Fighting Stress

Ten years ago, I was heading into one of the biggest life-changing times I have ever had. In the Winter of 1999, I was student-teaching at Holland Woods Middle School in Port Huron, holding down a job at Family Christian Stores, had been attending my new church after an abrupt change in the Fall of 1998, and getting ready to be married. Needless to say, it was extremely stressful. During the Winter of 1999, I became acquainted with something very, very scary and uncomfortable...panic attacks and an anxiety disorder. My blood pressure sky-rocketed, I was having dizzy spells, and I could not sleep at night.
The ten years since have seen minor returns to anxiety until just this week. Almost a decade later, four kids later, nearly married ten years, and on my tenth year of teaching high school, I feel the closest to what I felt ten years ago. It's like I'm not fully awake, been feeling a little dizzy, feeling very tired, and my blood pressure (despite losing nearly 25 pounds) is once again skyrocketing.
This is exam week and I am buried in grading. I think that is playing a big part in this onslaught of stress. Also, Winter is always a hard time financially. I just read an article on hypertension, yoga, and stress. While not a "true believer" in yoga, I do agree that my body is very much in a "fight or flight" syndrome. I have been very short with my kids and wife. I have felt overwhelmed.
So I find myself journaling, which is one way I know that I can deal with the stresses I have. I do have a great deal of work ahead of me. I am currently directing a play, LEAVING IOWA, and my daughter, Scout, is involved with JUNGLE BOOK JR. I am involved with my church. Winter is tough with huge electric and gas bills. Papers are piled high for grading today and tomorrow. I just feel very, very stressed and tired and whipped. I'm going to start working on tackling the stress that I've been feeling.
If you read this blog, pray for me. I pray right now that the stress that I'm feeling, God, you will take away. Please stabilize my blood pressure and bring a calm to my heart. Forgive me for the sins and attitude and pride that have separated me from your peace.

Halloween 2008

This year the McCulloch family on 19th Street went from having three boys and a girl to having a Storm Tropper, Commander Cody, a mermaid named Ariel, a cute little froggy, and a "ferocious" little lion. This cute ensemble accompanied Amber and I around our neighborhood for some "old-school" trick or treating. Next, we headed over to Colonial Woods for some "new-school" Trunk or Treating. After about 45 minutes, Logan and Scout had had their fill. Of course, Logan KNEW the evening was not over as we still had a Halloween Party at Aunt Renee's to attend. Complete with Renee's usual crazy games and a "haunted hayride", the kids stayed up almost until midnight. The highlight of the party was definitely sitting with Logan as "insane clowns" and other monsters jumped from behind trees and tombstones to scare us. While Scout was completely oblivious to these haunted attacks, Logan shot at them with his Storm Trooper gun. At the party, Amber proved her flexibility was amazing as she was a finalist in a game that involved picking up an ever-diminishing Captian Crunch box with just her teeth....don't ask...no, we weren't drinking.
The weekend was complete with parties as we celebrated Aunt Renee's and Uncle Larry's 25th Wedding Anniversary at the American Legion in Smith's Creek. Amber and I got them "I love my husband." and "I love my wife." shirts. It was great celebrating and seeing Bobby and Jessica from Pittsburgh.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Michelle McCulloch!!!

After much anticipation and planning, the fairy tale ending arrived. Last night, at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 26, 2008, my brother Joe got married. Little Quaid was in their wedding and did just a perfect job.
May God be the base and foundation of your life together. Congratulations Joe and Michelle.

One of My Best Days....

The other night I enjoyed one of the best nights I have had. I got to spend some relaxed, fun moments with my three younger brothers, Jon, Joe, and Tim, and my dad, as well as with Scott Simpson, some of my brother Joe's in-laws, and a few other ruffians. For my brother's bachelor party, my brother Jon put together a little football, bonfire, and barbecue night for Joe. It was perfect.

Most of us played some football near the water tower at Eddy Elementary in St. Clair. We climbed into the back Jon's old, now Joe's current, white truck and went down a few blocks to the field. While I played my usual crappy game, it was fun just running around the field. Joe's father-in-law, Mike played better than all of us who were a few years younger. Poor Scott, suffering from some nasty chronic pain, still insisted on playing long into the night.

After taking some post-game pictures, we headed back to Jon's place for some awesome barbecue ribs, chicken, kielbasa. Jon really outdid himself and made me jealous, as did Joe, with their awesome stainless steel grills. This was a GUY'S Feast!!! We just sat, ate, talked, and enjoyed each other's company by the camp fire. It was just great hanging with guys that I love and making memories.

The Joys of Lightsaber Beach Baseball Tag

After a great morning of church and eating some McDonald's with my parents and Tim and JoAnn's family , Quaid and Sawyer observed the Lord's commandment to rest on the Lord's day. Logan and Scout had other plans for their mom and dad. In our side yard, I've been inventing games with the kids that involve hockey sticks, soccer balls and endless boundaries and goals. Today was Amber's turn. As I came outside to see where she and the kids had gone, I discovered Amber chasing Logan and Scout with a beach ball.
It did not take long for me to get involved in this game which involved Logan's lightsaber, someone pitching a beach ball, hitting the beach ball, and running all over the year trying not to get hit by the beach ball being thrown by the pitcher. Did you get all that?
Yesterday's afternoon highlight was riding with Logan (with Scout squished in the baby seat on my bike) to downtown Port Huron. Perhaps Logan's longest bike ride, we rode over 24 city blocks and then some. A highlight was sitting by the Military Street Bridge and watch it go up for the sailboats. Scout loved playing school with a statue of a girl in a little park by the Military Street Bridge. The weather was perfect. The memory was irreplaceable.

Nightly Rituals...

The chocolate-covered face of Quaid is supposed to be here, but Quaid's picture just never happened. As I was beginning to take his picture, both Amber and I realized that the word he kept repeating was sounding alot like "pee". At that point, I went over and discovered a pool of pee in his seat. Chocolate ice cream face and pee just don't mix, so that picture just wasn't shot.

I'm continuing to discover the joy of nightly rituals. With no Mariner Drama (yet!!) and little church involvements, I'm getting the chance to come home, cook dinner, eat with my family, and do a little activity with my kids before they head to bed. Last night, we took our third bike ride of the week. Actually, it was Amber and my second bike/walk outing. Amber and I push Sawyer and Quaid in a stroller and Quaid's "vroom-vroom" (little car), while Logan and Scout zoom ahead on their bikes. I'm gonna really miss this when the snow starts flying.

Man do I love this time. I love the peacefulness of walking with my family and where my kids are at with their ages. I love AUTUMN. Last night that cool, crisp breeze as I walked around with Amber and the kids was so refreshing. I'm looking forward to pumpkin patches and apple crisp and the turning of the leaves. I'm looking forward to the Halloween stroll in Sanborn Park and jumping into leaf piles with my kids. But....don't come too quickly. I'm enjoying bikes rides in September, eating Extreme Moose Track Ice Cream with Amber, Logan, Scout, Quaid, and (someday) Sawyer (Sorry pal, strained and blended green beans will have to do for now.)

Well, I'm at my desk and have a pile of quizzes to grade.

A Tradition Continues

So tonight, Logan and Scout both began their first adventures of learning to play the piano from dad. I've been reluctant because things did not go so well a year ago, but tonight was great. After a night of gymnastics, I first sat down with Scout, taught her where the C note and D notes are, and showed her how each finger has an assigned number. Logan suprisingly could not wait to begin his lesson and mastered the first part of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I was very impressed with both of them, and I'm glad to have something where I MUST sit down and spend time with each of them. Of course the ever-lovable Quaid wanted to be part of the action. He may have to wait some time.
I've been reflecting in the midst of this economic turmoil today about the uncertainty of the future. Even at our school staff meeting, we talked about how bad the economy is for kids. This got me thinking about how over blessed I am. I have more than I could ever want. I remember Francis Chan saying in a recent message that even at my poorest, I have more than most people do in other countries. That I would have to "work hard to starve." And it is easy to write these words about my blessings, may I truly live in the awe and in the remembrance of how blessed I am. May I do something more than just be thankful with the abundance God has given me.