The End of Our Rookie Year

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. We moved back to the US one year ago this week. I'm still trying to get a career going, where we can actually live off of what I make. We aren't plugged into community, we still aren't living in our own home, and most of our things are still in storage. The year has flown by. Most of what I remember of this past year is working - just chasing that dollar bill as fast as I can - trying to keep our savings and checking accounts positive - and trying to squeeze in moments here and there with Erin and Abraham.

I know that a lot of second year players in the NFL say that by the second year, the game slows down for them. That first year, they are just trying to get used to the pace of the NFL. I hope that the game slows down for me this next year. I feel like I'm still adjusting to life in America in many ways. I survived this first year, but I did a lot of spinning my wheels and didn't get very far.

I wish I had a day or two to just sit on a plow, like these vultures and enjoy the day. It looks so relaxing.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

We spent all of last week in New York, with Erin's family. The last four times Erin has gone to New York, I stayed here to chase a dollar...I'm still chasing the dollar but decided to just give up the chase for a week, and enjoy my family. It was great.

I bet that after the resurrection, one of the things that will be eliminated is goodbyes. I can't wait to be able to spend time rejoicing and celebrating what the Lord has done with our families, and my buddies in Texas, Thailand, China, Georgia...from everywhere we have lived - all together at the same time! What a big banqueting table it will be. I can just imagine taking turns proposing toasts to the Groom. Each one of us, one by one, standing up and declaring what the Lord has done for us, and then drinking heaven's wine in celebration of our King. Travis, Tim, John, Daron, Todd, Bryan, Roger...I miss you guys and I look forward to the resurrection when we can all be together again.

Some Day...

I've been working 60-70 hours a week the last couple of years...and we still don't have anything to show for it. In China, I was doing my work, plus studying the stock market. In August, we moved back to the US and I delivered pizzas plus studied the market. From January until April, I worked 7 nights a week, and did my stock research. Now, I'm building a business as a financial adviser/life and health insurance agent, while at the same time delivering pizzas 30 hours a week, plus trying to keep up with my stock market homework. After all of that, if you look at our savings account...it just keeps getting slimmer and slimmer.

Some day, I won't have to tell my wife and son that we don't have enough money to do things they want to do. Some day, my wife will drive a car that doesn't have a shattered windshield...some day, I will be able to roll up my windows and turn on the air conditioning in my car...because it will work...Some day, we will be able to give lots of money towards reaching the unreached...some day.

My favorite book says, "He who tills his land will have plenty of food."

I believe.

Back in Action

I had the day off and checked about 14 things off of my list. Number 15 is to get my blog going again. I haven't been able to blog on our old blog site, ever since our hard drive crashed in February or March. Now, Mac is changing things and it won't be possible for us to keep that blog going, so I'm starting fresh here.

I'll lay the general purpose of this blog again - this is a place for me to summarize my week, and have a place to share the my thoughts on the week. It helps me to try to bring things together and look for what our Creator has taught me for the week. And, for whatever reason, a lot of you ended up reading what I was writing. Hopefully it helped you sometimes, and your comments definitely helped me sometimes.

John and Tim (the guys who taught me about blogging) said that a good blog is short and sweet...I struggle with that sometimes.

Since my last blog post (in the old location), I have quit the cookie factory, become licensed to sell life and health insurance, and continued delivering pizzas, until I get the insurance business going again. Life has for the most part been overwhelming the last 10 months. I can't believe we have been back in the US for 10 months. I just keep trying to cling to Him through the change and transition, and we continue to try to survive financially. So far so good - our Creator is faithful to provide for those who look to Him for provision.