Heaven is Just a Breath Away

So I am currently in love with a CD by musician Nate Sallie titled Ruined for Ordinary. The songs have an intimate meaning to me because his journey with God has been very similar to mine. One of the many great songs on the CD is titled "Heaven is Just a Breath Away." Even though the words are very powerful, just the chorus of the song got me thinking about life in general.

We take life for granted don't we? I'll do this tomorrow. I'll visit this person next week. The list of "I'll do..." could go on forever. But, literally, Heaven is just a breath away. At any moment. At any time. Our God could call us Home. Life is a mystery and we do not know the ending.

I have so many things I want to accomplish, but so little time (and at times, not much drive). I want to do big things with my faith by expanding the Kingdom of God. I want to be a principal of a school district that excels and turns kids lives around. I want to remodel certain parts of our house to fit our wants. I want to be the type of father that Kayley looks up to in all aspects of her life. I want to be the type of husband that loves unconditionally and intentionally. And SOOO much more. Notice what word shows up the most: WANT.

The reality is, it could end this next second. Scary? I wish it wasn't. I think a reason we fear death is because of those lingering thoughts of "I'll do..." and the fact that we never DO. Prioritize your life and your goals, because what if Heaven was just a breath away? Will you be ready?


Lyrics to "Heaven is Just a Breath Away."

Looks like I’ve got all the time in the world
I’ve got all my days insured
Heaven can wait while I am young and in love with
Myself, and the life I choose to live
Do you think that I could rent
A space in between this world outside
And the call on my life

When will I realize
You’ve got me focused in your sight
With a purpose that’s divine
For this time

HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY
I CAN’T WASTE ANOTHER DAY
PRETENDING THAT TOMORROW’S A GUARANTEE
I’VE GOT TO FACE MY REALITY
HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY

Falling into love with something more
Than a fling that’s gone before
I turn around and take a look
I’ve been took for
A ride, that ends up to be a lie

It started off as just a try
Now I want the real thing in my life that satisfies

I don’t want to miss a thing
I want all you’ve got for me
Wake me up with God-sized dreams
I can’t sleep

HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY
I CAN’T WASTE ANOTHER DAY
PRETENDING THAT TOMORROW’S A GUARANTEE
I’VE GOT TO FACE MY REALITY
HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY

When I step out of this scene
No regrets will be following
I’ve spent all there was of me
Cashing in on eternity
Until then I’ll follow you
There’s not a moment I can lose
Wake me up with God-sized dreams
I can’t sleep

HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY
I CAN’T WASTE ANOTHER DAY
PRETENDING THAT TOMORROW’S A GUARANTEE
I’VE GOT TO FACE MY REALITY
HEAVEN’S JUST A BREATH AWAY

Life of a Little One...

(turn up the sound for an enhanced experience....yes, that is Seinfeld in the background)

Martin Luther King Jr.

Today...

Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Each year this date comes and goes. A quick blurb on the nightly news. A front page headline and photo opportunity in honor of his name. As quick as this day is here (like many days), it is gone.

No matter what your opinion of MLK Jr. is (think of a modern day Jesse Jackson with a little more clout), this day stands for far more than the image and struggles of one man. It stands for an ideal, a struggle for equality, and a fight for humanity among all races. In fact, when it comes down to it, there is only one race...

The Human Race.

This is a man who put his entire adult life into one cause. He was jailed, spit on, cursed at, denied rights, called derogatory names, sent death threats, and killed for his belief in a "perfect" society. For most of us, that is far more than we will ever accomplish in our own lifetime.

God says in the Bible, that we are one in Him. No matter what race, gender, status, etc. When will we ever wise up and realize that? When will we look past our own prejudices and love one another the way God intended us to love?

Thank you Dr. King for the idea that still lives on in each of us...

<><

The Miniature Earth

Sleepy Baby, Show Me a Smile

Today, Kayley is 6 weeks old. She is still sleeping most of the day, but her expressions and personality are slowly starting to sprout. Megan and I love watching her grow each and everyday.

It's difficult to snap a picture of Kayley when she is NOT sleeping. Here she is in her little frog sleeper.

Isn't she precious? I'm partial to the fro!

There it is! The smile! Well, maybe. It is either a smile or gas. We'd like to think it's the smile :)

Back To School

Tonight, I start back to work on my masters degree at the University of Akron after taking a semester off (which was a very nice break I might add). This will be my fifth class of a 40+ credit hour program. Currently, I am working on a masters degree in Principalship of Education. Basically, this degree will give me the option of moving into an administrative position if I choose to do so later on down the road($$$). Personally, I'd like to get to the five-year mark before even considering a professional move.

Although I am going back to school, it will only be one class per semester (I do not want any loan payments). With that in mind, I will be done with my program by 2010. Not too shabby.

Luckily, my classes are only on Wednesday nights from 4:50-7:20 with about a half-hour commute each way. I feel bad that I won't be home with Megan and Kayley, but it is all for the betterment of our livelihood.

Wish me luck!

Hold Onto Me

Walking in Your light
The darkness seems to cease
Faith overcomes vicious shadows
Your blood sustaining inner peace

You hold the world in Your hands
And provide the Rock in which I stand
Jesus You, and only you
See my heart and understand

I live, I breath,
I see, I hear
Your Words I hold so near
Without haste, without hope
Your love is how I cope
Another day, another plea
Jesus, hold onto me

Let me be Your light
To shine the Grace of love
Mercy on the cross You shed
Shown brighter from above

As my Fortress, guide me
While I search for Your Way
Never leave my side
It is Your face I seek each day

I live, I breath,
I see, I hear
Your Words I hold so near
Without haste, without hope
Your love is how I cope
Another day, another plea
Jesus, hold onto me

Another day, another plea
Jesus, hold onto me


RMK 2008

My Better Half

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." ~Rajneesh~

My wife is an amazing mother. I have known this now for 4 1/2 weeks (not that I never thought so before). When God created the woman, He instilled something in her that is unteachable, unlearnable, and by nature...simply unimaginable. Megan, although just as educated as me on the baby subjects, always seems to know what to do and how to act. She changes the nasty, "blowout" diapers, doesn't mind the spit-up running down the front of her shirt, wakes up from her slumber several times during the night for a feeding and burp session, and loves Kayley unconditionally.

With my work schedule (and nature of my job), I NEED my sleep. I'm very blessed to have a wife who supports my needs and does an amazing job at taking care of our little one.

Kayley, you are one lucky little girl...

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

The above quote is the opening line in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" by the classic author, Charles Dickens. At school today (my first day back after two weeks!), my students used this quote while journaling their Winter Break (sorry, I'm being politically correct) experiences. Each one of the students, even though away from school, had a "best experience" and a "worst experience."

In our own lives, isn't that quote almost always true?

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Everyday something good happens in my life. I wake up to another day of life. I eat a great meal. I see my daughter peacefully sleeping. My car starts. I dress myself correctly (I think). And so on....

Everyday something bad happens in my life. A car cuts me off. I get a paper cut. My pen runs out of ink. I'm running late to an obligation. My daughter keeps me up at night :( And so on...

Have you really ever had a perfect day? Do perfect days actually exist? The answer to both is: to a degree.

With that in mind, I have come to the understanding that each day of my life will contain some hurdle that I have to overcome. The question then becomes, how high do I have to jump and how far is each hurdle spaced?

If we knew the answer to that, life would be a much smoother ride.

But, it's not.

Therefore, we need a little extra boost. A shot in the arm. A glimmer of hope. A hand to hold onto. What is our extra boost? For some, it is alcohol or drugs. For others it is the gift of giving or self-gratification by stepping on others to get to the top.

But, what should our extra boost be? Our shot in the arm? Our glimmer of hope? Our hand to hold onto?

One word...

three letters...

G-O-D

<><

I Like Mike

Over the past month, I have thrown my hat in the ring for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. There is an excitement behind this guy. One of the best quotes came from a voter in Iowa when asked why he liked Mike Huckabee. He said, "Because if I myself was running for president, that's how I would do it." Mike Huckabee is one of us. I am so excited to see a candidate like this. It is a breath of fresh air for American politics.

For most of the day, I have been flipping back and forth between CNN and Fox News as they cover the Iowa Caucus, and I am happy to say...TOLD YOU SO!

Sorry Mitt "Flip-Flopping" Romney :D

On to New Hampshire!

Attn God: Please Send Parenting Manual

As I am typing this blog post, Kayley is resting comfortably in my arms after being fed and burped (yes, I am typing with one hand and it will take considerably longer). At some point today, Kayley will be 3 1/2 weeks old. Almost the big one month mark! As I watch her lay in my arms, I have some thoughts on my recent label: PARENT.

Think about it. One day your going about your business, just you and your partner, and then it happens. The two that went into the hospital together come back out as three (statistically anyways). Usually in a matter of hours.

You can read every book, lend an ear to every ounce (I use this because it is my new found measuring unit that dictates my life) of advice, and take every parenting class available...but how much does it really help?

Isn't parenting an incredible gift from God? That one gift that you open and say, "This is awesome! How does it work?"

Even though Meg and I can get extremely frustrated (usually at night when our eyes our closing and Kayley's are opening), there are so many little things that bring us infinite love.

For example, Kayley just ate and the proceeded to spit up all over her outfit, burp towel, receiving blanket, and my shirt. But in light of that, I stripped her down to her diaper, wrapped her up in a fleece blanket, and snuggled up to watch those funny expressions on her face.

I love her multiple sneezes, hiccups, and smiles that happen while she's dreaming. I love pinching the end of her little nose and having her tightly grasp her whole hand around my lone finger. I laugh when she tries to focus on my face and it looks as though she is cross-eyed. I love when she nestles her head under my chin when she is being burped and how she holds her head up to take in the surroundings. I love her little chicken legs and how she doesn't care if I lay one on her lips. I love her crazy hair that takes on the appearance of a small fro after a bath. I love being her parent and I can't wait to see each step of her development that seems to change on a daily basis.

God = Good