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Seems I forget this so easily as I get older. However, once in a while a memmory is triggered and can bring a smile or even a frown to my face. I was cooking on the grill the other day and one of these memories came to mind. It was a memory that made me smile and fill with pride.

My son who is now 8, was at the time just a little over a year old. It was Thanksgiving and as usual we were going to my parents house in Arkansas. My wife who was pregnant with my little girl who is now six was unable to go because she was on mandatory bed rest per the doctor and had to stay behind. So my son Logan and I traveled down the road to see my parents and this great adventure would be our first away from his mother for this length of time. We were going to be gone for about seven days (memory thing gets you so that is just a guess). Our plan was to fly into Ft. Smith but we had to change plans in Memphis before our final destination.

We boarded the plan with no issues and of course as we entered the plan everyone was just looking and hoping with the expressions on their faces of; “I hope they don’t sit next to me.” Once we found our seats and got situated my son and I just starred at each other and of course he starred at all the other people on the plan. He was the cutest little baby, I am not just saying that because I am his father; he really was the cutest thing. My only concern was the popping of the ears once we took off and were airborne, but Logan never complained once. Not a single noticeable type of discomfort was found or heard from the boy. Logan and I played and just visited the whole way. Logan just laughed and cued the entire flight.

We arrived in Memphis late due to a weather delay and missed our connecting flight. It was around 9:00 PM and no other flights were leaving that night. We got up to the counter to find out what we were to do and the first lady told me there is nothing we can do for you I am sorry. I said what about a hotel until the other flight leaves in the morning, she again said “sorry, nothing I can do.” I said “so my nine month old son and I have to curl up here int eh airport until the morning!” She replied “I guess so,” just before I blew up in rage another gentleman stepped in and said “sir, give me a minute and I will help you.” We did get a room, but did not arrive until 12:00 AM with no luggage with the exception of a diaper back. We checked into our room and realized I didn’t have any formula for Logan to eat from his bottle. I took Logan downstairs to the bar and asked to have them fill up his bottle with Milk and of course they were glad too. There were several people from the flight there enjoying cocktails and recognized me as well. When I asked for the tab they all jumped up and said put it on mine. I laughed and said “wow, he isn’t even an year old and people are already buying him drinks.” We finally laid down but I had to be up at 4:00 AM to make the flight in time. Logan, again at 4:00 never made a fuss. I changed his diaper, got him some more milk and away we went. We made it in plenty of time to fly into Ft. Smith and arrived on time. We had a great vacation and on the return flight, Logan again never made a fuss.

Once we were safely on the ground and walking through the terminal a put logan on the ground and watched him sprint to the voice he longed to hear, his mother and it was a Kodak moment because everyone around was saying “awwwwww” and it was a homecoming to remember.

If you knew my son then it would make sense why he never fussed. The only way I can explain Logan is that he gets it. He isn’t like other kids. He gets adult humor and has a gift of discernment. He can sit in a room with adults and have long drawn out conversations that both you as an adult and him as a kid can relate too and keep you interested. Logan is very keen on what is going on in the room. He has a unique ability to not only learn but teach. Logan is a kid that just doesn’t ask why, but also how.

I think that even as a baby (because Logan was talking in complete sentences by 18 months) he understood that his Dad was stressed and to ease that stress he was to be as non confrontational as he possibly could.

My 6 year old girl has my heart. What I mean is yes, I have a total of 3 children 2 boys and my little girl, but my little girl is just a special person to me. She makes me do things that no one has ever made me do before. The one thing that is a constant with her is that she has a way to pull at my heart strings. She plays hard to get at almost every chance I get.

This past weekend however, I had the pleasure of having a day with just her and I. During the drive she talked the whole way and we laughed and just enjoyed echo other immensity. We went to lunch and again she talked and talked. I was having the best time of my life knowing that this is my little girl who brings so much passion and joy to the world.

We then went to the movies and saw Despicable Me hearing her laugh through the entire thing was better than the movie itself. This isn’t a review of the movie although it was pretty good but more of the day itself.

Thank You Emily for such a joyous and memorable day.

It has been a while since my last post and I have to say I have missed writing on this blog because it is just a way to get things out. However, My wife and I have been going through Marriage Counseling. We are not even having any problems that I am aware of and let me explain what I mean.

We get up every morning at 5:15 AM and are going through the P90X program and because of this we have become even closer than we ever have. If you have read any of my other posts then you know that my purpose in life is to be a Father and a Husband. I am just a run of the mill average man that is doing his best to get through life by being the best man I can and an example to my children.

I have always liked working out; it has been a sport to me and I have been going to the gym for as long as I can remember. Over the years though is gets harder and harder to go with 3 kids a career and everything that goes with it. My wife on the other hand hates working out. I have tried to get her to do a few workouts with me in the past and she just does not enjoy it. I do not fault her for this because there are many people who do not enjoy the strenuous task of getting sore and pain as a sport, but I have to tell you she is a beast when it comes to P90X. Together we have started to write a new chapter in our lives. We get up work out to the videos and then sit down together for breakfast and read the Word of God. We eat as a team the required daily intakes to help us keep our energy levels up and not over indulge.

This has been both therapeutic and enjoyable from both our marriage and for our family. Our goal is to be healthy and in shape so we can run and play with our kids everyday and hopefully not get as winded as we currently do. Of course we want to be ripped which is also a perk that comes with it. P90X is not easy but has been so enjoyable for both of us. My wife Nicole loves working out with me and I love working out with her. I cannot wait until my six pack comes back (that is my ultimate goal), and of course I already look at my wife with lustful eyes and think she is so gorgeous as is, but imagine  how she is going to look when we complete this program. We have already talked about after the 90 days we are going to continue and take it to the next level. We are currently getting ready to complete week 3 and we are looking forward to each day and week ahead.

Thanks to the Lord who gives us the ability to do this and the drive to continue it. Thanks to P90X for making it fun and hopefully we will have great results when it is all said and done.

Over the fourth of July weekend my wife and kids went and visited their mother/grandmother and I was a bachelor for a few days, which now is turning into about a week. I am so happy that my wife and kids get to spend that time together. However, I miss them dearly. Yes, it was nice to have a few days to get caught up on some things that I have been unable to do like re-design my website over at The Ord which was in dire need of some TLC. I also needed to just get some things done around the house.

My wife left the house clean. There were a few dishes left over but other than that the house was clean. I did some laundry, cleaned out a few things that needed some attention but when you don’t have little one’s running around it actually stays clean. However, it hit me. If I was single the little stuff like dishes and the basic pick up items are no big deal, but what about the bathrooms, and the weekly laundry, sweeping and mopping of the floor. My wife does all the deep cleaning stuff. It isn’t that I don’t know how to do it, she just does it for us. I am pretty sure that I would not be able to cut it as a single man. I wouldn’t have nice furniture. More than likely I would eat cereal and anything that comes out of a box.

I have to say I am so thankful for all my wife Nicole does. I am blessed to have her.

This was an interview of my oldest “Logan”

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What makes a good man I think is a question that probably no one can truly answer. There are people who say that if you follow the 10 Commandments then you are a good man, however, has anyone ever slacked off at work or told a lie? That is both stealing and cheating. I guess that is out the window because we have all broke at least one of the 10 Commandments. Other people say that if you are a nice person and help others than I guess that you are a good man. What does that even mean? Of course I have helped other people throughout my life. However, I could always do more and where is the measuring cup that says you did enough, I don’t think it exists. So what does it mean to be a good man I ask you?

I cannot say for sure but I can say that I try to the best of my ability to be as good as a man as I can. For my kids sake as well as for those around me. We influence 100′s if not 1000′s of people in our lifetime both good and bad. Probably based on our actions more than what we say. I just hope it has been for the better in most cases but more then likely not. I struggle with so many internal things that may seem pity to some but to me they are internal issues I think we all have  like;  insecurities, self-doubt, failure,  will I be accepted, you know things like that. Now that I am in my mid 30′s (closer to 40), I could care less about what people think of me. As a matter of fact I pretty much do not care what anyone thinks anymore (outside my family that it), however, I still have to lead by example and follow by example. I know this does not really answer the original question of “What makes a good man?” So I am just going to make a list of some thing I think makes a good man.

• Respect others beliefs and opinions.
  • This does not mean to change what you believe but understand that others also have a belief and just because it is different than yours does not mean that they are wrong nor are you right. It is just a difference in opinion.
• Serve others
  • The Golden Rule say “treat others as you would like to be treated” (it is in the Bible by the way)
  • If you server other people even if they are non-appreciative, well so what, are you doing it because you want to be appreciated back and get a thanks or are you doing it because you care for them?
• Love You Kids
  • One thing that sickens me is when parents abuse their children, there is no need in this. Kids are kids and if your kids are bad then discipline with love not hate.
  • Tell your kids that you are proud of them
  • Tell them that you love them
  • Show interest in their lives
  • Know who they are
  • Give them Roots, but also give them wings
    • This means that you give them a foundation but allow them to grow up and become independent and have their own lives to become part of society.
• Love your Spouse
  • Treat her with respect, treat her with respect, treat her with respect
  • Divorce is NOT an option
• Work Hard
• Educate yourself
  • Read books on your own and to your children
• Take your wife out on a date at least once a month
• Go to church
  • Any church, but just go.

Again, I am not on my giant cloud of judgment nor do i claim I have it all figured out. Mostly I know what to do because my father taught and teaches me. I just take it day by day and hope i can achieve at least one of these things I have mentioned. My neighbor who was married for 13 years decided to move out and just got me thinking because I had no idea that anything was even wrong, and yet he left.

I had to ask myself am I a good man?

This was a rendition of a few stories about my youngest son Nathan AKA “Bam Bam.”

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This was an introductory show to explain what this podcast is about and what to expect in the future. I plan on doing one each week to talk about family, life, kids and to ultimately have an online diary that one day my family and kids can enjoy.

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I try and find reason to always find the positive in any given situation and honestly I have a very blessed life with 3 kids and an amazing wife. However, there are times when no matter how good you have it it seems you just find yourself upset and finding yourself in a slump and the negative attitude just comes out. I can make excuses and just blame it on the day or blame it on the fact that I am human but I think it is because we are just selfish in so many ways. Let me just forget for a second that  I have so many things to be thankful for beyond the essentials.

It seems that there is so much noise all the time, phones, email, Twitter,video games, Internet, blogging, work, family, and even church just to name a few. Obligations that seem to just clutter what needs to be accomplished. Don’t get me wrong I really enjoy these things. I find myself at times almost craving them, but at the same time it seems to be a crutch. I am old enough to remember the days when all these so called essentials were not the necessity to get through the day. When you left work and went home for the night or weekend you were home and not thinking of the job because someone wasn’t able to get in touch with you nor would they unless it was an emergency. The more technology that becomes available the more it seems we are doomed to get more and more stuff completed.

I remember when I was a kid around fifteen years old, I made my first trip to Disney and Epcot and I wen to Tomorrow Land and some kind of future world. They talked about how things like robots and technology was going to make our lives so much easier and one day almost like a utopia type of existence. I have yet to see this occur and more than anything it has created more distractions and more work.  I should point out that I make my living off of the techy world but it seems as soon as I start to become the master of anything it becomes obsolete. There seems to just be an information overload almost at every turn.

It is almost like I cannot get away from it and at times I don’t even want too. How is it we have become so dependable on talking to another person via the web. When does it become a problem. I am not an huge facebook user but I do use it. I record podcasts, obviously if you are reading this I blog, I design, and create things using a computer. I find that it is both therapeutic because it is an outlet to get away from life. Does that mean it has become a drug?

I don’t have all the answers but I do know that I long for the day of silence. Not away from anything except just to get away and no longer hear the beeps and bops, whistles and tweets. There is something to be said about just curling up to a fire or a stream and just enjoying the environment that has been created around us.