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Multi-blogger…

Today will be a multi-blog day. I have several things to blog about, but they aren’t all coming in at one time, so I’ll just blog several times……

First things first.

Father’s day!!!

Man, Father’s Day was awesome!!! What made it awesome? Well, you’ll never believe it, but I simply spent time with Lovely and Lil’ Bear. That’s what made it so rockin’. Saturday night after fajita slingin’, the el Toro three jumped up in the “Gas-Saver” (a loaner car from the in-laws. It’s a V8, F-150 that absolutely drinks gas), went over to Truss-Vegas to the Super Target. We grabbed a few things for our PaPas. Then we drove over to Roebuck for a bite to eat. We had to jet right as we got our food since Lil Bear was over-exhausted and causing a rucus. We finally got home, put Bear to bed and Lovely and I just talked for a good 2 hours. About what? Just stuff. Like we did when we were dating back in the day. We just laughed and joked and had fun.
Sunday: Church! WooHoo!!!
Then off to Lovely’s grandparents for a “Hi-Bye” and to my grandparents for a “Hi-Bye” then off to LLC.

A few songs and a nice rendition of Trading my Sorrows a capella from the LoveLadies. The walls shook!

Then Lovely, Lil Bear, and I just went out for some time just talkin’. Lil Bear was occupied so Lovely and I just talked and laughed and cut-up like the old days again. I sure do love my wife.
I sure am thrilled to be a daddy.

Pennies from heaven…

So we at the University received our raises today. Yep the final numbers are in. I got a 2.85% raise. That amounts to about one cheap date (and I do mean cheap) at McDonald’s every two weeks or a ultra-cheap date @ a sit down place like Applebee’s once per month. Of course, don’t forget to tip…that’s at least five bucks, right? (That’s for all you bad, cheap-skate tippers that think that waiters make a killin’.)

Am I complaining? Well, it may sound like it, but I’m grateful. That means I give more when I tithe. That means that I can put one more dollar in the gas tank. It means that if I save the money that over the next year Lovely and I could take a very small weekend vacation.

You see, it may not seem to add up, but it does. I mean, over roughly 20 years I would have saved just over $12,000 just by saving my raise. And that is if I never got another raise.

Thank you, old University. May your halls forever be full.

Forgot to mention…

I did start back with the Grieving Fathers Group on Google. I haven’t had much time to post or anything, but if you are a grieving father or know someone who is, check this out. You can add your posts, your thoughts, and whatever else.

Please note that this group is meant for the encouragement of men. This group is not for bickering about wives or discussing crude and “adult” topics. While a few things may be addressed, this group will maintain values of the Bible. No coarse jesting and lude talk!!

Thanks in advance for checking it out.

Father’s Day is coming…

Father’s Day is just a few days away. Congrats to all the Dads out there!!!!!

At one thought I can’t wait for Sunday, and with another thought I am a little sad.

I am grateful for little bear. She is growing so much and she is already using a few words and doing her best to walk…IT 8 MONTHS!!!!!! She is saying “Bite,” “Pop Pop,” “Bye,” and she is trying to get “Ma ma” under control. You can watch her. She watches our faces when we sound the words. She tries to emulate what we are doing with our mouth. She laughs and cackles like crazy. Yet, my heart is still sad that our second baby died. It is still very fresh on my mind and heart.

So while I will enjoy my very first Father’s Day with a baby in my arms, I will have a piece of my heart that is left behind for our second baby. Is that unhealthy? Nope. It’s like when you have a grandparent that you loved dearly pass away…you remember them…part of your heart will always miss them. But how can you miss someone you never met? Well, I spent time talking to BN2 through Lovely’s belly. I patted her belly. I prayed over the baby. My point is that when you devote time and energy on something you begin to care and have love set aside for it. It becomes your identity. Whether “it” is spending time with your baby or your wife or the Bible. It could even be your job that you despise so much.

So everyday, but especially on Sunday…the blessed Father’s Day, hug your child and pray over them. Spend time with them. Spend time with your dad if you can. Just remember that God is your Father above your earthly one…so spend plenty of time with God too.

What the future holds…

I can’t wait. I don’t really know what is ahead as far as details go. I do have a general direction though. I am so “psyched out of my mind about” it.

Here is what I do know.

We have to move. I need to cut back on my work hours. I need more tattoos.

(Okay, so the last one is not really a need, but I wish it was a need.)

It’s time for some awesome things to happen. My Lovely was reading to me as I lay in the bed with a temp of just under 100 and a massive migraine. 2 Corinthians. Just the first chapter and a half. That means so much. We are going through all of this craziness so we can comfort others. I honestly would have never thought about that, but it’s true.

So, until all the crazy hours and housing situation comes through, I will be comforted. God knows best for me, Lovely, and little bear. It’s all in His hands.

For the low, low price of…

Why are dealerships so expensive? It isn’t like they are the only ones that sell the original equipment parts.

Case in point…I was told that as a cause of one of the cylinders not firing is that my ignition coil pack is not working correctly and may need to be replaced. Now, I didn’t say, “Uh-huh” to the first thing that someone said. I did the responsible thing and read the manual. Everything pointed to the coil pack. Now to explain what a coil pack is would be to say that it is “today’s distributor cap.”

So I called the dealership. Price for a new Ignition for an Ignition Coil Pack $149.20 + tax
Then I called an auto parts chain. Price for the same part. no difference $107.99 + tax

I don’t get it? I mean. The dealership is going to charge you by the time you add tax $162.63 and THEN charge you for putting it on, but I bet they will drag their feet and end up charging you like the part is inside the engine when it is right by the hood latch. The only thing that holds it on is four bolts and (on the Silver Sloth) six spark plug wires. It took me 4 minutes to take the part off including disconnecting the battery.

Dealerships are good for one thing…..buying a car. You can find a brand dealer certified mechanic that doesn’t charge you $5 billion for the part and $10 billion for the labor.

Of course, here again is a great example of capitalism. Woo Hoo! That and oil/gas prices.

Up to my elbows in it…

My daughter is the most beautiful little girl ever. I know I know. I’m partial, right? Wrong. I’m flat out honest. I’ve seen some babies born within the last year that are down right homely. There is nothing cute about them. The only thing they have going for them is the are compact and they move easily.

But about my Little Bear…This weekend, the silver sloth broke down with Shady and little bear @ the helms…they were on their way to pick me up from work. Shady called me and said, “The car…it won’t go more than about 20 mph and it is starting to overheat! What do I do?” I told her to pull it over and I’d hitch a ride out there (it was only about 7 minutes from the restaurant). By the time I got there, Shady’s dad (Gruff) was there and unloading little bear and the typical baby stuff.

We opened the hood and looked around…Everything seemed normal until we cranked it. Not good!!!!

Anyway…long story short…we stay @ the Gruff and Nana’s house over the weekend to work on the car.

Saturday night Shady and I are sharing a double bed or whatever size is just smaller than a queen. Little bear is sleeping in her pack-n-play in the same room. Bear wakes up when I start to snore (of course, I was snoring…I didn’t hear her wake). So next thing I know, I feel this little hand on my face. I open my eyes and little bear giggles. Then she looks at me and mutters, “P—P—Pop Pop.” She said it so softly as not to wake the birds outside. I smiled with an I’ve-only-had-one-hour-of-sleep-but-darn-isn’t-that-the-best-thing-ever smile and touched her face. “*Little Bear*,” I said . She giggled. Then she looked at Shady and turned over and went to sleep.

That little girl has the ability to melt away a day’s anger and frustration of a blown up vehicle with just a simple, “P—p—Pop Pop.)

That was the first time she called to me. We’ve been trying to have her call me Popi, but Pop Pop is just fine with me. As long as she calls on me.

Popi’s Day a.k.a. Father’s Day

Father’s Day is June 17th this year. It is a day when we recognize fathers and what they do. Some don’t do anything. Some do too much. Some are much like the Baby Bear and are just right.

I’ve been a dad for nearly eight months now…since October 12, 2006. Her name…well, we call her Little Bear here on the Blogspot.

She has meant the world to me. As a new dad (about 3 weeks into daddy-dom) a father further in the voyage said, “They get more fun later. You’re probably bored right now because she (Little Bear) is much like a lump of skin and bones just needing to be feed or changed or put down for a nap.” Well, I must say that the individual was wrong. Within a week or so, Little Bear was smiling. Within another couple of weeks, she was laughing. From there Little Bear has just grown and grown. Sure there are days were she is just fussy. It is usually that she is tired, hungry, or needs a new diaper…or as we have found, she just misses daddy.

So to all of those fathers out there. Happy early Father’s Day.

Why do I wish you a happy one? Well, it seems that Popi’s Day occurs on two Thursdays before Father’s Day. So I got my Popi’s Day present last night.

What was it?

A ton of studio made pictures of Little Bear.

That was the best present I’ve ever been given.

So long sweet girl.

She was so sweet, yet so ornery. She was Bi-Polar without a doubt.

She would sit in your lap and cuddle one minute and then bite you, hiss, and run down the hall and puke.

We met in Gadsden in the dwelling of the ForrestGreen Road.

You hated me…I was repulsed by you.

It was 4 months of hell for both of us.

You would sit in my spot and not move.

I would move you.

You would bite.

You were transferred down the hall.

You puked.

Finally, we realized that we were both misunderstood.

Neglected one way or another.

That began a wonder-filled three and a half years of cuddles and spit baths and leg rubbing.

You starting losing weight and I knew something was wrong. I held you as much as I could…when I could find you.

Today, you have been gone for five days. My heart is torn. When you have such a connection it is hard to let go. I know that you are gone. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there when you decided to say “goodbye.” I wish I had one more evening with you in my lap. Just cuddling. Just enjoying each other’s company and watching TV.

I’ll miss you, sweet girl. I’ll make a monument for you. You deserve it.

Message is not what it seems…

You have been used and exploited your whole life. You’ve been mistreated and bent out of shape from an early age. Spotlights and cameras. Millions and luxury. Pitfalls of your surrounded. Dispair and death was your soulmate until you made a decision to straighten everything out with what was going on with you. I commend you. Choosing a life not paralleled by the twisted surrounders of the past. In fact we seem to know the same basic truth in that we both call on God for our forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross. Niether of our lives have been the straightest of lives, but does that mean we have it all down pat now? No! We are all, or should be working toward Christlikeness. No one sin is greater than another, so it is said, but there are six things that God hates; seven are an abomination. Your words give a thumbs-up to several of these. I will pray for you to continue to let God change your heart, mindsets, and your life. Run from your bent views. Run from your twisted form. Let the scriptures change your mind. Let God speak to you again. Get out of your head and get away from what the world tells you is okay. Flee from sin, Mr. Thumbs-Up for Rainbow-colored paperclips. Your words are weighed heavily for you desire a higher calling. That higher calling requires more of you from God. Your words are held against you just as my words are held against me.