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.

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?)

My Friday (09.26.08)

My Friday started out as usual. We got Maggie and Jay off to school and then Leslie, Katherine and I went on a breakfast date. I also had gotten a call yesterday from my brother Elliot who said he might come over today for lunch.

Elliot showed up about 10am and then we headed over to Jay's school with an A&W Rootbeer in hand to each lunch with him. Now - I know what you are thinking, "10am and you are going up there for lunch?" Well, officially it is at 10:25am, but yes. Can you believe that? I was explaining to Elliot that Jay has a bowl of cereal before he leaves home, most mornings also takes advantage of the free breakfast that Andy Woods Elementary serves every morning, and then turns around at 10:25 and has lunch. He is living the life of a Hobbit! (Sorry for the digression!)

From brunch at Andy Woods, Elliot and I went to El Lugar for what I believe to be Tyler's finest Friday lunch destination. He was impressed. After lunch we came back to the house and played with Katherine outside for about two hours. It was her perfect day. We rode bikes, jumped on the trampoline and learned to dribble a basketball. Elliot left about 2pm, and then I took about a 45 minute nap.

Jay came home about 3 and Maggie about 4. Maggie blew in the door, grabbed her packed bag and sleeping bag and then headed back out the door to meet the Youth Group up at Bethel for her first "Work Crew Weekend" at Pine Cove. She was very excited and for the second weekend in a row I am confronted with the fact that my baby girl is growing up. (I text Mark and Marla and asked them to tell her I missed her... as long as it wouldn't be embarrassing.)

After everyone got settled, we ate dinner with the Wrights and then headed over to their house and the children played. That is a fun family and even learned a couple of things tonight.


1. If you complain about the price of the children's portion of Macaroni, the manager will come and personally hear your complaint. Now, this is a valid complaint, I was just surprised to see such boldness coming from Kristen in the moment. $3.99 for what amounts to about 1/4 of a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese box that you can buy for under $2 and feed all your children.











2. If you complain, and then are really nice to the manager, he will bring you a free chocolate dessert.






After dinner and a free dessert, Todd and I went to go see Eagle Eye. It was a fun movie. It was impossible and at the same time entertaining. But, I would have to say the best part of the evening was seeing a small group from Bethel at the movie theater. They were all there to see Fireproof. Actually, the whole community of Tyler was there to see Fireproof. It was sold out all day on two screens (big deal here in East Texas).

Well, Todd and I stopped by the group as they are standing in line to get into the show and some of the girls asked where our wives were. I explained that we left them at home and were just out to see a late movie. A guy night. Well, they looked very puzzled and even a little concerned. They asked a couple more times thinking I was kidding when it dawned on me that they thought Todd and I were there to see the Romantic, Christian Drama together. Actually, that would have been pretty funny. That would not be a guys night out, that would be a "date with a dude." -- That's not the way I roll.

Got home about 12:15. Finished getting stuff together for the CF Walk at Bergfeld Park and headed to bed. It was a great day!

OK... lots of digressions today, sorry about that. But, that's My Friday.

My Friday (09.19.08)

The day started out uneventful. I got up early, the kids got ready for school and then Leslie, Katherine and me went on our Friday morning breakfast date. We splurged this morning and split an order of the cinnamon rolls. After breakfast we went to Walmart and bought Jay a mouthpiece in preparation for his first flag football game tomorrow.

After we got home, Katherine watched some PBS, Leslie made some phone calls and I caught up on some reading. Trying to make my way through Jack Welch's book Winning. Enjoying the book immensely and at the same time reminding myself, "the church is not a business..."

My M.O. is that I usually go to bed late on Thursday night (catching up on emails, TiVo and blog reading), especially after a late elders meeting. Then, I wake up early on Friday mornings - all in preparation for a "day off nap." I love those.

After a great nap, I mowed the yard, picked Jay up from school, finished the yard and then Jay and I played catch for about an hour while Katherine jumped on the trampoline. At about 5:45, Maggie was picked up by some of her friends and they all headed to her friends house to eat pizza, do hair and then off to their first middle school dance.

Now, I must pause here for a moment... I've stated before the 'transition' of becoming a parent of a middle school'er has been hard. This is just another step. Wow... it was just yesterday that Maggie was Katherine's age and watching PBS after Friday morning breakfast dates. The time has just flown by.

Maggie headed to the dance and Leslie, Jay and Katherine and me went to the Olive Garden to take advantage of two free kids meals. On the way home we stopped to get some ice cream and were joined by the Wrights for ice cream, story-telling, and kids playing. A great evening!

Maggie rolled in about 11 after hanging out with friends and their moms at the Whataburger for the '6th grade girls post-dance tradition.' She had a great time and didn't dance with any boys.

The house is quiet now and I'm headed to bed. I love taking Fridays off and usually have a great day of thinking, reading, napping and resting in preparation for Sunday. Today was a great Friday.


As always: *Propers to Todd Wright for the “My Friday” movement.

My Friday (09.12.08)

I am actually going to tell you about today and last Friday in the same post. The reason is that they have some things in common.

First - last Friday marked the end of a long journey for Leslie and me. We got to call Dave Ramsey's radio program to let them know we are debt free except for our home! (We didn't get to talk to anyone, just left a message... I am sure they will call us back.) The story is long and it include incredible blessing, unusual discipline and the opportunity to teach our kids what I never got to learn about money - it is all God's and we are stewards of it!

Now, for this Friday - we woke up today, got the kids off to school and Leslie, Katherine and me went on our usual Friday morning breakfast date.

After we got home it was high gear media watch because of Hurricane Ike and the crisis it is creating. Tyler received about 2000 evacuees just around the corner and I spent the afternoon over there helping take out trash, breaking down boxes and anything else I could find to do that wasn't in the way. Another church in town (Grace Community Church) has done a great job mobilizing people and casting a vision for ministry in this context. It was a privilege to hang out with some of them in that context today.

Tonight we had some friends over for dinner. They have a great ministry and God is using them in this community to do something no one else is doing very well - they are doing multi-cultural ministry with low-income families. They are passionate about it and are incredibly gifted. It is a great blessing to get to come alongside them and be mutually encouraged.

One final note for the day - we got to give away a car today. Yeah, I've never done that before. This week we got a deal on a car that we couldn't pass up and then found ourselves with three. We don't need three. We felt led to give one away and it was awesome. And that brings me back to where I started - we are debt free. I told Leslie today that this was in no way about us, it was about God. And what I realized today is that when you are debt free, it is much easier for things to flow through you... they don't get stuck. That is my observation and the great joy we had.

I share that not to say anything about us... rather to say God is awesome. I am more and more passionate about wanting people to get out of debt. Dave Ramsey is the place to start (or a great place to start). Come on... do it, what are you waiting for?

Ok... that is my Friday - how was yours?


As always: *Propers to Todd Wright for the “My Friday” movement.

My Friday

Well, obviously one of the things I have done today is change my blog.

The day started with my bride crawling out of bed at 5am to go to "boot camp" with a friend. She is amazing. I did my part by sleeping two more hours. We go the kids to school and then Leslie, Katherine and I resumed our Friday morning breakfast dates! Drive through at Starbucks and then to Chic fil a for chicken biscuits.

I came home and spent two hours cleaning my car... longer than I thought. Then I spent some time watching the coverage of John McCain's VP pick. Very pleased.

This afternoon I actually took a nap and then woke up and ate a bowl of cookies n' cream ice cream. This afternoon I changed the battery in Leslie's car and replaced a headlight in mine.
We took the kids to eat at the Olive Garden, but discovered the wait was an hour, so we went to Fazoli's and then to Albertsons to replenish the ice cream supply.

After we got home we watched a movie and then Leslie and I caught up on the news of the day.
I spent the rest of the evening working on setting up my new blog site. I will post the reasons I did so tomorrow. Let's just say I love Apple, but some of the software needs some improvement.

Now, I am off to bed!


As always: *Propers to Todd Wright for the “My Friday” movement.