Moore Farms

Moore Farms - this is what really happened....

My Friday (10.24.08)

Everyone was up early this morning, off to school and then Katherine, Leslie and I went for breakfast. After breakfast Leslie had a long list of stuff to get done including working out what in the heck a mum looks like for a 6th grade homecoming. Come on... really? A mum for the 6th grade? I digress...

Katherine and I caught up on some PBS today. I saw he most unusual show today for the first time - Sid the Science Kid. I've never heard of it, but it was so fascinating. The animation was very good, the dialogue very informal, but the show was very propositional: brush your teeth, teachers are fun, eat healthy, exercise... etc. It was simple, but very well done. I was impressed.

After that, a short nap and then I put all the sheets on all the beds and then made them all up. Yes - I did it. I made all the beds, from scratch. Props? I thought so. On my day off... I made beds. And, to top it off, I mowed the yard after that. So, I am probably going to be in the running for husband of the year. I can feel it now.

After the yard, a quick shower and then we all met one of Maggie's friends and her family at Double Dave's for pizza before Maggie headed for the homecoming dance. Crazy huh? I thought so. From the pizza and hanging with a middle school family, we immediately travel back in time to elementary school where we rendezvous with Jay and his friend who have just arrived at the annual elementary school Harvest Festival. Bounce houses, climbing walls, games, candy, face painting, a jail, a medical clinic and lots of food, door prizes and silent auction. It was a great place to be. I love the vibe at this school. The morale is high among the teachers, and the families are great. Definitely a positive public school experience.

We arrived at home in time to meet my mom and stepdad as they are visiting this weekend and planning to stay for Jay's flag football game tomorrow and church at Bethel on Sunday. I didn't remember it this way, but my mom has not been to Bethel in about a year. It will be fun to have her there.

Leslie left about 9:30p to go get Maggie... about 11:05 they walked through the door. See, the tradition is to go to Whataburger and hang out and have a milkshake and hang out and talk about the dance with all your friends. All the parents sit together.

Leslie and Maggie are home - we are all home. It was a great day and looking forward to a good nights sleep. That is my Friday.

An old saying...

"Be careful what you ask for..."

Saw this on Druge today.

Masquerading

I know... this really ought to be a serious post about how we all put on masks and pretend to be something we aren't... then I make some really deep spiritual point.

Well, the truth is... we were masquerading tonight - and it was a blast! Had dinner with a soon-to-be-married couple and they had these masks. We couldn't stop. It was so fun. Here are a few pictures of the evening... I will save some others for opportune times.

Uhmmm... this is disturbing

Disturbing in so many ways...

"Husband hacked wife to death with meat clever after she changed her Facebook status to single"

My Friday (and Saturday)

The weather is changing and it is so nice!
We woke up yesterday, Leslie and Katherine and I went to Starbucks and then to the usual spot for biscuits. Then Leslie went to a brunch and Katherine and I caught up on Sesame Street and morning naps. Spent some time reading in the afternoon, then the kids (Jay and Maggie) came home and we all hung out until the babysitter came.

Leslie and I went to a dinner for a couple getting married in two weeks. It was fun and fancy. After the dinner we went and sat at Starbucks and enjoyed the evening. All in all, Friday was very restful and refreshing.

Today (Saturday), Leslie was up before 7am to go stand in line for a flu shot. I hate flu shots. I hate them worse than the flu. In fact, the last time I got the flu was the year I got a flu shot. I have a "needle" issue. Always have and it prevents me from physically being able to drive to a place and willing let someone impale me with that thin, cold, sharp, hollow cylinder. I will not do it. (NOW... I know, I have totally set myself up for the flu this year and probably a couple of post whining about how bad it is - blah, blah, blah)

After Leslie got home we all loaded up and went to Jay's flag football game. It was fun. Chris and Mark Legg came out and cheered for Jay. He loved it. Mark Legg played on the same field immediately after Jay and we got to stay a little while and cheer him on. He had a great run around the end that brought the sidelines to their feet.

From the football game we went to eat hamburgers and then out to the Moore Family Pumpkin Patch. It was so fun. We all got a pumpkin, a hay-ride and lots of pictures. Leslie even shot some incredible footage that will be posted soon. She was remarkably creative today!

After the pumpkin patch we took advantage of the happy hour at Sonic (Cherry slushes and Cranberry Limeades). Maggie went to a middle school cooking party and the boys watched football. Currently Texas is killing Missouri, and it is almost hard to watch.

The drama of the day is the discovery of a rat that lives in our garage. He has survived the poison so far, we will see if he survives the night with Piper in the garage! Leslie is passionate about her hatred for rats. Actually... a depth of hatred that I have never witnessed. Just glad I am not a rat.

I'll probably watch the opening of Saturday Night Live and then be off to bed. It has been a great weekend and feel refreshed and excited about tomorrow. I love Sundays at Bethel.

How was your Friday (and Saturday?)

Matching study Bibles

Leslie and I have a pretty firm value about not having "matching" anything. We don't even like to wear the same color shirt on the same day. But, today we made an exception.

you can find out more about the ESV Study Bible here...

30-3-3: An investment strategy for your marriage

The last couple of weeks we have been looking at the topic of marriage at Bethel.

This last week I talked specifically about having a strategy of investment for your marriage. We have strategies for so many of the temporal things in our life: money, education, career, retirement, fantasy football... etc. Very few people that I talk to have a strategy for their marriage. Most of the time couples are on auto-pilot until a crisis comes. Attention gets poured into marriages during crisis, but very little weekly, monthly and yearly investment is strategically made.

If you are looking for a strategy, let me offer the following for your consideration:
30-3-3

1. 30 minutes a week: have a conference one a week as a couple. When you come together ask each other these three questions. It is important that when the question is asked, the asking spouse remain completely silent - just listening. (Thanks to Chip Ingrim for these questions)

a. What are things you are concerned about?
b. What are the things you wish for?
c. What are you willing to do about it?

2. 3 hours a month: commit to a celebration once a month. So often we use our dates as times to discuss the things that are wrong in our marriage. A celebration is just that - a time to celebrate. Instead of focusing on the 5%, 10% or even 50% that is wrong in our marriage, take the time to celebrate what is right. (A good strategy here is to take turns planning these celebrations).

3. 3 days a year: this "camp-out" is designed for you to get away with your husband or wife and invest in a very specific and significant way. Whether it is a conference, retreat or just a long weekend with Tommy Nelson's Song of Solomon series, every year we need to step out of the routine of daily life and make a significant deposit in our marriages. (NOTE: I would suggest that when you can to be at a conference or retreat setting that will allow you the opportunity to both be encouraged by other couples as well as be an encouragement.)

So... what is your strategy? Let me know how your first conference goes. For Leslie and I, it has become the highlight of our week.