Moving Beyond Frozen

Well, it is the second snow day in a row, so I have some of that elusive "free time".  I always find a rich irony in the fact that I teach reading and writing, encourage students to write whenever they can, and I've taken courses on writing "blogs and wikis", but when I look at the last entry, it's from nearly nine months ago.
   It's 10 degrees out right now and the wind is really stirring up the now that fell on Sunday and late last night.  Once again, we're in the midst of the busy holiday season.  All of our kids are fully into the "magic" and "wonder" of the season. We've been observing Advent with a calendar, minus the chocolates, each night.  Each door reveals a section of Scripture, mainly Luke 2 snippets.  It's been really cool to spend a few minutes discussing the magnificent importance of Jesus' arrival over 2,000 years ago.  At 36, I'm still trying to fathom the huge significance of God coming down to our human planet.

We had a visit from Santa at my brother Jon's house. It's become an annual tradition, although Santa was sick last year and only Mrs. Claus was able to stop by.  Watching the wonder and childlike innocence thaws the maturity of my own heart and reminds me of the fun of being a kid during the holidays. It was really sweet watching Logan, Scout, Quaid and Sawyer interact with Santa.

I've been thinking much about goals and dreams, God-given visions.  I was looking at the ministry of Josh Seller in Ontario...seeing all of the great and creative things he is doing for the kingdom.  Heading over to Jars of Clay's website,  I see how they have finished the building of their 1,000 clean water well in Africa.  Reading Max Lucado's OUTLIVE YOUR LIFE, I've been considering what legacy I'm leaving. 
  SELFISHNESS--While I'll write this, I certainly have not mastered it...."I'm pretty selfish."  Even in my daily procedures and choices, I realize that I'm pretty concerned about my own needs and desires.  I don't want my selfishness to dictate the type of legacy I leave behind. How often I'm focused on my own entertainment, what sounds good to eat....and I realize that there are GREATER things to devote my money, time, and dreams too.  Even directing the drama club at my school has been a consideration lately.  What is the LEGACY I'm leaving behind with the drama group?  I know the "greater good" that CAN come from directing this group, but is it really happening?  There have been shows that I felt really made a connection/impact to the audience and to the cast and crew (ANNE FRANK, LEAVING IOWA), and I'm NOT against entertaining for entertainment's sake.  Still, I worry that I'm going after what I THINK is my life's purpose and NOT God's.  Theater is great, but there are people hungry, hurting, and aching for God. Am I doing what GOD WANTS me to do??
  And I've thought a great deal about "spinning my tires in the frozen slush of life".  I feel a little bit like I"m lacking VISION, so I'm praying that God gives me a clear vision.  I don't want to just meander through life.  I know that legacy living HAS TO BE MORE than just wishing, dreaming, or talking about it....it's about living it out today. 

I Love Bike Riding

This summer, as you see in this earlier picture from July, the training wheels came off. As I'm writing this Mark Schultz's song, "He's My Son" is playing in the background. That's just not fair. I'm not going to be able to finish this blog.
Anyways, it's so funny what we get lazy about or slow to get to doing becomes such a realized joy. It's one of those..."Why didn't I do this before? I LOVE THIS!!!" I love riding bikes, but somehow, I managed to do very little bike riding with Logan and Scout this summer. Now that I'm back at school, we've gone on several "little adventures", as I like to call them, around our neighborhood. Luckily for my kids (and myself) our adventures always end up at a McDonald's or Jimmy's Frozen Custard which are right around our house.
Last night, seven years after I thought the world was ending (9/11), with Quaid on the back of my bike, Scout struggling to get her green and white bike with training wheels over the bumpst in the sidewalk, Logan zooming around the neighborhood, and Amber pushing smiley, little Sawyer in a stroller, we rode and just enjoyed being around each other. Of course, the trip ended at Jimmy's which meant a BIG chocolate ice cream for Logan, pink ice cream with sprinkles, vanilla with sprinkles for Quaid, and two Coke coolers for mom and dad. Quaid just gulped his down. Scout enjoyed hers as slowly as she could. As we left, Amber rushed Quaid over to the side lawn to go "potty". Scout and Logan both wanted to go "potty" on Jimmy's lawn but had to wait until we got home.
After the kid's went to bed, Amber and I attempted to watch HBO's dvd JOHN ADAMS.

Life is good. It's Friday. God has blessed me with a great family.