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
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