vacation and Spring is coming

2008-02-28T07:18:00.002-05:00

I'm on vacation!

Life has been crazy busy at work for me the past 6 weeks...and this is supposed to be our slow time of the year where we rest up for the spring time rush...hah! Last week I actually found myself wishing for that spring time rush because it would be a slower pace than the pace I was currently running. So yes, these 5 days that I'm taking off are much needed.

I am looking forward to spring. Warmer weather, green grass, leaves on trees, birds chirping...all of that. It is really not that far away...at least that is what I've been telling myself. I've convinced myself that even more now that I've smelled a skunk on two occasions, my sister saw one last weekend, and I talked to another person that smelled one...I've convinced myself that skunks hibernate and they are starting to "awaken" just like I am hoping nature will do soon. Actually, I am afraid to Google skunks out of a fear that I will find out that they don't hibernate and that their coming out of dens is a sign that winter is only 1/3 over.

I've also noticed that it is getting noticibly lighter in the morning and staying lighter later in the evening. I can't be the only one that feels this way about this winter...it seems like it has been snowy for ever. So here's to hoping for an early spring and that you see and smell a lot of skunks.

And just so you know it's 7:30 am...I've been up for 3 1/2 hours (I meet with a group of guys at 5am on Thursdays) and I'm going back to bed...until Max wakes up then its off to Lowes. It's a great day to be on vacation!

Listro Visit

2008-02-25T20:58:00.005-05:00

A champ....like we didn't know that already!

2008-02-17T09:10:00.001-05:00

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/7787722?MSNHPHCP&GT1=10937

Clap Your Hands

2008-02-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

Max is busy working on his trick repertoire. Here he is clapping his hands. He started crawling Tuesday, one day after his 9 month mark.

I can walk!

2008-02-02T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's been a big weekend here:

Max learned how to bite...thankfully not us but his animal crackers. If you put one in his mouth and tell him to bite he does it...then he laughs as we make chomping noises and say yes.

He can also identify Abby, the dog, and mommy. If you ask him where his mommy is he will look at Natasha and start to smile. If you ask him where the doggy or Abby is he looks all around until he can find her then laughs and shreaks.

Max also knows how to give 5. Granted the other person has to do most of the 5 giving, he does hold his hand up for it. He has been clapping his hands for a week or so, and now today he will start clapping if we ask "Max clap your hands".

And as you can see from the above clip he can walk around while pushing his toy. It's a big weekend for Max.

I am amazed at the development in 9 months. He still has 2 days before he has been here for 9 full months. I often find myself looking at him and wondering where in the world this kid came from. Its been an amazing 9 months...I am excited to live out the next 9.

Return of Man Night

2008-01-22T19:38:00.000-05:00

Natasha started a new small group that meets on Tuesday nights, so Man Night has returned! It is fun for me to have some time alone with Max...I hope he feels the same way, I know he does.

We spent the evening having fun...we guzzled some milk, played with his toys, and slammed down some squash. Have you ever tasted baby food? Let me tell you it doesn't taste good, so you aren't missing anything. After warming up Max's food I usually taste it to test the temperature, usually a bad choice. I do have a favorite...it would be the mix of Blueberry and Pear...good stuff.

Standing

2008-01-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

Max's balance is improving. Last night we were playing with his toys and at one point he let go of everything and stood there for a 10 count...at 11 he was on his bum. He had the biggest smile on his face. It is fun to see him figure out he is so close to being mobile. Yes, it scares me to think of him being mobile.

Appropriate today

2008-01-12T10:02:00.000-05:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does nothing to serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within all of us.
It is not in just some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

-Marianne Williamson

So I Stay Near the Door

2008-01-06T11:42:00.000-05:00

Poem: “So I Stay Near The Door”
by: Samuel Moor Shoemaker

“I stay near the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,
The door is the most important door in the world—
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside, and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men.
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it . . .
So I stay near the door.

“The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door—the door to God.
The most important thing any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch—the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own touch.
Men die outside that door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter—Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live, on the other side of it—live because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him . . .
So I stay near the door.

“Go in, great saints, go all the way in—Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics—In a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in,
Sometimes venture a little farther;
But my place seems closer to the opening . . .
So I stay near the door.

“The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving—preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,
But would like to run away. So for them, too,
I stay near the door.

“I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not even found the door,
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long,
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there too.
Where? Outside the door—Thousands of them, millions of them.
But—more important for me—One of them, two of them, ten of them,
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch,
So I shall stay by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
‘I had rather be a door-keeper . . .’
So I stay near the door.”

8 Months

2008-01-04T05:56:00.000-05:00

Max is 8 months old today. It is hard to believe that 8 months ago today we were at the hospital meeting our little Max for the first time. It seems so long ago and so recent all at the same time.

I often find myself wondering what we use to do with our time before him. Now at work I find myself racing to get home to play ball with him. He loves his ball. He hops up and down on his butt while screeching as we roll it back and forth.

He is half a step from crawling...the ball has worked wonders in this area. Everytime it is just out of his grasp he goes from sitting to almost on his hands and knees to reach it but just not quite...and then he pushes himself past that point and ends up on his belly, stretching to reach his ball.

He is also about half a step from walking. He has the shuffle going and has great side to side balance but doesn't quite have the front to back balance thing nailed down yet. When he does...watch out! Right now he likes to hold on to my fingers so he can walk around chasing Abby, our dog, or his ball. I can't imagine that he goes more than a couple months before he is chasing Abby around on his own.

I love him. I love being a dad. I love watching him grow. I love seeing my wife as a mom. She is incredible. I am sure he has no idea how blessed he is to have her as his mommy.

Salting Church with Daddy

2008-01-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

Max got a ball! (video and audio)

2008-01-02T20:12:00.000-05:00

Max got a ball!

2007-12-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

Do you think he likes it?

I was thinking 7 1/2 months ago he wasn't even here...and today he is catching a ball and rolling it back to me.

Christmas

2007-12-20T05:52:00.000-05:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA40wmNSW20

I heard this song this morning on the way into work. It's from Reliant K and titled "I celebrate the Day". For me, it really puts Christmas into perspective, taking it out of what we have skewed it to be for us.

My favorite line: I celebrate the day He was born to die so I could one day pray for Him to save my life.

Fangs

2007-12-18T06:17:00.000-05:00

The last week has been tough for our little Max. His teeth are on the move and I am sure it is quite painful for him. Saturday he was much more "normal". He was click to flash that smile and the sparkle was back in his eye...we also noticed the first teeth popping through on the top are his fangs.

Our kitchen has been reduced to four walls and thats it...so last night we headed out to O'Charley's for dinner. It is amazing to see Max interact with people and the affect this little 7 month old has on people. We have this sweet little chair that clips to the table top...there are no legs to it so if you catch him in it out of the corner of your eye you might think he is floating there. At least 4 of the wait staff came by and commented on his chair and his smile...which got him smiling more and more. The host came by and commented on Max's chair and smile telling us if we needed anything to just ask.

Since our kitchen is reduced to four walls we had no easy way to warm up Max's dinner...our waiter was more than happy to take his little packaged dinner back into their kitchen to warm it up for him...it returned on a little plate that was met by more smiles. While we were feeding him a mom and her two daughters were sat a few tables behind Max. He spent the remainder of our time taking a bite of food and then turning his little neck as far as he could so he could see those girls and flash his killer smile at them.

We ended up deciding to split a desert since Max was in no hurry to leave his position of people watching. As we got ready to leave most of the wait staff, kitchen, and host came by to say bye to Max. Our bill didn't include the cost of the desert and when I asked him to re-run the bill he flashed his own smile and said: "I know, Happy Birthday!" as he winked at Max.

I still find myself looking at Max eyeball to eyeball and asking "where did you come from?" and "how did you get here?". I am so blessed to have him for a son. He brings such joy to us. He continues to amaze me as he learns to grab things, throw things, bang on things, mimick my moves and sounds, and pushes himself to walk...he is not far away.

I often find myself in moments dreaming of what it will be like as Max gets older and is walking and talking. Whether its shoveling the driveway with him or him running the snowplow controls as we plow some snow. I could go on and on but I hear the little guy stirring in his bed...I am going to stop typing and go let him melt my heart...when his eyes turn to me and I see that smile and sparkle I melt like frosty on a 90 degree day.

Week 3

2007-12-12T06:16:00.000-05:00

Obedience to Christ
Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spirtitual act of worship.

Week two and verse two

2007-12-03T05:05:00.000-05:00

Christ the Center

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galations 2:20

I listen to podcasts from Mosaic (www.mosaic.org). I am pretty much addicted to listening to them...over and over during the week. The last series was on living an Original Life. One of my favorite quotes from it is this, probably because it speaks into the moment I am in:

The place you are at, may be the very context from which your calling may come. That God has postured and positioned you to do something in that place with those people and with those relationships that no one else can.

Man Night drawing to a close

2007-11-29T06:08:00.000-05:00

Last night was once again man night at my house...Natasha teaches at Aquinas College on Wednesday nights. Last night Max and I made the trip to Meijer to shop for some gifts for our work Christmas Party.

We do the game where everyone gets a number and if your number is called you go up and pick a gift to unwrap...of course the next person gets the choice of stealing an opened gift or picking an unopened one. It makes things interesting and adds some intertainment. I get to do the shopping for it which is a lot of fun because to make the game intersting you've got to have some not-so-nice gifts. Let's just say Max and I found some good ones last night.

When we got home we got out about every toy Max owns and played on the floor. I am amazed how much change is going on in and with him. Two weeks ago he could sit up with pillows propped up around him in case he fell...last week in the same position he would still fall over but had strarted trying to pull himself back up....last night he was purposefully leaning across the pillow to reach a toy and then pulling himself back into a sitting position. Two weeks ago he was starting to grasp things and really be able to hold onto them with out dropping in it in a few minutes....last week he was starting to understand how his arms /hands moved together...this week he is picking up things like his block of wood and beating it on other toys and daddy...yes he is a boy.

The other change going on in him I really noticed yesterday is his desire to be mobile. He wants things that are out of his reach and he is starting to try to get them. He also holds his arms out when he wants daddy to help him get up...and the only help I give him is holding his little hands, he reaches out grabs my hands and pulls himself up on his feet. He will be 7 months old in a week...I really don't see him going more than 2 months before he is walking....very scary thought for daddy last night.

I find it funny the things he gets excited about and will laugh about. He loves our dog, Abby. He will just start laughing if she comes by him...his laughter usually gets her excited, which generates more laughter, which gets Abby running through the house, which gets more laughter. Last night I was feeding him a concoction of carrots and I don't know what else Natasha mixed in there...Max was more interested in the dog than the carrots. He spent the entire time turning his head from side to side trying to find her in the kitchen...it wasn't until he was wearing 10 spoonfuls of carrot mush on his face, head, and hands that he realized she was laying underneath his chair eating whatever fell of him. That's when the laughing and squealing started again. He then spent the rest of his time in his chair leaning as far forward as he could to see her underneath his chair while banging his fist on the table...didn't quite finish all the carrots.

Unfortunately Natasha only has two more weeks of teaching left...we are going to have to find something else for her to do so we can continue man night.

I'm back

2007-11-27T06:37:00.000-05:00

Ahhh....I am back to blog land. It's been a long time since I've sat down and typed one of these things out. I've got a plan for 60 more of these so hang on.

It's amazing what 3 day work weeks can do to you. You go into a 4 day weekend thinking about all the rest, relaxation, and rejuvination you are going to get....at least I do. What I don't remember or think about is the price that I am going to pay when I return after that 4 day weekend. I met with my friend Phil and we talked about that...ok I complained to him and he listened. I really don't know where I am going with this other than I don't like 3 day work weeks after them as much as before them.

In that same conversation with Phil he reminded me how he has been trying to polish up 60 Nav verses ( www.navigators.org ) by the end of the year. Of course I agreed to be the "thorn in his side" for the next 6 weeks to help keep him on course. This morning I sent him another email that I hope will encourage him to keep pressing on towards his goal. In it I shared how I know, let me correct that, at different points in time I can say I knew about half of them. After reading through his list of 60 I realized how much of a crutch I was using the order I learned mine to remember them. His list contains at least another 30 and the 30 I know, knew, are in a completely different order than when I learned them. So after explaining to Phil that I felt like someone had reshuffled my nice and neatly stacked deck of cards I ended the email with: needless to say I won't be joining you in having all 60 by the end of 2007...maybe 2008. I hit send and began doing some work at my desk and then looked up at my wall calendar to see that I basically have 60 weeks until the end of 2008...why did I put that calendar there...no just kidding. 1 verse a week is very do-able. If you want to join along here is another great resourse: www.preceptaustin.org/tms

So this week is verse 1 of 60:

Christ the Center

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Max update

2007-11-18T21:59:00.000-05:00

Natasha here. Just thought I would post a quick update here. Jim has been busy hunting - I'm sure there will be a post sooner or later on the carnage that was pillaged this year. As for Max he appears to be working on some more teeth. He currently has 2 on the bottom. Here are a few pictures.

Max still loves his Jumperoo!!Everything is in danger of being eaten by the Max-monster.

It was yummy mommy!

Just relaxing in my PJs (sometimes until noon). In the bath with daddy and the Bumbo!!

Daddy makes a great bath toy!

Cousin Rachel and the girls came to visit recently. This is Grace, not quite sure what to make of this boy creature.

You lookin' at me Mommy!?!?!

2007-10-24T11:57:00.000-04:00

A few days in the life of Max:

Max watching the nature channel
Max suiting up To the wilderness Daddy!!

It's a jungle in here too!!Sitting in my little man's lazy boy.Let me drink out of that glass I can do it!!What? It's suppose to go in my mouth?

Love the changing table and my toes.

More adventures of Jim and Max

2007-09-25T12:16:00.000-04:00

Sunday night Max and I were home alone while Natasha ran some errands. I was watching a football game and Max was jumping in his jumper when Natasha left...as she left she said "I think he may be dirtying his diaper". I decided to wait a few minutes so I didn't get a surprise on the changing table...mistake #1. The game got exciting and Max was enjoying the jumping so more than a few minutes passed...mistake #2. After some jumping Max slowed down so I decided to lay him down under his toys...mistake #3. He wasn't interested in his toys and began fussing so I decided he was tired and took him into his room to lay him down for a nap...mistake #4. As soon as I laid him down he began crying and after ten minutes of crying I returned to see what was the matter. When I picked him up he began laughing and smiling...I figured he wasn't sleepy and wanted to play...mistake #5. So back to his toys. I laid down next to him and we began playing with the things that dangle in front of his face. Thats when I remembered the diaper that I was going to change 30 minutes ago. I scooped him up and brought him to the changing table to discover what 5 mistakes will get you...2 more of them.

As I carefully began removing clothing I could see the downfall of Huggies...they don't "hug" in the back. The poo was not contained and had migrated up his back almost all the way to his ears. Did I mention he hadn't had a bowel movement in a few days? The last item I removed was his shirt which is even more difficult when its coated in poo. This is where mistakes #6 and #7 happened. I had one hand holding a poo covered shirt and the other hand holding up Max who was standing on his changing table. Now when you are holding two poo covered items there isn't much else you can do. I decided to aim for the trash can with the shirt...which made it, but as I released that perfect throw Max began slipping out of the other hand which caused me to grab him by both hands in the poo. My reaction made him giggle and laugh. As he stood back up I stood there wondering what do I do now? I am covered up to my elbows and Max was covered up to his ears in poo. Not many options run through your head when you are in this position. I was debating kitchen sink or bathtub...thats when the Max fountain went off pretty much hitting me square in the chest. Then it was off to the kitchen sink where I grabbed the hand held sprayer to begin powerwashing him off.

Those are the adventures of Jim and Max and we are loving every minute of it.

Max rode a Mule

2007-09-20T05:33:00.000-04:00

Wednesday night is man night around the Versluys house. Natasha teaches 2 classes at Aquinas College on Wednesday nights so that leaves Max and me to discover the world. I know, he is only 4 months old so everything isn't always what most would consider "manly"...for example Wednesday night is usually bath night, not a lot of manliness in bubbles, rubber ducks, and paisly colored wash cloths. Max does do his best to inject manliness into bath time with a well timed fountain...the kind that requires an extra rinse.

We've gone for walks to look at the sky, we've hiked around our farm to look at trees and sneak up on deer, and last night Max got to ride on a Mule. I am not sure who had more fun, him or me listening to him giggle and laugh. We parked under a huge Shagbark Hickory tree and talked...yeah, it was more me talking and him smiling at me. I love these times and look forward to many more to come.

Sitting under that tree with Max got me thinking about my family. My parents lost their son when he was only 6 years old. This all happened before my time so I've got no memory of, didn't experience it, and never could really comprehend it. Sitting under that tree with Max got me thinking about what my sisters, parents and specifically what my dad went through in that loss. Sitting there with Max gave me a much deeper understanding of what it was that they lost.

These are actually the words of my wife, about an entirely different situation, but they speak so deeply into what I felt last night as I thought about the loss of my brother: "nothing angers me more than knowing that we live in a fallen world and that the brokenness we experience here is so far from the richness of our design in the image of our Creator". Her words are such a harmony to the verses in Ephesians that I've been memorizing so that they are apart of me: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Deer watching with Max

2007-09-15T20:30:00.001-04:00

Tonight Max and I went for a walk at our tree farm. With cool temperatures it was a beautiful night with a gorgeous sunset. Max snuck up on his first deer...with some help from dad.

The first picture is of the two deer we walked up on. Never thought I could do that with a four month old strapped to my back.

Max was very good. He loves to be outside; looking around at the trees and sky. The last few pictures are of when we got back to the barn and my truck...an evening of sneaking up on deer tires the best of them out, even Max.

2007-09-14T06:15:00.000-04:00

Max is all set to come help Dad drive the bobcats, loaders, and big trucks this fall now that he has his own pair of Carhart's...thanks to the Salvation Army.

Bath Time

2007-09-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

I used "Auntie" Angie's technique to get Max to smile for Natasha and the camera. It's a technique that requires a lot of arm and leg movement along with noices and facial expressions I'd rather not do in public...so don't expect to see me demo that one for you.

Bibles

2007-09-07T16:54:00.001-04:00

I picked up a new Bible for myself yesterday. It was more of a replacement one. I like having a a small one that I can put in my back pocket, slide under my arm rest in my truck, or stuff in my lunch box. It's a replacement because I already have one...but its in sorry shape. Years of use and abuse have been not kind to it. I've had to tape it back together on more than one occasion and I have used multiple types of tape. Most recently I had to break out the Gorilla Glue...which if you haven't used is the best glue in the world, it holds everything together. Back to my Bible, despite all the glue and tape some pages are beginning to come loose and I was afraid it wouldn't stand up to another day of use in my world of reading.

I'm on vacation this week so my week has been filled with a lot of going here and there. Well yesterday, between going here and there, I found myself near Baker Book House. I had already visited many other bookstores in the past month but none had "the Bible". I saw a lot of other Bible's, in fact, I never realized how many Bible's there are out there. New International Version, American Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New Life Version, King James Version, New King James Version, and those don't include all of them for different lifestyles; Children's Bible, Young Kid's Bible, Middle Schooler's Bible, Young Teen Bible, Teen Bible, Girl's Bible, Boy's Bible, Young Adult Bible, Women's Bible, Men's Bible, Backpacker's Bible, Sportsman's Bible, Hiker's Bible, Golfer's Bible, and that is just a few of what I found while looking for "the Bible".

Well yesterday I found "the Bible". When I saw "her" I knew "she" was the one. "She" is a beauty...she is a NIV compact with Black Bonded Leather (no idea what bonded leather means). Wait, that's not all "she" is also a thinline which means "she" is less than 1" thick. Oh yeah "she" is all that.

Now that I have my new Bible I am left in a bit of a quandary. What do I do with my old Bible? I mean you don't just go throwing Bible's away...do you. Are you supposed to burn it like a worn out flag? Do you send it through a paper shredder? Used book sale? Shallow grave?

I decided to google "disposal of a bible" in hopes of getting some direction...I did not anticipate 1,715,000 results in 0.15 seconds. That is a lot of reading to figure out how to properly dispose of a Bible...how come no one ever speaks on proper Bible disposal? Now there is a sermon title...feel free to use it if you like. After some reading in my google search it looks like burning and burial are the two most common methods. Burning being the favored method, they recommend a large fire that is plenty hot to consume all the pages. A man most have thought that one up...I am all for things dealing with fire. The pyro in me just smiled...many stories I have to tell Max, after he is 21.

Jumperoo

2007-08-23T12:02:00.000-04:00

Does this really need any explanation? (Turn your sound on.)

3 Months Old

2007-08-10T22:00:00.000-04:00

Max was 3 months old August 4, his second cousin Rachel's and Uncle Jeff's birthday. Mommy decided to take some pics with the help of Aunt Chris and his Grandma Versluys. Cousin Jaden stopped by and we took a few pictures of him too. Here are some of the fruits of that labor. Some other statistics, Max is unofficially 15 lbs. and over 24 inches long. He very much enjoys chewing on his fingers. Some are speculating that he is working on some teeth. We'll keep you posted on that.

Lady Killer

2007-07-28T16:59:00.001-04:00

Aunt Chris called it. Mr. Max is turning into quite the lady killer.

I see it.....

2007-07-12T16:30:00.001-04:00

Natasha here:

People have been telling me how much Max looks like Jim, and honestly I didn't see it. Until... Today. I snapped this picture today of Max and of course checked it out immediately on the LCD on the camera. I was like there it is. I finally see it.

I guess the UPS man is in the clear ;)

Job 23:12

2007-07-12T06:22:00.000-04:00

I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Max, of course....

2007-07-10T13:09:00.000-04:00

Fourth of July

2007-07-05T14:41:00.001-04:00

I was 2 months old on the fourth.

Unfortunately, I don't remember much of the day.

Posted by Max with Mommy's help.

Living Life on the Edge

2007-07-03T22:11:00.000-04:00

Tonight we lived life on the edge...half way into our trip to Meijer we (Natasha) realized we (Jim) had forgotten some essential items for our outing. No not Max...but his diaper bag, pacifier, and blanket for the 40 degree dairy isle. All we had for him was the car seat he was sitting in and the Onesie he was wearing. No props if things went wrong or essentials if things got messy. Living life dangerously.

Now for me, and probably most men, there comes a point where you can't go back for something you forgot...for me it's the river, the river is a 1/2 mile from our house. My theory is if I've made it that far with out something I don't need it for where ever I am going. I don't think Natasha really bought into that logic of mine tonight...the rolling eyes gave that away. I tried to assure nothing could go wrong in our 30 minute outing to Meijer. What could go wrong in 30 minutes...45 at most.

As we entered Meijer we were met by the shrilling screams of a child who was not happy...I assumed his parents brought to many props to entertain him and he was overstimulated. I made eye contact with our angel of a son and gave him the "don't ever do that look", he was nodding off to sleep with the look of, yeah right dad, on his face.

I am happy to report there were no problems in our outing. No fussing, screaming, crying, or diaper dirtying. Just one content son making his dad look like a genius as they lived life on the edge.

A beautiful day

2007-07-01T10:11:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful morning...what a beautiful weekend. I was able to go golfing this morning by myself. It was wonderful to be the first on the course and to see the sun begin to clear the trees at 7am. Blue skies, wispy clouds, and a cool breeze.

I have been polishing up some verses that I learned a year ago but it has been a while since I've reviewed them. Today while chasing around a little white ball I recommitted :

Hebrews 10: 24-25 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching.

1 John 1:3 - We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with our Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Swing Trilogy

2007-06-21T17:13:00.001-04:00

Max has finally come to terms with his swing. We have tried periodically to see if he likes it ever since the day he came home from the hospital. Up until today he hasn't been all that fond of it. We tried it again today when he was fed up with his bouncy seat. It was our first real success in the swing.

We are off to a good start - no wailing like previous attempts:

He's getting very sleepy:

And finally - SUCCESS!!

Mr. Wiggles

2007-06-14T18:31:00.001-04:00

Some people (e.g. Max) aren't completely happy unless all appendages are in motion.

Auntie Christina visits

2007-06-11T20:00:00.000-04:00

Max's Aunt Chris flew in Saturday morning from Denver to spend the weekend with us...who am I kidding she came to see/hold/spoil Max.

A week of Max

2007-06-02T17:40:00.001-04:00

Here's Max!

2007-06-01T15:08:00.001-04:00

Max on Memorial Day Weekend

2007-05-28T08:30:00.001-04:00

This morning Max and I left the house so Natasha could catch up on some much deserved sleep. First we bundled up for a sunrise walk around the neighborhood with Abby...it was a chilly 43 degrees this morning. Since Max fell sound asleep on the walk we went for a drive in my truck to our farm. It was a beautiful morning to drive around taking in the early morning. We saw rabbits, turkeys, a woodchuck, and several deer...well I saw them, facing reward Max didn't see much other than the back of the seat. We also visited our bee's but they weren't doing much this morning due to the cold.

Saturday night Max met more of his family...

Four Generations of Bos':

His Great-Grandma Bos:

His Great-Grandpa Bos w/ Natasha pointing out his "guns":

Saturday we also gathered with some friends and of course no Memorial Day Weekend is complete without Bobcat races.

Max meets his bath tub

2007-05-22T21:09:00.001-04:00

Tonight was Max's first experience with getting dunked. No more warm wash clothes...tonight he met his bath tub. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, the first picture will give you an idea of how much he liked it.

By the time we were almost done he quit crying. I wouldn't say not crying means liking it...he tolerated it.

Max and Kate

2007-05-22T20:41:00.000-04:00

Today Max met his newest cousin Kate who was born last night. Eight more weeks and this dynamic duo will welcome another cousin to form the infamous triple threat.

Max meets Max

2007-05-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

Our friends the Listro's are here from Connecticut, so yesterday Max Versluys met Max Listro.

2007-05-20T07:52:00.001-04:00

A day in the life of Max

2007-05-18T19:07:00.001-04:00

2 Weeks

2007-05-18T15:17:00.000-04:00

Its been two weeks and everything is still going well. In some ways it is hard to believe that Max is two weeks old already and in some ways it seems like he has been around for a long time. I need to post some more pictures of him but everytime I think of it the camera is somewhere else.

He had his two week check up today and we were happy to see he is back to his fighting weight...birth weight.

We have been absolutely showered with dinners the past week and a half from family and friends. Its been awesome to not have to worry about cooking and it has also provided some scrumptious leftovers for lunch.

Max on Mothers Day

2007-05-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

More pictures

2007-05-10T17:17:00.000-04:00

Max

2007-05-08T19:43:00.000-04:00

Things are still going well with the new addition to our family. I can't believe how much things have changed in the past 4 days. I have a new level of respect for all those who have had a child.

Here is a picture of Max from tonight and one from his last day at the hospital.

More pictures of Max

2007-05-06T18:11:00.000-04:00

Rock Star

2007-05-06T07:01:00.000-04:00

One of my sisters is a highschool spanish teacher. When she told her class about her new nephew they asked his name to which they replied; "That's a rock star name".

So here are some pictures of our "rock star":

Day 2

2007-05-05T13:48:00.000-04:00

Well Max is one day old. I already can't remember what life was like with out him. Last night we all got a great night of sleep...much better than the two previous nights. Things are going very well, it looks like we will go home tomorrow around lunch time.

The poor kid has been poked, prodded, and was just circumcised. Natasha informed me a few weeks ago that I would be going with him for that procedure. My nephew Joel was holding him today when they came to get him to be circumcised and I tried to convince Joel to go with him but that didn't work. I will say that it was interesting to watch...I expected a lot more screaming and blood.

Despite the chair that folds out into a "cot" I slept like a rock last night. I use the term cot loosely. It is more like a coffee table. The size that when I lay down and get in the fetal position my feet hang off the end a couple feet. I used my ingenuity and added Natasha's luggage bag to the end of the "cot" so my feet wouldn't hang off. I fell asleep listening to U2 on my iPod...I woke up this morning still listening to U2. That's how hard a sleep I had, no moving, ear mics stayed in ears. But who really cares about that its all about little Max. I think he is doing great. He is long and skinny, he has some big feet and hands. He came with a lot of dark hair but I think it is starting to lighten up. He definately got his nose from Natasha.

Here's Max!!!

2007-05-04T16:26:00.000-04:00

Maxon James Versluys

2007-05-04T03:23:00.000-04:00

Well he is finally here. After a long day at the hospital Max Versluys decided it was time to meet the world sometime around 2:30 a.m. today. Mom and Max are doing well. Mom is tired. Max came into this world at 7lbs. 4oz. and 21" long. He is long and skinny...if you have met his cousins he is a perfect 1/20th replica of them...maybe not quite 1/20th.

There has not been a whole lot of sleep going on between us in the past 24-30 hours...so hopefully once Natasha gets moved to a recovery room (around 6am) we will be able to catch a few hours of sleep.

That about all I got right now. I need to find a wireless spot so I can download my pictures of him...maybe later today. If you need to get a hold of us you can call me on my cell phone 291-4271. I am going to go back and try to comprehend that I am a dad and that I have a son.

Junior

2007-05-03T04:54:00.000-04:00

We are still waiting. Maybe today will be the day. I will post any news here so stay tuned.

Waiting Game

2007-05-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

And we continue to wait...no kid.

Fire on a cup cake

2007-04-26T06:37:00.000-04:00

So yesterday was my birthday. At work, I was met by this towering inferno on top of a cup cake. If you have never seen or felt the heat of 34 candles packed closely on a cup cake let me tell you it is quite a sight. You wouldn't believe the height of those flames or the heat they put off...poor cup cake never had a chance.

ps - no kid yet

It's the final countdown

2007-04-18T10:26:00.000-04:00

When I was in like 6th grade there was a song by Europe....The Final Countdown. That is how I am starting to feel with junior. We are at t minus 10 days until the forecasted arrival date.

I called my mom yesterday and she told me she is going to get excited every time I call her from now until junior arrives. I laughed because I really haven't even been thinking about that...I guess I should because when Natasha calls me I think nothing of it. I missed a call from her yesterday and at the time junior never crossed my mind.

It still seems very unreal that there is going to be a child in our house...and that he will be staying there...that no one will be coming to pick him up...that he is ours. It seems like everyone else is much more excited about this than me, because to me life does not seem any different or seem like it is going to change any time soon. Boy am I setting myself up for a surprise. I will be excited when the day comes but today it seems far far far away.

Spring....Winter....Spring....?

2007-04-11T20:08:00.000-04:00

This weather is absolutely crazy.

Hopefully we get back to just one season next week...I am tired of living in two of them on a weekly or even daily basis.

2025

2007-04-04T19:57:00.001-04:00

Today, in a meeting at work, I had this thought..."what year will "Junior" graduate from highschool? I thought about it for a moment, then I even grabbed my calculator and crunched the numbers...yup, 2025. Oh, that is weird, scary, and fun all at the same time.

Four Weeks

2007-03-31T20:42:00.000-04:00

Four weeks until the due date will be here. It has seemed like a really long process to get to this point, at the same time I feel like I'd like another 9 months to prepare for this...mostly mentally. I don't know if I should be scared that I have no idea what is coming or just thankful because sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Gum Abuse

2007-03-29T18:56:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have prior thoughts or expectations that are confirmed in the early moments of an experience? I did yesterday. I got to visit the dentist office. Yeah I know...its my favorite place too. I hate that place. I hate how after they poke, prod, and stab your gums with a sharp metal object and then follow that up by ripping floss through your teeth like they are sawing lumber. For me, when they get done carving up my gums the dental hygentist usually make a comment about how my gums are bleeding...well yeah, is my usual thought...who's wouldn't be after receiving that kind of abuse. Nothing against the people in the dentist office but I do not like the "dentist", I think its my least favorite place to go.

Just do it!

2007-03-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

Here are some verses I committed to memory this week.

James 1:22-27
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

This is what I got out of them after letting my heart marinate in them for a week: It is important to hear and read God's word. It is as, if not more, important that we allow his word to transform us into living out his word and doing it. Just do it...a fitting mantra.

These verses also get me thinking about what my "doing" looks like compared to what I've been reading and hearing. Am I doing all I can do? Do I have myself in a place where I can live out that attitude fully? When I give and do, do I do it with no expectation of a return?

2007-03-12T19:24:00.000-04:00

Dreaming about Junior got me thinking about some of the things that shaped me into who I am. I know that when I was in the moment of many of these that I didn't think they were the greatest moments...but now as I look back I can see how they shaped me into me.

Going fishing with my mom on summer mornings and her showing me how to properly remove a bullhead off your line.

Walking on the train tracks behind our house trying to jump from one track to the other.

Climbing a big clump Red Maple in the backyard...each year being brave enough to go a branch or two higher.

Making a lauching pad out of snow in the driveway so that I could perform my Michael Jordan impersonation on our basketball hoop.

Building snow horses in the backyard with mom...they were much better than snowmen because you cold play "Lone Ranger" on a snow horse.

Scrubbing down the horse carriage and decorating it for the 4th of July parade.

Practicing pitching with my mom. She was my catcher and caught my heat until I started bruising her hand. She is the best mom in the world. When I could throw to hard she put up a sheet of plywood and painted a strike zone on it, then would stand next to it and throw the ball back to me.

Sledding in the backyard and seeing how far across the lake I could make it.

Diving for "treasures" in the lake behind my parents house.

Going to Russ' restraunt with my Grandma Versluys.

Riding on Grandpa Versluys' scooter with him. He would go from one end of the house to the other with us on his lap.

Eating at G&G Versluys' house while my parents were away. I had such a huge mouthful of milk that my cheeks were puffed out. I was pretending to hit my cheeks with my hands and my Grandpa said, " Jimmy don't you dare". Yeah, they hadn't figured out you didn't want to dare little Jimmy....milk went everywhere.

Playing Little League baseball in a snowstorm.

Tagging along with a couple of dentist that used to rabbit hunt behind my parents house.

Making forts out of hay bales in my parents barn and slidding down the hay shoot.

Shoveling off my grandparents flat room during the blizzards of '78 and then my dad let us jump off the roof into the snow piles below.

Waking up from a nap when I was four or five and there was a goat standing out my window staring in at me...I've never liked goats since then.

Going to auctions on Saturday mornings with my dad, usually on the way home I fell asleep on him.

Visiting Florida during the winter. My parents had a small motorhome and I loved falling asleep to the hum of the tires on the road.

Camping Labor Day weekends in the U.P. and walking the Mackinaw Bridge every year with my family. On the way home we would stop at a park and play frisbee football with other families from church.

Going Maple Sugaring in Rudyard, MI. My parents friends made maple syrup. We would visit them in the early spring to "help" them. I spent more time eating the maple sugar candy and playing with their frisbee catching dog. They had a bear rug hanging on a door that scared the beejeebers out of me.

Spending a week at Hoffmaster State park in the summers. Catching tadpoles, climbing sand dunes, swimming, making sand castles, roasting marshmellows, playing uno, making smores, cooking Hobo pies, riding bikes, throwing a frisbee, playing catch, and riding bikes to the Whippy Dip for ice cream cone's.

Watching the World Series with my Grandpa while my Grandparents stayed with us while they were on a trip.

Making my Uncle Dick's world famous carmel corn with my sisters before we watched the Disney specials on Saturday nights.

Getting up at 6am on Saturday mornings so I could watch The Lone Ranger. I was usually up prior to it starting and sat waiting watching the colored lines on the screen before they started broadcasting...then they played the Star Spangled Banner...then The Lone Ranger.

Going to my elementary friend Steve's house and his mom making us popcorn in a huge pan on the stove. We got to stay up late on Friday night watching TV and eating popcorn. Satuday morning we would run around his Grandpa's farm exploring everything.

Visiting Hawkersmith Nursery in McMinville Tennessee with my dad. He was excited to see the trees. I think I was more excited to see the Tennesse Walking horses they raised on their farm.

Going fishing with my parents every Memorial Day.

Sitting at the front window waiting for my dad to get home from deer camp. Hoping and praying he had gotten a buck.

Visiting our relatives in Montana: staying on their farm, helping with their cattle, riding with my Uncle Chuckon his dirt bike to check on the bulls and sprinklers, fishing for Trout in their creek, and shooting our matching little red bows at pop cans with my cousin Kevin.

Things I am looking forward to

2007-03-08T20:16:00.000-05:00

I went for a walk tonight and my mind started wandering to things I am looking forward to doing with Junior or seeing him do.

It started with this: pushing him around the neighborhood in his stroller
Carrying him around on top of my shoulders
Taking him fishing
Watching him chase Natasha around the house
Making a huge pile of leaves to jump in
Watching him see his first snowflake
Seeing him crawl
Reading books to him
Helping him understand God's love for him
Teaching him to ride a bike
Watching him take his first steps
Wrestling together
Embarassing him in front of his friends
Trick or Treating together...I mean watching him
Spending an autumn morning in the woods with him
Teaching him to drive a Bobcat
Watching the bees in our bee hives with him
Teaching him to swim
Snowball fights
Making his first snowman with him
Building a tree fort together
Teaching him about archery
Making an igloo in the backyard
Having a long distance watermelon seed spitting contest
Teaching him to climb a tree
Watching him play little league baseball
Watching him bite into a lemon
Going canoeing
Taking him to NewZealand
Teaching him to shoot a basketball
Showing him how to throw a baseball
Counting the stars with him

James 5: 13 - 16

2007-02-27T12:26:00.000-05:00

Here is some scripture that I am working on commiting to memory.

James 5: 13-16
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Things I learned today

2007-02-14T19:05:00.001-05:00

I have been sick this week along with jury duty...yeah the best of both worlds. I've gone through a couple boxes of kleenex the past couple days wiping up the congestion as it escapes. Here are a couple things I've learned today: first, when your nose is raw don't select your wife's face lotion...it burns. Second, don't grab the aloe bottle thinking it's a good choice and will take away the burn of the lotion because it won't. Thankfully I found the triple antibiotic ointment and it has releaved the burn.

Week 30

2007-02-10T18:22:00.000-05:00

Here is the update for this week on Junior:
Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about half a pound more than he did last week (about 2 1/2 pounds total) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain Â which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and your baby well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening.)

Things are still going well as the pregnancy moves along. At times it seems like this has been a multi year process, going extremely slow. Other times it seems like the weeks are flying by...13, 12, 11, 10. All things considered, things seem to be going very well. Of course I am not the one "with child". I think the nesting stage has officially ended for Natasha, she has accomplished some amazing things feats during this stage. The room is pretty much set with changing table, crib,bassinete, and the closet has shelves that are filled with all sorts of baby clothes. Lately she has been very tired and doing lots of resting.

I (we) have successfully narrowed the name search down from a top 25 to a top 5. I think we will leave it at that and see what name fits him best when we see him.

Permeated

2007-02-08T10:22:00.000-05:00

I like memorizing verses. I think I like it because to do it I have to think about, reflect on, and say the words over and over all day long...because if I don't I can't memorize. This makes those words permeate me, become a part of me. I also like it because the Word has shown me who I am and who I am not, who I want to be and who I don't want to be...they have changed me and continue to change me.

So here is my latest: Hebrews 4:12. The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

If you want a small complex read on into verse 13...nothing like knowing everything is on the table and you didn't even have to put it there. A big step for me is admitting what is laying there is really laying there, because it is there. I wonder what God is thinking when I pretend what is laying out there isn't there or act like he doesn't see or know it.

Hyperventilating

2007-02-07T13:08:00.000-05:00

The other day Natasha and I were talking about how there are only 11 more weeks of the pregnancy (according to the calendar). The next morning I woke up thinking about just how long 11 weeks is. 77 days. 2079 hours. That is really not very long and while a lot of things are done there is still a lot of things I want to have done before...thats when the near hyperventilation started.

Man is it easy to send yourself into a panic. I am convinced no one is ever "ready" for this. The only way you can be fully prepared is if you have experienced it and having never experienced it I am not fully ready. I am sure many things will change in 11 weeks. Schedules, sleeping habits, desires, attitudes, thoughts, and priorities. I guess I am ready for change and thats about as close as you can get to being ready.

Artic Wonder

2007-02-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

Today I faced the artic wonder head on...actually it was more frozen face on. Everyone else at work had spent the night plowing while I spent it curled up like a little babe sleeping away under our down comforter. So rather than sitting at work alone I decided to venture out of doors.

I don't know if you caught the forecast from Scary Terry and WoodTv this morning (she gets that name from me for her forecast usually has a tone of impending doom from the weather we will be experiencing. I am convinced it is a ploy to get us glued to the tv). Anyway, Scary Terry's forecast for the weekend is snow, cold, and wind...blizzard conditions.

I take Scary Terry's forecast and apply the scary factor to them. For instance tonight and tomorrow she is forecasting we could see 12 inches of snow. 12 x scary factor = my forecast of 4 inches of snow. It usually works out pretty close, except for the very rare times she is lucky and guesses it right. We will see if tonight is one of those times...I am guessing not.

Week 27

2007-01-22T18:07:00.000-05:00

Its week 27 and here is the baby update:

This week he weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

I have been able to feel Junior move for the past week or so. It is pretty cool and a little weird at the same time. The other night he kept thumping away at my hand...a pretty neat feeling. He has been highly active lately.

Wonder what he's thinking? Junior is probably wondering why we can't come up with a name...no, the fourth reading didn't produce "the one" or even any challengers to the top 25.

The nesting stage of Natasha's pregnancy has definately hit. I will just say that it has brought a smile to my face. I am not saying anything else because somethings I have said have not been well received :) I will say that Junior has a fine start to his wardrobe. Natasha has been making a haul at Goodwill with some lightly used clothes.

What's in a name

2007-01-14T15:43:00.000-05:00

Ok this whole naming thing is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. First off we were so sure that this was going to be a girl, we had our girl name, that we didn't even think about boy names. Now after a few weeks of thinking about boy names we are still at where we started...we've got nothing. Actually we have a list of 25 names on it that changes on a daily if not hourly basis.

We have a book that I think has 60,000 names. Originally I figured that if I read through it I would see a name and know it was "the name". Unfortunately since that original plan I've read through the name book at least three times and still haven't seen "the name".

We have started a list with our top 25 name on it but it isn't hard to take names off of it. It seems like we know or knew someone with every possible name. Some names bring up a memory of someone we knew that we don't want to associate "junior" with while some names are all ready taken and it might be stalker'ish to use them.

Hopefully the fourth reading will yield "the name" or he may get stuck with junior.

I'm Super

2007-01-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

I usually prefer to be the one that catches others driving down the road singing their heart out to the radio. I will admit that I've been caught belting out my favorite songs while driving down the highway...thankfully the windows have always been up. Today I caught myself. It wasn't so much my singing or my off key tune that I caught myself on. It was when I sang out these words of Superchick, "I am a one girl revolution". And it wasn't like as soon as I sang out "...revolution" that I realized what I was singing....it was like 2 minutes down the road that I began thinking about me being that one girl revolution.

I am a man, soon to be a dad, to a son. I've got to be careful what I say, sing, and do or I am going to scar this poor kid for life. So from now on I will be attempting to insert MAN into any femine word form in the songs I sing.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T06:03:00.000-05:00

On my walks through our neighborhood the past week I feel like I have been able to peer into others lives. The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has been very apparent in the lives of so many of our neighbors. I've seen cooking, present wrapping, tree decorating, stocking hanging, and family gatherings.

It is strange to think how my life is going to change in the next year. We have been the 'scrooges' of the neighborhood for so long...no tree, no lights, no presents, no stockings, none of it. I wonder what Christmas's to come will look like in our home. Last night we were talking about that. One of my questions was: "will we let 'junior' think there is a santa claus?" Its kind of hard to avoid that question...or at least avoid santa claus, that guy is everywhere in our culture.

Well today we are off to our one and only family Christmas event. I am sure next year will be much different.