Sooo... Time for Another Update? I say Yes!

A lot has happened since the last post. I promise I'll start doing better with this soon. 

First, due to the great response to my riding of the Great Dane, next I will attempt to ride a Liger, as drawn here.

It's pretty much my favorite animal.

Second, Charlie was born April 19, 2009. But you all know that already. We'll post the birth story some time soon... sans birth pictures, if you know what I mean.

Third, a full time ministry job is so close I can smell it. I have been talking with First Baptist in Seguin for almost two months. I have met the staff and the personnel committee. I went in view of a call last Sunday, and we loved the church. The church is voting on June 14th, this coming Sunday. So, though not official, we're close! In the future, I'll give more details about the job.

Fourth, if the vote goes well, Helen and I will be moving from Buda to Seguin. We went to look at some places to live last week, and the Lord has provided a quaint little duplex a few blocks from the church. We are planning on moving next week.

One might think with all that has been going on, there would be more to say and more posts. But for whatever reason, I'm terrible at keeping up with this. 

One more thing-- I need the opinion of the intrawebs. I am thinking of switching our blog over to a wordpress account. Originally, this blog was wordpress, but I couldn't figure out how to do it. Now that I am a blogging genius (ha!), I feel like I have outgrown the capabilities of blogspot. So those of you with an opinion, I'd like to hear yours:

Do you like this site (blogspot)?

Or do you like this site (wordpress)?

Well, back to doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

What happens when you try to ride a great dane?

We stopped by Jenny and Michael's house this evening. They have a great dane, Rudder. In case you didn't know, the "great" means HUUUUGE. it looks like a human being. anyways, i thought it would be a good idea to try and ride him. Hilarity ensued.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_V0cXTI5os

Sir Charles is on the way...

Sorry, no video from Culver's today. Surprisingly, it takes a while for the video to process, get to youtube, and then make it to your computer. 

I want to hear your thoughts. Charlie is due on April 23. Post your guess on when he graces us with his presence.

A Joke at the Office

I can't study at the house. For whatever reason, there's too many distractions here. So I did a little research and found a place with free wi-fi. Culver's in downtown Buda. The past few weeks, I've been using it as my office. I think the people there are starting to get to know me. 

Anyway, I was taking a break and was a little bored. So I made a video. The audio is a little quiet, I didn't want the people who work there to think I'm nuts. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMTajcarsBg

Almost Famous...

If you can't be famous, marry someone who is. Helen hasn't been in high school for 7 years, but is still getting press.

Here, Helen was asked about how this team compared to her team back in 2001. (Hays Free Press) How come no one asked my opinion?

Here, Helen is mentioned as the connection between the last state tournament team and this state tournament team. All of her siblings are mentioned, since they are all freak athletes. And of course, yours truly gets some press. What can I say? Not everyone can do what I have done. I was born as son of a great coach-- accomplishment #1. Then, I married into a family who are all better athletes than me and my brother combined-- accomplishment #2. I'll be signing autographs later.

Riding the coattails of other people's success to fame = priceless.

Congrats 2008-2009 Lady Rebels

So my dad made it to the state tournament again. I was thinking last night about how greedy I've become. Ten years ago, I was hoping he could just a get chance to play at the Erwin Center. In 2001, my senior year, he made it and I was satisfied. It's such a privilege to make it to the final four, I thought surely that was his one shot. Well this year, out of nowhere, they made the state tournament again. Before state, they had a record of 34-4. that's the most wins he's ever had. Two of those losses were to rival Del Valle, who they beat in the Regional Final with seconds to go. One of those losses was to another team who is in the 5A state tournament. So this year, I was greedy. It wasn't enough for them to be there. I wouldn't be satisfied unless they won it all.

The problem is that they may as well have been playing the spurs last night. Waco Midway had 4 players with D-1 scholarships and the Baylor Women's Basketball coach's daughter. We were overmatched. I watched with pride as the Rebels played toe-to-toe with basically a D-1 college team in the first half. Entering halftime, they were only down 6. 

The second half was a different story, and the final score wasn't close. I left the Erwin Center with a sick feeling. It wasn't because of all the cow-poop colored burnt orange, although that didn't help. I was sick because I wanted my dad to win the whole thing. No matter the circumstances, no matter how good the other team is, I always have a feeling tucked deep down inside that my dad can win any game. And for the first half last night, the feeling was almost realized.

So congratulations, Dad and team. You guys were unbelievable this year. You consistently surprised everyone in the area and I was proud to watch. 11 juniors returning next year should make things interesting...

Happy Valentimes Day!

How many of you noticed what is wrong with the title of this blog? The sad part is that I'd be willing to bet that some of you really thought it was Valentimes Day. I've heard at least two people say that this week and they were dead serious. So consider this your free word of the day: It's Valentines Day, not Valentimes Day. 

Helen and I woke up this morning and gave each other our gifts for Valentimes Day. 

If you forgot to get your significant other something for Valentimes Day, there is still time. If you want, I bet Helen could make you a couple of shirts. Just let her know and I'm sure she'd oblige.

Happy Valentimes Day everyone!

A Man of Many Faces

I tried really hard. But I was tired of looking homeless.  So I decided to have a little fun:

This is as far as I could get. It was time to look respectable. But first...

This is my X-treme sports look. If I were going to ride motorcycles off 20 foot high mounds of dirt, this is the facial hair I would go for. Alas, I'm uncoordinated on bikes, I'm afraid of heights, and I look like a tool with this facial hair. Time to move on...

This is my youth minister's face. It's pretty much standard. If you're a youth minister, you have to have a gotee at some point in the life of your ministry. It doesn't matter how terrible it looks. You have to do it. Does it count if you had one for about 45 seconds (just long enough for Helen to take the picture)? Again, looking completely ridiculous is not my favorite thing to do, so...

uhhhhhh......

    

separated at birth?

Just add glasses, and hello Ned Flanders. Okily dokily...

Who is this guy?I was going for respectable, but I failed miserably.

Needless to say, it will be awhile before the facial hair comes back. For the next blog, look for Helen to do something similar... 

or not. 

Love you Helen. Please don't hurt me.

January Update

I haven't been so good with this thing over the last few weeks. I tend to blog more when I am really busy with school. It's my way of stalling. There's no real big update or anything, but Cami Bethancourt complained on my facebook wall and now i feel guilty.

Helen is still teaching away. She is working really hard, and I'm sure it feels like she is killing herself, carrying a child and all. I can't begin to imagine how she must feel. There have been multiple requests for pregnant pictures of my beautiful wife. I'm not sure that she's so keen on the idea... i'll have to convince her. maybe i'll take one of her while she's sleeping? or is that creepy? Maybe I'll just take a picture of my Dr. Pepper gut.

Charlie has begun to kick, punch, karate chop, use nun-chucks and whatever else he's doing in there. I really wish I could figure out what he's doing. We read somewhere that he dreams. What do yet-to-be-born babies dream about anyway? 

Charlie is just over a foot tall and weighs a pound or two. I can't believe that we are in our 3rd trimester. Time has just flown by. Before we know it, we'll be holding Charles Henry tight! Someone asked Helen what she is looking forward to most... and I really thought about that one for awhile. I can't wait to see his personality. I can't wait to hear his laugh. I can't wait to discuss the hypostatic union of the person of Christ with him (that one will have to wait).

As for me, I'm starting seminary here in the next few days. I have six classes to go. I'm taking four this spring, and I guess I'll finish next fall. (I'm no Philip, i can't finish 6 classes in one semester.) I am still working at Hays Hills. The Lord has been gracious there, and I believe the Holy Spirit is stirring in students' hearts. Also, the Lord has provided another job for me. Last November, I started tutoring at a local middle school. the hours are flexible and the pay is great. God has always provided for us, and he's doing it again! We are so thankful.

If you're praying for us, here's a few things to remember:

1. Charlie. 

2. Helen and her work. It's gotta be rough being pregnant and teaching 20 1st graders.

3. My job situation. I have a strong desire to serve the church full time. right now, the church that i'm at doesn't have a position for me full time. So I'm looking.

4. Living situation. We are house sitting right now. The people who own this place are possibly coming back in july and we are going to have to find new arrangements. This is also related to my job situation.