happy holidays

Merry Christmas!

i'm headed to Ohio in a couple days and much to do before then ....so i wish everyone a Merry Christmas....cya when i get back!    Hugz!

heard from kyle

heard from my son today    received a dvd with him on it   he was in kuwait   he looked a bit different in his demeanor that is   i noticed the change about 3weeks or so before he left during our phone conversations   he says he's fine, not to worry   he did admit he was a little nervous   maybe a lot by my view   he's gotten really serious in the last month not that i blame him   he usually is cutting up like a clown all the time    but it was good to see his face and hear from him    he requested i get a copy to my mom and i'll hand carry that this next week when i get to Ohio    she's the one to finish raising him the last 8yrs or so before he went into the army   Goodness, i need to watch it again    i know he's really growing up fast now in Iraq   God i keep him and all our troops in my prayers    he said he'll be home in august, let's hope the govt keeps it that way or bring 'em home sooner....

affirmation of the day

COURAGE

i am courageous.  i will not give up.  step by step my courage grows deeper and stronger.  i embrace the new and unknown.  my courage makes me brave.  i explore what iis possible without hesitation.  the wisdom of others inspires me daily.  i have the courage to let go of who i am for who i can become.  ever onward!...my strenght and resolve run deeep.  i boldly ask for what i want.  i surround myself with courageous and passionate people.  i follow my heart.  i give myself permission to be courageous.  i act in spite of my fears.  i choose to live filled with courage.  i look ahead and go for it.  i am no longer afraid.  i choose to be powerful.

the above affirmation is written on a blanket   it's called an affirmawrap    these blankets came into the office earlier this month and the office crew went crazy for them   we didn't know they were coming for our transformation team ordered them for fundraising for our move to our new church    of course i had to get girlfriend M one   in her favorite color purple and affirmation of abundance    i gift wrapped it and gave it to her immediately, but it wasn't until last nite that she finally opened it    she was estatic   she loved the blanket as much as i did    i bought me the one on courage   anyhows it was a great Christmas gift that came in unexpectedly   i had already bought her a book for the holiday, but this was even better   there are other affirmawraps and i hope to also buy the one on serenity    don't know where our transformation team ordered these, but way to go!

Lobo Basketball

first,  Thanks Jimmy for reminding me of second chances   now i have all the time in the world for it....now...i'm home from the game tonite   it was a women's game tonite   i'm not sure i mentioned recently or not, but i'm ushering at the men and women's basketball games now   i don't get paid, but the game is free   this weekend the women had another tournament   that means 5-6hrs of being at The Pit each nite for the two games   it's 3-4hrs for one game   we have to be there about 2hrs before tip off   we hang around for about an hour, then people start trickling in    but it's exciting and enjoying meeting people   i now have my own post i call it, the same section every ball game   there are certain people, mostly older folks, that come to both the men and women's games sitting in the same place every time   now i just pass them thru without looking at their tickets    so tonite i thought i wanted to stay later than our leaving time for the Lobos vs UCLA   it was a close game, but i realized within a couple minutes we had the game under control   plus i didn't want to mingle with the traffic on the way out    so i left with plenty time left in the game    on a one game nite we get to leave with 5mins left in the game   two games, we get to leave 10mins left in the second game   by the time i get home the Lobos games are over and all i have to do is check the website for the final score   yep we won by 9 the final score reflected   poor refereeing tonite on both teams in my opinion and there was tons of fouls   anyways, we survived    i get to see some friends even former co-workers to attend all the games   and tonite i even saw a nice lookin' woman   now if ony i had the courage to ask her for coffee  and then again who knows if i'd see her again    anyways, it was a good nite, but i was tired    i didn't make it to last nite's games because i think i had a 24hr bug   felt much better today but not 100% yet    another good nite and good day's rest i should be fine     right now i'd like a cup of coffee, but it's way too late for it   sure smelled good at the game    so guess i'll go grab a glass of milk and a book or watch tv to wind down       everyone take care   cya soon....

Boise State University

Boise State U ...i was reading the sports page this morn on aol   reading about BSU and their bowl game coming up   it brought back memories of when i was there   i attended BSU for a year   this is when i really got into photography taking 2 black & white classes   that was the good thing that came out of it   i remember i was so gun ho about going to school, now it seems almost secondary   i didn't know what i wanted to study at the time so i was doing the requirements plus some   Boise is a nice little town and the state beautiful in its uniqueness    the decision i made to leave there was a good one, but i wouldn't realize that til much later   not that heading to California was a whole lot better, but all part of the journey   my journey in life   i was wondering for a moment where would i be if i had stayed and completed my degree    now i still desire to complete my degree or two, but it isn't as pressing   now i have more perserverence, patience and durability to complete that journey    the journey of school again is coming together this next year for sure   funny how my interest has changed as well    i have changed much, but i'd like to go back to more of my spunk i had back then   does age really mellow you   it seems it has for me anyways....

he called again:-)

well he called again...but i missed the call    i was sound asleep   my first few hours of sleeping, i don't hear a damn thing   not even my dogs barking up a storm   but for some reason i woke at this ungodly hour of 2:30am and heard my phone beeping   i saved the message he left and wish i could keep it forever   he did say he'd call from iraq as soon as he could   so i'll be answering EVERY phone call that says unknown at least   usually those are bill collectors and i don't always answer that call, just call them back laterz   but now, i won't miss a phone call unless i'm sound asleep or just miss getting to the phone, but i'll have it next to me every minute of the day   Goodness, i still wonder how this war will effect him and how he'll handle it   according to my dad, kyle had told him he would be guarding the detainees, but who knows that'll hold true   my son has a tendency to blow smoke a lot and/or the army keeps changing his mission   but he still blows smoke a lot anyways   no big deal to me  i recognize it when he's doing it mostly   whatever, maybe one day he'll get out of it    anyways, it was good to hear his message   i'll be anxiously waiting for his first phone call   need to get his Christmas package off to him asap, but i'll wait til i get to Cincinnati to buy it   more Bengals gear will be available there than here unless i find something else in the meantime of more value   he's a Bengals fan like i used to be when growing up in that area of the states   anyhow, i'll be shopping for him soon...the other day i was wearing his sweater he left behind and he got such a chuckle out of it when i told him saturday nite   maybe i'll put it on again today, but if not i'll wear it often along with a couple other shirts left behind    Goodness, he's growing up some more i can tell already    time will not be soon enough before i hear from him again....i love you son!!!

He Called!!!

i just got off the phone with my son    i'm relieved, i'm stressed, i'm whatever   but i got to talk to him tonite before he departs tomorrow nite for Iraq   he gets on the bus at 8:30pm and then takes flight i believe at 1a.m. or something like that    i was a little concerned for a little while there   he didn't seem to chippery the last few times we chatted    from our conversation i think his excitement going to Iraq has diminished or at least he said he didn't care one way or another whether he went which is different than his initial desire   but he says he's happy and all is good    he also said he had no clue when he'll be back, which doesn't surprise me at all   regardless when he comes home, i'll be setting some time aside for him   even if all he wants is to hang out with just me and not go see his grandparents   just as long as he makes it home safe and sound    God bless him!   God bless all our troops!   it's time to wrap up Iraq and bring our soldiers home!!!!!