Saturday, February 28, 2009

day 24

as this day has pretty much has come to a close i wanted to put a quote from my mother teresa book for you to think about as you wake up and start your sunday morning.
"ask jesus not to allow me to refuse him anything, however small. i would rather die."
this was a private vow she made to gos in 1942, later she explains the reason for it saying....
"i wanted to give god something very beautiful and without reserve"
the only thing left to say here is "WOW!!!!!!"

peace.....

Friday, February 27, 2009

day 23

as i continue to read my book about mother teresa there is somethings i don't understand, and i think a lot of it is because she was catholic, and i'm not very well versed in their beliefs. but there is a lot of good quotes and thoughts in this book to really sink your teeth into, like a friend of mine said it's truth without being preachy. so here's another quote for you to wrap your mind around until next time it is......
mother teresa considered herself "a pencil in god's hand" and was convinced that god was using her nothingness to show his greatness

peace.......

Thursday, February 26, 2009

day 22

today i went with my baby girl to the library so she could go to storytime. while we were there i checked myself out a couple of books, one of which is a book about mother teresa who was one of the greatest humanitarians in history. the book is a book of her private writings, which i thought would be quite interesting to read. i have just barely started the book and there are a both of quotes in it that i thought were pretty good and thought provoking. they are.......
"put your hand in jesus' hand, and walk alone with him. walk ahead, because if you look back you will go back." (told to her by her mother as she leave home)
"if i ever become a saint-i will surely be one of darkness. i will continually be absent for heaven-to light the light of those in darkness on earth." (her mission statement)
i'm sure as i continue to read this book there will be more quotes to come.

peace.....

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

day 20

my favorite bible story has and always will be the story of king jehoshaphat (2 chronicles 20) the enemies of israel were coming against them and god told them "don't be discouraged by this mighty army , for the battle is not your's, but god's." he also told them not to fight , but to stand and watch the lord's victory. so the next morning they sent the worshippers out in front of the armies and as they worshipped god, he caused the enemies to start fighting each other.
so today i started thinking when everything seems to be going wrong you get laid off, over due bills or just one thing after another keeps coming at you. just stand and worship god and watch his victory in your life, because the battle is not your's but the lord's!!!!!

peace...

Monday, February 23, 2009

day 19

i found a quote today that really had a lot of truth in it, even if it did come from an unlikely source. here it is....
“However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you If you do not act upon them?” Buddha
that my biggest problem sometimes is i don't act on what i know like i should, but i believe that god is not done with me yet.

peace.....

Sunday, February 22, 2009

day 18

today at church we had a guest worship leader, and in the middle of worship this morning he started talking about the favor of god. it got me to thinking what better way to start out your day than to stop and ask "god give me favor today for my family, in my work and with the people who's paths cross mine."

peace......

Saturday, February 21, 2009

day 17

as the day draws to an end, i found this quote that i would be a good one to end the day with.

The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings…
As the shadow follows the body, As we think, so we become.

From the DhammapadaSayings of the Buddha

peace....

Friday, February 20, 2009

day 16

yesterday i met me friend for coffee and we started talking our children. we were talking about how our love for our children is unconditional, not that they won't disappoint us at some time or another in their life but you will love them just same with no conditions. i automatically thought about a song by an amazing songwriter and performer willy porter, the name of the song is unconditional. here is the just the first verse, which sums up exactly what we were talking about.

"There's a woman with a babe sitting next to me
She rides the crooked train into New York City
She hold that child on her bended knee
Whispers something only he could hear
She said I will always love you no matter what will come
I carried you inside myself the two of us are one
No matter how you fall down or how it comes undone
To me you will always be shining
And he stares into her brown eyes
Into the face of unconditional love."

i believe that is what our children should see when they look into our eyes is unconditional love.
peace........

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

day 15

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.

here's cute little story about childlike faith, that will make you smile. last week i had to go pick up my niece's little boy from kindergarten and at that time my baby girl was sick. on the way home he wanted her to play with him, but i told him she was sick and to let her rest. he said did you give her medicine and i said yes. then he asked me about laughing to which i replied laugher is the best medicine when you are sick. the next thing i know i heard him say to her "laugh you will feel better" i couldn't believe what i just heard coming out of a 5 year old's mouth, i was floored at the wisdom in what he had just said. i'm amazed at the simple faith that children have, that must be the reason god said we needed to have a childlike faith.
Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. Mark Twain

peace....

day 14

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.
i love finding inspirational quotes from all kinds of people, because i believe can learn from just about anyone. since i saw the little protest monday evening i have really been stuck on this whole love and peace thing. another quote i found today is about speaking peace it is........
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. Buddha
just a little something to think about!

peace...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

day 13

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa
maybe i don't look at somethings right or like i should, but that statement really hit me today. last night i went to starbucks to meet a friend and hang out, like we do just about every week. on my way home i went past a protest by some well meaning religious people, protesting a marriage amendment that was going to be debated by county commissioners. now i don't have anything against protesting if that is what god is telling you to do, but i must admit the whole thing struck me as just plain hateful!! i know that the signs they were holding were true, but what happened to commandment to love your neighbor. i'm not saying to sit back and watch sin take over your hometown or country for that matter, but what about showing the sinner the love of god instead of the wrath of god. i have always thought that since the scripture says that god is love, that the best way to win people to the lord is with love. i mean isn't that whole reason why he sent his son, was because he loves us. (john 3:16)
i don't want to piss anyone off, these are just my thoughts i'm typing here. but like i've always heard, you'll catch more flies with honey than you will with (i believe we all know what is next)

peace...
ps: An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mohandas Gandhi

Monday, February 16, 2009

day 12

i am really getting into the groove of being a trophy husband and a stay at home daddy. i read something today that reminded me of one of my favorite movies "dead poet society" it was the poem by robert frost named "carpe diem" which for means seize the day !!!!
it helped me to remember that everyday you should seize the day because today will only come once and you will only live this day once. it really helps having a 2 year old running around the house, because they see things differently than we do and i love seeing things through her little brown eyes. it is really eye opening!!!!! speaking of which it's almost time for our dance party!!!

peace...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

day 11

i found a quote online last night that i thought was simple a great statement. it is.........
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life". Berthold Auerbach
so next time you come home from a hard day at work dirty and tired, put on your favorite song or artist and sit and relax and let the music wash your soul from cares of the day.

peace.......

Saturday, February 14, 2009

day 10

sometimes i find myself at a lose for words, not really sure where to start my blog with all the thoughts running through my head or lack of. :0) so i decided today to write a quote that i read yesterday that i really liked, i like things that are thought provoking.
"the prodigal son was resolved to come, yet he was half-afraid. but we read that his father ran. slow are the steps to repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness, god can run where we can scarcely limp, and if we are limping towards him, he will run toward us. though the father was out of breath, he was not out of love." charles spurgeon (luke15:20)
it amazes me that no matter what we have done, if we will only limp towards god that he will run towards us. not only run, but run with arms wide open to hold us in his loving embrace. what a loving father we have even when life is kicking us in the face, he is there ready and willing to hold us and let us know everything will be alright. like the song i quoted the other day "It's in the journey that we learn we can't do it alone"
peace......

Friday, February 13, 2009

day 9

today is the end of my first full week of unemployment. as much as i hate not having a job in this time of our country, i have learned a lot since the laid off. i'm learning that being a stay at home daddy is one of the most rewarding things you could ever do and the most aggravating, but the rewards way out weigh the aggravation!!! my baby girl has become my own little mini me :0) which if you know me that is quite scary when you think about it. lol
i have friend that is going through the same thing i am, it's been nice to know i can be there if there is anything he needs, because sadly enough i know exactly what i is going through. but i know that god will provide for him just like he will for me.
i like to find inspiration in the simplest of things, like when my baby girl sleeps the peacefulness of her sleep is just incredible. it's as if she just doesn't have a care in the world....truly remarkable!!! i love to watch her play, it's like world is her toy box and she is having fun looking for and finding her toys. my wife and i just can't help but smile everytime we look her because of the joy she has brought into our lives.

peace.....

Thursday, February 12, 2009

day 8

for 8 days now i have gotten to be a stay at home daddy, and i am loving it!!!!! we have created a bond in those 8 days i never dreamed possible. there is nothing better than having her with me, she is one of the lights in my life. i love being around her, watching her experience new things for the first time and watching her imagination is just unbelievable. we do enjoy having our little dance parties during the day, she loves music too. we probably look silly but it's ok becuase we are having FUN!!!! it's time to go get her ready to go to the library for story time. martin sexton said it best in his song the journey which i named this blog after, "It's in the journey that we learn we can't do it alone"

peace......

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

day 7

i have been thinking about the 2 words i used in my last blog neglect and reconnect, and it has really made me look back at the last 20 plus years of my life. see like i said in my last blog i would put everything and everyone on the back burner for my job. now i see how without love and understanding from family and friends i could have lost them both. i guess i viewed my job as more than just a means to an end, i guess it became who i was. now that i am without a job i see now what is really important and i pray to god that don't ever forget that again. i'm just a simple guy that likes or should i say LOVES music more than i do most people. but i am learning that nothing is more important to me that my family and my friends, real friends not people who want to add you to their facebook or myspace to make their friend count higher. but real friends who have been there for me when i wasn't maybe necessarily there for them and for that i do apologize and plan to do better. i have some of the most amazing friends, but my best friend jody has always been there to encourage me, to let me vent without judging me. just there to listen and offer advice when it was needed. i'm not sure how i got so lucky to have a friend like that but i thank god that i did. my wife..she has had to put up with more than anyone, a weaker woman would have left years ago, but she is truly my rock!!!!!! and to all my friends i thank you for hanging in there with me, you are all the best friends a guy could have ever asked for.
until next time....steady as we go......peace..al

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

day 6

it seems as the days pass the more i can joke about being laid off!! one piece of advice for anyone reading this, make sure you are a core member of the team where you work because if your boss is like mine was he will cut your throat. but i realized over this last going on 6 days that i love being at home with my baby girl. no matter aggravating she might be sometimes, it beats the hell out of assholes that don't appreciate everything you tried to do for their company. last night i met with a couple of friends i haven't seen in over a year, it was nice to reconnect with them. maybe that is the "real" reason i got laid off so that i could reconnect with old friends and maybe even some news ones. i think that maybe sometimes we tend neglect what is important because we are trying to impress the boss or are trying to get ahead by being loyal to our job, which really in the long run should just be a means to an end. i have always been like that would be at work no matter what rain, sleet , snow, sickness...matter what was going on i would try and go to work because felt like that was where i should be. now i'm beginning to think that i was being foolish, see i have learned through this that i was neglecting what should have been more important in my life. my wife, my baby girl, my friends you name it you would have probably neglected it over my job. now is my chance to refocus on what is important. speaking of which it's time for me to go and meet one of my bestest friends for a nice hot cup of starbucks coffee........as dave matthews said in one of his songs.......steady as we go!!!!!!!! peace..al

Monday, February 9, 2009

ps...

yesterday my pastor preached on the majesty of god and how god breath the sun into existence. and how he put at just the right distance from the earth so that the earth didn't burn up or freeze. some how i just don't believe that a god that majestic would curse people who might not be perfect and have made financal mistakes just because they couldn't tithe like maybe people think they should. but doesn't taking care of a beautiful girl baby because her parents are in jail count for something. i think in my feeble mind that that is a form of tithing, because we could have said no. but instead we opened our home and turned our world upside down just for this baby girl that we love and adore!!!!!!

day 5..

i've been doing alot of thinking about things lately. yesterday was nice alot of great people encouraged me while i was at church. today will start my first full week in the unemployment line. i guess looking back at when i took the job i got laid off from last week in jan. '08, that with it being a small company that they would be a little more loyal than a big company should as freightliner. but i have quickly learned that i was wrong..DEAD WRONG!!!! i guess all companies are basically all the same now a days, no matter how big or small they are just looking out for themselves and to hell with the little people. but correct me if i'm wrong, if it wasn't for the little people doing the work there wouldn't be a business right??? because the bossman that laid me off didn't even want to come out into the production cell because he might get his golfing clothes dirty, and instead of saying "hey why not take that the company car i drive back and i'll drive my own personal car just so i don't have to lay anyone off right now and maybe we can weather the storm." but it must have been easier to just lay people off than inconvenince himself. then again maybe it's just a little bit of bitterness coming out, so i'll just move on to my next question. my wife stayed home from church yesterday to get the house ready for family that was coming over to celebrate our beautiful neice's birthday. she was watching a TV preacher who said that if you don't tithe god will curse you. so now my question is do you think god will curse you for not tithing?? i know there are biblical prinicals in tithing, but i never really thought that god would curse you if for some reason you couldn't do it. so now i wonder if my idea of the loving god was wrong or if god is just mean and vindictive. i have to believe that my god would not curse me by making me loss my job, but that he is carrying me through a hard time that i might not have made it through on my own. thanks to all of you for letting me vent through this blog. till next time........peace and love..al

Day 3

well as with anything that happens in your life the pain dulls with each day that passes. that is not to say it's not still there, but it just doesn't hurt as bad as it did when it first happened. i have found that to be true with the unexpected news that i was laid off. with my wife's undying faith and the joy that my baby girl brings, i have finally let go of the hurt and can joke about it. don't get me wrong i'm still hurt over the way the whole incident was handled, but it's not my every waking thought anymore. it's just as well that they let me go since i wasn't a core member of the team (the plant manager's words not mine). i hope with my next job i will be able to be a core member of the team, seeing as how i think it's important to be as valuable to the team as you can be. now it's time to check my homemade bread to see if it's done or not, cooking also helps you get over stuff too :0) see ya next time.....

Day 2..

well like the title says today is day 2 of what i guess we can call the journey. i have noticed that with news as shocking as what i got wednesday, there is just a flood of emotions. emotions ranging from shock, to being upset, to being borderline depressed, to being just plain pissed off.then if you are like me you get real quite to ponder what just happened and why. then you start playing all the different scencios like what could i have done differently, what if i hadn't gone on 1st shift and stayed on 2nd shift would i still have my job? or is this just what was meant to be. questions i still play through my head even as i write this blog. i am grateful for my friends who have encouraged me since it has happened, you never really know how much you need and appreciate your friends until you go through something like this and they gather around you to help hold you up. so now i start new day............off we go.......

today starts a new chapter..

that's right you heard it here..I GOT LAID OFF yesterday. after weeks of being told i had nothing to worry about, that things were slow but we would endure the storm. i could go on with a few more but why, because in the end i still end up laid off. so now what???? that is a good question and one i've been asking myself since it happened yesterday. cause if you are like me you see the news, you hear the reports "the economy is in the CRAPPER and there are no jobs." so now at 40 yrs. old like many other people i have to figure out what i'm going to do. i do have a few bright spots in my life, my beautiful wife of almost 18 yrs. and amazing 2 yrs. old little girl, along with a few great friends who are there for me no matter what(and if you are reading this you know who you are) so i guess i'm left with the same question i asked earlier....now what????? i guess we'll just take one step at a time and see where each step leads with caution and excitment of what is around the corner. becuse like the song i wrote back in '03 god has not carried me this far to drop me now. that is the only hope i have to stand on now. to be continued..............................