Back in the action

Alright, I'm back from our Jr High trip, "Servanthood" It was great. Our students worked at a number of places, serving tirelessly. We served at Christ Central (a homeless ministry downtown), Open arms (a home for mentally handicap adults in Chapin), Ronald McDonald House, Atria Nursing Home, Homeworks, Heartworks, and a few others. It was a hard week, the youth pastors only had about 4 hrs of sleep every night, but it was worth it. It was the most spiritually fruitful week that we have ever had at Servanthood. So there it is, everything should return to normal now. But what is normal anyway?

Movies I want to see

This doesn't really matter much but there are several movies that look great.
Here are the ones Becky and I are looking for a babysitter so we can go see-

• Indiana Jones (Maybe I will name my next son after a state) Just for the record my middle name is a county here in SC...
• The Happening- Becky and I always love his movies, they always have an interesting twist
• Prince Caspian- Loved the first one-
  

So rarely do I want to go see a movie in the theater, but these look good!

How to be a finisher

I have been thinking a lot lately about finishing. Not necessarily life, but more of the everyday projects. I just built a 8 x 12 utility building in our back yard. I haven't quite finished the trim on it yet but it looks awesome (I should have posted a pic, that would have been cool, sorry) But for the last 2 weeks I have been trying to build shelves and clean up and move everything over. It just hasn't happened. I really enjoy building stuff, it takes my mind out of all of the day to day stuff. It's is definitely a stress reliever for me. So here is the question of the day, "how do you become a finisher? Are there other places in my life that I have some loose ends...oh yeah,
anyway, that's what I am thinking.

Husband to one, father of two

Sometimes it seems that life is way too complicated. There are days that everyone needs your attention and you don't even know who needs it first! And that's not counting work! I know everyone feels this pressure, no matter what they do for a living. I was recently thinking about having a hobby, but I really don't have time, at this stage in life anyway. I used to ride mountain bikes and do some camping/hiking, but lately it's too hard to pull away. So here is where I am at right now...I have to focus on my family. It's not like that's not fun. I love being at home. It's the best place to be. I love Becky, and our children are always up to something. It's good stuff.

But how do we do it? Everything is pulling at you in such a way that the most important things seem to be the easiest to neglect. Recently, I rode with a friend of mine and his daughter called, they talked like normal and then at the end she said, "I love you, thanks for the birthday present." It really touched me, not because my daughter is two and we haven't bought her a birthday present yet (the grandparents do way better than us anyway! Next year we will, I promise!), but because she is 18 and really meant it when she said that she loved her dad. That is one of my goals, for AG to be 18 and still really, really love her dad. It will happen, I promise. Not to mention that Becky and I will still be happily married in 16 years. We just crossed 7 years of marriage last week!

Anyway, just thinking of family stuff,

Do we ever really totally let go...

I really want to let God have every part of me. I don't want to depend on myself, to allow decisions to be made because of selfish ambition, or manipulate others for my gain. Do you ever have those moments when your eyes are opened and you see yourself as you are. I have been really spending time with the Lord and thought that I had finally established a pattern and a need for God that would make me spend time with Him more. I need to meet with God. I say that with my head, but then I can go days without spending time with Him and it shows me who I really am. That has recently happened. Last week I went from Wed. to Sunday without even looking at my Bible!!
Anyway, I just don't want it to be like that. I want to be consistent.

How are we doing...

Really Good. Just talked to Becky and she said that they had a great morning. Thomas is sleeping about 4-5 hrs at a time at night. It's a beautiful thing! And he is pretty content during the day- Eat, poop, sleep, what a life!
There are times during the day, just about every day, that I am just overwhelmed by how blessed I am. Usually it's when Anna Grace just does something SO sweet. Like kissing me on the forehead, or when she just comes and leans on me, or says something so cute. Yesterday the first thing she said after nap was that she wanted to, " Wub Thomas and give kisses." God has been so good to me. Life is good.

Baby Photos #2