One of those days!

So when you title an entry in such a fashion people are more apt to read it. We all love to see other people have a bad day, bad week or whatever it may be. It makes us feel better, and it makes our bad days more barable. My day yesterday wasn't a top 10 bad day, but it was one that makes honorable mention.
I got up and let Champ(our killer basset hound) out to use the bathroom. He had gotten into the trash at some point the night before. I picked it up and moved it to the back while stepping in some of his business(that's right that smushy feeling that only that substance can give you). I take my shoes off and go inside to get ready for the day. The morning isn't too bad, the mid day isn't awful. I have $10 in my pocket and a broken PS2 that I want to get working for Alexa. That way she can have a DVD player and gaming system in her room(and so daddy has one too, Shhhh!). I go to Radio Shack and buy some cleaner for the system. Take it apart and spray it out, clean it good and it still doesn't work. Please remember that $10.
So after work I go to the gas station because the low fuel light is on(yes that is when I decide to get gas every time, why mess up a good system) When I get out I can't find my debit card. The one to our main account and that's right the cleaner was $9.54. I drive home to start my search for the card, I get online and decide that the last time I used it was at Winn Dixie Sunday morning and it is probably in the trash with my stuff at the church. It's now about 3:00 and the trash truck runs about 3:30 at the church.
Being the brilliant, resourceful person that I am I transfer $30 over to my racing account so I can use that debit card at the gas pump. I go to the nearest gas station and the card will not work. Insufficient funds it tells me(as if I needed to hear that again!) So I drive down US1 to the Prosperity Bank and get $20 out of the ATM to go get gas. I get out of the bank onto US1 again and the truck is kind of trying to start surging alittle bit, I'm scraping the bottom now! I pull in to the BP station in front of Food Lion and you guessed it, the pumps are all out of order and my truck shuts off. I let it sit for a minute shake the truck and get it to start. I pull out onto US1 because they have the side completely blocked off with the men working on the pumps and accelerate onto US1 toward the HEss station. The light turns red, I push the gas to run the light and it shuts off again. I coast slowly through the red light(with a deputy at the light facing me), into the HEss station and walk in to pre-pay for gas. I get out pump the gas and I'm off to the church, as I cut down US1 south to Wildwood drive and fly down the road to the end of the road at 207. I look to my left as I catch the light and guess what, like something out of a movie the trash men are just pulling up to the church and starting to dump out the trash. If any one of the things that went wrong after 3pm had not happened then I would have made it.
Later that night, I was playing with Champ at the house, he spins around gets his paw caught on Tara's shelf with all her little glass, whatever they are collectibles and destroyed over half of them! Misery loves company, with one fatal swoop Champ dragged Tara into my day of fun! yay champ!
So, next time I let Champ out and step in his business I will slowly and composed take the shoes off, go back inside and climb in the bed without any hesitation.
Hope your days are better than mine was yesterday and hope you have a wonderful Father's day weekend!

A rainy night!

Nothing like a rainy night with nasty weather all around to down your numbers. Last night I rode around making pickups and getting kids for youth as they called. I was at first disappointed in the number of kids calling because it seemed that we were going to be down quite a bit. Which we were. We were down a lot of regulars that come, we were down a lot of our pick ups and all accross the board. I had made an observation though, one of the families that I pick up usually follows along with a certain group of guys. THose guys weren't going to be there last night and I knew that in advance. As a matter of fact I almost told the family that to make sure they wanted to come(fleshly I know), but i didn't.
That family came, enjoyed youth, participated and then when I was taking them home one of the girls made a statement. Mr. Jeff, I enjoyed tonight, and I'm glad I came. I don't know why those other guys didn't come but it was their loss, I'll see you next week.
THere you have it. Just when you think you're having no impact, seeing no changes, that's when God shocks you. Right in that moment I was humbled to the fact that we were making an impact, and some of the kids were coming for the right reasons. It's another friendly reminder from God that He is a whole lot bigger than the things we see!
Have a great day and whatever God leads you to do today, do it, you'll be much happier in the end!

Graduations, and more graduations

So I have officially been a part of graduations at all the local levels. I attended 2highschool graduations last Saturday, a preschool graduation on Monday, a 5th grade graduation Tuesday night and now a kindergarten graduation this morning. What is the re-curring theme of all of these? Proud parents. Every time you attend a graduation you see kids who are proud to have a chance to show of their accomplishments and parents who are even prouder to see them. I watched kids last night get all dressed up and as they walk through the multi-purpose room they are looking hard for their loved ones, as well as their loved ones are looking hard for them.
In most instances they probably all left the house together. So they know what each other look like, they know what they are dressed in, yet they look hard. THere's sea of heads leaning over, stooping, or standing to see their child walking along. Why? Why if we know what they look like and how they dressed? Because we want them to know we are there, and they want to know that we are there. It's much like a child calling out for a parent in the night, there is far more comfort in just knowing that parent is there than there is true safety.
So, if there is an event that your kid is involved in, or taking part in that you can be at. Do it! Get there early, get a good seat and make sure they know that there is no where else you would rather be.
I have parents comment to me a lot about how much they feel like their kids like me. How they want me there, they want me around and they talk to me more than them. Graduations are a prime example of that not being true at all. I go eat lunch at the schools and kids are excited to see me, they call out my name, save me a seat or just run over and give me a high five. Whatever the move they are happy to see me. BUt, at grauation they look right through me, as if I'm not there. Whether highschool, middle school or preschool. THe kids want their moms and dads to be as proud of their accomlishments as they are.
So take it from me, the pastor/youth pastor that your kids want to hang out with. WHen it comes to the important stuff, they don't want anyone but you, their parents, in the crowd sharing the moment with them and that is exactly how it is supposed to be! Have a great day!

Graduation

So last night was it, P.J. my youngest has officially graduated Preschool. I sat there watching her perform, sing and dance around and I was moved. To think that God allows me to raise a child is too much, to think that God gives me glimpses of success in doing so is far beyond my comprehension.
P.J. was asked what she enjoyed over the school year and it was playing with the toys. When asked what she had learned it was "not to put things in her mouth."
Of all the lessons that were prepared, all the stories she was read, for all the activities and field trips the teachers took her on, that was her thing that she learned.
It really puts things in perspective. As a parent I don't get a day off. I'm constantly on the front lines, teaching and leading. What I must remember is that it is the little things that are going to make her great. The things she gets just in conversation and in watching Tara and I are going to make all the difference.
I want her to be the best at whatever she decides to do in life, I want succes, I want her to have a great life, but to get her there I have to live a great life. I need to show her with my actions how God expects us to act, and to live. I strive every day to grow closer to God so that I can drag my kids closer to Him as well.
P.J. is fun, and energetic to say the least. They bottled that up in an award form last night to give her the "most enthusiastic" award. That is quite the understatement.
If you have ever passed a puppy or squirrel while driving and had her tell you all about it. If you have ever watched a movie with her in a theater full of people and watched her yell "fire" or "get him", or clap out loud when her team is winning, You'll understand completely.
have a great day!

What a great weekend!

After my little bomb dropped on me Friday morning the weekend shaped up to be great. Tara worked Friday night so I chilled with the girls and watched AMerica's funniest home videos(one of their favorites).
Then, Saturday morning I got up and ran to Pedro's graduation to see some of my close friends over there walk accross the stage. After that I ran to the truck, picked up Tara and we were off to SAHS' graduation at UNF. We got to see more of our friends cross the stage into life's next big journey. We went to dinner with Hollywood and her family and enjoyed their company tremendously. Tara and I were introduced to Ruth's Chris and it was great! We got home around 9pm and we were off and running again. We had to stop in at Ashley Pacetti's graduation party or ALexa was going to bust! We got the chance to visit with her and her family and then went home.
Sunday was just as full. Sunday was a great service, we went to lunch at Applebees with the crew and then played some softball in the afternoon. We went home and watched a movie with the gang and then the Lakers' game. It was like old times with Donnie, Jordon, Katie, Amber and Hali all over to watch movies and the basetball game.
Tonight is a big night for us as P.J. is graduating preschool and ready to take on life in kindergarten. I'm not sure if I am ready for that and I know Southwoods isn't ready for her. Her going to school ruins my whole morning. We get up, go to my office and she watches movies and colors while I work. Now my mornings will be lonely! No more Disney movies to get me through the day like Dumbo's I've been done seen everything when I've seen an elephant fly, or Beauty and the Beast's Gustan! I'll make it somehow.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!