Archive for Love
Ten Years (+6 +2)
Photo courtesy Tanner Hawkins
Ten years is one of those milestones like turning 30.
I feel older just by saying the number.
Then when I start to add in the other numbers, like us being an “official” couple for 6 years prior to getting married, and dating 2 years prior to that (that’s 18 total for those too lazy to do the math), my head starts to get dizzy.
But I can still remember the exact moment that I fell for her.
We had just moved to town, my dad having accepted a preaching position at the Tecumseh Church of Christ.
On our first Sunday night after church I took a walk around town with the rest of the youth group.
I was 14 years old and getting ready to enter my sophomore year in high school.
She was 12 and getting ready to begin the 7th grade.
We were on North Oneida St., just in front of what used to be the middle school.
She turned to me and said something about that building being a “prison.”
Her blue eyes mesmerized me.
They were so bright, and blue, and full of life.
And I’ve never ever gotten over them (or that smile).
18 years later I’ve enjoyed getting to know what’s behind those eyes just as much as I enjoy looking into them.
1992
Mark by Ben
I really can’t count how many levels of awesome this story has, but I want to be the kind of father that produces a son like this.
Mark Gullett, the marketing director with the Tampa Bay Lighting, knew that he was in danger of being laid off. So his son, Ben, 14, came up with the idea of producing a YouTube video touting his dad’s employment credentials. When Mark was laid off on Thursday, Ben posted his video. (more…)
Spread The Love Around
Spread The Love Around – Michael Waite
I woke up in the morning.
I pulled the covers over my head
I tried to use the telephone,
but the telephone was dead.
I looked outside the window
and saw the snow piling high
I bid good morning to my pink catfish
but my pink catfish had died
“This cannot be happening.
I’ve been such a nice guy.”
So I called on my old Grandma
and this was her reply:
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We’ve got to spread the love around
I stood beside a river
Saw a spirit come bubbling up
He tried to tell me I was wrong
and that I should not look up
I said “I understand you man.
I’ve said the same thing many times.
But the only place it ever led me
was wallowing in slime.
You too can give up your grief.
Your life can be peaceful.
You may have to lose your pride
but at least you’ll feel alive.”
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We’ve got to spread the love around
I know someday I’m gonna go that way.
I’m gonna take a little walk
in the valley of death
Walking in the valley in the shadow of death
I’ll be walking on down that road.
And His rod and His staff are gonna comfort me
Like a whole world of brothers gonna comfort me
Like a father and a mother gonna comfort me
Though I walk on down alone.
For I’ve seen it on Earth how He makes me to lie
In the pastures of plenty with the clear blue sky
Birds and bumblebees bumbling by
Singing this song to me:
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We all know what to do
We’ve got to spread the love around
Walking The Walk
As Tonia and I have begun taking steps to adopt, I have drawn on the experience of those that have gone through it already. One of those people is my good buddy BUSH. Steven Bush and his wife Maris have been on a journey to adopt August for over a year.
Recently that journey became a reality and I couldn’t be happier for those two. It inspires me to know that though this process may be long and grinding, the reward at the end is new life.
If you’d like to help them out with the cost of adoption (as well as diapers) BUSH happens to be an outstanding photographer and is selling prints of some of his best work to raise money. Click on this link to see what’s available. They’d make a great Christmas present!
Church & State
“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. If the church does not participate actively in the struggle for peace and for economic and racial justice, it will forfeit the loyalty of millions and cause men everywhere to say that it has atrophied its will.
But if the church will free itself from the shackles of a deadening status quo, and, recovering its great historic mission, will speak and act fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind and fire the souls of men, imbuing them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice, and peace. Men far and near will know the church as a great fellowship of love that provides light and bread for lonely travelers at midnight.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.,
A Knock at Midnight
Movie Reviews
Herbie Fully Loaded – 4/5 Really Liked It
Watched this because Tonia and Tanner were watching it for the 17th time one evening. It was surprisingly fun to watch. It had that mac guy in it (who was great) and Lindsay Lohan showed what could have been had she not taken the paths she took later in life.
The Constant Gardner – 4/5 Really Liked It
Slowly paced but in the end you’ll be happy you saw this one. It’s a great love story, as well as a great testament to taking action against injustice. To my surprise there was very little gardening going on.
What Would Jesus Buy? – 3/5 Liked It
Could have been so much better. I agreed with the premise, and I even laughed a few times, but it was lacking that punch that could have made this a real winner. It did reinvigorate my quest to kill santa however.
Walk Hard – 3/5 Liked It
I laughed out loud a lot during this movie, especially during the first 30 minutes as they parodied Walk The Line. But then they started showing male appendages and I did a few dry heaves. It also seemed to drag on there at the end, which is weird for a 90 minute movie.
Kite Runner – 5/5 Loved It
It took a good 10 minutes to get used to the sub-titles, but this was a great movie. I may end up reading the book even though I know how it turns out. It’s just a well done movie of a really great story.
Punch-Drunk Love – 3/5 Liked It
Quirky movie, but after it gets rolling the second half is pretty good and you find yourself enjoying the characters. Adam Sandler did a really good job in this one.
Stealth – 2/5 Didn’t Like It
A Tonia special—she loves the action flicks. Too bad this movie sucked. It’s hard to imagine given the stellar cast, but man… so bad. Possibly the worst ending line in a movie ever. I did have fun laughing at it with Tonia though.
The Insider – 4/5 Really Liked It
How can you go wrong with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino? I’m not sure how I missed this movie nine years ago, but it didn’t disappoint. It’s kinda scary how powerful the tobacco companies are. Major props to guys like Jeffrey Wigand who are willing to put their lives on the line for what’s right.
Nine Years
We’re practically an old married couple at this point.
I was searching around for a fun picture of the two of us to post. I’ve already used this and this, but the one posted above from our recent vacation is my current favorite picture of the two of us. And it probably most exemplifies our life after 9 years of marriage, 15 as a couple.
Such love. Such joy. (Such forehead!)
We’re two pea’s in a pod.
You’re Still The One — Shania Twain
In Case You Missed It
He was here and gone in a flash, but I can’t thank Shaun Groves enough for sacrificing his own time to come visit us at NewSong yesterday. And for giving us a fresh vision of the “Good News.”
And the 37 saved lives thank you as well.
» ShaunGroves.com
» CompassionInternational.com
» CompassionBloggers.com
Joy Apparel
I just ordered a shirt from my new friend Jeff from Joy Apparel.
Joy apparel is a socially conscious t-shirt company created to promote peace and equality on a global scale. Here’s how it works.
1. Visit JoyTshirt.com
2. Pick a face (and passion)
3. Pick a color and size
4. Wait for your shirt to arrive
5. Wear your shirt and think about the person on your heart
6. Submit a photo of yourself for rest of the world to wear
When I was picking mine out I wanted a good passion to go with the face. It was great fun looking through all of the different passions each person stated. After a tough decsion I landed on Tim Mann from Toronto. His passion was simple and pretty close to one I would state — Music. Jesus. Loving People.
What’s your passion?
