This week my wife and I celebrate 10 years of being married.  Yahoo!

Looking back, it sure seems like time has flown by...it certainly doesn't feel like I've been married for ten years...

BUT then I start thinking back to the late 90s and I realize that it WAS a long time ago that I was in college and playing piano for the Covina High School choirs, or that I was teaching my first year at Mother Lode Christian School...those things feel like EONS ago.  So I guess it has been a long time!

Well, I really have to say congrats to my wife for putting up with me for this long.  I am NOT the easiest guy to live with; she has endured my stubbornness and crankiness. 

She deserves a medal or something.
:)


Bottom line people--marriage is hard work, but there's nothing else like it in the world and it's well worth it the effort.
If you're married, don't forget to keep working on it.  You don't just go into cruise control after the honeymoon--you still need to put in some EFFORT.  Make your spouse feel loved and cherished.  Keep learning about each other.  Have patience, be humble, and be forgiving.

You can do it!

This weekend I will pass a milestone birthday: 20....wait, 30...Whoops...GEEZ...I can't even type it...

...which means only one thing: My parents are getting reeeeeeeeeallly old!


Well, here's the truth--as much as I have made a big deal about turning 30, I'm not really sad about it.  Only a little. 
My twenties have been good to me, and I've learned a lot of great life lessons in the past ten years that I will share with you now (in true bloggity form) and in no particular order:

1) You Don't Know All That You Think You Know

When I got out of college, I pretty much thought I knew it all.  I was pompous, haughty, and often frustrated with others that weren't on the same "let's hurry up and change the world right NOW" path as I was.  I was an idiot.  Just ask poor Michael Roberson who had to deal with me that year...The more time that went by, the more I realized I didn't know jack squat about life.  Even now, I continue to find this the case---the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know anything. 


2) Husband and Father Are Job Number #1

It is hard being a good husband (I know, because I stink at it most of the time) and it's HARD being a good dad (again, working on it) but these are the most important roles I will ever play in my life.  It's possibly the hardest thing ANY guy will ever do...which is why so many fail.  But in all of my dealings as a pastor or friend over the past ten years, I've noticed that the bulk of issues that individuals deal with in their lives stem from bad dads and or bad marriages.   I know I'm being super general here--and I'm trying to be--but let me just say this: I've grown keenly aware that the way I treat my wife and kids RIGHT NOW will impact them forever.  Believe me, I've already seen my greatest weaknesses personified in my sons, and it scares me...


3) Relationships Matter Most

It doesn't matter what you know.  Who are your friends?  How is your family? (Wow, that sounds trite when I read it back...but I really do believe it's true.  You can tell a lot about a person by what kind of company they keep).

The most profound moment on The Office takes place during an episode titled, "Business School".  In this episode, Ryan hurts Michael's feelings by saying--in front of his whole class at business school--that the paper business will be obsolete in 5 years.  Michael gets mad and storms out of the classroom...later on in the episode, just when you think he's going to fire Ryan, he says something deeply profound to this young salesman.  He says, "It's about people, Ryan--people.  And people never go out of business."
Tru dat, fools. 

If you want to improve your life, work on your relationships with others.


4) Shutup and Listen

I don't ever learn anything when I'm the one doing the talking.  It pays to listen to those older and wiser than you.  Also, I'm not a big fan of interrupting.  Sometimes you just need to shut up and listen.


5) Laziness Doesn't Put Food on the Table

Work hard, peeps, otherwise you're going to go hungry.  Gone are the days of the cushy jobs with big salaries.  Nobody can afford that anymore.  You're going to have to earn your keep.  So work hard.



I think I might have some more in me, but I fear I'm starting to sound like a Tony Robbins book on tape or something.
Ugh.


In closing, let me say this:
Thank you to all that have been a friend in the past 10 years.  I'm grateful for you and the role you've played during my twenties.  Let the next decade be even more glorious!
Hoorah!

Nathaniel loves babies.  He's adorable when he gets around them...so sweet and tender. 

We spent a day in Alabama visiting Dustin and Joli (and Ryli and Silas and Baby Malachi), and Nathaniel OUT OF THE BLUE comes up to me while we're paying for lunch at the Cracker Barrel--and this is the conversation that transpired:

"Dad, can you get your stuff back?"

"What stuff?"

"Your stuff.  Can you get your stuff back?"

"Nathaniel, what are you talking about? What stuff?"

"Your baby stuff.  I WANT A BABY SISTER!!"

(shocked and awed)
"No, honey.  NO."


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

People are having babies left and right. 

A week or so ago, Christy's brother's wife had a baby.

We visited some people this morning that had a newborn.

And our friend Melody had a baby on Saturday.

We showed the kids a picture of Melody's newborn and Noah turns to Christy and says, "WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WITHOUT A BABY!!"

HAHAHA!

No Noah.  YOU'RE the baby.  Except now you're 6 years old.  And we're DONE having babies.  Forever.

Sorry, bud.

We're headed out in just minutes...
I guarantee we'll face the inevitable questions from Christy...

Did I forget to unplug the curling iron?
Did we leave the stove on?
Is the front door locked?

No, No, and Yes.  It's alllllll good...

I feel like we've been packing and preparing for this trip for YEARS, so I definitely feel ready...

I even called ahead to confirm car rental and hotel reservations. 


We could barely sleep last night.
SO EXCITED!!

Fall is a weird time, especially this Fall.  I can't put my finger on it, but I think it has to do with the fact that it rained all day Tuesday and then on Thursday it was 95 degrees.   The weather has been really disappointing.

Or maybe it has to do with the fact that I don't really like Halloween. 

Or maybe it has to do with the fact that Christmas is almost here...which means lots of rehearsals and performances and all kinds of stuff to do--and THEN--being the horrible gift-givers that Christy and I are--finally purchasing a meager amount of Christmas presents and cards on...say...oh...the 26th...and then carrying the guilt of being such inconsiderate, unloving Holiday folks...

:(

But today during orchestra practice we played a piece that felt REALLY Christmasy, and I got in the spirit of things for a moment...and it felt joyous.

But Christmas feels more like Winter than Fall, and I like Winter.

Not Fall.


Fall is dead to me.