Last night was Life group.  And for the first time since we merged 2 groups it really felt to me like everyone was connecting.  Conversations were flowing from the start and during our discussion time we hit rabbit trail after rabbit trail (the sign of a close group in my opinion).

But the topic of discussion came from a book our church is reading called “I became a christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt” by Vince Antonucci.  We were discussing our role in God’s plan.  We are called to go out and touch the sick.  We are called to minister to the broken.  We are called to Love the Loveless.  But something holds us back from doing that.  What is it that makes us uncomfortable around people that are different from us?  Why is it so hard to make simple eye contact with the person in the elevator never mind the homeless guy on the street corner?  We don’t even smile at each other anymore.  Think about it…  That last time a complete stranger smiled at you I bet 90% of you thought something like ”wow this guy must be some kind of crazy man, I bet he hears voices.”  Right?  That’s the only logical solution to someone smiling at you is a severe mental illness.  That is the reason we don’t smile or reach out to each other, we are afraid our motives will be questioned.

I know for me it’s a little different.  Perhaps it’s my customer service background.  Perhaps it’s my role as director of first impressions for Fellowship church.  Smiling isn’t hard for me.  Eye contact isn’t hard for me.  I know my motives are pure I know why I am smiling.  If the person on the receiving end is skeptical that’s on them.  I am just gonna keep smiling.  I love God and them… I show it through smiling.

Reaching out on the other hand is difficult for me.  We are called “The Body of Christ.”  We are called to be his hands to reach out and touch the sick.  We are called to be his feet to go a share his Love.  We are called to be his mouth to speak his truth.  But if you are anything like me you want to be God’s right butt cheek. 

I keep my wallet in the right butt pocket of my shorts.  (note to potential pick pockets: I am a ninja don’t mess with me!)  I can only assume since I am made in God’s image that he keeps his wallet in the right butt pocket of his shinning white robe.  You see it is easy for me to pull out my wallet and support people and ministries that are out there on the front lines.  Like these here.  however it is difficult for me to get off of the couch, off of my butt to go out and become a hand, or a foot, or a mouth.  There is risk in putting yourself out there.  Being vulnerable, Loving, Touching, Teaching.  “What if I get it wrong?”  “That’s just not my gift.”  The excuses are easy to come by but that last time I looked though the bible it didn’t offer me any. 

I developed this butt cheek idea when I was young.  The church I grew up in is great.  But I remember every time we would have one of the missionaries we support come to the church every one gushed over the work they were doing.  And rightfully so.  These people were out there being the Body of Christ to those that had never known him.  But there was this sense that “they were different.”  I felt like I was looking at the actual disciples when I would see them.  They were special and the average man or women couldn’t do what they did.  So we gave them money.  

It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and throw money at the problem.  But The world needs more hands.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Now working in ministry I think I am required to say this following statement.  DON’T STOP GIVING.  To effectively communicate the gospel it takes the whole body.  Hands, feet, heart, butt cheeks, to a lesser extent the colon, but you get the idea.  On Judgement day we will all be held accountable for how we invested our “Time, Talent, and Treasure.” 

So, from a butt that wants to be a hand, how are we going to accomplish our mission?

Billy

A submission to Watercooler Wednesday

Before

During

After

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

This may anger some people. Especially those that work, or have worked, in the food service industry.  But Please let me say that I have worked for the world famous El Morocco and Dunkin’ Donuts and a HUGE portion of my pay from both of those places was from tips.

I always got good tips… A. Because I never felt like I deserved one, and B. because I worked hard to earn one.

Somehow we have gotten to the point that a tip is expected, and not earned.   I reject that notion… Please note I do tip at every sit down meal.  But if your service sucks your tip sucks.  If it takes you 15 minutes to refill my drink, and when you do you are carrying the glass with your finger inside… (like what happened at this nameless restaurant) then your tip is really going to suck.

We need to reclaim the power of the tip.  bad service = a bad tip (oops try this one),  good service = Good tip.  Back when I waited tables a customer gave me a $45 because I went next door and bought them a $2 bag of pretzels when my restaurant had run out of “bar snacks.”  That tip was just for the pretzels never mind all the drinks and food I brought them during the 3 hours they occupied my booth.  They left happy and I bought a PlayStation with thier tips.

I know, I know, what about problems in the kitchen, or being short staffed, or having to many tables in different sections… I get it.  You can’t control everything.  But Let me know that problems exist.  DO NOT WHINE OR COMPLAIN, just say something like “I am going to put your order in now but the kitchen is a little backed up would you like some rolls or salad?”  or “someone called out tonight so I have a few more tables then normal, I will keep checking in but do not hesitate to grab me or any other waiter.”  Then you do need to work harder to make sure everyone is a least comfortable, drinks are always full, bread or salad to make sure the people aren’t starving, and just simply don’t ignore them… Especially when they look upset.  That is when you turn on the charm and earn your tip.

Some people will just be unpleaseable.  and some will be cheap.  You can’t help that.  Just keep smiling (a lost art in itself) and perhaps the happy customer behind you will be a little more gracious.

Billy

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

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?)

So as I promised earlier this is the first of a flurry of posts.  I decided to start off with one I had teased in my previous post about a dilemma I am having at work.

The dilemma is this,  Lately I have been given all of the closing shifts (4-8, 1-9, etc).  This of course stinks because my wife gets home around 4:30-5:00pm.  So we don’t get to eat dinner together, I miss out on tucking in my kids, and in general spending quality time as a complete family.  I do get time in the mornings with my girls but not with Colleen.  I have also been given the pleasure of working every Saturday…

I really do love what I do, and the people I work with.  But I love my Family more.  And when I am at work (especially on Saturdays) I am thinking about them and really resenting the fact that I am working.  That isn’t fair to the customers or to my employers.

I don’t want to leave but I can’t keep cheating my family.

So, what do I do?

Billy

Coming tomorrow… I Love my wife (with Pictures).

So I haven’t written a post in nearly 2 weeks.  Things have been slightly busy but I hope to go on a posting frenzy this week.  Stay tuned and buckle up.

Some possible post topics… (I believe they call this a tease)

Erynne’s Birthday

Horrible service in restaurants

Work dilemma

I Love my wife (with pictures)

hmmm which will be first…

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

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