The low hum of a box fan was all that could be heard in the modest, two-story home. Somewhere on the first floor a gray, fluffy cat was prowling about searching for a sun-lit patch of carpeting. The early morning sun was indeed just beginning to creep through the partially drawn curtains. Today was a special day.
On the second floor, a black on gray cat could be seen perched near the edge of a dresser. With a quick twitch and a soft thu-thump, the cat jumped to the floor and made its way to the edge of a bed. The cat boldly announced the beginning of the day with sharp, trilling "rowr." From the pillows, a muffled voice clumsily responded, "Copy, go downstairs." However, Copy was far too determined to wake the would-be sleeper... Soon, a steady stream of "rowrs" could be heard in the bedroom. As if in answer, a quiet voice from the adjacent room began to quietly sing. The man pulled his head from the pillows and listened groggily as the words "a wee little man was he" could be dimly heard coming through the walls. With a quick smile and shake of the head the man swung out of bed.
As he stumbled out the door towards the adjacent room, the singing abruptly stopped, then began again. The sweet singer had switched songs. Now the words "I am one of them and so are you" could be heard. The man quietly opened the door; however, the door would not be quietly opened and announced its opening with a shrill squeek.
The singing stopped once again. The singer was standing in the middle of his bed with a "friend," a blue, stuffed puppy. The singer gave the man a huge smile and said, "Is today this morning, Daddy?"
The man couldn't help but smile... and then affirm, "Yes, today is this morning, Josiah."
"THEN TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY! IT'S YOUR SPECIAL DAY, DADDY!"
The Daddy couldn't help but to agree. This day, like every other day, truly was... special.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Joe Gets Another New Job
Yes, I move through my jobs rather quickly... Actually, I am still employed at UBC in Platteville. However, I have recently been added to the pastoral staff at our Free Methodist Church in Pville. This is a paid, part-time position. I am very excited about working directly w/ youth again...
One of my duties is to develop the curriculum for grades 7 - 12, both Sunday School and Youth Group. I have looked and looked at various publishers but have yet to find anything worth purchasing.... Does anyone know of (or have) any publisher they would recommend. I was a bit surprised to find that Regular Baptist Press (despite being Babdist, heh, heh) had the most variety. However, quantity does not mean quality (except, of course, regarding Super Bowls and Joe's dominance in that regard).
As of right now, I am planning to write the curriculum myself... but why reinvent the wheel? (Unless I guess, you come up with a better wheel. I mean, I'm all for the Amish, but rubber is superior to steel in the wheel business. Or something. Whatever. This is actually how my thoughts progress, which should give everyone some insight on why I struggle at stopping things from spewing from my brain through my mouth. Spew is a fun word. Try it sometime. Spew. Spew. Spewing. To spew. Spewed. Spew, spew, spew... )
I plan to start with a Sunday School unit on the parables. I'm thinking that Youth Group nights I may start with People of _____. (Power, Passion, Prayer, Problems, Things that Don't Start with P, etc.)
For those not familiar with the Free Methodist Church, read our shorter discipline. If you are strapped with time, just check out the official FMC website. I don't know what it is but Google or Yahoo should help.
One of my duties is to develop the curriculum for grades 7 - 12, both Sunday School and Youth Group. I have looked and looked at various publishers but have yet to find anything worth purchasing.... Does anyone know of (or have) any publisher they would recommend. I was a bit surprised to find that Regular Baptist Press (despite being Babdist, heh, heh) had the most variety. However, quantity does not mean quality (except, of course, regarding Super Bowls and Joe's dominance in that regard).
As of right now, I am planning to write the curriculum myself... but why reinvent the wheel? (Unless I guess, you come up with a better wheel. I mean, I'm all for the Amish, but rubber is superior to steel in the wheel business. Or something. Whatever. This is actually how my thoughts progress, which should give everyone some insight on why I struggle at stopping things from spewing from my brain through my mouth. Spew is a fun word. Try it sometime. Spew. Spew. Spewing. To spew. Spewed. Spew, spew, spew... )
I plan to start with a Sunday School unit on the parables. I'm thinking that Youth Group nights I may start with People of _____. (Power, Passion, Prayer, Problems, Things that Don't Start with P, etc.)
For those not familiar with the Free Methodist Church, read our shorter discipline. If you are strapped with time, just check out the official FMC website. I don't know what it is but Google or Yahoo should help.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Gone Fishin'
Recently, Josiah and I went out fishing. It was Josiah's first time! There is a beautiful little river near Benton, the Fever River. (Don't let the name scare you, though. After all, there IS an antidote!) This is "one of Wisconsin's premier smallmouth bass fishing streams." (From the WI DNR site). Josiah and I caught one 11" smallmouth bass our first time out... And that was with a Twister and a bobber. (I was teaching him how to cast...) The Fever is also home to trout, walleye, and "chubs".
Josiah found it quite funny that another name for cow poop is "cow pie". He was quick to note that "cowpies are not for eating, though."
We've now gone out a few times; however, the rain has made for some poor fishing... The Fever is starting to go down and clear out, so we may try again this weekend...
I'll bring the camera this time and post a few pics later on!
P.S. We also got the hammock back out... Excellent for taking naps after a rigorous fishing expedition!
Josiah found it quite funny that another name for cow poop is "cow pie". He was quick to note that "cowpies are not for eating, though."
We've now gone out a few times; however, the rain has made for some poor fishing... The Fever is starting to go down and clear out, so we may try again this weekend...
I'll bring the camera this time and post a few pics later on!
P.S. We also got the hammock back out... Excellent for taking naps after a rigorous fishing expedition!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Joe Gets A New Job
I have recently been hired at the local UBC (United Builder Corporation). Though I did take a bit of a paycut, the hours are much better and there is great opportunity for growth in the company. UBC hires 90% of sales people and 99% of managers from w/i its own company. Further, most of these hires started from the ground up, being a delivery driver.
I spend the majority of my day taking breaks. I try to squeeze in a delivery or two between breaks, if possible... Obviously, it is a much different pace than my previous job with Pepsi. Pepsi itself was a great job, and I left on great terms w/ the owner... However, my only certain future with Pepsi was going to be rotator surgery!
I actually already have 2 "promotions" due to my experience at Pepsi and working w/ Dad. I am officially a "experienced" driver. My next promotion will be salesman... Anybody wanna buy some lumber?
I mainly drive around our big International dump-bed delivery truck. I am being sent for training for a monster boom truck that we just acquired. This truck will be used mainly for shingle, OSB, drywall, and trusses. It is remote controlled/ joystick controlled. I am the only one from our location that is being sent! I am quite excited! I've already been driving it around the yard and practicing... Shifting through 12 gears takes a lot of practice...
I really enjoy my job and so far it has also been a great family decision too! Josiah got to sit in my semi the other day... He thought the air horn was quite neat... He also enjoyed the dump bed!
BWAAH-BWAAH (sound of air horn)
I spend the majority of my day taking breaks. I try to squeeze in a delivery or two between breaks, if possible... Obviously, it is a much different pace than my previous job with Pepsi. Pepsi itself was a great job, and I left on great terms w/ the owner... However, my only certain future with Pepsi was going to be rotator surgery!
I actually already have 2 "promotions" due to my experience at Pepsi and working w/ Dad. I am officially a "experienced" driver. My next promotion will be salesman... Anybody wanna buy some lumber?
I mainly drive around our big International dump-bed delivery truck. I am being sent for training for a monster boom truck that we just acquired. This truck will be used mainly for shingle, OSB, drywall, and trusses. It is remote controlled/ joystick controlled. I am the only one from our location that is being sent! I am quite excited! I've already been driving it around the yard and practicing... Shifting through 12 gears takes a lot of practice...
I really enjoy my job and so far it has also been a great family decision too! Josiah got to sit in my semi the other day... He thought the air horn was quite neat... He also enjoyed the dump bed!
BWAAH-BWAAH (sound of air horn)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Joe and Josiah Go on a Trip!
My firstborn and I just recently completed an exciting trip to the amazing land of... yep, Nebraska! Filled with such wonders as: no hills, lots of wind, chaff, and rock roads! State motto: "Get in, get out--as fast as you can!"
One of my good friends from college (the legalistic one, not the "liberal" one!), Chris "Shuf" Rohrbaugh and his family live out there [wife Jhoanna, son Willy (7), daughter Katie (4), and daughter Charlotte Ann (1.5).]
Shuf lives on a nice 3 acre spread with a beautiful 40x40 shop w/ concrete floor. The family actually lives in the house, though! Shuf runs an organic farm with his dad, Paul. They are also both leaders in their local Baptist church. They live entirely off custom processing chickens and steers. They also sell at the farmer's markets in Omaha and Lincoln. (They live about 1 hour south of both outside the "town" of Steineur.) Though they don't make much, they still have a great way of life.
I had this week off from work, so I decided to take my "Scoop" (Josiah) with me on a 8 hour trip to NE. Josiah did remarkably well and really enjoyed the one on one with his Daddy. I am amazed at his vocabulary and "maturity" for a 3 year old. He was extremely well behaved and just loved going to the farm. His favorite things that we did were feeding the chickens, chasing the roosters, and riding the 4 wheeler.
One of the projects he helped with was getting some salvage lumber at an abandoned farm. Josiah was very helpful and made sure all the brambles were whacked down for us with his stick sword. Scoop also enjoyed playing with his "cousins" and his goofy "Uncle Shuf."
We also had the opportunity to go to a circus in Lincoln. Josiah missed his nap and was a bit cranky at the circus until... the "Amazing Bears!" One bear rode a ridiculously tall bike, a motorcycle, walked on his hands, and many other cool tricks. There was also some well-trained tigers and one rather bulgy lion. The big ol' lion was not having any of the "leaping for the audience" stuff. He did, however, run AROUND the fences much to everyone's great amusement. This circus also featured elephants which did rather neat tricks. Their large elephant is actually the largest elephant in North America to balance its entire weight on a solid rubber ball. To be honest it looked impossible! Josiah did not really appreciate any of the human elements of the circus (trapeze, heights, "jumping around") except the one where the humans balanced on balls and went up a 3 part ramp and then back down. It looked quite difficult. Josiah got a really cool light-up, noisemaking sword. (For the very low price of $5...) But he immensely enjoys it. Another thing that he enjoyed were snowcones (2), popcorn (1), rootbeer (2), and cotton candy (1). Needless to say he was rather sticky by the conclusion of the evening!
Both of us managed to get a sinus infection while we were out there. Much to my chagrin, I believe my 3 year old is tougher than his 28 year-old dad!
One of my good friends from college (the legalistic one, not the "liberal" one!), Chris "Shuf" Rohrbaugh and his family live out there [wife Jhoanna, son Willy (7), daughter Katie (4), and daughter Charlotte Ann (1.5).]
Shuf lives on a nice 3 acre spread with a beautiful 40x40 shop w/ concrete floor. The family actually lives in the house, though! Shuf runs an organic farm with his dad, Paul. They are also both leaders in their local Baptist church. They live entirely off custom processing chickens and steers. They also sell at the farmer's markets in Omaha and Lincoln. (They live about 1 hour south of both outside the "town" of Steineur.) Though they don't make much, they still have a great way of life.
I had this week off from work, so I decided to take my "Scoop" (Josiah) with me on a 8 hour trip to NE. Josiah did remarkably well and really enjoyed the one on one with his Daddy. I am amazed at his vocabulary and "maturity" for a 3 year old. He was extremely well behaved and just loved going to the farm. His favorite things that we did were feeding the chickens, chasing the roosters, and riding the 4 wheeler.
One of the projects he helped with was getting some salvage lumber at an abandoned farm. Josiah was very helpful and made sure all the brambles were whacked down for us with his stick sword. Scoop also enjoyed playing with his "cousins" and his goofy "Uncle Shuf."
We also had the opportunity to go to a circus in Lincoln. Josiah missed his nap and was a bit cranky at the circus until... the "Amazing Bears!" One bear rode a ridiculously tall bike, a motorcycle, walked on his hands, and many other cool tricks. There was also some well-trained tigers and one rather bulgy lion. The big ol' lion was not having any of the "leaping for the audience" stuff. He did, however, run AROUND the fences much to everyone's great amusement. This circus also featured elephants which did rather neat tricks. Their large elephant is actually the largest elephant in North America to balance its entire weight on a solid rubber ball. To be honest it looked impossible! Josiah did not really appreciate any of the human elements of the circus (trapeze, heights, "jumping around") except the one where the humans balanced on balls and went up a 3 part ramp and then back down. It looked quite difficult. Josiah got a really cool light-up, noisemaking sword. (For the very low price of $5...) But he immensely enjoys it. Another thing that he enjoyed were snowcones (2), popcorn (1), rootbeer (2), and cotton candy (1). Needless to say he was rather sticky by the conclusion of the evening!
Both of us managed to get a sinus infection while we were out there. Much to my chagrin, I believe my 3 year old is tougher than his 28 year-old dad!
Back at the Homefront
While Joe and Josiah ventured off to Nebraska, Jacob and I stayed home and enjoyed some quiet.
We had several appointments to go to, and I confess I enjoyed it just being mommy and baby.
Jacob battled a little virus for a few days. Not strep, and no fever, but his poor little cry got pretty hoarse before he got better.
Other than that, Jacob is doing very well. He's growing! He is now 14 pounds and 23 inches long. Not bad for a 7 weeker.
I enjoyed watching a few chick flicks and catching up on some spring organizing projects at home while my men were gone.
So as I'm sitting here typing this, Josiah is singing Zaccheus and it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Happy sigh.
We had several appointments to go to, and I confess I enjoyed it just being mommy and baby.
Jacob battled a little virus for a few days. Not strep, and no fever, but his poor little cry got pretty hoarse before he got better.
Other than that, Jacob is doing very well. He's growing! He is now 14 pounds and 23 inches long. Not bad for a 7 weeker.
I enjoyed watching a few chick flicks and catching up on some spring organizing projects at home while my men were gone.
So as I'm sitting here typing this, Josiah is singing Zaccheus and it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Happy sigh.
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