Well, yesterday was Father's Day and I have to say, it was one of those that will forever be engraved in my mind and heart.
Started at 8 AM (yes, I got to sleep until 8 AM!!!)... Jordan has been clamouring about making me breakfast in bed so here it comes... Fruity Pebbles and two muffins. The Pebbles are always good, but the muffins were shared amongst Jordan and Kendall, leaving me crumbs in my bed to save for later. Alas, I didn't need them anyway. 2 out of 5 baths completed, only 3 of the seven of us are up (Patty went back to bed as she has not been feeling too hot lately). I decide that we WILL make the 11AM service. I have the older two dressed and ready as well as myself. Well, the other three rugrats decide that they need to wish me a Happy Father's Day. I try to wake Patty (no use) and then decide that if we can get the other three baths done, we will be in business to make service. Well, don't know how many of you have tried to bathe two 16 month olds and a three year old in 30 minutes, but there are some other things that can be done before this feat. Like drinking a whole gallon of milk at once, whistling while eating 20 crackers, and folding paper more than 7 times. It was no use.... I tried and failed.
So, we cleaned up muffin messes until lunch. Jordan, who has had this day planned for me for weeks, informs me that she wants homemade nachos or Taco Bueno, because that is what Daddy would want, she thinks. We settle for homemade nachos and gifts! I got a really cool "hand"made card with everyone's artistic impression on it, followed by... my coupon for one new iPhone 3g! (they don't come out for another month). I also got my staple, a shirt with handprints on it. It has become one of my favorite things in life, seeing how much they each have grown. I have one from two years ago with one spot for the baby #4 before we knew it was babies #4 and #5. Very nice touch by Mrs. Brown.
Jordan then planned all the fun things "I" would want to do. This included the following: swimming at the pool, coloring, bike riding, making cookies (which we didn't get to do), getting an ice cream (we settled for 99 cent shakes at Sonic), calling Grumpy and Grandpa to wish them"Happy Father's Day",going to Chuck E. Cheese to claim our tickets, dinner, reading stories, and watching the girls "perform". Needless to say, I did a lot of stuff, some things I didn't even know I liked to do. My wife told me later that night that she thought Jordan was more excited about this day than I was. Maybe I was in shock- after all, she is the only one of my children to tell me that they don't like me anymore. I am glad she came around.
I also got some other "unexpected" presents.... Rylee decided to give me the gift of poop as she got it all over the bed during nap, Mackie decided that the best time to go find me at the pool was after she went to the bathroom and with her swimsuit at her ankles, Reagan gave me a tiny nail massage on my sunburned shoulders, and Kendall gave me a great kick in the crotch at the pool, while swimming away from me. I am glad it is Jordan that is the only one that doesn't like me.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Let me tell you about the president of my fan club...
Last night, my wife and I were laying bed, deliriously tired from night 2 of VBS at church. It was a little after 1 AM and we were just talking about things in our life, funny things that happened that day, the kids, etc...
It then hit me. I am one lucky SOB. I get frustrated with Patty. I get upset that I am constantly not meeting expectations. I know if she had the energy and time, she would spend the time that I want with her to myself, but who are we kidding.... 1 AM is the only time we got together. I love the time we have together - talking, laughing, sharing our thoughts. I know I don't meet her "perfect" image of a husband, but as she has told me many times before, I have "potential".
I love my wife. I love that she only "acts" embarrassed when I make an ass of myself in front of people and large groups. I love that if someone (even a large woman that could break her in half) says something ugly about me or to me, she will go to the mat, ready to fight - even in the middle of IKEA. I think I don't give my wife credit for all that she does. I mean the woman spends the majority of her day speaking to 5 little girls. There are days that she will call and all I hear in the background is crying and screaming. She left me a message the other day that was littered with screaming. The message said, "please come home". I know it is rough for her.
Anyway, my reason for this post is to let you know how much I truly love my wife and what she is for me and my girls. We were reading marriage quotes last night and ran across a quote that sums up my relationship with Patty.
As much as I would miss my wife if she were to die, I would miss what we are together even more. Our "we-ness" our "us-ness." - Carl Whitaker, family therapy pioneer
That is the greatness of our relationship, that we are in it together. We have gone through some really great times and some of the lowest times I think we will ever hit and the one thing that remains constant is that we are together - a "we-ness". A couple of weeks ago, our lead pastor encouraged us to really love people, not just those that return the favor. He spoke of Divine Love and loving someone who does not or cannot reciprocate. As Jeff said, there are times that families must divine love each other, as one is not able or willing to go the distance. For the past two weeks, my wife and I have practiced this. We tell each other that we divine love each other, letting the other one know that no matter what this world throws at us, we love each other. No matter how many times I argue with her (and I don't know why I do, she is 98% right every time), no matter how stressed she is, no matter how late I work, no matter how frustrated I make her - DIVINE LOVE. I have seen an improvement in my relationship with her. I see that although she gets frustrated with me for leaving piles of clothes on her clean floor, that she will give me a kiss when I need it. She has even been spotted, cleaning dried cereal out of bowls (which drives me ape-ishly insane). It is magical the effect it has had on how I view her.
I love my wife. And, to let you know - this isn't for her to read. You see, my wife has no interest in reading my blog. She will go about her crazy life not knowing this is here, so all you haters can know that I am not doing this to get out of the doghouse. I wanted to blog this to let you know that my wife is the President of my fan club and I couldn't be happier about it. I am through taking her for granted and wanted to publicly let anyone that reads this to know that she is my number one blessing from God....
I promise the next ones will be about my greatest accomplishments - those 5 angels.
It then hit me. I am one lucky SOB. I get frustrated with Patty. I get upset that I am constantly not meeting expectations. I know if she had the energy and time, she would spend the time that I want with her to myself, but who are we kidding.... 1 AM is the only time we got together. I love the time we have together - talking, laughing, sharing our thoughts. I know I don't meet her "perfect" image of a husband, but as she has told me many times before, I have "potential".
I love my wife. I love that she only "acts" embarrassed when I make an ass of myself in front of people and large groups. I love that if someone (even a large woman that could break her in half) says something ugly about me or to me, she will go to the mat, ready to fight - even in the middle of IKEA. I think I don't give my wife credit for all that she does. I mean the woman spends the majority of her day speaking to 5 little girls. There are days that she will call and all I hear in the background is crying and screaming. She left me a message the other day that was littered with screaming. The message said, "please come home". I know it is rough for her.
Anyway, my reason for this post is to let you know how much I truly love my wife and what she is for me and my girls. We were reading marriage quotes last night and ran across a quote that sums up my relationship with Patty.
As much as I would miss my wife if she were to die, I would miss what we are together even more. Our "we-ness" our "us-ness." - Carl Whitaker, family therapy pioneer
That is the greatness of our relationship, that we are in it together. We have gone through some really great times and some of the lowest times I think we will ever hit and the one thing that remains constant is that we are together - a "we-ness". A couple of weeks ago, our lead pastor encouraged us to really love people, not just those that return the favor. He spoke of Divine Love and loving someone who does not or cannot reciprocate. As Jeff said, there are times that families must divine love each other, as one is not able or willing to go the distance. For the past two weeks, my wife and I have practiced this. We tell each other that we divine love each other, letting the other one know that no matter what this world throws at us, we love each other. No matter how many times I argue with her (and I don't know why I do, she is 98% right every time), no matter how stressed she is, no matter how late I work, no matter how frustrated I make her - DIVINE LOVE. I have seen an improvement in my relationship with her. I see that although she gets frustrated with me for leaving piles of clothes on her clean floor, that she will give me a kiss when I need it. She has even been spotted, cleaning dried cereal out of bowls (which drives me ape-ishly insane). It is magical the effect it has had on how I view her.
I love my wife. And, to let you know - this isn't for her to read. You see, my wife has no interest in reading my blog. She will go about her crazy life not knowing this is here, so all you haters can know that I am not doing this to get out of the doghouse. I wanted to blog this to let you know that my wife is the President of my fan club and I couldn't be happier about it. I am through taking her for granted and wanted to publicly let anyone that reads this to know that she is my number one blessing from God....
I promise the next ones will be about my greatest accomplishments - those 5 angels.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Feel good story...
In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University .
On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.
He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed his stupid ass against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.
This kind of immature stuff makes me giggle like a school girl.
On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.
He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed his stupid ass against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.
This kind of immature stuff makes me giggle like a school girl.
Monday, June 2, 2008
My race for the cure...
As I mentioned before, a colleague and good friend of mine, Denise Vadala, is battling breast cancer right now. As I type this, Denise the super trooper, is working a couple of doors down from me - tired, hurting, and still so full of spirit. Our company, Sentari Technologies, has decided to run for Denise, who is our inspiration right now. I am (hopefully) including a link where, if you want, you can donate to the cause. I know money is tight and there is always a reason to find why we can't give. It all gets trumped when a worn out Denise comes into my office to ask me how MY day was and how I am doing. If you can spare a dime, I will take it.
Thanks for the support.
Click here to visit my personal page and pledge your support.
http://race.komennorthtexas.org/site/TR/Race/General?px=1241457&pg=personal&fr_id=1020
If this page does not send you to my page, then you can easily look me up. respond and I will tell you how.
Thanks!
Thanks for the support.
Click here to visit my personal page and pledge your support.
http://race.komennorthtexas.org/site/TR/Race/General?px=1241457&pg=personal&fr_id=1020
If this page does not send you to my page, then you can easily look me up. respond and I will tell you how.
Thanks!
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