Ryan turns 1 today!

Hard to believe, as I write this, that a year ago at this time, I had never held Ryan! Can’t believe how quick this year has gone by…it seemed like Zachary’s first year lasted forever…I guess that is how it goes as your family grows!

We got a big party planned for Saturday but his actual birthday is today. He has changed our lives with his smiles, his desire to try new things (he is in a HURRY to grow up), his eating habits (everything…he begs!), and his walking all over the house. He has made Zachary a great older brother (they are beginning to play together more and more) and he been such a good baby that Jeanine and I are still half way seriously contemplating more (which is a good thing!).

And, absolutely one of my highlights each day, is coming home, kissing Jeanine, and playing with my 2 boys and having a blast laughing together…

Happy Birthday Ryan! We love you!

Sep 17 2008

30 Days To Live – Part 2

This past week, we kicked off our 30 Days To Live teaching series at Oasis. In fact,I mentioned my day of dying would be on a Monday in November in 2069. You can find your day at deathclock.com! Kinda sobering, reality check, right?

We were talking about 30 days at our last staff meeting and Guy asked us what we would do if we were given the diagnosis of only a few days left…most all of our answers went back to spend time with family and friends.

Ranelle (our office manager) said that she would write letters to her grandkids and loved ones.

Joel, Ben, and I said that we would take the video camera and talk to our kids and teach them about life and use that to tell them we love them.

I shared how I would drink some really good wine (gotta get ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!) and eat some really good food with Jeanine and really enjoy life and be grateful for each moment that I had remaining with them. I talked about watching a lot less tv if I knew the time remaining was short.

Kevin talked about buying 30 t-shirts and have a countdown shirt for each day left…day 29, day 28…that was funny!

But, seriously, that was hard to think about…but I think important and the question we will keep going back to throughout this series is, why wait? Why wait to live like that…and why not live for the really important things now?

Sep 16 2008

What a day!

Really had a great day yesterday, maybe the best Monday ever!

Got up really early and went to Alex Martija’s (Mar-TEE-ha!) house, just down the street from the former location of the Orange Bowl (may it rest in peace). Jumped in his truck and took off for Key Biscayne. Launched the boat and headed out to sea for a day of fishing and relaxing. For those who don’t know, Alex and his family have been part of our church for many years. He owns and runs True Vine Landscaping (contact me if you are looking for somebody in SoFla!). Alex also headed up our Re:NoMi project in March.

It was during this project that we began to talk about going fishing together…we have been talking for six months! With time being short for us here in SoFla and with the kickoff message of "30 Days To Live" being called "Live in the Moment", we decided to go ahead and quit talking and do it! The fishing was a little slow but it was absolutely beautiful out on the water…amazing to take in the Miami skyline from the ocean! Thanks Alex for a great time fishing!

Got home and spent the evening with the family and then watched an absolutely amazing MNF game between the Cowboys and the Eagles…finally great to see a Cowboys defense make a stand when it counted (unlike previous years)…how bout dem Cowboys??