July 2012

I have been thinking for a while now that I wanted to get a new camera and today, I finally pulled the trigger and made the purchase. After a lot of research, talking with several friends, I finally went with the Canon T3i.  After a lot of discussion with my wife, looking at finances, etc. it came down to two simple things:

1) I don’t want to miss any moments of my boys growing up and this camera would not only allow for simple point and click photos, but would also allow for us to video tape them as well. And the camera if very easy to use, but more importantly,

2) If you look at what we were paying our photographer, $150 for the sitting fee, $300 for the prints and we did this 3 times their first year, this camera will pay for itself in the  2nd year.

I am really excited about getting this camera and ready to start taking photos of the boys on a more regular basis. And after a lot of research, going to stores and holding the camera, I really think that I am going to enjoy taking photos again. Maybe a new hobby?

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Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken biscuit

 

In case that you have lived under a rock for the last two weeks, you might have heard that the CEO, Dan Cathy,
made comments recently about the “support of the traditional family”, i.e. the marriage between a man and a woman.

Today I was asked by a friend what I thought of all this, because 1) I would have an opinion, 2) I watch the news on a daily basis and I keep up with going on and 3) I am a Christian.  So here is a summary of my response.

  • The CEO of a private of company made a public comment
  • What if McDonald’s or a company founded or run by an atheist, would they be the same standard?
  • Did they know realize that Chick-Fil-A was founded on Christian principles?
  • Aren’t we all humans and why can’t we enjoy some waffle fries?

So to expand on these a little more, here is what I was trying to get at.

The CEO of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy, made a comment about his personal views about the company. His comment was in regards to the “support of the traditional family”.  At no time did he mention that Chick-Fil-A was refusing a gay person or their significant other a meal? Did he mention that Chick-Fil-A would not franchise out a new store to a gay couple? No.

But let’s take it a step further. What if McDonald’s had made the same statement? Would there be the same outcry?  And what if the owner of a private McDonald’s franchise was an atheist, would they receive the same negative press? I don’t have an answer to that question.

But who doesn’t know that Chick-Fil-A isn’t owned and for the most part, operated by Christians that own franchises? For goodness sake, they are closed on Sundays. Seriously? What more do you want to know? Do a few Google searches and you  will quickly realize where the founding principles of the company come from. But, take a step back and ask yourself again, if an atheist owned a company, would you have the same response? Would people/the public/the news be so quick to jump to the same conclusions and statements? Here is just 1 article that I found from Forbes.com.

So for my disclaimer, I do not know Dan Cathy or for that matter, anyone that works at Chick-Fil-A. However, I do love their food. The spicy chicken sandwich and waffles fries are off the hook. That being said, here are my personal views. I don’t care that Dan Cathy made these comments, because, he as a business owner, made a statement about his company. A statement, that should not have shocked anyone. I truly believe that if you were to poll 10 people, they would almost all agree that Chick-Fil-A is a Christian company.  But to go 1 final step, a private citizen, who made a comment, but did not discriminate against anyone entering into one of their stores. The Muppets have been dropped by Chick-Fil-A, the Mayor of Boston tells Chick-Fil-A to stay out of Boston, and now Governor Huckabee is launching a Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.

Where does it all end? I just want a Spicy Grilled Chicken and some waffle fries from Chick-Fil-A and call it a day.

 

 

 

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Adversity is defined by Webster as:

Definition of ADVERSITY

: a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty or adverse fortune

Sometimes in life, things happen. Sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. But the question is, how do you handle it? Do you lose your cool? Do you do a dance and rejoice?

I am realizing more and more, that even though my sons are still very young, I can start now teaching them how to handle adversity. Instead of losing my cool, take a step back and reevaluate the situation. Now, I realize that we are talking about babies that are not even 15 months old yet. But, I can talk with them when they get upset. I can start now trying to verbally calm them and divert their attention and focus, in hopes, that when life throws them a curve ball one day, that they can handle it and over come the situation.

Adversity.

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Being sick is hard enough as an adult, but I think that being sick as a parent is even harder. It is not just, take care of yourself, rest and feel batter. no, it is all of those things, and take care of your kids.

Well, tonight, my wife is sick, probably with a cold. So, I get to be super dad. I am taking care of the kids, got them ready for bed and then took care of my wife. It definitely makes for a long night. The kids are down, I have a cold Flying Dog Pale Ale and just threw in the classic movie Swingers.

So tonight, as I settle down for the evening, I hope that the boys sleep well, that my wife feels better and that the sofa isn’t too uncomfortable.

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I took the boys out Saturday to lunch and was amazed by the number of people that stopped by and spoke to the boys. And the funny thing, is that most of the parents complimented me on how well behaved that the boys were. I guess because I am with them all the time, I do not think anything of it.

The hardest part for me when we go out to eat, is how messy that they can be sometimes. I have to remember that they are only 1, but still. They drop puffs on the floor. They drop really whatever we give them to eat on the floor to be honest. But all in all, they are good eaters are not as messy as I have seen some. But the one thing that I always do, is I always try to ask our wait staff for a broom so that I can clean up after them. It is not the wait staffs problem that the boys drop their food.  Now, in saying that, I have yet to be handed a broom, but I really think that the wait staff just appreciates the offer.

I think that the earlier that you can get your kids into a routine in a restaurant, the better that you’ll all be down the road. And the reality of it, is that a 1 year old, will be messy. That is just part of life. But you can also start by setting a good example by offering to clean up too, so that your children can follow suit in the future.

 

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Tonight, as I watch my boys run around the living room and laugh, my thoughts are filled with the shootings that took place in Colorado tow nights ago at the Batman premiere.

The shootings were yet another case of senselless violence. And yes, there will be plenty of time to debate gun control in the future. But tonight, let’s take a moment and hold your kids and loved ones a little tighter and give them an extra kiss.  Treasure these moments and be grateful for the time that you have together.  And tonight, say a prayer, not only for the souls that were taken away from this world way too early, but for their families that are left behind. As they will never for the events from that night. And their lives have forever been changed.

 

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It is funny, with having two boys, I have noticed that they do things at different times. One started walking first and then the other started talking. Well, that has flipped. Baby B, which walked first, is still walking, but now talking more. And Baby A, who talked first, is just now starting to really walk.

The boys are different, they are their own individual personality.  And to continue their differences, Baby A has just started to give me a hug when he sees me. And he really loves to hug me when we are rocking at night. There is just something amazing about when they wrap their arms around you. I could be having the worse day and I could get a hug from the boys and my day has turned around completely.

Unconditional love is an amazing thing.

 

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Saving Money

In this day in time, where credit card debt has risen, I think that it is important to start teach children financial responsibility.  My wife and I have started setting aside $50 a month, per child and putting it into their bank account. Yes, we did establish a bank account for our children, and we did so for multiple reasons:

1) It is a credit union and we could get them established as members very early on.
2) If we put a minimum of $50 a month, for 1 year, that is $600 a year. If we maintain this pattern, they will have $7,200 per child after 16 years.  *This is not factoring in any interest.
3) We are encouraging others to donate to our boys, instead of giving them toys, that will only increase their bank account.
4) We are teaching the boys financial responsibility and really encouraging them to save for their future.

In a day and time where families are spending money at a rapid pace, teaching the boys the importance of saving money at an early age, is so important.

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Today, I found out that a close friend’s 12 year old son has cancer.  Though it doesn’t appear that the cancer has spread, but it is in his jawbone and needs to be treated.  I am close to their family and hearing the Cancer word just threw me. My wife and I have gone through a few firsts this past year with friends:

  • A close couple split up and will be filling for divorce
  • My wife’s best friend was diagnosed and is undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer
  • And now this friend’s son has cancer

It sucks. Plain and simple. But it also makes you realize how precious life is and how important each and everyday is. Do not take today for granted. We are not promised tomorrow.

Love your friends and family. Kiss your kids every chance that you get and make sure that you over use the word I Love You.

Today, I say a special prayer for my friends and my little buddy Baylor, knowing that he has a long road ahead, but if any kid can fight through life’s challenges, it is him.

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When my dad started driving, the cost of gas was $0.16 a gallon. When I started driving, the cost of gas was $0.89 a gallon. Today, 20 years later, the cost of gas is between $3.50 – $4.00 plus, depending on where you live, with a national average of $3.66 a gallon. So what has changed?

This article does a great job of summing up the reason, read here.  But the bigger question is not why, but what are we going to do about it? The reality comes down to two things, 1) oil speculators and 2) alternative sources of fuel.

Until there is additional restrictions placed on the oil speculators, the price of gas is going to be in a state of influx and more importantly, will remain high. And fuel alternatives have been in the works for years, bu the demand has not reached the point for car companies to build a mass quantity of cars that will run on fuel alternatives. Hybrids have not taken off as economists expected. Natural gas is an interesting alternative, which has a lot of potential, however, there are not enough natural gas stations, which causes a problem. And then there is always the always unpopular idea of drilling in the Anwr in Alaska. This would take time to get setup and running, but read here the benefits.

Bottom line, something has to be done. Regardless of what your political beliefs are, an alternative has to be created, because higher gas prices are and will continue to have an effect on our cost of goods. Which in return, means less money in your pocket and less for your family.

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