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

Puke and Love

Ok, Rachel and I have this agreement when it comes to Trent clean up: I clean what comes out the top, she cleans what comes out the bottom. I thought I had fooled her and given her the raw end of the deal...I was wrong! I got a phone call from Rachel today no more than five minutes after she left my office on her way to Ft. Wayne. All she said was, "Meet me at home. Trent's puking." Being the "save-the-day" wannabe dad/husband that I am, I said, "I'll be right there!" (You can almost see my chest puffed out and my hands on my waist a la superhero.)

I don't want to be gross so I will spare you the details, but I will say it was A LOT and it was CHUNKY! Very chunky! So after hosing down the car seat and the baby (and nearly throwing up several times myself) all we could do was laugh!

This "interesting" experience, though, was a reminder of Christ's love. I know, it sounds a little weird, but just follow me for a second. Come to find out, Trent had drunk from last night's bottle and that is what made him sick. I know I do the same thing and, no, that's not an analogy for drinking. There are things I desire that aren't good for me, much like Trent and his milk. Even when the consequences are nasty we know we can still go to our Father to "hose us down." The consequences are still there (in Trent's case I don't think that car will ever smell the same again), but God cleans up the mess and forgives us. Trent's filthy, smelly, nasty condition didn't change how much I love him, and our sin will never cause God to love us less (Romans 8).

Anyway, that's my "deep" thought for the day! By the way, does anyone know how to get the smell of curdled milk out of your nose?

ST

New Thoughts on Worship

Wow! I just realized I haven't blogged in over three months! Well, I'll have to catch up some other time.

Meanwhile, I've mentioned before that I read several blogs regularly. Today as I was catching up on my blog reading and I came accross this post by Josh Griffin. I won't quote the entire blog, but he refers to a situation at their church where a friend of his wife had just accepted Christ last week and was telling Josh's wife about it during the first couple of songs during their worship time. They were excitedly sharing about Jesus' love and this life change when the lady in front of them kept turning around and looking at them with "those eyes." She finally turned around and said, "I'm sorry, but can you guys talk to each other later? I'm trying to worship." To quote Josh, "during her 'worship' she missed the most beautiful expression of worship ever. Angels were dancing in Heaven and she was ticked on earth."

To be fair, we don't know what that woman may have been going through, therefore, I'm not trying to condemn her. How many times do we do the same? We get so into our little moment of what we believe to be "worship" that we miss the most important thing around us--life-change! If there's the slightest disruption we all turn to see who's being so disrespectful. I know I have and I do. Josh's last statement really caught my attention: "Maybe our first reaction to a diruption in the service is that God is up to something, instead of someone being distracted."

ST