Comfortable Times

Don't you just love the comfortable things that come our way. They are almost never planned well in advance, they just seem to happen. They just seem to pop up...a good movie you forgot how much you enjoyed, and comfort food that is prepared just the way you like it, or a song that sends you back to an age or memory that you can almost taste. I just love being home. The kids are getting a little older and able to take care of themselves and not TOTALLY helpless. They are even a little helpful and getting to be allot of fun.

When was the last time you cooked some hot chocolate chip cookies? I am doing that right now and the house smells great. Yea, its a mess after the kids get ahold of them but its worth it. Part of the art of being ticked off is to see things as they are on the surface. Look no deeper than the surface and you see kids with a mess on their face, floor, and clothes. Dig a little deeper and you see the smiles of pure contentment on their faces, listen a little closer and you hear the giggles of excitement as they chew the warm gooey chocolate, watch them a little closer and you will see them as they experience something that brings them joy that you only wish you could experience again.

I just love my kids and the brief moments of clarity that I have with them. I love the fact that God gave them to me to protect, raise, cherish, love and nurture. Wow what a blessing! God help me to appreciate the blessings of comfort that I receive from you.

Good Friends, Good Family, Good Times

Good friends and good family is almost always a good time. Who denies It? Yea, OK, there may be some issues or struggles to overcome but we all have to admit that when we have some friends over or go visit some family member we always can say, "Wow. that was pleasant, fun, enjoyable...". Come on and admit that getting together is worth the effort!

Its time to vent...I know that it is hard raising kids, working, serving, and doing all the things that we have to do. The question is though, "Is all the things we are doing worth the distractions from the things that matter.". What is keeping us from enjoying this beautiful life that God has made for each of us. I am convinced that we are in a fight for our time and the love and attention for those that love us. Hear me, "we are competing with supernatural powers and natural sin nature for the love and attention from our friends and family". Yes I said "supernatural" and "sin". I am not a freak but I am truthful with myself and my beliefs. I will prove my point. Just try and execute a plan to get together with some good friends or a favorite family member with the intention of just loving them and getting loved in the process. I guarantee there will be obstacles. Big obstacles that just make you want to say, "Its just not worth it".

The last time I laughed till I cried was around some good friends at a fancy Italian restaurant in Mountain Brook. Not the place for laughter, real stuffy, yet we were all cracking each other up and laughing to the point I thought we were going to get thrown out! I went tent camping (that was a major obstacle in itself) with some good friends and felt the true enjoyment of seeing my healthy kids play and really appreciated my loving wife for who she is and also experienced fellowship like I never have before. We are so deluded into believing that life is hard and challenging. Well, it is, but it can still be fun and we can still laugh, even at stupid jokes. We just need to remember that sometimes we need a little help from our friends.

I vote that we not let a week go by that we do not spend one hour of quality time with a good friend or a family member. What?... you say you do that already? Well then my friend you are truly blessed!!!