Before, During and After May 13, 2008

 

 

 

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After

Webkinz Vs. Real Life May 13, 2008

My daughters each have to webkinz.  They each have a pink and white kitty Emilie also has a White Persian cat, and Erynne has a Panda bear.  Emilie has registered her 2 pets and the Erynne hasn’t… although she does enjoy playing with Emilies Cats.

If you have never ventured into the world of Webkinz count your blessings.  The pets play games, go to work, and hunt for gems in an effort to earn money to by things like beds, rooms, cloths, food, and other stuff.

Well when ever my daughter wants to go on I have to help her.  She doesn’t quite get the games and how to work the mouse correctly.  What starts off as about 5 mins of fun quickly turns into me doing the jobs playing the games, and earning money so she can spend it. 

on Sunday she wanted to plant a garden for her pets which means that I spent about an Hour playing Cash Cow 2 getting her all the money should would need.  Which she spent in 3 minutes… she then placed her new garden stuff in the yard for about 3 minutes before putting her pets to bed and announcing “I am done, I’m getting bored with this.”

Thank you to the Ganz corporation for my new virtual job.

 

Later,

Billy

Also I wrote about my daughters webkinz one other time here

Why I will be Smiling all day on Thursday. May 7, 2008

Tomorrow is May 8th.  It is also Erynnes 3rd birthday.

This post will be significantly shorter than this one, only because the back ground story is already out there.

Erynne is simply unique.  She has a fantastic sense of humor, her comedic timing is exceptional for a 3 year old (her favorite line is that’s what she said… I can’t take all the blame for it.  but it is hilarious to hear from a 3 year old little girl).  She never ceases to make me laugh.  Her laugh is infectious, it is a blend of mischievousness, joy, and just pure fun.  Slowly she has com around to loving the Red sox.  Before she used to taunt me and say “I hate the Red sox I love the Yankees.”  Her Favorite player is Hideki Okajima, just ask her to say it next time your together and be ready for a laugh.  She loves playing Mommy almost as much as her big sister.  She Loves her Nana and refuses to eat lunch with me at home when it’s “Nana day.”  I am amazed at how much she is capable of manipulation… It truly is an art.  She is Jedi like with her ability to manipulate people. 

She is still waiting for her hair to “grow up” since Collin cut it last summer.

Erynne is a tough kid.  One of her favorite things to do is pin Emilie down until she cries.  notice the size difference.

Erynne and Emilie have blessed me so much, and in such different ways.  They are like a romantic comedy.  Emilie is a cuddly little love bug and Erynne is a great dose of comic relief.  I love my girls more than they could ever know. 

Happy Birthday Erynne.

Billy

 

I love my wife May 6, 2008

yep it’s true… I love my wife. 

I am not going to pull out some bible verses and tell you all the ways they apply to my wife.  Also I will not be telling you a sappy wove stowy that could onwy be wead by wepwacing aww the R’s and L’s with W’s.  Nor will I be writing a poem about how her beauty is like a million candles on a hill filled with wildflowers, butterflies, and rainbows.

(please note: she is not hold a loli-pop or anything for that matter)

I will tell you that she is one of the single hardest workers I know.  Not only does she work 40 hours a week or more and is the primary bread winner (what an odd term… think about it), but she leads the teachers of the 3-5 year old for our church, as well as all the other motherly responsibilities (kissing scrapped knees, cleaning, not so much cooking but you get the Idea).

(eating a wildebeest at the zoo)

She hates these pictures… And you may say that I am cruel for posting them but I love them.  This is what I see  that others don’t get too.  Everyone has a side that only a few really get to see.  It’s human nature to guard yourself.  That is why I am incredibly lucky that Colleen drops her guard around me, she doesn’t have to pretend, she doesn’t have to put on a show, she is who she is. 

That is what I love about her.

Billy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

(one more why not?)

update to my last post. April 20, 2008

So in my last post I wrote how my oldest daughter was turning 5 on Friday.  And the many ways that her life has impacted mine. 

Well she turned 5 on friday.  And on Saturday We took her to the Boston Children’s museum.  We took the T into Boston and had a great day… That is until we got to the last room before we left.  We played for a bit then we are greeted with Crying and tears…  Apparently Emilie went down a slide and her shoe stuck on the rubber mat at the bottom and she broke her foot.

We didn’t know that yet so from there I had to carry a 55 pound lump 3 blocks back to the red line 2 stops to the green line and then a 50 min train ride back to our car that was another 45 minutes home.  Now it should be noted that I was not superman in this situation as I did make her walk a little bit of the way because Erynne was also tired and jealous that Emilie was getting carried.. 

So, Colleen brought her to the ER this morning for x-rays ($150.00).  Now she needs to wear that silly blue boot until it can be casted($???.??).

The morale of the story folks… Don’t plan a fun day in the big city with your kids with out being prepared to carry them.

Billy

This Friday at 6:30 am April 15, 2008

As Friday draws closer I stop and think about the last 5 years and how terrifying, life changing, incredible, and fulfilling they were.  And how all together privileged I am.

My journey over the last 5 years really started 6 years ago.  Life then was by no means simpler.  I was dating the women who would be my wife.  I was living at home, During School she lived a mile or so away in a cozy little dorm room.  When summer came she really had no “home”  She lived with friends a mile or so away from her parents house (because she just couldn’t live there anymore).  They all love/loved her but it still wasn’t home.  And she was an hour away from me  

We made it through the summer and the fall then late that winter January to be exact, I bought “the ring.”  Later that same day we would be having dinner with her parents and I decided that I would ask her fathers permission to give his youngest daughter the ring, and take her and start a new family with her.  That wouldn’t happen… As close as I can tell He died roughly 1 hour before I bought the ring.  He wouldn’t be found for another 6 hours. 

Well I decided to tell her sisters and thier husband and girlfriend, what I had planned and they all said go for it.  So I did.  Colleen and I made it through the next few months which were very rocky for her family… come to think of it they are still rocky with her family.

Then the day came when Colleen told me she thought she might be pregnant… and she was… WE were.  We upped our wedding date from June to November.  That brings me to this coming Friday.  April 18th is our first daughters 5th birthday.

I want to pause here because it occurs to me how often in this society young lives in so many homes are wasted.  They are ignored, neglected, abused… physically… mentally… spiritually… emotionally.  They are seen as ugly reminders of a father they will never meet.  They are treated like burdens, and blamed by their own parents for causing them to struggle.  They are even seen like meal tickets by some families.  and in the worst case they aren’t even given a shot at life, thrown in the trash with as much care and love as leftover meat loaf.

This Breaks my heart. 

5 years ago being a father was something I wanted… when I was older.  Not at the age of 22, not as a “nearly wed.”  I knew as a child growing up that I wanted to be a father and have 12 kids… We are done with 2 in case you were wondering.

I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING ABOUT THESE LAST 5 YEARS!  This last 5 years have shown me real friendship and Love from the people that stood by us and supported us through those crazy times.  It showed us how to rely on God.  We struggled and he lifted us up like a cheesy Josh Groban song.  It taught us the importance of Family.  Whether they are blood or friends that are closer than a brother.  We were shown plenty of examples of Family.  We learned from them and developed our own thing.  I am so thankful for the amazing and less than amazing examples we have had… It gave us hope and a direction, it also showed us what we didn’t want to be.

Most importantly I gained a beautiful daughter.  She brings be so much Joy.  She has taught be how to Love, and be loved.  She is Smart, Funny, Creative, Sensitive, Loving, Caring, Clumsy, and Cuddly.  She shares my love for Music, she makes up songs, dances around like a monkey, and begs me to teach her guitar.  She loves the Red Sox and Jason Varitek, and Hates “those yucky Yankees!”.  She wants to me a mommy someday and she will be great at it.  She loves God and our church family.  She makes deep connections with people and remembers them long after they are gone.  She still reminds me about her times with PaPa(my father who died when she was 2) with amazing accuracy.

She isn’t perfect, she spills, and makes messes, she fights with her sister, and doesn’t always listen.  But I Love her anyway.  And I thank God for her.

This Friday my little girl turns 5… And I am so blessed and humbled by it all.

 

Billy

Cherries April 10, 2008

Yesterday I picked up my youngest Daughter at my brothers house where his wife had kindly taken her in for the day so I could go to work.  When we got home she was asleep so I decided to cook dinner.  I made Chicken Parmesan with Ziti.  The Ziti was from a box the rest I made.  Well except for the sauce cheese and bread crumbs…  It was good. 

After We cleaned up from dinner I decided to take my family out for some ice cream.  now I know the rules when we go out and get ice cream, as soon as my ice cream is sat before me I get the puppy eyes from my girls until I agree to give up my cherry.  They always come prepared with the eyes and I always cave.  I think I even over heard them in the back seat plotting new ways to get the crowning jewel from atop my sundae.  I have kept a running tally in my mind for the past few years of whose turn it is.  (Colleen, Emilie, then Erynne (the order they came into my life).  Last night would have been Emilie’s turn.  I say would have because there was no Cherry on my sundae…  My wife got 2 and I got none….  Perhaps the waitress thought she would eliminate the need for me to hand over the tiny red piece of fruit by just giving to her to start.  But I was a little upset with her presumption.  My wife eventually, begrudgingly handed them over to the to sad puppies on the other side of the table.  So I guess all is well.

But I have to know.  To all you fathers out there.  Do you ever get to eat the cherry again?

Later,

Billy

My Easter March 25, 2008

I have been meaning to write about my experience this Easter.  I have been busy with prep for the coming week and I am really looking forward to seeing what God can do this week.

So You may recall reading this post about how I wasn’t really feeling the “Easter spirit.”  Well very shortly after I wrote that post (and I mean very shortly after because as I recall I went to bed right after writing it) I realized that the Easter spirit is one of renewal, one of new birth and I realized that I was in need of that.

My friend Jeff had asked me a day earlier if everything was ok and that he was concerned about me.  I told him everything was fine just the “normal every day stresses.”  I was being truthfull, their really was/isn’t anything wrong more than the “normal everyday stresses.”  But sometime those little rutts are enough to through you off.

Back to Sunday.  The worship was great.  The songs were perfect, the videos were very well done there was a great energy in the room.  The first part of service I was torn between looseing my self in the worship and staying engaged to the needs of the ever increasing population in our auditorium.  As it was we added 2 rows of seats about 30 min. in to service.  I doing that I had the opportunity to poke my head into the kids class rooms.  The leaders and children were engaged with one another, and you could tell they were all excited to be there.  The message was next and I thought Marty did an outstanding job.  You could tell that he was passionate about what God had given him to communicate.  That translated into the room.

As I went about my day I realized that I had been a part of an amazing day at Fellowship church.  That God was there and did his thing.  We saw friends that hadn’t been around for a while as well as some guests that will hopefully become new friends. 

So I still have my “normal everyday stresses.”  But I can honestly say that after Sunday I feel spiriually renewed.  I think I just needed to see others in that place.  Donald Miller says in Blue Like Jazz “Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.”  Just being around people that loved what they were doing and people that were worshipping the one that loves us.  A pastor passionate about his message

Comfort for those that can’t sleep March 10, 2008

I couldn’t sleep so I decided to check my feeds.  First up was this story on Ragamuffinsoul.

 I read a story of a pastor that in the span of a week has left his church his wife and his kids… for a married woman.  And I felt angry.

I read a Blog about this story from the former Worship leader of that church.  And felt angry and sad… but more sad now.

My heart started to do that fluttery thing like when you have a deep chill or are all hopped up on adrenaline after a car accident.  And although it’s cold out the flutter isn’t from that.  It’s because by heart is broken for those families and that church.  I am less angry now.

I have never been too the church, and as far as I know I don’t know anyone that has been there.  Yet I feel for them.  I have read the pastors blog before and thought he had some great insights and pearls of wisdom.  That is my only real connection to this situation.  But I feel so involved and so connected.

Perhaps it hits home as I am in ministry and had an argument with my wife tonight over something stupid.  A baby gate for those interested.  Now I don’t think that my ministry and his are anywhere even close to the same level (he was pastor of  a multi-camps church) or that my wife and I are going to split over a baby gate.  But it is sobering.  And calls things into perspective. 

It makes me appreciate my wife and all the incredible things she does.  from working full time, volunteering at the church, cleaning the house, raising 2 girls (and 1 husband), balancing the difficult schedules and keeping everyone happy.  She is a wonder women and I probably don’t tell her that enough…

Then I read a blog from my friend Jeff.  How true are the words of Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  They came at a great time for me.  and Jeff I too am emotional as I write them.  God is here (with me), God is there (with the family and friends of the pastor), and God is with you.  He comforts those who mourn.

Peace,

Billy

xtreeeeeeme March 1, 2008

why is it that people go to extremes?  Sky diving, and Bungee Jumping are one thing but why do people point to extremes to make a point?

What ever political or religious affiliation you follow I am sure you have heard how absurd your stance on X, Y, and Z is. 

Let’s look at the debate on whether or not it should be OK for homosexual couples to adopt.  The pro-tradition side says that a child raised in that environment will have a warped sense of right and wrong.  Their views on gender will be destroyed.  They will grow up distrusting, and hating men.  And worse of all they will shot Laser beams from there eyes.  While the pro-gay side will say that the gay or lesbian couple will love and care for that child more than the drunken redneck that beats his prostitute wife and burns the “family” dog with cigarettes.

Wow!  When you look at those arguments you hardly no where to start.  On one hand you have a drunken wife beater and on the other hand you have a child that shoots laser beams at men.  Can you really compare the best of one world with the worst of another?  Isn’t it apples and oranges?  If you want to truly accomplish something more than just being heard you should compare your best with there best and be brave enough to compare your worst to there worst.

We even use extremes when talking about little meaningless things.  “That pepper was like a million degrees!” ” My boss is the biggest jerk.”  Really?  Cause my boss is a pretty big jerk too.

It drives me crazy.  Shouldn’t we focus on the common ground?  If we made the common ground a pleasant place to be don’t you think that more people would join us there?  Then we could find other things we had in common.  Think of the influence you could have.

The problem is that the conversation will eventually get around to our differences and we will both push away.  Accusing the other side of some outrageous extreme that in our hearts we know isn’t what they believe.  They will do the same thing and before you know it no one is talking to each other.  Everyone looks inward and thinks they are more and more right and everyone else is crazy.

Marriages are destroyed because of this.  Friendships crumble.  And we are left alone.  Relationships that once thrived are left in ruin because one person took their “ball” and went home.

What do we do about this?  Tell me what you think.  I promise you this though.  If you take anything I said to an extreme I will delete your comment and not read it.  Call me closed minded.  But I like people and I want to think the best of them.  So I will choose to focus on the common ground and cultivate it.  I will pray that when our common ground is “the place to be” we will have enough respect for each other to talk civilized about what divides us and perhaps redraw our boundaries.  Giving in a little here and gaining a little there. 

Later,

Billy