An offer they can't refuse...

It finally happened. Early this Friday morning Abby was born. I want to congratulate Kyle and Laura. Yay I'm a Godfather. Look to BJ's blog to see pics

Christmas Time

I know, I know, its not quite time yet. Believe me I know. I'm not the guy who puts up his tree in December and listens non stop to Bing Crosby or old blue eyes for a month and a half, but I am the guy who puts the tree up early in December and occasionally listens to some Manheim Steamroller with no one looking. Anyways I wanted to get a jumpstart on the subject. Billie Jo and I took a visit to a friend's mothers home who decorates the inside of her home ever 2 years for Christmas. It is incredible. The detail and hard work that she goes to is amazing. The entire home is transformed. Its kinda neat. Anyways...
Christmas, I love Christmas. I loved it as a child and I love it as an adult. I love the giving, the family time and the true meaning behind it. However there are some things that we get wrong regarding the yule time. I have a good friend who frankly does not like it. Too commercial for him. He loves Thanksgiving. He feels you can't commercialize that. And frankly that is quite true. He is right. So he, for the most part, doesn't want to participate in the tradition. Well that is absolutely his right and I value that.
Regarding this concept of his, I feel that if a Holiday is too commercial and not even celebrating the true meaning behind it, we have a real responsibility to celebrate it the right way. Do not close yourself off to the holiday but embrace it correctly and help others do that. Teach the real meaning to your family, your kids. Make a difference, give to the needy, don't just give a gift to someone who won't remember it a year later. Don't get me wrong, I love getting gifts but I really loving giving to others. When my friend said do I need a gift when don't even deserve it, that stupid", I had an epiphany. That is the entire meaning of Christmas.
God gave us his Son. We did not deserve it. We will never deserve it and cannot ever do enough to deserve it. It is God's grace for which we are saved. He actually sent Jesus to us as a wonderful gift even when we did not deserve it. So over the next few weeks, I'll continue to love Christmas and I hope you do to, but please think about the true meaning and embrace it, celebrate it, and live it.

The Miniature Miracle

What is this miracle you ask? Well its my new iphone. Yes, yes, Billie Jo and I took the plunge last Sunday. This has been a desire since we took a trip to Hawaii with you to buds Kyle and Laura. We used them a ton finding our way around and looking up where to go and where to eat. This got us hooked. So we and our buddy Tim when down Sunday and threw the bones on the table and walked out as proud owners, and yes I mean proud :)

Why do you need a iphone? Well before you get one you don't. But, as soon as you do get one you do NEED one. Why? My top 10

1. Phone: a great one. All kind of super features in this puppy. You just have to own it to really appreciate it.
2. Email: My favorite. Its at your finger tips. Right there in front not need to check the computer when you are out.
   
3. Internet Browsing: Wonderful, full pages. No dumbed down poop and an easy way to look up you are right in any argument (thanks Tim)
   
4. Weather: just click and you got it
5. Maps: Its like having map quest in your pocket
6. GPS: For me gotta find those fishing holes and need to know where I am
7. iPod: always with you when you need your tunes
8. Apps: all kinds of cool ones. This could burn a hole in your pocket
9. T0uch Screen: people think they wouldn't like it, but man its just cool
10. Camera: it has a great digital camera. As a camera buff, I'm happy

Well thats it in a nut shell. Is it expensive, yes, but it is just so cool. I have a toy that I can play with all day.

Wild West

Well so here I am. Really supposed to be teaching class… but instead I’m letting them watch a movie like any real teacher would do. I figured I could much better spend my time doing a test run for my First blog. Hopefully I can simply use this space to put down some of my thoughts and experiences. Teaching, working, fishing, loving and just enjoying life. Maybe some of you guys from down south can see what it is like living out here in the Wild West. Hopefully I can throw a few of my newest creations down also (my photos). If you know me, or at least well, I learned a bit of a habit from my ole friend Kendall Jones. I pick up new hobbies (that was from Kendall) and have become a Jack of All Trade and a Master of None(that is from me) I do love however experiencing these thing, whether its skiing, photography, cars, flyfishing, etc ( and there is always an etc) I really love photography. However I feel I really don’t know much about the subject. I recently took a gander at a friends blog containing his shoots. Wow, they blew me away. These are the creations I wish to produce. So here I am off and learning something all over again. Hopefully I can stick to this one and make it a little more than just a small hobby but a passion.