8 Years and Continuing

Susan and I celebrated our 8th anniversary of marriage yesterday. We went out to eat and enjoy some time alone without the boys. As Susan says...'being able to eat at a restaurant that ketchup is not already on the table or served in little packets is a nice change'. We looked back at the past 8 years and where the time has brought us. We reminisced about the places we lived and the memories that go along with each location. It's funny to think of stone and brick, wood and nails, paint and plaster as being apart of fond memories but it is a large part of our relationship. I am very thankful for my wife. She has helped me to become a better person, a better father and a better man. We have weathered some difficult times since we first met back in 1996. The road has been quite bumpy at times but I believe that those storms has caused our relationship to be even closer.

Wedding Crashers

Susan and I went to a wedding this past weekend - a wedding for the last of our unmarried friends. An Era has come to a close. I am at the age that my social life (no matter how small) now consists of at the very least married couples and soon my social group will mostly consist of couples with kids. I heard this morning a saying that made me think - 'The older you get the quicker times goes'. I find that looking at my children grow the time is but a glimpse, a whisper - here one moment and the next just a memory. It makes me think of the movie Click with Adam Sandler where he fast forwards through parts of his life and he doesn't realize where it all went. I don't have that magically remote but I feel that the time I have been granted is quickly falling through the hourglass of time that I have left. I, of course do not know if the time I have is almost over or half over (there abouts), but I do know that time does seem much more precious the older I get.

The wedding was very nice and it was good to be able to celebrate the coming together of two friends as one couple. It so much different going to a wedding than being in your own, of course more than the obvious - the vows and such. My own wedding was a blur. I do remember the first time I saw her on our wedding day coming down the aisle. I got emotionally overwhelmed to see how beautiful and wonderful she looked and that the prospect of spending the rest of my life with her made me weak in the knees. Being at friends wedding you get to relax and enjoy the food and company and are able to socialize and not worry when everything does not go just right. I am slightly sadden at the thought that I will not be able to celebrate any more joining of unions in my social network of friends because that part of my life has come and gone before I have realized it. Life goes whizzing by and the chances of getting off the merri-go-round are getting fewer and fewer. The opportunity to stop and step back and see how blessed we all are and taking inventory of what truly matters is so much more important as the time seems to go by faster and faster. The mountain of sand at the bottom of the hourglass can not be replaced at the top. Cherish the time you have been given.

Father/Son Camping 2008

This is the first year the boys and I attended the father/son camping trip to Sherando Lake with GABC. It was an incredible time. The boys really enjoy camping and they enjoyed it even more with so many old and new friends to explore and play around the campgrounds. The weather started off a bit wet as it had rained slightly prior to use arriving on Friday afternoon, but after thing dried out we could not have asked for it better. The very cool mountain nights where stayed off by our roaring campfire. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows are of course a staple for camping and always a highlight for the boys. The cool nights gave way to warm summer days but the beach lake quickly cooled us off. We went hiking in the woods off the beaten trails and saw 4 deer and a skeleton of what I guessed was a former deer (perhaps). We tried our hand at fishing in the fishing tournament and Luke catch a small Blue Gill but Christian and I had no luck (just a few small bites). Saturday night the entire group (around 125 father and sons) had a cook out of hamburgers and hot dogs. After packing up Sunday morning our plan was to go to the morning worship service at the camp grounds amphitheater and then go to the lake for a few hours prior to heading home but the car wouldn't start so after getting a jump start from one of our camp mates, we decided head home instead and recover from the weekend. Sunday afternoon we spent the day resting and getting ready for the new week. We all had a really great time. I am already looking forward to going again next year. The time we got to spend together with my boys was something I will not soon forget. Also getting know so new father's and their sons was also nice. The time we as fathers have with our children is so fleeting and can never be recaptured. I am going to look back on times like these fondly.

Families

My family spend the weekend with my sister's family this past weekend. Jake got to see his mother and father for the first time since moving away from home to his new adoptive family(ours). Jake (on the right) was very excited to see all the other Cavaliers running around. Although he was not to keen on the 5 puppies. Jake looks a lot like his father Rocky (center). He is not quite as big but close enough to keep thinking one was the other and vice versa after a quick glance. Jake's mother Sophie (left) has very curly hair but you can tell in the face Jake is her offspring.

The other offspring (my boy's cousins) really enjoyed seeing each other as well. My sister's home was full of children and pet dogs. The breakdowns and fussing were at a minimum and with 5 young'ems what more could you ask for. The weather was very nice and we were able to spend the day at Smith Mountain Lake Park where it was $0.99 Day because Q99 was broadcasting live on the beach. The water was refreshing and I managed to keep from getting burned to bad other than my face a bit. The floating raft at the lake had a new slide added to it. That was a huge hit with my boys. Spending time with my sister's family helped me to remember that your core family is the most important earthy thing and should be cherished. Before you have children you think how can I live with them and after you have them you think how could I live without them.