A Weekend Without Baseball...

It is amazing what you can do in a weekend when you don't have any baseball to play! We spent Sunday afternoon at the Tulsa Zoo. We NEVER go to the zoo! When I say never I mean NEVER, I think the last time we went was about four years ago. I love it, but living with two boys, I easily get out voted. Sunday was different, I don't know what came over them, but we went and had a great time. So here are some pictures from our baseball free weekend.

Deep thoughts from the Spectacled Bear...

Baby Chimp, Vindi!

Penguins in Tulsa? They must hate the summers.

I know it may be a little trashy, but I love pink flamingos! ahhh, tiger love!!

This is another one of the zoo's new arrivals...

After the flamingo's, the giraffes are my next favorite!

There was a slight breeze on Sunday and he kept leaning over as far as he could to get the leaves when the wind would blow!

This was on the train ride...I thought you might want to see a picture of Kyler without a baseball uniform on or a catchers mask!

Kyler took this one of us, sorry it's out of focus..and yes this is Kevin's happy face!

Turning in the Cleats for High Tops

This weekend marked the end of a season. Now it's time to hang up the bat and put away the glove. Sunday we played our last baseball game of 2008. We finished the tournament 2-2 and both of our losses came from the team that one it all.
I'm sorry, I had to include on last picture of Kyler catching, I know you probably get tired of seeing baseball pictures, but that's what we do, watch him play ball!


As one season ends, another one begins. It's time to dust off the basketball shoes and start working on the hook shot. City basketball league practice starts tonight! Like in years past, Kevin will be coaching Kyler again this year. It is truly a treat to watch the two of them work together, Kevin and his Mini-Me. It will be fun to watch the season unfold. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

A Statement from David Letterman?

I was sent the following statement and the subject line stated, "David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see." I"m pretty certain that he did not actually wrote it, however, what is stated in the letter is true and how we have become an ungrateful nation.
"As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67%of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69% of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H..Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital?
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or an other Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. With hurricanes, tornado's, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

David Letterman?

Sorry, Another List

I was looking on MSN.com and how the Dow closed up today +936.42 (+11.08%), yeah! I'm not trying to sound smart and like I have money tied to the markets, but in my office it is conversation. Like everyone else I have been hearing a lot of "gloom and doom predictions" and how we better be prepared for a turn for the worst. While I was looking at the markets I came across this fun and challenging exercise. The exercise is simple, you must list 10 THINGS that are GOING WELL in YOUR LIFE TODAY. It comes from "Frugal Zeitgeist" who observes that it's "cheaper than therapy and healthier than alcohol." So here goes:
10 Things that are Going Well in My Life Today
1) I have a God that has forgiven me & all my faults
2) I have someone who loves me & to share my life with
3) Kevin has a new job & is happy
4) Kyler is healthy, happy, and doing well in school
5) My job
6) I have great friends who listen to me whine & who make me laugh
7) I have a roof over my head every night
8) My hairdryer worked this morning, it is just a matter of time
9) I have fabulous shoes (I love my shoes!)
10) I was able to get out of bed today without anything hurting!
As you can tell making the list was harder than I thought it would be and that is truly sad...so I have decided to start looking at the glass half full and focus more on the positive things in my life instead of the negative. Maybe if I start looking at the things I already have in my life instead of what I don't, I may just find that my cup has been running over and I never even noticed.

"Wisdom through Experience"

I was lucky to have my grandparents live close to me growing up. I used to think that they knew something about everything. I asked my Granma once how she knew so much, her answer was simply, "I'm old, I've seen a lot and been through a lot in my time."
The name of the company that I work for uses the words "Wisdom through Experience" as a tag line. Our very name, SAGE, means characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment and/or having wisdom that comes with experience. Honestly, I use to think that was somewhat egoistical. Over time I have seen that it wasn't about their ego's it was their confidence, the lessons that they had learned from past mistakes to use good judgement now, and not to repeat those mistakes.
My dad use to say that I pull my soapbox behind me in a wagon so I can get on it whenever I want. Well, Dad, I think it's time to get on my box. Now, more than ever, is the time to use prudence and good judgement. Last night we watched the second Presidential Debate and the question was asked, "If Israel was attacked would you, as President, wait for UN approval/support to go in and support Israel?" Senator McCain did not hesitate to say, yes he would send troops and support Israel and not wait on UN approval. Senator Obama's answer was much different, in fact there was no answer. The answer he provided was that they are our biggest ally in the Middle East and we should try to prevent anything from happening, try to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, try to keep the peace. That's great, but what would you do if they were attacked? There were many other questions and lack of answers from both men, but that is the one that stuck with me. I could go on, but I'll stop there for now.
I don't agree with everything Senator McCain wants to do, if elected. I also don't believe that being a POW entitles you to be President, but character, love for this country, fighting for what is right, and moxie are all qualities I would want our next leader to hold. I'm not telling anyone who they should vote for, your vote is your vote cast it how you wish. However, I would just ask you to think about this: Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." If wisdom comes through experience, what wisdom and experience does Senator Obama have to lead us?

Waitng, Praying, and Serving

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

The above verse is attached to the bottom of every email that my friend, Jenn sends out, replies to, or forwards on. I know other people who do the same thing, one attaches Jeremiah 29:11, another uses Colossians 3:23. A few days ago I received an email from her explaining that her grandmother had passed away and what a strong Christian woman she had been and now she was "reaping her rewards for her faithful service to the Lord," those where Jenn's words regarding her grandmother.
As I read the bottom of her email and came to the verse I started to think about the words "wait upon" and their meaning. It was like someone hit me over the head, that verse doesn't mean we are to sit around watching the clock go tick-tock and wait on the the Lord to renew our strength. No, the author didn't use the word "WAIT" alone, he used the words "WAIT UPON." I might be a little slower than others but, when the two words are used together they take on a verb meaning, "to perform the duties of an attendant or servant." Do you know how many times I have read that verse and never put it together? More than I would like to admit.
It is only then, when we "SERVE OR ATTEND TO THE LORD" that he will "RENEW OUR STRENGTH." For those of you who have ever worked as a Server or hosted an event, you try to do everything that your guest ask of you, without asking any questions in return,in exchange for a tip or reward for a job well done. What if we took on that same attitude when we serve the Lord? Can you imagine if we did everything He asked of us and never asked any questions in return? How would He reward us then? He tells us, "they shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." There is no big surprise here. If we serve him he rewards us, this is not a hard concept to grasp folks.
Recently our pastor spoke about how when you are praying and serving God be prepared for an answer. He used the following example: If you are praying for a job, be ready to receive two offers, because God rewards and gives favor to the people who serve Him. Kevin and I looked at each other knowing that word was for us. You see, Kevin has been looking and praying for a different job for about a year, something with better benefits, more responsibility, more flexibility, and more money. Two weeks later Kevin received two different job offers. Both offers had more responsibility, more flexibility, better benefits, and more money; everything we had prayed for, however, one would disrupt our current lifestyle and be a huge adjustment, the other would not disrupt our life at all. So, this week he started his new job with very little disruption. Usually I would be freaking out a little bit, but not this time. This time, there is complete peace in our house. He is excited about the new position and we know that this was designed by God's hand. It is amazing to me to think that He made it that simple. God and His Word are not difficult to understand, we are the ones who muck it up.