At any moment...

I'm asleep at home the other night when I awake to the shreik of a cat. It wasn't the first time and usually I let the fight go, after all, cats will be cats. But this time there was something different. I heard panting and the low growl of a dog. I jumped out of bed and ran outside in my underwear and a t-shirt grabbing a rake as I flew past the back gate and out into the front yard. I didn't see anything at first, but my eyes became adjusted to the light and I made out the shape of a good sized dog at the end of my driveway. I gripped the rake handle preparesd for battle. You know being a fireman I really can go from 0 to 100% in no time flat. I'm sure my heart will pay the price later. But the dog shuffled his way past my line of site and took off down the street. I walked out to the end of my driveway and looked down the row of dimly lit houses. I never saw the dog but I could here the other canines in the neighborhood announce the strays arrival. As I turned to go back in the house I noticed our cat "Boomer" in the middle of the lawn. I was sure by the way his body was positioned that he was dead. I walked over to Boomer and knelt down. I could tell he wasn't breathing. He had fought his last fight. Tears began to well up in my eyes and I became angry. I went back inside the house grabbed a more suitable weapon and took off in my truck...I was going to kill that dog. In a moment that dog robbed our family and in a moment that cat was no more. I was going to have to explain to Tanner that the only pet he has known in his lifetime was gone. Not from old age but from a vicous attacker (I decided to leave that part out when I told him). As I cruised the streets I began to calm down, The weirdest thought entered my mind. At any moment...Now I know that I tend to get a bit preachy but at that instant I began to think about scripture. How many times does the Bible say that Jesus will return suddenly "like a theif in the night." I began to think about Boomer and how I had fed him that morning. He hung out with me while I cleaned the yard but stayed away from the crowd when we had Tanners party. He probably didn't expect that several hours from then, he would die. The traffic accidents I go on with fatalaties...the same thought crosses my mind. They had no idea that they would pass away so suddenly. The question is Are you prepared? Have you made your mind up about Gods gift? The world wants us to live in the moment but all of us have a decision to make about our eternal destiny and the choice can only be made while you are alive. At any moment something could happen to stop the clock on your time to make your choice. We don't know what the future holds. God is waiting, urging, inviting, helping you to come to terms with what your eternal perspective is. I saw wonderful God filled people in my life that passed away. I know where they are now. At any moment I get to join them with Christ in heaven. At any moment. I don't know about cats and the everafter but Tanner thinks Boomer is in heaven. That's good enough for me.

Did anyone see the Giants Play last Night? Thirteen Innings with the Padres a 3-2 squeaker at the end for the victory. Lets be honest, the Giants are not supposed to be very good this season and their sub .500 record is expected according to the experts. I think it's interesting that no matter how bad your team is doing you still prefer to watch your team. The Giants havn't given me anything to cheer about in a while. At the Home opener, they lost. A three hour drive some good food, but they looked like a AA club and we spent most of our afternoon wondering if this would be another long year and contemplating a mob hit on Jose Castillo who in my opinion dogged a few plays. But in the end we went crazy mostly because I kept looking over at Uncle Mickey and hed wink and say "Wire to Wire Baby" ( Cancel the hit on Jose) But in part because Dave Roberts threw out some scrub from left feild to first. We jumped out of our seats, the Garlic Fries and Polish flew into the row in front of us vacated by less dedicated fans (Thank God). We high fived eachother, and the people we didn't know behind us, and jeered at the Guy with the Padres Jersey as if he was the guy that was thrown out. A roller coaster of emotions left me exhausted and hungry by the end of the day. But watching the Giants win last night brought back that opening day experience for me and I realized that I love the Giants. But even more, I love the people that loved the Giants with me that day. That was a perfect day, I'm sure I complained about the parking or the price of my hot dog and yes Jose Castillo. But in the end it was a day with my Dad. And It was a day I got to hang out with my brother. I'd say I can't remember the last time I got to hang out with Uncle Mickey but because of that day..I remember. Aaron, well I hang out with him too much. (Thinking about calling in sick next shift) It was great to do something that didn't require we be ready to face what we face at work. I don't think I go more than a couple of hours without hearing or seeing somebody trying to tell you that they know the secrets of Hapiness in this life. And weather they are from the pulpit or writing a book or on TV or Radio...they each have their version of essentially the same message. Its in 6 country songs I can think of and I've put it in a couple of my own. Spend your time loving. Love your family, love your job, love your team, love your freinds...but love. The bible says that love is the greatest. Faith: vital, Hope:essential but the greatest is love. The Giants may not win the series this year, heck they may not win another game. But opening day at SBC park (or PAC Bell, Or AT&T??? does anyone know this week?) gave me the oppurtuity to be with people I love. A perfect day

Go Giants

Is it just me, or is the world speeding up. I thought about this today because Wendy and I got to spend the day with eachother. Now I know that this seems trivial but with two kids and one on the way it doesn't happen all that often and whoopee! We like eachother. The Bible adresses anxeity and worry pretty clearly but gives very few pointers on how to run away from the tidle wave save one...Trust. (Electric word trust it means forever and thats a mighty long time but I mean to tell ...Sorry I was channeling Prince) Trust is hard...or is it? Reflect for a moment on your life and ask yourself the same question I ask when I find it difficult. Have I (meaning God) ever given you a reason not to trust me. When times where bad, I prospered you. You always had more than enough. When times where sad, I comforted you, Even while you wept I brought joy and renewal. When you turned away and sinned, I called you back with open arms overjoyed that you had returned like the prodigal son. And if this where not enough, I took death away so that you don't have to fear it. I conquered it so that you can live.

I must have heard Psalm 23 a million times. But it has taken on knew meaning for me as it pertains to Trust.
If you read this blog perhaps you'll take some time to look at this passage. Or some of you may know it by heart. (KUDOS)
The other day Tanner was in the back seat flexing his memory muscle by reciting the lords prayer over and over again. I asked him to stop for a moment and tell me what each of the lines meant. He paused rolled his eyes and said Daaaad which is Tannereese for quit trying to teach me something every moment of every day. But he warmed to to the idea and it's absolutely incredible how much of Gods word we would understand if we where to receive it through the eyes of a child. Brings tears to my eyes. Now I know that not all of you have a spiritually enlightened eight year old to work out the tuff stuff. I guess I'm lucky. But the lesson is that its all there in plain text. No ambiguity or contradiction. God has given us the blueprint but even more...He's helping us read the plans by never leaving.

Well this is it, the first post on our new blog. It became apparent to us that we are so loved and so popular that the only way to reach the needy masses of people that hung desperately on every twist and turn of our lives was to create a blog. That way we cantalk endlessly about ourselves (our favorite subject) and satisfy are fans. In all seriousness we found that loved ones where able to reach us through their blogs and it was a wonderful way to keep very close when life seems to pull us apart. At least thats the way it feels.

Let me first and foremost (unlike the Pope when adressing the U.N.) Thank the Lord Jesus Christ for...well...everything! This has been a year of ups and downs and it's only April. We have stayed very busy with Grayson in Tee Ball and Tanner in Little League (Tanner went 2 for 2 and had a great tag out at third on Monday Night). I have told people that it is sometimes hard to watch my kids play sports. Now I know it's all about fun and positive experience but darn it I am just so dang competitive. Pray for me. Tanner will be recieving his first communion on the 26th of April. My Brother Russ is engaged and will be getting married to his fiance Kelly in December of 2008. Grammy passed away and although Life goes on It still gets me like It was yesterday. I wrote a song that I sang at the funeral. It was a good way to say goodbye. We found out ITS A GIRL which is wonderful news but double edged. On the one hand we get what we where wishing for but as I have said before "be careful what you wish for...you just might get it." I recieved a phone call from Back East and will be sending some of my music there. The call was unexpected (It's amazing how God works). My expectations are low but I truly feel that God has a plan for it this time. Iwas telling my partner at work that we should start a band. Even if we only played one church service (wev'e been playing in Avenal at a local church when we work Sundays) and one seed was planted for God then it would be worth it.

Wendy is over the Gag at any smell stage of pregnancy. For a while I thought she was allergic to herself. Her Broom Hilda look has been shed and she glows with pregnancy. I always have said (she never believes me) that she is beautiful when she is pregnant. I thought he looked gorgeous the other night when we worked The casino night fundraiser at the school. But some Dumb *** Lady told her she must be having a girl because she had the Cava Fea which in Portugese lore means that your face becomes ugly during pregnancy with a girl because she is stealintg the mothers beauty. I guess the Portugese also have the Persona stupida idiota which is portugese lore for the dumb *** that actually tells a pregnant woman about that fable.
Portugese fairy tales aside, God has blessed us with another child and we can't wait for Sierra Bella! Yes Maryn Sierra Bella!

Since this is my first Blog I want to give a shout out to those people that Have been On my mind, My prayers. In no specific order Nico Como estas, Donny and Joanne, Jessie and Vickie, Uncle Joe what up Yo, Kelly and Russ, Wire to Wire baby, It's a dingleberry, I got beer on my boots on a Saturday Night, Well Mom I thought I'd snort em. Jennifer and Jason we got to play, Gangsters never Bowl, CD (confident dancer), Anyone for chicken souffle.

To all you are in my prayers always
1 Peter 1 3:9