Who do you trust?

Everyone has trials and problems in their lives. Either you bring it on yourself or someone thrusts problems on to you. But do you allow these problems to rule your life? What is the secret to enjoying life? What must you do in order to live a happy and content life? Is it possible when you have little and big problems in your life?

I submit to you that it is 100% possible. Ask yourself these questions. What are the things in my life to which I derive the most satisfaction and enjoyment? Do you allow problems to rob you of your enjoyment of those things?

Let me give you a story about how this became clear to me and how B and I reacted to the situation.

After mom died I started to invest money with an individual that my mom really trusted and loved. I figured that if my mom really felt strongly about him that he would be able to do good things for me. We entrusted this person with a large sum of money. After a few years we needed to pull some of it out for various reasons. The amount we pulled out was not a small amount so it was important that we take out enough so that we would be able to cover any penalties or taxes associated with the withdrawal. We filled out all the forms as instructed and some time later we received the check. Having all the faith in this person and his company we did not think to check to make sure enough money was taken out.

Over a year later all of the money was gone and it was time to pay taxes. Much to my surprise not only did he not take out enough taxes even though I filled out all the forms, he did not take out the penalty. Thus we owe the IRS a ton of money this year.

I could have reacted with much stress and anxiety. B could have broken down and allowed it to destroy her. But we remembered the very important rule that we could only do what we could do and that we could not allow this to destroy us. We also realized that it was in times like these that we needed to turn to God and to praise God. It is easy to be with God when things are going well. The true measure of your faith is who do you turn to when faced with a situation like this?

For me and my family we put our trust in God. Everything else is just details.

Sonic Hamburgers and IKEA

Central Ohio has seen the arrival of two very popular businesses within the last few months.

Sonic Hamburgers is predominately seen in the southern United States. While they have good hamburgers, there are several items on the menu worth getting there. For instance, the sausage, egg and cheese breakfast burrito is to die for. They serve it all day long. It is easily three times the size of the puny breakfast burritos at McDonalds. Sonic also has a cherry limeade drink. It is so wonderful and yummy I could just drink them all day long. Yes we are very glad that Sonic has finally arrived in central Ohio. Now if we can just get them to come to our town.

IKEA is a wildly popular Swiss furniture store. The opening of an IKEA has seen as many as 30,000 people in a single day. Even though the IKEA is down by Cincinnati, we are grateful that we do not have to drive the 6 hours to Detroit or Pittsburgh.

This is not a garage sale

Last summer when I was cleaning out the garage many people stopped by thinking we were having a garage sale. JCG decided that she would sit at the front of the driveway and tell everyone that we were not having a garage sale.

Well on this particular day mom had the garage door open and was doing just a little cleaning up in the garage. The kids decided they wanted to make sure people didn't think we were having a garage sale.

The kids were also screamming "THIS IS NOT A GARAGE SALE"

One of the secrets of life

James Taylor sings that the secret of life is enjoying that passing of time. While I don't disagree with him I do think their are other secrets as well.

I came to the conclusion recently that there is another secret to a happy life. The secret is simple. You are going to make mistakes in your life. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise. So the secret is to surround yourself with people that will allow you to make the mistakes and to become a better person because of it.

This specifically includes who you choose to marry and who you choose to work for. I lucky enough to have a wonderful wife that allows me to make mistakes and to learn from them. I am also lucky enough to work for someone that is interested in the personal growth of his employees as he realizes it will ultimately benefit the company. So I am allow to make mistakes at work as well.

The other really interesting thing about it is that you have to ask yourself the question....am I being that kind of person to the people around me? In other words, do you allow people around you to make mistakes?

The letdown after the Power Rangers

JHGIII was really confused after the power rangers left. He didn't understand why they couldn't stay out and play more. He was so upset after they left he cried and then crashed asleep. It was a very precious moment for me.

How was your day at school JCG?

"Oh Daddy you should have seen it, I was coloring like a 1st grader."

An old friend

A few days ago I made contact with a person I grew up with in Alaska. We met in 2nd grade and we are friends to this day. I moved away from Alaska in the 10th grade. Since that time I have only seen him two times. AG is forever imprinted upon my memories of childhood. AG was always a good friend to me. We were in cub scouts together. We played baseball together. We spent the night at each other's houses. We played football together. We rode bikes around the neighborhood together.

I also remember how he had an intellivision and he would always beat me at football. When I think of AG it brings forth very happy memories of my childhood. I will always appreciate my time in Alaska and I will forever remember AG.

Thanks for the great memories my friend. My door and phone and email are always open.

Individual achievements

How do you think someone can achieve the greatest personal achievements in their life? Going to school and getting a good education? Taking time to do things that will get you noticed by your boss or your friends?

Its amazing how many times I have reflected upon the core teachings of Jesus and realized that while on the surface there is much to be learned about the world and about yourself, that it is the deeper hidden ideas behind what it means to follow the teachings of Christ that really blow me away.

For instance, today I received a wonderful email from my boss and friend DJ. It was filled with glowing praise and appreciation for my work at my job. My first reaction was "what did I do to deserve such praise?" and "man I feel like I don't do anything compared to what others do within the company"

So I started to think about how I felt and then I remembered what it was like to work at my old job at a major university. The university environment is filled with people that are basically looking out for themselves. They preach that they are their to serve the students but ultimately they are looking out for themselves and trying to get everyone to notice them and what they are doing. Often times at the expense of others.

So I realized that it was different at this company first of all. Second I realized that this was exactly the kind of mind set that Jesus spoke about when he mentioned serving others and think of others before yourself.

I don't go to work everyday to try to get people to notice what I am doing. I am there to help everyone at my job succeed. I am there to help our customers succeed. If I get recognized because of that then so be it. But I get my satisfaction from seeing others do well and seeing my customers do well.

Making their own fun at Disney World

JCG and Mike and Sulley

JCG with the Monsters Incc guys!

What should you do if a stranger...

So there I was in Kmart in the toy section with my two kids. This is a usual activity in that B is off shopping and I am entertaining the kids in the toy section. I try to let them go to their favorite aisle to look at their favorite toys. The problem is that I try to watch them both at the same time.

This time JCG was around the corner just out of my eyesight and JHGIII was in his aisle. I called to JCG to have her poke her head out so that I could see it and make sure she was ok. She peered around the corner and said "Yes daddy I am ok."

I thought at that moment "I should have the talk with her about what she should do if someone tried to grab her and run off."

Me: JCG do you know what you should do if a stranger grabs you and tries to take you?

JCG: Tell them that I do not belong to them?

Me: No, you should yell MOMMY or DADDY or HELP.

JCG: ok

Me: And what should you do if they try to cover your mouth and keep you from screaming?

JCG: ?

Me: You should bite them.

JCG: Ok Daddy

Me (turning to JHGIII all proud after the previous conversation): JHGIII do you know what to do if a stranger walks up to you?

JHGIII: Bite them

DOH!

Lunch at Hollywood and Vine

JCG and Goliath from JoJo Circus.

Lunch at Hollywood and Vine

This is June from Little Einstein's.

First stop MGM/Disney's Hollywood Studios

Just inside the front gate on our first day.

JHGIII and the hula hoop

After we arrived at our hotel there were hula hoops on the ground outside the main entrance. So we took a hula break.

Skybus

JCG waits exciited as we take her picture prior to boarding the plane to Disney World.

Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable

These were the first characters at Disney World.

Jack and the Power Rangers

This is a video I put together for my son after our trip to disney world.

The men in my life

These are two very important guys I want to show you a picture of. My Dad is the older one on the left. My Son is the younger one on the right. All three of us share the exact same name. I was proud to name my son after my dad.