Advice

During hard times in our life we often come across people who like to give advise. These people can come in the form of parents, friends, co-workers, or to often than not, strangers. The automatic thought is that all of these people truly want to give us good advice to help us during these times. We commonly think that older individuals give advice we should adhere to. We can foolishly think that they want nothing more than to comfort us.

The ones I always go to with questions are my parents. They are the ones I've grown to trust and have faith in. My particular parents have always been strong and supportive during my life. I can always confide and trust within them. Not everyone has such parents. Kristy and I are lucky we have such smart and caring parents. The trouble doesn't come when asking for advice. It comes when you hear two or maybe even three different opinions.

How do you know who knows better? That's just it. You don't. During mine and Kristy's rather big problem, we have came upon many different opinions. It's up to us as young adults to listen carefully and make our own decisions. So far, I think we have done a really good job. Point is, no one really knows what your going through but YOU! You know what the worst thing is you can say to someone who has went through something tragic in their life? "I know exactly what your going through." No you don't! Even if you've gone through the same type thing in your life, you don't know the particulars revolving around MY problem. Your financial situation couldn't have been the same. You weren't dealing with the exact same people during your rough time. And most of all...Your not them. The proper thing to say is, "I don't know exactly what your going through, but I've been through something similar and I'm here for you if you ever need me."

Sometimes people act as though they know more than they really do. You have to remember that most of the time this is new to them also. They might be the same age as you, so their life experiences are no greater than yours. They want to help, but haven't learned to keep their mouth shut if they don't really know what to say. Their was a story I once heard of a young man in his 20's that lost his father without warning. At the funeral he was surrounded by family and friends. After the funeral was over, everyone formed a line to give their condolences to the young man as they left. Person after person came to shake his hand and say a few encouraging words. As the people came and came, they all had different words of advice or encouragement. Most kept it short, but some went on and on struggling to find the words. People that didn't know what to say, still spoke. During this he couldn't help but notice an aged man in a cowboy hat sitting in the back quietly by himself. Thirty minutes passed before the end of the line finally came and there was no one left. The man in the cowboy hat slowly got up and made his way to the young man. He walked up to him and shook his hand saying only one sentence. "Your father was a good man."

Times can be hard on people and knowing the right thing to say is a very tricky thing, to say the least. But saying the wrong thing can be painful to that person. Saying nothing at all is OK. We're not all physiologists and there's no need to try to be. Listening can be the best thing a person can do to comfort a friend or family member. I've gone through enough to know most people don't mean any harm. They just try to do (say) to much and don't know any better. Our family have fulfilled every need we've wanted from them. I just wish everyone could be as lucky as we are.

Sunday Morning Church

Kristy and I went to church this Sunday. The preacher spoke about problems we endure and how others watch us during these times. You can always tell Christians from non-believers. Christians lean on God. How we handle adversity reflects our soul. It reflects our spirit and our hearts.

The preacher at this church spoke of a couple that lost their child in a car wreck. We've all been told that dealing with the loss of a child is the worst thing a person can go through. He went into some detail about how Christians and non-Christians came to give their condolences to the couple for their loss. He said that he witnessed individuals who didn't come to church and didn't know what it meant to know Jesus Christ; decide after watching the couple in brace God and trust in him, that they too wanted to know and understand God's word. During their excruciating pain, they served as God's disciples. Showing others how Christians could trust in the Lord. Their trust in God brought people to God's door.

We all have that duty as Christians. Others watch us to see how we handle hardships. They can see the Christian side come out. Do you get mad and curse at everyone and everything when bad things happen? Or do you feel confident that it is just a test and God will protect you? For me, I seem to do both. I can't help but get upset and resentful for terrible things that happen out of my control. After I calm down and take sometime to think about things, I realize that I'm using my energy in a negative way. I then turn to the rock in Jesus Christ to take the burden off of my shoulders. His shoulders are wide and strong. Where as mine can only handle so much.

After the sermon, Kristy and I felt a relief in our hearts that only God could do. I for one knew what I had to do. I have to give this heavy problem over to God. I have to pray and trust in him. We've tried everything in our power to defeat this, but have fell short in the area that we didn't go to the one thing that will help the most. Don't get me wrong. We've never forgotten God in our hearts. However, we never completely handed it over to him. We'll still make our phone calls, but we'll pray just as much. Because when this is all over, I want people to say we handled it better than anyone. We fought, we loved, but first and for most; we had trust in the Lord. We're examples to all who face turmoil. Not by choice, but by the grace of God we're chosen to lead by example. He works through us all.

Two Car Wrecks, Over $3000 Spent,

Countless hours in motel rooms, a few arguments, many unreturned phone calls, one write-up, tears, few smiles, prayers prayed, and one screwed up system. Yea that seems to be our life right now. Not much we can do but wait. Kristy's on the phone almost everyday and I've given up hope that my attorney really gives a damn. Daytona still asks when I'm coming back from "vacation". And Kristy still says soon, not knowing for sure when. By the time I get back I'll need about 10 presents to justify this long time away from home!

We're hanging in there and looking forward to a happy home again. We love Daytona so much. He is first and foremost on our mind every minute. I wanna play power rangers with him so bad. I wanna keep him out of his mamma's hair while she cleans the house. I wanna tell him how much I love him. He's a little Kristy walking around. When I look at him I see Kristy. I see a part of her. I'll always cherish them both.

Kristy and I both have been talking about the importance of having God in your life. We have both been relating life to God's plan for us. I've been praying a lot here lately. God's up there and he just wants us to come to him to fix this problem. So I've been turning to him and putting it in his hands. I can't handle this on my own. Sure I have Kristy and my family, but I have to acknowledge God as being an angel in my corner who can get my life back to order. I'm putting it in his hands as of today. He's got wider shoulders than I do. He can bare this turmoil and make it go away. I need his help.

I remember when my wife passed away and I tried to do it all on my own. There came a day when I just couldn't take it anymore and I hit my knees to ask God to take everything in his hands. It wasn't a week later before everything started looking up. I denied him and tried to do it on my own. You can't handle tragedy on your own. You have to ask the Lord for his help. He helped and watched over me. I'm officially handing all this over to him. Kristy and I are going to church Sunday morning. It will be our first time to go to church together. I'm looking forward to that. So God! I've done all I can. Take this mess over and make it right. I trust in you and always will.

One Another...

My love for Kristy, and her love for me is larger and stronger than ever. They can't take what love built. Honesty, trust, compassion, and faith. Honesty in one another. Trust in one another. Compassion for one another. And Faith in one another. God doesn't just watch you during hard times. He carries you. And he's carried Kristy, Daytona, and I to a whole new respect for one another.

I've had a lot of people, who know the story, tell me that if Kristy and I can make it through this then we can make it through ANYTHING. You know what? I think their right.

Clever Sheep

This will have you cracking up. Just click the play button.

Well Deserved Time Alone

Well here we sit. Kristy and I that is. It's been a long couple of weeks. In fact, we haven't spent any alone time since last week. We're both so happy to finally be together for a full 24 hours. I can't express how happy I am to be with Kristy. I know I talk about Kristy and Daytona like they hung the moon, but in my eyes they have. I miss Daytona so much. It's really hit me these last few days not being around him. I mean it's been close to two weeks since I got to hang out with him. I've got to see Kristy from time to time, but no Daytona. That's just how it's got to be. If anything, I've learned that when it comes to children you have to make sacrifices.

We don't have any major plans for today. All we want to do is be attached to one another's hips and never leave each others sight. I don't even think we're going to go out to eat. One because we don't have the money. This little dilemma has drained our savings a little. That and we don't wanna be around anyone but each other. I think we'll go rent a movie or two and just hold on for dear life. Are you sick yet?? Ha ha. We love each other more than life its self. I know I'm the second most important person in her life. Next to Daytona of course.

Well that's about it. I'm going to get back to snuggling with my baby and soaking up as much as I can until it's time to find another motel room. Time seems to be creeping by. For us anyway. My minds on Daytona and Kristy and my hearts in the same place. We'll all make it, and we'll be better off in the long run. I don't know how, but I do know God works in mysterious ways and he knows what he's doing.

Getting Closer...

Well here I sit. At the zone office waiting for my turn with the boss man. I haven't wrote anything in our blog in quit awhile. And like I said earlier...Everyone who know's us, knows why. Things are looking up. I think we'll be at the end of this by early next week. Of course I don't want to go into details over the internet, but Kristy and I are both pretty tired. I've been going from motel to motel and she's been just as stressed as me.

One thing we have realized, that we really already knew, is that we both have wonderful parents. I thought mine where the best out there, but Kristy's family gives mine a run for their money. We can't stress how much you guys have ment to us. I just wanna get back home so I can relax. I wanna post on this thing everyday like I was. I wanna hear all the gossip about our friends and not be THE gossip.

Well that's about it. Just another day in paradise. Ha ha. Can't wait to get BACK TO paradise.

Leave of Absence

I won't be writing in this for awhile. Those of you that know me, know why.

Thanks for all the support...