Micah Turned One

We had Micah boy's first birthday party here about a month ago and Sarah was a champ and did just about everything herself.  With some great last minute help from my Mom, her husband Loyd and Sarah's parents the party was great.  I thought I would share a few pictures from the festivities which was an All-American Baseball theme.

Papa Loyd

Juniper, Cooper, and my cousin Becky 

Sarah's best friend Lissa Sander

My friends Denver and Corey (Lissa's husband)

Sarah's Mom Susan 

My favorite moment when Sarah's grandpa Dick tried to give Micah some of his Dr. Pepper

Ryan (Sarah's Brother) Brad (Sarah's Dad) and Bergie (Sarah's Grandpa)

 It was a great party overall and Sarah was a champ completing this party after her first week back to school in a new grade.  We love our Micah boy and feel so blessed by those who are a part of his life both near and far away.

Focus II

I have been trying to lose weight recently, I am not doing P90X, or drinking green tea, mostly because I can't afford either, I am merely eating better and exercising.  About a week into this whole weight loss thing I went on a run and I got a sharp pain on the inside of my left leg, slightly above my ankle.  I ignored it and kept running, I figured it would go away like spider bites and feathered hair.  The next day I went out to run again and the same thing happened except the pain was more severe and started to hurt with each step I took.

So I went to my doctor, Doctor Internet, and she told me (Yes, the internet is a girl) I had a stress fracture in my leg, usually brought on by excessive running after long periods of fat.  I didn't want to give up on my diet but running is the way I have always slimmed down when I wasn't feeling comfortable and this stress fracture was knocking me out of running for 6-8 weeks.

I had to figure something out, because with the holiday season coming up I needed to lose weight so I could put it back on and continue the vicious cycle.  I decided I had to eat waaaaay better, that cheese was  not a food group, and that the weight set in my garage was going to be put to good use.  So I'm three weeks in and have been pretty successful thus far, but I had to focus on my goal in order to achieve success.

The idea of focus has been plaguing me (I am always scared I am going to misspell plaguing and make it plaquing and then the whole world will think I have bad teeth). Focus is a funny thing because you don't realize you are out of whack until you are squinting to see the score of the game, or asking your wife to read the back of the cereal box to you.

Focus, like a lot of things is something you don't miss until it is gone.  It begs the question, "how, then, do I get focused?"  For me, I am a "type A" personality when it comes to my expectations of others and a "type B" when it comes to others expectations of me, that may just mean I am a jerk, but I do indeed expect a lot out of myself.

I can't accomplish much, however, unless I feel like my private life is in order, this can be anything from, I forgot to do the dishes that I told Sarah I would take care of to lingering sin issues in my life.  Unless I clear up the junk that is hindering me from straining forward, then I become distracted.

So, how do I focus? I clear out the junk and strain forward, with my eye on the prize.  That and have a strong cup of coffee before, during, and after work.

How do you focus?

Focus

I spoke at Immanuel High School's Chapel today.  It got me thinking about the message that i deliver on a regular basis and whether or not what I say on stage changes depending on the way I want to be perceived.  When I got to IHS and speak I am at a venue of about 300 people where 99 percent of the students profess a love of Christ.  Awesome, that being said, I want to make sure that I am both challenging and light hearted, which should probably be my goal for every talk, however, when I go to speak at special venues I try to put my best foot forward, there is something about a strange place with hundreds of people that stirs me to try and be better than I am.  

I work harder on my talk I cross reference more, I practice before I deliver it, etc.  

My question is this, why not put forth that effort all the time?

How much better could I represent the gospel by developing the abilities that God has given me and honing them to a place of excellence?  On Sunday Nights am I pouring over scripture to see the entirety of the meaning God has for us?  Am I practicing my delivery before I get on stage? Or am I letting myself be stagnant and settling for mediocre?  

The pursuit of excellence starts with movement in one direction, towards a goal, a fixed point.  We need to start that pursuit.

We have all been there, realizing our potential is sitting with us on the coach watching "The Wizard" and dreaming about owning the Nintendo 'PowerGlove' because, "It is bad!"

Lets move our potential off the coach and start to channel it into the things we want to do, the things God has gifted us with the ability to do.  Let's (Wo)Man up.

Slowin'

My Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Life change is crazy.  Since Sarah and I have been married there hasn't been a single year where we have had the same combination of jobs or the same number of occupants twice in a row.  Since we got married one thing has remained the same, I have always been employed full-time.  Cooper was born, I still got eight hours to myself during the day, Micah was born, same thing, we moved, I got eight hours of freedom from the madness of unpacking.  I always had an outlet at work to be able to sideline my thoughts and just do the work that I felt called to do.

Then last November happened, I came to a point in my life where I had to make a decision, I need to continue my education and it was going to be in either Seminary or in teaching.  After a ton of prayer and seeking the counsel of some of the people I trust the most in my life I decided that God was leading me away from full-time ministry.  Since then I have almost completed my Single Subject Credential for English, and am now working part time at Selma FBC as the High School Pastor.

In the past when things changed it was all about life speeding up, an addition to the family, an opportunity to speak somewhere, a new house, fixing a new house, selling a new house, etc. but this time the change is about slowing down, and it is one of the hardest adjustments I have ever had to make. I check Twitter about 70 times a day in between making meals for my kids and doing the laundry... again.  Slow is hard for me, especially when my wife is working but her heart is to be at home with her boys and I love my boys but I wasn't made to nurture them the way Sarah does, so I would prefer to work as she stayed home.  It makes it even harder.

I know as a Pastor I am supposed to have this whole, "be still and know that I am God," thing down, but I don't, not even close.  I have been forced to slow down, forced to wake up at 6 am when my boys do and have nothing to do but take care of them (which is huge job in itself) all day long.  I have no where to go because Sarah has the only car, it is too hot for the park right now, and I am not taking my kids to any play dates because that'd be awkward for me and the other guardian who I guarantee is female (you know they are female because a man wouldn't call it a play date, they would call it tackle football).

Regardless, God is teaching me to slow down and to remember what is most important in my life.  I have to go and save Cooper from a scary lion that doesn't exist.

Micah Boy

On here I mostly complain to you all that I am really tired or how school is hard or how my life is crazy busy, not today.  Today I will not complain, as a matter of fact I am going to tell you about something incredible that happened to Sarah and I exactly one year ago today.

We had Micah Boy, yeah, this one --------------------------------------------------->

The first night we had him he slept all night, didn't make a peep, ate like a champ and I got to stay at the hospital with Sarah, life was good.  The next night same story, except we got to sleep at home.  Every night since then, save about 30 (bare in mind I do camps and mission trips that take me away from home for about 20 of those nights), Sarah and I haven't gotten a full nights sleep.  Why? Because Micah I am convinced hates sleep.

Contrary to his brother, who would sleep the majority of the day if you let him.  He is like an adolescent who enjoys watching 'Wonder Pets.'  Regardless of the lack of sleep Micah had colic, he had jaundice, and he still doesn't have very much hair.  But we love our boy, Micah Boy as he was affectionately dubbed by Coop.

Happy Birthday Micah Boy.

Here are a few pictures from when this kid popped out.

Staying Regular

Aound the Anderson home routines are very important, mostly because if I don't have a routine established I will most likely be as productive as the road workers who have been causing my 10 minute commute to be a 12 minute one.  Needless to say most of the routines we have established are based around the boys and their need for regularity (both their schedule and their bowels).

Cooper has now established his own routine though, it is about as cute as a routine can be, and be cute I mean rugged in a future lumberjack with lots of chest hair and Y chromosomes sort of way.  We brush his teeth, we read him one of the same four books we read every night then we turn off his light.  Well, he turns out his light when we lift him up the pull the chain.  Every night he asks if he can pull the other chain, every night we say, "No, not that one." He says, "Okay Mommy and Daddy."

After the lights is out we say his bedtime prayer with him.  As soon as "amen" hits he pushes me away to both hug his mom alone and to say, "Daddy, where'd you go?" It was hilarious the first 3-4 times he did it, now I think he is actually trying to get rid of me.  We put him into his big kid bed, Sarah sings to him and he's out for the night.

Either Cooper is going to have a severe case of OCD or his need for normalcy is the same as an adults.  We establish routines for comfort as that is how we work best, play best, and live best.  Maybe, we can all take a page out of Cooperman's book.  What routines do you keep on a regular basis?

Camp Bands Are Like Relationships

I have always been jaded when it comes to camp bands, not because I don't appreciate what they do, but because there is a cycle that happens over the course of the week every year.

1. Night one is the awkward first date- you are trying to see what each other are all about, fast songs with too much bass or acoustic set with stools?  New songs that read more like a novel, old songs that never should be considered at a youth camp, or really old songs that are made relevant again because a sweet riff was added before the second chorus?  Teach me hand motions, but don't expect me to use them until Wednesday, because I don't trust you with my heart yet.

2. Night two is the beginning of the honey moon phase- I LOVE AARON HOFFMAN! His sweet faux hawk and approachable demeanor gets me every time, not to mention did you hear his vocals on Rise and Sing? That guy is a beast! It is this stage that sets up night three.

3. Decision Night, or the DTR of camp bands- Don't know what DTR is?  You must be new to the faith, it stands for Define the Relationship and it is a terrible acronym that has been used for way too long in Christian circles.  That being said, the band has a lot of pressure on them to perform on decision night, too fast and the kids are too squirrely and the speaker isn't heard, too slow and you might as well have sung a lullaby to the entire chapel, the speaker has no chance.  Not too mention the impromptu encore that the speaker will call for while he is in the midst of the salvation prayer for 270 kids.  (Band Front man: Hey cool camp speaker, we didn't plan anything or talk about this. Cool camp speaker: It's ok, just play anything)  Lots of pressure here, bands are made and destroyed on decision night.

4. Assuming the DTR went well, refining stage-  This is when people start feeling comfortable enough to ask the band to start playing their favorite worship songs or ask them if they need a back up vocalist for the night, because, "I am a really good singer."

The rest of the week is a blur of good vibes and hocked merchandise.  Autographs are signed and a note folded in the shape of a heart is given to the lead singer by a girl who doesn't realize the inappropriateness of the gesture or the level of awkwardness that it creates by anyone within a 50 foot range of the note.  After camp Facebook blows up with friend requests and walls are written on with lyrics from favorite songs or jokes that were hatched during the week.

I love camp bands, ours this year (The Aaron Hoffman Band) was incredible and the ministry they do is impossible to recreate on a regular basis.  Here's to the guys who make deep V's look good.

I am Dad, Hear Me Roar

I am a fan of being busy.  I like having things to do and a time frame to do them in.  I am a big fan of all things crazy fast, except Nascar, I hate Nascar.  Starting today though, I am a stay-at-home dad for three days a week.  Three days a week I get to read books before nap time, change diapers that have exploded out the side, and have Cheerios as one of my main food groups.  

I have been so swamped with life over the past year that I haven't had a chance to inhale and enjoy the blessings that God has given us.  Between work and school I feel like I haven't had the opportunity to just be with my kids.  Do I see them?  Yup, all the time.  And I enjoy them when I am with them and eat my meals with them and kiss them goodnight.  But it has all been so fast paced that I don't get the opportunity to enjoy the kisses and meals and night time prayers.

Today, I get that chance.  Today starts that opportunity for me and frankly I am ecstatic.  

The reason I get to stay home is because my wife is going back to work full time.  She, for the past year has been my support staff, around the house, with the boys, with meals, with life, she has supported me in every facet.  Now I get to return the favor.  I want to go shopping for food and cook meals and make her lunch and clean floors.  Did I just get a bunch of husband points for saying all of that?  Yup.

In summary, I get to stay home and be Dad.  I am worried about keeping up with two very mobile and always hungry children.  And I am amped to be husband to Sarah and support her in whatever needs she may have. 

Cheers.

Tall Coffee

If I was Lord Voldemort, coffee would be my unicorn blood.

One of the best things about living with my in-laws is that when I wake up, the sweet nectar of life has already been brewed and is waiting for me to partake in it's glory.  Today, when I stumbled out of bed I needed coffee bad as I was up half the night mulling over some recent conversations I had (on a different note Micah (8 months) slept well, I know this because I was awake the majority of the time he was sleeping).  I had a dark pleasingly bitter cup as I ate a pancake my wife made me.  Awesome morning, right?

As I pulled away from the curb my eyes were still heavy so I went to get a second cup of coffee at Starbucks.  I got to the window and was handed my cup of coffee and told the person in front of me had already paid for it. The first thing that went through my mind was this: "I am flattered but I'm married, sorry lady, my wife makes me pancakes in the morning," because obviously the only reason someone pays for someone else's coffee is because they are so incredibly good looking.

Then the barista told me the person in front of them paid for his coffee as well.  My next two thoughts were as follows:

First thought: I'm ashamed for thinking I was really really ridiculously good-looking (thanks Zoolander) and am not as flattered since the person in front of me was a dude.

Second thought: Does this mean I have to pay for the person behind me? What if it is a clown car with 13 people in it, all of whom ordered a trenta sized behemoth of an Americano?  Do I have enough money in savings to pay for that and am I okay supporting that size of an addiction, in that small of a car? 

So I asked the barista, "What did they order behind me?"

"Tall coffee."

I responded a little bit too excitedly to the barista, "YEAH, LET'S KEEP IT GOING!"

Long story short, I am ashamed of my arrogance, thankful that someone paid for my coffee, and I saved myself 45 cents this morning by paying for someone else's coffee.  

Why I'm Okay with my Blog Failing

My father-in-law sleeps 25 feet away from me every night, no, it's not a metaphor, it's my life.

Sarah's parents have been gracious enough to let us stay at their house while we are finding a new dwelling for ourselves.  They are rad to house a family of four with 2 boys under the age of two and two Australian Shepherds who do nothing more than destroy the lawn with their running races, wrestling matches, and acid pee (the dogs, not me).

One of my resolutions for the year was to write on this thing five times a week, as you can see I am like the, "Don't worry honey, I will get the oil changed," of resolutions, good intentioned but ultimately a failure.

The truth is I like to write, apparently I am awesome at it.  I am so good that my credentialing professors ask me to write anywhere from 8-14 papers a month, its exciting to be believed in!  Oh you didn't hear? I am going to school full time to become a high school teacher. No, I didn't quit my job to go to school full time, I work during the day, do homework at night and squeeze every bit of family time in that I can.  Sarah and I decided that wasn't enough so we decided to sell our house and move in with her parents until we find a replacement. 

Bryan Allain over at  bryanallain.com is a funny guy, he is smart, he likes baseball (well, the Red Sox, I don't know if you call what they do baseball) and he is in last place in our Fantasy Baseball league, regardless, he once tweeted this, "@bryanallain: someday i'm gonna look back at this time in my life and wonder how i did it. but for now, i just have to do it."  

I was up this morning at 5:30 after getting almost 4 hours of sleep, I will be up again in three hours feeding my eight month old kid who still doesn't sleep through the night, I wrote a sermon, a talk, three lesson plans and three papers today on top of watching Michael Scott wheel his luggage off to Boulder, CO.  It is times like these that make me want to punch college me in the face for saying I was ever tired.  But you continue, you move forward because, "for now, I just have to do it."

I won't blog everyday, probably not even every week because my life is like a G6.  I have no clue what a G6 is, but I think it is a fast airplane or a bingo number.  In either case my life demands that I continue, so continue I shall.