Too Blessed To Be Depressed!

I posted this morning that I had to break out the calculator to count my blessings. It was just one of those mornings that I woke up focused on the awesome things in my life and fighting hard to keep the negative at bay. I have an awesome wife who concomitantly is an awesome mother. As I look around – and I don’t have to look far – I realize how huge it is that I can say that. So many people don’t have that blessing.

We are all healthy and with the exception of yours truly at times, are all in our right minds. Again, I don’t have to look far to see how huge that is. A son who is doing so well in college and another son and daughter who are doing the same in their schools. Some real, caring, and incredible friends.

For me it goes deeper – albeit pretty basic – than even all that. The times that I spent away from my loved ones during the first Gulf war and most recently our family’s separation when we decided to leave the family in TN so that Jared could finish high school there, make me appreciate every single day. The – what I call - “Leave it to Beaver” type moments are the best! Walking in the door of our home and grabbing a hug and kiss from my best friend. Having to brace myself – everyday! - as my children bum rush me screaming “Daddy you’re home” and give me big hugs. Sitting at the dinner table together enjoying a meal and talking about our days. Being there and watching my children participate in the things that they are passionate about. Having my 8 year old give me a thumbs up when I manage a hit on the softball field. Just looking over and being able to SEE my wife’s lovely face and thinking I should have gone into sales to be so blessed to have her in my life.

I’ll end this with a quote from my favorite – after ‘the Beave’ of course – character on Leave it to Beaver, Eddie Haskell: “Wally if your dumb brother tags along, I’m gonna – oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver. I was just telling Wallace how pleasant it would be for Theodore to accompany us to the movies.”

Mama Said:

THERE WOULD BE DAYS LIKE THIS! The 12 hours between ~ 8:00 PM last night and 8:00 AM this morning were wild! After spending about 3 hours off and on cleaning our pool yesterday, I was just about to head outside to chlorine shock that bad boy to finish off my weekly maintenance. Just about 8:00, a nasty storm blew in with ~ 30 mph winds and heavy rain. Well the 5 oak trees that overhang into our backyard dumped about a trizillion little seed pods right into the pool. In about 5 minutes, they turned my pool a nasty brown color. So I went out there - in between lightning strikes and heavy downpours - to start cleaning the big pieces out of the pool so that later it would not be so bad. That was about another two hours off and on.

So we turned in around midnight thinking that the storm had passed and just as we were getting to sleep around 12:30 - the brightest lightning I have ever seen and the loudest thunder I have ever heard - exploded around us! It woke up everyone in the house and scared Gabe almost to death. He crawled into our bed and we all went back to sleep. WELL then at 5:00 shap and for no apparent reason, the upstairs smoke detector went off. That daggon thing was SO loud I'm sure our neighbors on the whole street were up and checking for smoke. Still don't know why it went off. Once the excitement of that wore off, we got Gabe back into bed but of course it was time for me to get up and see what the pool looked like.

Spent the next 3 hours off and on cleaning up what was left - including a bunch more of those stinkin' seed pods - and trying to get it back to it's original color. Fortunately after that and a nice chlorine shock, it's clearing up nicely. That's a relief because I had visions of having to drain my pool and my savings account at the same time. Will have to see what it looks like when I get home.

So I changed and got ready to head into work. It's almost 8:30 so the parents who avoid the drop off line by parking on our street (= fail by the way and I'm gonna have to post some signs) are pulling in and out dropping their kids off at the cross walk next to our house. Well just as I am about to back out, this lady pulls up almost right behind me to drop her kids off and her van is literally covering half of my drive. I have enough room to get out but have to cut a little bit to do so and backed right into the crossing guard lady's car. A small dent in her car and no damage to mine but my 30-year streak of driving accident free is now blown!!

So that ended my 12 hours of chaos and the blessing was no one got hurt through any of it and I'm sure we'll laugh about it all SOME day. I am now exhausted again just from recapping it all. :)

All The Above!

I have a new personal theme song, and I wanted to share it with you. It's All the Above by Maino feat. T-Pain. If you have been through struggles or challenges (that's probably everyone) and you set that stuff aside each day and continue to push toward your goals and dreams, you'll feel me on this.

Here's the chorus:

Tell me what do you see, when you're looking at me?

On a mission to be, what I'm destined to be.

I done been through the pain and the sorrow,

the struggle is nothing but love.

I'm a soldier, a rider, survivor..And all the above!

Going for the Gold!

On the heels of the Vancouver Winter Games! Olympic competition has always been a favorite of mine and the family and I enjoyed this last go around a lot. I'm certainly impressed by the discipline and hard work it takes - for many years - to prepare to compete at such a high level. The brutal reality is that only a small percentage of those athletes get the opportunity to don the title - Olympic Champion. To see their country's colors raised and their national athem played for the world to hear. For me that whole scene is very moving but I have professed before that I am a dork.

In many cases, earning a gold medal brings with it celebrity, opportunities, and often times fortune. Again very well deserved as the training regimen and disciplined lifestyle must be very intense. And the difference between standing on the medal podium and packing your gear to try again in 4 years or never is often fractions of a second or one slight error.

I'll never have the opportunity to stand on the Olympic podium, have some smooth old dude place a metal around my neck, and shed tears of joy while the national athem is played. But I can commit to doing something everyday that allows me to "go for the gold" in my own life.

I don't have tens of thousands of people clinging to my every word on Twitter or anxiously waiting for the next great thing I'm going to do. And no one plays music or stands up and cheers when I go to work everyday. But I tell myself and what motivates me is the opportunity that I have everyday to be a champion in my own space. When I do something that makes my wife smile or laugh or makes her say that she is proud of me - I'm a champion. When I fix something around the house - and I am So not that guy who easily fixes things - that has been a nuisance to everyone - I'm a champion. When I help one of our kids through a tough situation or a tough assignment - I'm a champion. When I stand up for my kids when someone has not treated them fairly - I'm a champion. When I stand out at work and go the extra mile - I'm a champion. When I help a friend through a tough spot - I'm a champion.

Again I don't expect that there will be a formal medal ceremony and Charlie's anthem hasn't even been written yet but each day I do a little bit more so that when this gig is done, I'll have earned a gold medal for the events I compete in: Husband, Father, Teammate, Friend.

Halftime!

I guess if I am keeping it real, I'm basically at halftime in my life. Wow, the first half was amazing and I am SO excited about what the second half is going to bring. I am so blessed with a wonderful wife (whom I have known for nearly half my life) and children, awesome family, true friends, a sense of humor that doesn't allow me to take myself or life too seriously, and incredible opportunities to succeed. For those of you that really know me, you already know I am big dork. So you won't be surprised that the events of today that I am about to share totally fired me up and I am looking forward to many more days like this in the "second half".

My birthday 2010:

I woke up a bit before everyone else as I often do. Made some coffee and enjoyed the quiet of the morning for just a few moments until Little G came bouncing down the stairs. We talked for a few moments and then started working on some of his plays for flag football. He is new to the game so we used pillows on the floor to represent players as we walked through "holes" and running assignments - he's a running back. We also moved the pillows around to represent changing formations. It was a lot of fun. We put the pillows back on the furniture before mom came down stairs. LOL Then we had some breakfast together. Just him and I. I love that time we spend together.

So then it was off to flag football practice and an hour later Mandi joined us at the field for G's first scrimmage of the season. He did great and we enjoyed watching him play although we almost froze our you know what's off. It was so cold this morning! We linked up with Victoria at home after the game and I walked into the kitchen to a surprise of a happy birthday banner, balloons, a cake, and presents!!! I got some great stuff and we shared some laughs as I tried very hard to open the presents with this new wrapping paper Mandi used that does not require tape. My mother-in-law also sent me a great gift. She is too cool and never forgets anyone's birthday. After that we went to Olive Garden (I have never had a meal there that I didn't like) for a late lunch. That new Pansotti dish with sausage is off the chain and I highly recommend it! While at lunch, Jared - our college boy - called to wish me a happy birthday. I got kinda choked up thinking about that. "I" have a son that lives away from home and is calling "ME" to wish me a happy birthday. Wow!

After lunch - well not right after as we were all stuffed - they lit the one candle (thank you for just one!) and sang happy birthday to me. The cake is amazing. It's marble with like canoli filling and chocolate chips, and other goodies. OMG it is too good. We watched some of the olympics together and I hopped on Wii golf for a bit. Must have been birthday luck because I beat the family course record and although Victoria was cheering me on, I know secretly she's miffed and is planning her revenge as we speak. We previously held the course record together. :)

Went for a great walk with my bride, had a nice relaxing shower, and now I am just chilling and reflecting on the day and oh yeah a bit on the "first half".

Gabe Gabs Entry 2

Gabe got into a little trouble at school yesterday and the root cause (root cause? – am I a quality guy or what? – geek!) was he didn’t make a good decision. We are working with him a lot lately on his decision-making. So his punishment was no TV or video games last night before bed. After that was administered, Mandi did a little test to check to see if he got the whole decision making thing. When he asked if he could get dessert after dinner, she asked him if he thought he should have dessert. After a few moments of face distortions (he was really thinking hard – LOL) he busted out with “I know I should say – ‘I shouldn’t have any because I don’t deserve it’ – but I really want it though”.

He made that statement very softly so I didn’t here it. I had to walk away anyway because his face distortions had me about ready to bust out laughing. Then while Mandi and I were walking later, she told me what he said. OMG, classic Gabe!

What is Your Land?

Those who till their land will have plenty of food, but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense. Proverbs 12:11

What is your land and are you working it?

Till = plowing, sowing, and raising.

Our time is so limited - it seems - when we look at the big picture of things. Back when Solomon wrote this I am sure that more people could relate from a farming perspective because I think everyone farmed. I personally don’t know any farmers, as I am sure that is the case for most of you. But we have our own “land” to till these days. The key I think is that we select the right “land” to work, and then work it! The “land” you pick to work obviously is a personal choice. And I believe that the “land” you decide to work will bear fruit. If you prioritize and make good choices with respect to the “land” you work, I don’t think there will be much time for following worthless pursuits.

Here are a few personal examples of “land”: marriage, family, children, relationships, profession.

So pick your “land” and get to tilling!