This has been a sad and strange week in college football. First off the Penn State scandal happened and caused major controversy around the nation. What does this say about our scholastic programs? Have we become so addicted to winning that we have forgotten our morals? I understand the passion for college athletics. I was a player once and understand how important it is to have a fan base that loves its players and coaches, but wow how things have changed. The Penn State issue speaks for itself. I'm not even going to mention much of it because the tragedies speak for themselves. The only thing I will say is that all of them should be fired and Sandusky should go to jail then rot in hell.
Texas Tech played today and got BEAT DOWN! I was very optimistic about this season. I understood they were young and would be inconsistent so losing a few games wouldn't surprise me, but I figured they would continue to get better throughout the season. It seems as if they have gotten worse. Does this bother me? Sort of...See I'm not invested like many people are. I didn't graduate from TT and have only been a fan since we moved here. My Southern Illinois Salukis are not in the conversation during football season so I root for the home town team. Even though I am not an alum, I am passionate about TTU football. The Red and Black has gotten in my blood so when they lose I hurt like other fans. Today was different though. I was screaming at the Television, getting fired up until I saw the video of the wounded warriors....My heart stopped racing and I was reminded that it was just a game....
Wounded Warrior...I have served....I have seen the sunrise in a dozen countries. I have felt the Afghanistan winter....I have felt the Saudi Arabian Summer....With wounded warriors on the sideline in Lubbock today, It made me wonder what was going through their minds....I can speak from experience that these guys have never given up when they were in the trenches...Unlike college football their game is life or death....their game doesn't end after 60 minutes....they don't miss tackles or they may die....Tech lost today....Our country wins because we have men and women who show up every day....If they don't the enemy comes to our house and they don't beat us by 60 points....they take away our liberties...they take away our freedom....
Remember this today.....College football is a game....War is not....Players live to play another day....Soldiers, Airman and Marines may not....I just wish we had the same passions for our country that we have towards our athletes....
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Card board box
I hate the fact that I get frustrated when doing projects. It can be anything from fixing a leaky sink to working on a car to making breakfast for the family, when I'm in a time crunch I get really frustrated. The lesson that I learned this week was even with the frustration, it is worth every dime to see the smile on a kids face.....
Cayden had one of those school projects that is pawned off on the parents to complete. He has been learning about motion and energy and his assignment was to build a car out of cardboard for a car show at the school. Now I'm not sure if teachers realize that it takes a very special 5 year old to build a box car out of cardboard...Needless to say, I spent about 5 hours working on a fire truck so that Cayden could have a quality automobile during the car show.....
It started out simple...Buy some boxers...buy some spray paint...buy some letters to put on the side...easy! Well I get home and realize that the boxes don't fit together the way I expected them...the spray paint will not cover the letters on the box....the paper plates melted when I sprayed them with paint....The box wouldn't hold together when I stapled them together....ect.. ect....The frustration set it...
I decided to use wall paint to paint the boxes...it worked well. The pieces started to come together when it was time to go get the kids...By this time I had a lot of it completed but the details needed to be finished. I picked up the kids and brought them home. Well I learned something else...It is difficult to build a cardboard box fire truck while making sure 4 kids aren't playing in the street, chasing cats, riding bikes, throwing footballs and getting into everything I was using to build this contraption....It didn't help when I asked the kids to help me with the project...My wife can tell anyone that when I feel someone is in my way, I take my frustration to another level...
After 5 tedious hours, the master piece was complete!!
So after hours of frustration and trial and error we loaded the truck into the car and took it to the school the next morning. As we walked in there was another fire truck that made Cayden realize that I put in a lot of effort...You could tell on his face that he knew his fire truck was a lot better than the other one...All of Cayden's friends ran up to him and told him how awesome his truck was...I wish I had a picture of his face...It was brighter than anytime I have seen since they have been here...He was proud, he was excited, he was thankful that his car was so awesome.....
My frustration was gone...my frustration was worth every penny spent, every paint drop under my nails, every staple I had to take out in order to add 3 more...My frustration was worth seeing the amount of pride that a child can exhibit...My frustration was gone and the lesson I learned was even though it was time consuming, even though I didn't want to put in the effort, even though I know I could have made him a cheap crappy car, the time was worth seeing the smile on his face...
Well the car show was today...here is a video of the event..
Cayden had one of those school projects that is pawned off on the parents to complete. He has been learning about motion and energy and his assignment was to build a car out of cardboard for a car show at the school. Now I'm not sure if teachers realize that it takes a very special 5 year old to build a box car out of cardboard...Needless to say, I spent about 5 hours working on a fire truck so that Cayden could have a quality automobile during the car show.....
It started out simple...Buy some boxers...buy some spray paint...buy some letters to put on the side...easy! Well I get home and realize that the boxes don't fit together the way I expected them...the spray paint will not cover the letters on the box....the paper plates melted when I sprayed them with paint....The box wouldn't hold together when I stapled them together....ect.. ect....The frustration set it...
I decided to use wall paint to paint the boxes...it worked well. The pieces started to come together when it was time to go get the kids...By this time I had a lot of it completed but the details needed to be finished. I picked up the kids and brought them home. Well I learned something else...It is difficult to build a cardboard box fire truck while making sure 4 kids aren't playing in the street, chasing cats, riding bikes, throwing footballs and getting into everything I was using to build this contraption....It didn't help when I asked the kids to help me with the project...My wife can tell anyone that when I feel someone is in my way, I take my frustration to another level...
After 5 tedious hours, the master piece was complete!!
My frustration was gone...my frustration was worth every penny spent, every paint drop under my nails, every staple I had to take out in order to add 3 more...My frustration was worth seeing the amount of pride that a child can exhibit...My frustration was gone and the lesson I learned was even though it was time consuming, even though I didn't want to put in the effort, even though I know I could have made him a cheap crappy car, the time was worth seeing the smile on his face...
Well the car show was today...here is a video of the event..
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Hey lets argue
Have we become a society that just loves to argue? What happened to the ability to just have a discussion without getting personal? Without becoming angry? Is this what we are teaching our children?
For weeks I have been sitting in Jones AT&T stadium watching Texas Tech....Every week there is some idiot in the crowd that does 1 of 2 things....
1. They boo a kid who caused a little controversy a few years ago every time he catches a pass....This is a 21 year old kid that is HELPING our team win and we boo him? I am curious as to how many people were booing him after he made some crucial catches during last nights HUGE victory???? Have we forgetten what sportsmanship is?
2. Every game the coaches at Tech (and around the country) make a decision that the crowd doesn't agree with....it is during these times that I sit a listen for the idiot fan who says something along the line of "Leach wouldn't have done that"....Let it go Raiders...He is gone....I wonder if the guy behind me from the K-state game was cussing Coach Tubberville last night the same way he was during the K-state game....
See my problem with these people are two fold...
1. It doesn't teach your children anything positive...Leach is gone and is not coming back... I understand that hurts some people but it is what it is...There is no reason to teach your children that it is ok to not respect the coaches authority...It teaches them that it is ok to hold on to grudges...It doesn't teach them that sometimes a process takes time....and this leads me to point number 2
2. Before you speak, learn what you are speaking about....For all you Tubberville haters out there, Leach never beat OU at home....Understand that this is a young team...Understand that it takes time to build something...there are few people in life that have the ability to just win....It doesn't work that way...you start off learning how to count and that leads to you being able to do advanced math problems...
The future is bright for the Red Raiders....We are young, we are getting fast, we play hard, we make mistakes...we learn from them...we line up every Saturday and play...and we are reaping the benifits of a great coaching staff...I understand your passion, I really do...but come one guys, lets get behind this team and look forward to what is happening...your kids will learn from this.
For weeks I have been sitting in Jones AT&T stadium watching Texas Tech....Every week there is some idiot in the crowd that does 1 of 2 things....
1. They boo a kid who caused a little controversy a few years ago every time he catches a pass....This is a 21 year old kid that is HELPING our team win and we boo him? I am curious as to how many people were booing him after he made some crucial catches during last nights HUGE victory???? Have we forgetten what sportsmanship is?
2. Every game the coaches at Tech (and around the country) make a decision that the crowd doesn't agree with....it is during these times that I sit a listen for the idiot fan who says something along the line of "Leach wouldn't have done that"....Let it go Raiders...He is gone....I wonder if the guy behind me from the K-state game was cussing Coach Tubberville last night the same way he was during the K-state game....
See my problem with these people are two fold...
1. It doesn't teach your children anything positive...Leach is gone and is not coming back... I understand that hurts some people but it is what it is...There is no reason to teach your children that it is ok to not respect the coaches authority...It teaches them that it is ok to hold on to grudges...It doesn't teach them that sometimes a process takes time....and this leads me to point number 2
2. Before you speak, learn what you are speaking about....For all you Tubberville haters out there, Leach never beat OU at home....Understand that this is a young team...Understand that it takes time to build something...there are few people in life that have the ability to just win....It doesn't work that way...you start off learning how to count and that leads to you being able to do advanced math problems...
The future is bright for the Red Raiders....We are young, we are getting fast, we play hard, we make mistakes...we learn from them...we line up every Saturday and play...and we are reaping the benifits of a great coaching staff...I understand your passion, I really do...but come one guys, lets get behind this team and look forward to what is happening...your kids will learn from this.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Strange feelings
I dont know what is wrong with me today. I have this feeling that my head is spinning around all over the place. I am not sure what is going on. I dont like this feeling at all. I have been quick tempered and just really annyoned by little things. I guess it's because I have been sick and not been able to run. On a positive note I am out of school this week and enjoying just relaxing. Starting back up on monday.
The boys did really well when their parents left. We were nervous about taking a step back and it didn't happen. I'm ready for them to get back to their normal settings of Athens. I just hope that they return to a home in stead of a house, a family instead of parents ect....
The boys did really well when their parents left. We were nervous about taking a step back and it didn't happen. I'm ready for them to get back to their normal settings of Athens. I just hope that they return to a home in stead of a house, a family instead of parents ect....
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Great win and Terrible losses
This was a great weekend....My mother, sister, brother, sister inlaw, nephew, niece and nephews girlfriend came into town. I haven't seen some of them in a long time. It was great for the boys to see their parents, and it was wonderful for Randall and April to see the boys. They arrived Friday evening and we hung out until late that night. Saturday we drove around Tech and showed them the college ect...It was at Tech that we decided to go watch Tech vs K-state. The selfish side of me really wanted to go watch the game, but I didn't want to take time away from Randall and April from seeing the boys. We compromised. Candi, Rebecca, Bobby, Amber and I went to the game while mom, Randall and April stayed home with the kids.
We screamed, we yelled and we watched a great game as Tech fell to K-state in a tight ball game....While at the game we kept up with the Rangers who won game six and advanced to the World series. As bad as it was watching the Raiders lose, it was awesome watching the Rangers win. It was a great great win....The loss, as bad as it was isn't the terrible loss I'm talking about in the title....
Friday night when everyone came here we hung out outside for a long time. Rebecca and Mehkya went to the Taylor Swift concert so they missed out. It was at a specific time when I remember I started thinking about what this blog is going to be about....
The sun was going down and everyone was outside throwing the football, shooting hoops ( I won), running around, riding bikes, flinging the kids around and having a great time. I remember standing on the porch watching everyone play and my happiness turned to sadness for a split second.....
It is amazing what stubbornness and pride will do to a family. For years my sister and I have allowed these two disastrous character traits ruin parts of our lives. As I was watching from the porch watching everyone play, watching Candi swing Kennedy around and Kennedy begging Candi to do it again. Playing hoops with Bobby and Randal l( I won) and talking trash like we were kids...Meeting Amber and seeing her interact with the kids. Watching Hannah play with Kennedy and the boys. Seeing the joy in April's face as she played with the boys and Kennedy....My heart broke for a moment....Stubbornness and Pride made us miss many years of this...treating each other unfairly, talking about each other behind our backs...judging each other....doing all of these things instead of picking up the phone and saying "hey lets work this out"....Why is this bothering me?
Because I really enjoy my family. Sure we have had our faults and we have driven each other crazy...but we are a fun family....We are loud, we are out spoken, we laugh a lot...we are crazy and have crazy stories...why is it so easy to forget about all the good times and focus on the bad? I dont know, but for some reason we did....As I sat there and took all of this in I thought about how many opportunities we missed getting together and laughing as a family, interacting as a family, and truly being there for each other. I thought about all the missed opportunities we have had to take family trips to the lake, to the river, to vegas, to anywhere we wanted to go because of stubbornness and pride. I thought about how I missed the chance to get to know my nephews when they were younger and how those missed opportunities could have impacted their lives...made them better men...I thought about how I should have been there for my sister through trying times she had been through....but instead I decided to not pick up the phone and break the ice.....I thought about my poor mother and how she must feel that her kids were fighting and not acting like kids....I looked at her face the other night and I saw joy for the first time in a long time...watching her watch all of her kids and grand kids act like a family must have been a wonderful sight and WE have denied her of that because of stubbornness and pride.....how foolish we are! So here is my apology....
To Candi....I'm sorry for being stubborn...I'm sorry for judging and not being there for you when you need someone to talk to about anything...I'm sorry that I wasn't a better uncle to your kids and am sorry that I have kept my kids from you for all these years. I'm sorry that Mehkya and Kennedy haven't been able to learn from you and that I have failed to allow Rebecca to get to know you and build a relationship with you...I guess I always thought my prayers would be enough and failed to open up the lines of communication.....From the bottom of my heart I am sorry.
To Randall...I'm sorry for not being there for you when you were young. For not making sure you were following the right path...
To April...I'm sorry that I allowed Randall to act foolish. I should have been a better example.
To Patrick and Bobby...I'm sorry I wasn't a better Uncle. I'm sorry that because of my failures as a brother, I failed you as an uncle...I'm sorry I wasn't able to be an influence in your lives...I want the both of you to know that I have always thought about you, prayed for you and will be here if you ever need anything....
To Hannah...I'm sorry I haven't allowed my girls to get to know their cousin.....Mehkya looks up to you and I know you will make her proud.....that you will be a great example for her...
To Mom....I'm sorry that my stubbornness and pride and caused you so much family pain...that it took years away from seeing all of us grow together...These years can't be made up, but I truly pray that we try....
To Rebecca, Mehkya and Kennedy....I'm sorry I failed to allow you to get to know this side of my family. To Mehkya I'm sorry I didn't allow you to visit Candi and Hannah...I hope that we can make up this time.
We have all failed each other and this stubbornness and pride needs to be reversed. We need each other because 1 year turns to 10 and 10 turns to 20 ect....before we know it we will be grown and the only thing we will be able to look back on are the good times....it's time to make these years the best....
To be continued...
We screamed, we yelled and we watched a great game as Tech fell to K-state in a tight ball game....While at the game we kept up with the Rangers who won game six and advanced to the World series. As bad as it was watching the Raiders lose, it was awesome watching the Rangers win. It was a great great win....The loss, as bad as it was isn't the terrible loss I'm talking about in the title....
Friday night when everyone came here we hung out outside for a long time. Rebecca and Mehkya went to the Taylor Swift concert so they missed out. It was at a specific time when I remember I started thinking about what this blog is going to be about....
The sun was going down and everyone was outside throwing the football, shooting hoops ( I won), running around, riding bikes, flinging the kids around and having a great time. I remember standing on the porch watching everyone play and my happiness turned to sadness for a split second.....
It is amazing what stubbornness and pride will do to a family. For years my sister and I have allowed these two disastrous character traits ruin parts of our lives. As I was watching from the porch watching everyone play, watching Candi swing Kennedy around and Kennedy begging Candi to do it again. Playing hoops with Bobby and Randal l( I won) and talking trash like we were kids...Meeting Amber and seeing her interact with the kids. Watching Hannah play with Kennedy and the boys. Seeing the joy in April's face as she played with the boys and Kennedy....My heart broke for a moment....Stubbornness and Pride made us miss many years of this...treating each other unfairly, talking about each other behind our backs...judging each other....doing all of these things instead of picking up the phone and saying "hey lets work this out"....Why is this bothering me?
Because I really enjoy my family. Sure we have had our faults and we have driven each other crazy...but we are a fun family....We are loud, we are out spoken, we laugh a lot...we are crazy and have crazy stories...why is it so easy to forget about all the good times and focus on the bad? I dont know, but for some reason we did....As I sat there and took all of this in I thought about how many opportunities we missed getting together and laughing as a family, interacting as a family, and truly being there for each other. I thought about all the missed opportunities we have had to take family trips to the lake, to the river, to vegas, to anywhere we wanted to go because of stubbornness and pride. I thought about how I missed the chance to get to know my nephews when they were younger and how those missed opportunities could have impacted their lives...made them better men...I thought about how I should have been there for my sister through trying times she had been through....but instead I decided to not pick up the phone and break the ice.....I thought about my poor mother and how she must feel that her kids were fighting and not acting like kids....I looked at her face the other night and I saw joy for the first time in a long time...watching her watch all of her kids and grand kids act like a family must have been a wonderful sight and WE have denied her of that because of stubbornness and pride.....how foolish we are! So here is my apology....
To Candi....I'm sorry for being stubborn...I'm sorry for judging and not being there for you when you need someone to talk to about anything...I'm sorry that I wasn't a better uncle to your kids and am sorry that I have kept my kids from you for all these years. I'm sorry that Mehkya and Kennedy haven't been able to learn from you and that I have failed to allow Rebecca to get to know you and build a relationship with you...I guess I always thought my prayers would be enough and failed to open up the lines of communication.....From the bottom of my heart I am sorry.
To Randall...I'm sorry for not being there for you when you were young. For not making sure you were following the right path...
To April...I'm sorry that I allowed Randall to act foolish. I should have been a better example.
To Patrick and Bobby...I'm sorry I wasn't a better Uncle. I'm sorry that because of my failures as a brother, I failed you as an uncle...I'm sorry I wasn't able to be an influence in your lives...I want the both of you to know that I have always thought about you, prayed for you and will be here if you ever need anything....
To Hannah...I'm sorry I haven't allowed my girls to get to know their cousin.....Mehkya looks up to you and I know you will make her proud.....that you will be a great example for her...
To Mom....I'm sorry that my stubbornness and pride and caused you so much family pain...that it took years away from seeing all of us grow together...These years can't be made up, but I truly pray that we try....
To Rebecca, Mehkya and Kennedy....I'm sorry I failed to allow you to get to know this side of my family. To Mehkya I'm sorry I didn't allow you to visit Candi and Hannah...I hope that we can make up this time.
We have all failed each other and this stubbornness and pride needs to be reversed. We need each other because 1 year turns to 10 and 10 turns to 20 ect....before we know it we will be grown and the only thing we will be able to look back on are the good times....it's time to make these years the best....
To be continued...
Sunday, October 9, 2011
I'm a Fanatic
I'm a fanatic just like many Americans. Every Saturday or Sunday during football season, I am sitting on my couch or in a stadium seat watching my beloved teams battled. During baseball season I watch as many games as I can. Friday nights I find a High School stadium and root for the home team. I cried when the Mavericks won their first NBA championship. I am a fanatic.....
But many people take the term fanatic to an extreme. Our priorities in America are out of whack. We are fanatical when our teams win or lose. We scream at the t.v. when our teams do well, and cuss at the t.v. when they do bad. We blame the losses on the refs, the coach, or the other team cheating. We write nasty notes on opposing players twitter pages when they hurt someone on our team. We create violence when our teams lose, we make babies when our teams win.....
Today I read a post on Twitter that got me thinking of this. A local sports reporter named Ryan Hyatt said it well..... "You" didn't lose to #TAMU tonight. The team you root for did, the school you went to did, but you didn't. Only the players an coaches and a few folks that'll lose their jobs if Tech loses more did. It's ok to get passionate, but keep some perspective. Take all your energy about today and make sure it equals what you put into your kid's education"
I think Mr Hyatt hit the nail on the head. My loss is when my 8 year old brings home a 60 on her spelling test because I failed to review her words with her the week before. How many times have you shown the same passion when your kid brings home a great grade? How many times have you show that same enthusiasm when your kid learns a new life lesson? America is out of focus. We are so concerned about what the latest celebrity is doing that we fail to pay attention to what our kids are doing. We are so caught up in making sure our sons are the next Montana that we forget that we can raise them to be the next Lincoln or Steve Jobs.
How do I know that we are out of whack? On my days off I work at a high school...Every day I ask the kids what they want to be when they get older. Many of them say a professional (pick a sport). My favorite is the 5'3 110lb senior white kid who doesn't play HS basketball that wants to play in the NBA...I just giggle inside. I was one of them at one time and I am not saying it cannot happen. I'm just curious as to what is being taught at home? I love when the response is "I want to be a Dr. or a Teacher or join the military". It makes me feel as if there is still hope.
It's ok to be a fanatic...I think it is healthy to show kids your passions...We need teach them to be just as passionate about making good grades....We just have to do a better job at showing them that life is not all about touchdowns and RBI's...That the real world is tough and an education can carry you a long way....
If I've learned anything by fostering these two boys is this....I dont want them to be famous NFL players....If they grow into that it would be awesome....I want them to want to learn...to get an education....to realize that life is more than yelling at a t.v. screen....
But many people take the term fanatic to an extreme. Our priorities in America are out of whack. We are fanatical when our teams win or lose. We scream at the t.v. when our teams do well, and cuss at the t.v. when they do bad. We blame the losses on the refs, the coach, or the other team cheating. We write nasty notes on opposing players twitter pages when they hurt someone on our team. We create violence when our teams lose, we make babies when our teams win.....
Today I read a post on Twitter that got me thinking of this. A local sports reporter named Ryan Hyatt said it well..... "You" didn't lose to #TAMU tonight. The team you root for did, the school you went to did, but you didn't. Only the players an coaches and a few folks that'll lose their jobs if Tech loses more did. It's ok to get passionate, but keep some perspective. Take all your energy about today and make sure it equals what you put into your kid's education"
I think Mr Hyatt hit the nail on the head. My loss is when my 8 year old brings home a 60 on her spelling test because I failed to review her words with her the week before. How many times have you shown the same passion when your kid brings home a great grade? How many times have you show that same enthusiasm when your kid learns a new life lesson? America is out of focus. We are so concerned about what the latest celebrity is doing that we fail to pay attention to what our kids are doing. We are so caught up in making sure our sons are the next Montana that we forget that we can raise them to be the next Lincoln or Steve Jobs.
How do I know that we are out of whack? On my days off I work at a high school...Every day I ask the kids what they want to be when they get older. Many of them say a professional (pick a sport). My favorite is the 5'3 110lb senior white kid who doesn't play HS basketball that wants to play in the NBA...I just giggle inside. I was one of them at one time and I am not saying it cannot happen. I'm just curious as to what is being taught at home? I love when the response is "I want to be a Dr. or a Teacher or join the military". It makes me feel as if there is still hope.
It's ok to be a fanatic...I think it is healthy to show kids your passions...We need teach them to be just as passionate about making good grades....We just have to do a better job at showing them that life is not all about touchdowns and RBI's...That the real world is tough and an education can carry you a long way....
If I've learned anything by fostering these two boys is this....I dont want them to be famous NFL players....If they grow into that it would be awesome....I want them to want to learn...to get an education....to realize that life is more than yelling at a t.v. screen....
Thursday, October 6, 2011
life upside down
I have a 5 page paper that I have procrastinated on.....It is due on Sunday night and my plan was to work on it all day today and finish it up tomorrow.....Well life throws you curves.
My alarm went off at 515 and I tried to get out of bed to do my daily cardio...It just wasn't happening. I felt like crap....I did make it to the gym to lift and do a little cardio later in the morning but it was a mistake. I got home and my condition worsened. I spent all day neglecting my paper while coughing up a lung....and I dont feel any better tonight.
Tonight when we got home, I decided to teach the kids how to do head stands...Isn't that one of those tricks you just know how to do? I guess not....Needless to say it did not go very well but we had a good time. To be honest it was pretty amusing....none of them got it down tonight but we will keep trying....
My alarm went off at 515 and I tried to get out of bed to do my daily cardio...It just wasn't happening. I felt like crap....I did make it to the gym to lift and do a little cardio later in the morning but it was a mistake. I got home and my condition worsened. I spent all day neglecting my paper while coughing up a lung....and I dont feel any better tonight.
Tonight when we got home, I decided to teach the kids how to do head stands...Isn't that one of those tricks you just know how to do? I guess not....Needless to say it did not go very well but we had a good time. To be honest it was pretty amusing....none of them got it down tonight but we will keep trying....
well after multiple attempts I decided it was time to show these youngsters how it is done old school style....after I made sure Rebecca didn't catch my bald spot in the photo of course!
notice there is one person missing in the photos. We are still trying to figure out how to reach Cam...Lots of praise when he does well.....time out when he doesn't
To be continued....
Monday, October 3, 2011
Big Brothers Love
I can whoop my brother...There ya go I said it...People don't know that I have a mean streak because I can control it very well. But I can whoop my younger brother for sure....The way I see it is I will get him upset so that he would fight angry....then I would take advantage of his emotions and take him out. Yeah I'm confident that I can whoop my brother....(maybe I should have a few times)
Why am I blogging about this? I just got off the phone from him and we jib jabbed about who could whoop who...It was the first time in a very long time that I didn't want to whoop him after being on the phone....
Here is the deal. He is going through a ton right now...boys living with us, paying rent, and trying to get his life straight, working on his marriage ect....Normally when I speak with him he gets my blood boiling. Not tonight...for the first time in a very long time I honestly feel as if he is making strides towards being who God wants him to be. There is a situation he is in right now that I would handle so differently than he has...I would be furious and cause a seen...he is handling it like an adult...
He said something profound to me tonight. I was thinking when they all came down here we would go see Tech play. I told him today that it would be 30 bucks a ticket and he said he would get back with me....To my surprise he called tonight and told me the game was a bad idea because he wanted to spend quality time with the boys and not waste the money not being able to interact with them at a game! Randall I really feel you are making strides and I am proud of you...Keep it up...
We had a rough day around the Rhodes house. Kj was in a bad mood this morning and usually that means she doesn't feel well. Cayden got his football taken away from him for kicking it in the house and that put him in a bad mood. I got a call at noon saying Kj was sick so we had to go to the doctor. I got home and cooked dinner and I started feeling bad....Thanks goodness for Rebecca. She helped a lot with the kids tonight and had a good time playing with the boys before bed....
Until tomorrow....
Why am I blogging about this? I just got off the phone from him and we jib jabbed about who could whoop who...It was the first time in a very long time that I didn't want to whoop him after being on the phone....
Here is the deal. He is going through a ton right now...boys living with us, paying rent, and trying to get his life straight, working on his marriage ect....Normally when I speak with him he gets my blood boiling. Not tonight...for the first time in a very long time I honestly feel as if he is making strides towards being who God wants him to be. There is a situation he is in right now that I would handle so differently than he has...I would be furious and cause a seen...he is handling it like an adult...
He said something profound to me tonight. I was thinking when they all came down here we would go see Tech play. I told him today that it would be 30 bucks a ticket and he said he would get back with me....To my surprise he called tonight and told me the game was a bad idea because he wanted to spend quality time with the boys and not waste the money not being able to interact with them at a game! Randall I really feel you are making strides and I am proud of you...Keep it up...
We had a rough day around the Rhodes house. Kj was in a bad mood this morning and usually that means she doesn't feel well. Cayden got his football taken away from him for kicking it in the house and that put him in a bad mood. I got a call at noon saying Kj was sick so we had to go to the doctor. I got home and cooked dinner and I started feeling bad....Thanks goodness for Rebecca. She helped a lot with the kids tonight and had a good time playing with the boys before bed....
Until tomorrow....
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The fats of life
Sometimes 24 hours away from home seems like forever! We had a pretty slow shift and when we do time just drags on and on.
Last night Rebecca braved the great west Texas corn maze with all four kids. It's a big maze made in a corn field. She said they had a great time but it wore them all out.
Ok to my blog...
For some reason I have the ability to gain and lose weight very easily. I am the type of person that if I look at a piece of cake I gain weight. If I eat real clean and workout hard I drop weight. If I workout hard but do not eat clean then I maintain and if I eat like crap and do not workout I gain weight. It is kind of like my spiritual life.
If I am in the word, I feel better about myself. I shed my sinful pounds and lose the sinful weight. If I am not in the word, I get spiritually fat and feel very out of shape. If I'm in the word but not living by it, I just kind of maintain....
I'm running my second marathon of the year in Dec. I have been training but not hard and I have been eating like crap. That is where I am spiritually right now. I long to be in the word and to be walking strong. To run the race to the best of my ability....but I haven't been training the right way. Time to start training the right way in both my spiritual life and physical life...
The main way we discipline the kids is by putting them in time out or with their nose in the corner. Well Kennedy REALLY wants to put her nose in the corner. She has been faking being bad so that she we will put her in the corner but we don't fall for it....Well tonight Cam and Kennedy got a little rough and we put Cam in the corner. I thought it was only fair that since Kennedy was playing rough as well she should have to put her nose in the corner....At first she acted sad...like she knew she was in trouble....Then she got the big smile on her face and ran to the corner laughing....She stuck her nose in the corner with pride! It was pretty cute...
To be continued....
Last night Rebecca braved the great west Texas corn maze with all four kids. It's a big maze made in a corn field. She said they had a great time but it wore them all out.
Ok to my blog...
For some reason I have the ability to gain and lose weight very easily. I am the type of person that if I look at a piece of cake I gain weight. If I eat real clean and workout hard I drop weight. If I workout hard but do not eat clean then I maintain and if I eat like crap and do not workout I gain weight. It is kind of like my spiritual life.
If I am in the word, I feel better about myself. I shed my sinful pounds and lose the sinful weight. If I am not in the word, I get spiritually fat and feel very out of shape. If I'm in the word but not living by it, I just kind of maintain....
I'm running my second marathon of the year in Dec. I have been training but not hard and I have been eating like crap. That is where I am spiritually right now. I long to be in the word and to be walking strong. To run the race to the best of my ability....but I haven't been training the right way. Time to start training the right way in both my spiritual life and physical life...
To be continued....
Saturday, October 1, 2011
I will never be a track coach
Well I learned today that if you tell a kid to pace himself in a race......he will pace himself out of the race!
Today was the 1mile fun run for Mehkya and Cayden. I had told them to make sure they paced, so that they wouldn't be burned out at the end. Well watch the video and it will explain what I mean. I wish they would listen that well when we tell them to clean their rooms.
I'm very proud of both of them. Running teaches you a lot about yourself. It is very easy to slack off or quit. These two kids did not quit and that is all I can ask for.
We went to the Frenship game last night. It was a fun family night for us all. Frenship won and that always makes us happy. We hung out today after the race and watched Tech win...Next week A&M comes to town. Should be an interesting game. Enjoy the videos.
Today was the 1mile fun run for Mehkya and Cayden. I had told them to make sure they paced, so that they wouldn't be burned out at the end. Well watch the video and it will explain what I mean. I wish they would listen that well when we tell them to clean their rooms.
I'm very proud of both of them. Running teaches you a lot about yourself. It is very easy to slack off or quit. These two kids did not quit and that is all I can ask for.
We went to the Frenship game last night. It was a fun family night for us all. Frenship won and that always makes us happy. We hung out today after the race and watched Tech win...Next week A&M comes to town. Should be an interesting game. Enjoy the videos.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Judgement
I never really thought of myself as a judgemental person. The way I see it is I have always said what is one my mind and if offended others then it was their fault. I wasn't judging them, I was just telling them the truth. Well I guess I was wrong....
Sometimes I need to remind myself to look into the mirror...I need to remember that I have struggles, that I am imperfect and in need of a reality check from time to time. I need to remember that I have fallen and made many mistakes before I start to share my opinion with others about their problems. Maybe it makes me feel better about myself when I can compare my problems with others. I dont know. I have always justified this by saying "well the stuff I have done wrong isn't nearly as bad as what they are doing". This is foolish....It doesn't matter what your fault is. If your faults hurt others, they are the same.
I cannot compare what is going on in my life with what others have going on in theirs.
Sometimes I need to remind myself to look into the mirror...I need to remember that I have struggles, that I am imperfect and in need of a reality check from time to time. I need to remember that I have fallen and made many mistakes before I start to share my opinion with others about their problems. Maybe it makes me feel better about myself when I can compare my problems with others. I dont know. I have always justified this by saying "well the stuff I have done wrong isn't nearly as bad as what they are doing". This is foolish....It doesn't matter what your fault is. If your faults hurt others, they are the same.
I cannot compare what is going on in my life with what others have going on in theirs.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Gone Fishin....
In May I decided to take my father in law on a deep sea fishing trip. Neither of us had ever been so I thought it would be a fun trip for the both of us. My brother in law Ray also came with us, along with my FIL's cousin Dink.
The problem is I booked the trip way before we knew we were getting the boys. My wife stepped up and kept the kids so the boys could make the 12 hour trip down to Port Aransas.
Jerry, Dink and I left Lubbock early Friday morning to head towards Austin to pick up Ray. Then the last leg of the trip to the Port. Saturday morning we woke up at 4:30 in order to get to the dock by 5am. We were all so tired. The room Ray and I stayed in had some malfunctions with the air condition and the microwave. Needless to say we didn't get any sleep. The boat ride to our fishing spot took us 3 hours. We finally arrived and started fishing. We were expecting to catch a ton of Red Snapper and as soon as I pulled the first one in the boat our hearts were broken. The deck hands told us we missed snapper season!!! We all caught a ton of fish but had to throw all the red snappers back! After a long day of fishing, we reeled our lines in one last time and started back on the 3 hour trip to the port.
The problem is I booked the trip way before we knew we were getting the boys. My wife stepped up and kept the kids so the boys could make the 12 hour trip down to Port Aransas.
Jerry, Dink and I left Lubbock early Friday morning to head towards Austin to pick up Ray. Then the last leg of the trip to the Port. Saturday morning we woke up at 4:30 in order to get to the dock by 5am. We were all so tired. The room Ray and I stayed in had some malfunctions with the air condition and the microwave. Needless to say we didn't get any sleep. The boat ride to our fishing spot took us 3 hours. We finally arrived and started fishing. We were expecting to catch a ton of Red Snapper and as soon as I pulled the first one in the boat our hearts were broken. The deck hands told us we missed snapper season!!! We all caught a ton of fish but had to throw all the red snappers back! After a long day of fishing, we reeled our lines in one last time and started back on the 3 hour trip to the port.
Day two we went bay fishing. We were looking to catch some red drum. Well the wind didn't cooperate and we had a tough time catching many fish. Jerry and Ray got big reds but for the most part it was a slow day on the ocean.
My favorite part of the trip was Sunday night. We went to a crab boil. Four guys sitting around, eating shrimp, crab and sausage, while drinking a few beers laughing at all the stupid stuff we have done in our lives. It made the trip for sure!
Overall it was a great trip. While we didn't catch as many fish as we wanted, you can't replace the experience and the friendships..
We finally made it home and Rebecca said the boys acted pretty well. After a long trip it was great to be home. One of the things we got while in Port A was fresh shrimp. When I say fresh I mean right out of the water fresh. Well today I de-headed them while the kids watched....It was too funny! As I ripped their heads off Cayden asked so many questions. He couldn't wrap his head around me pulling the shrimp head off and explaining what the brown stuff coming out of them was. I told him it was their poop and he freaked out. I finally got him to hold the shrimp. He was still a little freaked out about them...
Tonight was skate night for Mehkya and Cayden. Every month the school sponsors a skate night for the kids...It was a lot of fun but I will let this video tell the story. I can say this, Roller Skating is not like riding a bike!
To be continued....
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Emotions
I'm starting this blog by saying that I have an amazing wife. She has been through thick and thin with me, from dealing with deployments (twice), being a single mother while I was away and many other issues that have come her way during our marriage. She has been such a trooper during this transition and it makes my heart smile knowing that no matter what type of obstacle gets thrown our way, she will be there with me hand in hand always.
I am not the smartest person in the world. I am not the best at anything I do. I have more faults than I can count and have struggles that would shock anyone. Saying this, it is who I am. I know who I am and use my strengths to overcome my weaknesses. I am not afraid to take criticism, if others give me advice, I take the time to listen and try to make changes. I am not afraid of someone giving it to me straight, as a matter of fact, I like it. It may upset me, it may piss me off, but I have the inner strength to keep my mouth shut and prove people wrong.
Today was an emotional day and I am lost trying to figure out how to handle it. Should I be straight forward? Should I sugar coat the issues? Should I lay it all out there in a hope that the message will get across? I really do not know. I know this all seems like I'm rambling and I probably am. I just have so many thoughts running through my head and the inability to write them down.
I don't have all the answers but this I know...There is right and wrong, safe and unsafe, smart and stupid, and honest and deceit and if you choose one of that later, it will lead to a world of problems....I'm not the answer for these boys. I blog about how I see them change in their daily lives while living with us....I don't know these boys very well. I don't know how they acted before they came here, all I know is what I see and what I see are two boys who have huge heart, love attention, enjoy being encouraged and need affection....I'm not saying they were not loved before(they were). I'm not saying they didn't get attention, I'm not saying that they didn't recieve encouragement...I'm saying that I see a difference in their attitudes and mannerisms when they are praised in certain ways. We are not perfect...We have faults....But I promise you that if anyone points out our faults we do not argue with them, we take their advice with a smile and try to apply it to our lives....this situation sucks for all involved but not nearly as much for the two knuckleheads that are laying in their beds as I write this blog....My prayer tonight is that everyone will stop trying to make people think they are doing the right thing and instead just do the right thing...Control your emotions, learn from your mistakes and become who you were created to be...
On a positive note, because of my beautiful wife I was able to take my daughter on a date tonight....It is moments like these that shape her future and I love every minute of it...I also know that if she is the same way at 16 as she is now, I wont have to worry about her going on second dates...(she will talk their ears off!!!!)
To be continued...
I am not the smartest person in the world. I am not the best at anything I do. I have more faults than I can count and have struggles that would shock anyone. Saying this, it is who I am. I know who I am and use my strengths to overcome my weaknesses. I am not afraid to take criticism, if others give me advice, I take the time to listen and try to make changes. I am not afraid of someone giving it to me straight, as a matter of fact, I like it. It may upset me, it may piss me off, but I have the inner strength to keep my mouth shut and prove people wrong.
Today was an emotional day and I am lost trying to figure out how to handle it. Should I be straight forward? Should I sugar coat the issues? Should I lay it all out there in a hope that the message will get across? I really do not know. I know this all seems like I'm rambling and I probably am. I just have so many thoughts running through my head and the inability to write them down.
I don't have all the answers but this I know...There is right and wrong, safe and unsafe, smart and stupid, and honest and deceit and if you choose one of that later, it will lead to a world of problems....I'm not the answer for these boys. I blog about how I see them change in their daily lives while living with us....I don't know these boys very well. I don't know how they acted before they came here, all I know is what I see and what I see are two boys who have huge heart, love attention, enjoy being encouraged and need affection....I'm not saying they were not loved before(they were). I'm not saying they didn't get attention, I'm not saying that they didn't recieve encouragement...I'm saying that I see a difference in their attitudes and mannerisms when they are praised in certain ways. We are not perfect...We have faults....But I promise you that if anyone points out our faults we do not argue with them, we take their advice with a smile and try to apply it to our lives....this situation sucks for all involved but not nearly as much for the two knuckleheads that are laying in their beds as I write this blog....My prayer tonight is that everyone will stop trying to make people think they are doing the right thing and instead just do the right thing...Control your emotions, learn from your mistakes and become who you were created to be...
On a positive note, because of my beautiful wife I was able to take my daughter on a date tonight....It is moments like these that shape her future and I love every minute of it...I also know that if she is the same way at 16 as she is now, I wont have to worry about her going on second dates...(she will talk their ears off!!!!)
To be continued...
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Can't beat the sunshine
Today was a beautiful day in Lubbock. Rebecca had to work this morning so I did our normal routine of waking up to go get donuts....
We cleaned the house today while Rebecca worked. All the kids helped out a ton. To our surprise Rebecca got off early and we made plans for the afternoon...
I cooked my world famous french dip sandwiches and they didn't go over well with the boys. The punishment they received was no dessert...
After lunch we headed to the park for some fun in the sun. It was truly a beautiful day here. We got to the park about 2:30 and didn't leave until 6pm. The park was great. We were the only ones there for a while and the kids had free reign of the entire place. We laid in the grass while the kids rolled down the grass hill, climbed trees and played on the equipment...
Amongst all the fun we still found time to put someone in time out. Cayden decided to not listen to us about climbing one of the slides so we set him down for a while...
But eventually he was back to rolling down the hill with everyone else..
We cleaned the house today while Rebecca worked. All the kids helped out a ton. To our surprise Rebecca got off early and we made plans for the afternoon...
I cooked my world famous french dip sandwiches and they didn't go over well with the boys. The punishment they received was no dessert...
After lunch we headed to the park for some fun in the sun. It was truly a beautiful day here. We got to the park about 2:30 and didn't leave until 6pm. The park was great. We were the only ones there for a while and the kids had free reign of the entire place. We laid in the grass while the kids rolled down the grass hill, climbed trees and played on the equipment...
Amongst all the fun we still found time to put someone in time out. Cayden decided to not listen to us about climbing one of the slides so we set him down for a while...
But eventually he was back to rolling down the hill with everyone else..One of the things the boys have been struggling with is keeping the bathroom clean. They like to play in the water or not clean up after washing their hands. Well today they made a huge mess and found out that it is easier to clean it up than scrub the floors for 30min with a wash rag. I hope they learned their lesson....
The day ended with a great meal by Rebecca.
Back to school tomorrow....
Worry
I had one of those shift where we didn't get any sleep. Up all night saving the young people who get stupid drunk during their first year of college...Also helping out those same young people who don't know how to turn off the water to the toilet so it floods the entire floor of their apartment complex. Needless to say when I get home after getting 2 hours of sleep at work: I was dead tired...
I didn't want to go to Church last night at all. I wanted to sit my fat butt on the couch, drink a cold drink and watch the rest of the Tech game....then pass out! Well Rebecca insisted we go to church and I reluctantly said ok....
The service was about worry... Preaching out of Matthew 6 it got me thinking about how weak I truly am in trusting the Lord. I worry about everything. I worry if I am doing the right things for my girls. I worry if I am being the man my wife wants me to be or deserves. I worry about silly trivial things at work.. I worry if we are handling the situation we are in right now the correct way. I worry that the parents of these boys are doing what they need to do to get these kids back. I worry.....I worry and I worry.....and it is not a great feeling..
Do I really trust the Lord? That is the question.....How do I not worry when everything around me is concerning? How do I look into the eyes of my girls and worry if this is creating a gap in our relationship; and tell them it is going to be ok? It is my goal this week to see if I can drop my worries and just trust God in this situation.
I understand it is normal to worry about everything but what does that say about me and my walk? It really bothered me last night that I learned how weak I am in this area...It's almost a slap in the face of God.....
Will this work out? I'm not going to worry about it...
I didn't want to go to Church last night at all. I wanted to sit my fat butt on the couch, drink a cold drink and watch the rest of the Tech game....then pass out! Well Rebecca insisted we go to church and I reluctantly said ok....
The service was about worry... Preaching out of Matthew 6 it got me thinking about how weak I truly am in trusting the Lord. I worry about everything. I worry if I am doing the right things for my girls. I worry if I am being the man my wife wants me to be or deserves. I worry about silly trivial things at work.. I worry if we are handling the situation we are in right now the correct way. I worry that the parents of these boys are doing what they need to do to get these kids back. I worry.....I worry and I worry.....and it is not a great feeling..
Do I really trust the Lord? That is the question.....How do I not worry when everything around me is concerning? How do I look into the eyes of my girls and worry if this is creating a gap in our relationship; and tell them it is going to be ok? It is my goal this week to see if I can drop my worries and just trust God in this situation.
I understand it is normal to worry about everything but what does that say about me and my walk? It really bothered me last night that I learned how weak I am in this area...It's almost a slap in the face of God.....
Will this work out? I'm not going to worry about it...
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Spare or Spoil and a little humble pie
Everyone knows this verse but what if you can't apply it? Proverbs 13:24 "Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them".
This is a verse we live by in our house. We discipline our children. For small incidents we discipline by taking things away or putting them in time out ect....For major incidents such as lying, stealing, or life safety issues we spank our kids. Our kids are not perfect but I feel it is safe to say that they are well behaved and know how to act in the majority of situations they face...
Our hands are tied right now...How do we discipline when we have to spare the rod? Is this truly going to spoil the child? If the circumstance warrants harsh discipline and you cannot act on that circumstance what do you do? I understand the reasoning behind the rule, but it is killing me knowing that I can't straighten out a situation a certain way when it is warranted....After studying this verse for a while I found out what the meaning is. Verse 24 means this. When a child is in his infancy, before vicious habits are contracted, or he is accustomed to sinning, and hardened in it; or as soon as a crime is perpetrated, before it is forgot or repeated: or every morning, that is, continually, as often as it is necessary, or as faults are committed is when you should for lack of better terms "spank their booty's".
It makes sense really...Teach them young what is right and wrong so that later in life they will be conditioned to know the difference...
But what if they are older and you have to spare the rod? Can you reverse this? I guess we will find out..
When I was in 10th grade I got a little cocky...I thought I was a lot better at everything than I really was and let everyone know about it. It took a good friend on the track at West Mesquite High School to straighten me out..We were stretching and he looked up at me and told me to shut up! I was stunned, but he explained that if I would keep my mouth shut about myself I would have more friends ect...It was a lesson that really hit home and I have tried to remember it since...Well this is for someone I know. Just do it...don't tell me about it, just do it...I like the way the old SMU coach put it when he said "don't tell me about the labor, just show me the baby". My life verse about being humble (something I need to work on constantly) is 2 Cor 11:30 and it states "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness". If this is the case, I could boast all day and night.....
To be continued.....
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them".
This is a verse we live by in our house. We discipline our children. For small incidents we discipline by taking things away or putting them in time out ect....For major incidents such as lying, stealing, or life safety issues we spank our kids. Our kids are not perfect but I feel it is safe to say that they are well behaved and know how to act in the majority of situations they face...
Our hands are tied right now...How do we discipline when we have to spare the rod? Is this truly going to spoil the child? If the circumstance warrants harsh discipline and you cannot act on that circumstance what do you do? I understand the reasoning behind the rule, but it is killing me knowing that I can't straighten out a situation a certain way when it is warranted....After studying this verse for a while I found out what the meaning is. Verse 24 means this. When a child is in his infancy, before vicious habits are contracted, or he is accustomed to sinning, and hardened in it; or as soon as a crime is perpetrated, before it is forgot or repeated: or every morning, that is, continually, as often as it is necessary, or as faults are committed is when you should for lack of better terms "spank their booty's".
It makes sense really...Teach them young what is right and wrong so that later in life they will be conditioned to know the difference...
But what if they are older and you have to spare the rod? Can you reverse this? I guess we will find out..
When I was in 10th grade I got a little cocky...I thought I was a lot better at everything than I really was and let everyone know about it. It took a good friend on the track at West Mesquite High School to straighten me out..We were stretching and he looked up at me and told me to shut up! I was stunned, but he explained that if I would keep my mouth shut about myself I would have more friends ect...It was a lesson that really hit home and I have tried to remember it since...Well this is for someone I know. Just do it...don't tell me about it, just do it...I like the way the old SMU coach put it when he said "don't tell me about the labor, just show me the baby". My life verse about being humble (something I need to work on constantly) is 2 Cor 11:30 and it states "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness". If this is the case, I could boast all day and night.....
To be continued.....
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Smell of fall in the air
I'm not a big fan of those who steal...it is a cheap way to get ahead that only works for a short period of time. In my eyes, it is the fastest way for me to lose trust in someone...
I really think stealing is one of the lowest things you can do...I think people who steal are among the lowest of the lows on our Earth....I believe in hard work, I believe in honesty, I believe that if you want something that others have then go out and work to get it..There are know free passes...This is a lesson that needs to be learned at a young age...
Today was a beautiful day here in Lubbock. We got a small amount of rain and the temps were cool. Tomorrow we are expecting rain and we are in need of it..
I have a really long run to do tomorrow and I'm dreading it..two hours in the rain should be fun!
Cayden is doing really well in school. His teacher told us tonight that he is a very loving kid and is doing great in class...Although there are some issues, he seems to really enjoy school.
I am really in need of my 48hours off. I need the rest for sure!
To be continued...
I really think stealing is one of the lowest things you can do...I think people who steal are among the lowest of the lows on our Earth....I believe in hard work, I believe in honesty, I believe that if you want something that others have then go out and work to get it..There are know free passes...This is a lesson that needs to be learned at a young age...
Today was a beautiful day here in Lubbock. We got a small amount of rain and the temps were cool. Tomorrow we are expecting rain and we are in need of it..
I have a really long run to do tomorrow and I'm dreading it..two hours in the rain should be fun!
Cayden is doing really well in school. His teacher told us tonight that he is a very loving kid and is doing great in class...Although there are some issues, he seems to really enjoy school.
To be continued...
Monday, September 12, 2011
Is today Thanksgiving?
Today I smoked a Chicken and pork loin...When I pulled them off the smoker and started pulling the meat off and Cayden asked me what I was doing...I told him I was pulling the meat of the Chicken, and he asked if it was thanksgiving....THANKSGIVING??? I asked...He said yes we only have turkey on thanksgiving...I explained to him that this was a chicken and then the questions started coming....Where is its head? Is that his butt? What is the red stuff? Where is its legs? ect...ect.
Whole Chicken $3.00
Pork Loin $4.00
Rice a Roni $2.00
Corn on the cob $3.00
Feed a family of 6.....$12.00
6 stomachs full and asking for more.....priceless
It reminds me that you do not have to have bells and whistles to show that you love someone...It doesn't take the most expensive meal to put a smile on a child's face...
Is this the problem we face today? Do we lavish our kids with expensive gifts in order to buy their happiness? Have we forgotten that all it takes is a $3.00 chicken and some good laughs in order to show them happiness? All I know is for $2 a piece we had a great dinner sitting around the table talking about the best parts of our day...Simple
Whole Chicken $3.00
Pork Loin $4.00
Rice a Roni $2.00
Corn on the cob $3.00
Feed a family of 6.....$12.00
6 stomachs full and asking for more.....priceless
It reminds me that you do not have to have bells and whistles to show that you love someone...It doesn't take the most expensive meal to put a smile on a child's face...
Is this the problem we face today? Do we lavish our kids with expensive gifts in order to buy their happiness? Have we forgotten that all it takes is a $3.00 chicken and some good laughs in order to show them happiness? All I know is for $2 a piece we had a great dinner sitting around the table talking about the best parts of our day...Simple
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sept 11
I've been waiting 10 years to write about this day...
I got home from the firestation and decided to take a nap..I got a phone call from a friend of mine who told me that we were being attacked. I turned on the t.v. saw what was going on and rolled over, looked at Rebecca and told her that I was about to get a phone call and that I would be gone for an undetermined amount of time. The confusion on her face said it all....
We had moved to Valdosta, Ga on Aug 18th, 2001. She had no friends, no family and no job. September 11th was her introduction into being a military wife. Shortly after our conversation I got the call and headed to Moody AFB. Three days later I was gone.......
Months later I returned home. When I left, Rebecca and I were eating off of an ironing board because we did not have a table at our home. When I returned she had made our small apartment at twin oaks a home...
She was at work when I got home so I took a nap...I was jet lagged and weary when she tapped me on the shoulder to tell me she was home..It wasn't the homecoming she was expecting for I threw a right cross that caught her in the chest....She let me sleep for a while. (I still don't remember this happening, but i'm assuming it is true)....
Our world was changed..marriage and our first child came in the next couple of years...Because of Sept 11th, I re-deployed on March 17th 2003. The reason I know the day is because it was two weeks after Mehkya was born...As is the life of a military man...I was gone again to a foreign land away from my wife and my newborn child.......
Today I am a firefighter in Lubbock, Texas and my feelings are strange. It is tough hearing people come up to me with good intentions telling me they appreciate what I do for a living. I know they mean well but it is not what I want to be know for. As fireman we morn for the 343 who died on that tragic day in 2001. The brotherhood lost many brave men, guys who we should admire and look up to. But when people in small town USA tell me they are proud of my fire department service it doesn't make me feel proud...
We are public servants...We are called to do whatever it takes to protect our community. It is honorable that we are recognized on this tragic day, but the recognition should be given to our brothers and sisters in New York, to the men and women who deployed 3 days later to an unknown destination for an unknown amount of time....They are the hero's....I feel many first responders ride the coat tails of the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and those who helped at ground zero....This is not our day, it is theirs...this is the day they need to be honored, not ours....those who were truly effected by the towers falling...the ones who lost moms and dads, uncles and aunts...to those who were fortunate enough to hug their loved ones because of the men who climbed 80 stories to make sure they were able to get out of the towers before they fell...this is their day...We will never be able to understand what they went through on this tragic day just because we wear the same badge or we watched countless hours of coverage on t.v. ...I am proud of being a fireman and would proudly give my life to save another if tragedy happened in my city......But I don't want to take away from those who sacrificed everything on that day...
I want to be remembered for Sept 14th 2001 when I left the greatest nation on Earth to serve my country...I want to be remembered for March 17th 2003 for the sacrifice of leaving my newborn child behind to serve my country...This is my legacy...
September 11th to me is personal...It is a time in my life where I truly found my soul mate while losing a piece of my soul...It is a time in my life where I realized what true love is with the birth of my daughter while truly understand what true hate is while seeing friends die...It is a time in my life where I realized the true meaning of sacrifice while trying to understand the consequences of selfishness....Will I ever forget? NO....It has shaped me and will continue to do so.....Does time heal scars? Yes....but my scars were healed by the smile of my first born....
9-11-11
I got home from the firestation and decided to take a nap..I got a phone call from a friend of mine who told me that we were being attacked. I turned on the t.v. saw what was going on and rolled over, looked at Rebecca and told her that I was about to get a phone call and that I would be gone for an undetermined amount of time. The confusion on her face said it all....
We had moved to Valdosta, Ga on Aug 18th, 2001. She had no friends, no family and no job. September 11th was her introduction into being a military wife. Shortly after our conversation I got the call and headed to Moody AFB. Three days later I was gone.......
Months later I returned home. When I left, Rebecca and I were eating off of an ironing board because we did not have a table at our home. When I returned she had made our small apartment at twin oaks a home...
She was at work when I got home so I took a nap...I was jet lagged and weary when she tapped me on the shoulder to tell me she was home..It wasn't the homecoming she was expecting for I threw a right cross that caught her in the chest....She let me sleep for a while. (I still don't remember this happening, but i'm assuming it is true)....
Our world was changed..marriage and our first child came in the next couple of years...Because of Sept 11th, I re-deployed on March 17th 2003. The reason I know the day is because it was two weeks after Mehkya was born...As is the life of a military man...I was gone again to a foreign land away from my wife and my newborn child.......
Today I am a firefighter in Lubbock, Texas and my feelings are strange. It is tough hearing people come up to me with good intentions telling me they appreciate what I do for a living. I know they mean well but it is not what I want to be know for. As fireman we morn for the 343 who died on that tragic day in 2001. The brotherhood lost many brave men, guys who we should admire and look up to. But when people in small town USA tell me they are proud of my fire department service it doesn't make me feel proud...
We are public servants...We are called to do whatever it takes to protect our community. It is honorable that we are recognized on this tragic day, but the recognition should be given to our brothers and sisters in New York, to the men and women who deployed 3 days later to an unknown destination for an unknown amount of time....They are the hero's....I feel many first responders ride the coat tails of the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and those who helped at ground zero....This is not our day, it is theirs...this is the day they need to be honored, not ours....those who were truly effected by the towers falling...the ones who lost moms and dads, uncles and aunts...to those who were fortunate enough to hug their loved ones because of the men who climbed 80 stories to make sure they were able to get out of the towers before they fell...this is their day...We will never be able to understand what they went through on this tragic day just because we wear the same badge or we watched countless hours of coverage on t.v. ...I am proud of being a fireman and would proudly give my life to save another if tragedy happened in my city......But I don't want to take away from those who sacrificed everything on that day...
I want to be remembered for Sept 14th 2001 when I left the greatest nation on Earth to serve my country...I want to be remembered for March 17th 2003 for the sacrifice of leaving my newborn child behind to serve my country...This is my legacy...
September 11th to me is personal...It is a time in my life where I truly found my soul mate while losing a piece of my soul...It is a time in my life where I realized what true love is with the birth of my daughter while truly understand what true hate is while seeing friends die...It is a time in my life where I realized the true meaning of sacrifice while trying to understand the consequences of selfishness....Will I ever forget? NO....It has shaped me and will continue to do so.....Does time heal scars? Yes....but my scars were healed by the smile of my first born....
9-11-11
Friday, September 9, 2011
Drunk
I want to apologize to the people who followed me home from the game tonight. I wasn't drunk, I was weaving in and out of lanes because I was dizzy...Let me explain
Frenship game tonight...Cayden on my right, Cam on my left
Cayden: What team are we?
ME: White
Cam: What team are we?
Me: White
Cayden: Where is the mascot?
Me: Over there
Cam: Where is the mascot?
Me: Over there
Cayden: Who has the ball?
Me: We do
Cam: Who has the ball?
Me: We do....
Right left, Right left, Right left my head turned answering question after question all night long. My head is spinning...
So I apologize to those who were behind me on the way home....I wasn't drunk just dizzy
Rebecca got to hang out with the girls tonight. Me and the boys went to the game. Everyone is asleep and it's time to cash it in for the day...Tomorrow Rebecca has to work in the morning/afternoon so it's just me until I head to the firestation...Good night world. I need my sleep
To be continued...
Frenship game tonight...Cayden on my right, Cam on my left
Cayden: What team are we?
ME: White
Cam: What team are we?
Me: White
Cayden: Where is the mascot?
Me: Over there
Cam: Where is the mascot?
Me: Over there
Cayden: Who has the ball?
Me: We do
Cam: Who has the ball?
Me: We do....
Right left, Right left, Right left my head turned answering question after question all night long. My head is spinning...
So I apologize to those who were behind me on the way home....I wasn't drunk just dizzy
Rebecca got to hang out with the girls tonight. Me and the boys went to the game. Everyone is asleep and it's time to cash it in for the day...Tomorrow Rebecca has to work in the morning/afternoon so it's just me until I head to the firestation...Good night world. I need my sleep
To be continued...
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Where there is smoke there is fire
I truly have a great job. I only work 100 days a year (10 days a month) with a ton of vacation. I work for 24 hours and have 48 hours off. Most of the time when I am at work, I am able to live like I do at home. I get to watch tv, play ping pong, play xbox, work out, eat really well and do school work. I also get to hang out with some of the best people you will ever meet. My job is awesome most days. We are always there to help, there are many shift where we don't do a thing and some shifts where we don't get any sleep. I go into work at 5pm, and get off work the next day at 5pm. But momma always said there will be days like this.....
At 115am, we responded to a medical call that was fairly routine. The problem with these calls is they are in the middle of the night and you lose a little bit of sleep..Well last night was no different. Go to bed after playing video games with the guys at midnight, alarm goes off at 115, we get back to the station at 150 and crawl back in bed....Alarm goes off again at 515 for a structure fire...
There are many different types of fires we fight. The normal run of the mill house fire where we go in, put it out, clean it up and leave...The grass fire that doesn't require much work MOST of the time...Car fires that are fairly easy...and the DREADED BIG fires that take forever....
Well this was on of those...As we are driving down the street we can see the flames shooting above the roof and we all knew it was go time. Many times when we see fire we go straight into it trying to save people or their property. Sometimes there isn't anything we can do but spray water on it and try to contain it. They are not as much fun because we just stand around spraying water. We would rather run into a burning house than sit outside spraying water...Well sometimes it happens..It took us over 5 hours to finally get the fire out and after it was extinguished we had the glorious job of climbing through the junk finding smoldering materials...It is a dirty job that has to be done...
Why am I talking about the fire? Well this morning as I was sitting out there spraying water on the fire it allowed me to start thinking. I have a dangerous job and when we go into fire I think a ton about my family and this morning was no different.
Family is like fire fighting...Sometimes a situation arises that you have to run into before it gets out of hand. In these situations, things can get out of control very quickly if you do not intervene. Sometimes situations are simple and do not require much work to accomplish the goal. Many times there isn't much you can do during a situation so you have to sit back a watch. You have to let the situation take it's own path and when all is said and done you intervene and do the dirty work cleaning up the mess.
That is where we are right now in our lives. We tried to intervene numerous times but the fire was too big....We tried to simplify it and the work didn't get done....So we sat back and watched until it was time to get in there and get dirty...
The thing about the fire this morning (as boring as it was putting the fire out) our job allows us as grown men to act like children playing in the mud...The work is dirty but it is a blast...The work is tedious but the reward is worth it......
Another great thing about my job is the teamwork it takes to accomplish the task at hand...I am blessed with a great group of guys who I can rely on when times get tough, when I don't have time to look behind me to see if there is someone who has my back if I get in trouble.... It is comforting knowing that at anytime I can turn to one of these guys and they would give their life to save mine...that is what a teammate is... That is what a family is...Do we get a long all the time? NO! Do we give each other a hard time? YES Do we correct each other when someone does something wrong? Most of the time! Do we do it tactfully? Sometimes...Do we hurt each others feelings? YES! Would we die for one another? ABSOLUTELY!
That's what family is and that is what family does.....
To be continued....
At 115am, we responded to a medical call that was fairly routine. The problem with these calls is they are in the middle of the night and you lose a little bit of sleep..Well last night was no different. Go to bed after playing video games with the guys at midnight, alarm goes off at 115, we get back to the station at 150 and crawl back in bed....Alarm goes off again at 515 for a structure fire...
There are many different types of fires we fight. The normal run of the mill house fire where we go in, put it out, clean it up and leave...The grass fire that doesn't require much work MOST of the time...Car fires that are fairly easy...and the DREADED BIG fires that take forever....
Well this was on of those...As we are driving down the street we can see the flames shooting above the roof and we all knew it was go time. Many times when we see fire we go straight into it trying to save people or their property. Sometimes there isn't anything we can do but spray water on it and try to contain it. They are not as much fun because we just stand around spraying water. We would rather run into a burning house than sit outside spraying water...Well sometimes it happens..It took us over 5 hours to finally get the fire out and after it was extinguished we had the glorious job of climbing through the junk finding smoldering materials...It is a dirty job that has to be done...
Why am I talking about the fire? Well this morning as I was sitting out there spraying water on the fire it allowed me to start thinking. I have a dangerous job and when we go into fire I think a ton about my family and this morning was no different.
Family is like fire fighting...Sometimes a situation arises that you have to run into before it gets out of hand. In these situations, things can get out of control very quickly if you do not intervene. Sometimes situations are simple and do not require much work to accomplish the goal. Many times there isn't much you can do during a situation so you have to sit back a watch. You have to let the situation take it's own path and when all is said and done you intervene and do the dirty work cleaning up the mess.
That is where we are right now in our lives. We tried to intervene numerous times but the fire was too big....We tried to simplify it and the work didn't get done....So we sat back and watched until it was time to get in there and get dirty...
The thing about the fire this morning (as boring as it was putting the fire out) our job allows us as grown men to act like children playing in the mud...The work is dirty but it is a blast...The work is tedious but the reward is worth it......
Another great thing about my job is the teamwork it takes to accomplish the task at hand...I am blessed with a great group of guys who I can rely on when times get tough, when I don't have time to look behind me to see if there is someone who has my back if I get in trouble.... It is comforting knowing that at anytime I can turn to one of these guys and they would give their life to save mine...that is what a teammate is... That is what a family is...Do we get a long all the time? NO! Do we give each other a hard time? YES Do we correct each other when someone does something wrong? Most of the time! Do we do it tactfully? Sometimes...Do we hurt each others feelings? YES! Would we die for one another? ABSOLUTELY!
That's what family is and that is what family does.....
Monday, September 5, 2011
Falling
If you fall you get back up...if you fall again you get back up. It seems so simple. It teaches that you should never quit...when times get rough you are strong enough to get back up and go at it again no matter what the condition is. It gives you a satisfaction that you can't receive from anywhere else. All alone, nothing but you and your ability to get back up. No help from anyone else, no sympathetic hand to pick you up...it's just you and you must get back up. Life doesn’t discriminate whom she scars physically or emotionally. You will have scars but that is ok. Scars are a good thing. Scars serve as a permanent reminder of our fragility but more importantly our strength. Scars are proof of what you have overcome. Every time I look at my many scars I remember how weak I was at the time the wound was formed, and what formed it. I remember the healing process. I remember the strength I didn’t know I had to push through, and I remember eventually being healed.
Mehkya will have a scar. Tonight she stumped her toe pretty bad. It was the first time that we were truly concerned about her and her injury. Like all parents it is tough seeing her in pain....but she will overcome and she will have the scar to show how she persevered.
Mehkya will have a scar. Tonight she stumped her toe pretty bad. It was the first time that we were truly concerned about her and her injury. Like all parents it is tough seeing her in pain....but she will overcome and she will have the scar to show how she persevered.
I had my second shift back to work so Rebecca had the boys. I had a pretty good shift driving Engine 4. We were pretty slow and that is always a good thing. I wish that I could take the kids into some of these houses so that they could see how great they really have it. I did mess up today at work...While driving the engine and we got called to a fire just a few blocks from the station. It is my job when I am driving to get us there as fast and safe as possible. Well I missed the address (something I shouldn't do). It wasn't a big deal thank goodness but I hate the fact that it could have been.
Rebecca and my brother in law took the boys to a Japanese steak house. The boys really loved seeing the fire and watching their food cooked in front of them. Cayden was a little rotten and learned that Rebecca doesn't play around. If she says that she is going to take you outside and make you sit on the curb until you stop throwing a fit, she means it and Cayden found out the hard way. Mehkya and Kennedy spent the night with the in-laws and a friend last night so Rebecca had the boys all day. They had an up and down day. We played outside tonight and Cayden is getting very good at riding his bike. He falls a lot and gets scars....but that is ok.....
To be continued....
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Red Raiders and Toilet seats
Well we all (well almost all) went to the Texas Tech game against Texas State. The spread on the game was 39 points so I figured it would be fun watching Tech score a ton of points. Well the game didn't go like it was planned for a while. Tech was losing at half time to lowly Texas State. In a way this game was an example of how our day went.
Tech has a tradition called Raider walk where the players walk down the street before the game slap hands with the fans. I figured it would be fun to take the boys out there so they could see the players up close and personal. The problem with Raider walk is it starts 2:30 hours before the game. It was a warm day and being out there that early was tough on the boys. Even before the game started, they were ready to go home. At kick off it was pretty warm inside the Jones AT&T stadium. The sun had been beating down on us for a while and it was not letting up.
It must have bothered the players as well because TSU put it on our Raiders during the first half. You could tell the boys were having a tough time dealing with the heat and started getting restless. THEN BOOM a West Texas dust storm came a long and cooled down the stadium...Just like that they boys started acting like we expected them to and Tech started playing like we expected!
The boys really enjoyed the game after it cooled down and Tech walked away winning by 40 points. Overall it was a great game.
The boys fell asleep on the way home but they really needed a shower. So I woke them up and they headed into the bathroom.
We have been working with the boys about putting the toilet seat up when they pee and down after they are done. Well tonight since we were in a hurry I decided to lift the seat for them. BAM! Toilet seat to the nose of one Camyrn....Like an upper cut from a boxer the toilet seat caught him right on the button and the tears started to flow...He ended up ok..
Tomorrow is church and hanging out with family...
To be continued....
Tech has a tradition called Raider walk where the players walk down the street before the game slap hands with the fans. I figured it would be fun to take the boys out there so they could see the players up close and personal. The problem with Raider walk is it starts 2:30 hours before the game. It was a warm day and being out there that early was tough on the boys. Even before the game started, they were ready to go home. At kick off it was pretty warm inside the Jones AT&T stadium. The sun had been beating down on us for a while and it was not letting up.
It must have bothered the players as well because TSU put it on our Raiders during the first half. You could tell the boys were having a tough time dealing with the heat and started getting restless. THEN BOOM a West Texas dust storm came a long and cooled down the stadium...Just like that they boys started acting like we expected them to and Tech started playing like we expected!
The boys really enjoyed the game after it cooled down and Tech walked away winning by 40 points. Overall it was a great game.
The boys fell asleep on the way home but they really needed a shower. So I woke them up and they headed into the bathroom.
We have been working with the boys about putting the toilet seat up when they pee and down after they are done. Well tonight since we were in a hurry I decided to lift the seat for them. BAM! Toilet seat to the nose of one Camyrn....Like an upper cut from a boxer the toilet seat caught him right on the button and the tears started to flow...He ended up ok..
Tomorrow is church and hanging out with family...
Friday, September 2, 2011
Fire station blues....
Well it is back to work for me. I have been off for almost 3 weeks and returned last night. I was really looking forward to getting back to my normal routine so at 5pm I walked back into station 4 in Lubbock, Texas. The guys seemed like they were glad I was back. I figured I would just slide back into my daily routine at the station and I did. Last night as I was laying in bed, for the first time since I was hired, I really didn't want to be here. I missed being at home with all the noise and chaos that has been going on at my house. I missed kissing the girls good night, praying with them and doing the same for the boys. For the first time in a long time I saw myself doing another job....
Rebecca said things went pretty smooth last night and this morning with all the kids. I was pretty concerned that she would be driving crazy with getting everyone ready to go to bed and up for school. She handled it like a champ.
I'm ready to get off work and get home. Should be a good weekend
To be continued......
Rebecca said things went pretty smooth last night and this morning with all the kids. I was pretty concerned that she would be driving crazy with getting everyone ready to go to bed and up for school. She handled it like a champ.
I'm ready to get off work and get home. Should be a good weekend
To be continued......
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Did this meat come from a dead animal?
I just got done reading a book called the long run. It is about a NY firefighter who was a marathon runner and an Iron man finisher. In 2005 he got hit by a bus and it changed his life forever. Anyway the just of the story was overcoming obstacles. I will always remember Matt Long and his story for as long as I live. you can YouTube Matt long and get a glimpse of his life. It was a pretty good book and reminded me that even in tough times there are others out there who are really struggling.
Today wasn't the best of days with me and the kids. I picked up Cam and Cayden from school early to take them to the dentist. I was in such a rush that I forgot the paper work and had to reschedule. I am not a big fan of kids not minding in public. As a matter of fact I'm not a big fan of kids acting out anytime. Well I asked the boys to put their shoes on and stop playing on the little gym they had there. They didn't listen, they continued to play. I finally got them out and gave them a stern lecture. Well then we went to the grocery store and I had to ask them over and over to stop playing. I finally told them that when they get home they are going to have to sit on their beds until they gave me a good apology and told me that they would start acting good. They finally started acting well and we had a good time afterwards.
At dinner I cooked steak. While we were eating Cayden asked if this was from a dead animal. We explained that all meat in from some sort of animal. The look on his face was priceless....
Rebecca and I had some quiet time tonight on the porch. For the first time since we got the boys we sat outside in the cool breeze and drank a glass of wine. It was great being able to just sit down and talk like adults...
I hope tomorrow goes well. I go back to work so Rebecca will have all the kids for the first time at night and in the morning. It should be interesting.
I truly hope that all of this works out well. I hope that these kids are reunited with their parents and have a wonderful life.
To be continued...
Today wasn't the best of days with me and the kids. I picked up Cam and Cayden from school early to take them to the dentist. I was in such a rush that I forgot the paper work and had to reschedule. I am not a big fan of kids not minding in public. As a matter of fact I'm not a big fan of kids acting out anytime. Well I asked the boys to put their shoes on and stop playing on the little gym they had there. They didn't listen, they continued to play. I finally got them out and gave them a stern lecture. Well then we went to the grocery store and I had to ask them over and over to stop playing. I finally told them that when they get home they are going to have to sit on their beds until they gave me a good apology and told me that they would start acting good. They finally started acting well and we had a good time afterwards.
At dinner I cooked steak. While we were eating Cayden asked if this was from a dead animal. We explained that all meat in from some sort of animal. The look on his face was priceless....
Rebecca and I had some quiet time tonight on the porch. For the first time since we got the boys we sat outside in the cool breeze and drank a glass of wine. It was great being able to just sit down and talk like adults...
I hope tomorrow goes well. I go back to work so Rebecca will have all the kids for the first time at night and in the morning. It should be interesting.
I truly hope that all of this works out well. I hope that these kids are reunited with their parents and have a wonderful life.
To be continued...
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I hate wiping poop
One of my first runs as a firefighter was to a house where an old man slipped in the shower. As we walked into the house I could smell the smell of someone who had pooped. I almost puked as soon as we made our way into the bathroom. Well it was my job as the low man to help this guy up and make sure he was ok and get him back into the shower.
I don't even like wiping my kids backsides. When both girls were in diapers I dreaded changing the diapers. I can handle the blood, the guts and the puke but the poop is something that really gets me going.
With one of these boys that is staying with us being 3, I have to wipe some booties. It is so strange having to wipe another child's backside. I am sure i'm going to lose my lunch one of these times. We were warned that he could destroy a bathroom but MAN this kid is breaking records. As I thought about this I had to remind myself that he is only 3 years old and still needs help with these types of things.
The reason that I am writing about poop is that it got me thinking today. There is someone that needs to read between the lines of this blog to figure out the true meaning.
We will always have to wipe the backsides of others (figuratively speaking of course). There are going to be times in life that we have to do things that we dread. It may be someone we know, someone close to us or it may be a complete stranger but there will be times when we have to wipe...It isn't always pleasant but we still have to wipe.
It has been a couple of good days at the Rhodes house. The boys (I hope) are really adjusting to their new surroundings. We haven't had too much of a problem getting them to go to bed and they seem to be doing great at school.
I have a wonderful daughter. Today when I got home she had a homework assignment that asked "if you could be someone famous, who would it be" her answer said me (as in herself). I asked her why she said herself and she stated that she didn't want to be anyone else but who she is! It is one of the proudest moments of my life.
I am ready to get back to the fire station. It has been a few weeks now and I look forward to getting back and it is not because of the boys and the chaos going on here. I just miss being at work. I miss being around the guys and joking. I miss acting like I'm 15 and getting to save lives. It will be strange walking back into the firehouse after being off for so long but I'm sure they guys will make my transition easy and uncomfortable. I truly have the greatest job in the world, I am a pretty smart guy, could have been a doctor a lawyer or anything else I wanted to be and I wouldn't change my career path for anything.
To be continued....
I don't even like wiping my kids backsides. When both girls were in diapers I dreaded changing the diapers. I can handle the blood, the guts and the puke but the poop is something that really gets me going.
With one of these boys that is staying with us being 3, I have to wipe some booties. It is so strange having to wipe another child's backside. I am sure i'm going to lose my lunch one of these times. We were warned that he could destroy a bathroom but MAN this kid is breaking records. As I thought about this I had to remind myself that he is only 3 years old and still needs help with these types of things.
The reason that I am writing about poop is that it got me thinking today. There is someone that needs to read between the lines of this blog to figure out the true meaning.
We will always have to wipe the backsides of others (figuratively speaking of course). There are going to be times in life that we have to do things that we dread. It may be someone we know, someone close to us or it may be a complete stranger but there will be times when we have to wipe...It isn't always pleasant but we still have to wipe.
It has been a couple of good days at the Rhodes house. The boys (I hope) are really adjusting to their new surroundings. We haven't had too much of a problem getting them to go to bed and they seem to be doing great at school.
I have a wonderful daughter. Today when I got home she had a homework assignment that asked "if you could be someone famous, who would it be" her answer said me (as in herself). I asked her why she said herself and she stated that she didn't want to be anyone else but who she is! It is one of the proudest moments of my life.
I am ready to get back to the fire station. It has been a few weeks now and I look forward to getting back and it is not because of the boys and the chaos going on here. I just miss being at work. I miss being around the guys and joking. I miss acting like I'm 15 and getting to save lives. It will be strange walking back into the firehouse after being off for so long but I'm sure they guys will make my transition easy and uncomfortable. I truly have the greatest job in the world, I am a pretty smart guy, could have been a doctor a lawyer or anything else I wanted to be and I wouldn't change my career path for anything.
To be continued....
Monday, August 29, 2011
?
I really dont have much to say tonight. I have a headache and really just want to go to bed.
The lesson I want to teach the boys is this..God made them they way they are...they are perfect in His eyes..Nothing more nothing less...The more we are around these kids I am realizing what was missing in their lives....They need encouragement...they need structure....they need direction. Both of these kids love to please others, so much that they tell little white lies to make themselves look better. Today I was a Coach at Texas Tech in Cayden's eyes (and that is strange because I really do have a great job). His teacher explained they he tells these little stories to make himself look and feel better about himself. The lesson I am going to work on is teaching him that he doesn't need to do that. HE IS PERFECT!
Encourage your children. Give them positive reinforcement. We are so good at telling them when they are doing wrong but we fail to praise them when we are doing well. IT IS A MUST!
My neighbor came over today and asked how things were going. The first response that came to my mind was a honest one....."raising kids is easy, it's just time consuming and stressful". That is my story....It takes time, it takes money, it takes being unselfish, it is a full time job. Being selfish is the reason people have failed their children....It is easy to put you kids in front of a T.V. or let them do what they want....It is hard to take time out of your day and spend time with them... to wake up a little early to make their lunch, to stay up a little later to read them a story. But the juice is worth the squeeze!
Mom left today and it made me sad. I sure am blessed to have had someone love me so much.
The boys did well at school today. They woke up on time and went to bed with no problems. Overall it was a great day.
To be continued....
The lesson I want to teach the boys is this..God made them they way they are...they are perfect in His eyes..Nothing more nothing less...The more we are around these kids I am realizing what was missing in their lives....They need encouragement...they need structure....they need direction. Both of these kids love to please others, so much that they tell little white lies to make themselves look better. Today I was a Coach at Texas Tech in Cayden's eyes (and that is strange because I really do have a great job). His teacher explained they he tells these little stories to make himself look and feel better about himself. The lesson I am going to work on is teaching him that he doesn't need to do that. HE IS PERFECT!
Encourage your children. Give them positive reinforcement. We are so good at telling them when they are doing wrong but we fail to praise them when we are doing well. IT IS A MUST!
My neighbor came over today and asked how things were going. The first response that came to my mind was a honest one....."raising kids is easy, it's just time consuming and stressful". That is my story....It takes time, it takes money, it takes being unselfish, it is a full time job. Being selfish is the reason people have failed their children....It is easy to put you kids in front of a T.V. or let them do what they want....It is hard to take time out of your day and spend time with them... to wake up a little early to make their lunch, to stay up a little later to read them a story. But the juice is worth the squeeze!
Mom left today and it made me sad. I sure am blessed to have had someone love me so much.
The boys did well at school today. They woke up on time and went to bed with no problems. Overall it was a great day.
To be continued....
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I dont mess around when it comes to goulash
I have always had this ability to win staring contest...It is one of my abilities that I am proud of. When I was in the military we would play the staring game and I have never been beaten. It helped me out a lot when I worked at the fire academy and some knucklehead student need a butt chewing. I could keep a straight face the entire time. It is one of those silly things about myself that I am kind of proud of. My technique is flawless...See I'm a rattle snake. I have a mean streak in me that could match almost anyone. The thing about my mean streak is I have almost always been able to contain it. Because of the many things I have seen in my life, I can literally turn it on a off and when I get in a staring contest I can look someone in the eyes and truly HATE them for that moment. It is only through my ability to realize that anger doesn't solve anything and by the Grace of God that I am able to control this...
The reason I say this is because I lost a staring contest today to a 5 year old. Not only did I lose, I lost 3 times. This kid was flawless.. I would roll and cross my eyes and he was dead straight serious. He never smiled, never flinched, never wavered. He beat me. It got me thinking of Cayden. What is going on in his head while we play? Is he like me and able to truly control his emotions? Does he have thoughts of hate while we play or is he just able to maintain a serious look? Sounds silly huh? Well as I thought about this all day (it bothered me that I lost) I figure it is a positive. If you can use your mind to control your emotions then you should be able to use your mind to control everything that goes on in your life. I thought about how he could overcome what is going on in his life right now, how he could do anything he wants if he truly puts his mind to it....I know it sounds silly but I believe the mind is the most powerful thing in the world...
The best thing about mom being here is that she can't sit down. Our family has it's ups and downs but I can honestly say that most everyone in our family would sacrifice everything they have in order to please others....they would give you the shirt of their back at anytime. Mom is the type of person that would sleep outside just to make sure we are comfortable inside. Well when she is here we dont have to do anything (not that we dont try). Dinner is cooked, clothes are washed, dishes are done. It's just the way she is and it's awesome.
Tonight at dinner she made goulash...We all sat down to eat and Cayden with his country accent said "I dont mess around when it comes to goulash". It was one of the funniest things I have ever heard.....We have had a great couple of days. Yesterday was my B-day and mom watched the kids while Rebecca and I went out. It was nice. Today we played all day long and rode bikes tonight. Both boys went to bed well the last two nights. I hope they are getting into a great routine and that makes it easier on us.
School starts back tomorrow. Week two will be great.
To be continued...
The reason I say this is because I lost a staring contest today to a 5 year old. Not only did I lose, I lost 3 times. This kid was flawless.. I would roll and cross my eyes and he was dead straight serious. He never smiled, never flinched, never wavered. He beat me. It got me thinking of Cayden. What is going on in his head while we play? Is he like me and able to truly control his emotions? Does he have thoughts of hate while we play or is he just able to maintain a serious look? Sounds silly huh? Well as I thought about this all day (it bothered me that I lost) I figure it is a positive. If you can use your mind to control your emotions then you should be able to use your mind to control everything that goes on in your life. I thought about how he could overcome what is going on in his life right now, how he could do anything he wants if he truly puts his mind to it....I know it sounds silly but I believe the mind is the most powerful thing in the world...
The best thing about mom being here is that she can't sit down. Our family has it's ups and downs but I can honestly say that most everyone in our family would sacrifice everything they have in order to please others....they would give you the shirt of their back at anytime. Mom is the type of person that would sleep outside just to make sure we are comfortable inside. Well when she is here we dont have to do anything (not that we dont try). Dinner is cooked, clothes are washed, dishes are done. It's just the way she is and it's awesome.
Tonight at dinner she made goulash...We all sat down to eat and Cayden with his country accent said "I dont mess around when it comes to goulash". It was one of the funniest things I have ever heard.....We have had a great couple of days. Yesterday was my B-day and mom watched the kids while Rebecca and I went out. It was nice. Today we played all day long and rode bikes tonight. Both boys went to bed well the last two nights. I hope they are getting into a great routine and that makes it easier on us.
To be continued...
Friday, August 26, 2011
Today was a good day
No matter what stage you are in your life or where you live, you always miss your momma. I have lived all over the world and in many different states. I have met thousands of people and I can honestly say that my mother is the most unique. I can't remember anyone I have met in all my travels that is as hardworking as she is. It is something that has stuck with me since I was a child when I realized she was raising us alone. Fast forward many years later and she is still the same. She comes to visit and can't sit still, she wants to make sure we are ok. While we don't expect or ask her, when she comes and visits our house is cleaner than it ever is, we have meals cooked and clothes washed. She is truly an amazing woman and a huge reason I am the way I am today..Thanks mom.
We had a pretty good day today. All the kids got up on time and ready for school. I believe that parents are partial to their own kids. I know my kids are good kids, I see it everyday. It is when others tell me that my kids are good that confirms my belief. Well today when I went to pick up Cayden one of the Kinder teachers stopped me in the hall (not his) and told me that she just loves Cayden. She mimicked(sp?) his country accent and said he was a SUPER kid. I see his potential and hope he reaches it.
All week we have been telling the boys that we were going to the high school game. Well tonight was the night. The crowd was loud, the light were bright and the players were ready! The boys were so excited to go and when we pulled up they were really excited. I haven't seen a smile on these boys faces this big since they got here. For 3 quarters they yelled, cheered and smiled. It was a great night. Cam looked at me and said "this is the biggest stadium that I've ever seen". I can't wait until next week when we go to the Tech game. It will blow their mind.
Tomorrow we will be hanging out and playing outside a lot....I hope that we can build on the momentum of today into next week.
to be continued.....
We had a pretty good day today. All the kids got up on time and ready for school. I believe that parents are partial to their own kids. I know my kids are good kids, I see it everyday. It is when others tell me that my kids are good that confirms my belief. Well today when I went to pick up Cayden one of the Kinder teachers stopped me in the hall (not his) and told me that she just loves Cayden. She mimicked(sp?) his country accent and said he was a SUPER kid. I see his potential and hope he reaches it.
All week we have been telling the boys that we were going to the high school game. Well tonight was the night. The crowd was loud, the light were bright and the players were ready! The boys were so excited to go and when we pulled up they were really excited. I haven't seen a smile on these boys faces this big since they got here. For 3 quarters they yelled, cheered and smiled. It was a great night. Cam looked at me and said "this is the biggest stadium that I've ever seen". I can't wait until next week when we go to the Tech game. It will blow their mind.
to be continued.....
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The ups and downs of life
When I was 18 I took a trip to Mexico with my college roommate. He was from the valley and took us across to the many wonderful cities that our great state border. If you have ever been down there you know what I am talking about. I remember when we crossed the border that my first thought was how poor these people are. I vividly remember getting lost in Reynosa and traveling the back roads of the city in the middle of the night. I vividly remember seeing a tin house with a single light bulb hanging in the middle of the room. The reason this image is trapped in my mind is because there were about 4 or 5 little kids laying on the floor. I remember the young kids as young as 6 or 7 selling gum on the sidewalk to the American party goers in the middle of the night. I left Mexico on the first trip thinking "man I have been really blessed my entire life". We didn't live in the biggest home, or had the biggest cars or the money to do many things, but compared to those who live south of the border we were rich....It is a lesson I have tried to remind myself my entire life....
The boys had their best day yet waking up and getting ready for school. We didn't have to cajole them at all. The only bad thing is that both of them had Doctors appointments and didn't get to school until after lunch. These are healthy boys (although a little short!) Cayden was 3'5 and 43lbs while Cam was 3ft and 37lbs. I got them to the doctor and back to school in time to meet Rebecca for lunch. After lunch I went and picked up mom from the airport. She is kind of going through the same thing we are right now. On a normal visit, mom is able to come here and unwind. She is able to just relax in the quietness of our home. This is not the case anymore! It was funny on the way to dinner tonight every kid in the car was talking to her and she had a look on her face like "I need more ears". I really am glad she is here and I know the girls are excited to see her. She is so great around our girls.
Cayden wanted some iced tea today and I would not let him have it. I'm not a big fan of giving kids sweets just because they want them. It's not that I am cruel, I just don't think they need it. Well he got upset with me and started pouting. My first thought was Mexico. I pulled up some pictures of kids who would not only love some iced tea but would die for just a sip of water. I think it hit home because his attitude change immediately.
The great thing about Lubbock is the evenings. It cools off here pretty well so tonight we decided to hang out outside. My friend brought over a bike for the boys the day they got here. Cayden jumped on it like he had been exposed to riding a bike before. I didn't think much of it. He wasn't able to really ride but he tried and tried. Well tonight was different. He jumped on the bike and took off. He didn't make it far before he fell and got up and tried again. I noticed he really wanted to ride so I grabbed him behind his seat and pushed him. 10 minutes later is was riding all by himself. He was so proud. Cam had a great day. I haven't been around very many young kids but if we could multiply him our world would be a better place. This kid has a huge heart.
Tomorrow night is football night. We are going to watch the Tigers play. I am excited to have some male companionship with me at the games. It should be a fun day.
To be continued.....
The boys had their best day yet waking up and getting ready for school. We didn't have to cajole them at all. The only bad thing is that both of them had Doctors appointments and didn't get to school until after lunch. These are healthy boys (although a little short!) Cayden was 3'5 and 43lbs while Cam was 3ft and 37lbs. I got them to the doctor and back to school in time to meet Rebecca for lunch. After lunch I went and picked up mom from the airport. She is kind of going through the same thing we are right now. On a normal visit, mom is able to come here and unwind. She is able to just relax in the quietness of our home. This is not the case anymore! It was funny on the way to dinner tonight every kid in the car was talking to her and she had a look on her face like "I need more ears". I really am glad she is here and I know the girls are excited to see her. She is so great around our girls.
The great thing about Lubbock is the evenings. It cools off here pretty well so tonight we decided to hang out outside. My friend brought over a bike for the boys the day they got here. Cayden jumped on it like he had been exposed to riding a bike before. I didn't think much of it. He wasn't able to really ride but he tried and tried. Well tonight was different. He jumped on the bike and took off. He didn't make it far before he fell and got up and tried again. I noticed he really wanted to ride so I grabbed him behind his seat and pushed him. 10 minutes later is was riding all by himself. He was so proud. Cam had a great day. I haven't been around very many young kids but if we could multiply him our world would be a better place. This kid has a huge heart.Tomorrow night is football night. We are going to watch the Tigers play. I am excited to have some male companionship with me at the games. It should be a fun day.
To be continued.....
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Clearing my head
When I first started blogging it was to clear my mind. It was an intimate detail of what was going on in this sometimes crazy head. It was a way to vent to myself about myself. It was a way to talk to God and put my thoughts on papers. Expressing myself in ink so that I could check my progress or lack there of. Blogging was my outlet...and there wasn't anyone who read that blog.
Now I have people reading and I miss the ability to express myself. I thought about it long and hard today and have decided to continue to express myself. This has been my outlet for years and I plan on continuing.
We have a rule in our house that goes something like this. If you do something wrong you get in trouble....if you do something wrong and lie to us about it you will get in serious trouble. It is our way of teaching the girls that it is better to take responsibilities for their actions and get in a little bit of trouble rather than hiding things and getting caught later and being in serious trouble. I believe it is a work in progress but it is working.
I love my family and we have some wonderful qualities but we also have a major flaw...It has been passed down for generations. Slowly and surely many of us are recognizing this flaw and making steps to eliminate it. Dont get me wrong, this doesn't pertain to everyone. This flaw is the ability to cover things up, we are fast talkers, we can deceive, we can lie, we can talk our way out of almost anything...
It took me a lot of years to realize that if I did things the right way and took responsibility for my actions, there would be less pain, less heartache and less turmoil in the long run. Dont get me wrong, I still make mistakes and try to cover them up, but in the back of my mind I know that I am wrong and need to confess. Even when I try and cover something up, it eats at me until I have to fess up.
The reason this is on my mind is I dont want to pass this flaw to my children. I dont want my kids to have the ability to cover things up, to be deceitful. I have learned that this type of behavior can be passed down at an early age and I am curious as to how much of this my oldest has seen. My question now is how do you reverse it? How do you teach someone that already has it ingrained in their minds that it is ok to tell stories? That it is ok lie?
My prayer tonight is that the trends of our past can be erased....that those who haven't learned to accept themselves as who they are and take responsibility for their actions can do so....that we can reverse this flaw that many in my family have so that it doesn't impact the future generations.
Both boys had a good morning. Cam woke up before his alarm clock and that beautiful smile was glowing. Cayden slept through the alarm but woke up quickly after. Both boys got ready for school and were excited about going. The report is that school went well for both boys.
The evening was a little rough. When Cayden talks to April he really starts missing her. I understand this but not on his level. It is tough figuring out away to comfort him. It is truly going to be a struggle if things do not change. We continue to shower him with love and grace. I truly hate seeing his broken heart....
Tomorrow mom is coming into town and we are really looking forward to it. She has already said that she wants to watch the kids so that Rebecca and I get a chance to go out on a date!!! I can't wait!
To be continued......
Now I have people reading and I miss the ability to express myself. I thought about it long and hard today and have decided to continue to express myself. This has been my outlet for years and I plan on continuing.
We have a rule in our house that goes something like this. If you do something wrong you get in trouble....if you do something wrong and lie to us about it you will get in serious trouble. It is our way of teaching the girls that it is better to take responsibilities for their actions and get in a little bit of trouble rather than hiding things and getting caught later and being in serious trouble. I believe it is a work in progress but it is working.
I love my family and we have some wonderful qualities but we also have a major flaw...It has been passed down for generations. Slowly and surely many of us are recognizing this flaw and making steps to eliminate it. Dont get me wrong, this doesn't pertain to everyone. This flaw is the ability to cover things up, we are fast talkers, we can deceive, we can lie, we can talk our way out of almost anything...
It took me a lot of years to realize that if I did things the right way and took responsibility for my actions, there would be less pain, less heartache and less turmoil in the long run. Dont get me wrong, I still make mistakes and try to cover them up, but in the back of my mind I know that I am wrong and need to confess. Even when I try and cover something up, it eats at me until I have to fess up.
The reason this is on my mind is I dont want to pass this flaw to my children. I dont want my kids to have the ability to cover things up, to be deceitful. I have learned that this type of behavior can be passed down at an early age and I am curious as to how much of this my oldest has seen. My question now is how do you reverse it? How do you teach someone that already has it ingrained in their minds that it is ok to tell stories? That it is ok lie?
My prayer tonight is that the trends of our past can be erased....that those who haven't learned to accept themselves as who they are and take responsibility for their actions can do so....that we can reverse this flaw that many in my family have so that it doesn't impact the future generations.
Both boys had a good morning. Cam woke up before his alarm clock and that beautiful smile was glowing. Cayden slept through the alarm but woke up quickly after. Both boys got ready for school and were excited about going. The report is that school went well for both boys.
The evening was a little rough. When Cayden talks to April he really starts missing her. I understand this but not on his level. It is tough figuring out away to comfort him. It is truly going to be a struggle if things do not change. We continue to shower him with love and grace. I truly hate seeing his broken heart....
Tomorrow mom is coming into town and we are really looking forward to it. She has already said that she wants to watch the kids so that Rebecca and I get a chance to go out on a date!!! I can't wait!
To be continued......
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