Why is this guy still in? He's horrible. I have only been watching American Idol for 4 weeks now, but he's been terrible every single time. Please...don't vote for him. He sucks.



So, it took running a triathlon this past weekend, that was marginal in performance-and has been the motivation for an increased load in training this summer--that I shall blog about--to get me to blog. That, and Jason Castro's terrible-ness.

So last Saturday I ran the CB&I Triathlon in The Woodlands.



This race is the premier Sprint Distance race in the Houston Area. It's great for first time triathletes, and veterans alike. Great facilities, great course, great swag (stuff you get for free---or for your registration fee). It was a marginal performance because I finished in almost the exact same time as last year. The course was different, and comparing times from year to year is really not a great way to compare results, but your rank in your age group. I haven't even really seen those results, but it still felt as if I have taken a step back.

I averaged 7:55 per mile during the 5K, and that is 22 seconds slower, per mile, than the Cinco Ranch Tri (my last one) last fall. Anyways...I had only swam once since the Cinco Tri prior to this one. It was the week of. No warm up, just cranked out 500m, and got out of the pool. Not hardly a great work out.

So...my speed isn't there yet. I am working on it. Here is the deal. In January, I ran the Chevron Houston Marathon. I really had a huge endurance base after than, but little speed work. In addition, 1 month ago, I rode the MS150. Again, huge base, not much speed. So...I am working on my speed from now on.

This morning, I did a brick workout with Wade. We met at the YMCA here in Cinco Ranch, at the ridiculous time of 5:15am. A brick is a workout where you combine 2 disciplines together. For instance, this morning we spun for 35 mins, then went out and ran a 5K. The goal here is to simulate race day, race pace, etc... You work really hard on the bike, then run really fast. It's a heart crusher. I think my heart was around 250 bpm. That is impossible. So, it wasn't really that fast, but it was cruising.

Anyways, I have a friend drawing up a blistering fast 5k plan for me, and I am going to work at that, and blog about my training here.

I will also blog about other stuff, like crappy Jason Castro.

time to update this blog here. Sorry it has been so dead lately. Some quick training updates:

I did the Cinco Ranch Triathlon on September 30th, and it was great. Bad swim, great bike, best run ever. The swim was the most crowded swim I have ever been in. 3 turns, and a zig-zag pattern. It was a small lake. Anyways...I came out of the water dead tired, but determined. Passed a bunch of people on the bike, and run. Finished 19 out of 62 in my age group. Can't wait for the next one.

So...now I am training for the Chevron Houston Marathon. I have already registered so, I have to run it. Right now I am up to 15 miles.

I have also registered for the BP MS 150. I rode this race back in 7th grade, so I really don't think it's going to be a problem. However, I do need to raise $400 to go...so any takers? Anyone want to sponsor me?

Reagan is getting huge, and just started crawling.



She is scooting all over the house now, and it's great, but there is no rest for mom and dad...we never sit down anymore, gotta chase Reagan all over the house.

Anyways...My Space never ceases to amaze me. I just was located by a guy that I ran track with in college named Martin. Anyone remember Martin. He was a decathlete too. He had a several cars that he bought for like, $50. One wouldn't stay running, so in order to drive it, he had to keep starting it, over and over. I think I rode with him all the way to Houston in that care before. Scarry.

Another car of his, he blew up by redlining it to try and get up the icy hill by the stadium at Sam Houston. Hilarious. He also built potatoe guns that launched lemons hundreds of yards. What a nut!! Anyways, Martin if you are reading this, it's so great to catch up with you.

We had "Hallelujah Hay Day" at the church on Halloween. Here is a picture of Little Dorothy (Bailey) and her friend Barbie as Island Princess ---or something to that effect, (Sara).



Well, I gotta get to work now. Hope everyone is doing well. I hope to blog more often, so check back soon.

So...My yard has been ridiculously high lately.  With all the rain we've been getting it's growing like it's on steroids.  Then, my lawn mower has a blade height setting that is too low (cut's the grass too short), and the next one leaves it too long.  I opt for the longer cut (leads to healthier St. Augustine grass).  I cut it 2 weeks ago, then last weekend I sang at a wedding-left on Friday.  Got back late Saturday night, and then had to leave to Vegas for work on Sunday after church.  No time to do the yard.  So here is how it looked before I cut it.



I measured it, it was over 1 foot high.  I was actually trying to be the first person in our neighborhood to get a nasty-gram telling us to cut the yard, or die.  We have some vigilante home owners people out here in Katy. 

It was nice to finally be able to mow, but it stunk cause I had to stop every 10 feet and empty the bag.  Ever been there?  It really sucks.

Last night, the family and I pulled out our family movies.  (last night we just focused on our wedding, and reception).  Bailey has never seen these.  It seemed like so long ago watching our wedding, but it was only 6 years.  It's great to watch your wedding occassionally with your spouse.  During our first dance last night, both Vanessa and I were teary-eyed.  The lyrics of the song go:  "Now that you are standing on the edge of the unknown, I love you means I'll be with you, wherever you must go".  Doesn't sound too touching, but for us it totally is.  We have had some dark days in our marriage.  Times where work has been impossible, God's plan was nowhere to be found, times of tremendous pain and suffering, and times of anger and bitterness.  Looking at us dancing, we never knew what we'd be facing in just a few years.  But we also never knew of the joy's that we would have, and the unbelievable blessing.  When you look back with wiser eyes, you sort of pitty/envy that person in the video.  You tend to take a look back and ask yourself, if I would do it all over again.  And while that song played, and tears were shed, I looked back at my amazing wife last night, and whispered to her, "absolutely".  

  I love this woman!!!

One of things I realized last night also...is that Kevin Jetton is a nut!!  Check this out.


That's Kevin cutting a rug.  Great job Kev.  If I knew how to put a video from Photobucket to MySpace blog, I would show you an awesome vid from the wedding.  I had to remind him that he was the one to catch the garter.  Great jump Kevin.  News...he's still single ladies. 



Much love Kevin.  You are a great friend.

Whew...it's dusty up in here.  I am back from the drought, and will no longer ignore this blog, like I have been for so many months.  Life just happens, and this blog will attempt to cover what all has been happening.  For so many months, we will be doing something together, and I'll think..."I HAVE to blog about that!"  Needless to say, I never did.  So, this blog is going to have many, many pictures, and I am going to just share a bit about what has been going on. 

March was insane for us as a family.  I was gone almost the whole month to places like, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vegas, and Orlando.  All business, all the time, no time to have fun.  However, when I was in Atlanta I found out my new sales quota for this year.  It's a nice round number.  It's roughly 3 times what it was last year.  Ouch...What a mountain to have to get over.  I don't get stressed easily, but goodness this was a whole lot to swallow. 

The girls played soccer last spring for the first time ever.  It was great.  I was so pumped to see them finally do something athletic.  Here's Bailey schooling her best friend Katy. 

They played in a league called FFPS (Fair Fun Positive Soccer).  In this league, everyone plays every position, for an equal amount of time.  Great rules for the first time players.  However, this league also has some drawbacks.  For instance, there is no coaching allowed during games.  Kid goes the wrong way?  Don't yell "Turn around", you might get a technical.  Nothing negative at all.  If they kick it in the wrong goal, "great kick sweety".  Kid sitting down picking flowers?  "Way to get it at the root, honey".  Nothing negative at all.  These rules are futher evidence that today's parents are scared to teach their kids for fear that it will hurt their self-esteem, and/or hurt their feelings.  I say...coach 'em, teach 'em the right way, love them, but don't be scared to be firm.  This league also doesn't keep score.  Are you kidding me?  They don't want to have to have kids lose.  Well, losing teaches you something's.  Primarily, what not to do if you want to win.  It also might clue you in that you aren't that good of an athlete (if you keep losing), therefore the kid tries out for band, or learns guitar...whatever.  But, if that bad athlete grows up thinking they are a good athlete, and they try out for football in Junior High...they will be humiliated.  And when that bad athlete's peers find out, they will be brutal.  It's just the way it is.  Same thing when a few years ago, there was the movement that teachers need not use RED when correcting papers of their students.  RED was too harsh.  Purple is better.  What?  Are you joking? 

Anyways...that's my .02. 

So...we also finally closed on our house.  Here it is.  It's soooo nice to finally be in our own place.  Much love to the parental units for letting us crash at their place for so long. 

Morgan turned 10 in June.  She had her party at the roller rink.  Very fun...lots of Hokey Pokey, Couples Skate, Racing, and whatnot.  It took me right back to 5th grade.  I was the man on skates.  My dad on the other hand...he's lost the gift.  I am sure at one time he was the man, but on this particular venture, he fell twice.  That's 230lbs, coming down hard.  Seriously I felt the floor shake when he fell.  Here is his first try standing up.   I really felt sorry for him, but since he didn't really hurt himself, I thought I'd post this. 

Look at my mad cake decorating skills.     Here's Morgan looking really proud of my awesome cake decorating skills.

  What a trooper!

Also...Bailey lost 2 teeth in one day, and Morgan cracked her head open and had to get 15 stitches to close up the wound.  Here they are looking great.

  

We had our 6th anniversary, we wen't to The Melting Pot.  Great place.

We went to Willowcreek in Chicago for the 2007 Arts Conference.  That's Chris Bailey, our Creative Arts Director.

Morgan and Bailey also had dance last spring.  Here is their pic after their Spring recital. 

 

Reagan has been changing alot also.  She is now 6 months old, and is laughing all the time.  She's a happy baby, and growing so fast.  In this picture, she is taking her first bite of food ever.  Everything prior to this was bottle.    She was also dedicated at Church. 

  I am blessed with my 3 little girls. 

So that really catches you all up with the last several months.  I am starting to increase my training again for 2 Triathlons that I want to do this fall.  I did do another one this spring with James, and I felt so much better this time.  I came out of the water with energy, and had a great bike (increased my average speed by 2 mph), and a good run.  I was happy with the result.  So...I am going to try and do a weekly blog now detailing my training...again, to keep myself accountable with it all.  Plus, I know a few other triathletes that read this thing, so it could be helpful.  So...talk to you guys next week. Thanks for reading.

 

What's up peeps?  Man, life has been throwing me a few 105 mph fastballs, and I blogging, while quite important to me, has been put on the back burner.  A list, if you will (and even if you won't) of what I've been up to lately.

1) wife's epidural was screwed up by the cocky anesthesia guy, and it gave her dibilitating headaches.  took her back to the hospital for a "blood patch" to stop the leaking of spinal fluid that was causing her crushing headaches.

2) next day, Reagan's Jaundice was in the high level, and we had to check her in to the hospital. Stayed there for two days, while she hung out in the artificial womb/baby tanning bed.  She loved it in there.  It's kind of like a sensory deprivation unit.  It's warm, she's naked, can't see or hear due to the mask they put on her.  It was kinda nice.  Made me want one.  I had a picture of this on my old phone, but before I could get it on the compy, my phone died. 

3) My last Sunday at Crosscreek was the next weekend, and it was very sad to say goodbye to all of my friends there.  I will miss my time with them.  For those of you that don't know, I have been offered the Worship Pastor position at The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch. 

I have been there 1 Sunday, and the welcome has been overwhelming.  They have already thrown Vanessa and Reagan a baby shower!  These people are great, and we are really looking forward to digging in here.  You know what's cool about it, they are VERY missional in the way they do church.  Check out their website.  They are actively involved in planting a church in Indonesia.  They have a ministry called Compassion Katy, that I am going to be a part of, and they minister to folks in the community in very radical ways.  I am pumped about it.  Go on the website and explore.  You will like!

4) My office, has been moved (or, will be soon) to my parents house.  My company doesn't want to pay for office space anymore, so they are setting me up with a home office.  Couldn't be any better timing, what with the baby, and all.  My gas bill will be nil now.  No more driving across town for church, and no more commute! 

5) I had a staff retreat during the first few days of February, with the staff at The Fellowship.  It was great to get to know everyone, and spend time diving into the vision of the church.  This job still keeps me bi-vocational, but will probably shift into full-time by next January.  It's crazy, cause my workload managing the praise team has increased 20-fold.  This is the main reason I haven't been able to blog lately.  I have just been soooooooooo busy.

6)  Check it out.  Day 1, no construction.

I am going to update this more often, and take pictures so that you all can see the construction of the hizzy.  We are READY to get in there. 

7)  You may wonder why I titled this blog PAIN.  Well, on Saturday I felt invincible.  In fact, I called a friend up to get a workout from him that I could do.  I don't do too much upper body, because I have been so focused on Triathlons/Marathons. That is going to change.  Anyways.  He a member of a group called Crossfit.  They do crazy stuff, strength training mixed with cardio.  Here is the workout I did.  100 Pull-Ups (weight assisted), 100 Push-Ups, 100 Sit-Ups, and 100 Body Weight Squats.  I accomplished this in 29 mins. 

The next day, I was sore.  The next day, I couldn't use my arms.  Seriously, I couldn't extend them past 90 degrees.  I couldn't drive, get dressed, socks were impossible, I couldn't even hold my 8 lb. baby.  Something was wrong.  I knew it.  I thought I pulled a muscle in both of my arms.  Pain. 

The crazy thing, my pee was brownish.  Gross huh.  Well, I was on the phone with my Crossfit friend and he told me of a condition called rhabdomyolysis.  Check it out on WebMD.  The brown urine was caused by excessive protein in my kidneys because of the muscle degeneration  .  It's a potentially fatal problem.  Luckily, I am better today, although I am still quite sore. 

If you notice in the picture above, I am bent over from holding the car seat.  That picture was taken yesterday.  God is good, and I am gaining my strength back.  Anyways...this blog has taken me tooo long.  Gotta sign off.  God bless you all.

Well let me just say this…Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!  Reagan Elise Cordes joined us today at 4:17pm!  She was 7 lbs 8oz, and 19 inches long.  And she is beautiful.  Isn't she??  

  

Mommy is doing great as well, and she did a great job.  Vanessa is such a trooper!!  I admire her more and more each day, and I am blessed to have such an amazing woman as my bride. 

  

Today started off with about as much anxiety as possible.  Doctor came in about 8am, and started her Pitocin drip.  At this point, she was a 1cm.  The goal her guys, is 10cm.   For the next several hours, Vanessa slept and had more contractions, and I blogged and ate, and read.  About 2 the Dr. came back and said…"she is still at a 2cm." Disappointment…We were hoping she would be progressing a bit faster because we wanted the Dr. to break her water when he came.  No such luck.

So, we settled in for what was seeming to be a long labor!  Poor Vanessa.  About 2:30pm though, her water broke.  It went something like this:  Vanessa:  "Either my water just broke, or I peed on myself".  The nurse laughed.  Indeed her water had broken.  By this time, the contractions had started getting worse. 


The time had come for the famed Epidural.  In no time at all, the wife was feeling no pain. 

We still settled in for a bit, and Vanessa took another nap.  At around 4pm, she wakes up and says…"It's getting close".  So the nurse comes over to check her, and freaks out, "You are complete, +1.  (translation:  no hard exhaling, no fast movements, where there heck is the Doctor?!!!?)

It's now that I realize the birth of my daughter was at hand.  Life started moving in slow motion.  My wife just laying there, and what seemed like a well drawn out symphony of lab folks, and RN's, and PA's all doing what they were supposed to do.  Calmly, Dr. Maccato strolls in, greets Vanessa and I, and gets ready to catch the baby.  I am freaking out…Vanessa is ready, and still feeling know pain.  She does 2 well executed leg presses (with some pushing too), and there she was!!!

In all her glory, how beautiful.  I cry, Vanessa cries, I take a ton of pictures, and Vanessa and I both get the shakes.  It was awesome.  Actually, she was born at 4:17pm, 17 mins, after the Nurse checked her.  It was that quick.  And just as quickly as they all arrived, they all were gone.  Everyone was gone except Meredith Bunge.  This woman is an amazing Nurse.  She was with us all day.  She has a gift, and we were thankful that we were blessed with such a caring Nurse.  This is her.

  

Trish was first on the scene.  She came bearing much gifts…Antipasta's!!  Bread, Sauce, Quesadilla's, Spaghetti, Fettuccini Alfredo, and desert!!  Thank you Trish.  You didn't have to do that.  She was the only one that got to hold Reagan before they took her back.  My parents, and kids, and Vanessa's parents and kids arrived just after they took her to the nursery.  It was a bummer.  So they go to see her through the glass, and they are on their way back up here to see her now.   ...

...No pictures of the family's visit, but the kids with Reagan were so precious.  Morgan cried because she didn't want to leave.  Bailey kept getting in her face, as if she were a puppy dog.  It was so cute…I love my kids soooo much.  I am an emotional wreck, and need to get some sleepy.  One other thing.  Reagan, is the chillest baby I have ever been around.  It was crazy the first time I held her.  She was looking at me, and just glancing around the room.  Kinda like, "I can see finally…dang my daddy is good looking!"  For real though, she just takes it all in.  I hope this is foreshadowing that she is going to be a chill kid.  Regardless…My heart has grown in the past 7 hours, and has an incredible capacity to love now.  More than ever. 

Much thanks to my mom and dad!!  You guys are amazing people, and we are so blessed to be able to live with ya'll.  Thank you for taking care of the kids this week.  We are thankful for you two!  Love you guys.

WELCOME PRINCESS REAGAN!!

Tonight, I am sitting on this uncomfortable, plastic chair. 



I have been here for hours, and I think I am supposed to sleep on this chair.  Although the nurse said that she'd get me a pull-out bed, some blankets and a pillow…I don't really believe her.  See, it's 12:28am Thursday morning.  She told me about the bed, far before bed time.  It's now past bed time. 

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"Why are you waiting for a nurse to bring you a bed ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas:contacts" />John?"…you may find yourself asking.  Well, I am here at The Women's Hospital of Texas, with my beautiful wife, and she is having a baby!!  Here is her bed.  I'm not jealous, trust me. 



Tomorrow morning they are going to induce her.  It has been a long, tired pregnancy for Vanessa.  At first, she has pre-term labor.  Bed rest was the prescription.  Then, it was hypertension, and low iron.  Bed rest was the prescription.  Bed rest sucks.  I have felt so bad for my Vanessa.  And as I sit here staring at her in her IV and Ambien induced sleep, I am overcome with emotion.  How I love this woman.  The pain that she has endured to bring another blessed child into our lives…I can't thank her enough. 

 

It has been an interesting day.  This morning we braved the frozen streets of Houston, to venture down to the Medical Center for our weekly appointment.  After 5 visits with bags packed and emotions on edge, the Doctor has suggested that he induce tomorrow!  We were elated, so we decided to stuff our faces with a huge plate-o-tex mex.  Pappasito's for lunch.  This was the last supper, because Vanessa hasn't been able to eat since.  We then went home, and told the world.  Morgan and Bailey were giddy with excitement. 

 

At 7pm, we called the hospital, as instructed.  They said they'd get back to us.   So what did we decide to do…go to Katy Mills Mall.  I had a Banana Republic gift card burning a hold in my pocket.  Went there, Motherhood, and Sun and Ski, then we got the call!!  They were ready for us!  We got here around 9:30pm.  After the most extensive interview from Vanessa's Labor and Delivery Nurse, it was now time for the dreaded IV.  See Vanessa has, and always has had an aversion to IV's.  It's more than an aversion, it's actually worse than childbirth…in her mind.  It might not be a big deal to you, but she has veins that are basically buried in her arm.  So every IV she has gotten has been nothing but the nurse digging around in her arm.  Tonight was no different.  My poor wife.  After 3 unsuccessful tries, and 1 blown vein, and lots of tears they decided to call in the expert.  Lillian, the angel, from Anesthesia came in and knocked it out in 1 try and no fussing.  It was great, but traumatic for V.  She now looks like she got into a fight with our old cat Sebastian.  We never got him declawed.  He was Satan.  Anyways, check out these hands. 

 

 

I love you Vanessa, and words cannot express my heart for you.  I wish I could have been the one getting the IV.  I am so unbelievably excited about baby Reagan coming to join our family.  God has blessed me with you Vanessa and our 3 kiddo's.  I am praying hard tonight that the Lord shows Vanessa, and our family favor tomorrow with an easy delivery, and a healthy baby!

 

***update***...the bed arrived at 1:30am, with a thin sheet and 2 pillows.  The sleep was horrible due to the window that is 2 feet from me, and sending icy air my way.  The blanket then arrived at 6:30am.  1.5 more hours of sleep, and it was time to start the day.  Check back here later tonight, I am going to blog about baby Reagan, and I should have some pictures!!

Today, I was reflecting on how amazing my wife Vanessa is.  She is truly my best friend.  She is creative, an amazing artist, an amazing teacher, and mommy.  I love her.  Today...she is laying down, no doubt, having been put on bedrest because of high blood pressure.  She is frustrated, and ready for baby Reagan Elise.  I pray everyday that she finds His blessing at home. 

The neat thing about what it happening, is that we may be blessed with a new baby tomorrow.  Of course we thought that last Wednesday too.  We have now been to the Hospital, and Doctors office 3 times with our bags packed.  Each time we go expecting the doctor to admit her, and each time we told, "perhaps 1 more week".  So we go home.  While it's great for Reagan to develop a bit more, we are so anxious to hold her it's hard to wait. 

As I was thinking about her this morning, I thought it would be great to post on here a blog that I wrote last year, right after a party that my wife threw for me.  This is just one small example of the way my wife blesses me.   

                                                                   -december 16th, 2005

Tonight was priceless, and if you are reading this, you were probably there...or atleast wanted to be there. And thank you Chuck for setting everything up, and getting away on Friday night to make December the 16th, the best night of my life...other than my wedding night, and other than the night Bailey was born. This was one to remember. Thanks.

Kevin, there is no one I like playing with more than you. Thank you for coming tonight, it was great seeing you. I will be sending out thank you's later, but here is yours now.

So...here is how it went. My birthday is December 21st. But that comes on a Wednesday and I will be at church. So, Vanessa and I were going to do something low-key, and just go to Chilis' or something, and get some coffee afterwards. I was so not expecting anything, and even wore some highwater pants because I didn't think I'd see anyone.

So after dinner, we were just sitting there waiting for the bill, and I asked V, "do you want some coffee?". She said very non-chalantly, "nah, let's go somewhere". "Starbucks?", "no...to high school-ish", "how about Dunn Brother's, right next to our new neighborhood?", "no, let's try that place you took me right before I went to Paris", "?", "Geebows, or something". "Oh, Zebo's...cool".

So as we are driving to Zebo's I nudge her and say, "you got me a gig didn't you?". I was totally unaware, and didn't really mean it. She just brushed it off.

So when we get to Zebo's, in the parking lot it was packed, and I thought, gosh there are alot of people here. Let's just go to Starbucks across the street. Nah. But as we were driving by I thought I saw Mark in the window and I said to V, "Is that Mark, I am going to be pissed if he got a gig here and didn't tell me about it." V just smiled. I quickly forgot about that as we were walking up. I mentioned that I love that 24 hour fitness there, it's awesome.

As we approach the door, my Mom and John Gardner walk out. I am thoroughly confused at this point. I am like, "what are ya'll doing...." Then I entered. I saw so many people there, from different walks of life. Mark and Trish were there. John and Donna Gardner. Jeff and Angie. David and Cindy and their kids. Chuck, and Karson. John and Joni, Todd, Mary-Ellen, Jennifer, Kevin, My guitar stuff set up in the corner, Chris Draper and his new honey, John CREWS!!!, My guitar stuff in the corner?. My mom and dad, Bailey and Morgan, Lisa Rodriguez, Clint and Nana, Nathan and Katsura, Garrett and Kelly, and my guitar stuff...Everywhere I turned, I saw a face that I knew.

Vanessa says, this was your surprise, you are playing a gig tonight!!! I am shocked, floored, intimidated, impressed at all the work she did, and in awe. I make the rounds, still in shock and go over to my guitar. Mark had his percussion stuff set up, and we jammed some songs that I wrote. I hardly new them. I haven't played my own music in a long time, and I forgot words, and hit wrong notes, and really screwed some of them up. But Vanessa said it best when she said, "they didn't come to hear you rock some songs with precision, they came to honor you." And she was right, most of these people drove from a long-long way away. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

It just now hit me. My wife is unbelievable for doing this for me. Every birthday since we have been married, she has surprised me to no end. One year it was Coldplay tickets, another year the PS2. She is the bomb. Thanks Vanessa, you made this the most special birthday ever. Except for the birthday when you told me that you were pregnant with Bailey. Isn't that when you told me? I think so.

Well, I am out. Thanks again for everything. I wanted to document tonight while it was fresh on my mind so that I will never ever forget it. Thanks darling. I love you.

Ever since I was a kid, the family tradition has been to drive slowly through Pecan Grove Plantation to scope out the Christmas lights.  Back in the day, whole streets would be on the same theme.  Their houses would be decorated as such, and it was fantastic.  Actually...Ft. Bend Lighting and Power made killer profits during the month of December because of Pecan Grove.  Much wasted electricity.  However, when I was a home owner, that didn't stop me from trying to light up my little corner of the universe. 

My wife and kids laugh at me because usually I don't even change clothes before getting up on the roof to string up the lights.  It's me with slacks, and dress shoes on, shirt with tie dangling loose, feverishly stringing up the lights before dark.  Usually, it's a 3 or 4 day process, and commences the day after Thanksgiving.  It's greatly anticipated, and every year it grows.  It's an obsession, no doubt.

This year however, I haven't done a thing.  I feel quite empty inside.  It's hard to impose your tradition on my unsuspecting, and treeless parents.  It's just not the same when it's not your house.  You know, you want to do it up right, but it's hard to get the motivation.  It leaves you kinda empty inside. 

It's with this same exact emptiness inside that I loaded up the family + mother in the minivan to do what we do each year down in the richmond area. (I'd also like to mention that we had room for 2 more people---THAT is why we have a minivan).  We drove, and drove, and it was quite ho-hum.  Not alot of flair on the streets of Pecan Grove this year.  Not too many old folks from back in the day who know what it's like to blow thousands at Home Depot, just for a spot in the local paper.  None of that tom foolery.  It was getting to me to be honest.  Where was the love?  Then, before I could shed a tear, what to my wandering eyes did appear? 

BEHOLD...Clark Griswold is alive and well in Pecan Grove!!!

Sorry for the horrible quality of the picture, it's best I could do with my crappy camera phone.  Not bad though huh?  This guy has drained the power grid in Southern Ft. Bend County for years.  Enron had an entire department dedicated to the energy that this guy consumed each year during the winter months.  And old people up north are dying because they can't heat their home.  This guys just throwing money away, but, for a very good cause.  Those old folks should just pitch a tent in his front yard.  It's about 106 degrees at ground level.  In fact, the Richmond Fire Department has rented the house next door just incase another flash fire happens in his front yard.  They are on constant alert.  You just never know with this guy.

All I have to say is this...Clark Griswold lives!! 

is my daughter's favorite band.  I can't tell you how great that makes me feel.  Below are lyrics from one of their songs that I have heard a million times.  However, about a month ago, while taking Morgan to school, just her and I were singing this song, and it really got to me. 

...in the world of a girl
the words she hears they mean an awful lot
and the music in her mind when she gets older
has the lyrics she's been taught
but when she get's to Heaven
all the right things will be said
He will, look on her with favor...

What a powerful image of Christs' redemption.  How sad that the innocence of youth will one day be spoiled, and that my girls will no doubt be told things that they will carry with them as burdens their whole lives.  But that they will be redeemed by His love, and truth...great stuff. 

Be blessed and LOVE THIS BAND!