I’m getting ready to celebrate my 42nd birthday. This post is an updated post that I had written a while back. It’s a few lessons that I have learned on this journey. People that know and love you will forgive you. Loyal friendships are a rarity. Living in the present moment is much more challenging than living in the past or dreaming of the future. The grass is not greener on the other side. A person that has a hard demeanor and is often angered is dealing with some internal issues. Respect and love go hand and hand. Doing the …
One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is reading from a grateful journal that we keep as a family. Throughout the year, each of us will write down what we are thankful for. Some of the entries are as simple as going out for ice cream while others are more serious such as God keeping a family member for being seriously hurt. This past Christmas as we read aloud each entry from 2018, I was reminded how blessed our family had been. Like all families, we had ups and downs, but through it, all God provided. Crista and I want …
I would like to share with you a blog post that my good friend Pastor Bill Ivy wrote. As you read it, think of how your approach to your spouse or kids can make a difference in how they respond. Have you ever tried to FORCE a person to change? I call it the bulldog approach. It does not persuade people very well. Bulldogs will drive people away and keep them away. Why not start by respecting the other person’s idea. Letting them know that you understand their point of view. Then proceed to gradually build up your idea. Letting …
Crista and I met at Winter Youth Retreat in 1998. I must admit, I was stricken by her at first sight. There was something so graceful and ladylike about her. After WYR, I’m not sure if she thought she would ever see me again, but it was not long until I made the six-hour journey to the little town that she was from. This past March, we celebrated eighteen years of marriage. I am thankful for the wonderful marriage that God has given to us and by His Grace, I trust it will remain that way. Unfortunately, there are many …
I like chocolate. Crista likes vanilla. People energize me. Quietness energizes her. I am a big idea person. She considers each step. You get the picture. Crista and I are opposites. It has only been the last few years that we have noticed how opposite our approach to life can be. It became noticeable when we started having kids. At first, we thought we were abnormal, but then realized that the majority of couples share the same story. He squeezes the toothpaste from the top; she squeezes it from the bottom. Crista and I had only been married for …