Fishing and Family

On Saturday Angie went shopping with a friend (she needs the girl time occasionally) so Jack and I decided to go fishing. Actually it was his idea and I went along with it. We loaded up our stuff, packed a lunch and were off to the worm store. We picked up a blue carton of night-crawlers, looked at the fish in the tank at Bass Pro Shop and then headed to the pond (at the church). I got Jackson fixed up with a worm and a Mickey Mouse bobber on his orange rod and reel his Paw-Paw bought, and threw it out there for him. As I was getting my hook ready I heard "Daddy, will you help me". I turned to see the end of the fishing trip. We'd been there for 2 minutes and his line was so tangled I thought I was going to have to just throw the whole thing away. That was the end of the fishing for him (it was ok though - he'd already lost interest). It was a beautiful day and we had a blast eating our sandwiches, chasing the ducks and gathering up sticks (I'm not sure why we were gathering sticks, other than Jackson just wanted to). There's something about spending time like that with him that just fills me up.
Here's a pic of Jack watching the ducks and eating an apple:
Here he is showing me how the ducks dance. I wish I had a video, maybe you can imagine it:

Angie and I have our 5 year wedding anniversary this Friday. There's no way I could adequately write what a loving, faithful friend and companion she is to me. I am blessed beyond measure. I love you, babe (even though you never read this).

American Idol

It's only a couple of hours until American Idol starts so I thought I'd go ahead and let you in on my thinking about this season's competition. To begin, let me say that it was not the strongest group we've had to choose from; however, the top 3 are pretty good. I'm going to do 2 things here:

Number 1 - my pick: Melinda should win. She's the best singer in the competition. She's actually one of the strongest vocalists they've ever had. She doesn't have the star-quality that others have had, but the girl can sing. No 2 ways about it. Blake should stay through the finals. Jordan should go home this week. (I can hear the moans all the way from here, but she's so young. She will grow up to be an amazing singer and entertainer - she's almost there. It's time for her to go.)

Number 2 - my prediction: Melinda and Blake will be in the finals. Blake will win (by a hair). The guy is just too cool. He's also very talented and the most creative artist they've ever had on the show. While Melinda is still my choice, Blake is much more marketable and will sell a bajillion (sp?) albums. America will choose him. I won't be mad - he's really good.

There you have it. I've been wrong before, but I think that's the way it'll go down.

I found a really great worship album this week that I didn't know about before. It's called Gateway Worship - Living for You. If you like Hillsong or Desperation Band kind of stuff you'll love it. Gateway Church is in the Dallas area. Have a great Tuesday night. I'll be looking for post-Idol commentary.

Headed South

We're driving to Hattiesburg tonight after I get home from work. It's been a full day so far so I hope I'm not too sleepy - I'll drink coffee, that'll help. Our friend Christy Robinson is getting married Saturday. Christy worked with me in the music ministry at Petal-Harvey Baptist Church before I came to Bellevue. I'm really happy for her.

Here's a picture someone sent me today. This was this past Sunday at lunch.

Have a great weekend everyone. Be sweet.

Blog-neglect

I can't believe that I have written here in almost a week... what's wrong with me? Where are my priorities? Well, I've repented now and am determined to do better. So, where to start?
Last night the Women's Ministry at church had a meeting and I was invited, along with Jamie and Bro. Steve, to come and sing a love song to my wife. I couldn't think of any reason to pass up that opportunity, so I agreed. I sang "We Will Dance" and at the last minute suckered Angie in to singing with me. She sat on the piano bench with me and sang some harmony... it was sweet. It was the first time she's ever sung a duet with... I'll always remember it. I'm glad we sang that song too because I really do love to dance with her... most of our dancing is early in the morning, in the kitchen. I'm rambling now... onto something else. After we sang Angie stayed for the rest of the event and I left (the only other man left in the room was Kevin Britt, the soundman - God bless him). Jackson and I stopped at Sonic on our way home for milkshakes. When we got home we watched "Curious George" and then went to bed. I was trying to wait up for Angie so we could watch American Idol. We DVR it every week. But I fell asleep in Jack's room with him so I still haven't seen it. I heard it was weird this week.
Here's a funny story. Jackson has watched some of the DVD of the Passion Play we do at church. My friend, Scott Benjamin, was a soldier this year. The other night after church Jackson saw Scott and said, "I know you. I saw you on TV. You killed Jesus. You were a soldier. You put him in a cave." How do you respond to something like that? At least he was paying attention... I guess. I'll write more later. I couldn't let this blog-neglect go on any longer.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

We've had a great morning so far... but all good things must come to an end. We're having a baby shower at our house for some friends tonight - so it's about to be cleaning time.

We slept until almost 7:00 this morning (which is really late at our house). Then Angie and I did our devotions. We traded places this morning. I have a little office in our house that I use every morning for my personal devotion time. It's nice to be able to close the door and be alone with the Lord. But, Angie needed the computer this morning to print some stuff for her journal so I used the kitchen table. The phone rang about 35 times (ok, maybe just 3 or 4. But it was still hard to focus). However, I did read some great stuff in the Word. In Luke 20, Jesus calls those who will take part in the resurrection (that's all of us who are saved) "sons of the resurrection". That sounds cool, doesn't it... sons of the resurrection. He also said that "God is not the God of the dead but of the living". If you are alive in Christ today, you too are a "son (or daughter) of the resurrection" - hallelujah! End of sermon.

After that we ate breakfast and then went for a run together. When Angie and I run together, I push Jackson in the jogging stroller. He loves that but I don't run fast enough for him. When our house gets in sight I pour it on though... he laughs and throws his arms up like he's on a roller coaster. I love that kid.

I'm excited about Sunday. It's our Mission Sunday. We're singing some great songs and will hear several testimonies from guys that are serving in full-time mission work. Ryan and I wrote a song specifically for this Sunday and we're doing it Sunday night. It'll be fun. It's called "For the Glory".

Anyway, I've got to get to work. Lots of toilets to scrub and floors to vacuum. As I said, all good things must come to an end... including this post :) Have a great weekend.

Clarification

O.K. It seems I need to clear up a couple of things...

First of all, the times at the end of my posts are incorrect. I don't know why - I'm not computer savy enough to fix. But, I don't go to bed at 7:00, Mike Bratton. Any pointers on how to fix that would be welcomed:)

Secondly, I think that a few of you thought I was a little bit hard on my wife about the swimming pool thing. Sorry it came across that way. She is the most amazing woman in the world and I would never do anything to embarass her. You have to admit, though, it would be funny to watch Angie try to shove that big ol' blue pool in the back of her car!

American Idol... Can you believe Phil got voted of this week? This week!! of all weeks. He sang "Blaze of Glory" better than Jon Bon Jovi. Melinda is staying strong though. It will be the disappointment of the year if she doesn't win.

Better get to work...

Crisis

Angie called me with a crisis yesterday while I was at lunch. She was at Wal-Mart doing some grocery shopping (a story that starts with "she was at Wal-Mart" can't be good). It was really hot outside and we'd been thinking that we should buy a little swimming pool for Jackson - he loves the water. So Angie went to look at the pools and bought one - a big, blue one with a slide. Awesome, we got a pool. She had also bought a bunch of groceries. She loaded them in the car and started trying to get the pool in there. After a few tries she realized that it just wasn't going to go. The thing is huge, I don't how this problem wasn't seen ahead of time. She folded it and twisted every way she could and it just wouldn't fit (I wished I had a picture of that). I ended up having to go to Wal-Mart to get the pool. We loaded it in my friend Ryan's truck and took it home. Here's Jackson on the slide:

The water was too cold for me, so I stayed out and just took pictures.

Yesterday morning, Jackson got up and wanted to read his Bible. We made a little pallet on the floor and he laid there forever reading his little Bible story book. I realized that one of my top priorities as his dad should be to teach him to love the Word of God. I know can't make him love it, but I can show him how to love it. I can show him why he should love it. Angie and I strive to do that - to be model lovers of the Word. I want to be able to say to him, just like Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ".

Busy day tomorrow, gotta get to bed...