Birthday’s are awesome…It’s fun to have everyone acknowledge you one day out of the year.  Even if your birthday represents an age that feels old or you thought you would never reach.

Last Thursday (Nov. 19th in case you want to plan for next year) was my birthday and I got a ton of “happy birthday” wishes on facebook and twitter.  But i have to say, the best two presents I got were:

• Jenni’s Blog Post
• My own personal song written by a good friend, David Goodwin

Love Endures (Snoring) by dg4G

Lyrics:

Waking everybody with a sound
That’s been likened to sawing
Some call it snoring
All the best husbands do it
So our wives have something to tweet about

As if the bobbleheaded conversation
sprinkled with some speculation
covering the sanitation habits of the generation
that we’re raising all across the nation
…wasn’t enough

(some choral wailing)

Kids are upside down in nearly
Every single family picture
It’s probably better that way
Definitely better than attempts
to fish for sharks from the car

I wonder whose genes he got?
Should this be rhymed with bergamot?
Maybe, but probably not
Though citrus-scented gas
Might be a winner

(some more choral wailing)

(Love)
Love never gives up, never looks back
Never gives up, never looks back, never gives up…
(endures)

(Love endures)…

Waking everybody with a sound
That’s been likened to sawing
Often called snoring
And if I’m not sleeping through life, you’re not going to either.

All the other gestures were awesome and truly appreciated!  I am blessed with more quality friendships now than at any other time in my life.

It’s really hard to compete with Jenni’s own birthday tribute so I won’t even try.  Instead, I will just make a couple statements showing my admiration.

     JENNI

• You are one the most courageous people I have ever known
• You seek to love, respect and honor me (this makes me happy)
• God is using you in huge ways because you choose an authentic life
• You are a fabulous mother to our boys
• Your cooking skills have blossomed and I love the meals you make
• You are beautiful on the outside and the inside
• I am so excited about spending the next 31 years with you

Hope you enjoy your free birthday present because that is all I can afford this year.  I love you very much!

I am not even going to try and write an update right now.  Today was overwhelmingly good but exhausting.  Please check Jenni’s update and links to our story when you have the time.  Thanks for all the prayer support today.  It was so needed and appreciated.

Good Night.

About three or four weeks ago, I made a decision to be completely obedient to God.

You may think, If you are a Christian, shouldn’t you have done that a long time ago?

The answer would be, YES!

And I have done this several times in my life before.

Life happened and I slipped back into old habits, justifying behavior as I went along.

Part of this obedience process has been really painful, but the joy I am feeling is SO much greater.  This morning at 10:30am Jenni and I will be sharing something that is very painful and real at our Church.  We are so fortunate, that our story doesn’t end with the pain, we have found hope in forgiveness and in Jesus Christ.

If you read this in time and live in Portland, come here our story.  If you can’t make it, go ahead and listen to the podcast that should be available by Monday.

God is so Good and I am excited to see where this adventure takes us over the coming days, months and years!  Please, Keep us in your prayers so God can be glorified in our humility.

Don’t forget about the people who died on this date 8 years ago. Some died just doing their normal work or errands others died willingly trying to save lives. Remember that our way of life was attacked that day, that attack was meant for all of us.

Only God can help us make sense of a senseless tragedy. As you remember the horror of the day, remember that God is here and ready to comfort, heal and restore all of us who are lost with out Him.

Remember to pray for people who are still being subjected to these types of attacks on a regular basis. For those who don’t enjoy the freedom we have. Pray that we can continue to have the freedom we experience now in our great country.

So I started a part time gig today.  Working with a friend of mine who owns www.gogreenbrand.com and I will be looking for people who need recycling for all brands of toner and ink cartridges.  I also will be selling the major toner brands and re-manufactured cartridges for large or small businesses and individuals.

If you know any companies wanting to do more to be “Green” let me know.  You can get a free bag of m&ms with every order!

That’s all for now.

I enjoyed watching this video to hear where our nation stands on this issue now.  I use to be very opinionated on the topic but now not so much. Check out MORE HERE (video included), it’s a little long but you should watch the interview with Choi.

Wow,

Time has really gotten the better of me and I have failed at keep my blog up to date.

Yesterday I received the modem for installing Clear the new wireless internet company.  It is pretty cool, it was up and running as fast as I could unwrap the cords and plug the modem into a power outlet.  It seems to be pretty fast, I haven’t run a speed test on it yet but will do that later.  We decided to get rid of Verizon Fios for TV, Internet and Telephone to save money.  Clear is $40 something a month and we can get a phone line from Skype for $3.00/month.  Television is just going to be non existent for the next 6 months to a year.

Tonight I begin to really work on prepping my talk for next Sunday’s church service.  Pastor Matt from Church@bethany asked me to fill in the week he is going to the Midwest for his high school reunion.  I have never preached to adults for a church service in my life so this is a little nerve wracking.  Maybe I should start preparing what I am going to speak on.  Definitely be praying for me on this one.

We got some pictures taken today by a friend, Sara Gray, who was in the high school program when Jenni and me were volunteer leaders at Sunset Presbyterian.  She is now graduated from college and building her photography career.  Here are a couple family shots she posted on Face Book.  She did a great job and was super quick which is crucial with toddlers.

Hello Friends and Internet Stalkers,

I am bound and determined to stay more digitally connected to the World this year.  If you have tips on how I can better do that, I am all ears.

Here are a few things going on in my life right now.

• Paxton is growing like a weed and is so cute!
• Chance is really impressing me with his conversational skills.  We just have a great time playing cards, sliding across the kitchen or watching a show together.
• Jenni and I are exhausted every day from lack of sleep.  I am pretty sure we wouldn’t survive with out Ageless Xtra from Univera.
• We have seen a 269% increase in our business month to date over last months sales and a 67% increase over the previous largest month.  God is certainly blessing our efforts!
• God is working through Jenni’s ministry at Church and helping draw people into a renewed relationship with Him.
• I am participating in the leadership development group with Church@Bethany!  It’s exciting to be a part of the foundation of a new church.

I look forward to the next few months, it will be exciting!  If you know anyone looking for a part time income or to replace their current income, I would love to talk to them.

You have to watch this….So Cute