A Redneck in Paris

A redneck beginning

Okay, here we are, 44 days from take-off and I have no idea where we are. As I think about the enormity of what it takes to move our family, I get lost in all the uncertainty. See, you have to fit your life into a 6'x6'x6' box (each person) and that is all you get to take. You are going to take it from a 3200sf house to a 3 bedroom 900sf apartment, or if you are lucky, you might find a 1000+sf house, but all only have 1 bathroom. Amercian's seem to be the only ones who seem to pay homage to having 2 bathrooms.Now, that may sound snobbish, but it is more what has become a way of life and what you are used to. Some would say that there are those in this world who don't even have one bathroom and with that, it brings me back to the real world, that we will survive with just one bathroom. Bathroms aside, my kids attitude toward moving have changedKatherine, who was psyched about living in the home of Gucci, Prada, Chanel etc decided to have a meltdown today. After spending a lot of time with her friends this summer, she got upset that she was leaving such great friends. Now Jackson, who what initially my meltdown child, has been walking around the house saying, " more mac-n-cheese sil vous plait!"So, as I drink my American Beer, driving my Amercian Car (not at the same time), I can't wait for the adventure that awaits, learning about a culture whose buildings can be more than 800 years old, free from WiFi, and steeped in tradition.Au revoir Texas, Bonjour Paris'

God......WHY?????????????

I don't usually do this, but I wanted to share with all who read my blog site something important.

In Oct. of 2007, a 2 year old girl was discovered in a rubbermaid container floating in galveston bay. Sketch artists did a good job with creating a face for "baby Grace" and the picutre was put out on the national level. A grandmother in Ohio recognized her and called authorities. That lead to the arrest of a couple living here in Texas, and through DNA, matched the girl to the mother. Early on, they found out through autopsy that the little 2 year old girl was beaten to death. It was sad, but the story went out of the media. Well this week, the mother is on trial and some very incredible testimoney came out

GALVESTON, Texas — A slain toddler tried to stop her mother and stepfather from beating her to death by reaching out to her mother and saying, "I love you," a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.
The pleas from 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers didn't stop her mother, Kimberly Trenor, from continuing to brutalize her, assistant district attorney Kayla Allen said in her opening statement at Trenor's murder trial. The toddler was dubbed "Baby Grace" by investigators who worked to identify her decomposed remains after the body was found in a plastic container in October 2007 on a tiny island in Galveston Bay. During her opening statement, Allen detailed for jurors the day that she said Riley Ann died for forgetting to say "please" and "yes, sir."
Allen said that on July 25, 2007, Trenor and Zeigler disciplined Riley by whipping her with a belt, pushing her head against a pillow and holding her head under water. She said Zeigler grabbed Riley and tossed her across the room, fracturing her skull. An autopsy concluded the skull fractures caused her death. "To the very end, Riley said, 'I love you' to her mom. She's reaching out," Allen said. "That's her lifeline, to her mother. What does Kim do after hearing her say I love you? She starts beating her." Allen said the adults did nothing to help even as Riley as she lay dying.She said the pair bought a plastic container, stuffed Riley's body inside and stored it in a shed for a month or two before setting it out to sea, prosecutors said

As I read this I can't stop crying…. , and wonder why? This child was savagely beaten and in the midst of bleeding and the beatings reached out to her mother not to say mommy stop, mommy no, but said, "I Love You" And I said why God, and he put this image in my head - that as Jesus was being beaten and tortured, drug to Golgotha, being beaten, kicked, he was hung on the cross and he reached out and he said, Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He was saying to those who were beating him and taking his life, "I Love You."

As I pondered the why while crying, I became an outsider who looks to the church and Christians and says, if your God is love, why did he let this happen. God is not a puppeteer, he doesn't create situations, he gives us all freewill and choices. We as Christians choose to believe that everything is for a greater good, that even God can take tragedy and turn it into something good. 25 years ago John Walsh, creator of America's most wanted, son was kidnapped and killed. After that he dedicated his life to get those who committed crimes through the TV show. So we don't always have the answers a Christians, it is okay to say, I don't know, only God knows the purpose.

For those who read this who have been beaten down, kicked, laughed at, made fun of, and think that God has ignored you.....He hasn't. He continues to reach to you and tell you "He loves you." He wants to have a relationship with you. Don't give up.....Faith is incredibly hard and requires more of you than most things you do. He will never forsake you.

If you read this and want to talk to me, you can always message me on facebook. I am not the end all be all know it all, but I would be happy to listen.

your friend in Christ

Houston......we have a problem!!!

The men of Apollo 13 faced an issue, clean air. Engineers on the ground knew how to do that, problem is that they didn't have the luxury of time or materials. they had to find a new way to solve the problem and realized they had to fit a round peg into a square hole. Well after running now for 3 weeks, my knees and left ankle just can't take the pounding with my weight. So I need to do the round peg into the square hole. I still intend on running a 5K, it will just take a little longer than I had set for my goal. I have joined 24 hour fitness and will be doing bike and eliptical until I can get the weight down enough so that it is not a shock my knees and ankle.

Because I haven't been able to exercise like I wanted, my weight has plateu'd now still at down 14LBS. Of course I didn't do that great either when it came to my eating. That is the hardest part...I love food. I love the taste, the creativity, the smell...everything. So reprogramming my brain is taking longer, but I am learning.

So as I am heading back to earth through the atmosphere I know that all the things that God has planned are aligning and he will give me strength and guide me.

See you at splashdown.

What do Imelda Marcos and completing a womans outfit have in common......I'ts all about the shoes!!

Well the last few runs, my left leg and ankle are killing about a quarter mile from the end of my run. I consulted my father-in-law who is a runner and stuart skeeter (also a great runner), and they say I must invest in a great pair of shoes for my size and because I am a beginner. Now you have to understand, I am a cheapskate when it comes to buying clothes/shoes. I reluctantly listen and go to one the run and shop for running shoes.

Now the young lady who helps me asks me to walk to she can see if I pronate or something else I can't remember. After walking she states I have a good walk and don't really pronate, so now it is time to try on shoes. After measuring my foot she retreats to the back leaving me to peruse the wall of shoes, and I become nervous as I see pricesof $129, $149, $189. I think what am I getting myself into! My assistant returns from the back with some boxes and gives me a right shoe of one type and the left shoe of another and asks me to go out the door and run and see how they feel. Now to someone who runs all the time, I guess this forest gump approach of runnings like a box a chololates......, but for a beginner they felt the same.

After "running around outside like a dork" I went back in and told her they felt similar and I would go with her recommendation. Now, I have yet to ask her the most important question, "HOW MUCH" and a line from White Christmas came to me, "Right between Ouch and Boing!" She then informs me that the shoe is a 6 month old model and that she can give me a 20% discount. But I said, "The Tab, HOW MUCH!" When she told me, I was reasonably okay (especially since I had consulted runner "skeeter" and he said that was very reasonable and fair.

So, tomorrow is another day and i will be that giddy little girl with the new church shoes. Hopefully I won't have to be Dorthy and click my heals together 3 times just to make it back home

Diary - Chapter 2: Will Smith's new movie

Now some would say, "What is with that title?" Well if you know your movies, his current movie is "7 pounds," that is also the amount of weight I lost last week. I had expected more, but honestly I didn't work as hard on the food part as I probably could have. The running was consistant, but now I take it up one notch on the training level which will be interesting since my current training is 6 minutes walk 1 minute run and my shins and left ankle kill. This week it is stepped up to 5 minutes walk 2 minutes run. Now that may not seem like alot, but to someone who doesn't run, it is huge. I know I can do it, it just takes perseverance. Procrastination is my enemy....laziness is my achilies heel.....family is my motivator.....God is my protector!

Doobie Brothers....It keeps you running, yeah it keeps you running

I am going to give you a figure from today "21." Now to most people that is just part of 1/2 an hour of their day, how long it takes to eat a #2 meal from McDonalds, how much over the allotted time the preacher normally preaches, a good hot shower, the legal age to drink. Now to runners this is a horrid number....I ran for the first time in a long time, and I now officially start at a 21 minute mile. That means my first 5K, if run today, would take me 1 hour. Now the training material assured me that within 8 weeks (when the 5K is) I would be able to complete the 3.1 miles without hesitation.

So, 21 isn't a magic number, but a reference of what to reduce.

john

Diary of a Mad Fat Man: The Naked Truth - Chapter 1

Monday, January 6, 2009, the first post of what is going to shape up to be a monumental life change. I have decided that this is not a "diet" but a lifestyle change, a change in habits and portions. I have adopted a few ideas from several places, but mainly from Weight Watchers (which my wife has done for years) and a neighbor across the street who lost over 100lbs by just watching what he ate.

I will have a weekly update just like weight watchers so I can see where I stand each week. I start the week tipping the scales at 350 lbs. Now according to the National Weight/Height Chart, I should be around 222 lbs, but I am going to float myself an extra 28 lbs to get to 250 lbs. Even giving myself the little fudging, I am looking at 100 lbs. Now that is not out of the question, and can be done. As the old joke goes, Q: "How do you eat an elephant?" A: "One bite at a time!"

Now, you may be looking at the photo and saying, "wow, did he really put that on there?" It's not like I haven't had my shirt off in public and I'm not ashamed, but it's one of those "keeps you honest" moments, a reflection of the past. I know now how the contestants on biggest loser feels actually barring it all for the public. It is a different feeling when you take your shirt off to go swimming (I really never cared), and when you take it off to be "analyzed."

So, eating good has started today, workouts/running starts tomorrow (especially if I am going to run a 5K/3.1 miles, on Feb. 28) when I can't even run around the block right now.

To be continued..............next week!

The last day

It is Sunday night, vacation is coming to an end and a new life is soon to begin. It is scary, whether I will fail or succeed. I know I can do it, it is just a matter of making it a priority. Tomorrow I will take a before photo (or 3), weight myself so I know where I am starting to when I am done I know where I have been.

I have decided that I am going to try and run my first 5K in february, so I have some work ahead of me. It is not about a certain time, but about starting and finishing.

Before the story begins

It's saturday night in Colorado, we are finishing up 10 days up here and the ski weather has been absolutely incredible on the slopes. Not that I would know as I didn't ski. I knew the weight I put on would make it just no fun, out of breath and extremely painful. I look back while looking forward and know that I am going to a better place. Last January I had lost 30 lbs and remember how I felt. I look forward to that same feeling again and even more. Losing weight seems to be for me a mental game I play with myself. So in a few days I will embark on a journey not to find myself, but to become the person I should be. To not use food as a way to comfort me and hide behind.

No one made me this way, I let myself become this. I am doing this for me. I pray God will guide me, protect me and let me be used by Him to be a reflection of His grace and mercy.