“The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean.” ~Erma Bombeck I don’t know many people that enjoy doing housework. It’s one of those things you know needs to get done, but finding the motivation to do it can be a challenge. Like most households, my wife and I both work full time jobs therefore the preconceived notion that housework and laundry are woman’s chores is no longer fair. Over our eleven year marriage, my wife and I have successfully split household chores down the middle. Inside she does the cooking, shopping and laundry and I do the dusting, vacuuming and cleaning of the bathrooms; outside she does all the pruning and gardening, while I cut the grass and pull the weeds. It’s…
For all the graduates. Well, another school year is almost over - to the cheers and delight of children and teenagers all across the country. It’s been 19 years since I proudly graduated from high school with family and friends looking on. Now instead of referring to myself as a “teenager” or “college graduate,” I find myself using terms like “husband” and “homeowner.” Boy, life certainly has a way of escaping you, doesn’t it? Over the last 19 years, I’ve gained invaluable lessons and have come to understand this: in our youth we’re determined to prove to everyone that we’re independent and wiser than our years might suggest. But as I sit here today at the age of 37, I can tell current graduates that there is no greater value…
In this crazy world of ours, who lifts you up? Undoubtedly, much of the life we live is based on our individual interpretations. From artwork to relationships, everyone interprets things differently which helps to create a world of uniqueness. When I first heard the song “Lift Me Up” by The Afters, I had no idea that their pop-rock sound and the underlying meaning was deeply rooted in Christianity. But after doing a little research I discovered they were a Contemporary Christian group, and the person they referenced in the song was in fact God. What’s funny about all this is how I was thinking of someone completely different when I first heard the lyrics. That got me to thinking that while our belief in a higher power may be important,…
When I was younger, my grandfather and my father provided me with invaluable knowledge about home ownership – most notably the endless array of do-it-yourself projects. I consider myself fairly handy and willing to try just about any do-it-yourself projects, within reason, before picking up the phone to call the professionals. I’ll admit there’s a certain feeling of gratification in knowing you’ve successfully completed a project and thus saved yourself a little cash is the process. But there are just some things I should not attempt and that’s plumbing work. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson by now, especially given the fact that last year it took me two days to replace the faucet on my bathroom sink. But pride often prevents us from stepping back and looking at…
In the book, “If Only I Knew…Gentle Reminders to Help You Treasure the People in Your Life” by Lance Wubbels he states the following about how the past is no excuse. “If only I knew that my past is no excuse for who I am now, that truth could have set me free to change.” While we all have character traits which remain with us throughout our lives, the way in which we behave and interact with others should evolve and mature as we age. So many times we hear “this is how I am” from those who refuse to simply grow up. But behaviors can be changed to not only better your life but the life of those around you. The only thing that’s required is a little effort…