FACES OF THE NEW YEAR

These are the faces I look forward to seeing this coming year.

NEW CAR

I wish you could see it, but we live in the midwest and we're not allowed to have anything nice outside until Spring. The Taurus was finally costing me more to fix than it's worth, and we needed more room anyway now that we have Sean. (I really didn't like the Ford anyway...I'm not sad to see it go).

FROM THE BOSTON NEWSPAPER

Lightning bolts appear above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana, some 30 kms (19 miles) north of the volcano, as it began its first eruption in thousands of years, in southern Chile May 2, 2008. Cases of electrical storms breaking out directly above erupting volcanoes are well documented, although scientists differ on what causes them. Picture taken May 2, 2008. (REUTERS/Carlos Gutierrez)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

UNCLE KEVIN AND LIZ

We made it to Chicago, after having a flat on the interstate, and spent time with Dawn's Uncle John and Aunt Yavette. Liz and Uncle Kevin found something to take a shot of...for me, it was them.

THINKING OF WARMER TIMES

With it being so cold here, I started thinking of warmer places. Cambodia is always warm, so I thought I'd mentally transport myself there, and pray for them too.

IN THE MOOD

WORST JOB EVER

IF I WERE JAMES BOND...

and I was asked what I wanted to drink, I'd say, " a Martini please, shaken, not stirred, on the rocks with a twist of lime," or something like that. Yesterday, my drink was Barium Sulphate, chilled, shaken, with a medical cap on top. That was in preparation for my CAT scan. I've been having lower abdominal pains, so the doctor checked for a hernia (turn and cough). "yea, there's something there, so let's get a CAT scan," he said.

I got the call this morning and they said everything looked normal. So no hernia I guess. I've also been having lower back issues and the doctor said it could be related to that. Time will tell. Maybe I need a girdle. Ughhh!

DOCTOR VISIT

Tomorrow I go to get a Cat Scan, so in celebration of this visit, I post one of my favorite comedians (Brian Regan)who has some appropriate words for me.

CHINA

I grabbed this photo from the Boston Globe in which they were profiling stories from China. The caption for this photo says kids in Hanyuan county, Sichuan province, China actually walk three hours to school, and walk along this path which has a 5000 foot drop off.

TIME TO RE-ARRANGE

Let's try this for awhile.

Psalm 121

I look up to the mountains-does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
-New Living Translation

FINANCIAL METLDOWN

Tyndale and Focus on the Family are publishing a new book due out early January. In light of all the financial mess we see happening in America, I know I need daily assurance about the future, especially with economic matters. I'm also pretty guilty of getting wrapped up in all the bad news and not taking my cues from God. I think over the next few posts, I will place some of the highlights I can grab from the book and put here, more or less as a reminder to myself, but if you find them helpful, great. Also, if you go to church and think this would be helpful to others in your church, talk to your pastor.


8 Things Not to Skimp On during Tough Economic Times
1. Giving (acknowledging God’s provision in this way really does bring peace)
2. Mortgage payment and property taxes
3. Utilities
4. Car maintenance
5. Health insurance
6. Patience and long-term vision
7. Bible reading and prayer
8. Fun times with your spouse and kids (just look for the many free or low-cost options available)

OFFICIAL HAIRCUT

It didn't start out too well

But it got better once he sat on mom's lap


The final look

It's still a little itchy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Two things:

Happy birthday to Dawn...guess how old she is? It's a significant one!

Secondly, I was going to put her picture up, but in backing up my pictures to a new portable hard drive, I lost all my pictures dating back to 2004. I freaked, sobbed a little, went for a walk, then came home and checked my work laptop, and to my relief, found what I think are most of the pictures I thought I lost. Good thing organization is not a strong point with me and I have things, including digital images scattered over several computers.

Oh yea, this post was not supposed to be about me. Happy Birthday Dawn! I'll be 40 soon too.

HE HATES THE TUB, NOT!

THE SNOW IS BACK

For those of you out west enjoying warm weather (and you know who you are), this photo is for you

STILL HERE

I will get around to posting more in the next few days and weeks. I just finished up one of my last weeks for traveling, and now I can look forward to more office time at home. I will go out a little more but it should be local. Sales conference in mid December will take me away for a week, and that's it.

We do have snow here, along with 25 degree weather. Will and I got on the internet and looked at homes for sale in Phoenix for the fun of it. Now I'm getting depressed. My Mom and Dad are out there now and I'm jealous.

Things I want to post:
1. Video of Liz and Will at their piano recital
2. Photos from Will playing basketball
3. A review of my Book of the Year, that I am still reading because I haven't had the time lately to finish it. It really is good though.
4. Things we plan to do this December now that I have more time to be at home.

FEET IN THE BACK

Sean has taken to sleeping in our bed again. About a week and a half ago, Sean started waking at 12:30 am and wanting to get in our bed. When he was getting up at 4:30-5:30 am, I could handle that, but this was too early. Dawn tried putting him back, but he would cry and cry, so we relented and alllowed him in our bed. I think at this point he is worried about something, so he doesn't sleep as soundly, wakes up, and comes over to our bed...that and he might be cold. When he is in our bed, he roles around, shoves his feet into our backs, and sucks his fingers at what seems like high decibels. I would admit, he keeps us warm but we wake up with sore backs.

On a side note, I started reading a book that I think may be my book of the year. I'll finish it first before I post my thoughts, though I will say this...I have found someone who can put into words the thoughts I have bouncing around in my head.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL

Happy 12th Birthday son.

SUNS vs PACERS

Will and I had a chance to see the Suns play the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. We've been there four times and love it each time. The Dallas Mavs visit in March.

Will waiting for the autograph

Even on his tip-toes, Nash isn't as tall as Shaq

YESTERDAY

Despite whatever your political leanings are, I thought this picture, which I obtained from another friend's blog, was interesting.

TARGET SHOOTING

WEEKEND AT GRANNIES

It was nothing like Weekend at Bernie's.

FIXED

Ok, the phone is fixed and we're off to Indiana for the weekend to see my parents.

NO PHONE SERVICE

If you've tried to call us, our phones have been out this week. Hopefully they are being fixed today.

New Faces

cy⋅a⋅no⋅sis   /ˌsaɪəˈnoʊsɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [sahy-uh-noh-sis] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Pathology. blueness or lividness of the skin, as from imperfectly oxygenated blood.
--
Origin:
1825–35; < NL < Gk kyánōsis dark-blue color. See cyan- 1 , -osis
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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We had Sean's 3 month heart check up yesterday. His oxygen levels are in the low 70's when he's calm, and it drops into the mid 60's when he cries. After we were there a but, the doctor tested him again and got an 81. Those without heart problems usually run at 95 or so. The doctor reassured us it is unlikely that any brain damage would occur. In fact, he has adult patients who have also been cyanotic, and are now studying to be engineers and doctors. Though he did not go into great detail, the doctor said there is amazing redundancy in the body, and therefore, if 70 percent of his blood is oxygenated well, the body draws on what it needs and returns with 40-50 percent oxygenated blood (not quite the doctors phrasing, but the best I can describe). So, Sean's body is self-adjusting well.

Unless something changes for the worst, we are looking at surgery for Sean when he is about 5 years old. We still don't know whether they would reconstruct one ventricle, or two, with two being the best option, but may not always be possible. We'll know more when he's closer to five. In the meantime, we watch him grow like a normal two year old and thank God we have the proviledge of being able to raise him and help him through the years of care he will need.

TAGGED

Well, I've been tagged and thus am required to tell you 7 things about myself you may not know. Then, I'm supposed to tag 7 more people to do the same. So watch out!

1. My parents named me after the actor Gary Cooper.
2. Preset button #1 on my Sirius radio is set to the music of the 80's.
3. I pine for Phoenix.
4. I've been to all but one city mentioned in the song, The Heart of Rock and Roll, by Huey Lewis and the News.
5. I can't stand it when people drive slow in the left lane!
6. I want a totally different career.
7. I only have two people I can tag for this game; with every other blog I read, they're not supposed to know I'm there.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

I've been in northern Michigan this week.

UNCOMMON

Coming this February

PALIN RALLY

My mom called the other day to say the band my dad plays in was invited to perform at a Sarah Palin rally on Saturday. I googled the Indianapolis Star newspaper to see what I could read about the event. To the side of the article was a listing of the photos of the event, so as I'm scrolling through the photos, who do I see on photo 54 of 69? My mom. She's on the far right. Here's how the caption read:

"Supporters of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, from left, Margie Fredel, Mary Chesak and Kathy Kelch, stand by a large McCain Palin sign at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, watching the Newton/Jasper Community Band perform for people arriving on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, for the Alaskan governor's speech. Fredel and Chesak are from Rensselaer and Kelch is from Remington. Their spouses play in the band. The "Road to Victory Rally" at the 24,000-seat venue is Palin's first trip to Indiana to try to help her presidential running mate, Sen. John McCain, win this typically red state on Nov. 4. . (Charlie Nye / The Star)"

LIGHT

Liz and I caught some light coming through the front door windows.

NOTHING GOING ON

I wish there were more going on. The woods by our house are looking nice...until you cross through the trees and see the new water tower they are building.

My Boys

As of Sunday, Will is under the weather and Sean has a new haircut (Only seen in the photo of Will and Sean together). The towel that's wrapped around Sean is only a hand towel, and that is why I think it's cute.

JAMES NACHTWEY

I first saw a documentary on James Nachtwey on the DOC cable network, and was intrigued about his life, how he would get a photo, and take care in developing the picture. In the latest TIME issue (dated Oct 13, 2008), there is a 4-5 page feature of photos Nachtwey has taken documenting a forgotten plague-Tuberculosis. To get a feel for his art, go to the following website and you can view some of his work.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

POSSESSIONS

From my devotions today:

Nobody can fight properly and boldly for the faith if he clings to fear of being stripped of earthly possessions. -Peter Damian-

Easier said than done.

SEVERAL SIDES OF LIZ