This morning while getting ready for school, Grace was in the laundry room getting her bag ready for dance lessons. Laura, Torrey and I were in the living room having devotions. All of a sudden we hear a shriek and Grace blurts out "Who's there!".
Laura said "no one...you're running late...get your bag around!" Not ten seconds later, another shriek and a "Something is in this house and it's following me!" I replied "Nonsense! This house has been locked all night, nothing is following you!"
At this point Grace came into the living room shaking like a leaf..."Can't you hear that noise? It sounds like a bird chirping around my head!" At this point its all we can do to keep our cool, but I calmly said "Grace come here there's nothing wrong." She took two steps and froze in her tracks..."There" two more steps and this time I heard the little bird chirping too...hmmm
"Grace, take two more steps." There it was again...that chirping sound and it was coming from Grace's foot! Come to find out, she'd ruptured the air bag in the heel of her tennis shoe and every time she took a step with her left foot her shoe would "chirp".
Everyone including Grace cracked up! Something WAS following her...a spooky shoe.
It's those little moments of laughter in life we all need to appreciate. They serve as a gentle reminder that the apples don't fall far from the tree! Grace gets her "drama" from me and her mental instability from Laura :-)
Have a BLESSED DAY!
Jay
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Live life to the full!
Each and every day, live life like it is your last...I do not want to be depressing but life's events this week, have made me think about how short life really is....This week the news from friends has been 3 cases of cancer and one unexpected death! These incidents make me ponder what difference am I making each and every day? What do I do with the time I am given each day to bring glory to God? We only have so much time and we do not have the luxury of knowing how much time that is...so ponder these questions....ask yourself are you using the time you have to love your spouse the way they need to be loved...listen to your kids detail out their day...play with your kids...eat dinner as a family...take the time to talk to someone today who you would not normally talk to...the delivery man, the waitress...love those around you the way Jesus would if He were living your life today. We only have so much time!
Living Life to the Full!
Laura
Living Life to the Full!
Laura
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Laugh...it burns calories!
A minister decided to do something a little different one Sunday morning.
He said 'Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help me preach...Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind.'
The pastor shouted out 'CROSS.'
Immediately the congregation started singing in unison, 'THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.'
The pastor hollered out 'GRACE.'
The congregation began to sing 'AMAZING GRACE'
The pastor said 'POWER.'
The congregation sang 'THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.'
The Pastor said 'SEX' The congregation fell into total silence.
Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything.
Then all of a sudden, way from in the back of the church, a little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing 'PRECIOUS MEMORIES.'
Gotta Love Little Old Ladies.
Laugh... it burns calories.
J&L
He said 'Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help me preach...Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind.'
The pastor shouted out 'CROSS.'
Immediately the congregation started singing in unison, 'THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.'
The pastor hollered out 'GRACE.'
The congregation began to sing 'AMAZING GRACE'
The pastor said 'POWER.'
The congregation sang 'THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD.'
The Pastor said 'SEX' The congregation fell into total silence.
Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything.
Then all of a sudden, way from in the back of the church, a little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing 'PRECIOUS MEMORIES.'
Gotta Love Little Old Ladies.
Laugh... it burns calories.
J&L
Friday, October 31, 2008
Why we live in a Small Town~~
Over the years we have often been asked why we choose to live in a small town when we could really do our job from anywhere and have MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY in a big city...well this story illustrates how we feel...
Courtesy of Mikey's Funnies
An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."
The banker then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a nap with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I play guitar and sing with my friends. I have a full and busy life."
The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a big city where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which the banker replied, "15-20 years."
"But what then?"
The banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions...Then what?"
The banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a nap with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play your guitar and sing with your friends."
today'sTHOT============================
If you are not content with what you have, you'll never be content with what you want.
Courtesy of Mikey's Funnies
An investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, "Only a little while."
The banker then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a nap with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I play guitar and sing with my friends. I have a full and busy life."
The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a big city where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which the banker replied, "15-20 years."
"But what then?"
The banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions...Then what?"
The banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a nap with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play your guitar and sing with your friends."
today'sTHOT============================
If you are not content with what you have, you'll never be content with what you want.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A new connection!
Okay so I just got done spending too much time on Facebook! Now I know for some of you out there Facebook is a scary thing! But let me tell you, I am having a riot on it! I know the arguement out there that says it is a way to disconnect from real human contact but here is the deal...I am connecting with people that I have not connected with in years!
Former Campus Life kids that have grown up into adults that are raising families and actually remember some of what they learned in Campus Life! A beautiful young mother who was in a grief group I lead while she was in high school who is now helping young children deal with grief in their lives. Friends from college that live so far away that if it was not for Facebook I would not even know where they live or what they are doing. Friends that have been a part of my adult life that have moved away and we can stay connected online. Childhood friends that literally live on the otherside of the country yet we can talk everyday! Friends in my life now, that I do get to see more regularly but we can connect on FB at any given moment.
Facebook is a way to connect and to reconnect. It has truly been a blessing in this Facebookers life. Try it and if you do- friend me so we can stay connected!
Former Campus Life kids that have grown up into adults that are raising families and actually remember some of what they learned in Campus Life! A beautiful young mother who was in a grief group I lead while she was in high school who is now helping young children deal with grief in their lives. Friends from college that live so far away that if it was not for Facebook I would not even know where they live or what they are doing. Friends that have been a part of my adult life that have moved away and we can stay connected online. Childhood friends that literally live on the otherside of the country yet we can talk everyday! Friends in my life now, that I do get to see more regularly but we can connect on FB at any given moment.
Facebook is a way to connect and to reconnect. It has truly been a blessing in this Facebookers life. Try it and if you do- friend me so we can stay connected!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
We're off
We're heading out this morning for Atlanta to be guests on Everyday with Marcus and Lisa. We're presenting our Healthy Marriage Healthy Church program to a nationwide television audience.
This is our first opportunity to share this on a national level and so we'd like to ask you to pray for a couple of things:
1. That we would be coherent and understood by the listeners
2. That people would respond, seeing the great need this program fulfills
3. That is might open other media opportunities to present HMHC
Thanks!
J & L
This is our first opportunity to share this on a national level and so we'd like to ask you to pray for a couple of things:
1. That we would be coherent and understood by the listeners
2. That people would respond, seeing the great need this program fulfills
3. That is might open other media opportunities to present HMHC
Thanks!
J & L
Monday, October 20, 2008
Finding the Magnificent in the Mundane
Every job or career has its good points and its bad points. Most every job also has its MUNDANE moments. Dictionary dot com defines mundane as: common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative. In my job, TRAVEL is the mundane.
Saturday I spent 9 count them NINE hours in the car driving to two different speaking engagements. My day began at 6am as I made my way to Grace Adventures in Mears, MI to speak for a men's retreat sponsored by Mt. Pleasant Community Church. Driving due west, the sunrise coming up behind me drew out the brilliance of the fall foliage as every new corner and hill brought a refreshing picture of God's creation...it was MAGNIFICENT!
On my way back to Alma to pick up Laura for our Ultimate Date Night in Tekonsha, MI that evening, a detour routed me over the Croton/Hardy Dam. While driving over the dam, I was treated to six (6) STUNNING swans. They were gliding gracefully over the still glass like waters...it was MAGNIFICENT!
Driving down to Tekonsha I spotted something strange in the air. As we kept our eyes on it we soon discovered it was the Blimp flying through a cloudless sky over the Michigan State University football game...we had seen that blimp from over 20 miles away...MAGNIFICENT!
Coming Home at 10pm at night, a big bright 3/4 waning moon rose over the trees to the east. Laura said it looked like a Milano cookie half dipped in chocolate...we watched it rise in amazement...MAGNIFICENT!
As I climbed into bed after midnight, the effects of an 18 hour day, two shows and nine hours on the road had me weary and sore, but before I drifted to sleep I thanked God that in the midst of the mundane, he revealed the MAGNIFICENT!
Look for the MAGNIFICENT in your job, your spouse or your kids today and be blessed by your Father in Heaven!
Jay
Saturday I spent 9 count them NINE hours in the car driving to two different speaking engagements. My day began at 6am as I made my way to Grace Adventures in Mears, MI to speak for a men's retreat sponsored by Mt. Pleasant Community Church. Driving due west, the sunrise coming up behind me drew out the brilliance of the fall foliage as every new corner and hill brought a refreshing picture of God's creation...it was MAGNIFICENT!
On my way back to Alma to pick up Laura for our Ultimate Date Night in Tekonsha, MI that evening, a detour routed me over the Croton/Hardy Dam. While driving over the dam, I was treated to six (6) STUNNING swans. They were gliding gracefully over the still glass like waters...it was MAGNIFICENT!
Driving down to Tekonsha I spotted something strange in the air. As we kept our eyes on it we soon discovered it was the Blimp flying through a cloudless sky over the Michigan State University football game...we had seen that blimp from over 20 miles away...MAGNIFICENT!
Coming Home at 10pm at night, a big bright 3/4 waning moon rose over the trees to the east. Laura said it looked like a Milano cookie half dipped in chocolate...we watched it rise in amazement...MAGNIFICENT!
As I climbed into bed after midnight, the effects of an 18 hour day, two shows and nine hours on the road had me weary and sore, but before I drifted to sleep I thanked God that in the midst of the mundane, he revealed the MAGNIFICENT!
Look for the MAGNIFICENT in your job, your spouse or your kids today and be blessed by your Father in Heaven!
Jay
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Do we really care?
Okay so here is the question of the day....
We can all get angry about our financial crisis in our country. We can get indignant about which political party has the best candidate for president. We argue and pontificate via email, Facebook, yard signs, and bumper stickers. Yet marriages are falling apart around us and we sit and watch because it "is none of our business"!
Let me tell you folks, our economy is not going to get any better, our children are not going to be safer, who we put in the highest office of our land is not going to matter until we make marriages our business! We all see people around us who are hurting in their marriages. They have made choices that are not good for their relationship. We can see it in their eyes...the hurt, the sorrow, the loneliness. But we still keep our lips locked tight for fear of offending!
We don't mind offending our neighbor with political verbage, but we don't won't to offend our neighbor with words of wisdom that will restore relationships and bring joy back into their lives.
So the question is: Do we really care?
We can all get angry about our financial crisis in our country. We can get indignant about which political party has the best candidate for president. We argue and pontificate via email, Facebook, yard signs, and bumper stickers. Yet marriages are falling apart around us and we sit and watch because it "is none of our business"!
Let me tell you folks, our economy is not going to get any better, our children are not going to be safer, who we put in the highest office of our land is not going to matter until we make marriages our business! We all see people around us who are hurting in their marriages. They have made choices that are not good for their relationship. We can see it in their eyes...the hurt, the sorrow, the loneliness. But we still keep our lips locked tight for fear of offending!
We don't mind offending our neighbor with political verbage, but we don't won't to offend our neighbor with words of wisdom that will restore relationships and bring joy back into their lives.
So the question is: Do we really care?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
2 Chronicles 7:14 - PRAYER FOR OUR NATION
ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT.... 9:00 PM Eastern Time.
We all need to be on our knees.
Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders to behold. This scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do so. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'
During WWII, there was an adviser to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. The United States of America and our citizens need prayer more than ever!!!
If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.
Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.
Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone whom you think will want to join us.
We all need to be on our knees.
Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders to behold. This scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do so. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'
During WWII, there was an adviser to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. The United States of America and our citizens need prayer more than ever!!!
If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.
Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.
Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone whom you think will want to join us.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Busy Saturday
Hello!
We've had a busy Saturday getting ready for Celebrate Your Marriage at Grand Hotel...994 of our "closets" friends are joining us over the next 3 days...
Tonight is Torrey's Sr. Year Homecoming Dance and in the midst of all his preparations he locked two sets of keys in his car...not to worry, a quick call to AAA Michigan and...crisis averted!
Being his Sr. year, the kids are joining us at Grand this fall...so please say an extra prayer for us :-)
C-YA!
J & L
We've had a busy Saturday getting ready for Celebrate Your Marriage at Grand Hotel...994 of our "closets" friends are joining us over the next 3 days...
Tonight is Torrey's Sr. Year Homecoming Dance and in the midst of all his preparations he locked two sets of keys in his car...not to worry, a quick call to AAA Michigan and...crisis averted!
Being his Sr. year, the kids are joining us at Grand this fall...so please say an extra prayer for us :-)
C-YA!
J & L
Monday, September 29, 2008
He is growing up!
Every mother comes to a point of realization that her children are growing up! Maybe it is when you move from diapers to big kid pants? Or maybe when they go to kindergarten for the first time? Or maybe when they go on their first date!?!?
I must be a slow learner! Torrey is in his senior year of high school and for some reason it is just now dawning on me that he is growing up! I think the realization that he will be leaving is just hitting home. I am a blubbering mom on any given day at any given event!
Last night was no different! We had parent's night at our youth group. Seems harmless enough and not necessairly a place for me to let the tears flow! But alas....
Torrey is a the leader of the the Youth Worship band and as they were leading us in worship last night I was overcome with the realization that not only was he going to be leaving us next year but what a fine young man he had become! I would like to take credit for it but since it seemed to happen in the blink of an eye...? I stood and watched himn sing and play guitar not only in front a large group of his peers but their parents as well. I was over come with emotion to the point that I could not sing! I was also aware that we do the best we can and thankfully the Lord is in charge! Jesus has made Torrey into the wonderfully talented young man he is!
I have a feeling it is going to be a long year for this mama! I will survive, but I think many tears will be shed and that is okay!
Hug your kids today! (for me!)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Headin' South
We're very excited as we head to Lexington SC this weekend, just outside Columbia for an Ultimate Date Night with The Harvest Church!
In the midst of the obvious turmoil our country is in...Election year, bailouts, and an economy that is in question, let's not forget to keep OUR priorities in order and focus on the Lord, your spouse and your kids...in that order :-)
God is in control!
Blessings~
J & L
In the midst of the obvious turmoil our country is in...Election year, bailouts, and an economy that is in question, let's not forget to keep OUR priorities in order and focus on the Lord, your spouse and your kids...in that order :-)
God is in control!
Blessings~
J & L
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Practicing what we preach and it's KILLING ME!
Laura and I are getting away for the weekend trying to practice the things we tell married people they need to do! We're heading to northern Michigan for some golf, sight-seeing and a couple of good restaurants!
BUT...Do you know what I gave UP this weekend? A free all expense paid trip to the Ryder Cup! For those of you that don't know golf...this is HUGE!HUGER!! HUGEST!!!
My friend Bill Hobson of Michigan Golf Live Radio had an extra press pass and room in his van for me to attend the entire Ryder Cup weekend...BUT I committed to go with Laura...
Yes she's worth it...no doubt more important than GOLF...but seriously this event only comes to the states every four years...it's like the Olympics only better because? IT'S GOLF!
Ok ok ok enough of my whining...can I just get a little credit for keeping my priorities straight?
Have a great weekend...we will :-)
Jay & Laura
BUT...Do you know what I gave UP this weekend? A free all expense paid trip to the Ryder Cup! For those of you that don't know golf...this is HUGE!HUGER!! HUGEST!!!
My friend Bill Hobson of Michigan Golf Live Radio had an extra press pass and room in his van for me to attend the entire Ryder Cup weekend...BUT I committed to go with Laura...
Yes she's worth it...no doubt more important than GOLF...but seriously this event only comes to the states every four years...it's like the Olympics only better because? IT'S GOLF!
Ok ok ok enough of my whining...can I just get a little credit for keeping my priorities straight?
Have a great weekend...we will :-)
Jay & Laura
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Girlz Night Out!
Sometimes I feel like it isn't right to call what I do a "job"! We travel to really beautiful places like Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI. We meet tons and tons of people that warm our hearts! Take for instance last Friday night...I was asked to do "entertain and inspire" ladies at Girlz Night Out hosted by 99.7 Family Life Radio. We had a blast! The evening was located on the Bavarian Belle in Frankenmuth, MI. We had dinner on the boat and after my "entertaining and inspiring" time, we cruised down the Cass River on the boat.
It was a great night of meeting ladies from all around Michigan, laughing and having fun together! The privilege I have of being with people, laughing, encouraging, listening to their stories is one for which I am truly grateful!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A Best Seller!
Okay so I have to be honest...the other day, Jay sent me a "A Father's Reflections" via emai and asked me what I thought about it. I read it and replied back that I thought it was a bit on the sappy side but a good poem.
Now, understand what was going on inside my head as I read this poem: Jay frequently sends me stuff he finds on the internet and asks my opinion before we use them for something- blog, promotional news, etc. - I was surprised that he had "found" this poem and run it by me. I thought it was his "normal" find!
Come to find out- HE WROTE IT!
After, I responded that I thought it was a bit sappy, he went into this whole deal about how I don't understand him at all! He went on by saying that he could get sappier! I still did not get what he was trying to tell me! I just laughed...
Then as I am laughing...he says, " You know, when I die you can just take my journal and publish all my poems. You will probably make a lot of money off that book. After I am dead and gone."
THAT WAS WHEN IT HIT ME! HE WROTE "A FATHER'S REFLECTIONS" !!! Well that changed everyting...what a sensitive man I married! I was really and truly full of admiration for him and that fact that he wrote that poem! But it was too little too late.....
So I am trying to make amends for be insensitive in the first place by letting all of you know that Jay wrote that poem that he posted the other day. I am telling you all how proud I am of him and his ability to write his heart on paper!
I am also letting you know that the minute he dies...there will be a new bestseller on the shelves!
Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed "A Father's Reflections" let Jay know by commenting!
Now, understand what was going on inside my head as I read this poem: Jay frequently sends me stuff he finds on the internet and asks my opinion before we use them for something- blog, promotional news, etc. - I was surprised that he had "found" this poem and run it by me. I thought it was his "normal" find!
Come to find out- HE WROTE IT!
After, I responded that I thought it was a bit sappy, he went into this whole deal about how I don't understand him at all! He went on by saying that he could get sappier! I still did not get what he was trying to tell me! I just laughed...
Then as I am laughing...he says, " You know, when I die you can just take my journal and publish all my poems. You will probably make a lot of money off that book. After I am dead and gone."
THAT WAS WHEN IT HIT ME! HE WROTE "A FATHER'S REFLECTIONS" !!! Well that changed everyting...what a sensitive man I married! I was really and truly full of admiration for him and that fact that he wrote that poem! But it was too little too late.....
So I am trying to make amends for be insensitive in the first place by letting all of you know that Jay wrote that poem that he posted the other day. I am telling you all how proud I am of him and his ability to write his heart on paper!
I am also letting you know that the minute he dies...there will be a new bestseller on the shelves!
Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed "A Father's Reflections" let Jay know by commenting!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
A Fathers Reflection
A Father’s Reflection
From starry skies to foaming seas
I see the signs – your love for me
A baby’s laugh a good friends grin
Your love displayed, it pulls me in
A wretched man, my sin, my shame
I’m only cleansed by Jesus Name
His name alone can calm the sea
His blood the Cross has set me free
I’m thankful for my wife and kids
And also for, what Jesus did
Lord hear my prayer that is my plea
What is the life you have for me?
From starry skies to foaming seas
I see the signs – your love for me
A baby’s laugh a good friends grin
Your love displayed, it pulls me in
A wretched man, my sin, my shame
I’m only cleansed by Jesus Name
His name alone can calm the sea
His blood the Cross has set me free
I’m thankful for my wife and kids
And also for, what Jesus did
Lord hear my prayer that is my plea
What is the life you have for me?
Monday, September 08, 2008
"Hurry!"
How many times a day do you find yourself saying "hurry!" If you are like me, I say it at least several times each morning to a slow child not wanting to go to school. I say it every sunday morning when the preacher is not done and my stomach is growling! I say it to myself as I run each day and just want to be finished with the pain!
How much do we miss in life by living in a "hurry!"? It is like a good book. I always want to get to the end and see what happens that I skip over some important details of the story. When we live in a "hurry!" we are missing some important details of the story God has for us.
If we are always thinking we must "hurry!", we will live our lives in a "hurry!" and miss out on some of the journey. One of my favorite sayings is "Dance like no one is watching, love as though you have never been hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live as though heaven is on earth"
Slow down today and enjoy the journey!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Some people just don't GET IT!
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who is totally clueless? I don't mean to belittle or sound mean, but someone who truly can't see your point of view because it literally doesn't exist in their paradigm?
As someone who studies marriage, works with marriages, and yes struggles through this thing called marriage, it boggles my mind when someone who's been MARRIED for 20+ years can't understand some of the simplest truths about relationships. I'm not talking about an uneducated crack head here, I'm talking about people with a PHD for crying out loud.
Here's the truth: if you are married, everything that occurs in your marriage impacts the rest of your life. Also everything that occurs in the rest of your life impacts your marriage!
Now there are degrees of impact of course. If I have a good or bad day on the golf course, it is certainly not going to impact my marriage as much as if I have a heart attack, but the point is that "bad" golf game will have some spill over into my union with Laura because we are ONE!
For most people the problem comes in the fact that they "do their own thing" in marriage and never understand the beauty of becoming ONE with their spouse in every aspect of their lives.
Thanks for letting me RANT!
Jay
As someone who studies marriage, works with marriages, and yes struggles through this thing called marriage, it boggles my mind when someone who's been MARRIED for 20+ years can't understand some of the simplest truths about relationships. I'm not talking about an uneducated crack head here, I'm talking about people with a PHD for crying out loud.
Here's the truth: if you are married, everything that occurs in your marriage impacts the rest of your life. Also everything that occurs in the rest of your life impacts your marriage!
Now there are degrees of impact of course. If I have a good or bad day on the golf course, it is certainly not going to impact my marriage as much as if I have a heart attack, but the point is that "bad" golf game will have some spill over into my union with Laura because we are ONE!
For most people the problem comes in the fact that they "do their own thing" in marriage and never understand the beauty of becoming ONE with their spouse in every aspect of their lives.
Thanks for letting me RANT!
Jay
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Back to school!
Back to school is always a bitter sweet time for me! I love summer and having some fun hangout time with my kids, yet there is a point where I am ready for them to head back to school and for us all to return to a "normal" schedule!
"Back to school" shopping is always a fun day with the kids. Torrey, Grace and I headed to the shops yesterday in search of jeans, shoes, and school supplies. The day made me realize a few things:
1. Grace is growing like a weed! She is now in a bigger shoe size than I am!
2. Torrey is on his way out! He is taking an easy schedule as a senior and did not even need school supplies!!
3. Torrey is more interested in friends than fam! He spent the entire day attached to his phone, except when mom was buying him clothes.
4. Grace is a tweenager! Jewelry and fashion were a must!
5. No matter how old they get, they still fight about who sits in the front seat!
6. A year from now, Torrey will be in college and it will be just Grace and I going shopping!
Celebrate the moment now!
"Back to school" shopping is always a fun day with the kids. Torrey, Grace and I headed to the shops yesterday in search of jeans, shoes, and school supplies. The day made me realize a few things:
1. Grace is growing like a weed! She is now in a bigger shoe size than I am!
2. Torrey is on his way out! He is taking an easy schedule as a senior and did not even need school supplies!!
3. Torrey is more interested in friends than fam! He spent the entire day attached to his phone, except when mom was buying him clothes.
4. Grace is a tweenager! Jewelry and fashion were a must!
5. No matter how old they get, they still fight about who sits in the front seat!
6. A year from now, Torrey will be in college and it will be just Grace and I going shopping!
Celebrate the moment now!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Be Informed!
Ok so we're getting political. Or at least as political as we're gonna get. I don't know if you saw the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, but we thought it was very well done, and that some very good questions were asked. These are certainly not ALL the questions that should be answered by the candidates, but it is a good start, and the link below will allow you to see how the candidates answered the same question.
Enjoy and Be INFORMED!
Click here to view
Enjoy and Be INFORMED!
Click here to view
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