Passionately Following Jesus
We honor our veterans today for their service and sacrifices for our Country and our freedom. I can never say enough to express my gratitude for all that you have done. As a Country, we don’t say thank you enough! Some of you are still living while others have past away, but you will always be appreciated in my heart.
Thank you!
Join the Conversation: Do you have any veterans in your family or amongst your friends that you would like to thank today?
Nicki and I went to the ReThink Money Workshop today that our church put on with Casey Graham. Casey talked about using one of three plans to pre-designate your monthly funds: 1. A written spending plan 2. A Cash Envelope System or 3. A computer method (Quickbooks, Quicken, Etc.). If we used the cash envelope system, here’s what it would look like right now:
We are not going to use a cash envelope system, because cash is easier to spend, and we don’t have money to spend, period. Hopefully, applying the principles we learned today will help us save money and cut spending where we can, it is not going to help us overcome my need to start a second job for a while, but it will reduce the amount I need to earn in that job. If you hear of a ReThink Money Seminar in your area, I highly recommend you go to it.
Join the Conversation: Do you use a budgeting system or a spending plan, if so what is it?
Today is a big day for me. I had the awesome responsibility to vote for our next President of the United States. I did so as a free man, there was no military presence at the voting precinct and I was not forced to vote against my will under threat of death. Today marks an even bigger day for me, it marks the day that 8 years ago my life was changed forever. It does not matter what direction our country turns in or if I had to live in a land full of oppression, I would still be the happiest man on earth, because I have the priviledge of being married to the love of my life and my best friend, Nicki. So today, this is a little of what I want to say to my wife…
On this day 8 years ago, you made the decision to start a new life journey with me. The many roads that we have traveled in these short 8 years have been full of twists and turns, hills and mountains, pot holes as well as smooth straight paths. I would be inaccurately describing it if I said it’s been anything short of an adventure.
Some of our roads were surprises while others have been of our own choosing, but no matter which road we’ve traveled we’ve come to the end together, and still we have many to complete.
I can easily say that after these 8 years we have a successful life. No we are not the wealthiest people on earth, ok, wealthy is not even in our dictionary, but we made decisions for our family that in 8 more years we will be thankful for. I cannot put a price tag on a loving wife that has sacrificed career and personal dreams to ensure that our children had a positive influence at home before being shipped off to school. The intelligence that our children have because of the influence of their mom is truly priceless and could never be copied by an outside daycare or child rearing source. I know at times its seems that your hard work making purses to help make ends meet goes unnoticed and is unappreciated, but I thank God for your dedication to our home, to our marriage, and to our children. In a self-serving and self-pleasing world I know that I have found a treasure in a woman who will put self aside for the good of her family. We are successful because we have 3 beautiful, healthy, smart, and loving children. All of them are growing into children, one day teenagers, and eventually adults who will be a blessing to the world around them; we’ve already seen this in their character and personality as they get older. I would trade riches any day for a beautiful, loving, healthy, and dedicated wife and for the three greatest children a man could ask for. This is just one of the many roads we are on, and when we get to the end of it, we will be a stronger couple, we will be stronger parents, and we will be stronger candidates for God to use. This 8 year journey has quickly passed us by and I can only hope that the next 8 will not be in such a rush to get here. Let’s not look too far in to our tomorrows, but savor all that God has blessed us with in all of our todays.
So, at the beginning of this new day together I thank you for sticking with me through all of my bone headed decisions; some turned out great while others made us dig to the surface just to get air. I thank you for being the best mom I could ever dream up for our children, for being a great influence on them, one that will lead them after Jesus throughout their entire life. I thank you for being dedicated to us, your family. I thank you for being you, and not anyone I may have tried to make you into over the years. I thank you for breakfast in the mornings and dinner in the evenings. I thank you for your creativity and allowing God to use those gifts He has given you. I thank you for allowing me to travel and experience some of my dreams while you hold down the fort at home. I thank you that you have given me the confidence and the trust that no matter where God leads us, whether it is a new town or just down the street you are going to be there with me when we get to the end of that road. Most of all, I thank you for loving me more than anyone ever has, more than anyone ever would, and more than anyone should. You are my very best friend…my everything! Happy 8th Year Anniversary!
I Love You,
Nick
…about his hearts sin condition. Straight from a 5 year old’s mind and heart to his lips. (This conversation took place at MeMaw’s house)
Gavin: MeMaw!
MeMaw: What Gavin?
Gavin: (With hand placed over chest) I hate this sin in my heart
MeMaW: You hate the sin in your heart?
Gavin: Yes, how do I get rid of it?
MeMaw: You have to ask Jesus to get rid of it for you
MeMaw: How did you know about the sin in your heart?
Gavin: From 3D (Our children’s program at church for K-5th Grade)
As a parent I am excited to hear my son acknowledging the ‘sin in his heart‘ and even more his desire to get rid of it and to get it out of his heart…at the age of 5. I am reminded of what Proverbs 22:6 says about teaching our children the right things at a young age so they will stick with it at an older age. That is my daily prayer for my children…that they stay on the right path when Mom and Dad are not around.
I believe education, both secular and spiritually start at home, however I understand that we cannot expect to be the only voice in our children’s lives. That is why I am so thankful for the other voices in my children’s lives, such as 3D at TCAG, my mom-in-law, “Mr. Shane,” and many others who have taken a vested interest in my family. I appreciate my pastor pushing our children’s teams to provide environments that are second to none for the children in our church and the children in our community that have yet to be reached. Just a thought…don’t go at this parenting thing alone!
Other Conversations with a 5 Year Old Posts: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4
Join the Conversation: Any interesting conversations around your house recently?
…That is the question and your opinion matters:
Our back screened in porch has been overtaken by Raccoons. We moved into a rental house from my aunt and inherited her cat, a pet door to the porch, and the big container of food that my aunt or her husband comes and fills up for that cat, however we attract other neighborhood cats, plus the raccoons. We have had around 4 raccoons overtake the porch, they range from larger adults, to smaller ‘pups,’ that whimper like little puppy dogs and would almost let you pet them if you tried.
Join the Conversation: Should I shoot the raccoons to prevent them from overtaking our porch? We have two little boys who play in the yard, and my fear is if the raccoon has rabies and bites the cat, the cat could bite the children and then we have a serious problem. We called the animal control department, but they have yet to bring a trap. What do you think? I am leaning towards protecting my children and sending the raccoons to their sandy graves, but of course I would put flowers on their graves.