Coming Alive

Nolan and I have a routine in the mornings.  When he wakes up I throw open the door and yell, “It’s a daddy day!” to which he starts laughing and reaching for me.  Then I pick him up and hug him for as long as he wants to hold on before finally laying him down to change his diaper.

The problem is, Nolan is currently in a phase of overloading his diaper in the mornings.  A few times recently I have walked into his room to find an unpleasant smell and his clothes a little (or a lot) wet (or worse).  I can predict those days b/c those are the ones where I hear him wake up an almost immediately start crying.

And on the messy days I am faced with a decision.  Do I gingerly pull Nolan out of the crib and change his diaper right away, or do I keep the routine and let a wet, dirty, reaching baby hug me as tight as he wants?

I think it’s our nature to insulate ourselves as much as possible from other people’s mess.  It’s not that we don’t want to help; just that we look for ways to help while exposing ourselves as little as possible to any unpleasantries.  It makes sense to just hug Nolan later, after I change him.  However, walking into that room and seeing him reaching as far outside the crib as he can for me, tears streaming down his face, that which “makes sense” becomes less relevant.

Now, excuse me while I go take a shower. 

I’m a lobster.  It happens every year around this time.  The pool opens and I get caught up in a basketball game (in the water) and 2 and a half hours later I glow in the dark.  I hurt.  That’s the bad news.

The good news is, I am CONVINCED that we have an amazing opportunity to do some stuff with youth here in Reedy Fork!  In the last few days I have met practically a dozen kids.  On top of that we have one teenager in the community willing to help us get something started.  This guy is the key to seeing the youth of Reedy Fork Ranch come alive in relationship with God.

We also have God working in the hearts of a couple of people in our community of faith He may prompt to do something with all this. 

Another Friday movie night in Reedy Fork, and another big success!  I really doubted whether or not we would have a good turnout tonight.  The last time I checked the chance of rain was at 30% which could have scared some folks off, but we ended up having more people come out than last week. 

Going into I Am Legend next week I am pretty excited!

Requiem for a day off

That is one killer video!  It’s a blend of Requiem for a Dream and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  I would LOVE to watch the one person who hasn’t seen Ferris Bueller as he watches this video. 

Anyway, enjoy!

My life is complete!  I will venture to say that YOUR life is going to be complete when you know what I know.  Are you ready? 

I Survived A Japanese Game Show

Reality TV gets its first thing right since Survivor.  Coming soon to ABC are going to be games like “Big Bug Splat on Windshield”

What’s that?  You’ve never seen any Japanese Game Shows. 
Check these out:
Treadmill Madness
Tilted Floor Cleaning
New Years Slip and Slide

I can not wait!

I learn a lot from other church planters.  Seriously, The Patio is where it is b/c of the wisdom from a lot of guys who don’t even know my name.  Now it’s time for me to give something back.  In a couple of months these guys who straight BRING IT on Sunday morning are going to start embarrassing themselves on Sunday afternoons.  I am, of course, talking about Fantasy Football Season.  For some reason I read a lot of blogs from church planters struggling to make the playoffs last year.  THIS SHOULD NOT BE!  Sunday is OUR DAY! 

So I am going to lend my extensive knowledge on the subject to your league.  This applies to all you planters whether you came in last place or if you took home the trophy (Because we all know how weak your league was…Tadd). 

Since no one has drafted yet we can start with some rankings for you
QB: This is a GREAT year to pass up the elite QB’s and target some WR early (or stick to the ever faithful RB RB approach).  Peyton will be normal Peyton, and Brady will drop off HUGE so for my first round picks I will take McGahee or Portis instead.  If you can’t land a name at QB go after one of these guys:
1.  Big Ben – Will be top 3 QB this year…BOOK IT.
2.  Leftwich - A guy in my league last year had Leftwich benched behind Brady all season.  Had he put him up on the block for a solid WR he would have won the league.
3.  Kurt Warner - Take Leftwich and Warner in late rounds and enjoy picking up studs at every position early.
Don’t touch: Romo; Delhomme; McNabb

RB
1.  McGahee – Take him right after Addai
2.  Turner - No longer a backup he is going to be a big sleeper this year
3.  Stewart – Of the rookies coming in I like Stewart the best.  I’ll bet you get double digit TD’s out of him this year.
Don’t touch: Lynch; Bush; Edge; LJ; Rudi J…and be VERY careful with AD.  You’ve been warned.

WR
1.  Colston – He is going to have a very big year.  Take him before Steve Smith and Housh.
2.  S. Holmes – Big Ben is going to have a big year…Holmes is a big reason why.
3.  Anthony Gonzalez – With Marvin Harrison possibly out of the picture AG is going to be the new Reggie Wayne.
Don’t touch: Smith; Burress; Jackson; R. Williams; Jennings…and under no circumstances (seriously, if he is there in the last round you leave him be) do you draft Lee Evans. 

Good luck guys.  Remember, I’m here if you need me  

Did he say what I think he just said?  Yes, yes he did!  My baby boy said his first word (intentionally) on his first birthday.  Three minutes ago as Nolan was finishing up eating dinner he looked right at me and said, “DA-DEE”

Then, lest you think it was an accident, you should be made aware that he said it 5 or 6 times before we allowed him to finish eating.

Nolan also took a couple of steps in the pool today without support (well, support other than the water). 

Everyone knows that pool basketball is one of my favorite activities.  This summer, however, the goal has been mysteriously missing and all there is left to do is swim.  Well, whenever you have a few guys in a pool together some random game will emerge.  Today, it was 500.

500 is like the movie 300, but 67% more intense.  One guy throws a football into a crowd of guys and yells out a number.  Whoever catches the ball gets that number of points.  First one to 500 wins. 

Well, on the first throw the ball gets tipped and lands in the vicinity of this guy hanging out in the pool with his kids.  It was nowhere near hitting him, but it did splash a little so we quickly apologized…to which he replied, “Do it again and see what happens”

So yea, this guy started talking trash.  I couldn’t help but laugh at him, which only irritated him more.  There were like 3 or 4 of us there (not that I would have needed any help dispatching this guy).  I am pretty sure that if I wouldn’t have turned my attention back to the game this guy would have seriously fought me. 

Awesome!

Some Sundays I just want to come home and start working on next week’s message.  Days like today, when I feel like I just bombed, that’s exactly what I want to do.

That’s the great part about what I get to do…there is always next week.  I could sulk and mope around for a day or so, but Sunday is coming.  Honestly though, I am really glad it is.  When I really blow it I work all the harder for next week. 

This week, I’m liable to work myself to death!

3 baby dedications tomorrow!  It’s going to be a big Sunday for us…lots of fun for all! 

We’ve never done a dedication before.  The cool thing is that it’s happening on Father’s day.  Nolan’s birthday is on Monday as well so it’s the trifecta of memorable occasions as a daddy. 

Wish I was feeling a little bit better though.