Merry Christmas

So I got to spend the last couple of days at my Mom’s place. My sister lives there with her, along with my 5 nieces and nephews. The newest addition is Lydia, born last Friday. She is a tiny precious thing that doesn’t make much fuss about anything. Just holding her can make anyone remember the real reason for Christmas.

My brother, and friend, left early on Saturday evening because he wasn’t feeling good. Sunday morning I woke up with the beginnings of a nasty cold. Over the last couple of days it hasn’t gotten better either. So I am now doped up on a few different items which help me get through the day. Sunday was spent watching football most of the day. I did help out fixing a few things around mom’s house, but for the most part is was very relaxing. My sister, mom and I all played cards and dominos until 2 am-that brought back old memories.

This morning I woke up and had to drive down to Cincinnati to my dad’s place. The wind wasn’t as bad as yesterday but it was still pushing me all over the highway. I made it in time to watch a few “non classic” Christmas shows with my dad. You know the TBS and TNT specials that are produced by Hallmark.

We had a wonderful dinner (steak!) and then watched Wild Hogs, funny movie. It is close to 1:30 in the morning and if I make it to bed in the next 10 min this will be the earliest I went to bed since I started the trip.

Christine and I were able to talk for a while today, being gone makes me realize how much I miss her and grown to like her in the last 3 months. Looking forward to getting back home on Wed and hanging out with her.

Heading to bed now, Merry Christmas.

Christmas is a timeless story of hope

Every year at this time I prepare myself for a huge impact, 'Christmas with my family'. So this year I wondered how much of my bad attitude played into my past Christmas's and the negative experiences. So I'm changing my perspective to see if it will make a difference.
As much as I put forward with a positive foot, it seems that I get twice as much thrown back at me. Heading on the way to Christmas I find out that my brother is bringing a "friend" home with him. Which now makes 14 people in a 2 bedroom house. I think to myself "perspective", and move on. The night was alright until it got close to bed time (1:30 am) and all but 4 people wanted to head to bed. I head to bed (while the smoking and drinking continues) who knows how much sleep I might get tonight?
Tossing and turning the remaining 4 called it a night @ 4:30 am. With little sleep I am woken to the moving around of my neices at 7 am.
I am thankful for tonight, one down and 4 to go. God knows, and if I can remember throughout the week....God knows and He cares. So I head to bed knowing that Christmas IS a timeless story of Hope (our big idea for youth group on Wed), which doesn't rely on "good or bad" experiences with family.

The Dream

Remember when we were kids and we had THAT dream about what we would be when we grew up: a firefighter, a policeman or Spiderman.
Then our dreams grew, as we grew up.
A successful person, a loving father, husband, or one who gives back to the community.
As we continue to grow and live life our dreams come true. But when they do, why do we continue to make our new ones? Why are we not ever satisfied?
I am not saying that dreaming is bad or that having goals is not good, but why can we not be satisfied with what our lives are?
So many people I know are searching for "the better life" or the "new" dream. I can understand someone in poverty or someone going through something bad like a life crisis or tragedy.
But why do we do it, I mean most of us have what we need and then some. Why do we have the need to make it more? Do we have something inside of us that always makes us long for more? So many people around me are searching for "more" and not that it is bad, but it does make me wonder why?
There are many people in this world are searching for their next meal or where they will lay their head. For those of us who don't have to do that, we search for more and more. Sometimes looking past what we already have.
So is "The Dream" something we should search for and wish we had?
Or is "The Dream" something we should live every minute of the day?

Up to the test?

This morning I was put to the test.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet 4 of Christine's close friends. The interrogation took place at 8:30 at her place with lots of coffee from Starbucks. I got to see a different side of Christine from her friend's perspective. One very funny story that includes a little"whoop whoop", some flapping your arms in the air like you are flying and a can of hairspray. O I forgot about the spider!

I am soooo tired. I think I can sleep for 12 hours if I had the chance.

This morning was a lot better than I thought it would be. Learned a lot, had a great time and I found out that I did pass the test.