Heard a great song by Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Live On. An awesome four-minute experience, even at the 2 a.m. hour.
No coffee, but enjoying some Irish or English Breakfast Tea that was part of a Christmas gift box from the parents. The dog is curled up in a ball on her blanket by the window, as I sit here typing on the home computer in our disorganized and far from clean office. Wife is sleeping down the hall, nice and snug I know as I've checked on her and laid next to her more than once. But tonight is one of those times when sleep just isn't coming easy, possibly because of aching legs and feet, much on my mind, and just simple restlessness at week's end.
Of course, sitting in front of me - while I sit here with headphones strapped on and the music blaring - is a wonderful reminder of How Lucky I Am. A card that says just that. From Suzi. Just a no reason, on the spot reminder from her one day. So, it brings a smile at this late hour and lets the mind wander about life's examples for my blessed life.
Anyway, the song. Symbolizes life, and while it does have some depressing hints, it's a song about hope. Something we can all look forward to with the tough economic times hitting hard, and a historic time where we'll soon be welcoming a new president that symbolizes that hope.
Might be cold out, but you just hold out. The sun is going to shine your way.... Know it's true. I'm living proof. This road is hard, and long.... If I could find a way, and I'd take your place, but you just gotta live, Live On.
We're blessed on this end. We are attending church regularly, finding faith and recognizing how good we really have it. While you can find downers in anything, there's always hope.
This new year time is always energizing, and I'm reticent to make resolutions simply for the sake of making them and jumping on that bandwagon. But my wife inspires me to do better, and church is reinforcing what's really important and what we shouldn't be doing in life, and so it's time to make at least one.
Putting things into perspective: approaching 30 in less than a month, after a year's worth of family history research and rediscovering religion and what it means for my wife and I.... All of that makes you look at your life, what you've done and what you haven't, and where you need to go.
So....
1. Health. Daily blood testing and logging my results down as I test. Why? Because I am diabetic, and the year 2009 means I will own it, not the other way around. This doesn't define my life, but it can't be ignored or put on the backburner - it dictates how everything else in my life will play out.
2. Church. We will continue our journey together, discovering and relearning what that means and how it will shape our lives.
3. Family. More love. More appreciation. Appreciating everyone, loving those with us, remembering those no longer with us, and envisioning what will be once others who may one day be part of the family.
There's so many more, as each of the above have many countless subpoints such as reading and study, enjoying relationships and going through life with great friends, doctor's visits that mean juggling work schedules, and balancing those day-to-day priorities to make sure the Big 3 stay at the top of the list and aren't lost in the shuffle.
Team effort - me, us, God, friends and family, those we encounter each day. But we Live On. Here's to that for 2009, and beyond.

So here it was, a Sunday. We continued our relatively new journey of church-going and small group Bible study first thing in the morning - complete with a lack of coffee, a morning half-asleep argument over who's job it was to wash the church dress shirts, our first visit to the later, 11 a.m. contemporary service, and ultimately the realization that we'd overlooked our blessings and the joy of each other's company.

After a post-church trip to buy the dog a new fluffy pillow bed and some dental chews to mint up her breath, we decided to make a trip to the Family Christian Store nearby. As some know, we've been actively reading the Bible for almost a year now and that's particularly become more routine with our churchgoing. We are currently contemplating a family Bible we can study together, and we'd wanted to get some type of nice Bible organizer with tabs, notepad, and such so we could take notes and mark favorate passages. Nice thought.

Well, the first store didn't have any of that nature. Just regular covers with crazy designs, phrases such as "Redemption," or just covers that looked more like purses than a professional organizer. Not what I want. So, we went to a second store.

This presented the first irony. The second store it seems was going out of business. Everything was on clearance. We found an organizer that I'd envisioned, but it was red. Not ideal. In asking if there were any in the back area, the clerk told us everything they had was out on the shelves. Figures. Talking more, we learned they were closing by year's end because of a corporate decision spawned by the economic downturn.

Well. That's a faith downer.... In a time when more people would seemingly need God's tools to learn or spread the Good Word, a corporate body decides to shut down one of spots that could best help that happen. Interesting.

Not wanting to leave our already-traveled mission unfinished, we made our way to the area's third Christian store to seek the type of organizer that could best help in our religious education. After a 20-minute drive there, we arrived - and in amazement learned that the store was closed on Sundays. I was beside myself. Sure, some stores don't open on Sundays as that's God's Day. But seriously. A CHRISTIAN store..... On the most religious day of the week, when so many are in the mindset to educate and be in a mood to be thinking of their faith and possibly in the mood to buy things to compliment it, a store designed for that purpose isn't open.

Amazing. Another irony. Maybe it's a sign. Finding your faith and living that journey through Christ isn't supposed to be easy. Sure, we could have found everything at that first store without a hitch. But, did we become more focused on what we wanted, put more thought into it, delve deeper into the necessity and reasons for that purchase, by having to travel to other spots and endure that mission? In the end, I came home, hopped online, and found in moments what I was looking for. It's not an absolute necessity, sure. I can easily read the Bible and learn it without any organizer. But I want one, it helps me study, to learn, and I feel that it will aid us in our education. That's important. And it feels right.

We have ordered an organizer and it should arrive any day. We are blessed to have that gift, and likely, while ironic in my eyes, the chance to cement our organizing desire to be educated as we move along the early stages of our journey toward accepting Christ and God into our life.

Amen.

In a morbidly twisted way, it's almost funny. Election season is finished, "they guy I voted for" has won and will take office in January, and I still find myself wondering about our Senator in Arizona. Especially after seeing him the other day on Letterman, laughing away and thinking he's the funniest person alive.

Hardly making the news outside Arizona, our former presidential candidate Senator John McCain was one of the 35 who voted against the $14 billion auto bailout measure that may have helped the Big 3 survive through the early part of 2009. This comes as an interesting tidbit given that McCain was so vocally in favor of the $700 billion financial bailout and had (do you remember?) suspended his campaign and even didn't want to debate in order to get it through.

What a wackjob.

He didn't know it then and it cost him an election; he still doesn't realize it now - IT'S ABOUT THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

I am not in favor of a bailout. Free markets and capitalism should reign whenever possible. But we're talking millions of people out of work here on top of the many, many, many folk already without work. Our system ALREADY can't handle the unemployment and effects, and we're willing as a society to allow more to fall into this hole. Rachel Maddow said it well on MSNBC recently: Herbert Hoover, the numskull who's ianction helped spawn the Great Depression, would be smiling in his grave. It's as if they want us to fall into a Depression when something could have at least been done to TRY and stop that from happening, even if there's no guarantee....That's nuts.

Now, I recall during the election when debates would come up about "the important things" and what we all really should be thinking about as we chose our next president. Some went for hope and bold plans to tackle realistic problems people are facing. Others simply waved a flag, cited commendable military experience, and shouted about national security and those "big bad threats" overseas somewhere.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying for a moment that national security isn't important, or that we don't face dangers from the world. But seriously, people, we have to support our own society before trying to cure the world. We have problems here that will make those scary national security thoughts even more of an issue in the future, and if we can't head these off, we'll never get there.

Now, as our foundational auto industry and middle class society crumbles, thanks probably in large part to the wonders of the financial system and those great people who sold anyone homes no matter the cost, we find ourselves here: Dec. 12, 2008. We all have played a part in the mess, but any notion of supporting an industry and class of society that supported this country historically in our most difficult times, is just taboo. "Don't take my beer money and give it to others..."

You know what, you wouldn't even have money if it weren't for those who came before you. Know your roots, and pay tribute to them. Even the white collars (I am myself one of them). My message to you unwilling to accept helping others, said in the mostly loving and God-centered way as I embrace a new journey in life:

Screw you. Damnation isn't fit for your sorry excuse for a mind. God gives us these tools to save ourselves, to be able to actually help people in trouble so that they can turn around and help others, and we look the other way - citing our own economic expertise in how to solve the problem and pointing the other way at the big yellow dot in the sky. I have faith we will get through this, but wow - what a time to test the faiths by throwing so many stupid people in the mix.

It seems that Christmas spirit keeps appearing earlier and earlier every year, this season particularly. Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed how much earlier (it seems, at least) we are seeing both public and private lights, trees, decoration displays, radios playing Christmas music, and people in general just celebrating the holiday. I'm not surprised to see the store's push it or the shopping in swing, as that's always the case and you have to expect it after Halloween or even sooner. But the overal spirit I'm sensing in such full swing makes an impression - it helps that one example is the next door neighbors who've had their tree and lights up and on for a week. Now, don't get me wrong: I love Christmas and enjoy seeing it all. Personally, I live by the mantra that the tree and lights shouldn't be LIT or ON until Dec. 1, or at least until I've had a chance to enjoy my turkey and celebrate the holiday that marks the calendar before the one in mid-December. But that's just me. The notion that it should get done as early as possible so that there's one less task to be done later at more hectic times doesn't impress me, as it de-romanticizes Christmas and makes it seems like we're too busy to care later on. Maybe that's true, I just don't like the way it feels.

Maybe that's the point. Maybe we need this earlier Christmasy spirit now more than ever. Our economy and the general state of affairs is bleak, and that's why. Families are struggling with job losses and many can hardly make ends meet, and our economy continues to crumble no matter what we throw at it. This uncertainty is depressing, so maybe celebrating a little early and having that extra time to enjoy this seasonal joy is what we all need. Seeing family that maybe you can't always see, especially if you're not living near each others' doorsteps. Embrace a giving spirit that may not always be possible in other times of the year. Having some sense that it can all be better, and the good outweighs the bad on this Earth no matter what you may believe exists afterward. On that front, it does the heart good and I'm all for that. Even before Turkey Day and Dec. 1.

Indiana has gone blue! For the first time in 44 years. The Hoosier state became a key battleground state where Democrats won with one of the narrowest margins in the country - about 22,000 votes. A state that split its ticket, voting in a Republican governor for a second term while putting its support behind Barack Obama who will become the nation's first black president. Monumental. Huge.

Our county stayed red, unforyunately, by a large margin. Republicans stayed loyal here, maybe because the local Dems don't do anything to stand up and make a peep about anything. You can find it difficult to know a Dem presence even exists here, which is likely the reason why they can never bring in anything of substance as far as votes. But we made our choice and it mattered. Our voice counts, more than ever before.

I'm also pleased to see our homestate of Michigan staying blue, and a majority of voters passing a proposal to allow for embryonic stem cell research. This country may be divvided morally, but this time the masses looked to the future and embraced change, voting for the right people and issues and rejecting those that aren't. A nation inspired..... We have hope. We want change. And Nov. 4, 2008 shows that we're ready to embrace that in the future and work together - ALL OF US - in making this country a better place where everyone can succeed.

We voted early today. On a partly sunny Saturday morning, we journeyed about 10 miles south to our local county courthouse to cast our ballots in what's the most important and historical election in more than 40 years, possibly even a century. Fearing what an unbelievable turnout might translate to in wait-time on Tuesday, we decided to take advantage of the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours on the weekend day. Our wait time came out at a little more than two-and-a-half hours, with a line extending outside the courthouse and partly around the building. Armed with our voting minds and a cup of Starbucks coffee in hand, we joined the line. Met many people from across the county, all of whom had to travel to that spot since we don't have satellite voting areas in our own county. No one discussed much who they were voting for, but we chatted about weather, election issues, and the simple turnout and historic significance of what we were partaking in. Everyone knew the stakes, and unless they were wearing a red McCain hat and shirt or blue hat proclaiming "Change," it wasn't clear who was supporting who. We were simply there to make a difference and make sure our voices were heard, whatever the end result. That happened today. And it's inspiring to see it, experience it, relish in the fact that we're seeing something that probably won't ever happen again in our lives. Opinions differ on why this has transpired how it has, but I think the answer is simple: This country needs hope. Regardless of our beliefs, we all need inspiration and leadership that gets even those typical non-voters out to the polls. Clearly, that's happening. The coming election will engrave one of two messages into our history books and dictate how we're seen by future generations:

1. This country is ready to step into the future and embrace what's ahead with hope and leadership. That we aren't afraid to inspire each other, seize bold ideas, and move forward in a time when we have to move forward because it's the only way to ensure our own children and future generations will be able to enjoy the same rights and freedoms that we've been blessed with.

Or

2. Whether this country will run from change and cower in fear for any notion of moving toward unmapped, uncharted territory. If that's the result, it will show that our country continues living in modern times with a desire to look back, not forward, and that we are instead clinging to an established, fear-mongering, hopeless mentality while at the same time proclaiming it's all about our Bible-reading souls, self-governing ability, and children's salvation.

Let's see how our history will be written, for better or worse. Then, in the end, we'll be judged as we need to be knowing that we took advantage of the chances given to us to lead, inspire, and make our world better.

We had the fun and excitement of pumpkin-carving this past weekend. Of our two pumpkins bought at the now traditional pumpkin spot about five miles south in Whiteland, one became a smiling ghost. The other takes on a civic duty and preaches a good message: "Vote Obama 08." Well said, smart pumpkin.

Originally, we were going to create a work that would have rivaled the magnificance of Michaelo's masterpiece - the Palin pumpkin. We'd stencil her face on the pumpkin, and then of course add an ever-so-fitting witch hat. Nearby, we'd have a button that says, "Lipstick and pitbull sold separately." Thought that was pretty clever, but it was later determined we non-Palin folk must be "anti-American" as we seemed to lack the skill to perfect the stencil-pumpkin work. Plus, it might very well scare the kids away from our porch come trick-or-treat time. So, the voting encouragement won the battle and became engraved on our pumpkin. It beats out the pesky yard signs, and spreads the good word.

Now all we can hope is that enough of the country is as smart as you, gets to the polls, and makes the correct choice. We shall see...

We are in the final month of a presidential campaign season, and it's apparent we all have concerns about how it'll all turn out.

A common thread thought among reasonable people is that we need change - how we'll see that needed change is largely what's being debated. A frequent comment I hear is that the future is about tomorrow and our children's tomorrows. I'd concur. But would also note that without an adequate today and tomorrow, there won't be an adequate line of tomorrows for our future generations.

I worry that my children won't be able to attend any kind of protest in the future. If they happen to speak out in disagreement about a policy issue or war, they might be deemed "unpatriotic" and locked up. Or, if in sitting in a church where someone says something against the mainstream, if they don't leave, they might someday be questioned about their patriotism and judgement. That's not my view of what a free society, with free speech, religion, and press, is all about.

I worry that the housing market won't recover and we won't be able to ever get a return on value for the wonderful, lovely home we've shared for three years. I worry that my future retirement savings and those of my children will be wittled to nothing because we leave it in the control of greedy corporate lenders who have no accountability and continue receiving tax breaks all in the false sense of "keeping good jobs here."

I worry that my family's employer health care will become unviable because my plan will be taxed, and the same self-policing thoughts that have been allowed for coporate Wall Street will price me out of the affordable range and the insurance companies' long-desired caps to limit their payouts will thus limit my diabetes coverage and become a tool to bankrupt my family's future.

The candidates both have decent ideas about energy efficiency that would mean domestic oil drilling (hopefully limited in some areas and regulated to protect our natural beauties), biofuels, wind power, and other methods. That's a step in the right direction that will give our kids a chance to not rely on the Middle East for oil but also be able to enjoy their environment here. Global warming issues are a part of that and need attention.

While I would continuously educate, nurture, and advocate that any daughter of mine be mindful of sex and not engage in it until she's old enough and met the right person, I wouldn't want to foreclose the opportunity that she might someday get prematurely pregnant. And while I don't personally agree with abortion and would want to teach her that, I wouldn't ever take away her choice to decide for herself based on her beliefs.

I am learning to live with God in my life and am a student of the Bible. However, this country was founded by people who were fleeing from religious persecution. They may have had strong religious convictions, but they chose not to make those a part of government and should be separate, and personal. That's what I believe. My family's religion is my family's religion - not yours, and not my neighbors'. A line is there.

On foreign affairs - I want the war to end and our troops to come home, and my fear is that we're on a path to never getting out. It's a war we can't win, because that's a region that's seen conflicts going on for 1,000 years and hasn't been forced to step up adequately and make itself better. We need Iraq to support themselves, embrace what they want, or else it's a doomed warzone we'll never be able to escape. Leaving gradually and making it so that self-support is implemented, is logical and responsible. This is an enemy that can't be defeated by us alone - we need the world's help, and right now, thanks to the past years, we aren't well-liked. That needs to change for us to succeed overseas. That hope, rather than brunt military force that may never end, gives me more to smile about when thinking what the futures maybe for any boys in our family.

We need change, for today and tomorrow and future generations. Fear-mongering, repression, and policies that push others' views and beliefs onto the masses isn't the way I see that happening. Being forced to live without choice, without civil rights and freedoms that generations of troops have fought and died for, isn't what we must leave our children. We need to leave them a world with those things, as well as protected natural resources that can be balanced with society's needs. Our children deserve that.