break up

i kicked my wife off of our blog and its my blog now. how's that for a merry christmas present. no, not really, she wanted her own special place. Check it out hope-restored.blogspot.com

Nike+ Challenge

Last month I started this Nike+ challenge with Deyl and DJ, and had this little widget on my blog about the progress. DJ uses Spam Arrest, and he never gets his email :p so he never confirmed the invite. that being said, Deyl kicked my butt...albeit by a technicality. I suppose there are runs that he may not have loaded, but I forgot to load the 15 miles I ran while I was staying at Deyl's house. (i know what they say about excuses...everyone has one and all of them stink)

So congrats Deyl...Texas I'm sorry.

Long time coming...

wow, so I totally suck as a blogger. I was out to dinner with the guys and girls in my MBA program, and one of them told me that I need to blog because she's tired of seeing the same thing. I have no excuses other than I've been so busy being a movie star. In fact you can check out my cameo in a local news story:

I also had the opportunity to film a commercial for LeTourneau University. That was a Divine appointment. sort of...you see I've been itching for an iPhone for a while but there was just no way I was going to spend $400 of my hard earned money on it....then I got the call...LeTourneau needed someone as a talent for a commercial they wanted to produce and someone mentioned my name...oh and by the way, they were paying $400! bingo! so we shot the commercial on Tuesday, and I got my iPhone on Thursday!

Personally my favorite part is that it's almost time to take the brownies out! if you know, you know. if you don't, ask.

As soon as I get a link for the LeTourneau commercial, I'll post a link.

Erin's Goals and Laundry detergent

I'm still working on getting used to the idea of a blog. I feel that Jason has an unfair advantage over me to post spontaneous subject matter with appropriate pictures. My cell phone does not take pictures - it's a fossil. Working on getting a new one though.

Lately, my life has been consumed by work, all of which is very exciting, and very confidential. So, the remainder of my life consists of things such as dishes and laundry. My current domestic debate: Do I like 2x concentrated laundry detergent? It saves plastic/waste using a smaller container, but I am just not convinced that using such a small amount is just as effective. I lean more toward the school of thought that more is more. Hm. And then, I think, who wants to read a blog about my laundry detergent philosophy? :o)

Yesterday, I did escape the grind of housework to enjoy an afternoon at a Christmas fair called Mistletoe and Magic. It's quite the event here in Tyler, but my first time to attend. I found a cute new jacket (see pic), and also enjoyed their live entertainment. There was one act in particular that I found to be quite entertaining. It was grown women "clogging" in tap shoes to 70's music. They were in tie-dye tee shirts and had big, flourescent green frills at the bottom of their jeans. NOTE: If I had a cell phone with a camera, there would be a picture of these adorable women in their ridiculous costumes. They inspired me to consider returning to one of my great loves - dance. I might take up a dance class of some form at the junior college next semester. A sincere thanks to the cloggers for their inspiration!

Business Time

No, this has nothing to do with my MBA program. I picked this up from Ashleigh Carroll's blog. I've never heard of these guys before but they've been on Letterman so you may have seen/heard them before.

New Goals....BIG GOALS!

Three years ago I accomplished a tremendous goal, to complete an Ironman distance triathlon. I made a big mistake after the race...I didn't have any physical goals after that. I had originally planned to take six months off to let my body rest after training for over two years. six months turned into a year, a year into three... Well, I've decided to set a goal as daunting as completing an Ironman was to me then. I want to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. This will require me to complete another Ironman much faster than my previous race just to qualify. I will need to shave 4 hours (I know, it's a lot) off of my time. I believe that I can do it. I broke each event down to the paces required to finish in 9:30 (that hours and minutes) and it will require training and probably hiring a coach to help me with the swimming, but it's do-able.

You, too, are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for. You've got to dream big and set small goals along the way. Whether it's paying off debt, having a great marriage, getting that degree, or doing something you've always wanted to do but just thought was impossible, TODAY IS THE DAY! Tell other people about what it is you want to have/be/do! Be strong and courageous, dream BIG, LIVE BIG, BELIEVE!

Heard this in church a few weeks ago and wanted to share :

"The greatest irony, and our greatest hope is that Christ has shown us that one person coming in the name of love is truly an army." -Mike Kinman

I sure do appreciate you all...

Just wanted to drop a quick post to say how honored I've been to have you all check this thing out. It has really been a blessing, so thank you.

Unfortunately, we've got a foul-mouth coward among us, who is showing his foolishness through word and deed, while hiding behind the anonymous option that blogger affords those who don't have a google account.

Anyway, keep on posting! I so enjoy hearing from you all...and I'll deal with the coward.

A Weekend to Remember!

This past weekend I got together with a special group of people in my life, ReTeam T7 1999-2000. That year at Sky Ranch was a life changing year for me. I learned so much from Wendel and the guys and girls on that team. I learned that it's okay to mess up, as long as you learn. I learned that my past doesn't determine my future, my present does.

It was such an amazing weekend. Most everyone from T7 was there, but we were missing a few: Patrick Dove, Jason Shipley, and Lance & Tiffany Ferguson (they just had a little baby girl the Friday night before).

I've been to more reunions this year than any other in my life...probably b/c I'm getting old :p But I've decided that as often as I have the opportunity, I'll keep going to them.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Thanks for stopping by! Add a link to your favorites and check in every now and then. I try to post regularly with what is going on with me and my wife.

Leave me comments and let me know what you're up to. Thanks again for stopping by.

BTW - if you have a blog give me the address so I can keep up with you too!

P.S. I found this hit counter that gives you a map of the location of your visitors. Here is the map of the folks that have stopped by since last night. (pic updated Oct 31)

"The Rock" - San Francisco, CA

On Wednesday we went to Alcatraz to tour the prison and the island. If you've never done it, it's really interesting.

This is a picture from the ferry on the way to the island looking back on the San Francisco skyline.

As you approach the island there are signs from the prison days

warning boats to stay at least 200 yards off the island, and that anyone attempting to help a prisoner escape would be prosecuted and imprisoned.

This is a shot of the officers housing (bottom right), warden's house (center), and the lighthouse (top). The visit to the island included an award winning audio tour, which was given by previous guards and inmates of Alcatraz. They walked you through the history of the prison, a day in the life of a prisoner, the Battle of Alcatraz, and the Great Escape of 1962.

This is a pic I snapped of one of the guard stations.

San Francisco was a great leg of our trip. We got to spend a lot of time with Stephanie Francis Lind and her man Chacho. It was good to catch up with her, since we didn't get to see her at the reunion.

til next time...

Westmont Reunion - Santa Barbara

I know this is a little out of order...oh well. Last Friday morning we drove down to Santa Barbara from Kingsburg for the Westmont Homecoming. We got in around 11:30 and found Jeff and Laura Pierce and Erik and Paige Vanslooten taking pictures on campus. I love those kids!

Friday night was the Presidental Gala, which was a really nice dinner. We sat with Deyl and Paige Kearin and David Jay. They are such amazing people. They inspire me to challenge myself, believe in myself, and take some risks. Their stories are amazing, you should check them out.

Santa Barbara is just a beautiful place. Deyl and Paige were so gracious to let us stay at their place while we were in town. This is a picture of the sun rise from their front yard.

Saturday we ate breakfast at Cava Cafe, the most delicious $12 french toast you'll ever have. It was a good time to catch up with Jeff & Laura, Erik & Paige, Deyl & Paige, Matt Rumford, and Donnie Waisanen.

After breakfast we went to Westmont and met up with Andy and Amberly Wolf and their newborn baby Abbie. I love those kids too! After a great afternoon of hanging out, we got ready for the Class of 2002 reunion supper, which was fun, but not near as much fun as the afterparty at David Jay's new house. The festivities went on into the wii, I mean wee, hours of the morning. I had such a great time getting to meet so many of the people who shared in such a special time in Erin's life.

Lombard Street - San Francisco, CA

I have heard about the most crooked road in the world and today I got to see it. The walk up the hill was pretty intense, but worth it. We spent the day in San Fran today, we rented some bikes and biked to Fort Point right below the Golden Gate Bridge. Then we walked to Lombard Street and then on to China town. That was such a different experience. We were looking for this place called the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and we found with the help of some locals, tucked away in an alley. We never would have looked there.

All around it was a fun but exhausting day. Tomorrow we are going to tour Alcatraz Island and see the prison, I'm pretty excited. Then we're off to the Fresno area to spend a few more days with family and celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving.

I hope you all are doing well, I am going to post in the next couple of days about the adventures of the Westmont reunion (what a blast!), so be looking out.

Tickle Pink Inn - Carmel, CA

A place to call home for tonight...

Sunday night, I surprised Erin with a stay in a great little inn called the Tickle Pink Inn. We were greeted in our room with champagne and chocolates. This was the view from our balcony, it was amazing.

California Dreamin'

We made it safely to California on Wednesday. We spent the day today with family and tomorrow we're off to Santa Barbara for the Westmont reunion. We are staying with two of my favorite Californians, Deyl and Paige Kearin. After the reunion, it's a surprise Sunday evening (blog post to come). We're happy to be here safely and we'll keep the updates comin'.

The advantages of accuracy

so I purchased this Nike+ system back in in June after I read a couple of posts by Deyl and DJ about their Nike+ experiences. It was this same experience that got me blogging more regularly, so thanks guys!

Well, I've been running with Nike+ for a few months and have just been depressed at my performance. I was a runner in high school and college so running 9 and 10 minute miles was just a downer. then I thought, "hey you should probably calibrate this thing." what a difference. The distance was off about 10% so I was running farther and faster than it was reporting. Since then I put in 7:37 mile and a 24:45 5k. nothing stunning...my glory days pr's for those distances are 4:45 mile and 17:31 5K. still nothing to write home about, but when I thought I was having trouble running fast than a 9 minute mile I wanted to cry.

Anyway, that's all better now and I've been so encouraged with my last two runs now that everythings accurate.

The Servant Heart and the Selfish Nature

"Love has a hem to her garment. It reaches the very dust. I wipes the stains from the streets and lanes. And because it can, it must."

-Mother Teresa

One winter afternoon when I was in high school, I was washing my hands in the school bathroom. The girl at the sink next to me was washing blood off her forearm. She had carved the word "hate" into her flesh. I was deeply disturbed by this experience. I could feel the depth of the girls pain and I wanted help - I wanted to heal. I didn't know how. So, in my little teenage mind, I contrived a plan to be her unsolicited Secret Santa. I figured that even a small expression of kindness from a stranger might help. So, for weeks, I left little gifts for this girl with our PE teacher. I was eagerly awaiting the day I would reveal myself and hopefully offer this stranger some comfort.

My PE teacher and I had a mentoring relationship, and she was concerned about my feelings being hurt in the end of this experiment. One day, my teacher pulled me aside and said, "Erin, what you are doing is very sweet, and I am worried that it is not being appreciated. She does not look like she cares when I give her your little gifts. I don't think you should give them to her anymore." And, so I stopped. The feeling of regret that resulted has never left me.

I was not being kind for appreciation, recognition, or acknowledgement. But I was not confident enough in my convictions at the time to continue to do what I knew was right. My teacher meant no harm. She was protecting my heart.

As a social worker now, I am trained to help and heal. I feel it is my calling. And to this day, I am still astonished by the animosity a servant heart stirs in others. For some, it is merely something they cannot understand - doing something kind for someone without appreciation and the risk of being hurt. For others, it provokes an attack. A bludgeoning of "you don't need to do that" and "you're wasting time," and the underlying "you're making me look bad!" My back bone is strengthening as I learn that others do not think and live as I do, and I need to do what I know is right. Who would have thought that kindness would rock the boat. Here's to rocking the boat!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Saturday was my mom's 50th birthday. Erin and I were trying to think of what to get her and we decided that there isn't anything she would want more than to have all of her kids together for her birthday. So we drove 24 hours to spend about 8hrs with her. It was such a good time though.

Erin and I drove over on Friday and surprised her Friday night. I called her when we were a couple of blocks away from her house and started some small talk about what a "long day" I had and that I was "just now pulling up to the house" (her house). The small talk continued as I walked into the front door and she said something to the effect of "you've got to be kidding me" while still holding the phone to her ear. It was a good surprise.

We spent 3 or 4 hours at her house that night just catching up and having fun, then went to stay at my brothers house. We slept in the next morning, ate breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Charlie Coram's Place (the home of heavenly hash). After breakfast we picked up my sister Valerie and headed to St. Andrew State Park for an afternoon at the beach. The beaches are just beautiful, so often I go to PC and don't go to the beach. I guess I've been away long enough that I miss it. We laid around on the beach for a little while, and finally coaxed Erin into the water.

We ran some errands the rest of the day and ended up at mom's house around 7pm. Supper was supposed to be at 8, ended up closer to 9 so we were real hungry by the time everything was ready. Supper was delicious we had steak, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was so nice having the family together just being a family. We didn't do that much growing up. It was nice. Happy Birthday Mom!

Team Building 101

One thing I like to do each year is to take the new group of interns from Rockin' C Ranch on a Team Building adventure trip. We have a great group this year: Jill, David, Nick, Ashley L., Ashley J., and Ethan (not in picture, he was in Southeast Asia). I am super excited about what the Lord is going to do through this group this year, as well as what He is going to do in them.

In years past we have gone spelunking at Longhorn Caverns and Inner Space Caverns. This year we went to Lake Mineral Wells State Park to do some rappelling and rock climbing. The formation at Penitentiary Hollow is stunning and makes for a great experience. The first day we rappelled and after lunch a few rappelled Australian style. The second day we climbed a few different runs. My body hurt so bad the next day.

We had a ton of fun and grew as a group. Part of the fun was a great game Erin and I picked up from some friends of ours Deyl and Paige. If you never played Settlers of Catan....you're missing out!

Celebrating 2 years!

July 29 was our two year anniversary. We attempted many an extravagant plan, but it was Sunday. The vineyard and the gourmet restaurant with a New Zealand chef were not open. So, it turned out to be a morning at church, a quiet afternoon at home, and then a late evening snack at On the Border. Guacamole live, sampler platter and some yummy margaritas.

We've decided to start an anniversary tradition. Each year we will reflect and journal the major events of the year, and set goals for the year to come. Ideally, there will be an anniversary picture included with each entry and a note about the gifts given. Which leads to this year's gift - the second anniversary being the cotton gift year - two sets of 600+ thread count sheets!!! Surprise gift from Jason, a gift we are both enjoying tremendously!

Looking forward to many more blessed years!

one more down...

So I started my MBA in March, and I'll be in school through April 2009. I just finished my final paper for the second course in the program...and I want to bang my head against a wall. This has been my life for the last two and half days. Well, this and Starbucks (it's my third place).

I'm glad it's done though. Next course starts Monday, it's a finanical analysis seminar, which I'm really excited about. Nerd, yeah, I know.

Deep down inside, I've alway been and probably always will be a runner. I'm just hiding it behind a few extra pounds right now. The thing I hate most about running is running alone. So, in an effort to bring out the true me, I purchased the Nike+ system. A guy I know out in Cali had this widget on his blog, and I thought it was the coolest thing. This kinda helps me feel like I've got some running buddies....that and like I have a new ipod.

Alright, it's been a long day, g'night.

Well, here we go

I've got a facebook and myspace...but this just seems like a great idea also. I hope Erin and I can keep everyone updated with what is going on in our lives. Keep us updated also.