-> I’m planning on growing my beard until 2010. We’ll see what it looks like when I get there.
William Elliot Whitmore rocks my socks. His album, Animals In The Dark
Ava has the turbo flu with a temperature up into the 104 degree range. Thankfully, she’s not throwing up. I have to admit though, as bad as having sick kids is, there’s something very special about being able to comfort them and pay extra attention.
Finn is about to be 4 months old. He’s rolling from his belly to his back and his back to his belly…like a madman. He just switched over from breast milk to formula a couple days ago. He’s loving the bottles almost as much as he loves the booboos. He’s already wearing 9 month-sized clothes and I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be a bit taller than my towering 5 feet 9 inches.
Allison and I are getting ready to try out P90X
Here’s a photo of Allison and I last weekend at a reverse raffle / fundraiser deal.
Allison was so excited because she won a wallet with $100 cash in it from a silent auction. She was going to buy some new clothes with the money, but then she gave it away to someone the next day instead. God spoke to her and encouraged her to give away the money to someone who really needed it…and she did. That’s my girl.
This is my friend Jon. He turned 40 the other day. He’s one of the finest human beings I’ve ever known.
-> The Kingdom of God is all about looking for the things God is already doing, and joining Him.
-> Eggs Benedict has been calling my name for a month and I’ve not eaten it. I will fix this soon.
-> If you volunteer in some way, shape, or form - and yet you don’t have joy in your volunteering - you need to stop volunteering in that particular area.
-> I am very pleased that Chef Jose Garces beat out Chef Jahangir Mehta in The Next Iron Chef last night. Chef Mehta appears to be a sinister little man.
-> Anything you forget to feed will die. Feed the important things if you want to keep them alive.
36 Comments
Interesting, your comment on volunteering. I recently started volunteering somewhere where I think I’d like to make a second career. But the career element is secondary to just being a part of something I really enjoy. Even on days when I’m exhausted and hurried and would really like to avoid the commitment, I find the work refreshes me and fills me with joy by the time I head home.
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Ive seen the P90X thing on an info-mercial once, I remember being scared since it looks really intense. Good luck on your journey!
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Can you take before and after pictures of yourselves with that whole p90x thing?
I hope Ava is feeling better today!! I’ve been lucky enough to avoid the flu so far this year, and I’ve only had one cold. Kind of amazing, considering my unheard of ability to get sick. Does this mean my immune system is finally getting its act together? Or maybe God is just having some grace on me?
Here’s a monday thought, too: I decided to read my bible this morning (for a change) and came across the parable of the sower, and this verse convicted me;
“The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” Luke 8:14
Um…ow? I’ve been thinking a lot more about faith lately, because I find I’ve been so incredibly skeptical and unbelieving lately. It’s so easy to view this life as reality when I am supposed to have faith that there is a much truer, bigger reality. And I wonder why I don’t see any fruit, why nobody at work probably even knows I am a Christian, why it’s been far too long since I really talked to anyone about Christ in a real way (besides my Christian friends).
If I’m honest with myself, most of the time, I don’t really believe all this. Because if I did, I wouldn’t be “choked with the worries and riches and pleasures of this life”, but I am.
I hope it’s okay that I left my own monday morning thoughts on your blog instead of my own. =)
-Liz
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Hmm… how long can one’s beard grow in a month and a half??
Poooooor Ava
Give her a kiss for me, k? (And post more pics of Finn… he’s getting cuuuuuute 
)
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I was also THRILLED with the outcome of The Next Iron Chef. Mehta is not a nice person! I actually heard him say the sentence, “I have no problem making people look bad just so that I look better.” Umm, no thank you! After watching seasons and seasons of The Next Food Network Star, I was convinced they wouldn’t allow Mehta to win… they care too much about the Food Network image. Good thing!!
I also agree with your advice on serving.
Your last statement on “feeding” is a great metaphor. I assume you were aiming for that!
(New to your blog. Love it!)
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You and Allison are such beautiful people - inside and out. Thank you for serving no matter what. May God continue to bless you richly!
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I love you guys!
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man Whitmore has been on repeat as well for me this past month. amazing talent… love all the lead banjo he does.
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Oh! You need to post spoiler alert warnings! I have Iron Chef TiVod, but hadn’t gotten around to watching it! I am glad too, that the right chef won!
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Harper had the same bug last week - high fever that didn’t break for 6 days. She’s better now. I have to admit that I did enjoy all of the cuddling.
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My husband and I are doing p90x right now. We are just starting week 5 and it was my first postpartum work out plan. Have fun! Don’t forget to take before and after pictures! We were seeing results in week 2!
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P90X, have you both lost your minds?
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I bought the predecessor of P90X (Power 90) years ago. It was tough, but not as tough as I’ve heard P90X is. From my experience with Power 90, you may have to work up to the maximum level. You WILL have to drink plenty of water and also REST when the program indicates. You will sweat your butt off!
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I’m still trying to get my place set up to do hip-hop abs. Our living room is too small… We only have one TV, it doesn’t work except only playing DVDs. We can’t get t his monster TV into the basement where we have room… What’s a girl to do?
I pray Ava gets well very soon. My husband, Paul, plays with letting his beard go and then it gets to the point where he can’t stand it anymore [because it itches so bad]. Then shaves and trims up.
Thanks for sharing a peek into your life.
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Interesting thoughts. I think sometimes we feel we need “permission” to let go of areas of our lives that aren’t what we thought (ie Volunteering for a good cause that doesn’t actually fit the plans God has for us.)
Feed the things that need to thrive and let die those that should. Glory to God through it all. Thanks for ministering to me today through your post. Hope Ava feels better soon. She and Finn are such cutie pies!
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P90x is hard to do, but so worth it. It is good that you and your wife are doing it together. I started with a partner who dropped out on me. It wasn’t so hard to keep going after that. I didn’t make it through the whole 90, but it make a big difference in a short time. I’m going to work on my partner again and start again in 2010.
One note though, get some of the recovery drink. It really helps you after the workouts. Otherwise, you just want to ingest as many carbs as you can to get your blood sugar back up. I didn’t buy theirs, I got some at GNC.
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This post is why I come back to your blog. It’s about God and kids and stupid tv and food and LIFE all in one. It’s real.
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We totally agreed with the Next Iron Chef observation! My husband thinks Mehta is a terrorist and hates America. Also Chef Jose Garces was one of my top 2 picks since the first episode! He seems to be such a kind and gentle soul! Your wife and children are boo-ti-ful!! Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!
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You guys be careful doing that P90X. I heard it’s a doozy.
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I got stiffed by my own sister once and I was going to be short on cash and rent because of it. While I was blazing hot and burning in my cheeks for my own sister betraying me, I fessed up to my roommate about the injustice. She started crying. She said “Ange, my gramma sent me $300.00 last week just cuz and I was going to go shopping with it the other day, but there was nothing that I could find that I really wanted (unheard of by this shoe and handbag freak.)” She told me she was praying a few nights after the defunked shopping incident and the money came to her mind. She felt like she needed to save it. But she didn’t know what for. God impressed on her that there was someone in need, but she didn’t know who He was referring to. She asked me how short on rent will I be. I said $300.00. That’s when she burst into tears and said, “Don’t worry sister! I gotcha covered!” AWWW love that girl!!!! Yes, I paid her back a few weeks later but I will never forget her help that day. I wasn’t asking her for money at all. She just felt it in her heart to help. I gained a sister that day
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My husband and I are going to start on the P90x once the holidays are over (just too much driving around and visiting relatives to fit it in yet). Best of luck to you, and I hope Ava is feeling better soon!
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I am very glad Chef Garcis won. I didn’t much care for Chef Mahta, and then the F-bombs he was dropping last night didn’t help. I watch Iron Chef with my 7 year old, I don’t need to explain beeps to him! Good luck with the P90X. We were doing the P90 workout, but got too overwhelmed with school and such and fell away. Time to get back to it.
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you are spot on Chef Mehta does indeed appear to be a “sinister little man”. I was really pulling for Garces. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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Daggum. I hadn’t watched the last episodes of Iron Chef America. But, Mehta did seem a little creepy to me too. Make yourself some eggs benedict pronto! Happy Thanksgiving.
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Great post as always. Love that Allison gave the money away by listening to a prompting. Sometimes that’s hard to do….hard to hear. I love that. P90X is rockin hard in a good way. It’s good that you’re doing it together….I think that makes it more fun and it’s good to have a support. Can’t wait to hear the progress.
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Yes, yes, he really is.
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That picture is very handsome of you and Ava is so sweet… I hope she’s all better today
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P90X rocks! My husband and I loved it… until I got pregnant and couldn’t do it. I can’t wait to do it again once the baby arrives. Good luck on it… just stick with it no matter how hard it is!
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Andrea stole my thunder…I was just thinking Ryan looks so handsome. Your eyes are beautiful in that first picture. Love you…maybe we should have more babies…
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Good luck with P90X…you’re going to have AWESOME results! I’m a Beachbody Coach and P90X is one of my FAVORITE programs!!!
I agree with a previous poster, get the Recovery Drink! Your body will thank you!
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Awesome song, Hell or High Water!
thanks for sharing!
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Good luck to the 2 of you with the P90X.
That is some hardcore stuff; that is the program that my personal trainer followed as her own regiment.
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Good luck on the P90X…it kicks our butts. Actually, the only one I can’t finish is the yoga. It’s 90 minutes and stinkin HARD!
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P90X, it is great, I made it through the first 8 weeks and then I was pregnant, but my man made it through 12 and he looked hot plus we had to take his suit in two inches. It is hard but it creates discipline and that is what we all need and for us it lead to the creation of another human and an answer to prayers. Good luck and enjoy.
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Thanks for posting about volunteering. I feel it’s our way of paying “our rent” in this world. You’re right, if it isn’t fun you gotta look in helping elsewhere. that’s just what I’m going to do, ’cause the current place I’m at isn’t too keen on sharing with the less fortunate and politics run the place. Thanks for waking me up to that. God bless you & your family!
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I’m chuckling, because I’m thrilled that Garces won, too! I usually don’t root AGAINST people, but when Mehtah pulled that stunt with the grapeleaves…well…
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