Well our move went surprisingly well! We were able to pack up, load the truck and get everything in our house in six hours (including eating)!! We now have the daunting task of unpacking everything...ouch. Me and Kath had to take a day of rest on Sunday so we could just recuperate, both of us were sick on moving day.
A HUGE thank-you to Kyle, Kristen, Jimmy and my Dad for helping out.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The only that will make it better is a new attitude
I'm writing this to myself...but feel free to listen in on my thoughts! ;)
I'm not sure if it's an American thing or what, but the mindset of "once I accomplish this task" or "get this thing" everything will be better is so prevalent it's sad. It's in my own life, so I empathize with those who suffer from it! Happiness is not achieved or found with a ring on your finger or a new child; stress doesn't leave when your credit cards are paid off and contentment doesn't come about with money in the bank.
Hoping that the next milestone will cure any ailment is a silly notion, but for some reason we keep falling for it. If you're struggling with loneliness, believe me marriage doesn't solve that problem it just gives you a roommate to whine about your loneliness with. If your marriage is suffering adding a kid to the mix won't help! Going off on a rabbit trail, I think adding a kid to the mix amplifies the current state of the marriage - if your relationship is strained it will only get worse; and if you're happy you'll only get happier (don't quote me on that! :P).
Anyways, I'm embarrassed to admit that I find myself ignorantly thinking "once the credit cards are paid off I won't be stressed about finances anymore." What a stupid thought! After the credit cards are paid I'll find some other financial burden to rest on my heart; unless I find contentment with my financial situation.
I'm not sure if it's an American thing or what, but the mindset of "once I accomplish this task" or "get this thing" everything will be better is so prevalent it's sad. It's in my own life, so I empathize with those who suffer from it! Happiness is not achieved or found with a ring on your finger or a new child; stress doesn't leave when your credit cards are paid off and contentment doesn't come about with money in the bank.
Hoping that the next milestone will cure any ailment is a silly notion, but for some reason we keep falling for it. If you're struggling with loneliness, believe me marriage doesn't solve that problem it just gives you a roommate to whine about your loneliness with. If your marriage is suffering adding a kid to the mix won't help! Going off on a rabbit trail, I think adding a kid to the mix amplifies the current state of the marriage - if your relationship is strained it will only get worse; and if you're happy you'll only get happier (don't quote me on that! :P).
Anyways, I'm embarrassed to admit that I find myself ignorantly thinking "once the credit cards are paid off I won't be stressed about finances anymore." What a stupid thought! After the credit cards are paid I'll find some other financial burden to rest on my heart; unless I find contentment with my financial situation.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Pregnancy from a man's perspective
Many of you have been reading Kath's updates on pregnancy and getting a first-hand account of what life is like during pregnancy from her perspective - it's time for the life of pregnancy from a man's perspective!
I get sporadic questions from my guy friends; and they all seem to fit under three categories (guys don't need to know a lot, we just need the basics).
Life Around the House: In the first three months not much changes. After the morning sickness wears off the body starts changing drastically - her hips started widening, her belly grew and her feet went up like three sizes (I remember buying new shoes for her like three times). After month five, WATCH OUT! Kathy's belly grew at an astronomical pace, and her mobility went to zero. I described the change in her body to say this - my work around the house increased quite a bit, and I wasn't expecting it. It wasn't that she didn't want to do stuff around the house, she couldn't! If you're get her pregnant, be prepared to work.
Sex: Your marriage reaches a true test come pregnancy because both of you will reach your limits of sexual frustration. My desire for Kathy grew during the first three months - much to my dismay because her nauseua prevented much action. The pregnant mom's desire and ability to have sex almost comes to a complete stop; but the dad's doesn't. As the dad has to work extra hard around the house, the Mom has to work extra hard to make sure the Dad isn't too sexually frustrated. Kath has gone above and beyond to keep me satisfied, and I love her for it!
Emotions: So far the pregnancy has been an absolute BLAST! I love seeing Kathy grow and her body change to accomate Ali. The pregnancy has been really smooth, and we have had so many fun times. Kath's emotions are on a roller coaster (but not as bad as people said they'd be). The Bible says to be a leader you must be a servant; and this pregnancy has brought out the servant in me!
So that's a very quick overview of pregnancy from a man's perspective.
I get sporadic questions from my guy friends; and they all seem to fit under three categories (guys don't need to know a lot, we just need the basics).
Life Around the House: In the first three months not much changes. After the morning sickness wears off the body starts changing drastically - her hips started widening, her belly grew and her feet went up like three sizes (I remember buying new shoes for her like three times). After month five, WATCH OUT! Kathy's belly grew at an astronomical pace, and her mobility went to zero. I described the change in her body to say this - my work around the house increased quite a bit, and I wasn't expecting it. It wasn't that she didn't want to do stuff around the house, she couldn't! If you're get her pregnant, be prepared to work.
Sex: Your marriage reaches a true test come pregnancy because both of you will reach your limits of sexual frustration. My desire for Kathy grew during the first three months - much to my dismay because her nauseua prevented much action. The pregnant mom's desire and ability to have sex almost comes to a complete stop; but the dad's doesn't. As the dad has to work extra hard around the house, the Mom has to work extra hard to make sure the Dad isn't too sexually frustrated. Kath has gone above and beyond to keep me satisfied, and I love her for it!
Emotions: So far the pregnancy has been an absolute BLAST! I love seeing Kathy grow and her body change to accomate Ali. The pregnancy has been really smooth, and we have had so many fun times. Kath's emotions are on a roller coaster (but not as bad as people said they'd be). The Bible says to be a leader you must be a servant; and this pregnancy has brought out the servant in me!
So that's a very quick overview of pregnancy from a man's perspective.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
I learned a life lesson from Sweeney Todd
I did not go to see "Sweeney Todd" with the intent of learning (or being reminded of) a crucial life lesson. I went with the sole intent of being entertained and finding out what the heck a horror musical was. Throughout the movie I was covering my eyes from the gore; but in the last five minutes the life lesson came shining through to me...
SPOILER ALERT!! I AM NOW GOING TO REVEAL THE ENDING OF THE MOVIE!!
At the end, after Sweeney Todd realizes that he killed the very thing he was living for (his wife) he cradles her head in his hands and looks at her with an empty gaze. I was contemplating what could possibly be going through his mind at that moment: disgust with himself, sorrow, bitterness, anger, depression, self-hatred, etc. As he looks at her the young boy Sweeney and the pie maker had taken in grabs Sweeney's weapon of choice and kills him with it! Sweeney had let his hatred and bitterness take over so much that, in the end, it killed everything he held dear including his own life.
The life lesson is this: if you let an emotion or attitude control you it will destroy you. Any emotion, any attitude, any mindset - given enough power of you, will destroy you. Anger, bitterness, lust, hatred, regret, depression, sorrow; even "happy" or "positive" emotions can have a crippling effect on your life!
So, that's it. That's what I learned. I hope I didn't ruin the movie for those who haven't seen it (*blush*).
SPOILER ALERT!! I AM NOW GOING TO REVEAL THE ENDING OF THE MOVIE!!
At the end, after Sweeney Todd realizes that he killed the very thing he was living for (his wife) he cradles her head in his hands and looks at her with an empty gaze. I was contemplating what could possibly be going through his mind at that moment: disgust with himself, sorrow, bitterness, anger, depression, self-hatred, etc. As he looks at her the young boy Sweeney and the pie maker had taken in grabs Sweeney's weapon of choice and kills him with it! Sweeney had let his hatred and bitterness take over so much that, in the end, it killed everything he held dear including his own life.
The life lesson is this: if you let an emotion or attitude control you it will destroy you. Any emotion, any attitude, any mindset - given enough power of you, will destroy you. Anger, bitterness, lust, hatred, regret, depression, sorrow; even "happy" or "positive" emotions can have a crippling effect on your life!
So, that's it. That's what I learned. I hope I didn't ruin the movie for those who haven't seen it (*blush*).
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