Cameron crazie.....

Last week today we had to take Cameron to urgent care because he was showing signs of an ear infection. We get there only to find out that both of his ears were infected. Anyhow they sent us home with some antibiotics that he has to take twice for 10 days straight. The first day was like pulling teeth giving him his medicine, but that didn't last long. He quickly realized that his medicine is bubble gum flavored. Now he loves it and wants to take it all by himself with no help from mommy and daddy. After he's done he ends his ordeal with a high five to both Lauren and I, jumping around yelling "I did it Daddy, i did it" and then i respond with "Good job son, I'm soo proud of you."

This past Sunday i lead worship in Encounter our high school ministry. Our babysitter had canceled on us that morning so we took the boys to church with us. Lauren was singing in the worship center that morning so she took Riley with her and i took Cameron.

I get Cameron situated with a donut and milk so that i can sound check with the band, Cameron macks his donut while Dad tries to warm up vocally. Twenty minutes later sound check is over and i go to sit by Cameron and he greets me with (donut crumbs on his mouth) with a huge hug and says "Good job Daddy, I'm so proud of you." That absolutely melted my heart. I felt like the best Dad in the world at that moment.

Lately I've been struggling and wrestling God for clarity with these two questions "Am i doing what I'm suppose to be doing with my life?", and "Is this worth it?" This past Sunday morning I think i got my answer. Not with a burning bush or some bright star in the sky, but a two year old handsome little messenger boy with crumbs on his mouth.

Priceless...Thanks GOD!!

We've only just begun......or I've just begun.

Well, it's over. My fast has come to an end. Though the fast may be over, the lessons i learned from this week have just begun. I honestly have to say that it was hard the first few days but it turned out alright and very beneficial to my soul and to the waistline. (at least i like to think it was) My friend Tara thinks so too (but i think she's just saying that). Anyhow the fast went great, my wife was such huge support and when i felt like giving in she was there to talk me out of it. I'm not a huge vegetable or salad fan, but this week, when it's the only thing that you can really eat, you can't help but become a fan of it. We became creative with our veggies and didn't eat much salad just a whole lot of spinach. Overall it was a great experience and another great way to worship GOD.

I'm going to incorporate more of these faith building, heart checking and soul refreshing moments into my journey with him this year.

I've started to do another thing that i hate to do, yes you guessed it "exercise" Although i have to honestly say that this is another thing that i don't love but it's growing on me. I've been doing some running/walking at Lake Murray these past few weeks and it's starting to feel really good. Today i busted loose with a whopping 6 miles. I'm pretty stoked about it, i always go into "exercise" mode and get discouraged really easy. Not this time, because when i start to love it, it's all systems go from here on out. I'll keep you posted with my progress.

Before i go i want to clarify something, I'm not at the crazy point yet where my friend Becky is, but i sure hope to get there.

Fast and the furious...

Cool title, however I'm not referring to the movie. My wife and I are going to embark upon a one week Daniel fast inspired by our great friends Rod and Tara Kaya. I honestly have to say that i'm pretty excited about it, and if you know me, giving up opportunities to eat meat for fruits and vegetables is out of the ordinary. Fasting is one spiritual discipline I really want to increase in my journey with God.

I LOVE food and my wife knows it and my family and friends know it, but I love GOD more and i really want to rely on him to fill me. If there is anything that i want people to know me for would be my love for GOD.

Yesterday my wife and I went shopping. Lauren had success with a few things, I on the other hand struggled soo much with trying to find something to wear or something that would look good on me. It felt like everything i tried on made me feel fat and gross. I hate those feelings because they lead to other thoughts that are unhealthy.

Anyhow, I'm hoping that in this fast God would reveal more of himself to us. I'm also hoping to really grow in knowledge of eating healthier, for the sake my family and my soul.

Christmas... A season that should never end.

So today Cameron and I went to my brothers house to visit some of our relatives who are visiting from American Samoa. On our way there he insisted that we listen to a song called "Inside out". He LOVES this song and he sings it almost word for word, well in the language of a two year old, pretty close though.

So we did the visit thing and said our hellos and hung out there for a little while, he was his loveable self hugging and kissing everybody, even the folks who he just met. My cousins from Samoa loved him and asked if they could take him back home with them, i thought about all of the times of my frustration with him, i thought hmmm maybe that's not a bad idea. (Just kidding)

It was time to leave and we said our good-byes and hugged everyone a billion times, at least it felt like it (Big Family). So we hop in the car and i turn on the radio to "Inside Out" thinking he might want to continue to listen to it. He said in a very nice way "Turn off Dad" let's sing "Santa Claus is coming to town" so i said "Cameron, Christmas is over" he said PLEEASE. so like the sucker i am for my son i gave in, how could you not. So in our 10 min. ride home we sang all four of the Christmas songs he knows. It's probably going to take a while for Cameron to realize that Christmas is only once a year.

Or is it?

As we pulled into our parking lot and parked I turned the car off and Cameron said "Thank you Dad" as i was unbuckling his seatbelt. I learned a valuable lesson from my son today.

It seems like everyone during Christmas season seems to treat everyone a little nicer and people are more polite, it seems like the it's easier to feel the love. Singing Christmas songs today was a great reminder for me that even though we celebrate Christmas once a year it doesn't mean that we should stop treating people like we do around Christmas season. Our love and respect for people should be year round, all the time, 24/7.

We'll probably sing Christmas songs throughout this whole year, i don't mine, it'll just be a constant reminder of what I'm suppose to do.

Good to be home...

WHEW!!! We are finally home. Thank you to all who've prayed and continue to pray with us on behalf of our little boy. It truly is an honor to be part of such a loving community. I honestly don't know how a person who lacks community makes it through times like these. I don't think we would've been able to make it through this without you all. I am forever grateful.

This past week was full of crazy emotions. Having friends and family around was very comforting. Receiving emails from people to let you know that they were praying for you was refreshing.

Thanks for loving us!!

And so it begins......

Have you ever had one of those nights where all of your feelings and emotions could no longer be bottled up inside and the only thing left for you to do was cry and release them. Last night was one of those nights for me. After Lauren and I put our boys to sleep, we spent a little down time together, something we don't get to do very often with two crazy boys. About 9:45 ish i receive a phone call from my sister and she calls to let me know that she's praying for us and Riley, and as I'm talking to her i hear her voice crack with sincerity as she expressed her love for us. My sister is such a Godly woman and words from her are always comforting to me. As she was talking to me i was reminded of my relationship with my Dad and how her words to me last night sounded like something he would say to me if he were still around. That kind of set it all off for me last night.

A few weeks ago if you were to ask me about Riley and his surgery process i would've told you that Lauren and i are really looking forward to recovery. A good friend of mine JD always asks me "How are you feeling about Riley and his surgery" and my response every time would be the generic "We just want to start the road to recovery."

Last night as i lay in bed weeping, i could no longer hide the fact that I'M SCARED and i really wished that when we woke up the day of the surgery that GOD would heal him and that we wouldn't have to put him through soo much pain. I HATE to see people hurt and when he or she is your own son or daughter it hurts even more. I cried my self to sleep, something that i haven't done in a while.

I'd be lying to you if i said that i woke up feeling better about all of it. I was however greeted this morning by a huge smile from Riley and a big hug from Cameron.

I realized this morning the road to recovery has begun.

Happy New Year!!!

YIPEE! 2007 is here! Tonight we broke in the new year with some of our dearest friends. It was such a great time of laughter and singing and dancing. Oh Yeah did i mention singing. Our friends who hosted the party (Gregg and Becky) did such an awesome job making it memorable. They had a karaoke machine and a full on dance floor with a party ball. Some folks came out of there shells tonight and i saw folks do things that i never thought that i would see them do. We'll keep it on the DL though.

Anyhow, i learned tonight that there are many common threads that bind us together, but the one that stuck out the most tonight was "laughter." I love it when people laugh and are having a good time. It honestly gives me goosebumps and a genuine warm feeling inside my soul. The bible says that a "cheerful heart is medicine to the soul." Tonight we experienced the true essence of " Community."

I really believe that it's in "Community" that we can share laughter and tears. It's a place where you can be who you are minus the facade. It's where high fives and hugs are given. It's with these people that our lives are changed and challenged. We are so blessed to have friends like these.

You give me a name of someone who can live without community and i tell you to kick yourself because no such person exists. We ALL need each other. May 2007 be a year where you increase your love for community and your love for life.

Thank you friends for allowing me and my family to share our lives with you and yours.