The day of feasts...

Whoa... the day started at 6am meeting my brother and Dad at the Family Cabin in Belton. Took in some B&G. Then around 1pm, we did the Ci Ci's Pizza in Grandview with the Family. Then to top it off, chowed down on a burrito from Chipotle in Lee's Summit for dinner this evening. I'm never eating again.

Fathers Day

Fathers day has past, but the memories will be good! We had the boys this weekend and took the boat for its maiden voyage on Saturday. I got a great sunburn! The boys both loved it. We went over to Moms on Sunday evening, and everyone was there except for L. I believe she was working.

I always feel like I have so much to live up to. My father definitely continues to show his compassion and is definitely someone I strive to live up to. He's a dedicate individual that puts his dedication in anything he sets out to do. Raising a family was and is still to this day a priority he keeps close. I'm sure he has his moments and feels that some times he didn't do good enough. I suppose we all fee that way sometimes, where that seems to be the norm, not the exception for me. I take it as it comes, and thank God for my family and for all that we don't have to strive for. There are many less fortunate ones out there, and my prayers are with them often. Often I pray thanks for all that I don't have.

If it's one thing I've tried hard to do in the past 6 years, is to put others before me. To force myself toward my declared dedication, I recently volunteered my time to the CA/N initiative. The Child Abuse and Neglect prevention program in Cass county is spearheaded by a nurse with the County Health department and the local Cass County prosecutor. I'll be on the planning committee whose purpose will be to design a response to the issue of CA/N. I look forward to providing my time, and hope that the initiative will be a positive influence for others that are less fortunate, as well as a positive influence on me and my family. This is a brand new initiative for the county, and so far it seems the response to this initiative is very positive. The first planning committee is the second week of July. It's a chance for everyone to meet, and to find more information on how child abuse and neglect is effecting our community.

Now for the best part... tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! I'll have the boys again, and I hope the weather is good. Fishing seems like it would be a fun thing to do this weekend.

Till next time!

Rain, snow, no,... sun!

Okay, this has been a very weird week. Last weekend at this time, it was beautiful, sunny, and getting warm. Now the forecast for Saturday is SNOW! Don't get me wrong, I love the snow. But I was almost sure old-man-winter was gone for the year.

My stupid allergies started acting up over the week. I was in Pittsburgh Tuesday and Wednesday. Thank goodness I took a Southwest flight. Poor American Airlines passengers! Over 100,000+ (edit on 4/12/2008 - make that 250,000+ ) stranded this week because of FAA regulatory inspections.

The week went fast even though. E has hockey practice tomorrow, and then we are going to party it up at Moms for her belated birthday! yeah!! Mom loves Birthday parties. I think she told me one time that birthdays are her favorite time! Looks like everyone in the fam is going to make it too! I can't wait. I'll be grilling hamburgers in the snow!

Till next time!

No MO Trash - Part II

"Can't you all just get along!", Dad would say. It's not that Dad said it often, but often enough that the phrase still rings in my head. I suppose that my memory is amplified; being that I now have my own children and I catch myself saying the exact same phrases my folks did when we were young.

I don't know how in the world us kids came up with our play characters named Barf, Bartholumule, and Whinalena. I'm pretty certain that my sister didn't have a say in the matter as her name was Whinalena. My brother and I played the part of Barf and Barth respectively. I picture Barf and Barth as overly grotesque, overweight, deep voiced men that strive and live on the torment of other people; for sake of humoring themselves. Whinalena was always poked fun of by Barf and Barth, to the point Whinalena would do nothing but cry.

It was all done in the sake of ignorant play. I can't say that my brother or I ever held a grudge against one another or our sister while growing up. I suppose that this is true of most kids growing up. But when you step back and think about it, it makes you wonder how the butterfly effect took its course. I admit I wasn't on the receiving end of the poke-of-fun and I don't really know how my sister felt. We've talked about it in the past, and I think at the time she was upset and (rightly so) didn't understand why we were being so rude. I've since said my sorry, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a grudge being held. So often I find myself in my Mom and Dad's shoes. I can't be certain of what or how they felt. I'm certain that each of us posed new problems and opportunities of learning the "game-of-life" for our Mom and Dad.


This leads me to today, and the children I'm trying to rear. It happened right before Easter. Dana and I were in Wal-Mart, getting our Easter supplies for the kids, when I had a break-down. I don't know why it hit me all of a sudden, but I just went into a different world. We were walking toward the milk isle, when Dana asked me a question, and I just started to quiver. I was recollecting the recent times I've had with all our kids. We are a mixed family, and for the most part my boys get along well with Dana's two children. At times, I have played off the intermittent fighting and/or arguing as brother and sister rivalry. I try to recall what Mom or Dad would have done in these situations and apply those items; but to my amazement it doesn't seem to be working. HA HA! Didn't Mom and Dad say this day would come? Humor aside, it's a real problem, but a part of life. I concede very little; especially in the midst of my children's test of authority. They are getting older, and they are changing just as I changed and am still changing to this day. Maybe it's just being a parent. You have to concede and say that you have done your best, but I don't know many people that say they know they have always tried their 100% best to resolve each new situation that arises. It's kind like picking your battles, and making the best ones count!

So where am I headed with all this rambling and what wisdom is to be had? You will have to wait until Part III of the phoxes mini-series, "No MO Trash". My lunch is about over for the day.

How does this relate to my original post of, "No MO Trash"? It doesn't really. When I was thinking of that topic for my Adopt-a-highway post, the picture of me with my brother and sister in a trash can came to mind!