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Frankly none of the leading candidates for President inspire me to think our country will be better off by electing him(or her). It is interesting that I'd never made this connection before. On this day I'm thinking about our next President. It's hard for me to get excited, however, but it is interesting... President's Day falls in February which is also Black History Month.While we have yet to elect a black president so we can't really honor a past president who happen to be black. This year, could be the year when that happens. While I can't say I agree with much of his politics Barak Obama has made the most of his opportunity in this run for President. Either way the Democrats will make history by nominating a woman or African American as their candidate for President, if the Democrat wins it will make history. 

Personally, I happen to like a different African American running for President who gets no national publicity whatsover, but is every bit as eloquent as Barak Obama and makes a lot more sense on a bunch of issues even though he will not be elected. I'm talking about Alan Keyes. Check out his website to see an interview done recently with him and to learn more about the man I think would make a very good President when we are ready to elect him. www.alankeyes.com. 

 What do you think, who is a leader who inspires you? Why?

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Wow anyone been to Disneyland recently? We took my daughter to celebrate her 2nd Birthday there recently and while a lot has changed now-it's really a big corporate atmosphere with downtown disney and all the other companies that have a presence on the Disney properties, but the rides and characters really had my daughter and the rest of us who went having a great time. This was the first time I have ever been with a child so I have to say it's a lot more fun when your kid is riding a ride with you and she's having a good time than if you're just doing it by yourself or even with a good friend. There's just something about a child having a good time that lifts your spirit. It's an awesome feeling that's hard to describe, but nevertheless very real.

What are your favorite Disneyland memories?

I thought I would provide an update as to what's new in our home.

My daughter started pre-school this fall. At first, we thought she could handle five days a week, full days. We were wrong. We weaned it down to two 1/2 days per week. Thankfully my wife and I can adjust our work schedules so she spends two afternoons a week with my daughter and I spend one full weekday per week with her. That leaves two full days a week she is with the babysitter still. So far, this arrangement seems to be working for all of us.

I have continued to eat healthy since my last post. That is most of the time I eat heatlhy things. I have the occasional slip up, but have been able to get back on track. That has helped me lose about 20 pounds so far. I still have a long way to go...but it feels good to lost that extra weight. Next step, regular exercise. Now that my daughter a little older I think she can handle the day care at the gym if I need to drop her there for an hour while I work out.

My wife and I will be celebrating 10 years of marriage next month. We decided to give eachother ten gifts commemorating the occasion. It's fun to think of ten things that have personal significance to us to give her. We will be taking a week vacation next month and going on our first cruise-a four day jaunt to Ensada via San Diego and Catalina. We are looking forward to it. My daughter will stay with her grandma and grandpa so it will be just the two of us. Grandparents, gotta love 'em.

So I'm reading this book called 'The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie O'Martian, anyone ever read it? I liked the other book of hers I read, "The Power of a Praying Husband" so much I've read it twice already. This one is also really worth reading so check it out.

I'm also making my way through "The New Dare to Discipline" by James Dobson. It has some really good suggstions in it that are very practical.

Anyone read any good stuff how to raise children?

One of our pastor's shared in a sermon he recently gave a funny joke, it went something like this.

There was a young pastor who wrote a book before he had kids on parenting, it was called, "10 definitive principals for raising good kids". After his first child revised the book to reflect his current understanding of rasing good children and titled it "8 suggestions to raising good children" and you can see where this is going, right? Anyway, I'm still trying to raise my first so constantly looking for answers to questions (some of which I know have no answers) about how to do it the right way.

Well yesterday my wife and I decided to start watching what we eat. We aren't joining weight watchers, but we are counting points. I've also started logging in what I eat on the website Lisa told me about called fit-day. So for right now I'm logging what I eat in my personal journal and online at the Fit Day website.

Tomorrow will be a challenge as I'm going out of town and will probably have to pick up lunch on the road. Hopefully we can find a subway and eat there! It would help if I got back to the gym.

I have to confess I've not been back since the blog entry I wrote---uh how long ago was that? Yea, well anyway. Still paying for it, might as well figure out when I can use it, right? But hey, this healthy stuff, you a guy can only handle so much of it at once, right? :-)

Before I start getting serious here, does anyone know the difference between persistence and perseverance? Is there a real difference?

It seems I've been experiencing a "gut check" recently. You know when you are tested as to whether you really believe what you THINK you believe or not? It was interesting but I know I am supposed to persevere. It's amazing just when I begin to doubt about what I should be doing; an answer comes that makes sense. The answer to my question this time was I needed to remain faithful and persistant. Persistance, it is said, is the difference between someone being great and someone being average. It's not about intelligence because there are many undisciplined people who won't persevere long enough to see things through to the end. It's not about talent, because there are a lot of talented people who have never been great. Perseverance, to hold on the vision that's been given to you until you know it's time to walk away...that's the difference, I think between someone who is average and someone who is great. Even when all the people around you are telling you to give up or go in a different direction...sometimes that is simply a test of our convictions, isn't it?

That's what's been on my heart recently. What's been on yours?

Well, by for now.

So I have a gym membership at a northwest gym. I've had it for years, but seldom use it. Last week, my wife says, Why don't you go work out? Instead of blowing her off as I'd done several times before when she offered this suggestions, I took her up on it. That was last week. I worked out three times last week and once this week and the walls of the gym didn't fall down, believe it or not! :0)

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep it up while eating better so I can lose some weight. I have needed to lose weight for almost my entire adult life....but more recently have put on more weight than ever. I attribute that to the stress of having a little one running around the house. I worry about her and instead of doing something healthy to address my worry I eat and eat, and oh yea eat.... Not good! So anyway I have begun working out and hopefully will begin eating well too. We'll see. Keep ya posted on progress.

When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer.

Never tell your mom her diet's not working.

Stay away from prunes.

Don't pull your dad's finger when he tells you to.

Never leave your three-year-old brother in the same room as your school assignment.

If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.

Felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.

Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.

When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone.

Received from Pastor Tim.

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Since we had our daughter, it seems a requirement to visit Grandma and Grandpa at least once a month. If we don't somehow it seems we've committed a great crime against humanity! Just ask Grandma or Grandpa! Seriously, though we do like visiting the Grandparents frequently. Sarah likes hanging out with them as you can see by the picture and we like the change in climate, not to mention a baby sitter so we get some time alone! Last Thanksgiving we spent a whole day, just the two of us walking downtown and sightseeing...then we went to dinner. It was great. So anyway this is our latest adventure with our little girl. She really enjoyed the beach this time. She played with a shovel and bucket grandma bought her and she ran around and just really seemed to enjoy herself. We all got a kick out of wathcing her play around. It was a good time.