I have been reading a lot about goal setting recently. I ran across a LifeHacker post on a presentation by Jim Coudal that touched on goals. There were many interesting points in the stories he told. One that stuck out to me was when he set this goal of winning awards at this creative ads company he worked for years ago. A few years after he set the goal, he had achieved the goal and was absolutely miserable. I think this is a great example for I do believe if we set goals we have a good chance to get them. I also don't think in this materialistic world we live that we realize or think about what the collateral effects of reaching those goals are when we set them. It is really hard to totally visualize the life we would want to have in the future. Maybe the Holy Spirit is our beacon giving us a warning that we should abandon a goal because it is making us unhappy before we achieve it? I don't have any answers yet and claim no wisdom on this topic. I think of the scripture that tells us to make our plans and the Lord directs our ways. Also, a few New Testament verses in Matthew and Mark tell us in essence to ask, believe, and receive. My thinking is that the Holy Spirit is our guide in making sure we ask for the right things and tells us when we are on the wrong path. Another great reason to spend quiet time in prayer and listening for the Holy Spirit's leading each day!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Creation Museum visit
This week we've been combining vacation with a work trip I've had to Clarksville, TN. It has been a great trip! Lots of cool stuff. Yesterday, we went to the Creation Museum near Cincinnati, but on the Kentucky side. It was pretty cool. Hannah liked the archaeology areas. Parker really liked the astronomy presentation in the planetarium part. I really liked the historical timeline areas of the main museum section, which really encompass many aspects. Seeing the 6,000 year timeline spelled out by the Bible and how that works out is awesome, and something you don't find many places. Much of it was new to me. Noah's Ark and the flood were about 4,000 years ago, and there were likely dinosaurs and dragons aboard. Never heard that before! Makes me want to read King Arthur again with a whole new appreciation. They had a great section on Mount St. Helen's eruption showing scientists how fast canyons can form from mudflows from volcanoes which would have happened during the flood. They showed how radio-isotope dating, which is used to "prove" the earth is 4 billion years old, has been shown to be very inaccurate. That was the perspective given in the Mammoth Cave tours the day before. Interesting to see the contrasts.
It was fun to learn that Genesis 1:29 talked about how there were no meat eaters until sin came. Since I'm vegetarian now, I had a lot of fun with that one and ribbed Trina throughout the day. I didn't know that before. Along those lines, the vegetarian offerings at the eateries were excellent. The menu included bean burritos (with black beans) and a bowl of black beans and rice. The bean burrito was much better than a similar one I had at Qdoba at Atlanta airport last week. I was impressed.
The other thing that blew Trina and I away was how much busier the museum was in the morning versus the afternoon. We walked through the main museum in the morning and it was wall-to-wall people. In the afternoon, there was hardly anyone. We learned so much more going through it the second time because things were much less crowded and we could see so much more.
I'd highly recommend the Creation Museum. I wouldn't be surprised if we wouldn't come back again in a few years when the kids get a little older. It is that awesome!
Vince
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day reflections
I have to start off by saying I was blessed by having a great father. I thank God I was given a dad that set me on the right path in a lot of ways. If I can do half as well as my Dad, I'll be thrilled to death! I'll get to wish my Dad a happy Father's Day in an hour or so.
On major holidays like today, I like to reflect over the last year in different areas of my life to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think the old adage that the older I get the less I know seems appropriate summation for the last year. Another appropiate adage is that what got me hear will not get me to where I need to go. I enjoy reading, and thank God often for Midland's Grace A. Library (and various book stores). I have read a number of books that have challenged and changed me this year, and those books aren't done challenging me yet. I know I'm going to read them again and get even more out of them.
Probably the biggest change in the last year has been diet and exercise changes. To summarize, pretty much everything I thought I knew about diet and exercise was wrong. Right after Christmas, I started a vegetarian diet. Maybe a month after that, I started doing interval training and picked up the resistance exercises a little bit at home. I've ended up loosing 35 pounds, my cholesterol has dropped 50 mg/dL, and those "acid reflux" symptoms that rocked me several times last year and cost us thousands of $s have disappeared. I praise the Lord daily for how much better I feel from a year ago. I dropped the 35 pounds in six months, which is a lot faster than I had dreamed (or planned). This has led to concerns amongst family members (and others) that I'm anorexic (or something else), so I am making sure I up my calorie intake to not drop any more weight for a while.
My work related travel over the last year has dropped considerably, too. This has been an absolute blessing! Especially only having one or two Asia trips in the last year is a huge blessing. Spending time at home with Trina and the kids is great! Trina and I have been doing better on weekly dates, and continue to do better. The more time we spend together, the more opportunities I see for me to become a better husband. My biggest opportunity is to become a better communicator. I believe a lot of this comes down to me thinking things through and articulating my thoughts. I'm learning to keep things simpler and that bad things happen when we make things complex. I'm learning that my family has a lot less need for change than I do, and I'm committed to changing to be the father that they need.
No doubt from a family standpoint the vacation that Trina planned to Florida over spring break will bring back endless memories for many years. Trina and the kids had a great time at Sea World and Disney World. By far the most memories were made on the Disney Dream cruise. The folks on the Disney Dream seemed to do everything they could to make sure the family had an outstanding time. Lots of great things to do on that boat for young and old alike.
The worst thing was me not listening to Trina and pulling our kids out of school a year earlier to home school. Personnel at the school made some promises that extra therapy they could give would help Parker by the end of first semester last year. It didn't take long into the school year to see that the promises were a lot bigger than what they intended to deliver. We are also coming to the realization that schools in general won't be able to provide the kids with the education that Trina and I want to see them have. What I also learned this last year is that Parker and Hannah are both incredibly intelligent kids with great hearts. The other thing I learned without a doubt is that it is time for us to home school in the year ahead.
I am really excited about the year ahead for my family. I expect it to be the most challenging (and rewarding) year ever as far as us taking on challenges that will surface as we're now together a lot more often due to home schooling. I also expect us to grow a lot closer as a family as we effectively deal with behaviors in each of us that need changed. I need to make sure my marriage relationship with Trina gets stronger and remains the top priority even as home schooling takes up more of our time. Home schooling will be done and our kids will be gone in 11 years (max), and Trina and I (good Lord willing) will have a lot of years together after that. Parker is growing into an awesome young man and I need to continue to pray and think about how I can help him grow into the man that God (and I) want him to be. Hannah needs lots of love and time as my princess turns into a young lady.
My last thought is that I'm really excited about the year ahead for me. I'm realizing my family is perfect, and that I need to change! I'm committed to making those changes and being the husband and father they need. God has shown over the years that He will lead me to make the right changes if I will listen to His leading through the Scripture and Holy Spirit. I just need to listen and obey. I'm ready and excited for a challenging and great year!!!
God bless,
Vince
On major holidays like today, I like to reflect over the last year in different areas of my life to look at the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think the old adage that the older I get the less I know seems appropriate summation for the last year. Another appropiate adage is that what got me hear will not get me to where I need to go. I enjoy reading, and thank God often for Midland's Grace A. Library (and various book stores). I have read a number of books that have challenged and changed me this year, and those books aren't done challenging me yet. I know I'm going to read them again and get even more out of them.
Probably the biggest change in the last year has been diet and exercise changes. To summarize, pretty much everything I thought I knew about diet and exercise was wrong. Right after Christmas, I started a vegetarian diet. Maybe a month after that, I started doing interval training and picked up the resistance exercises a little bit at home. I've ended up loosing 35 pounds, my cholesterol has dropped 50 mg/dL, and those "acid reflux" symptoms that rocked me several times last year and cost us thousands of $s have disappeared. I praise the Lord daily for how much better I feel from a year ago. I dropped the 35 pounds in six months, which is a lot faster than I had dreamed (or planned). This has led to concerns amongst family members (and others) that I'm anorexic (or something else), so I am making sure I up my calorie intake to not drop any more weight for a while.
My work related travel over the last year has dropped considerably, too. This has been an absolute blessing! Especially only having one or two Asia trips in the last year is a huge blessing. Spending time at home with Trina and the kids is great! Trina and I have been doing better on weekly dates, and continue to do better. The more time we spend together, the more opportunities I see for me to become a better husband. My biggest opportunity is to become a better communicator. I believe a lot of this comes down to me thinking things through and articulating my thoughts. I'm learning to keep things simpler and that bad things happen when we make things complex. I'm learning that my family has a lot less need for change than I do, and I'm committed to changing to be the father that they need.
No doubt from a family standpoint the vacation that Trina planned to Florida over spring break will bring back endless memories for many years. Trina and the kids had a great time at Sea World and Disney World. By far the most memories were made on the Disney Dream cruise. The folks on the Disney Dream seemed to do everything they could to make sure the family had an outstanding time. Lots of great things to do on that boat for young and old alike.
The worst thing was me not listening to Trina and pulling our kids out of school a year earlier to home school. Personnel at the school made some promises that extra therapy they could give would help Parker by the end of first semester last year. It didn't take long into the school year to see that the promises were a lot bigger than what they intended to deliver. We are also coming to the realization that schools in general won't be able to provide the kids with the education that Trina and I want to see them have. What I also learned this last year is that Parker and Hannah are both incredibly intelligent kids with great hearts. The other thing I learned without a doubt is that it is time for us to home school in the year ahead.
I am really excited about the year ahead for my family. I expect it to be the most challenging (and rewarding) year ever as far as us taking on challenges that will surface as we're now together a lot more often due to home schooling. I also expect us to grow a lot closer as a family as we effectively deal with behaviors in each of us that need changed. I need to make sure my marriage relationship with Trina gets stronger and remains the top priority even as home schooling takes up more of our time. Home schooling will be done and our kids will be gone in 11 years (max), and Trina and I (good Lord willing) will have a lot of years together after that. Parker is growing into an awesome young man and I need to continue to pray and think about how I can help him grow into the man that God (and I) want him to be. Hannah needs lots of love and time as my princess turns into a young lady.
My last thought is that I'm really excited about the year ahead for me. I'm realizing my family is perfect, and that I need to change! I'm committed to making those changes and being the husband and father they need. God has shown over the years that He will lead me to make the right changes if I will listen to His leading through the Scripture and Holy Spirit. I just need to listen and obey. I'm ready and excited for a challenging and great year!!!
God bless,
Vince
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Kids are out of school!
Mom's world just changed drastically. The public school year ended for the kids!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Need bigger chest and shoulders...
For a little background, I've lost a few pounds this year due to some diet and exercise changes. Recently, there has been concern amongst loved ones that I'm anorexic. I'm pretty sure I'm not, but that doesn't alleviate the concerns. So, after getting feedback from Trina that it is my shoulders that make me look boniest, I've come up with a strategy to beef up my shoulders and chest. I've started doing bench presses instead of just pushups. I've added a few other chest and shoulder exercises, too. We'll see in a month if the changes are noticable enough to quiet the concerns over my weight loss...
Ward Academy of Lifelong Learning coming soon
With Trina and I nearing 100% certainty we will homeschool Parker and Hannah after school is out in less than a week, we have been creating a vision for what our homeschooling will look like. It is pretty exciting. For a lot of reasons, we have decided to create a blog to journal our journey of homeschooling. I've named our homeschool, "Ward Academy of Lifelong Learning". The disclaimer is that Trina isn't bought into this name, yet. For me, though, it captures what I want this homeschool to be about. I want to build a love of learning in our kids and give them the tools to be successful in whatever they do in life. The whole Ward family will be journaling on the blog as we go through the homeschool journey. I'm pretty excited about everything associated with homeschooling, even the inevitable hard times that will be coming!
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