The Shelter

To all who are looking down
Holding on to hearts still wounding
For those who've yet to find it
The place is near where love is moving
Cast off the robes you're wearing
Set aside the names that you've been given
May this place of rest in the fold of your journey
Bind you to hope
You will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (Never walk alone)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (Your arms are all around us)

If our hearts are turned to stone
There is hope we know the rocks will cry out
And the tears aren't ours alone
Let them fall into the hands that hold us
Come away from where you're hiding
Set aside the lies that you've been living
May this place of rest in the fold of your journey
Bind you to hope
We will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (You will never walk alone)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jars-of-clay-lyrics/shelter-lyrics.html)
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

If there is any peace
If there is any war
We must all believe
Our lives are not our own
We all belong

God has given us each other
And we will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (We will never walk alone)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live
(In the shelter of each other we will never walk alone - never walk alone)

Win or Lose

I've been playing a lot of basketball lately. It really was my first love. Some of my fondest memories are when I was little playing Nerf basketball in my bedroom while watching and listening to Reggie Miller or Michael Jordan light it up night after night. I can remember my mom's disgust when I would come downstairs for a drink and I would be sweating profusely because of the game that was going on in my room. When I was little I always won of course, that's what was most important.

Being close to 30 now, basketball has a very different place in my life. It's recreation, necessary exercise. Because of this, I have found my view on winning and losing shifting more towards "how you play the game". I'd much rather have fun playing the game. I'd much rather get the exercise that I most definitely need. I'd much rather swap stories with the other guys about our kids. Winning and losing has become secondary.

This isn't terribly deep ... but I am just trying to take that old adage and apply it to other areas of life. There are some really exciting things in store ... but, win or lose, its really just about how you play the game. It's how you carry yourself, the decisions you make, the respect you give others and the people you love.

Josh Ritter - Change of Time

Our Giving of Thanks ... In Pictures (and words)

I tried my hand at frying turkey for the first time ever.  It was DELICIOUS and scary.  I would definitely do it again.  So what if we took a hair dryer to the bird to make sure it was defrosted ... whats it to ya???

Jack modeling his new, Elmer Fudd-esque, winter hat.  Very becoming.  Biggest thing is he actually LIKES to wear it. Where as last year it was more of a challenge to get him to go anywhere with a hat on.  Point, parents.

We went to get our tree and jolly ole St. Nick was there!  What are the chances!  Jack was very excited about this quality time with the bearded one.  He asked for Spiderman.  He did not act as his dear old dad did when I used to go see Santa ... lets just say I had a slight aversion to the red jumpsuit when I was little.

 

And the finished product from the trip to the tree farm.  It makes no difference that its only been a week and its as dead as a doornail.  IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE I SAY.  

Also, I've had some not so subtle suggestions to stop posting music.  "I don't like it", "I won't listen to it", "Wedding Birch is a PANSY" ... etc ... I know these are just words, but they still hurt!

I would urge those handful of peeps checking out my blog to watch the twitter feed on the right side.  Or go ahead and join yourself and we can share micro-blogging glimpses of our lives together.  It's fun.  As Jack once said ... "dad, are you checking your twitters on?"

Yes, buddy, I certainly am.

Hello World

Powerful song and video.  Good reminder of what to be thankful for these days.

Love you Linds, Jack & Macy!

Hello World - Lady Antebellum

Stay Frosty

Last night, amidst a relaxing night of nothing, a crime wave was brewing on the North side of town.  As we sat in our quaint house we were startled by a loud thump on our porch window at approximately 20:30.  Simultaneously, I was in the middle of an HBO mini-series about the Iraqi war that I received via Netflix. 

The episode I was watching was aptly called "Stay Frosty", which in military terms means to "be on your toes", except with a high powered assault rifle.

Back to the thump.

As I peered out the window I saw a slimy membrane sliding down the window.  Also, half a farm fresh egg shell (size large) was on the sill.  I quickly ran to the garage and grabbed Jack's small, yet very real, aluminum bat.

I walked around the house ready for whatever danger might befall me.

Oddly there was nothing.  Silence.  A few minutes later a random car went by.  I promptly alerted the police which I'm sure helped their evening to go a little faster.

More than likely, it was just a rascally teenager looking for an adrenaline rush.  We've all been there at some point during our high school years.  But I was sort of hoping for a little more action.

Oh well ... maybe next time.  I'll be "staying frosty" for the foreseeable future.

Light Outside

I heard this song a while ago but I still find myself listening to it about every other day just because its so good.  The guys accent is just peculiar enough to keep me listening.  Also who among us doesn't like a video with confused hipsters? 

*raises hand*


Wakey Wakey - Light Outside

Healing is in Your Hands

Just throwing this out here ... amazing song.