Life Goals

I have decided that it is necessary and important to do a life's goal list and put it out here. I don't know how long it will take to post them...don't know what they will all be. Some will be personal, some physical, some travel related, etc. I definitely feel sometimes like too much of life is happening to me, rather than me going out and doing life. There will always be times we have to do our daily routine and get things done...but to what end? The goal of life is not to arrive safely at death. It may be hard to accomplish things with the 3 little ones, but will it be any easier as they get older and need to be taken around to do more things? I don't think so. Better to get some goals out there...and really start applying myself to them. Stay tuned. I will post a link or the start of the list or something out here and then start coming back to it on a regular basis.

Do you have life goals? Are the mutual goals with your spouse, or are they yours alone? How are you doing on them?

There is a guy by the name of Ted Leonsis who came up with 101 goals that was prompted by a near death experience. He has lived his life according to accomplishing these goals and he has done 74 of the 101...and some of them are not small goals! Here is his site...
http://www.tedstake.com/?p=8

It may take me awhile to come up with a list of 100 things, but just actually having a list that you are committed to is a great idea and something to come back to regularly.

StoryLand

I know Kristen will end up posting an awesome set of pictures from our trip to StoryLand, but I wanted to post about it as well. Yes, it was a long drive to get up there for one day but it was fun for the kids. Our goal was to leave on Friday and get up there in time to enjoy a couple of hours at the park and then get dinner, swim, etc and go back to the park on Saturday for the day before driving home. The weather did not cooperate. As soon as we got up into the park area it started pouring and we got stuck at the hotel. So, instead of going to the park, the kids got to go to a kids event for the evening at the hotel and we got to go out...just the adults and Jude...to dinner. They enjoyed themselves and so did we.

The following day we got up and went to breakfast at a little restaurant that we had been to last year and then went to the park. I did NOT feel well all day. Didn't eat breakfast or lunch and had Kristen go on most of the rides with the kids. (she was due for that anyway though since last year she didn't get to go on any rides as she was pregnant). I toughed it out, and I think Janelle was in a similar boat all day as well. The kids had fun, and then off we went back to MA. We didn't end up getting home until very late, but it was a fun day and will hold good memories. Here is one of my favorites...we paid for this one at the park but it was worth it :) I love the expressions on everyone's faces...

100 Pushup Challenge

Well, you haven't read much about this because I have not been doing anything with it over the last week and a half. My body was a little worn down and with guests and a myriad of other excuses...yes I admit it...it fell to the wayside. So, I am kicking things off again on Monday with the week 3 workout again and I am sure it will take still several weeks to get off that. I probably will not post each days status, but maybe once a week just to keep myself accountable to actually doing it suring the week. I know that I am still over 30, maybe 35 for straight pushups at the moment, so I have a long way to go. I think I will look to set a target date so that I can establish a ramp that I need to hit to get to the 100. I will post that when I figure out what a realistic date is.

90 Day Challenge

The men's group that meets each Friday morning at church put a challenge out there to read the New Testament in 90 days. For accountability and to add a little incentive for each person to sign up and keep up, I set up a google spreadsheet to track how each person is doing that everyone can go in and update. I know that for me, I need that incentive and that accountability. As of today, I have read 57 of the 90 segments. I started on June 3rd, which means I am 53 days into the reading...slightly ahead of schedule :) Overall, I am enjoying it and think that I may just tack on an Old Testament challenge onto the back end of this thru the Bible this year.

Missing Janelle and Baileigh

Just wanted you guys to know we were missing you already. Thought I would post this awesome picture that Baileigh did while she was out here. It just reminds me of how much we miss being able to drive down the road to see you all.

White by Ted Dekker

White by Ted Dekker

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting read and good finish to the series. The imagery of both worlds and the engaging storyline that plays out in both is a lot of fun to read. Maybe it was just me, but this book seemed to lack a little bit of what the previous two had, but I can't place my finger on what it was at this point....maybe it just seemed he stretched too far on some of the points...I don't know. But, overall, loved the trilogy and I am really looking forward to the other set of books based on this storyline as well.


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A week gone by

Things have been crazy, hectic, disjointed, fun, tiring, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I will definately start posting more regularly again here...but I just haven't had the time....it's a sorry excuse, but it is the only one I have at this point. Some of the catch up posts I need to make:
StoryLand
Family continued
Latest book read
status on reading the new testament
progress towards 100 pushups
my mother
I know there was more as well...but let's leave it at that. Much to catch up on, but for now I have to work :)

8th Anniversary - 7/22

Yes...I am a day late posting this. That probably won't surprise anyone.

I just want to say that I love my wife. 8 years has gone so quickly!
I am lucky to have you. You are an amazing mother and a fantastic friend. You have patience that I strive for, a positive outlook that I admire and a faith that is beautiful. I know with kids that many things take a back seat and that means that more often than not, we are not going out and spending time together as we should, but, if you could see through my eyes you would never doubt where you stand in my heart or how beautiful you truly are. Happy Anniversary my love and I look forward to celebrating the day with you very soon.

Janelle & Baileigh

They arrived on Tuesday and we are loving having them here with us. While I am still working and we have yet to really lay out plans...it is awesome to have them out here for the first time.

Also...

I can't believe how tiny Baileigh is...she is sooo cute and small. Jacob is almost as tall as she is and definately weighs a good bit more. Of course, I think with the way Jude eats that he may almost weigh as much as she does already.

So, stay tuned and hopefully we will have some fun pics and stories to tell over the weekend of our time together.

The Shack

The Shack by William P. Young

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at the beginning, but I thought it was an incredibly neat way to tell the story. I also thought that the author did a great job in keeping the main character level headed throughout the story...it made the story more honest. I think dealing with a daunting theological concept like the trinity in a novel would be very difficult, however, I think this was done very well and I would recommend that anyone read this.


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