First Incident

I got a voicemail from Rachel this morning that said "Trent busted his head. Could you please come home?" That's never good, especially with my family's history of head wounds. I ran home expecting to see blood everywhere, but instead I walked in to see Trent jumping on the bed in the in the guest room! Apparently he decided to climb up on a chair to get on the bed but the seat portion of the chair gave way and he went through head first cutting himself on a screw. No serious damage done, just a bump and small cut, but I guess the fun of having a son has officially begun!

ST

It's Official

After six years, yes, count 'em, six, I can finally say that I have a son!! Trent became a Todd yesterday at 11:05 AM. I'm still numb because it doesn't seem real yet. We've had Trent since he was 10 months old, which is almost a year and a half. For all practical purposes he was our son from day one, but now it's legal, baby!

He is now Trent Andrew Logan Todd.

We can't thank all of you who've prayed enough. This has definitely been a God thing, and we hope to raise Trent as God would see fit.

Thanks again.

ST

Shuffle Up and Deal 3

Here we go again. For those who haven't seen this, just hit shuffle on your iPod and list the first 5 songs that come up. I'm going for 10 this time.

1. God Almighty--Chris Tomlin 

2. Run--Hillsong Live 

3. Sovereign Hands--Hillsong United 

4. When A Man Loves A Woman--Marvin Gaye

5. The Heights--David Crowder 

6. I Got You, Babe--Sonny and Cher (Yes, that's on my iPod)

7. Open Your Eyes--Snow Patrol

8. Elevation--U2

9. I'm Not Ashamed--Hillsong

10. Majesty--Hillsong United

There it is!

ST

Quotes

I've been going over my notes from Catalyst today and have been picking out quotes that really stuck with me. Here are a few:

"Prioritize the role no one else can play over the role anyone can play." -Andy Stanley

"God, stretch me, heal me, ruin me." -Craig Groeschel  

"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing." -Craig Groeschel  

"Don't do to the next generation what the previous generation did to you." -Andy Stanley

"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near."

-Andy Grove

ST

Catalyst Update

I just returned from two of the most challenging days of my life. Catalyst stretched me in ways I don't even know yet! I'll be going over all my notes this week trying to get my head around some of it and I'll try to post as I figure it out.

ST

Big News

Yesterday was a day we knew would come but didn't really think it would be anytime soon. We finally have a date for Trent's adoption!

It's incredible to think that in less than six weeks he will be a Todd! This has been a long journey. A journey that has taken us to different places, both physical and emotional. We've been able to meet so many people and learn so many new things about God's grace and provision. I must confess that I was extremely hesitant at first, but now that I will be able to say that I have a son, it was all worth it.

It's been a long six years. Who knew God would bring us here!

ST

Sleepy Time

Once again, it has been forever since I've updated.

Anyway, I'll be getting a sleep study done tonight. What I thought would be something I'd have to deal with for the rest of my life, snoring, turns out may not be good for me. Apparently I may have sleep apnea, which means I stop breathing in my sleep and my brain doesn't get enough oxygen, and it's a little frightening. I just found out not long ago that my brother and several other family members have it.

I'll have to post more later because I'm beginning to make myself more nervous just talking about it.

ST

Shuffle Up and Deal 2

Rachel and I made up a new car game yesterday. I got an iPod car jack for Christmas so now all my tunes go with me. The game consists of setting your iPod to shuffle and try to guess if the next song is English or Spanish (if you don't know two different languages you'll have to make up your own rules). You can still play if you don't have an iPod. Just use the iTunes party mix. If you don't have iTunes, you're not cool, because it's the best music player out there and it's FREE!!
Here's another episode of Shuffle Up and Deal. For rules refer here.

1. Low--Coldplay
2. Amsterdam--Coldplay
3. Su Hijo Dio--Hillsong
4. A Whisper--Coldplay
5. Here In My Life--Hillsong

Not much of a shuffle!

ST

New Album

I just found out that Hillsong United is coming out with a new album in March! ROCK ON!!

ST

Echoes of Me

Wow! Once again I realize that this blog is updated far less than first intended!

Well, I have again seen a picture of myself in Trent. He's at the fun age of discovery. He's constantly learning new things as well as getting into everything! One of his favorite "hobbies" is getting into the dog's food and water dishes. He either throws food at Chico or splashes in the water. Now, he knows that is a "no, no" but that doesn't seem to matter most of the time. After hearing that repeatedly a couple of days ago he ended up in his bed for a while. When he was allowed to "think" (like that actually happens) about what he had done I brought him out, showed him the dishes, and said, for the hundredth time, "NO!" I put him down and continued with what I was doing, but not more than 30 seconds after that I see him head back to the dishes and squat down as close as he could to them. Before I could say anything to him he began shacking his head and saying "no, no". He would reach out his hand wanting to splash in the water, but didn't quite get close enough to it. He knew he was not supposed to mess with it, but he got as close as he could to it.

This was one of those moments where God just hit me upside the head! That is me! I get as close as I can to sin without actually sinning (is that even possible?). I know it's wrong and I know it brings consequences, but still I want to get as close as I can! I tell myself "no" but, like Paul, I end up doing that which I don't want. It makes me wonder if God feels the same way as a Father as I feel as a father--frustrated when our child knows what to do and doesn't do it.

It's amazing how God can use a 16-month-old little boy to work in the life of a 30-year-old man (some would still say boy!) to give him little wake up call and reminder. The Christian walk keeps life interesting!


ST