Family

Family has been the most important part of my life as long as I can remember. Our parents worked their tails off (and still do) to provide us a solid foundation and I'm so thankful for the investment they made in the life of our family directly.

Carrie and I have started to do bible lessons with our kids. At times it's hit or miss, but the goal lately is a family night once a week. We have a good meal together, a dance party usually breaks out and then we read a devotion together, followed by memorizing scripture as a family. I don't say to brag. Simply to suggest that we all have choices we make everday and for now the best choice for us and our family is telling them about the gospel.

Our desire is to make Jesus the central focus of our lives and family life. I can't really describe in words how thankful I am for my family and kids...it's hard to do. Equally, I know God has entrusted me as a father to love Jesus first, their mother second, so they can see my actions match with my beliefs and finally to pour into them as a father, coach and teacher. Wherever you are, no matter what stage of life.
Consider your influence.

Around what do you center your life?
Who is watching you?
Where do you spend the majority of your time?
How are striving to improve your relationships with others?

3d ultrasound

My wife Carrie and I are expecting our third baby on April7th. We know we are having a son, yeah, no more weddings to pay for. Of course the ultrasound technician could have read the first ultrasound way incorrectly, but she would have to have some serious vision issues.

Regardless today, we have a 3d ultrasound which is a gift from the OB doctor to all her patients (very cool) and I'm thinking about borrowing my buddy Tye's 3d glasses to see if it would help me during the appointment today. Do you think it would help the experience? I'm thinking not so much, but it would probably really mess up the technician if I showed up with them on anyway. I'm very excited for this day to see our son up close and personal...and in 3d.

The goal will be to put some pictures from this appointment today out there for others to see.

Favorites of 2008

So, I'm playing a lot of catch up obviously on my blogging. It's been well over a month, the goal is to write more frequently during this year. It's to improve my discipline in releasing some of the thoughts that come into my mind onto a blog for others to enjoy and to contribute their thoughts in response.

I really enjoy the arts and the various pulpits of the theatre and the radio.
Here are my ten favorite movies and albums for 2008.

movies
Be kind rewind
Definitely maybe
Horton hears a who
Kung fu panda
Man on wire
Hellboy 2
Iron Man
The Dark Knight
Charlie Wilson's War
Gran Torino

albums
Coldplay-Viva la vida
Jakob Dylan-Seeing things
Fleet Foxes-Sun giant
Dave Barnes-Me and you and the world
Foo Fighters-Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
One Republic-Dreaming out loud
Brad Paisley-Play
Phil Wickham-Cannons
Justin Unger-To know you love me
Charlie Hall-The bright sadness

What are you favorite movies and albums from 2008?

Gator bowl for the Huskers

The 2008 season is wrapping and up and it was a good one for Nebraska. I really was pleasantly surprised that the Huskers won as many as we did considering the injuries to Barry Turner, Philip Dillard, Menelik Holt and Cody Glenn's indefinite suspension from the team.

It's not official from the Big 12 yet, but unofficially we are going to the Gator Bowl and are playing Clemson. It should be a fun game. They have a good defense statistically and they will be a worthy foe for the Huskers.

I anticipate a really fired up Husker squad after a month of practices and preparation for this bowl game. More than anything it seem as though our team has an identity again and I'm thankful that the new coaches have made such an effort to emphasize the development of younger players through repetition and technique. I love thinking about the future and what lies ahead for Nebraska football. To that end, I hope we are able to really build continuity to our coaching staff. In my opinion, it was one of the biggest reasons for Nebraska's success during the nineties.

Those are my thoughts. Go Big Red!

u2

i'm excited about u2's new album and i read this today.

http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=2271

anyone else excited?

80smusic

I really like 80's music. Always have, always will. I guess its from listening to my sisters tapes way back in the day. Who knows?

iTunes has a whole slew of 80s stuff they are pushing. It's like throwing donuts in front of a fat kid. A run down of a few of the bands.

Huey Lewis and the news
Bon Jovi
The Police
Tears for Fears
Men at Work
Michael Jackson
The Go-Go's
Culture Club
Billy Idol
Beastie Boys

Yeah, I'll probably be spending some money on their real soon. Who's your favorite of the bands listed above?

Mingus Springs

East of Prescott there is a little place called Mingus Springs camp http://www.mingussprings.org/. It sits quietly in the pines off of the highway between here and Jerome. What an amazing little spot to get the heck out of dodge and just be. We were able to spend time with Henry who has run this camp for forty years. He's innovative, hard working and content. It's been a long time since I've been around someone who has loved doing what they do and projects thankfulness in a really humble way like that. Henry taught us about gabions as well. He is a heck of a nice guy.

Spending time there today with my friends made me realize how fortunate we are to live where we live. Life is good. Time goes fast. Way too much of my time is spent leveraged against the clock. If nothing else, today was a good reminder to slow things down a little bit. Get outside in the mud, dirt and mess of life. Life can be tough at times, but man do we have it good on this side of things if we just choose to see it.

Hope I get to go back soon to Mingus Springs.