catholic schools week…

Very busy week a work because of catholic schools week. It started off with an open house for prospective families this past Sunday. But in order to get everything ready from a physical plant standpoint I had to work an extra hour on Friday and 5 extra hours on Saturday.

Today I am having lunch in the school cafeteria as part of the festivities. It is pizza day so I should be ok health wise!

This weekend is also going to be busy because it will be winter carnival to finish off catholic schools week. I will be working 4 extra hours on Friday and then probably another 4 on Saturday or Sunday. So by Sunday night I should be ready to crash and watch the Super bowl.

JJ at school winter concert

JJ at his school winter concert.

Winterfest…

Here is a picture of Samantha dancing in the Winterfest this past Saturday at the Wayne recreation department. More pics at Flickr!

MI Saving $$$

If you drive 70  in the 65 speed zone you are ok. The state of MI did not want to spend a lot of money upgrading signs so you can drive 70 without braking the law. Don’t take my word for it check out the Free Press article.

Technorati Tags: speed – mi – change

From the trenches…

Here are a couple of worthwhile post from some people I know. There is a profound sense of vulnerability and honesty within these posts.

Rob Lane via Sac Mission

The biggest thing I have learned in my life to date is being able to embrace the hard stuff as much as I embrace the good stuff.

read rest here…

 

Jason Evans via as it is

You know the old saying, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it”? That’s where I’ve been for a long while. I’ve not felt like there were too many things I could say without revealing the strain that has been on my shoulders. But as another old saying goes, ‘f#*k it’ … Living in San Diego has become very hard on me lately…

read rest here…

 

Technorati Tags: rob lane – jason evans – vulnerability – struggle

Bad news for MI…

This afternoon as I was looking at the online edition if the Detroit Free Press. I read the following article that shows how somber the economy is here in MI.

Read for your self at the links below.

FORECLOSED

Record number of region’s homeowners are in trouble as economy flounders

 

Ford posts worst loss in its history: $12.7 billion

cafe hooptey…

Yesterday I decided to be spontaneous and drop by Starbucks when I got off work and pick up two Tall’s to go so that I could swing by Angela Hospice and have a micro-date with my sweetheart. I called ahead just to make sure she was in her office because one I tried to surprise her and she was not there. (Live and learn) She was there so we were on! I had my usual cafe mocha and she had her usual carmel machiato. We decided to sit in the parking lot in my luxurious 1991 two-tone Mazda pick up hence the name “Cafe Hooptey”. It was great to have a few moments together. I really treasure to times when we can steal away like this. Now I am already plotting the next time I can arrange a micro-date.

 

Technorati Tags: micro date – cafe hooptey – syn+jim

Are you a bucket filler?

What is a bucket filler…..

A Bucket Filler is a person who says and does nice things on a regular basis that make others feel special.  By setting a goal to fill a bucket a day, you’ll make yourself a better person and you’ll make the world a better place.

Taken from Bucketfillers.com

Yesterday I took a moment at work to thank a 1st grader for going above and beyond the normal level of responsibility. He had come to check the lost and found and in the process emptied the entire box of items. Instead of leaving it all over the floor he picked it all up and put it back in the box. In fact he made it neater than when he had found it. He did not know I was watching him but I saw what he did. Instead of silently reflecting on what a good kid he was I decided to take the extra effort to tell him and also go and tell his teacher.

Later that same day I received to emails from two people I know saying some very nice things about me. I hope the young 1st grader was as encouraged as I was.

Now I want to try to keep doing it as the opportunities come up!

 

 

Technorati Tags: bucket filler – encouragement

Dah Bears!

I am excited that the Chicago Bears will be in the Superbowl this year. I have fond childhood memories of watch the Bears play in my Grandma and Grandpa Perkins basement room with a fireplace. The glory days of Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, The “Refrigerator” Perry, and  Jim McMahn. I was really hoping they were going to play the Patriots but I will enjoy watching them hopefully beat the Colts.

 

Technorati Tags: super bowl – Chicago Bears

Meditating on James

James 3:13-18 (New Living Translation)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

True Wisdom Comes from God

13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. James 3:18 Or of good things, or of justice.