Sidewalk Advertisement

Holly and I went to Victoria Gardens here in So Cal just to look around and because we just love going to Victoria Gardens. We don't know why we do but we do...we really can't afford much from VG. Well we got of the 15 fwy and as we were getting ready to turn right we saw a woman holding a sign/advertisement on the corner. Now I didn't think much of it being that I see them all the time spinning their signs trying to guide people to were the sale is or the housing tract is. As I looked closer at this woman performing her job this holiday season I saw something that made me completly sad, depressed, mad; amongst other emotions. While mom was working, her son was at her feet playing with his toys...

All I could think of was this...is her situation so dire that she has no support to watch her son and was she is such a compromising situation where she had to take this job to provide for her son? Now let's get this straight; I am not sympathizing or pitying her one bit merely trying to comprehend what situation would move a person to this extreme.

I don't know...I don't really have anything deep to say about what I just saw but it needed to be said. You needed to be aware...

Some YouTube Fun!!!

Here are some fun youtube videos that I found this past vacation up in the PNW (pronounced P-N-DUB). Thanks to my little sis telling me about the bear. miss you Hales! Well have fun with this and Happy New Year to you all.

Bear vs. Trampoline


Wedding Dance


Southwest Commercial


Philinthecircle (an amazing...AMAZING artist)

I'm back in So Cal

It is true and sad at the same time. I am so blessed to have gone up to the PNW (Pacific North West) and spend some great time with my family. I love them all so much and miss them already. However...I am super excited for what God has for us in 2008. Obviously, if you didn't know, we are going to have a baby girl (Sydney Claire), and from a ministry stand point I just have a feeling that God is preparing Holly and I for something, I just can't put my finger on it. I know that sounds vague but that is the little voice I have been hearing ever since I went on vacation in the PNW. Except the little voice was loud and constant.

In my last post I asked people how long their Christmas was as far as opening presents goes. My Christmas lasted 5 mins, it was great. All we did with my PNW family were stocking stuffers. Anything you can fit in a stocking was the present. I got a lot of candy, some gift certificates, some parabin free deodorant and face wash, more candy, and a whoopie cushin! What we decided to do was try to help some families from the flood areas in Washington. Needless to say we weren't able to because our contact never got a hold of us but we were willing and at the ready. Not only that but I feel we didn't perpetuate the unnecessary gift giving of STUFF we don't really need. Please, if you have not seen the video, check out the Story About Stuff at Micah Risinger's Blog site. One of the other differences I tried to make was making a gift for Holly from the heart. So I did, she loved it and it was fun to make. As a soon to be father I have been evaluating how I want to celebrate Christmas. Why is Christmas important? Is Christmas important? Why do we need to give gifts? Why do we need to give so many gifts? Is it more important to give gifts? By buying a gift(s) am I just contributing to STUFF and the way STUFF makes us feel or does it have meaning and a purpose? This could go on and on...here is another question I have now that I getting closer to being a father; Do I tell others to slow down or cease their giving to my daughter? Does she really deserved all this STUFF? Is the excessive gift giving to my daughter (I emphasize the word excessive because I completely understand the need for certain things that it takes to raise a child) actually for my daughter or how it makes the giver feel? Then I must ask the question, why does the giver need to feel this way? What does the giver gain from feeling these emotions that aren't really about the receiver but the giver? STUFF...what a sticky slope.

Moderation is an obvious answer but could that possibly be a bit of a compromise. Moderation sounds like a rationalization. What are you all doing about this? Is this something you think about?

Feliz Navidad!

Hello my peoples in Blogger World! I have been spending my Christmases in Portland for the last 3 years. Never has it snowed to deliver that white Christmas. This year however I finally got my wish. After opening up the presents we were pleasantly surprised by snow coming down. It didn't stick but it was so much fun...and freakn' cold. My nice and nephew loved it so much; not as much as I did though. I turned into 5 year old boy at the sight of falling white flakes to the earth. I did take pictures but I won't be able to put any up right now...they will come shortly.

Here is a question I have for you all...

How long do you spend with your family opening presents?

Male Nurse Action Hero...

To all my peoples, i am in the Pacific North West enjoying my family and the PNW lifestyle (420). Well i was in Powells, the biggest book store this side of the mississippi, and while i was walking around i ran into this... I'm an action hero! Yeah boy! I will keep you all posted on my trip of the PNW from Da Phone.

I Am Just A Student...

Last night, December 12, 2007, was my last and final evening with theOVERFLOW youth group at The Grove Community Church. I had so many different emotions I could not even begin to explain what I felt like. But here are some of the feelings I did recognize: Joy, Happiness, Expectation, Satisfaction, Scared, Sadness, Hope for the future, theOVERFLOW, and many more (I think I am still processing). The evening was great. theOVERFLOW made a video that showed all of my summer camp characters, most of which were not that funny. They also had students come on stage and let me know what they thought of me...it was amazing! You never know exactly how people feel about you and till they tell you. It sounds ridiculous I know but it so encouraging and encouragement is what people in paid ministry need to hear. We want to know that what we are doing works and helps change lives...according to the students of theOVERFLOW...I changed lives. That feels really good to say.

I also got to play music with and for theOVERFLOW one last time which of course made my night. My voice is still not 100% due to an injury I received while playing football but I am glad that I couldn't sing. It allowed me to listen to the students sing at the top of their lungs and just enjoy the music. I've said it once and I'll say it again...High School students sing with abandonment. They don't care who is around them or what has affected their week. You could make the argument that they don't have to raise a family (stress) or maintain a "real" job (stress) but when you boil it down, they know how to relieve their relative stress because stress is all relative. Adults can learn so much from their passion and willingness to worship their God in an undignified manner; letting lose and not holding back.

One of the best items that theOVERFLOW gave me was a picture book full of letters written by the students. Each one was very personal with little memories of things that I had forgotten about.

There is no doubt that God has exciting things ahead for Holly and I but it is the weirdest most surreal feeling, NOT being on staff at The Grove. Lord thank you so much for allowing your servant to be apart of what you are doing at theOVERFLOW.

What Would Jesus Buy?

I can't wait to see this movie. However, this is an interview of the infamous movie What Would Jesus Buy?, which, according to Trav, is worth seeing. The interview was done at Imago Dei in Portland, Oregon (Holly and I have been there and it is a great community doing miracles in the name of Jesus). Rick the pastor for Imago is interviewing the producer of the movie and it truly captures his heart in making this movie. Take a gander and let it marinate a bit on this one...

Spreading Christmas Cheer!!!

I absolutely love this time of year. I love the music, the food, memories that are made, time off of school, going to Oregon to visit family and actually have a real winter...I love it all. I also love the funny things that are Christmas like egg nog (which I love), A Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation; you know...the classics. The internet has made some advancements on making Christmas that much more cheerful...
You are looking to Elf Yourself this year, please do so at this website www.elfyourself.com.

Here are a couple of examples of fun if you elf yourself. It is a lot of fun...seriously! The first one is of me and some of my boys. The second one is of Holly (my wife), Sara (our roommate), Curtis (Sara's boyfriend), and myself.

Just make sure to have the sound up...

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1233907342

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1233743044

God Grew Tired Of Us

I really want to see this movie. The whole premise is close to those conversations we all have...you know the ones where what if someone from the middle ages stepped into the future, in 2007, and tried to live? How hard would it be? Well, this story is about bringing some men from Africa; from the war torn parts of Africa to the United States. It is a documentary from National Geographic and is narrated by Nicole Kidman. I don't think this movie will end up in the theaters but I am sure it will go to DVD. It is a movie like this that helps to bring balance to my life. You can never have too many examples of what balance should look like in the life of a Christian.

Not only that but any movie trailer that ends with a U2 song is an Oscar winning movie in my book!!!

The Story Of Stuff

This is very important that all should watch and learn. This has been going around quickly amongst my blog buddies and I want to make sure that if you read my blog, you will know about this short film. Go to this blog (Audience of One) and watch the videos. They blew me away at all of the stuff I have bought into and now need to change for my little rodrigo (Sydney Claire. that is not her name but that is what I want to name her). It even gave some great history as to how we as a society have bought into the same mentality.

I strongly encourage you to educate yourself using these videos. While you stop by at Micah's blog give him some love for posting these remarkable videos. It they do not change you than I say to you...You have a heart of Black and you're not cool!

On a spiritual note:

The video on consumerism is a great tell tale sign of yourself, of myself. This section of video will show how one truly looks inside and what one will go through to make sure that person feels accepted, complete, and whole. No one wants to be told they don't need this or that. It really falls in line with my blog Green = Contentment

Ultra Sound

Well here is the latest Ultrasound (US) that Holly has had done on little baby rodrigo. Everything is great. Holly's low-lying placenta has migrated away from her cervix (which is a good thing) and the baby is incredibly active. She was kicking the US transponder every time the tech would place it on Holly's belly. She was also doing flips and rolling around having fun...I guess. Let me explain what you are looking at from left to right. To the left-middle of the picture there is a spot that looks hollow...that is the heart. Going to the right you have the chest and then it curves down into black...that is the neck. Then you have the chin and lips and nose...this is a picture of her profile. If you look right around her lips you can see bubbles. She was swallowing the amniotic fluid and spitting it back out to make bubbles. My girl is talented! Doing flips, making bubbles...what's next...curing cancer from the womb??? Anyways...I posted 2 pictures for you to look at. One is without lines for you to gaze in amazement at the miracle of birth and the other is like a cheat sheet just in case you have no idea how to look at an US and my explanation sucks...we still have no name.