Tonight was a good night - we launched JAM Middle School 2011-2012 year. Just want to thank all of the leaders that showed up - it's going to be a great year, I can tell because Mitchell knocked Justina down flat as he slid into 3rd base. And I had fun scoring the winning home run at the last inning and then being out of breath as I tried giving the announcements and message tonight. Hello exercise city!

I'm expecting big things for this year. God moving in the students and the leaders.

I need prayer. Will you pray for the students and leaders and me?

Thank you.

Original Article

Finally able to settle back into a routine.  Haley is back from her nannying trip - and is now at work.  Some youth students are away at Silver Birch Ranch this week with our youth pastor Matt Myers.  They will be joining up with Jon Duey and Jason Chenoweth.  Looking forward to see what God will do this week up there.

On a personal note - I'm swamped with things to do.  This passage in the Bible was given to me...“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10  Perfect words of encouragement for me.

Have a great week!

-brian

This isn't about you. It's not about me.

You have a talent...

...but,

it comes with sacrifice.

Believe me.

And it's time for you to realize...

that the talent,

it doesn't belong to just you anymore.

managed to rip out another room of carpeting.  does anyone have any suggestions for removing the staples and the wood tack boards easily?

-brian

(download)

Click here to download:

cleaned-out-another-room-of-it-s-carpeting-pznvDoJvydwjwJCtdFmh.zip (2.17 MB)

If you are a neuroscientist and you need to learn how to do scientific computing in Matlab, go out and buy this book and help my friend Mike out...  http://amzn.to/bTiOCO

-brian

Had a busy but fulfilling evening... talked to Haley for a bit on Skype, managed to get the garage door broken down into the sizes required by bulk waste and rolled up the carpeting into no less than a 3foot roll, mowed the lawn, (had to turn the backyard lights on to see) and finally took the trash and recyclables out...

Took a hot shower and now it's time to veg....

-brian

I was driving into work, thinking about how my life has been different the past week since Haley is in Mexico.  As I was thinking about what it was like - my mind came to rest and think about what it's like being a single person - and it's hard to be single and live by yourself.  Even though the perception is that you're a "free bird", you have responsibilities to take care of and it's harder to share those responsibilities with other people.

I think it's almost wise for young adults to stay at home, rather than try to run off and live on their own.  If they're going to college away from home, then stay in the dorms.

I don't know why I'm writing about this - it just seems that it's important for people to be around other people.  When you are by yourself, it seems that life gets a bit harder...

-brian

Have some more work to do, but the hardest part of getting the carpet out of the room is done!

(download)

Click here to download:

carpet-out-of-master-bedroom-BohBhmgmiCHbmjAefuoo.zip (9.12 MB)

Woke up, was in the mood to work on the carpeting, so I managed to the get carpet and the foam out of the master bedroom. Man was there a lot of dust.. actually it was from the 'carpet fresh' that gets poured into the carpet.  Note to self: no more carpet fresh.  Paid the insurance on the cars - good 'till the end of the year, dropped off a Guatemala care package at the post office, went to a deacon meeting, saw the youth students off to their Toronto trip, grabbed a quick bite to eat, went to the bank, and am now getting ready to do some more errands and fun stuff this afternoon.

Busy day so far, but I'm loving it.  Feeling quite accomplished! :)

-brian