the growth of a son.....

When I was 21, my wife and I had a son. A lovely boy; Sean Patrick, named after listening to A Beautiful Boy by J. Lennon. 

Since he didn't like to sleep traditionally, he would fall asleep while eating his food, he didn't want to miss anything. He was an inquisitive lad. 

Sometimes I would strap him into his car seat at 10:00 at night and drive the North/South Freeway (Rt. 42) to put him to sleep. Once asleep in the house, I would verbally threaten the firetrucks should they go by with their sirens blaring. 

I nicknamed him Buckaroo Banzai for it was a wild and adventurous name. His siblings and cousins nicknamed him Seany and today I tend to call him Seaner. 

Sean was a literal fellow. He took everything as black and white, there were no grey areas. 

I would read to him at night, and for me, my favorite was Go, Dog, Go I loved the part where the dog on the Ferris wheel yell; "go around again!". 
It was as if we wanted that moment to never end and to go around again and again and again. 



Those moments did end. We both grew up. I as a father, and Sean into a young man. We did it together. Learning as we went. 

Today Sean is 30 and I am over 50. 

This Friday, January 2nd, Sean will marry Jessica. I love the way he makes her laugh. I love the way he cares for her, protects her. I see it in his actions, I hear it in his voice. 

The ride in the car seat didn't always work and more often then not he would end up sleeping on the floor next to our bed. Sometimes firetrucks did go by and wake him up and sometimes he finished his meal without falling asleep and as much as I wanted us to "go around again" back then, in a strange way we are, it's a big Ferris wheel and all it does is go around and around, and I, for one, love the ride. 

((tonight we catch one of his favorite bands - mewithouYou with his brothers Taylor and Johnny it is part of his bachelor party celebration - - can't wait, it's a great ride))

say yes

I have devoted myself to my job for the majority of my life - 50 and 70 hour work weeks. 

Work has always been easier for me to deal with then being a husband or a father.
After all, I am a boss at work - they listen to me. 

                                                   Aryn and I at the WXPN music fest         Knight Park Ultimate Frisbee with Sean and Taylor

About five years ago I determined to change the way I lived and worked. I made a pact with myself to make time for my children whenever they ask. Most of you probably do this already, but I would always be to busy to make time for my family putting work and others before them. 

                   One of a gazillion trips to Moe's!                  Working together                      Taylor and I travel for food!

This all came about because of our youngest child Taylor, I realized, I did not know him and I needed to change that and change it now. Those changes don't happen overnight as the non-existence of the relationship certainly did not happen overnight.

I began the journey with one simple pact - make time for my children whenever they ask. DON'T LET WORK OR MY SELFISHNESS GET IN THE WAY.

So far this has been working. I haven't slipped up too many times. And I do catch myself getting ready to say...hey, I have to do "this" and "that" or "whatever", instead of saying yes to lunch or the movies. And in the end, I enjoy that time with my children even though they aren't children anymore. 

these pics were taken 25 years ago

make the changes

take the initiative

NOW

morning exercise

the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice

the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice

the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice

the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand

Listen to the advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

You just cant cut and paste this stuff. You have to let it sink in. 

drifting

There are times in life where I drift, drift aimlessly through time and space, space defined by wherever my feet are planted, but when you drift....your feet aren't planted and herein lies the __________.

problem  -  opportunity  -  dilemma  -  chance 

I think it is our civic duty to ourselves to take the all that life dishes out and weather the storm.
God says;  "you will have trouble". And we all have, and will have trouble....until, until....until....until?

So I drift through life for the past month or so wondering and dreaming. Hoping to reach shore.

I oft wonder just what and where is the shore?

what maybe you dont know about wiki

Wiki has expanded the encyclopedia to 287 languages to make it more accessible all over the world. 

We strive most to impact those who would not have access to education otherwise. 

We bring knowledge to people like Akshaya Iyengar from Solapur, India. Growing up in this small textile manufacturing town, she used Wikipedia as her primary learning source. 

For students in these areas, where books are scarce but mobile Internet access exists, Wikipedia is instrumental. Akshaya went on to graduate from college in India and now works as a software engineer in the United States. She credits Wikipedia with powering half of her knowledge.

be the difference

make it happen 

have fun

the end of the day....

the end of the day...is very much like the beginning

the end brings peace....as does the beginning

there is a comfort...as in the beginning

there is breath...as in the beginning

breathe.

feel it live it

love it

my heart open for you to see

let the words sink in deep 

- do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves 

- but encourage one another daily,  as long as it is called "today" 

- give to everyone who begs from you 

- do not be anxious for anything 

-do not be overcome by evil., but overcome evil with good 

- learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widows cause 

-I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman 

-and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles 

- do not judge by appearances

- love one another 


these are words from the bible. words that I wish all of us would follow. Copy and paste any one of them and you will find they are a bible verse. 

God's living word  is brilliant. I find no fault in His word and I find nothing as perfect or as pure as His word. 

God knows the heart. And that is all we should ever concern ourselves with

look for God, you will find Him - - HE IS REAL

for those that know Him.....let us love one another, for love is from God


may you continue to search and seek truth. 

fyi - - I am as imperfect a man as ever has existed. 

may God bless you