I want to wish my beautiful wife Nicole a very happy birthday today. She is the best thing God has blessed me with here on this earth. She is so patient, loving, caring…you get the idea.
To honor her, I dedicate this song to her:
Today was rough. We turned the keys over to the family, and my heart broke. I didn’t want it to end…I didn’t want to leave. I spent a lot of time with the family getting to know them, and it was hard to see our time together come to a close.
Our homeowner – Chela – was determined to get picture of the team. Her intent is to frame the picture, hang it in her living room, and tell people about the group that built her home.
Her son, José (great name, right??), even presented me with a bracelet today. I didn’t have my camera today, so I had someone take a picture of José and I. I’ll post it when I can.
It’s amazing that God could use us to make an impact like that. Simply amazing
We’re at Spanish Landing in San Diego. The large group is being picked up at the airport. I’m anxious. I love being back and reconnecting with family. It’s like the year never happened. We are back. But we aren’t home. We are aliens here. And we have work to do.
Allons-Y!!
This past weekend, I was fortunate to meet my little brother Roy. He’s 14-years old. And I met him for the first time last week Wednesday.
It’s not his fault. It’s partially mine. Partially our father’s. I don’t have a relationship with my dad. We rarely talk. I haven’t seen him in at least 16 years. When he left, he left. I tried to have a relationship with him…but it seems to be a one-sided notion.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve accepted the situation and I’ve moved on. I have a Heavenly Father to whom I turn to, who holds me and loves me. God has placed friends and family in my life to let me know how much He loves me.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love my father. We just don’t have a relationship.
And because of that, I’ve never considered my little brother or sister. Roy is 14, and he is the spitting image of me. Some of his habits and mannerisms are the same. It’s uncanny. And I’ve yet to meet Vivi. She’s 4 going on 5. And I’ve stayed out of their lives. Not maliciously. Not to hurt them. Just didn’t think I was wanted.
Roy changed all that. He let my older siblings know that he wanted to meet me. To have a relationship with me. So I called him. Started the process. We talked. Connected on facebook.
And last weekend, we met. Our older brother – Chuy – came up to visit our sister Linda. They stopped by here a few days before heading north. Roy stayed with me through Saturday and we drove up to Beecher to meet up with everyone else. It was a fun time. I think we connected well. And I hope it’s the start of some healing that I need.
You see, in my efforts to stop the hurt and the pain, I shuttered some things deep inside of me. Even though God has redeemed me, I still carry this around. I never realized the extent until this happened. And all I can do is turn it over to God, let Him have it, and wait for Him to work on me some more.
I think this all happened before the trip for a reason. God has broken me down for a reason. Again. Cause every year, He does this to me. And I’m good with that, cause I know that in the Potter’s Hands, I’m alright.
This Sunday Nicole and I were stars at church. Before every sermon in this series there has been a video of couples competing in “Minute To Win It” events. The men and women had split the first two competitions, so we were the tiebreaker. When we filmed the challenge, it was to be a best 2 out of 3 endeavor, and I won the first two. Somehow I got guilted into making the 3rd match winner takes all, and I lost. Well, I gave my word, so that was that. On Sunday, Bob declared it a draw due to various things (I’d already won 2 of 3, he gave Nicole advice on how to do the headbob better, it probably suited the sermon series if it’s tied). Anyways, it was fun.
The sermon was focused towards single people and how they should prepare for relationships and marriage. I wish I could have heard this advice years ago – I could have been better prepared for Nicole and been a better husband from the beginning. Still, I can apply this to myself even now, so it’s all good.
The biggest takeaway I had this weekend was this – we can’t have the benefit of the relationship without putting the necessary work in to it.
Think about that.
A relationship takes work. Love – the feeling – will not sustain it. Love – the verb – is needed for it to work. Bob put it this way – Love is a commitment, not a feeling. There are times when I don’t feel loving towards Nicole, but I honor my commitment and love her. When I do feel loving towards her, I don’t let it change the way I honor my commitment towards her. I never let me feelings dictate how I love her. My commitment dictates that.
I am happy that we are relatively low-drama. Our discussions aren’t bad, and we usually solve our issues quickly. Still, we aren’t perfect, but we don’t fight much. That’s a testament to God more than anything else. He guides us and helps us stay focused on honoring each other. We work things out because He has made us better. Our spiritual maturity has grown over the years, and that will be the case every day of our lives. We will strive to honor God and each other.
With that being said, despite Bob calling it a draw, Nicole won. Much as I hate to say it, we agreed on winner takes all, and she beat me. Congratulations honey.
I love you.
Found this on Bob’s blog, and I thought I should share…
Ok, I am going to commit to posting at least once a week to this blog at a minimum. I will try to do more, but at least once a week is my commitment.
I have been silent for a month, but I have not been quiet. We are pretty much settled in, and we are putting roots down. I haven’t written much, but yet people have visited my site. I wonder – who is reading this? Why?
I ask because I haven’t had any comments, and I would love some feedback on what I post. I feel like I am crying out into the wind, and nothing comes back to me. I know, it’s not polite to beg…but I am begging. Please interact – I value your input.
In the six months since we’ve left Indy, we have been going full tilt trying to get settled in and get the house ready. We had family over for Thanksgiving, and it was a great time. We are getting to know more people at Lifepoint, and we are grateful that God is leading us to where He wants us.
Yesterday we got to hang out with Kari and Ramiro and their cute daughter Abby. We talked all evening and had a blast. We then got together for lunch today and had even more fun. Last weekend we got to hang out with Sam and Amy, and we had a great time with them too!! We are excited to see where these friendships lead.
We won’t lie – we miss our Indy family and friends. But we know that they are supporting us and that makes all the difference.
This was on my friend Bob’s blog. Very thought provoking. I use social media, but I am not trying to build a brand. I don’t want to be famous. I just want to connect.
Much like Paul. I am never going to be cool, but I will try to be your friend. I will become what I can to reach you.
But above all else, I will try to let God use me as He will, and let that be my driving Force.
