My Favorite Holiday Decoration

My wife and I found comfort and joy at a resale shop in Iowa after we relocated.  Someone else discarded it.  We stared at it for a moment, added it to our cart, and brought the sign home.  We display comfort and joy year round.   Not only is comfort and joy my favorite Holiday decoration in our home, it's so important to us we leave it up year round as a reminder comfort and joy is a lifestyle not a season.

I have many reasons to be joyful.  Last night my youngest son and I went to a Hawkeye wrestling meet.  Our local wrestling team, currently ranked #1 in the nation, walloped their opponents 37-0.  Tonight we get the opportunity to cheer for our beloved San Diego Chargers in a nationally televised game versus the New England Patriots.  It doesn't get more exciting than this except for the second coming of the Messiah.  Think about that for moment.  Our greatest comfort and joy was wrapped up in a tiny blanket 2,000 years ago.  He became man.  Literally.  He changed the world.  Then he left.  And he's coming back.  Every knee shall bow.  That's a great reason to be joyful in any season.  He's coming back!

Happy December.  Make it a season to remember.  Be joyful.  Be comfortable.  Invite Jesus into your heart today.  Make him a permanent fixture in your home.  Yes, it's sad and it's true others discard Jesus.  Recycle.  Share.  Spread comfort and joy to others.  Whatever you do, don't ever discard Jesus.  Have a great day.

My First Live Hawkeye Sporting Event

The hottest tickets in Iowa are in the sport of wrestling.  And I'm taking our youngest son to tonight's meet vs. Michigan State.  This will be our first time watching the Hawkeyes live.  We were offered free tickets from some friends who can't make it.  This is going to be a great night.  See you tomorrow.  Have a great day.

Butterflies are Born to Fly

Every day our youngest son reminds us how many days are left on the calendar.  Thirty days from today we say good-bye.  My wife and I can't believe how time seems to accelerate as we approach our son's departure date.  Raising a family is similar to raising butterflies.  I remember the caterpillar stage and the cocoon stage like it was yesterday.  God granted us temporary custody of our children but I always knew who they really belonged to.  I always knew my role was to help our children discover they are born to fly.  Soon, the jar will be empty.

I will never forget what it was like to live through a wildfire.  We had minutes to evacuate.  We grabbed our kids, our pets, our love letters and our photo albums.  Others were critical of our failure to remember important documents, like our mortgage papers.  It was in that critical moment that I realized what my priorities are... love, family and memories.  I know my jar will never be empty.  Never.  I'm a blessed man to know what love is and to know what it's like to be a husband and father.  It's captured in every stage of our children's lives from birth to today.  It's expressed in thousands of love letters, over 5,000, my wife and I wrote to each other when we were raising butterflies.

Remember to savor every day.  Live in the moment.  And don't be afraid to let go, especially when it comes to butterflies.  They are born to fly. 

Skidding into Heaven Sideways

I read a quote the other day about Heaven.  It was described as a type of finish line not meant to be approached safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, screaming "whoo hoo, what a ride!"

Life is like playing in a baseball game.  Some players have pristine uniforms.  Are they really playing or are they just going through the motions, waiting for the game to be over?  I'm the guy covered head to toe in mud.  I really don't care how many times I've been tagged out.  There's always next inning.  I can't wait to get back in the game.  I always start my morning fresh, declaring "today is a new day."

Watch out, St. Peter.  When my time is up, I'm gonna round third and make a beeline for heaven before you close those gates.  Yes, my body may be a little bloody.  I may have scars on both knees.  But I'll be running full speed right at you and I'll beat the throw home before you can say, "you're outta here."  I know, it may not be pretty and I may get a little mud on your snazzy white uniform but I don't care.  All that really matters is that I use up every day to the best of my ability.  Care to join me?  Today is a new day.  Let's go out and make a difference.  Time to play ball.

How to Mentally Prepare for a Challenge

Something big is on your calendar.  Maybe it's a deadline for your first book.  Or you decided to enter your first 10k race or marathon.  I believe the key to a successful outcome is in the mental preparation stage.  I've heard others say you need to think about the worst thing that can happen in order to be better prepared.  The problem with this approach is that you may become so focused and what might go wrong that you clam up and decide it's not worth it to pursue your dreams.  Why not ask yourself, what's the best that could happen?  Imagine all the possibilities that are associated with living your dreams.

Something happened at my day job yesterday that caught me off guard.  A sweet lady from Canada asked me to show her my hands.  I had no idea what she was doing.  "You use these hands for something," she said.  "What do you do?"

"I'm a writer," I answered.  She kept probing.  "Do you write by hand?"

"That's how I started.  My wife and I wrote a combined 5,000 love letters to each other," I answered.  My co-workers and my manager drew closer to the conversation, most of them unaware I'm a writer.

"Take out your cell phone and show me a picture of your wife," she requested.

"Cell phones are not allowed during work hours," I said.  "I can't show you any pictures unless my boss approves."  My boss looked at me and smiled.  "Show her a picture of your wife," she said.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and showed some family pictures.  After she looked at the pictures, more questions followed.  "What else do you write about?"

We talked for a few more minutes before our meeting came to a close.  I was shocked that this woman was able to find my passion so quickly when I go out of my way to keep my writing life a secret at my day job.  My biggest challenge ahead of me is publishing two books in 2015.  I've been mentally preparing myself for a long time.  I often dream about what's the best that can happen.  I believe the best that can happen is I will get to connect with others and inspire them to do the same – dream big and act on those dreams.  I picture you reading my labor of love.  Nothing is going to stop me.  In my own mind, I've already won the race.  Now it's your turn.  Please share how you mentally prepare for a challenge.  Show me your hands.  Tell me what you do with them or plan to do with them.  And share what's the best that can happen.  Thank you.

How Do You Respond When Others Push Your Buttons?

It's hard to blame a kid when he or she pushes your buttons.  Kids believe the world revolves around them.  They see you as their order taker at a fast food drive-thru and their one and only goal is to get what they want.  My wife and I made an agreement we would stick together on everything so our children would not be able to divide and conquer.  It helped us keep our sanity.  What happens when champion button pushers become adults and they never learn to stop their childish manipulations?  You have two choices:

1. Push back.  This choice isn't smart in a work environment.  It increases tension and shows you are no more grown up than the button pusher.  Resist the urge to do this.
2. Stay out of the black hole.  Your antagonist has one goal – to draw you in.  Like a black hole, once you get sucked in, there's no way out.  You lose.  Establish boundaries.  Recognize the patterns.  Don't let the button pusher get the upper hand.  Keep your cool.  Minimize the drama.  Walk away.

Today is a new day.  You are the adult.  You can't control how others act.  You do control how you respond.  The choice is yours.  I know where all the black holes are in my universe and I'm choosing to navigate around them.  How about you?  Please add your ideas in the comment section below.  Have a great day.

Why I Will Always Be a San Diego Chargers Fan

In San Diego, Chargers fans call this month Philcember in honor of their quarterback, Philip Rivers.  He and the rest of his team did it again yesterday in Baltimore when their backs were up against the wall.  Rivers orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks of all times when he threw a touchdown pass with only 38 seconds left on the clock.  Final score, 34-33 over the Ravens.

I can relate to the Chargers in so many ways.  The Chargers have never won the Super Bowl.  They suffered a number of disappointing 6-10 seasons.  Their first three starting centers all suffered injuries this year.  The number four guy never played the position before and he got hurt during Sunday's game.  All the odds seem to be against the Chargers.  And every year they find a way to get back on track late in the season.

I'm finding ways to get back on track in my personal life after some falls and I get my inspiration from Philip Rivers.  He stares at his opponent and searches for signs of weakness.  He doesn't care how big his opponent is or what the odds of success are.  He knows there's always a way to win if you don't give up.  Congratulations, Chargers.  And thanks for giving my family and me so many great memories.  A Super Bowl ring would be a great way to cap off such an amazing season.  We will be cheering for you.