A month off?

Well, classes are over until September. I've got about a month off...from formal classes, that is.

I'm about to cram as much into one month as anyone should ever attempt. This weekend, it's our only camping trip of the year. Next weekend, it's the Rolling Family Reunion. The weekend after that...I don't remember, but I'm pretty sure something is planned. The weekend after that, Jadyn turns a year old. Can you believe that?

And in the middle of all that, I need to study for and pass my Cisco Certified Networking Associate certification. This is an entry-level IT certification offered by what is arguably the most important networking company in the world. (I know, Scott, I know...Extreme and Foundry both make very nice gear, also, and it may even be technologically better than Cisco. You just can't argue that Cisco holds the market in major networking infrastructure world-wide)

So I'm about to sit down with routers and firewalls and switches, oh my! I thought I might like to actually get some rest this month, but there will be no time for that. Recently I bought an mp4 of "4 Hz Theta Ocean Waves" off iTunes. It's supposed to help you relax. I'll be putting that on my iPod and listening to it while I sleep.

Oh, and at risk of forgetting my other recent interest, my dear friend and Brother in Christ, Jon Zens recently had his book "A Church Building Every 1/2 Mile" released. It is really a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who feels like they want to know Jesus Christ more but feel that "churches" leave them wanting. This book gives great perspective and insight into what I think Jesus had in mind when he established His church. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Giving away my daughter

Friday, July 25th, 2008 I walked my beautiful daughter down the aisle and turned her primary care over to another man. I can't tell you how amazing this day was, and how it will rest in my heart and in my mind as long as I live.

Amber was, as always, stunningly beautiful. Without question she was the second most beautiful bride I have ever seen (but I guess I'm partial to my wife that way), and I'm pretty sure I shook just a little bit as I answered the pastor's "who gives this woman to be married to this man?" question. I'd be lying if I said that a big part of me didn't want to pick her up and take her away, as if that would have kept her being "my little girl" a little while longer. Of course, I didn't. Of course, I answered that her mother and I gave her. Of course I handed my daughter's hand over to her soon-to-be husband.

And in reality, it was much easier knowing that I was giving her hand to a young man who cherishes her like every man would want his daughter cherished. I'm glad to know that she has chosen a very genuine, godly man with whom to spend her life. Nick is one of the finest men I have had the pleasure to know, and I'm glad and honored to call him "son."

So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Mr. and Mrs. Nick Siler. She may be his wife now, but she'll always be "my girl." God has blessed us richly.

Enough to make you scream

Every morning I drive to work on a busy highway. Every morning I see people dumping their still-smoldering cigarette butts out their window and I just want to shake them and say,

"HEY! PICK THAT DISGUSTING THING UP! I DON'T MIND IF YOU WANT TO POUR TOXINS INTO YOUR OWN BODY AND SHORTEN YOUR OWN LIFE! BUT MY KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE IN THE WORLD YOU'RE USING AS AN ASHTRAY! I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK SO LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF, BUT WOULD YOU MIND SPARING THE EARTH FROM YOUR SELF-ABSORBED DEATH WISH?!"

Then I go back to my commute. One of these days, though...one of these days...

Still alive and well

Thank you, Anonymous, for calling me to the mat. I have much to say, but ironically have less time in which to say it.

In short, my wife is well, my children are well, I am well. New job, bam-bam ball, swimming lessons, engagement, new job, finally summer, BBQ, music, wonderfulness.

I've decided to write-in Ron Paul for president. The others all make me feel like I need to shower.

Wish I had more time, but I need to get some rest. Until later, be well and God bless you.

For my friends

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate to this, and I wanted to post it especially for my friends who, while not actually *in* hell, can see it from where they are...

...coffee time soon, y'all!

Nursery rhyme wisdom

Even the twins are getting into the poetry act. Jeremiah's latest (sung to the famous tune):

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is full of nuts

That's my boy...

Off the bathroom wall

Just because I think we're funny, I thought I'd share the next round of poetry on our bathroom wall, along with a picture of what this looks like over the course of a couple weeks. It's truly entertaining to me...

Moving on is not easy
It may come with tears
But we'll find when we face them
That we'll conquer our fears
So now on this white board
We have a clean slate
And look toward tomorrow
For poems more great (Dad)

Adrian, Adrian
Your jeans are so dirty
To the laundry room take them
Before you get hurty ;) (Dad)

I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I know this sounds crazy
But I think I might be
Just a little bit lazy
(probably more than a little) (Adrian)

To see the Wild play
Sometimes is scary-in'
Because the high scorer's
First name is Marion (Dad, after seeing the Wild beat the Predators in OT)

Your poems are so silly
I scarce can believe it
This board makes me chuckle
Each time that I read it (Mom)

Good morning, son
And thank you for hurrying
It's strange that on time
To work, still, I am worrying

But timely I'll be
And as punctual as ever
Until through those doors
My return shall be never

My boss needn't ask me
He need never beg
For I am the "New and
Improved, on-time Greg" (Dad, after Adrian hurried to let me use the shower)

Life is great
When you have a job
But not when you go
To work for a snob (Adrian)

But for them we'll work
And work for them we must
To fix all the things
That we own that will bust (Dad)

I sit and I think as my
Thoughts do extrapolate
While out of my colon
The waste does evacuate (Dad)

The language of English
Is oh so delightful
Although all this nonsense
Can make you quite spiteful (Dad)

Betsy, oh Betsy
Your cage looks like feces
Your skin's coming off in the
Smallest of pieceys (Dad)

Betsy is clean
Her skin is coming off
now it's Greg's turn
To get his stink off (Adrian)

While sometimes I might be
Somewhat slightly odiferous
People like you
Should not be so vociferous
With soap and cologne
Odors will rearrange
Then my "stink" will be gone
But your face will not change (Dad)

Thank you, Adrian
For the towels you did buy
They will be quite useful
When the dishes I dry (Mom)

Hello, good morning
How are you today?
I'm sorry I couldn't think
Of one thing clever to say (Adrian)

My boys, my boys
I wish you would think
Please throw the dead mice
Before they stink! (Mom, after finding a dead mouse beneath Betsy's cage)

Sorry we weren't
Working hard like the ants did
And let that ol' mouse
Get all stinky and rancid (Dad)