Presents Abound With Good Cheer...

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas with family and friends. Steph and I got a treat this year...we slept in until 8:30 before opening presents.

We got up, I started a fire (in the fireplace, of course) and then got Shallen & Stephan up. Since they're older, they don't tear through the packages as they did when they were young. We get to sit back, watch and enjoy their expressions as they see the presents for the first time.

After all the opening at our house, we packed up the car with a couple of presents and stopped by my Aunt Pam & Uncle Larry's house where my mom was visiting. We got her a digital photo frame and loaded about 600 pictures for her to sit and watch. It was mostly filled with us (Caron, Jeff, Derek & I) growing up with a lot of pictures of the grandkids and of course dad. We then traveled to Shirley's (Steph's mom) house and presented her with the same gift. It turned into "The Shallen Show" since we didn't have a lot of pictures from Steph's family, most were of Shallen growing up. Of course we made sure and gave Shallen alot of trouble about it, but I think she just ate up the attention. Not to fear...we all get together on Saturday and many pictures are headed our way and onto her thumb drive!

Stephan received about $200 in gift cards (from both his Mom and Steph and I) for Bass Pro Shop and Shallen got $100 to the stores in Zona Rosa (a miniture Plaza in the Northland). Stephan & Shallen are headed to Independence today since all that money is burning a hole in Stephan's pocket.

After work today, I plan to take Stephan to the Sprint store for a new phone (additional present) and Shallen out for cloths (additional present).

My friend Paul and his family are headed back to Tennessee today. Please keep them in your prayers to have safe travels back home.

Plaza Lights

My good friend Paul Turner and his family were to join Steph and I for a walk around the Plaza last night while they were in town from Tennessee! They are staying at his dad's down in Harrisonville. Yesterday, it rained, and rained, and rained. The farther south you were from the city (KC), the colder it was. Needless to say, the streets were icy and not very safe - Paul and I talked a bit on the phone and came to the conclusion that it was best if they stayed put and didn't venture out.

Since we live up north, the street were just wet. Steph and I decided to head down to the Plaza and have a stroll around. We ended up eating at Buca di Bepo, a great little Italian restaurant right in the heart of the Plaza.

Paul and his family plan to head back home Friday morning as Morgan (their youngest) returns to basketball early next week and Shelbi (the college girl) I'm sure wants to catch up with friends since she's home on Christmas break. Steph and I are thinking of running in the Country Music Marathon this year in Nashville and may just pop in on the Turners!

I love this time of year...reaching out to friends and family that I often neglect during the year because of both our busy schedules. I need to do a better job of making myself available for catching up and staying in close communication with those I love. Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas filled with good food, wonderful stories and a gentle reminder that Christ was born to show us the way to His Father. May God bless each of you this holiday season!

Gettin' Some Work Done

This will be a very slow week at work...very quiet. I would anticipate that I will be getting out early each day...just don't tell my boss ;o)

We've been getting a lot of great Christmas cards this last week from some wonderful friends, both old and new! I've even had a blog message or two from folks I haven't heard from for a very long time - great to know that Cheri & Kenny Peoples are doing well in Naples, FL and Paul & Sondra Turner will be in the KC area visiting family and friends from Tennessee. What a terrific time of year to let family and friends know just how much they mean to you. My gift to all of you this year is to let you know just how much you mean to me, everyday! I will do my best to reach out to you and let you know!

Now, to catch up a little: Shallen had a swim meet this last Saturday in Independence at Bridger Middle School. I think we agreed that the farthest school to compete at this meet was Glendale from the Springfield, MO area. It just so happens, my niece Molly (David's daughter) goes to that school. Glendale made a great showing - they should have a lot of girls swimming at state this year. Shallen did pretty well...I think she just enjoys the time with friends and doing a little competing.

Steph and I continued painting on the house while watching the Chief's game yesterday (mostly listening). We're trying to finish the painting and get new carpet by Spring to put the house up for sale. We've found a plan or two that we like and hope to find a lot that fits our needs...a little bit of room would be nice.

Man, it has been so cold the last couple of days. On my way into work this morning, it was 2 degrees. I thank God everyday I have a warm place to work, a car that gets me there and a nice warm home to share with my family...I am truly a blessed man! I look forward to sharing family news with all of you as the new year comes upon us. Have a wonderful Christmas and remember to keep Christ in the midst of your celebrations!

Cold in KC

On my way into work this morning at 6:30, I drive by a rotating sign that gives the time and temperature. This mornings temp registered at 4 degrees. It started yesterday. Steph and I were trying to get some painting done on the house before going over to Shirley's (Steph's mom) house to watch the Chiefs game with her. I walked out to the shed in the back yard, no shoes, shorts & a tee shirt at 9:20 - it was 62 degrees. By 10:10, we needed to stop by the pharmacy at Hy-Vee to pick up Steph's migrane medicine. The temperature had dropped between 15-20 degrees.

By noon, gametime, when we arrived at my mother-in-laws house, it was 30 degrees according to her outdoor gauge. It only got worse from there. By the time Shallen got home from work at 6pm, it was in the teens - that's when the sleet and snow started.

I know this sounds horrible to those who don't like cold, but I figure, if it's going to be this cold, we should have something to show for it. I like to see the snow...I especially like to run in it - just not at 4 degrees.

Tonight, Stephan has his winter Concert at Oak Grove High. This is suppose to be the biggest concert (vocal) of the year. Tomorrow night, Shallen has their winter concert (band) at Platte County High. Saturday, she performed in the District Band Concert - she was 2nd chair.

Have a great week everybody and make sure to get your Christmas shopping done early!

Concert in Lee's Summit

Monday night, Steph and I (with Shirley, my mother-in-law in tow) ventured south from God's country to Lee's Summit, MO to take in a Christmas concert at Lee's Summit North High School. My niece Jessie Mitchell attends LSN and participates in the choir. As you can tell, she is very impressed with her Uncle Steve!

We met up with Jessie's dad and step-mom (Craig and Nedra) along with Steph's sister Kay. It's always a good time to get family members together - especially, to support such a great kid as Jessie!

After the concert, we all stopped by a little Italian restaurant there in Lee's Summit and shared some great stories over coffee and gelato. The night was beautiful and in the upper 50's so it wasn't too bad to be out and about.

The story is, if you're bored with the weather in KC, just wait a few minutes...it'll change. That's exactly what happened. Yesterday, a cold front moved in from the New Mexico area and the temps dropped down in the teens overnight. We had a pretty nasty snow fall with a lot of accidents and the first school closings of the year. Now with a little practice under their belts, most KC drivers will move around town a little slower and smarter.

I started my Christmas cards tonight. I had to stop for awhile to let my hand un-cramp. It looks like it's going to be about 80 this year! As you're Christmas shopping out there this year, remeber to focus on what this season is all about...caring, love and forgiveness; the whole reason Christ came to this Earth just for US!

Photos From The Wedding

Grandpa and Addison taking a minute together!

Stephan & I

The four of us at the front of the church

Wedding...Anniversary...Football - in that order!

Friday night, my oldest, Erin, got married in Independence, MO. She has been dating Ben for about four years, so it was time for them to get married. Ben's a good guy. He takes good care of both Erin and Morgan. Before they cut the cake, Ben gave Morgan a ring and committed to be there for her, always! In a lot of ways, this is the same way Erin & Colby are to me. When I married Debbie back in 1986, I made a similar committment to both the girls. Even though Debbie and I are not together anymore, my relationship with Erin & Colby couldn't be stronger.

Saturday was Steph and my 5th anniversary. What a lucky man I am to have found such a caring and loving wife. We spent the day together and enjoyed one anothers company through a movie (Four Christmases) and a nice lunch together. Shallen went to a Sadie Hawkin's dance that night, so we had that time along as well. What a great day!

Saturday afternoon, MU played OU at Arrowhead. OK, MU didn't exactly play, but they were on the same field. OU's powerful offense made MU look like a high school team. MU will be playing in the Alamo Bowl this year - I don't think they're too upset about making another bowl appearance!

The Chiefs on the other hand didn't play to badly in Denver, but that 3rd Quarter curse continued. They seem to play a fairly solid game up to the point that they come from the locker room after half time. They can't seem to move the ball or make tackles in that 3rd quarter! We also need a strong pass rusher. Cutler had all day in the back field to make plays happen for Denver. Even though it was a loss, you could still see improvement. I'm eager for the draft this year!!!!

It's a Busy Week Ahead...

This past weekend was a blast - spending time with my beautiful wife and just enjoying each other's company. That night we went to see the new movie "Australia!" Great flick...the scenery was terrific! We did some running around on Saturday and did a little painting that night (OK, actually, Steph did the painting. She couldn't wait to try out the new color on the living room walls)

Sunday, while Steph was at Erin's bridal shower, I got to watch my Chiefs finally woop-up on somebody, even if it was the lowly Raiders. I almost wish they'd have lost - you know, get that high first round draft choice and all. As it stands now, there are 3 teams with worse records than KC...I know, it's hard for me to believe too.

Erin, my oldest, is getting married to Ben on Friday. They have been together for 4-5 years and are finally getting hitched. Erin is a very special person to me. When her mom and I were going through the divorce, Erin made sure to let me know that I would alwys be her "Dad" because I had been there when things were tough for her. You know how you hope that those times when you have to be tough with your kids, they'll someday remember that and thank you for not letting up. Erin did that for me when she was in the Navy. She told me I prepared her for all the difficult times and taught her how to overcome the setbacks that the military can throw at you by being stern but loving at the same time. I let her make her own mistakes and take the consequences with them. Whether she knows it or not, that was the hardest thing in the world for me to do. I wanted to scoop her up and not let anything hurt her.

I took care of the catering bill today - I sure hope everyone that shows up is hungry! Wednesday night, Steph and I meet up with her mom and the bridge club for a Christmas party at Zona Rosa...it's going to be a good time. H&R Block is really gearing up for the tax season so things are pretty nutty at work right now. To top it all off, my oldest daught decided to get married - what a blessing children are! When they get older, you gain another close friend!

Morgan's Birthday

Not only is tomorrow turkey day, but also my grand-daughter's 7th birthday! She was born on the Navy base hospital in Norfolk, VA while my daughter Erin was on active duty.

Morgan is a very beautiful little girl (as you can see from the picture - I think she takes after her Papa) and really enjoys her dogs and playing with her dolls. She's in first grade this year. She attends elementary school in Independence, MO.

I look forward to celebrating her birthday with her tomorrow over at my brother's house in Lee's Summit. Thanksgiving is such a great family day for us. We all look forward to the time we get to share with family and catch up on things going on in all our busy lives.

Happy birthday Morgan...I Love You!

Intrasquad Meet

Last night was Stephan's intrasquad wrestling meet at Oak Grove high school. He was wrestling at 140. The head coach at O.G. and I went to high school together. He's a good coach and was an outstanding wrestler in his day.

Stephan ended up wrestling a kid that weighed 155. Stephan was quicker but failed to use technique - he tried to bull his way through the match. Stephan is a very strong little sucker, but technique will win over strength almost everytime.

Stephan ended up loosing on points (8 to 3, I think). All I know was, he was sure mad when he finished. He thought it was going to be a walk in the park.

As I was watching the matches (26 in all), a guy with a bushy white mustache sat down next to me on the bleechers. He looked so very familiar. As I sat there, I realized he was the old wrestling coach from my high school, Chuck Sears (back then, the mustache was a little browner). I introduced myself and he said he remembered me. He told me that while I was running cross country, he was trying to get me to come out for wrestling through some of the runners that wrestled also. Chuck is a really good guy who really knows his wrestling!

After the meet, I went over to Bob (Stephan's coach) and told him that if he ever sees Stephan messing around during practice, to kick his butt. He asked if that was a blank check. My response was, "absolutely!"

Happy Birthday

On Saturday, we met over at my mother-in-law's home (Shirley) for a birthday party. Jesse Mitchell (Steph's, brother's daughter) had her 16th birthday. It's always alot of fun to get together for a party. Craig & Nedra (Steph's brother & sister-in-law) are always a lot of fun to hang around with. My mother-in-law is one in a million (she wrote me letters pretty much every week while I was gone to Kuwait this last time). I love Jesse to pieces - she's a great kid. She attends Lee's Summit North high school. My sister-in-law Kay was also there. It's always a good time to talk with her. We have a common interest in Geneology. She owns her own company: Advanced Genealogical Exploration Services - A.G.E.S. Saturday was a great day to spend with family!

It's That Time of Year...

Steph came home last night sounding horrible...the scratchy throat, blood-shot eyes and just not feeling well at all. I had her get her sweats on and just relax as I went to the Parent's Meeting for Winter sports at Platte County High.

Very boring (I've only sat through about 8 of these) but important! The school is really pushing sportsmanship this year, both from the athletes and parents. This is a good program initially instituted in the NCAA.

Shallen is going to be swimming again. This being here senior year, she gets to make a lot of the decisions for the team: design of the swim suit, first opportunity to have a team dinner at our home, etc. Shallen likes swimming, but she likes the social side a little better, I think.

Stephan is a couple of weeks into wrestling at Oak Grove High. Yesterday, I sent an email off to his coach (an old high school friend of mine) for the schedule. When I got to work this morning it was waiting there for me with a little note. I know Bob is glad to have Stephan back on the team again this year. Stephan is really intense when it comes to athletics - I don't know where he gets it! ;o)

Steph is staying home today just to take it easy! Please pray for her that this doesn't last too long and she can be going at 110% again very soon. Thanks for reading the blog - it's good to catch up!

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning I attended church with my son Stephan. He lives in Oak Grove, MO with his mom. I pull up to get him and he comes walking out of the house in jeans with dirt and grass stains on them and his shirt is wrinkled beyond belief.

I just look at him and point back toward the house. All I get from him is a "what?" (any of you that have a teenager will understand)! I explain to him that yes, God will accept him as he is, but it would be nice if he atleast put on some clean cloths so he would be welcomed with open arms by the rest of the congregation. With a look back at me like I don't understand anything, he begrudgingly returns to the house and changes his jeans (it's a start)!

They just got a new pastor about 2 months ago...he's pretty good. He definately gets into the word and makes others follow along in their Bibles (Stephan was really scrambling to keep up).

After the service, we went to a Buffalo Wild Wings in Independence to catch the Chiefs game against New Orleans. Sad to say, the Chiefs played an OK game but lost again. They are now 1-9 on the season. Hopefully, at this point, they'll lose the rest of their games and get a high draft choice in the 1st round - quarterback Chase Daniel from MU would be a nice selection!

It was nice to spend the time with Stephan. He's a very good kid with a heart of gold. As with any parent, I hope I have taught him all the right things in life. One thing I did teach him that I can find comfort in is: God has all the answers; lean not on your own understanding, but look to Him for all answers in all situations. As with the rest of us, he will go as far as he can on his own, then turn to God when it gets a little too hairy!

Today, I attended the funeral for my Uncle Charlie's wife, Karen. She passed away last Thursday of breathing issues due to emphysema. Charlie's a great guy - always been involved in our family and treated us all as his own when we were growing up. He even babysat for a week one summer when mom & dad made a trip to Las Vegas - I'm not sure how he made it through that one! Please pray for Charlie as he moves forward with his life after the loss of his wife of 18 years!

Veteran's Day...Remembered

Back in 2003, after I had returned from my first tour of duty into Iraq, the United States seemed like a very different place. A lot of the patriotism from the 9/11 tragedy had worm off and people were getting back to their everyday lives.

Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing! The last thing anyone wants is to be terrified of what could happen next. No one deserves to live in fear and live their life that way every day!

There were a lot less flags flying when I came home...people had to be reminded to remove their hat when the National Anthem was sang at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City...people seemed too busy to stop and look at our flag as it waved in the summer breeze.

On November 11, 2003, I attended my first Veteran's Day parade as a veteran. It was at the Liberty Memorial for WWI vets. The theme for the day was the Korean War. I was in Dress Blues and as the flag was paraded past me by veteran's of the Korean War, I raised my arm to salute and was overwelmed by the thought of my Grandfather who had been in WWII and my dad who served during Vietnam - both were gone at this point.

Both my dad and grandfather were in the Air Force. My brother Jeff was in the National Guard-Army. My brother Derek was in the Air Force. My daughter Erin was in the Navy. My uncle John was in the Navy. With the geneology I have been doing on our family, we had someone back in the Revolutionary War - James Elkin of Virginia. My family has a rich heritage in this country's military.

This Veteran's Day, say "Thank You" to a veteran who gave of their time to preserve our freedom and our way of life here in this United States of America!

Before & After...

I promised a few folks that after I got the deck done, I would show it off. It's been done for a while now (this summer) and I never posted anything. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, drew it out, and built it to scale. Here are some before and after shots!

Before:

After:

I had a lot of fun designing and building the deck...of course with my son Stephan's help! I can't wait to get the house that Steph and I want so I can do a lot more of this kind of thing. Thanks for letting me share.

Last night was Stephan's first school choir concert of the year. I tried to get some pictures of him in his choir robe, but just took a picture of the back of the lady's head sitting in front of me! Steph hasn't snorted like that in a long time after seeing the picture. Here are a couple of Stephan and I after the concert (as you can see, he quickly ditched the robe)!

Beautiful Weekend in KC

You gotta love this time of year - especially when it's in the mid 70's! What a great weekend. Saturday morning Shallen left early for District Band tryouts in St. Joe (about 45 minutes north of us). Steph and I woke up early (I guess our bodies thought it was a work day). We had a nice, quiet breakfast at Perkins. As usual, with weekends, we had a lot of running around to do. We plan to get a family picture taken this next weekend, so we needed to pick up a few pieces of clothing for that. I love the fact that we are still driving around with the windows down. By the way, Shallen made 3rd seat in the District Concert Band!

I finished up the bannister around the front porch...it actually turned out pretty well. I still need to put a 2nd coat of paint on it and finish the hand rail coming up the steps! We also went out and did a little shopping for carpet. We want to replace the upstairs carpet - it's a little dingy now. The intent is to get the house ready for sale in the Spring. We have a lot of painting to do inside from now til then.

Saturday evening, we went to the Wizard's Playoff game. This is our professional soccer team. It was great fun. We had a gentleman sitting behind us who had an english accent...he was hysterical! I think he feels our players are wimps. There were very few sliding tackles and he was pretty critical of the refs and the silly calls they were making. The Wizard's tied Columbus; this sends the playoffs back to Columbus.

Sunday included more of the same. We caught the Chief's game over at Colby's (my middle daughter) while she cut Steph's hair. The Chief's are definately playing better while under the direction of quarterback Tyler Thigpen. The Chiefs are using the spread offense, usually only seen in the college ranks. They also complemented it with a good running attack for some much needed play action (listening to the last couple of sentences, you'd think I knew what I was talking about). Larry Johnson, our embattled running back, is due to perform his game suspension for off-field behavior next week. Honestly, the Chief's are playing just fine without him. Hopefully, following his return, we see a much improved attitude and servant-like qualities from Larry.

We closed out last night going to my cousin's visitation. It was really sad. We saw her husband John and daughter Jen. It's always nice to catch up with relatives...just not the most opportune time. Please continue to pray for this family - they're really going to need God's strength over the next couple of months as they return to a life without my cousin in it!

Happy Halloween!

The nights are cool and damp. You can smell the wood burning in someone's fireplace. The leaves are changing colors and slowly dropping from the trees. It's Halloween in Kansas City once again. I love to see the little ones coming to my door looking for candy in the most adorable costumes. Their parents are standing back letting them recite the words they've practiced for days in preparation for this one night when it's encouraged to beg from house to house! ;o)

My brother Jeff has transformed his garage into a haunted house. He borrowed my chain saw last night (minus the blade, that is) to scare the kids that decide to walk through.

Last night, Shallen had her awards banquet for tennis...they had it at a bon-fire on one of the parents land! I missed it because I was home working on the rail around my front porch - we don't want any of those little ghosts or gobblins falling off the porch and getting hurt! Shallen received her athletic letter and a Most Valuable Player award - she deserved it...she really did a great job for the team this year!

On a sad note, a second cousin of mine (on my mom's side) died Monday in her sister's home. She had been having a lot of difficulties in her life and decided she didn't want to continue living her life as she had. The family is really grieving right now and I would ask that you lift up a prayer. Ask God to strenghten the family and draw them together in this tragedy.

Take the time today to hug your kids and those close to you and let them know how dear they are to you! :o) Have a great Friday!

First Frost!

Yesterday morning, we experienced the first frost of the season here in Kansas City! The temp was about 26 degrees - very brisk and windy. I love this time of the year! We get to wear sweatshirts, watch the leaves change colors and eventually drop from the trees as winter sets in!

Luckily, all my outdoor projects have been completed. This winter we plan to repaint a number of the inside walls and trim to get ready for new carpet in the summer. We've been looking for a house that we can call our own for a number of months. We want to stay up in the Northland - we like it up here!

I've decided to go up to Lincoln in 2009 for their marathon - I hope I make it this year. Last year, a couple of weeks before the marathon, I came down with some nasty flu and lost a couple of weeks of training. It forced me out of the run...I just wasn't prepared to run the race I had originally trained for. Keep me in your prayers as I begin training...once again...for this marathon in late March.

How About Those Tigers!!!

MU sure smacked around Colorado on Saturday. Chase Daniel was throwing at will against Colorado's defense and they had nothing to push back with. This was MU's homecoming and they played it in high fashion! It looks like Baylor's Bears are in line to get a spanking next Saturday!

The intent is...if the KC Chiefs continue to play as poorly as they have the first few games, during the draft, they will definately go high and need to select a quarterback. Chase should be available and the Chiefs can build a team around his arm. We'll just have to see how everything plays out!

Long Weekend...

This weekend went by in a quick breeze! It's already Sunday night and I still have so many things to do. Friday night we went to the football game at Platte County. It was Senior's night...and there wasn't a dry eye in the place. The band had a Senior's meal before the game and the parents made posters of their student from early childhood through their senior year - all in pictures. We proceeded to the game where they recognized Seniors who had participated in fall sports - Shallen played tennis. She gave Steph a rose and a big hug on the 50 yard line...here's where the crying started. At half time, before the band took the field, they recognized the Seniors...another rose for Steph and more crying (I think you're getting the picture). Luckily, it was a good game and the football team came away with a much needed win against Kansas City Central.

Saturday morning, Steph and I broke away and enjoyed a nice breakfast at Panera's. As we sat there thinking about the day that would unfold for us, Steph brough up the front porch railing. It was starting to get wobblie and paint wouldn't stick to the wood anymore because it was always soaked to the center of the posts. I just looked at her because I knew what was coming next. With a big smile she said, "let's check on the supplies for that at Lowe's." I though, no harm can come from finding out what it will cost to redo the front railing. After taking measurements back home and figuring what I would need in supplies, we headed to Lowe's. After writing down all the prices for what we wanted, I was ready to leave...we had done what we said we were going to do! Not so fast!!! Steph says, "well, let's go ahead and get it all...we can start today." The next thing I know, I was loading 2x6's into the back of the Xterra. When we got back to the house, Steph wanted a sledge hammer to start demolision. After rethinking the plan, I went back up to Lowe's for some exchange items. When I pulled back into the drive, the front porch was bare. It's still a work in progress as we got busy today as well.

This morning we got up early and went to church. I wanted to get back home early enough to mow the lawn before we went down to Steph's brother's house (Craig and Nedra) who live in Lee's Summit. On the way to LS, we stopped by my mom's in Independence and dropped off to Stephan (he was there mowing grandma's lawn) his new insurance paperwork for his truck.

Stephan gave me this picture. Last weekend, he went hunting on the family property up north and got a hen (turkey). He's always proud to show off his skills with a gun. Honestly, he's a pretty good shot and shouldn't have too much trouble qualifying for the S.E.A.L.s following graduation next year.

While in Lee's Summit, my brother Jeff calls and asks me for some help in turning his garage into the neighborhood haunted house. He has a particular item in the haunted house he needs help with. After finishing the Chiefs game (they actually showed signs of progress with their 3rd string quarterback) and lunch, I went over to Jeff's for about an hour. We got the mirror operational and he had his garage transformed into a haunted maze - the kids are going to love it! We made it back home right at dusk. The temperature has dropped about 20 degrees since this morning. We should be expecting our first frost tonight.

It was a good weekend...I need another one to finish all the projects that were started this weekend. I guess I'll get to them after work throughout the week. Have a great week everybody!

A New Road

After leaving Sprint back in April, I was determined to break into the Construction Project Management field. I had a couple of interviews with a few local construction companies, but nothing panned out. Knowing my background was in project management, I started applying on-line to numerous companies around the metro area. It just seemed like no one was hiring. I started getting very nervous when the end of August started to roll around and I still didn't have anything.
I was sitting at home one day when I received a call from a recruiter at H&R Block. About the only thing I knew about them was, they had recently built a new World Headquarters in the downtown district of Kansas City and my brother Jeff had returned to them and was working in the IT dept. They saw my resume on-line and wanted to do a phone interview. It wasn't long before I was meeting my current boss and fellow PMs for interviews. All the glory goes back to God for this opportunity. There was nothing I could do at that time but keep going!
I started September 8th and was given the largest project they had the first week - Tax Season Readiness for FY-09'. Talk about a learning curve. I'm actually glad I got this project...I know so much more about this industry now and in such a short time I'm actually quite proficient with the requirements to prepare a call center and corporate for the tax season.
Now to shift gears...tonight is recognition of Seniors who play in the band at Platte County High School. We will meet Shallen on the football field and Stephanie will get a rose and I will get a hug for the support over the years! Steph better not be wearing eye liner tonight...could get messy!
Steph, Shallen & I visited MU on Monday. Since we live in Missouri, MU will be about half the price of KU because of in-state tuition. Shallen really liked MU and as soon as her application is accepted, I'm sure she will commit to the school.
Stephan went hunting last weekend on his mom's property and got a hen (turkey). He was pretty excited about it when I talked to him on Sunday. He can't wait until deer season is here!
Things are very busy right now for all of us. Thanks for staying up with the Elkins family on my blog! Leave me a comment once in a while - I love to hear from everyone!

More family pictures...

Stephan spent a great deal of time with his ol' dad this summer as I was building a new deck for the back of the house and building shutters and completing the painting of the house.

Stephan is a junior this year at Oak Grove High School and plans to wrestle again this year. Plan to see some action pictures as I attend the meets.

My sister Caron ran with Steph and I in the Run for the Frogs at the KC Zoo in September. This was a 4 mile run and the first time I've run with Caron. My brother-in-law Jeff came out to cheer us on and help us eat donuts after the race!

I just finished the Kansas City Marathon this last weekend. I was blessed to run with an old, dear friend, Paul Turner. We grew up together. He lives in Nashville now, but came in to try to qualify for Boston.

I ran the half marathon and finished in 1:42...a good run for me that day. Paul needed a 3:30 to qualify for Boston. He ended up running in 3:28! Way to go Paul! Hopefully, I'll be right there with you next year. Thanks for reading the blog everyone...I'll do my best to stay on top of it from now on!

It's Been a Long Time...

Wow! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to my blog. I think the best way to tell you what's been going on since April, is to do it in pictures.

Shallen was a homecoming queen candidate for this year...and I had the priviledge of escorting her across the football field.

Addison came to visit grandma & grandpa a few times over the summer. This is Colby's little girl and definately grandpa's girl!

Shallen played tennis this year for Platte County. She was seeded #1 on her team. This was the first year Platte County had a tennis team. She played very well up through Districts.

Quick Update

Sorry about not getting updates out on a more timely basis...I've had a lot going since last week with this being my last week of work at Sprint.

I had a great run last Saturday in Independence along the Little Blue River path. Out and back, it was a little over 14 miles - in a couple of weeks, Steph and I will be heading to St. Louis for the St. Louis 1/2 Marathon on the 6th.

On Easter, we had Steph's mom and sister over, along with Shallen's boyfriend Matt (I had to get a little support with all that Woman Power going on). I grilled steaks on the bar-b-que and we had a good time of telling stories on each other and laughing a lot - it was a very nice Easter with family.

Steph took Shallen to KU for a visit on Monday - Shallen absolutely loved the campus and is ready to start there tomorrow (she's a junior and will start fall of 2009). Her boyfriend Matt is going to MU next fall - let the smack talk begin! Shallen will be involved in marching band and is still not set on a major yet. I told her that was a good idea - go to college, meet new people, take a few classes you think may peak your interests and then near the end of your first year, you'll know your major and be comfortable with the school at the same time.

Yesterday, I made my own trip out to KU since they are the only school in the area that offers a Master in Construction Mgmnt. I met with a few instructors, talked to the VA rep (I plan to use my GI Bill to take care of the costs) and walked between 3-4 miles from three different buildings on campus. The walk wasn't a big deal, but I was in my dress shoes. My plan is to start in the fall.

This has been an extremely long week for me as I prepare to leave Sprint after 11 years. I'm definately ready to move onto something new. I've made a number of contacts with construction companies and researched the industry over the last few weeks - this is definately going to be a challenge, but fun at the same time!

Stephan has started back on a lower dosage of his meds again after we saw the Dr. last week. His grades definately supported the reinstatement of the meds - some core class grades dropped terribly. Luckily, he still has a little time to get those grades back up before the end of the semester.

Stephanie is in first place at her company for the NCAA bracket. I wish I could say that it was due to all my suggestions, but that's just not the case - she did it all on her own! Her company opened up the brackets to everyone (at no cost) and has a big prize for the winner!

Thanks everyone for reading my Blog - I write to get my thoughts down, but also write to keep you updated on my life and report about the blessings God bestows upon me and those I love each and every day!

Checking out Maryville

Sorry for the delay in getting additional daily items out. Monday, which was the start of Shallen's Spring break, Steph, Shallen and I took a trip up to Maryville, MO...Home of the Northwest MO State University Bearcats. Shallen is looking to spend the first year to two years in Maryville before eventually transferring to KU.

It was a little rainy and pretty gloomy. On the way up along I-29 there were a lot of shattered trees from the ice storm the region had the last winter. In a few areas, it looked as though a tornado had come through and just ripped the tops off all the trees.

Shallen has spent quite a few summers in Maryville with the regions Band Camp located there each June. We had an opportunity to go into most every building and had a great tour from a Senior guide from St. Louis. At the end of the day, we were in the Admissions building talking money - probably the most difficult part of the day.

With the ACT score Shallen has made (she takes the test again soon to better that), that, along with a number of scholarships should make the bill pretty low - thank goodness!

Next Monday, Shallen and Steph take a trip to KU...it's my last week of work and I just won't be able to tear myself away. I need to make a trip to the campus as well to register for the fall when I start my Master's in Construction Mgmnt.

St. Patrick's Day Run

For three days prior to the run, the weathermen of Kansas City have been predicting rain mixed with snow for Saturday morning's run. Friday night as I was sleeping, I woke numerous times to rain and the wind blowing against the house. I knew the next morning would be cold and very damp.
I awoke early (to get a little breakfast well before the run that started at 10am) to find a blanket of snow on the ground and the wind pushing the white stuff everywhere. My original plan had been to wear a light-weight long-sleeved top with my shorts. I wanted to turn in a good time and push myself a little.
I stayed with the shorts but went to a little heavier top; something that would keep me warm along the 4 mile course. The snow stopped blowing about 45 minutes before the race. The race started and ended in Old Wesport.
I started with a buddy from work. This was his first-ever race. I told myself prior to the run, based on the cold and wet streets, I wouldn't go after it and just take it easy today. As soon as the race started, the competitive spirit welled up in me and I had to break away from my buddy.
I didn't start my watch until I crossed the start line (probably a good minute from the official start of the race). We were pretty jammed up within the first mile. My split time was 9:48...I knew I had to get outside of everyone if I was going to make up any time at all. By the time I got to the 2nd mile, my split was 17:18. I stayed outside of the pack, and by mile 3, my split was 23:02.
I knew the last mile had a couple of steep hills over by St. Lukes Hospital and the race actually finished at the top of a hill on Wesport Rd. I took a bit of a beating on the first hill, but when I came to the finish, I passed a handfull or runners as I reached the top of the hill. I finished with a 31:14. Next time I will definately start with my pace group so I don't have to battle all the runners in front of me. It turned out to be a very good run and everyone had a great time. I don't think we got above 38 degrees for the entire run.

Big 12 at the Sprint Center

Yesterday was a long day full of basketball and smack talk! I saw the first round of the Big VII Championship Tourney at the Sprint Center in downtown KC. This is such a great place - hopefully, the NCAA will take another look at KC for tournament play.

I met up with folks from my office at 9:30 to grab a little breakfast and start to take-in the festivities of the day. Since opening the Sprint Center, the city has started to make significant changes to the downtown area around the new center. Restaurants, hotels, shops...all kinds of interesting places are opening up right across the street and are making the downtown area an exciting place to attend once again.

In the first session, we saw a couple of well played games that went right down to the wire. Oklahoma State played a solid game against Texas Tech. OSU's short point guard Eaton got on fire in the 2nd half to put them away. The Colorado/Baylor game was a wild one. It went into two OT's. Baylor has a good offensive team, they just need to maintain a solid defensive posture throughout the game...it was very sporatic. Colorado has a high scoring senior in Roby...he's a very solid, complete player.

During the 2nd session, Missouri played Nebraska. Both teams looked extremely poor on defense (Nebraska pulled down most of the key rebounds) and neither could pass to save their lives. Nebraska just turned out to be the better of the two. Nebraska will face Kansas today - look for Neb to be heading home early.

It was a good time, but after being there all day, I was definately ready to get home last night!

Everything's All Clear!

Yesterday was our appointment at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS. They did an initial EKG on Stephan with no negative results and decided to do the Echocardiogram since we had made the trip and just to make sure.

Everything checked out normal - no sign of the heart murmur that was detected about 3 weeks ago by Stephan's Dr. Stephan was back to his argumentative, know-it-all, teenage self. As a matter of fact, he repeatedly told his mom and I that this was a waste of money and time, that he was just fine! I know these teenage years have to stop soon...just not soon enough!

My whole team is in town this week. Today we have an all-day team meeting with dinner tonight at Rio Bravo. Tomorrow, we all plan to attend Sessions 1&2 of the Big 12 Tourney at the Sprint Center. The 2nd session starts out with MU playing against Nebraska - it should be a great game. I wish they had been able to give us additional tickets...I had an old friend of mine, James Turner, that I wanted to have come to the games with me! :o(

Shallen's Spring Break begins next week and we plan to visit NWMSU in Maryville, MO on Monday and KU on Thursday.

These last couple of weeks of work are going to be busy ones as I finish up process flows and try to get issues resolved so I'm not leaving anything for someone else to complete! Please pray for me and my family that this transition to another job field will be semi-smooth!

Drill Weekend

Ahhh, another fun-filled weekend at Whiteman. The Plan of the Month included time for a gun shoot this weekend. We ended up going to a range in Clinton, MO (about 45 minutes away from the base) and qualifying on the M-16 rifle.

It's been a few months (about 14 actually) since we've fired these weapons. I was just hoping to hit the paper target...but everything came back - just like riding a bike. I qualified Expert again. Next month, we will requal on 9mm pistol and shotgun. I really like shooting the 9; it's very comfortable and I'm usually a pretty good shot.

After drill on Sunday, I stopped in on Stephan in Oak Grove and we went to an old haunt to get some dinner. When it was just Stephan and I for a few years, we would go to a chinese restaurant once or twice a month in Blue Springs - it was buffet style. This gave Stephan the ability to pick what he wanted, and being a growing, active boy, he could eat as much as he wanted as well.

Now that I'm getting older and the weight stays around a little longer, I don't usually venture into buffet style places anymore. We had a good time just talking about what's been going on lately with school, girls and work. Funny, but he didn't seem to want to talk about girls too long!

Stephan has his follow-up appointment tomorrow at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park for the heart murmur. Please keep Stephan in your prayers.

After dinner, I dropped Stephan off and stopped by mom's house. All the kids (Caron, Jeff, Derek and I) were meeting to help mom get back into relationship building and come up with constructive ways to keep herself busy and not as prone to depression. We talked about a lot of things - mostly getting mom active in social groups near home and coming to church with Derek on Sunday mornings (his church meets at Truman High School - just up the street from mom).

Please continue to pray for mom as well...she's doing much better!

Mom Came Home

After being in the hospital since Saturday, mom was able to be released yesterday. Caron, Jeff, Derek and I met with a Case Manager at the hospital and discussed changes necessary for mom's well-being. We (the kids) plan to meet Sunday evening at mom's to define short/long term goals for relationship building and ways to prevent her from falling back into this depression cycle.

Mom came home with me yesterday and is staying at our house for a few days. She seems to be getting along very well and enjoyed the time with family last night. Today, she plans to visit with her sister Pam who lives very close. It's good to see mom in a better frame of mind. We hope to help her set some realistic goals on Sunday to live a more complete and comfortable life. She wants to volunteer at the nearby hospital, so that's one short term goal defined.

Working from home has it's perks as well. I got up this morning while Steph was in the shower and made her breakfast. I sat across from her drinking coffee and talking about what the day had in store for both of us. It's nice to slow down a little and enjoy each other once in a while. I am extremely blessed with such a beautiful and loving wife!

Yesterday was my mother-in-law's birthday - Shirley Mitchell. She's more than a mother-in-law, she's my mom! We stopped by and took a card over to her last night. It was great to catch up with her...she looks great! Saturday, the girls (Steph and Shallen) are taking Shirley out for lunch for her birthday. Craig and his wife Nedra will be there as well. I, on the other hand, have another wonderful weekend of Navy drill at Whiteman AFB...ahhhh, such is the life!

Visit with Old Friends

Sunday morning, Steph and I traveled to Harrisonville (an hour away from home) to hear my old friend, Paul Turner, preach at his dad's church. Paul had led a conference in Columbia, MO the day before for Youth Pastors and driven back to Harrisonville to spend time with his Dad and brother before heading back home to Tennessee.
Paul delivered a great message on our responsibility to proclaim Christ through our words and actions. We have such a great example to follow, in Christ's earthly life, since he experienced everything before us - you only have to look to the Bible for specific directions on maintaining a walk set apart from this world. What a great lesson from Luke.
After church, we went back to Chuck's house (Paul's dad) for dinner and fellowship along with James and his wife Julie. I had a great time catching up with everyone. Paul and James are like brothers to me - it was like going home again.
Saturday was a busy day. In the morning I ran with the running group putting in 12 miles. It was a good start for March. I absolutely have to increase my mileage this month from the last - Lincoln is coming up the first week in May.
I spent the afternoon with Steph, my sister Caron and my mom Sandy. Mom has been battling with depression for quite some time and this weekend it really escalated. We ended up having mom admitted to the hospital for the week. After church yesterday, Steph and I went up to see how mom was getting along. Caron and Alicia came in as we were getting ready to leave. When mom is released, we expect her to come to our house for 3-4 days before returning home. Please pray for mom that she will gain strength and learn techniques to gain an advantage over this depression.
The weekend was perfect. Weather was in the upper 60's, low 70's most of the weekend. We went to see mom yesterday in shorts and by the time we left, the temp had dropped into the 40's - I know, I know, we're pushing it a little, but it was great while it lasted.

Great News!!!

After visiting with the Psychiatrist who issues Stephan's Ritalin on Monday, she has taken him off the meds until all test results are in. She had some real concerns about the heart murmur and the effects Ritalin could potential have on his system - glad we're not the only ones!

Yesterday, I met Debbie and Stephan at St. Mary's Hospital for the lymph node scan and possible biopsy. It seems that the antibiotics have been doing their job as Stephan's nodes were reduced to normal size. Stephan was a bit cranky about having to miss school, but his normal charming self came out after we spoke to the Radiologist. The doctor told us about the scan and his opinion was to NOT do a biopsy as the cells have returned to normal and there apears to be no issue at this point. He assured us that if they became enlarged again, to make an appointment directly with his staff and bring Stephan back in for a closer look. He also mentioned that since Stephan had not had any previous cancer issues, he was 99.9% sure that this was caused from an infection within his body and the antibiotics were doing their job.

What a relief it was to hear this; we will be following Stephan's health closely for a few weeks just to make sure everything is good. The next step is the echocardiogram scheduled with Children's Mercy South in Overland Park on the 11th of March - that's when we'll find out about the heart murmur and put this to bed for good!

I have been at peace about this issue since I put it in God's hands and had all you who have been reading these blogs praying for Stephan. The prayers have helped my family to put our trust in the doctor's abilities as well as relied upon God to take the brunt of the uncertainty from our daily lives. I know that if the prognosis had been different up to this point, our faith would not waiver and we would be doing what was needed without alot of the dramatics that come when you don't have that personal relationship with Christ! Thanks again so much for the prayer - please keep them coming!

I made a point of stopping by Stephan's school after I dropped him off and gave the Principal fair warning that he was no longer on his meds - I figured I owed it to them!

Good Weekend!

Friday, was Stephanie's birthday (42nd). She received a couple cards, a daily devotional book and a $50 gift certificate to Kohl's (one of her favorite places to shop). Shallen and I took her out to dinner to a chinese buffet. We had a great time and didn't eat too much!

Saturday morning was pretty chilly in KC...but, I got up anyway to do my long run for the week. With everything going on the last couple of weeks and my feet bothering me a little, I didn't get much mileage in. I decided to take it easy and go a little shorter than my plan called for.

The run was in Olathe, KS and it was about 20 degrees when we started. I had originally planned on 10 miles when I woke up that morning - my run was going so well and I felt great, so I pushed it to 12. During the last two miles of the run, we pushed the pace a little bit (somewhere around 7:45) and it started to snow! This was a great way to finish the run...smooth, comfortable with snow flakes touching my face - it was a great feeling.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. We tried a new church in our area and really enjoyed the service. It was a very meaningful worship time. The message was on God's sustaining love even when we don't deserve it (which is pretty much all of the time)! After church, we had a nice luch at the house with lettice wraps (I got the results back from MY blood work when I went in for the annual physical. My total cholesterol was at 249, my bad cholesterol was at 181, should be under 100 and the doctor suggested the South Beach Diet, phase 3 to get everything in check). I think this will all work out well - I could stand to lose between 10-15 pounds; should help my running a little as well.

Today, we visit with Stephan's doctor about his Ritalin LA and what we can do as an alternative. We've changed his meds before, some with pretty good results, some not so good. Continue to pray for Stephan as I take him to the hopital on Wednesday for the scan and biopsy of the lymph nodes.

Good News!

Good News has many different meanings: Jesus is still in control and Stephan's blood work came back normal...just two examples! I received a call yesterday from Debbie (Stephan's mom) that the blood work up came back normal but the doctor still wanted Stephan to get the scan and biopsy on the lymph nodes along with an echocardiogram for the heart murmur the doctor detected.
More good news; Debbie did some hard research yesterday and found out that a few of the side effects of Ritilan LA are: enlarged and sore lymph nodes, irregular heart beat, dizzines and sore throat. We see Stephan's doctor that prescribes the ADHD medication on Monday and plan to bring this up to her. I'm feeling much better about the prognosis. Stephan has backed off on his ADHD medication a little (went from 30mg to 20mg) and hopefully will be removed from it by the time he graduates high school in 2011.
Continue to pray for Stephan and the doctors as we continue to track all this down! All in all, good news!

Stephan's Dr. Appt

Yesterday afternoon, I took Stephan, my 16 year old son, to see a doctor after he had been complaining about some bumps on his neck under his chin. Those bumps, along with one on his shoulder at the base of his neck and others in the groin area turned out to be lymph nodes. As it turns out, Stephan has had these enlarged nodes for over a year - he just decided to tell us since they were sore (boy, did he get a chewing on this one from me).

The doctor had blood work done and suggested we go to the nearby hospital for additional tests and a possible biopsy. When the nurse came back to discuss our appt at the hospital with Radiology, Stephan made a point of telling her, "anytime after 3:00!" I tried to explain to him that this may be out of our control. He continued to be adament about the "after school" time - it turns out, if he has perfect attendance for the school year, the school will give him $40 - I wish my school had bribed me when I was still going!

The nurse came back with an appointment for next Wednesday at 7:30am (needless to say, Stephan was not happy)! I told him, for my peace of mind, I would be happy to pay the $40 at the end of school!!!!!

Please pray for Stephan and the family as these tests wait before us! Pray for the doctors as they administer the tests and give us the results!

Stepping Back in History...

Last night I had the pleasure of visiting with a lady I'd only spoken to on the phone. Last fall, Stephan and I tool a genealogy trip to Edina, MO...just east of Kirksville. When my family moved to MO from KY in the late 1800's, they ended up settling in this upper NorthEast area. My great-grandfather moved to the KC, KS area and that's where my immediate family originated.

My great-grandfather, James Elkins, had six siblings, all who stayed in this region of MO. From our walking through grave yards and looking through old birth and death certificates, we found that the two daughter's of my great-grandfather's youngest brother were still alive and now living just across the Mississippi River in Illinois. This was bound to shed a little light on my research.

It turns out Betsy (Elkins) Wharton had a doctor's appointment at the KU Med Center in KCK this morning and her youngest daughter Marcy was driving her in for the visit. Marcy sent me an email asking if I would be available for dinner Monday night. I was thrilled to get the chance to sit down with Betsy and talk a little about the family and our connection back to Kentucky.

Needless to say, I was not disappointed. We had a very nice visit and Steph and I are making plans to visit Nauvoo, IL in April for her sister & brother-in-law's celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. We also intend to visit again in August for a family reunion (for her mom's side of the family - there will be a number of Elkins there as well).

Once I get this side of the family documented - next stop, Log Lick, Kentucky!

Another Date with Addison!

Sunday afternoon, Steph and I traveled through heavy snow to visit my daughter and grand-daughter. Steph was getting her hair colored and cut by Colby, while I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my time with Addison - who is now roughly 5 months old.

Addi is now able to roll-over from her back to her stomach and almost sit up on her own...she still weaves back and forth a little, like she's a little drunk.

Steph and I had lunch with Colby before she got her hair cut. Colby is doing pretty well - still looking for a place to live in Independence, closer to work.

On the way out to Oak Grove, we decided to go through Liberty and take M-291 to I-70 since they were tearing down the Noland Road bridge over I-70. This bridge has needed to come down for some time...chunks of cement have been falling off this thing for years. This is a very heavily used bridge as it connects the "miracle mile" on Noland Road. It's due to be closed down until mid-May; I'm just glad I don't still live in Independence - that's going to be a rough couple of months.

After the hair cut and good grandpa time with Addison, we stopped by and saw Stephan and gave him his meds (doctor is cutting back on the milligram and we got the script filled). While there, Erin (my oldest) and Morgan (my first grand-daughter) were visiting Debbie...I'm getting to see everyone today.

We stopped by mom's house on the way home and she told Steph and I about her trip with Caron out to Vegas for a week. They had a great time! They took in the Spamalot show and also saw Penn & Teller. Caron picked up buttons for Jeff, Derek and I from the Spamalot show (mine said, "It's only a flesh wound..." - Monty Python fans will understand).

After leaving mom's, we stopped by some good friends, Jerry & Debbie Noland (yes, he is related to the man who Noland Road is named after). Jerry was in the hospital recently, but recovering nicely! They are big NASCAR fans and were watching the Daytona 500 when we arrived. Keep Jerry in your prayers as he continues to get better day by day!

It's hard to believe we did all that on a Sunday, and got home in time to see Cold Case!

Beautiful Day for a Run!

The last two days here in Kansas City have been in the mid-to-upper 40's and really beautiful outside. I made sure to pack a long sleeved shirt this morning with my Garmin for a run outside over lunch.
I ran an easy six miles - or atleast I thought it was easy. I didn't look at my watch until I was about 2 miles out and saw that I was running about a 7:45 pace. I had to tell myself this is suppose to be an easy run and made myself slow it down.
It's one of those days when you feel like you can just keep running since the day is perfect. I didn't get over-heated and the cooldown was pretty comfortable.
On a love note: I made sure to send Steph a couple dozen roses at the office - she loved them! We've got dinner scheduled tonight with Shallen; should be a very nice evening. Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Annual Visit

Yesterday afternoon, I had my annual doctor's visit/physical. I've missed the last couple of years because everytime I scheduled, it seemed like my unit planned for a deployment. Not seeing a doctor outside of the military in a couple of years and with a healthcare change at Sprint, I had to select a new doctor. I played the dart board game - just took a stab at selecting a good doctor near my work to make it more convenient.

I lucked out with my choice - very friendly and knowledgeable guy who is also a runner (plans to run Hospital Hill in June). He gave me a glowing recommendation on my current health. He had a lot of questions about my weekly training - I think he was trying to get a few pointers! LOL!

I mentioned yesterday that I would speak about the current happenings at Sprint. As of about a week ago, with a lot of prayer and discussion with Steph, I decided to take their Voluntary Separation Program (VSP). I have been with Sprint for over 11 years and decided that this would be a good way to step out and pursue a career move. My last day will be March 28th giving me continued weekly pay through the 14th of November.

My plan is to go into the Construction Project Management field. KU offers a Master's in Construction Management and I already have over 19 years in Project Mangement experience - sorry, didn't mean to make this sound like an interview! I have a number of applications in the mix right now and hope to have a new job in April to place most of my Sprint checks in savings.

Steph and I are placing our trust in God that a job will come that is exactly what I'm looking for. I just wanted to give everyone an update on where things stand for me with all the layoffs being experienced in Kansas City with Sprint.

Have an outstanding day and be available for God to open a door that leads to growth and relieance upon Him!

Another Drill Weekend

My Navy Reserve unit drills at Whiteman AFB in lovely Knob Noster, MO. The Stealth bomber is housed at Whiteman. We are the only Navy unit on the base. Being a Petty Officer with an eagle on my collar sure causes a lot of undue salutes from the Air Force community!

Saturday, we went to the Reserve Center in Kansas City to get a lot of medical/dental issues knocked out and bring the unit to a mobilization-ready status. This is an annual event that has to be maintained - that's the purpose of a Reservist, to be ready for immediate deployment (contrary to what a lot of Reservists thought prior to 9/11). After all the medical probing and proding, I got to have a nice dinner with my wife on the Plaza at the old George Brett's place (it's now "210", Brett got out of the restaurant business).

Following dinner, I had to go to Whiteman to stay the night for Sunday's drill. We had our advancement exams on Sunday. I felt pretty good about the results...a lot of the questions looked familiar to me! I'm also the Assistant Command Fitness Leader (one more collateral duty to add to my eval) and had to work with a group of sailors who failed the last physical fitness evaluation.

On my way home from drill, I stopped by my brother Jeff's house in Lee's Summit and had dinner with him and the kids - it was nice to spend time with all of them. Jeff is doing well and recently got a new job not far from my house up north. Tomorrow, I'll talk a little about life at Sprint and how that's about to change.

Everybody's OK

My good friend Paul Turner and his family live in a suburb outside Nashville, TN. While driving through the snow and ice yesterday on my way to work, I gave Paul a quick call to make sure everyone was OK following the unbelievable night of twisters that moved through five states and took 55 lives.

Paul's brother James and his dad Chuck were visiting to catch a couple of the girl's basketball games and just get back together following Paul's mother's untimely death back in December (I wrote earlier about Francis Turner).

Paul was at work and assured me everyone was OK. He explained that the twisters went on both sides of his town as they moved north through Nashville and surrounding towns. I was watching the news as I woke to see Union University, a Southern Baptist College, destroyed beyond belief and hear the stories from some of the students about pulling couches over themselves to shield them from the roof coming down. Paul's oldest daughter Shelbi is due to start classes at Union University in the fall and Paul has a Youth Minister's conference at Union University in the summer - they may be looking for a new location now as the rebuilding starts.

Please offer up a prayer for the people of these 5 states who have lost loved ones, those that are hurt and those who start to rebuild their lives after this devastation. May God bless and encourage everyone who has been effected by this ordeal.

"SUPER" Weekend

This weekend was non-stop! Saturday morning (early), I ran 14 miles - after not running as much as I needed to during the week, this proved to be a pretty comfortable run. I was a little surprised at how resilient my body was to that distance; thank goodness it didn't let me down!

Saturday night was Shallen's boyfriend's Court Warming (he attends Park Hill High School, just down the road from our house). Matt and his friend came by to pick up Shallen and her friend Annie to go to the dance about 5pm. Of course, we got our fill of pictures and I had to make Matt feel a little uncomfortable - it's a Dad's job! Annie's mom came by to pick up her things when she asked, "What time will you be bringing the girls home?" Matt and his friend looked puzzled, so I helped them out, "Have them home by 1am!" It's all I said and they seemed to agree - like they had a choice?????

After the kids left, Steph and I settled in on the couch with the fire going and a movie in the DVD player - We Are Marshall! Interesting...I opened a Collection Call Center for Sprint in that town about six years ago and stayed in the hotel right across the street from the Diner that all the people gathered in on the movie. They still have all the newspaper articles framed and hanging on the walls from the crash back in 1970. It was interesting seeing all the streets in the movie and knowing that I walked (and ran) on a number of them when I was out there.

Sunday, we did a little work around the house after church and went to see a few "new homes" from the KC Star not too far from us - we also went to see the model plan for the home we want to build after the kids are away at college and the military - we're still trying to decide if we want to tell them where we're moving?!?!

Of course, we watched the Super Bowl! It was fairly obvious right away that the Patriots we're going to have their hands full when the Offensive line couldn't protect Brady and Manning had all day to view the field before firing a pass to his receivers. I truely think the Giant's defense made the difference in that game and gave New York the win. Had they not pressured Brady like they did, I think the outcome would have been very different - the Patriot's would have had their Perfect season! And how about Belichick - to have walked off the field with 1 second remaining on the game clock, even after the Ref told him the game wasn't over; what a wonderful example of unsportsmanlike conduct for our kids to view. I understand he hated losing, but he's suppose to be the leader and set an example - he did...but it was the wrong kind! Seeing Eli win - he truely comes from one of the greatest NFL families!