Train Up A Child

Yearly Update

2011-08-27T17:17:00.001-07:00

Wow, this blog has really been neglected.

Life is good for the Kelsey family. Our community was hit hard when an F4 tornado hit. We were missed by a couple hundred yards. Our friends were not as lucky. Our community is rebuilding, but it will never be the same.

Addi has been headache free for 9 months! She loves school and starts gifted classes this week. I'm so proud of her.

Levi is a great little first grader and behaves so well. I have a feeling he's going to be getting straight A's.

Lila can't wait for school to start for her, but still has to wait a couple of years. She is definately a "girl girl" and loves anything pink or princess related.

Kim is doing well and is going to be a room mother again at school. She did a terrific job last year. She is also involved with our school's PTA. She had a job for an on call service, but the hours were not worth the money.

Take care everyone....if you are reading!

Fading Away

2010-10-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

It's sad that I haven't updated this blog in so long. I used to love blogging, but I guess Facebook won the competition.

Here are a few things going on with the Kelsey's

1) Addi is doing better despite dealing with headaches.

2) Levi loves school and is doing great.

3) Lila has turned 3. WOW!

4) Kim continues to do well with her job and continues to do a fabulous job taking care of us.

5) Our dog Molly had a surprise litter of puppies. Want one?

6) School is fine for me. I have a smart-board in my room and love it.

7) I haven't been dieting good lately.

8) We're going to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. Can't wait!

9) We're going to Disney World for Spring Break. Can't wait!

10) We love staying involved with Sylvan Springs Church of Christ.

Hope all is well with you, if anyone is reading this!

Did It Again

2010-07-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

Facebook, blogging, and twitter. It's hard to do them all. Hope everyone is well out there in blogland.

Hope you enjoy these photos!

Diet Mode

2010-05-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm going to try to get back in diet mode. I'm going to try to lose 30 pounds before school starts. I know I can do it. I'll use myfitday.com again and go to the gym daily this summer. Hopefully I'll get back on track!

Watching The Biggest Loser inspired me. Once I have one good day, I'll be able to keep it going!

Note: Those are not my toes! :-)

Little Munchkin

2010-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Addi was in a production of "The Wizard of Oz." She did great! Here is a pic.

Free Stuff Blog

2010-05-11T17:48:00.001-07:00

I've been checking this blog lately for free stuff. I've already got some in the mail!

Free Stuff

Blog Time Machine

2010-05-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some old pics from my blog. Click below!

War eagle, Levi!
Addi and Levi
S.S. Cutiepie
Smiley Lila
Yes, this is Levi.

Blogging Humor

2010-04-29T20:11:00.001-07:00

Attitude

2010-04-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I spoke at West Concord Church of Christ. My lesson borrowed an acronym I saw in Neal Pollard's book called "Rise Up and Build." It was used as a discussion question and I decided to make a sermon out of it.

A - Action. Christians are doers! (James 1:22)
T - Thoughtfulness - Do you look out for others? (Philippians 2:3-4)
T - Thankfulness - Do you appreciate everything God has given you? (Col 5:18)
I - Ideals - Do you pursue Christian things? (Philippians 4:8)
T - Tests - How do you react to trials? (2 Timothy 2:3)
U - Understanding - Do you know God's word? (Psalms 109:105)
D - Distance - Who do you associate with? (1 Corinthians 15:33)
E - Erasers - Don't dwell on past sins. (Isa 43:25)

What kind of attitude do you have?

Softball Debut

2010-04-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

Addi had a great first game tonight! She hit both times up and scored a run. Her team won by one point! Obviously it was because we practiced this afternoon, right? Here are a couple of pictures from this afternoon. Levi and Lila decided to get their car seats out and enjoy the show.

Another Recommended Blog

2010-04-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Found this blog by mistake, but it looks like a good one! Check out The Frugal Dad.

Molly

2010-04-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've had many posts devoted to our dog Molly. What a sweet and kind dog! Santa brought her for Addi a few years ago and she is the most gentle dog I know. She loves our kids and is quite obedient. Here's a nice picture.

Interesting Site

2010-04-22T19:39:00.001-07:00

Check this website out: Stuff I Say to Kids. I submitted a quote of Levi's.

A Verse to Reflect Upon

2010-04-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." - Psalms 34:18 (ESV)

Blog Reboot

2010-04-19T11:08:00.001-07:00

I've updated my side bar (dropped some dead weight, fixed some others, added a few new links). Check them out if you have a chance!

Tweets

2010-04-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that I tweet often. Check my sidebar for those updates. I guess tweeting and facebooking (is that the correct word?) are more convenient. I'm going to try and blog at least once a week now. Stay tuned!

Mint

2010-04-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

No, this is not the ultimate post that my favorite reader requested, but I wanted to share this site that I've recently found. Check out it out! I bet you'll find it useful too.

Post #800

2010-04-18T05:11:00.001-07:00

I know many of you check daily for an update, right? Ha. I started this blog years ago and was updating quite frequently. Now I tweet and FB much more. I'm going to "try" to update this more often even though I know there isn't many people who read this any more.

Here is some news:

1) Addi continues to battle headaches. She is going to be admitted to Children's Hospital Monday. Please pray that this will end the headaches. She'll be getting migraine medication via IV.

2) School continues to go well. The year is wrapping up and I know next year will be strange. We'll be losing six grade (hooray! - oops, did I say that?), and some other units due to our numbers being down.

3) Levi and Lila are good. They enjoy playing with each other, but also fight here and there too.

4) Kim is fine. I'm glad that she's the mother of my children!

That's the news for now. I will update again by Monday.

Snow!

2010-02-12T15:41:00.001-08:00

I wish Addi could've joined us. In case you don't know, she's been battling headaches lately and we're not entirely sure why.

Memorable Events of the Last Decade

2009-12-31T10:48:00.001-08:00

1. Being married to Kim. Going on year twelve.

2. Our three children being born.

3. Buying our house in Pleasant Grove.

4. Becoming a deacon at Sylvan Springs Church of Christ.

5. Getting my National Board certification.

6. Working with a great group of 4th grade teachers at PGES.

7. Planning our big family trip to Disney World.

8. Our vacation to Branson, Missouri with my side of the family.

9. Losing weight. I still need to get more committed!

10. Being involved with Lads to Leaders.

2010

2009-12-28T08:05:00.001-08:00

I hope 2010 is a great one for you! Here are some online fireworks for you to celebrate with.

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T18:42:00.001-08:00

I know this isn't visited much, but have a Merry Christmas!

I'm using an app to blog on my itouch.

Look, a post!

2009-11-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

I'm guilty of not posting again. Sorry. I'm just twittering and using Facebook much more now. Don't forget you can follow my Twitter on the side bar.

Things are good in the Kelsey family. My parents come in Thursday for a quick visit. The kids are excited to see their grandparents! This is going to be a great Thanksgiving.

School continues to go well. I've enjoyed having a student teacher who has tremendously helped make this a smooth year.

I recently spoke at Sylvan Springs Church of Christ (my home congregation). You can listen here.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

Check This Out

2009-11-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Be sure to visit my brother in law's online magazine Get Commit. Share it with the youth of your congregation!

Monster Mash

2009-10-22T14:11:00.002-07:00

Click here.

Monster Mash

2009-10-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

October 11

2009-10-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Life here is fine. We've recovered from the flu bug. I never caught it, but now that I've said that I probably will. Ha!

Tomorrow is Lila's 2nd birthday. Hard to believe!

School is going well. It's been a great year because I have a great student teacher. My job after she leaves is to keep the momentum going.

Didn't do to well on my last weigh in at school. Oh well, I just need to brush myself off and do better!

Auburn lost today. Phooey.

Soccer season is great! We've only had two games. Our next one is Thursday. I'll post pictures. By the way, Addi has scored three goals this year! Also, no one has scored on her as goalie.

That's all for now. Thanks for visiting!

The Paul Show, Ep. 2

2009-09-26T14:03:00.001-07:00

The Paul Show

2009-09-18T20:45:00.001-07:00

If it was bad when Bush did it, then its bad for Obama too.

2009-09-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Happy as a Teacher

2009-09-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Just read Granna's blog and felt a bit guilty. So, I thought I'd update.

I'm very happy right now with my job. As you know, I aggresively pursued a job at another school which fell through. I was quite disappointed, but knew that God must have had different plans. I was right. I'm glad I'm still at PGES. I'm having a terrific year. While I have a group of students with a wide range of abilities, they are good kids and make teaching fun. Last year's group was wonderful and currently my best, but this group is not far behind! One aspect that has contributed to the success is working with a student teacher. She's doing an excellent job. Having her in the classroom has helped me be more professional and organized!

I've also begining to use my slate interactive board in class. Wow, it is neat! Basicially, it's a wireless tablet than can be written on. Using a program much more complex than powerpoint, I can give lessons that allow the students to interact with the slate. This is going to change my teaching completely.

I know I probably won't be this happy all year long, but I'm going to try hard to keep my optimism going!

Football Season!

2009-09-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

Photos at the Gardens

2009-08-29T19:16:00.001-07:00

How 'Bout That

2009-08-28T18:48:00.001-07:00

Just noticed that my blog front page covers three months. Sad! I used to update this 2-3 times a week!

Lately

2009-08-26T19:35:00.001-07:00

Hello Blog Reader,

Things are fine in the Kelsey househould.

- School is in full swing. Addi and I both have good classrooms. I like my 20 students and Addi has made friends in her class. I'm happy for her!

- I have a student teacher this year. I hope I'm a good example to learn from!

- Soccer season has started! I'm hoping for two victories this year! Seriously, I think we have a great team. I'm looking forward to having some fun. Addi is ready to be a the goalie!

- Levi and Lila are fine. It's amazing how much energy they have.

- I'm ready for football season to start! I think this will be a better season for Auburn.

- I'm enjoying a study in my young adult class called "Rise Up and Build." Neal Pollard wrote about effective church growth.

- I'm trying to get more consistent with dieting. I'm still working out frequently!

- Kim is enjoying her job! She's doing great with it. She works every other weekend and is dedicated to doing her best. If I did what she did, I'd be disorganized for sure.

- That's all for now! Sorry for the infrequent updates. Most of you are on Facebook anyway! Don't forget that my tweets are on the sidebar.

My Little First Grader

2009-08-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 3:5

2009-07-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (ESV)

I love this verse and I think it's one we should reflect on frequently. Many times we think we are in control and know what's best. However, we need to submit to God and remember he's in control. He knows what is best for His children.

Handsome Devils

2009-07-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

Summer Slipping Away

2009-07-10T04:30:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that school starts in less than 5 weeks! (By the way, I'm staying at PGES). It's been a good one so far. Our trip to Oklahoma and Texas will be here soon, I'm excited about seeing my family!

Addi has been at camp this week, by herself. We went to visit her Wednesday. Before she saw us, we could see her. She was just a smiling and talking which was evident how happy she was. I'm so glad she's enjoyed herself, but it sure has been quiet around here!

Lila has been talking up a storm. The other evening I told her it was time to "go night-night." She said "No, Daddy. I not tired!" Levi 2.0.

Speaking of Levi, he continues to say and do silly things. Last night he walked in our room and said "Look, I'm dancing!" He proceeded to do a John Travolta type dance with fingers pointed in the air. It was funny!

I'm going to wrap up. I've got to head to my class on Numerical Reasoning. I should be able to pay attention now that I know that I didn't get the transfer.

Have a great weekend everyone

Creepy Update

2009-07-05T21:10:00.001-07:00

Press play.

Blogging From Camp

2009-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

We've had a good week at camp. Lila has enjoyed swimming with me. Levi enjoyed the water wars last night and Addi's favorite part is probably canteen. We leave tomorrow afternoon to head back to reality.

I had a good interview Monday which lasted five hours. Hopefully I'll get another call next week!

Hope everyone has had a great week!

Flip Side

2009-06-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

1) Trying to watch TV when my parents would vacuum.

2) Walking into a room and my parents were kissing.

3) My parents would find old toys to get rid of.

And now as a parent, I do the same. Ha!

A Post For Friday

2009-06-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a great week in the Kelsey household. I've had nothing in particular to do this week, so I've been able to relax some. I've worked on my educational portfolio and worked (or thought about working) on the Bible class material for camp. Our session starts next week.

I've enjoyed the week at home. I've taken the kids to the park and we played outside together. I'm the hide and seek champ. Addi even remarked "You're the best dad EVER." I think that cancels out "Your the worst Dad EVER" that she said the other day while swimming.

Levi has been such a good boy this week. He says the funniest random things. His best quote lately was about swimming at Gramps' and Granna's pool. He said "That was fun. Dangerous fun!" I'm amazed how much he loves his sisters. If Lila cries or is upset, he is the one to calm her down. She even hit him the other day, I fussed at her. Levi then said "It's okay, Lila. You didn't hurt me!"

Lila has turned into a ball of energy. She gets into everything! But, she is so loving. I love her pats on the shoulder and her little waves as she says "Hi, Daddy!"

Monday is a big day for me. I have an interview to a nearby school. I'm extremely excited about this, so please keep me in your prayers! I'll post probably post next week when I find out more. I'll bring my laptop and wireless card during camp.

One thing I thought about recently is that my grandfather passed away ten years ago last month. I still miss him and know that he would have loved his great-grand children. He had a lot of pride in his family and would brag about all his family. I can particularly remember one time at church that he introduced me in Bible class. (Everyone already knew me). He said "This is my grandson Paul Kelsey" then jumps out of his seat and says "and get got a 4.0 last semester!"

That's all for now. Anybody still read this?

For the People Out There Working

2009-06-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying my summer vacation. For those of you who aren't teachers, I thought you might enjoy this:

FIVE BEST THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:

NUMBER 5: They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.

NUMBER 4: 'This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you sent me to.

NUMBER 3: 'Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-out. You probably got here just in time!

NUMBER 2: Did you ever notice sound coming out of these key boards when you put your ear down real close?

Number 1: And the favorite: best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk: (Raising your head slowly) '... in Jesus' name, Amen

Psalms 63

2009-06-16T11:02:00.001-07:00

We studied this on Sunday in my young adult class at church. Beautiful, beautiful passage.

Psalm 63 (ESV)

¹O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
³Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
⁴So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

⁹But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Cross references:

Play This Around 4 p.m.

2009-06-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Nice Kiddos

2009-06-11T18:18:00.001-07:00

Despite hearing "Mom!!!! Levi hit me!" a dozen times a day, they truly love each other.

Sermon Notes

2009-06-07T04:34:00.000-07:00

I'm speaking at West Concord Church of Christ this morning and I thought I'd share my notes. If I get to share the lesson at Sylvan Springs in the future, I'll put the audio link up here. By the way, since Geocities is going to shut down I'm not putting my files on there anymore. I'm trying a new file service. Anyone got any suggestions.

Real or Not Real?

2009-06-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Are My Blogging Days Over?

2009-06-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

No, probably not. I just need to build a rhythm again.

- Things are good for the Kelseys in Alabama. School is out for the summer, but I haven't had a day off yet. Before school was out, I started a summer class. The best part of all, I get paid a stipend. It's worth it, that's for sure.

- Ball season is nearly over. We're anxiously waiting to see if Addi will be on All-Stars.

- I've been working out 3-4 times a weeks. My weight has stayed about the same for now.

- I've been eyeballing a possible opening at another school. I'm hoping that there is an opening and that I get an interview. I think this would be a great move.

- We had our good friends the Richardsons pass through the other day. It was good visiting with them. Their kids played with our kids.

- We had a great VBS at church recently. We rotated classes which made a lot less planning.

- I'm speaking at another congregation this Sunday. I'm excited, but need to get my notes together!

Have a great weekend everyone. Look for a new post tomorrow. I promise.

Another Week, Another Post

2009-05-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

- Things are fine here. I'm still losing weight. I'm at the 70 pound mark now.

- I was interviewed by The B'ham News Wednesday and a picture of me holding up some old pants was taken. Can't wait to see the story!

- School is wrapping up. Before my last day of work, I start a class.

- Are summer is busy! I have two classes, a trip out west (Oklahoma and Texas), camp, and Vacation Bible School. I think I have two or three weeks of nothing planned somewhere in there.

- Congratulations to Alex, he's graduating. We had his banquet last night in his honor.

- Kim started a job yesterday from home. She did an outstanding job. I like hearing her say "Medical Staffing Network. This is Kim, how may I help you?"

- Addi is doing great with softball. Believe it or not, this girl has speed.

- Lila likes to say "go" now when she wants something. Dare I say she is Levi 2.0?

- Levi's latest thing is letting our dog Molly out to play. She's such a good dog and gentle with our kids.

- Have a great week everyone!

Psalm 32

2009-05-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

In my young adult class at church, we have been studying Psalms and how they relate to David's life. I like this one about David receiving forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba. There are some important reminders here:

1) Getting forgiveness will give you joy.
2) To gain forgiveness, you must acknowledge what you did.
3) We have a responsibility to help others avoid sin.

Here is the passage from the English Standard Version.

¹Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
²Blessed is the man against whom the LORDcounts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah

⁵I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah

⁶Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
⁷You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
Selah

⁸I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
¹¹ Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Nearly Two Weeks

2009-05-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Poor neglected blog. I'm sure that no one stops by now since I use Twitter and Facebook. Anyway, here are two pics I wanted to share. It's a before and midpoint of my diet.

I'm still dieting. (Insert Biggest Loser theme music here. Start at 2:22) Haven't gained any, but haven't lost much either. One thing I've started doing is using Fit Day. In case you haven't heard, my team came in 4th in our "Biggest Winner" contest at school. I was overall #1.

Hope all is well with my loyal reader(s).

Rolly Pollies

2009-05-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Did I spell that right? Levi's latest form of entertainment is catching rolly pollies. He loves them. He says "You just pick them up and they turn into little balls." He is definitely a boy!

Is the Golden Age of Blogging Over?

2009-04-22T04:26:00.001-07:00

I've noticed that many folks (including myself) aren't blogging as much. Does this mean the golden age of blogging is over? I guess with Facebook and Twitter now, blogger isn't as popular.

What do you think?

O-O-Obama

2009-04-17T14:03:00.001-07:00

Lazy Blogger

2009-04-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

I'll blog by bullets.

- Things are fine here. The kids are fine, but Addi is battling a cough of some kind. Levi is still Levi, but is a loving Levi too. Lila is full of energy and loves to give hugs.

- We had a great Lads to Leaders convention. Our youth placed in many events. Our group site that you've seen me advertise on there got 2nd place. Alex was first in speech which was huge!

- My diet is still going well. I've lost 60 pounds now!

- I'm ready for the summer to arrive. I know it won't begin for 6 weeks or so.

That's all for now. I know I need to blog better.

Thoughts on Weight Loss

2009-04-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've been on my diet nearly 100 days now and have done well. I plan to keep going, until I am at a healthy weight. I imagine this will take more several more months before it happens, but slow and steady wins the race. I haven't been losing as much lately, but still losing. I'll be hitting the 60 pound mark soon.

We are still having our competition at school and my team has won three weigh-ins in a row. I hope it keeps going. Several others at school have done well and you can see their progress.

I like wearing smaller clothes. So far, my mom and mother in law have kept me stocked with new clothes. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for their kind words!

It Really Was a Tie

2009-04-06T19:18:00.001-07:00

Tonight was the Honey Bees first game and it was great despite the blistering cold weather. Technically, the other team won but there was some rule about forfeiting the first batter since the other team had less players than us. I don't like that rule, unless it's in our favor! Anyway, Addi played her heart out and I was quite proud of my little girl in the circle. She even hit all three times she was up and scored twice.

Here are a few pics. Oh, I want to give a shout out to Jasmine who watched Levi and Lila at home tonight so I could watch the game.

Newest Levi Quote

2009-03-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

On the way home from church I said to Levi, "Levi, I love you."

His response:

Daddy...... I love me too.

Preaching Preview

2009-03-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

I get to speak tomorrow at Sylvan Springs. Since my Father-In-Law is out of town, I can ridicule him as much as I want. Just kidding, David.

Here is my Powerpoint for tomorrow. You can hear the sermon tomorrow afternoon by clicking here and scrolling down to the bottom.

UPDATE: You can listen to the actual file here.

Latest Diet Fad

2009-03-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to try this diet? I think I'll stick to exercise, cutting back, and eating healthy foods.

Nieces and Nephew

2009-03-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Me with nephew Charlie. He enjoyed being help up-side-down too. Of course, that made Addi, Levi, and Lila jealous.

Here is a picture of Addi with cousin Macy. They played and played and played yesterday.

I have more pics to post later. I don't have the patience right now to wait on the computer. See more at my sister's blog!

Looking for Pictures?

2009-03-18T20:34:00.001-07:00

See Kim's blog!

Lawton Photo's #3

2009-03-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

I guess my blog is heavy with photos now. Here are a couple more!

More Photos of Lawton

2009-03-16T19:39:00.001-07:00

Add in front of my grandparents old home. It's foreclosed/abandoned now.

Levi climbs on a big cannon at the park.

Lila went to Dad, but she's more concerned right now that I took her pacifier for the picture.

I'll try to get more of all of us. I need to get one of Mom too!

Another Levi Conversation

2009-03-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Levi: Daddy, no more spankings.

Me: Son, that's a great idea! So you're going to be good from now on?

Levi: I didn't say that.

Visiting the Kelsey Farm

2009-03-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

We went over to PaPa's farm after church today to let the kids see the cows. Levi was more interested in the cow poop and Addi ended up wanting to watch from the safety of the truck. However, they did enjoy themselves especially when the got to see PaPa Kelsey's tractor.

Time Phrases

2009-03-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Levi, being the particular little boy he is, has picked up on something that I say that I've never thought about. When Levi wants something and I can't take care of it right away, I'll respond with one of these phrases:

1) "In just a second."
2) "In a minute."
3) "Later."

He has learned that "In just a second" is the answer to look for. So if I reply "In just a minute" he'll kindly respond with "No Daddy. In just a second!"

I love Levi so much.

Food Emergency

2009-03-08T06:44:00.001-07:00

You probably heard about the lady who called 911 because McDonald's was out of chicken nuggets and wouldn't give her refund back. If not, check it out here. I remember learning that calling 911 was for emergencies when I was in Kindergarten. How about you?

Not Neccessarily a Steal

2009-03-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

I've spent nearly 3 years of my teaching in these. A buck is not worth it.

Psalm 59

2009-03-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

In my young adult class Sunday mornings, we are studying Psalms. A couple of weeks ago, we studied the 59th chapter. I love the description of God's power and protection used in this passage.

Take a look! (ESV)

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me;
²deliver me from those who work evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men.

³For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
⁴for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Awake, come to meet me, and see!
⁵You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil.
Selah

⁶Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
⁷There they are, bellowing with their mouths
with swords in their lips—
for "Who," they think, "will hear us?"

⁸But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.
⁹O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
¹⁰ My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

¹¹Kill them not, lest my people forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield!
¹²For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
¹³ consume them in wrath;
consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
to the ends of the earth.

I imagine none of us have to worry about enemies like David did, but it's comforting to know that God protects his children.

Sunday Snow in March

2009-03-01T05:02:00.000-08:00

Four Things

2009-02-26T04:22:00.000-08:00

Four things I love:

1) Kim's smile.
2) Addi's wave from her lunchroom table.
3) Levi's request for a "hug and a kiss" when one of us leaves.
4) Lila's pat on the shoulder in the morning or after a nap.

Good Web Site

2009-02-23T03:42:00.000-08:00

Check out Calorie King. A friend recommended it yesterday. My diet continues to go well and I'm confident I'll hit the 40 pound mark this week. One thing I want to do differently on this diet is to stick with for a long time. I've already thought about staying consistent as much as I can during Spring Break, the Lads to Leaders convention, and even the summer. I want to see how low I can go!

Study Guide - Joshua

2009-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

I get to help plan our Survivor Retreat with our church. Think of it like the show Survivor, but with Biblical events. We have fun and learn more from God's word.

At the end of the retreat, we have a Bible Bowl. I've made a study guide and wanted to share it with you. Click here to see it.

If you haven't studied the book of Joshua before, take a look at it. It really show how Joshua was a Godly leader.

Lila and Dogs

2009-02-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Lila loves dogs. A couple of weeks ago, we were at Daniel and Mandi's. She loved their dog and would chase her around the house. The other day, we let our dog Molly out to play. Actually, she got out of the backyard. Anyway, Lila loves Molly and Molly is quite gentle with our children. Here are a couple of pics.

Daddy/Daugher

2009-02-13T04:21:00.001-08:00

Latest Levi Quote

2009-02-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

The other day Levi was jumping on the bed. I told him to stop especially since he nearly hit his head. I told him "Levi, you're going to fall and bust your head open. Your brain is going to fall out." His reply: "I don't have a brain. I don't have anything in my head."

Photos For Friday

2009-02-06T15:05:00.001-08:00

Kim has a new camera, so we are a photo-friendly family again. Well, Addi and Levi are. Enjoy.

Forget Super Mario Brothers

2009-02-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

My dad has his own game. Click here.

Motivation

2009-02-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Anyone know where I can get this shirt? Ha! I'm doing great on my diet still. Friday I weigh in for our school competition of "The Biggest Winner." We have to weigh in every two weeks.

I don't know who these guys are, but I'm thankful they let me use their likenesses.

Great Food Book

2009-02-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Using some of my birthday money, I bought a book yesterday. I highly recommend to all the dieters out there.

Youtube Music

2009-01-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

Anyone ever go on Youtube to find music? I love this song. It's called "Going Home." If you've ever seen the Civil War movie "God's and Generals," you'll probably recognize it from the opening.

Friday Funny

2009-01-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

Happy January 30th everyone! Today should be a national holiday.

Anyway, have you heard this story? Probably not. Yes, it does look like a door, I can understand that. However, I guarantee though that if former President Bush had done this, it would have been plastered all over the news and he would have been labeled (again) as an idiot.

Technology

2009-01-28T20:21:00.000-08:00

Technology is grand isn't it? Most of the time.

I had a teacher at Munich American High School that said he believed than in at least 20 years time, everyone would walk around with little black boxes that would do anything for you. He was right.

There is so much to do with education and technology. This year, I have a projector which really changes the dynamics of teaching. When I get my interactive board, it will go up even another notch. Plus, there is so much you can do with the internet. I also love our poster maker and computerized die-cut. What's next?

However, technology is quite irritating too. Perhaps it's user error, but I hate it when technology does things for your automatically. For example, our copier at work randomly shrinks things for you. I don't want it to, but it does. I've also noticed that Microsoft Word (and Open Office) will capitalize things for your or make bullet lists when you don't need them. It can be frustrating.

But in the grand scheme of things, technology is good. After all, I met my wife that way!

Bolded

2009-01-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

Saw this another blog, thought I'd do it. You can do it too. Just copy and paste, bold the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (From sixth grade through college).
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (and Euro-Disney too!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (sometimes when I lead singing and we don't know the song).
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (twice!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning. (I think from Habeneros)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (twice!)
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (teachers need mental health days).
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Eaten an ostrich burger.
27. Run a marathon (no, but I've walked ten miles straight a couple of times before)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run. (on the Wii, does that count?)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Spent the night at a hospital.
47. Had your portrait painted
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (and threw up there too)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (does tutoring count?)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. (helped my sisters)
62. Driven across the country.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Taught a Bible class.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (maybe - can't remember).
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Worked at a fast food restaurant.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (not at once).
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Saw someone famous at an airport. (Justin Timberlake).
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (I'm a father, but I didn't actually have the baby).
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Your turn!

Weekend News

2009-01-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

I've been twittering more, so check out my side bar to stay updated with mini things of my life.

- My diet is going well. I hit the 20 pounds mark today! We are doing "The Biggest Winner" at school and are competing with teams across the county. We can win money for our school and it didn't cost anything.

- School is fine. I have a pinning ceremony Thursday for being an NBCT.

- The kids are well. Levi enjoyed his birthday and got more toys to play with.

- Kim is good and worked hard yesterday to get our Lads to Leaders stuff in the mail.

Have a great Saturday!

Happy Birthday Levi Boy!

2009-01-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

Wow! Levi will be four Tuesday. Time sure has flown. Levi brings a spark of energy to our family and we love him very much. Happy Birthday Levi!

L2L 2009

2009-01-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

We've been working on Lads to Leaders events since May and now we are about to kick it into high gear preparing speeches and songs.

Our youth worked on a web page. Check it out here (FIXED) and please sign the guest book.

Keri Ratcliff also has a Lads to Leaders blog. Be sure to leave comments and vote in the poll!

We still have some touch up to do on these sites, but I think they are great.

We can't wait for convention in April!

Scale Back Alabama

2009-01-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

Kim, David, Susan, and I are participating in Scale Back Alabama. It's a weight losing contest. All we have to do is lose 10 pounds by March and then we have a chance to win money. Alabama's own Roger Schultz from the Biggest Loser is sponsoring it. Our team name is......ahem...... The Power Losers. I think we are going to do great.

Wordle

2009-01-15T16:57:00.001-08:00

More Blogs

2009-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Here a couple more blogs I have found our enjoy reading. Daniel's Den is written by my brother in law Daniel who works for Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ. There are some great articles there.

I've also been visiting occasionally the ABC3340 weather blog.

I'll add these to my sidebar later with a couple of others.

Have a nice Tuesday evening!

NBCT News

2009-01-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

Friday we had our NBCT celebration funded by the Stellar Program. It was great, but more than I expected. All I knew it was a celebration, but ended up being like a mini-graduation. I had to walk on stage, shake hands, get a certificate, and smile for a picture. I enjoyed the evening, especially with family.

This is not my official certificate. I'll get that sometime soon.

A Verse For Friday

2009-01-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Psalms 18:1-2 (ESV)

1. I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

DIEt

2009-01-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

I've been dieting for a week now and I'm proud of my progress. I've lost 7 pounds! I'm working hard to keep at it. Once I get a solid start, I usually do good. Hopefully, there won't be any stumbling blocks I can't beat.

One thing that is helping is our new toy: a Wii and Wii Fit. What fun! It's weird to think that a video game could help you burn calories, improve your balance, and keep track of your weight. It even has Yoga which Addi loves to do.

In other news, it's been WET here. We've had tons of rain today and even had a brief tornado warning. What a fun way to start back at school.

Side Bar

2009-01-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

I've added a couple new links on my side bar. Two are new blogs I read. One is another church family of ours and another is from an old band friend back at OC. I also added an audio link to my sermon. I need to put my power point up too, just haven't done it yet.

Have a great Sunday!

Year of Committment

2009-01-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

I won't make this the typical New Year's resolution post, but I wanted to say welcome to 2009. I think it will be full of success on happiness!

The other night at church, I gave our mid-week service invitation. I talked about the difference between being committed and conflicted. I think that many times as Christians, we are conflicted with worldly pressures. When we are committed, we are focused, determined, unwavering, and unselfish. When we are conflicted, we are divided, swaying, and flimsy.

I like what Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says. (ESV)

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

This is where it all begins. To be committed, everything has to be focused on God. It has to be ingrained in you, part of your daily habits. If not, you will fail.

That makes me think of the rich young ruler in Luke 18. His mind was ready for commitment, but his heart was far from it. He had a stumbling block that he couldn't just remove.

So 2009 for me will involve more commitment in everything I do. How about you?

New Door

2008-12-30T15:20:00.000-08:00

One of our Christmas presents was installed today. What do you think?

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Online Sermon

2008-12-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

I got to preach this morning and it's online if want to listen. Click here.