Jason’s Musings On Life

I spent last week with my family in Galveston. I was really needing a break and was looking forward to some time away at the shore. Just getting back this weekend, I’m not so sure what I had last week would be considered a vacation.

Let first talk about the diggs. Studio condo with a one full size bed and one pull out couch. Now envision a four year old and a 16 month old in that room with their parents for one solid week. It made the drive there seem like a dream. I’m touching, I’m running, I’m bonking my head, I’m crying, repeat.

Why must my daughter touch absolutely everything? Why is the cooler the best thing ever created since the box or paper sack? Also, did you know that pool toys are not just for the pool? Two word: water weenie.

BTW, being on the 12th floor with balcony seems like a good idea except the fact was that we had to keep the door shut at all times to get our kids from doing something dumb out there. Hey daddy, look at me, no hands.

Now keep in mind we had a kitchenette, so we could cook many of our own meals. That actually means access to snacks is a 24/7 experience. I want some snack, can I have a snack, is it time for snack. The best thing about the making our own food is having to eat out every meal out with two kiddos which would have been demoralizing. Best part of this setup was that adult beverages were always within reach. Score one for daddy!

Who knew that wet clothes from kids could stink that badly? Now I’ve played team sports for most of my life and a pile of wet bathing suits takes just a few hours to smell like my lacrosse equipment from a season of sweating and hanging out in my athletic bag. Kelli doesn’t really know how to handle the smell very well. Think jock strap. I recommend burning the items and getting a priest out a proper exorcism. Bring plenty of swim suits because kids are completely incapable of putting on a wet one, even if you are just about to get back in the pool, where it is clearly wet.

Pool time was generally good, except getting over the death grip that my son has developed since last year’s trip to Galveston. I had to pull some Jedi mind trick on him. “Jake, just trust the floatees.” I didn’t start talking like Yoda. Once the initial uncomfortable moments, the kids rocked the pool. In fact, I really enjoyed just throwing them around.

Finally, mini-golf is cool and batting cages are dangerous. Mini golf with Jake was the best time there. A great course and time with him on my own was great. He’s quite a putter, but I don’t know what he’ll do when he hits a real course and sees that he can’t aim for the dinosaur’s mouth. Anyway, we went over to the batting cages and tried my best to not look foolish. I actually did pretty well, but may have pulled whatever muscle I have around the left side of my rib cage. I didn’t think you could pull belly fat.

The day rounded out with a trip to the Valero to reward my son with a big Dr Pepper and reward myself with an awkwardly large beer. Yeah, Steel Reserve! You know that means. Time to hit the arcade. My victim of choice would be Galaga. I kick this game’s butt. As for my son, he loves it too, but his game last approximately 3 seconds. All money well spent to have a great time though.

Best time with my daughter is her sitting on my lap on the balcony near sleep as she watched the volcano go off at the Rainforest Cafe up the street. Huggies and kisses always soften daddy’s heart.

All I know, vacations are not so much for me, but for my kids, which means I’ll be back next year.

I’m going to be spending the next week doing some fun stuff on vaction with the family. We are making our annual pilgimage to Galveston, where we will have some quality pool time and other fun things. I’m looking forward to going to NASA especially and maybe getting some a good seafood and steak dinner.

I’d love to buy my own condo down there so we’d always have a place to go, but renting a condo at the San Luis is not a bad way to go.

Next time you hear from me, I’ll be tanner and in beach mode.

I have been slacking recently, intimidated by the fact that I had four blogs to maintain of differing subject matter.

I miss blogging, so I’ve decided to take down my other blogs and pull over some of my other posts. That means you’ll see alot of recent posts that are from the last few months.

I figured, am I writing these blogs for others? Or for myself?
It’s really for me, but since I have a wide array of interest you may see it all here.

I love politics, talking about my kids and being a Dad, my new life as a Christian, sports (mostly soccer) and the role of technology in my home and business life.

I had my first Easter as a reborn Christian. It was a powerful time for me in church. I could help but feel overwhelmed by the gift I’ve been given. Sitting there at church, I did all I could do to not start crying. I’m not against crying, I just was trying to keep from weeping uncontrollably.

What a great day! Powerful!

Since last week, my son has been asking alot of questions about Easter, and he seems to be really understanding what I’m saying. I hope he will understand his gift too someday.

Thank you, God.

So why is it so hard to stay focused when reading the Bible right now. I can hardly get through a whole chapter. I hope this doesn’t mean God’s revoking my Christian licence.

Is it that God isn’t speaking to me right now? Does that mean that I’m off the hook for now?

I know I need to hear God now just as much as any other time. Something must be standing in the way of me hearing God. You know what that means…time for some prayer.

Maybe next time I read the Bible something will just pop out at me. Something profound. Or maybe I’ll be sitting at my desk and I’ll have an epiphany. It’s a strange thing, but it good.

Just goes to show you all things work on God’s time and not on my own.

I recently finished reading the C.S. Lewis’ book “Mere Christianity”. It was a great read and made alot of sense to me. I’ve been meeting in a small group from my Church. Now where I’m at is not questioning whether Christ is my savior, but rather, how can I become more Christ-like?

There is nothing easy about being Christian. Grace is free, yet there always seems to be so much to do. Improve myself, live a good life, talk about my experiences and thought with and about God.

It’s hard to look in the mirror and to see if I’ve really changed for the better for being a Christian, when I know that I haven’t always met the mark. My only sense of any change is when I notice how my heart has changed.

Now please don’t misunderstand me. There are plenty of times I get annoyed at people and lack the compassion and love I’m called to. There are plenty of times I fall so short and choose to be indignant, when the situation calls for consideration. I have confessed it so many times, yet full repentance alludes me still.

I pray for the day when love inundates me and I’m no longer capable of seeing people as mere inconveniences. I look forward to the day when my heart knows no response except to recognize each person as someone for whom Christ loved enough to die and as someone that deserves the same love and honor I invest in myself.

It’s a shame how we all get wrapped up in our own lives that we forget about what matters most from our kids, families, and friends just by focusing on what we want. We’re all guilty of this… sacrificing ourselves for the needs of another individual, whether it’s flesh and blood or special loved ones, is very hard. We get too concerned about what we want and being so selfish we forget the needs of others.

I have been attending MESA Community Church for almost a year now and have committed my life to Jesus Christ.

I have enjoyed blogging about politics quite a bit, but I think without knowing of my new journey with Christ then you cannot really understand my perspectives on life.

I intend to be posting reguarly here about my new life.

- ” You’ll get nothing and like it!” I’ve only used this sentence in jest up to this point but I’m considering it might be my matra before my 3 years old turns 4.

- I’ve been so guarded in my answers to my son up to this point as to keep his curious mind at bay, now he’s a full on boy that asks more complex questions than my philosophy prof from college. It just makes me realize how much I’ve forgotten.
How do you easily explain how water has many states to a 4 year old kid without opening the floodgates.

- I’ve already sold out my kids. My daughter will be a photo model and my son will be Tiger Wood’s nightmare.

On Friday, I took my family to the San Antonio Zoo. We had great weather and the zoo wasn’t packed with folks.

Jacob was very excited and got to see all the big animals he had been talking about, and Morgan got really excited by the monkey cages.

Rarely, do I get to spend such quality time with Morgan. It was great to stroll her and pick her up to get her closer to the animals. I enjoy being able to talk to Morgan and ask her questions. She can be very sweet and expressive. She’ll be talking soon enough though.

I also enjoy seeing ?Jacob being protective and concerned for his sister. He loves her very much. that’s not to say that they don’t have their contentious moments, in general, they are very good with each other.

Finally, I was great to see everyone napping in the car as we drove home. Nothing better than a car nap, even if your wife is the one snoring the loudest.

So now I’m now forced to look at every last single Hot Wheels car my son has. Who new there could be so many? And have you noticed they have invented all sorts of freaky cars. Now my job is to explain how the freaky cars work and what they are for.

This is where my unique brand of humor comes to play. The world that exists where all the freaky cars live must be awesome. I must be a child too to come up with such crazy descriptions and uses. Now I’ll have to come up with a good explanation for why there is a ring of fire attachment for the Hot Wheels track.

I’m thinking that I may have to breakout the Evil Knievel videos from the Wide World of Sports and reveal the freaky world of daredevils.

My only hope is that Jacob doesn’t want to be a daredevil when he grows up. I don’t know where you can major in that in college and I bet health insurance is tough to get.

Of course, it probably won’t be that hard to explain Evil Knievel after explaining IFC fighting last week. Oh well…