It's been a while

Hello all, I know it's been a while so I'll give you an update:

Over the past year or so, I have been looking for a steady job. About three weeks ago I received an email from a former employer Schoenfelder Painting, and his plans for a new division for his company...a renovation company. Well he wanted to talk with me and in the end offered me a job. I am now the Renovation Coordinator for Schoenfelder Renovations. I am in charge of gathering subcontractors, bids, scheduling, etc. for just about any type of renovation project.

Gavin continues to grow and learn new things every day, much to our pleasure and dismay. He is a strong willed little man who loves is cars, blocks, Mommy, Daddy and of course Grandma and Pappa.

Amy and I are great, life continues to throw curve balls at us, but we take them as they come and have faith the best is still in the future.

Quick prayer request for my brother John, he learned last week that the division of the company he worked for was being disolved immediately. He has a little baby on the way and needs to be albe to provide for his family.

More exciting news to come...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Seriously,


40 below wind chill. I have to plow snow outside in this crap.

Another one...

This is an embryo at 12 weeks old

This is an ultra sound picture of the baby at 12 weeks.

The baby is about 2 inches long and weighs about one ounce.

The baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements.

Oh..........this is not what's happening to Amy and I.

Congratulations to John (my brother) and his wife Amber as they expect their first child. We love you two and pray for healthiness for Amber, the baby and especially YOU John.

Potty on the toilet................

We have a big boy. Gavin is starting to want to use the "big boy chair" for going to the bathroom. Last week at daycare he insisted on using the toilet to go to the bathroom and he actually went.

Then on Saturday he told Amy "Poop," so Amy put him on the toilet and he went poop, she cleaned him up was grabbing his diaper, he said "poop" again and pointed to the floor where he had finished going "poop". Luckily I was gone so I didn't have to clean it up!!!

This is a fun stage with Gavin. He is starting to say more words and his personality is really starting to come out (not sure if I like this all of the time).

Happy Holidays to you and your families!!!!

Nothing

The title sums it up. That's how I have been feeling lately. Another word could be shitty. Life is crazy, I wish I could figure out at least a little portion of it. It's been tough the past couple weeks; the job front has yielded nothing which just starts the roller coaster of feelings. I am trying not to get beat down, but damn..................

that's about it

Pushing your luck

Well OJ pushed his luck and got bit in the ass for at least 9 years.

At least the jury found him guilty this time

Some picts

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. It's always fun to get together, eat, sleep, and watch football with family. Our immediate family has grown over the years. It started with 5 kids and now is 5 kids with 4 kid-in laws, 4 grand babies with one more on the way and Uncle Joel.
Man I love these guys, if you do not know my family, you are missing out and I am surprised, because they tend to be around at almost any type of party or gathering. It's also amazing to me the different personalities within my family. Politician/Sales, Engineer, School Teacher/Coach, Lawyer, Adult Daycare provider, Co-op Manager, Furniture repair business owner, HR Manager, Financial Asst., Grant writer (i think) and Construction guy.



Gavin is Daddy's little helper lately. He wants to help with everything, and for those of you who have a 20 month old, you know this means everything.

It really is fun to watch is mind work and try to figure things out and how he gets so excited about the smallest things.



"Oh yeah this is the life, I just need a bowl of pop corn to go with my sippy-cup and movie"

New Favorite "Home" store

I have had the pleasure of traveling to our local Lowe's store over the last few months. It has quickly become my favorite store to shop at and not just because of all of the tools.
* The store has always been clean
* Prices are very reasonable
* The customer service is exceptional. I was just there the other day and had no less than 10 people say "HI" and asked me if I needed help.
* And they have cool tools

It's amazing to me, I have been in customer service off and on for several years, it only takes a little amount of effort, but means so much (you people in management know exactly what I'm talking about). I have had many experiences with good and not so good customer service, so, kuddos to you (Management Team) for making it a priority to help and serve your customers. I am now a loyal Lowe's customer.

Just what's been happening

Amy and I got to spend some much needed time away together, it was only a night and she was sort of working, but it was nice, especially because her work paid for it.

The "Big Buck" got away from me this year, but I did have a nice hunting beard going.

Gavin got a new "cycle" and we can't keep him off it.

Gavin and the dogs made their annual trip to Crossroads Animal shelter for pictures with Santa.

And Amy's mom Deb, bought us a new TV, WOW is it big and awesome compared to the other one we had

Later for now

Feed My Starving Children

I had the opportunity to travel to Brooklyn Park on Saturday with our youth ministry to Feed My Starving Children. If you have not heard about this organization, please check out the link.
We had a great time with both the senior and junior high kids and made almost 13000 meals in about an hour and a half.

FMSC is a very interesting organization and there are two very important things that set it apart.
1. It is a non-profit Christian organization
2. 94% of donations go toward feeding children around the world...did you get that 94%

There are many more great qualities about FMSC, so please check out the link, here it is again.

Feed My Starving Children

THUD

You know that sound when you really just want to headbutt the wall...THUD. That's what I've been wanting to do lately. What a roller coaster of emotions the last couple of weeks. The job search still is a work in progress. As of now I am laid-off for the winter and am looking for something steady. I am also helping a friend/softball teammate, who owns a roofing/siding company, by trying to sell for him. There is a really long story to this....I won't bore you, but it's frustrating, more so because it's not a steady income.

On a different note, I had a great time deer hunting with my family. I didn't see anything, but my dad shot three, one being a very nice nine-point buck (picts to come)

I have the fever

I always get restless this time of the year and this is why.

The deer hunting opener is on Saturday and I have been dreaming (literally) of seeing a buck like this.

I'll keep hoping for the deer, but praying for safety for the 500,000+ hunters hitting the woods this coming weekend.

Can I come back??????

Is it really November?

Where the hell have you been?

What have you been up to?

What are you doing now?

How is your family?
* Amy
* Gavin

How is life treating You?

Did you vote?
* More important- Are you glad the commercials will stop?

Do you still have the dogs?

Do you have pictures of everyone?

Yes my friends, I am back to the blogging world and I promise, I will try and post at least a couple of times a week.

It's been crazy for the past six months. Lots of fun, joy and fear and tears.

Anymore questions? Post them and I'll answer................Soon, I swear.

Later for now

I need this gig

This is my little brother Keith (chillin' with Gavin). I have been living vicariously through him for about a two years now. He works for Starkey, a hearing aid company, which also has a foundation that donates a lot of money, time and hearing aids around the world.

Keith is part of the Sales/PR team and gets to do some pretty amazing things like traveling around the US for different functions, parties at the Playboy mansion, fishing in Alaska, meeting the president, driving Warren Buffet to and from the airport.............and his latest round of excitement.

Being a chauffer for and having breakfast with Arnold Palmer.

Over a month....sorry

It's been over a month since my last post. No excuses, just not feeling the need to blog.

A lot has happened since then.

* Gavin turned the big #1

* The Torkelsons celebrated the arrival of baby Zaila

* Our good friends the Andrea and Jesse had some of the worst possible news given to them in the middle of a pregnancy. They lost their baby.

* Amy and I have been able to get together with several couples in the neighborhood. We have some really genuine people around us and it's been fun getting to know them.

* Finally got to go hang out with our good frinends the Balvins for an evening to catch up, eat, play with the kids and watch hockey.

* I turned............................................you guess.

* The job hunting has turned up nothing thus far

* We have had the carpet in our house replaced. Thanks to Keith and Bret and Amy who all took time to help move furniture.

* Bought 5 pine trees at an auction for the yard and planted them.

* Started playing softball again and hit a homer in my first at bat.

It's been a roller coaster month and we have still landed on our feet. Thanks for all of the friends and family who show Amy and I love and support, we love you too.

Later for now.

What a great Easter

Amy, Gavin and I had a great Easter.

Sunday started off with a wonderful and extremely moving church service.
The music was incredible as usual. If you have not been to the Quarry and heard the music worship, you are missing out. There are some incredibly talented musicians that volunteer their time almost every Sunday....Thanks.

Probably the most moving part of the service was a skit that the drama team put on. You can view it HERE. It is not our drama team, but you get the idea (thanks Margaret).

We finished the day surrounded by family and food.

What a wonderful day to celebrate our Lords return.

He did what....

What a bitter-sweet weekend.

As I am growing in my faith, I am beginning to truly realize what Jesus did for me/us. But sometimes wonder why...for me? Do I really deserve something so great?

It's easy to say he died for us. But really "died"?

He was severely beaten, made to wear a crown of thorns, carry the very cross that he would hang from, and then NAILED to it.

I have worked in construction and have stepped on a nail before and it does not feel good, to say the least. Imagine........that nail stays in your foot, plus there is a nail in each of your hands.

The truly amazing thing is, Jesus knew what was going to happen and suffered this horrific pain and death for ME and YOU.

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!

It just goes so fast

Our little dude is growing up so fast. At 11 months, which is my favorite stage so far, he picks up on stuff so fast.



He shakes his head "no" at us when we tell him no, as if to say "No, No" to us.




He is insisting on feeding himself, both with and without utensils He loves his stuffed animals He is also standing on his own.
And is a stacking machine! I think he is faster than me!! Later...

Still here

I know it's been a while since my last post, and to be honest I really haven't been doing much. My life is kind of in a funk right now. I hate funks, they are so hard to shake.


On the bright side things, Amy and I had a chance to go out for the evening with some of our neighbors and had a blast. Also, Amy and I get to go on a little date on Friday. The other love of Amy's life, besides food, is wine (I think I am in there somewhere), so we are going to a wine tasting at the Monticello community center.

There is just not much to talk, or write about. Later for now



I also found this quote on a friends blog and thought it was great.

“Let go of what you think life should be so you can experience the life you have.” - Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute

Kicked in the gut

I received some more news yesterday that just gives you that feeling like you just got kicked in the gut. A couple close to me is filing for divorce. It makes me feel woozy just typing that word. It is a couple with a couple of children and some extremely high stress levels right now. I don't know all of the circumstances, but it just makes me sad hearing news like this, because they are such nice people.