Another Installment of Gabe Gabs!

I don't think our family is unique in the fact that a lot of interesting conversations take place at meal time. Clearly we are unique though in that our family is beautifully, racially mixed. Meal talk and our family make-up combined to bring out an hilarious quote from our 9-year son Gabe once again.

We had Mandi's birthday dinner on Saturday at a great Mexican restaurant we found near the house in Clearwater - Poblanos. It has not completely taken the place of our beloved El Jimador in Maryville, TN but they are working on it. Somehow we got into a conversation about skin tone and someone made the observation that often times a person whom is racially mixed can have a darker skin tone than someone who is not racially mixed. So anyway out of no where - I did see the wheels turning before he spoke though - Gabe busted out with "You know that may be true but Africans, now they're ALL THE WAY BLACK". It was just too funny!

One more little nugget came out last night at dinner. Mandi and Victoria were talking about something and apparently Gabe didn't think that Victoria was displaying the proper attitude about it. He told her that her "attitude was unacceptable". (Something we have have told both of them too many times in the past) LMBO, this kid is 9. Where did he come from????

BOOTSTRAPS

My friend Mike P. posted a funny tweet yesterday asking "if anyone had some bootstraps he could borrow". I knew the question was rhetorical but of course I sarcastically replied that I thought the whole idea was for one to "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps". Well later on I got to thinking about that. The metaphor of 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' has been around for a long time, meaning to get better by one's "own unaided efforts". I agree whole-heartedly that I am the captain of my own ship - what, did I just use a navy analogy?! - and that I am responsible to work hard at being a better me.

But I also know that I am blessed to have a few people in my life that I can call on any time to help me pull up my bootstraps and/or to Mike's point, let me even borrow theirs if need be. Because there just are those times, circumstances, and challenges where my own efforts fall short and just aren't enough.

True friends are really hard to find, for me anyway. I count it a privilege to have those faithful few that I can count on no matter how badly I have screwed up, how egregious my mistake was, or if I just need a little hand with that last inch to get that "boot" up. Very grateful for the 'bootstrappers' in my life!!

What Have You Done For Me Lately?!

I woke up this morning with the thought that "every day is an interview". Each day I should be 'on my game' and reinterview for the important "jobs" in my life. My jobs?: husband, father, brother, son, friend, and business leader. Each day I need to remind my beautiful wife through words and deeds that she made a good choice in choosing me 23 years ago. I need to reinterview and be on my best game as father to my children. As brother to my sister - my only sibling - and son to my parents and Heavenly Father. I have to renew my commitment to my friendships and be true to how I presented myself at the 'initial interview'. I must continually add the value I sold to my profession and daily add that value.

The song by Janet Jackson "what have you done for me lately" from back in 1986 - yikes - had some wisdom to it. Every day is an interview. Dress to impress and be determined to win at all the jobs I've been blessed to possess!

Little Man Turns 9

Our little man is not so little anymore. He'll be 9 on Sunday (yep he was born just a few days before the tragedy that was 9/11/2001) and the birthday celebration weekend is well underway! Yesterday his best bud came over in the afternoon. We went to my - oops I mean his :) - favorite pizza spot for dinner. Came back and they went swimming and watched a movie. Then his best bud spent the night. Up early for waffles by Charlie this morning and now we are all prepping to head to Busch Gardens in Tampa. Gonna spend the day there for major coaster action and tons of fun. Tomorrow we'll do presents and cake and then Monday it's too the beach!!!

So excited about how our little guy is growing up. Our family would not be complete without him. That little sucker makes me laugh every day!!!!