Gratitude is built on the grave of entitlement....

The more I think about this phrase the more I see it applicable in my everyday life. WE as humans are not really greatful creatures. We are selfish monsters who devour everything we get our hands on in the name of pleaseure and civilization. OK not really in all cases...but you get the point. We have a selfish nature and we think about ME ME ME all the time. I want a new phone, a new job, more money, a new car, my kids to do well in life, etc. God points out that we are not entitiled to anything. I is by grace we are given the next breath we breathe. It is by that grace and mercy that we have what we have and are who we are.
A friend of mine recently passed away. In his dying days he was at peace...why? He was dying?  No, he was at peace because he was greatful for all God had blessed him with and that he had his trust in God as his savior. He felt blessed...he was humbly dying to self and this world. I see that as a shining example of just how we are supposed to be. He felt not entitled...but blessed because he had been allowed to do the things he did and that really speaks to me. It shows me my faults and selfishness. It causes me to look at my life and say what would God have me do today?

Gratitude is built on the grave of entitilement.  It is by grace we live and by grace we recieve all we have. I am greatful for Gods grace and mercy.

Job finally!

Wife got a job teaching in the next town over. Very suprising as right now there are only about 40 or so teaching positions outside of the Atl area....statewide...and over a 1000 teachers looking for work. Most won't just up and move. We were lucky...this job is 25 min from the house. So Thanksgiving had some special meaning this year.

Grace Church where we attend is having the 8th annual Field by Night http://www.gracechurchga.org  Date is Dec 9th at 7pm. Public is welcome...free fun stuff to do.

Have been training some for my Black Belt test...not as much as I like. I need to just do it...but season is so busy. Need to be running more since I have no indurance at the moment. May start that this weekend. Fun stuff...so much to do and no time to do it.

more of the same...

Wife is up to 14 pounds of weight loss...which is a good thing. She is still trying to find a full time job. Still teaching part time at college and subing at a local school system....idk if that is going to work out. Still praying God will show what he has in store soon.

Encouragement...

I try to be an encoragement to others. Lately I have found it very hard to do so. I have felt sorta boxed in and overwhelmed. I feel like most folks don't care what I do. Hard to be a smileing chipper person when you feel like a lot of your friends don't even care.
I am trying to encourage me wife. I love her to death. She is trying a new diet plan that decreases calories and for now it seems to be working. She has lost 8 pounds in a little over a week...yeah her! I pray she keeps it up...she is a beautiful woman.
I am praying for my children too. I want a better realationship with my son. He is so much like me it is scarey...which makes it harder..since we know what each other are thinking.
I pray that God will grant me the grace to deal with all the junk life throws at us and that my wife will find a full time job soon.
As always..I will keep my chin up and keep trying to be mr chipper....

Black Powder....

Love me some black powder. Nothing more fun than an afternoon shooting and you end up only shooting 20 rounds...and making a cloud of smoke that hangs around for 20 minutes. My son loves the smell and smoke.
I got into the discussion with a friend on bp hunting. He thinks it is too much trouble. I think the only trouble is he hasn't tried it! Took my .58 cal TC out yesterday to check it out since hadn't shot it since last year. Yup, 120gr of ffg will definitely get the attention of all close by. If you are not familiar...bp goes off with a roar... Not really a "bang"....way fun!

Atlanta restaurant I just tried...

Just got back from Atl and got to try out two new resturants. The first was Rathburns steak house. Atmosphere was good. Quiet...we went with a party of about 8. I tried the Ahi pad Thai..nice noodles with a little heat topped with about 10 oz of tuna..rare..lovely and flavorfull. We ordered the habanero rock shrimp for a starter...on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it an 8..very nice.
The next night we went to Sotto Sotto...nice northern style Italian...no red sauce and chicken parm here. Almost like mediteranian style cooking...lotta oil and vinegar. The Taste of Italy thing they do is great. 6 courses and I was so very full. My fav dish of the feast...the raviolli...stuffed with chicken, veal and pork sasauge...served with a fresh sage n butter sauce...yes...I would go back to get some of that stufff....lol
A 9.5 on a 10 scale...a must try!

Jekyll

Had never been to Jekyll Island Ga. for a vacation. This past weekend we went. We were supposed to go to Panama City Beach..but there was a huge storm in the gulf...so going east was the plan.
We stayed at a modest hotel, ate, beached and generaly had a great time. The reviews of the hotel said if you want to sit on the beach and relax...well that was how it was. Beaches were not very crowded and the weather was wonderful.
Jekyll has a lot going for it..no parties, no loud music, not a lot of distration. I could go there and sit and write music very easily. Two thumbs up.
k

State Swim Meet

State Swim meet in Tifton this weekend. It will be fun as always. Am excited about seeing friends and talking to them. My son will do his best and have fun. And I will be there to enjoy it with him.... I am blessed.

food..

Food..comfort food, odd food, spicy food...overall makes you feel good. It begs to be eaten with friends and is the source good conversation. I believe the God gave us the desire to eat with one another so we would learn from one another. I honestly thing if I quit being an IT guy I could be a chef.
I think I will link my blog to my fb and use it to log my foodiverse (world of food I experience). Maybe....well if I do...feel free to comment.