Happy Easter!

I am getting ready to head out the door to our church's Sunrise Service. Before I do, I just want to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed"
Isaiah 53:5

"Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you".
Matthew 28:1-7

Have a glorious Resurrection Sunday!
He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Still Waiting.............

Tomorrow is the last day of March and I am STILL waiting for Spring to arrive for good. Today was very nice and gave us a nice taste of spring. Tomorrow the weather turns to crud again and gets really bad Monday. Remember Monday is the day I am taking Michael to Opening Day. The forecast is for temperatures in the high 30's or low 40's. It's supposed to be breezy (can you say wind chill factor? brrrr) and there is a chance of a rain/snow mix. I'd say that's hardly baseball weather.

Tomorrow is also Easter Sunday. Easter usually evokes images of the Easter Bunny delivering colored eggs in spring like conditions. Not this year...

100 ways to love your wife

I won’t pretend this is my original work. I confess I saw this list somewhere as 100 ways to love your husband and decided to convert it into 100 ways to love your wife. I have taken some artistic license (translated- I think I can improve the list). I have also deleted some stuff that husbands like and substituted some stuff that wives like. I think I will only do 25 at a time in four separate posts. A list of a hundred anything can be cumbersome and tedious. So here goes... my attempt at 100 ways to love your wife.

1. Respectfully communicate with her.
2. Let her know she is important to you.
3. Validate her feelings--- even when you disagree with her.
4. Let go of the small stuff. We all have annoying habits.
5. Tell her you love her--- Every day!
6. Allow her space to participate in her hobbies.
7. Protect her honor--- ALWAYS!
8. Be tender with her. She's not one of the guys.
9. Foster an atmosphere of laughter in the home.
10. Find ways to laugh together.
11. Do not make sudden major changes without discussion and giving her time to adjust.
12. Take her out on dates. Every week if possible.
13. Focus on what she's doing right and tell her about it.
14. Show an interest in what she feels is important in life.
15. Give her time with you apart from the children.
16. Don't allow anyone to treat her disrespectfully. EVER!
17. Compliment her often.
18. Talk with her about family goals. You are a marital team.
19. Don't over commit yourself. Leave time for her and the children.
20. Extend God's grace to her and be forgiving when she offends you.
21. Find ways to show her you need her.
22. Give her time alone if she needs or wants it.
23. Admit your mistakes. Be humble and swallow your pride.
24. Defend her at all cost.
25. Give her a massage without expecting more in return.

Good Friday?

This is Good Friday. The day we remember our Savior, Jesus Christ was crucified and died for my sins and the sins of all mankind on the cross. The book of Matthew recounts the events of this horrible day.

It's easy to say, "Jesus died for me". But when you think about what that means and what crucifixion really was, it reaches a whole different level. Crucifixion was created by the Persians, but was perfected by the Romans as a means of torture and ultimately, death. It was designed to be the slowest, most agonizing form of execution possible. That in itself is unimaginable, but it wasn't even the worst part. At the point of his death, Christ cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is because at that moment Christ was separated from His Heavenly father and the weight of the sin of the entire world was upon him. A pain so great, no man could ever endure it. That's the price that was paid for all of us. Christ paid our debt in full with his very own blood.

This also brings up the question: "Why is today called Good Friday?". There's nothing good about a slow, tortuous death. A little bit of research gave no definitive answer to the question. However, the best I could find was all this pain and suffering brought about the greatest good the world has ever known... Christ saving the world from its sin. If anything, Easter should be called Good Sunday. The commemoration of the resurrection.

Yipee!

My spring break starts today! I don't have to go back to work until April 8th. Guess what I'm doing on my first day off? Going to the dentist! Oh joy of joys! Do I know how to party or do I know how to party? Yipee!

Opening Day and my senses

I really enjoyed writing yesterday's post. There's just something about Opening Day that makes me so happy! Although I think it may be important to note that in all my years as a Reds fan, I've only been to the actual game twice. As you can imagine, tickets are at a premium and extremely difficult to get. With that being said, I am thrilled to report I am going to the game THIS YEAR! Here's how it happened. I was sitting in church Sunday morning when I had the following conversation with a friend of mine:

Friend- When is your spring break?

Me- March 28 through April 7. Why do you ask?

Friend- Do you want to go to Opening Day? I have an extra ticket.

Me- (speaking much too loudly and excitedly for church) Yes! Of course! Wow! Thank you!

Tami- (Looking at me as if to say, "What in the world has gotten in to you?")

So that's how it happened. And as it turns out my friend has two extra tickets, so I get to take Michael to the game as well. I will make a separate post soon about special times between a father and son at the ballpark.

Getting back to Opening Day---

Going to the ballpark is always fun and it's always a carnival of the senses. But on Opening Day all those things stimulating my senses are intensified. Walking into the Great American Ballpark, I can feel the anticipation and excitement of the crowd. There are bands playing on the plaza, there are people dressed in red everywhere... it's a veritable sea of red. As I enter the ballpark I am ambushed by the smell of hot dogs and popcorn. There's nothing quite like the aroma of ballpark fare. As I take my seat, I look out over the field. The lustrous green grass is like no other green I know. The feeling that washes over me at this point is indescribable. It takes me back to the days when I was a young boy; the feeling of wonder is still the same. It's silly, I know. As I'm sitting in my seat I hear the vendors hawking their wares. Peanuts! Hot dogs! Ice cold Coca Cola! Cooooooooold beer here! I hold up two fingers signaling my desire for two over-priced hot dogs. They're really no different than hot dogs cooked at home, but something about the atmosphere makes them taste better. And of course it wouldn't be a day at the game if I didn't dribble mustard down my shirt :-) You do know ballpark hot dogs are supposed to be swimming in mustard, right? Speaking of concessions... I always enjoy a cold beer, but at $8+ per brew, I refuse to buy one. A man has his limits y'know. It's pointless to buy one beverage for the price of a six pack at the pony keg. As I sit with my hot dog and coke, the feeling of the warm sun shining on my face is a welcome change from freezing my tail off all winter. The sounds of the ballpark are music to my ears too... both figuratively and literally. The crack of the bat as it makes solid contact with a fastball or the pop of the ball into a well worn, leather mitt. The sound of the organ echoing across the stadium and the cheer of the crowd urging the Reds to victory.

The point I'm trying to make is, a trip to the Reds game is more than planting yourself in a seat and watching a bunch of grown men play a game. It's an experience in itself. One that is difficult to describe in the few words I've used here. I hope my love for baseball, the American pastime, is reflected in these lines. Five more days and the fun begins!

Coming Soon --- Opening Day!

If you're from Cincinnati, you know about the Reds Opening Day. It's an unofficial holiday around here. After a long, difficult winter, we are all ready for spring and Opening Day is the one event that is a sign of better days to come. Opening Day is a mere 6 days away. It's the day the whole town wears red. It's the day a large portion of the population either takes the day off work or at the very least knocks off early. On opening day everybody's a diehard Reds fan even if they never attend a Reds game or follow their progress throughout the season (I liken this to how everyone suddenly becomes Irish on St. Patrick's day). Opening Day is an institution in this town. Everybody is in a good mood knowing the beginning of baseball season is a time when hope springs eternal. Opening Day stirs feelings within Cincinnatians like no other event. Cincinnati is the birthplace of professional baseball (the first team was formed in 1869). We've always laid claim to the special feeling that comes with being that first team. Opening Day belongs to Cincinnati... it's ours, we own it. Opening Day may be a big deal in other cities, but there is no way they can hold a candle to Cincinnati. Opening Day is when I feel alive again. After being "dead" all winter, I feel myself coming out of hibernation and leaving behind that winter funk. Opening Day will always be one of my favorite days of the year. Much like a child feels giddy on Christmas morning, I'm almost embarrassed to admit my childish feelings of glee on Opening Day. Some may even shake their heads and say they wish I'd get worked up about something that REALLY matters. I'm not ashamed. I dearly love baseball and adore my Cincinnati Reds. Monday, April 1st is Opening Day. I can hardly wait!

Spring Sing Along

Everybody sing along! You know the words. "I'm dreaming of a white Chr..." Wait. What? Today's the 25th, right? Oh! It's March 25th and not December 25th? I'd never know it by looking outside.

As I type this from my desk at work, I see a very impressive snowstorm as I gaze out my classroom window. It's actually more show than anything else. There's a lot of snow blowing around, but it's not really accumulating much. It looks much worse than it really is. It's supposed to be like this for the next 24 hours and then a slow warm up begins. I know I echo the sentiments of northerners and midwesterners everywhere. We've had enough. We've done our time. We're ready for warm days and greener pastures.

My Cup of Joe

I like my coffee. Morning, noon or night, it doesn't matter, I enjoy a cup of Joe. Most mornings I need the "pick-me-up" and coffee does the trick. Some mornings even coffee can't jolt me out of my semi-conscious state. I like it hot, cold or anywhere in between. I like it black, I like it with cream and sugar, I like it with sugar and no cream and vice versa. You name it and I love it.

Sometimes it's the small things in life that make me happy. In this case it's my programmable coffee maker at school. I always get it ready before I leave work in the evening and set it to brew just before I arrive the next morning. I love walking into my classroom first thing in the morning and catching a whiff of freshly brewed coffee. It starts my day out right.

It may be a break...

It may be a break, but it ain't spring! I work three days this week and then begin my so-called spring break. It's hard to call it a SPRING break when there is a forecast for 4-6 inches of snow overnight. This time of year I should be sharpening my lawnmower blade and getting ready to mulch the flower beds. Instead I'm getting my snow shovel ready and preparing my salt for the driveway. UGH!

The Roller Coaster

I haven't told many people that I've been on a diet the last couple of months. Let's face it, most people aren't interested in hearing about the two pounds I lost over the weekend or the three pounds I gained because I fell off the wagon. Even though I haven't said much about it, I thought it might be time to talk about it a little bit. If you're not interested, feel free to log off... my feelings won't be hurt, I promise.

If you've known me for any length of time, you know I love to eat and you know I've always struggled with that pudgy spare tire around my middle. You probably also know I've lost more than 50 pounds on at least two occasions only to gradually put it back on. This usually happened when I would diet prior to a cruise, eat like a mad man on the cruise and never get back to good eating habits afterward. Every time I lose a bunch of weight, I promise myself I won't put it back on... inevitably I do *Sigh* I've been on a diet roller coaster for years.

In the last few months I've lost around 15 pounds. At least that's my best guess. You may be wondering why I don't know EXACTLY how much I've lost. It's because we no longer have a bathroom scale and I've decided it may be better if I don't weigh myself this time around. On previous diets I would weigh myself daily and on a particularly obsessive day, twice. It got to be ridiculous. I would get all bent out of shape if I felt like the diet was going well and I'd step on the scale only to find I'd gained a pound or two. Some of this can be chalked up to body fluctuations and a less than accurate scale. Now that I am not weighing myself every 12 hours, I don't worry as much.

I knew it was time to go back on a diet when none of my clothes fit anymore. There was no way I could afford to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. I also knew it was time to go on a diet when I'd bend over to tie my shoes and I couldn't breathe. The overall discomfort that comes with being overweight is enough to spur me into action. Another reason for wanting to lose weight is for Sveta and the new baby. I don't want to be a fat Goppa and I want to be around for a long time to enjoy my grandchildren.

I won't spend a lot of time on this blog talking about my diet and weight loss. However, it is a part of my life right now. I guess a post here and there can't hurt.

Gone National!

I've had a lot of fun the last few days poking fun at the groundhog and his inaccurate forecast of an early spring. I even mentioned a local county prosecutor who filed an official indictment of Punxsutawney Phil (in jest, of course). I was scanning news headlines on Fox News today and guess what I saw? The very same story had gone national.

You'll need to copy and paste the link into your browser. I haven't had any luck posting links to my blog posts.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/22/ohio-prosecutor-reportedly-seeking-death-penalty-for-punxsutawney-phil/

I'm not the only one

I guess I'm not the only one frustrated by the frigid temperatures and snowy forecasts that have come with the first few days of spring. A local county prosecutor handed down an "indictment" against Punxsutawney Phil. In part, here's what the indictment said:

Phil "did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that Spring would come early. Contrary to the Groundhog Day report, a snowstorm and record low temperatures have been and are predicted to continue in the near future, which constitutes the offense of MISREPRESENTATION OF EARLY SPRING, an Unclassified Felony, and against the peace and dignity of the State Of Ohio."

The "indictment" further states that for the "crime" of: misrepresentation to the people, that the death penalty be implemented to the defendant, Punxsutawney Phil."

I will gladly volunteer to sit on the jury. GUILTY AS CHARGED!

Here's the perpetrator himself!

Let the MADNESS begin!

I mentioned in a previous post that I wasn't a basketball fan. While that's still true, I must admit the beginning of the March Madness tournament is kind of fun. After the games today and tomorrow the field will be trimmed from 64 to 32. By the end of the weekend the field will be down to the Sweet 16. It's quite the spectacle with wall to wall college hoops action for four days. I won't be watching much, but I will monitor the results online and will catch selected highlights of the inevitable "Buzzer Beaters".

I don't hang out at sports bars, but must admit it might be nice to have a cold one and some buffalo wings while casually observing the action. This isn't going to happen though. I'll stick with my easy chair and my laptop. That's good enough for me.

Phil was WRONG!

Punxsutawney Phil was wrong. Dead wrong! An early spring? Really Phil? Really?

Spring has sprung!

Spring rolled into town this morning at 7:02 A.M. With a blast of cold air and the chance of flurries through the weekend, spring has graced us with its presence.

My dad was a fan of goofy humor and silly poems. I don't think dad knew who Ogden Nash was, but I remember him quoting a portion of one of Nash's poems every year. "Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where all the birdies is?". I have no idea why dad enjoyed saying this every year, but he did.

I saw a segment on the news last night that said this same three day period last year (March 20-22), the temperatures were 81, 82, and 82 respectively. Oh the pain! When you see this week's forecast, remembering what we had last year is like rubbing salt in a wound.

I know our time will come and the air will inevitably warm, the grass will turn green and the flowers and trees will bloom. Until then we'll watch as winter makes its last gasp and slips off quietly into the past. Goodbye winter. I wish I never knew you.

I've got the itch!

Today is the last day of winter. Spring begins at 7:06 tomorrow morning (at least that's what the solar calendar tells us). The threat of cold temperatures and snow flurries during the next week tells me winter has no intention of leaving us any time soon. But its time here is fleeting.

The promise of spring gives me the itch and there's no cream to treat it. I've got the itch to get outside and clean up my yard after a winter of being battered and bruised. I've got the itch to get the cover off my pool and get it ready for swimming weather. I've got the itch to get the deck and outdoor furniture cleaned up and ready for warm days relaxing. I've got the itch for buying a new grill and cooking all our meals outside. I've got the itch to take long walks along the lake as I watch everything bloom and turn green. I've got the itch open my windows and allow the fresh breeze to blow through the house. I've got the itch to get my metal detector out and do some warm weather treasure hunting. I've got the itch for baseball season to begin. To sit on my deck with a cold beverage and listen to the Reds on radio.

It has been a long, cruel winter. It has been dark, dreary and gloomy. It has been cold. It has been snowy and icy at times. It has been a punishing blow to the psyche every day. It has been a grueling grind. But here's the thing about winter... it ends! It may not feel like it right now, but spring is coming. Try as it might, winter will give way to spring whether it wants to or not. When that happens I will rejoice in the glorious gift of spring God has given us a blessing for enduring the cold death known as winter. God is good. All the time.

Beach Reach- Final Report

Michael arrived home at 3:40 Saturday morning. He was so pumped about his trip that he stood in our dark bedroom and talked to Tami and me for two hours. Even though we were awakened from a sound sleep, we were happy to see him and were eager to hear about his time in Florida. In our groggy state we heard amazing stories from Florida.

There were approximately 500 Beach Reach participants compared to about 500,000 spring breakers in the Panama City Beach area. Michael said they felt outnumbered. Um yeah, they were... by a thousand to one. Those aren't good odds! But despite the overwhelming disadvantage in numbers, the 5 day mission reported the following statistics: More than 5,000 plates of pancakes served. More than 6,000 van rides provided. 51 kids accepted Christ. Worth the effort? No question!

Michael said he witnessed unspeakable debauchery during his stay. This is a family-friendly blog and I will not detail anything specific. Use your imagination... I'm sure you can picture what the scene must have been like. Michael did report that he was a bit timid at first (I know I would've been!), but it didn't take him long to be bold about spreading the Gospel. He also said the more he did it, the easier it became. In the end he said the most enjoyable part of the whole trip was preaching the Gospel. He also said it was surprising the amount of people who were receptive to the message. Obviously some people were rude or simply wanted no part of the message, but by and large people didn't mind talking to the Beach Reachers. He said the most difficult part of the trip was not being able to help everyone who needed it. Michael acted as the van's doorman and was responsible for finding the correct party which had called for the ride. These free van rides were not a free-for-all. People had to call and arrange for the ride and as you can imagine, lots of people would rush the door looking for a ride. Michael said it was difficult to close the door on kids (especially young women) who needed help. There just weren't enough resources to help all who needed it. I was very proud to hear of Michael's work on his mission trip. He has real compassion for people and a heart for helping them.

The Final 4

I am NOT a basketball fan. Never have been, never will be. I have no interest in the NBA and I never watch it. In fact, I don't even consider the NBA real basketball. There are such loose interpretations of the rules for dribbling, traveling and fouling that it doesn't even resemble the actual game of basketball. I don't really care for college basketball either. However, I must admit I have a slight interest in the NCAA basketball tournament and its field of 68 teams. I really don't have a particular affection or rooting interest in any team. I will not sit and watch any game in its entirety. As a matter of fact I won't spend much time at all watching any games. I will follow the results online and fill out the bracket as the tournament progresses. I will give cursory attention to the tournament, but you will not find me glued to a television any time soon. It should at least be interesting and will create a nice diversion until baseball season begins.

The gang was all here

Saturday was a very special day. We had all three kids at home at the same time for the first time since Christmas day. Michael arrived home from Florida at 3:40 A.M. He came into our room, woke us up and promptly talked to us for two hours about his trip. It was wonderful! Jessi and Barry brought Sveta down for a visit and to hear about Michael's trip. Abby still lives here, so obviously she was here. We had a nice visit over lunch and then went out into the driveway to play "hotscotch" (hopscotch) with Sveta.

It's not until your kids are gone that you realize how much you miss them. It was a great day.

500

This is my 500th post in this little corner of the blogosphere. Silence Runs Deep began on October 1st, 2011. After 500 posts It's hard to believe I'm still going strong. Who would have thought I'd have so much to say? I will also pass 5,000 page views in the next few days. Thanks for reading everybody. I'm flattered you take the time to check in and read the blog regularly.

My kids are BLESSED!

First Michael moves into a condo that's nicer than my own house and now this... Abby has been invited by relatives to go on a cruise (No cost to her) to The Bahamas this summer. Meanwhile poor old dad will be home slaving away. I'll be mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, maintaining the pool and working at my second job. Abby on the other hand will be loving life in the lap of luxury. Sheesh!

In seriousness I am thrilled she has this opportunity. I know she will have a wonderful time. Abby is not new to cruising. This will make her 5th trip to the Caribbean on a cruise ship.

All three kids are doing well. Jessi is being a great mom to Sveta and a soon-to-be-born new baby. Michael is loving college life and living on his own. Abby is finishing her sophomore year of high school and getting ready for another dream vacation. I pray for my three kids all the time and God is blessing them beyond measure.

Here's Abby's ship, The Carnival Pride!

Abby is a doll

Yes, Abby is a doll, but that's not what I'm talking about here. She's performing in her school's musical, Guys and Dolls this weekend. She doesn't have a speaking part this time. She's a member of the chorus. I've never seen the entire production, but I am vaguely familiar with the show's content. There are gangsters, street gamblers, a dance club called "The Hot Box", harlots and other women of questionable reputation. I question whether this is appropriate content for a high school play. Abby reports some of the outfits the girls are wearing are, um... skimpy. (not hers, thank Goodness!) This concerns me greatly, but I will wait until I see them for myself before I say what I think. The dancers in the show are called "The Hot Box Girls". They are dressed as slinky cats and sing a song called "Pet Me Papa". Ummmm, once again I'll wait until I see the show, but I must admit I am concerned about what will be presented on the school stage. I really hope the show is much more tame than I am envisioning.

A Message to the Naysayers

I talked yesterday about the skeptics and naysayers regarding Michael's mission trip, Beach Reach. I've seen a lot of raised eyebrows and head nods of uncertainty. I mentioned the negative and sarcastic comments as well.

Today Michael told us he saw someone baptized in the ocean. Other than providing safe transportation and free pancakes to drunken spring breakers, this one baptism made the whole mission a success. One teenager dedicating his/her life to Christ made listening to all the naysayers totally worthwhile.

Enough Already!

March 13th. Snowy and icy roads. Slick conditions caused my morning commute to be nothing more than a traffic jam. It's mid-March. Enough of winter already! Spring officially begins on the 21st. It will be okay with me if winter would kindly loosen it's grip on my sour mood and let spring mosey on in here. I'm done! I need to see some signs of spring.

Beach Reach Progress Report

I'm sure you know Michael is on a mission trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. Beach Reach offers free van rides to intoxicated spring breakers and also offers a free pancake breakfast every morning. Of course the ultimate goal is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While most people understand the mission, there are some who either don't understand it or think it's a futile effort. We've heard things like, "I don't think kids on the beach would want to hear about Jesus". We've also heard the sarcastic comment, "I'm sure kids with a belly full of tequila headed to an unbridled party are going to listen to a message about Jesus". These things have reached Michael's ears and he reports that we all may be surprised at the number of kids who will actually listen and seem genuinely interested in the message. I must admit I was a little surprised myself (although I did not sell the mission short as some others have). Michael said that even when drunk most kids are receptive to the message. Isn't that really all that can be expected? This mission is not supposed to save the soul of every spring breaker in Panama City. It's meant to plant seeds that will hopefully grow into fruit in the future. The mission may be short term, but hopefully the effects will be long term (eternity).

BTW--- Please pray for him. He reports he is battling a sore throat. I'd appreciate you remembering him this week.

I happened upon a story on Fox News that caught my attention. It was entitled,"Top 15 Trashiest Spring Break Spots". Naturally I was curious about this list knowing where Michael is this week. I guess I hoped Panama City Beach was not on the list, but alas it was... it was #8. Hence the reason for Beach Reach. Here's the full list:
1. Las Vegas
2. South Padre Island, Tex.
3. Daytona Beach, Fla.
4. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
5. Orlando, Fla.
6. Lake Havasu, Ariz.
7. Miami, Fla.
8. Panama City Beach, Fla.
9. Key West, Fla.
10. Fort Myers, Fla.
11. Tampa, Fla.
12. Virginia Beach, Va.
13. Scottsdale, Ariz.
14. New Orleans
15. San Diego

Regardless of any negative views of my son's mission, I am immensely proud of him. When I consider the debauchery that occurs at these spring break locations, the unadulterated alcohol consumption, drug use and pre-marital sex, I am thankful he is doing what he's doing. When I consider the alternative, I can lay my head on my pillow at night and not have to worry about what he's doing. I'm not sure the parents of other spring breakers can make the same claim.

You go, Michael!

Tractor Ride!

Here's a photo from Sunday. I'm not sure who's having more fun. Pretty sure it's me.

Blogs and Steaks

As most of you already know, Tami started her own blog last week. We got into a good-natured discussion about the number of page views on our blogs. She said she thought her blog could get more page views than mine given enough time. I completely agreed with her, but she proposed we make a friendly wager to make it interesting anyway. The wager is simple... the day her blog registers more page views than mine, I owe her a steak dinner at the restaurant of her choosing. Obviously I can't lose here. If she never catches up I have bragging rights. If she does surpass me, we both get to enjoy a delicious steak dinner. I have every reason to believe she will catch up in no time at all. She has shamelessly plugged her blog on Facebook and she has a lot more friends than I do. I do not do Facebook (and I'm proud of that) and I don't have as many friends. I currently have nearly 4,900 page views and she has less than 200. That lead is not insurmountable. I hope she picks a good restaurant! She's not a cheap date either... she likes filet mignon.

Chasing Sveta

You know it's going to be a good day when Sveta comes to visit. You know it's going to be a great day when she arrives, sees you and yells, "GOPPA!" as she jumps into your arms. That was the scene today. That greeting was followed by a wonderful time playing with Sveta. Throughout the course of the day I was a cat, a dog, a dog owner, a goat, a sheep, a horse, a lawn tractor driver (Sveta was a passenger :-), a chaser and the chased (you know how it goes, "Goppa, catch me!" and then she runs while you chase her... repeatedly). She is an endless source of energy (or so it seems). She does eventually tire out, and when she does, she crashes all at one. I have to admit I was happy when it was rest time. I was tired after the visit, but it was another day spent with the sweetest little girl in the world.

It was also good to see my eldest daughter, Jessi. It's always nice when I get a chance to catch up with her. Her "Baby Bump" is getting bigger and is a sign of a joyous occasion this summer.

It was a good day. No, check that... it was a great day!

I'm not mad at my wife

I love my wife. Marriage is awesome! Marriage is a God ordained, sacred institution. Marriage is one of the best things that can happen to a person. I didn't say THE best, because having kids is great too. Marriage is also a lot of work if you're doing it right. Marriage is give and take. Marriage is compromise. Marriage is going furniture shopping when you'd rather stay home and watch the ballgame (and not complaining the whole time). Marriage is a full time job. Marriage is never a completed work (we should always work at improving it). Marriage is for life no matter what happens. Marriage is ups and downs. Marriage is peaks and valleys. Marriage is going through life and growing old together. Marriage is watching each others bodies fall apart. Marriage is growing closer every day even if your bellies try to keep you apart. Marriage is forever.

I'm not mad at my wife today. That's the farthest thing from the truth. I stumbled upon this picture today and just wanted an excuse to post it.

I don't like mail

I don't like getting mail. Most of the mail I receive is either bills or junk mail. It's rare that anything worthwhile ends up in my mailbox. However, there are those unexpected things that throw this kind of thinking right out the window. You can view exhibit "A" in the photo below. Nothing brightens my day quite like receiving a handwritten thank you note from my 5 year old granddaughter. It's only a few simple words, but you can just see the care she took in forming each letter. You can imagine my reaction when I opened it... "AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!" :-)

Truth Legacy

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a new blogger amongst us. My very own wife, Tami has started a blog as well. You can find it here:

www.truthlegacy.blogspot.com

If you think you'll find posts that are similar to mine, you don't know Tami very well. She is a much deeper thinker than I am (it's obvious she is light years more intelligent than me). She's likely to tackle subjects such as politics (we're staunch ultra-conservatives), Christianity (we take nothing more seriously than our Reformed Christian faith and the Holy Bible) or any number of topics I choose to avoid on my pathetic little blog. Tami has an interest in challenging the post-modern worldview. Nobody in my household (or whole family for that matter) is better equipped to do this.
Don't look for posts daily either. Tami is one to agonize over a post for days. She will revise, edit, delete, research, and perfect her writing before she posts it. Me? Isn't it obvious? I type whatever happens to be on my heart that day and post it.

Of course you're going to get posts about our children and grandchildren too. She is a mother and a grandmother after all.

I urge you all to check out her blog. Especially if you're looking for something a little deeper than what you get from me.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Honey!

Beach Reach!

Several months ago Michael approached Tami and me and asked if he could go on a spring break missions trip to Panama. The cost was around $500. We both eagerly said, "Yes!". $500 for a weeklong trip to Panama... what a deal! It wasn't until a few days later that we realized he was talking about Panama City Beach in Florida. What? You're not going to Panama in Central Americas?

Well, it turns out it's an excellent opportunity anyway. Even if he is only going to Florida and not some third world country. Michael will be traveling with about 25 other NKU students and a handful of adults to participate in a large, multi-university program called, "BEACH REACH". Beach Reach is a missions opportunity by college students and for college students. The Beach Reach teams will be offering free van rides to intoxicated spring breakers. You'd like to think this type of service wouldn't be necessary, but the truth is thousands of underage students are getting sloshed in Florida and other spring break destinations every year. Very sad! The Beach Reach teams will also be cooking and serving free pancakes to the multitude of hungover students who may not otherwise be thinking about eating a good breakfast. My guess is they are trying to save their money for their night life. Finally the teams will be handing out tracts on the beach. You know, people on the beach need Christ too :-) The Beach Reach teams will not be spending all their time serving other spring breakers. They do get time to relax and enjoy themselves too.

All in all, I'm really proud of Michael's heart for Christ and his willingness to serve others. How convenient that he decided to take a missions trip to Florida when there's snow on the ground in Cincinnati. You know, people in Alaska need Christ too :-)

Michael leaves for Panama tomorrow afternoon. I'll be praying for his safety and for the furthering of the kingdom on the beaches of Florida. I only hope he brings some sunshine home with him. God bless you, my son.

SNOW DAY!

No school today! SNOW DAY!

As a teacher, I am not normally a fan of snow days. I know that sounds kind of crazy, but the unscheduled days off just cause more problems than they are worth. However, in this case I was happy about it. We had our second evening of parent/teacher conferences last night and I had to work late. After working late, it's a strange feeling arriving back at work the next morning... it almost feels like I never left. It's not a good feeling and this snow day helped me avoid it this time around. What a blessing today! Thank you, Lord!

To my relatives in Florida, I have only one thing to say:

WISH YOU WERE HERE!

From bad to worse

Local Weatherman now predicts 4-8 inches of snow for Cincinnati.

Things are going from bad to worse!

By the way, my mom reported it was cold in Florida over the weekend. She said it got down into the 50's. Poor babies! I don't know how they stood it!

Spring is on the...

Hooray! It's March 5th and spring is on the way! Wait... what? 3-5 inches of snow by morning? No, that's not right. It's March. Winter is supposed to be behind us. There must be some mistake. Could you please check the forecast again? Seriously? The worst snow of the season? NOW? I knew I shouldn't have put my snow shovel away! DRAT!

Nooooooo!!!!!

Explain!

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case it's two pictures and eight words, but you get the idea. It completely sums up what the problem is... You judge for yourself.

The picture is actually too small to see, so here's the general idea. In the first panel the parents are demanding an explanation of the bad grades from the child as he cowers in fear. In the second panel the parents are demanding an explanation of the bad grades from the teacher while the child stands behind them gloating. Sadly this happens all the time. See the problem?

The Russian Ballerina

Sveta started her ballet lessons this week. It seems to me she may have an unfair advantage over the other kids. Aren't Russians really good at ballet? I'll bet it's in her blood. Here's my little ballerina :-)

Small Group

Most readers of this blog are probably familiar with the concept of small groups as it relates to church life and your church family. If you're not familiar, it's basically a group of 4 or 5 families from the church that get together on a monthly basis. Our church divides the groups based on where you live. Most of our families are from Indiana. The evening begins with a meal. Food is always a good way to start any gathering. Then there's a Bible lesson led by a church elder followed by prayer requests. The evening usually ends with a decadent dessert and socializing. Each family takes a turn hosting so you only have to clean their house every 4th or 5th month. Face it folks... when you have company over you clean stuff you wouldn't normally clean :-) Tonight we meet with our small group and I am really looking forward to it. The families in our small group have really meshed well. I'm guessing it's not always that way, but I can only speak for our own group. it also doesn't hurt that they are all good cooks... yum! I am thankful for this group of believers in my life. Of course it's also wonderful to have my regular family (Parents, siblings, nieces etc...), but a person can never have too much family and our small group just extends the number the people we care about and pray for. It also increases the number of those that care about us and pray for us. That's always a good thing.

Personal Responsibility

This is not going to be a rant about my stressful job. It's going to be a short commentary on the lack of personal responsibility.

What ever happened to people taking responsibility for their own actions? Watch any show where cops are arresting people. They all say the same thing. "It wasn't me!" "I didn't do it!" "Those aren't my drugs!" "I'm innocent, I swear!" Even when people witness the criminal committing the act, they'll STILL deny it!

I see the beginnings of these behaviors in my young students. During a quiet time, I saw and heard a particular student talking. I confronted the student and politely asked him to stop talking. This child looked me directly in the eye, without cracking a smile and said, "I wasn't talking". Remember I personally saw and heard him. I told him I saw and heard him talking and he once again firmly denied it. I was flabbergasted! Another student was observed by my teaching partner flashing an obscene hand gesture. When confronted, the student flatly denied any wrongdoing. My partner said she saw the whole thing and the student screamed, "I didn't do it you #$%@!" Unbelievable!

I always tell my students if they are honest and simply apologize, their consequence will be much less severe or the infraction may even be forgiven. But kids just don't get it! They lie through their teeth... every day! It's maddening!

It's obvious where these kids are learning these behaviors... their parents. A few weeks ago I saw some inappropriate images on a student's computer. Our school has a firewall, but it only blocks websites. For some reason the firewall can't block inappropriate pictures from Google Images without blocking ALL images. Anyway, this student had some horrible pictures on his computer (not pornography). The images were on his personal account and there was no way to deny downloading them. When the school attempted to give consequences, the student's mother sprang to his defense. She said it wasn't her son's fault the images were downloaded. She said it was the school's fault for not blocking them. Say what?????? This child is 11 years old and clearly knows right from wrong. When downloading the images, he KNEW they shouldn't be there. He clearly chose to do wrong. Where is the personal responsibility for this student? I think I'll try this method if I ever get pulled over for speeding. Can't you just hear me saying this to a cop? "You can't give me a speeding ticket officer. The government should have a speed regulator on my car. It's not my fault!". How do you think that's gonna fly? You're right... it's not.

I'm not sure what has happened to taking responsibility for one's own actions. Lack of personal responsibility is something that covers most facets of society today. It's not just kids and it's not just criminals. I see it everywhere I go. It's sad.