Can You Feel It?

Today is just a good day. I’m sure you feel it – it’s one of those days that keeps you smiling from sunrise to sunset. It’s a day filled with random, giddy laughter, high-fives for no reason, and a sense that all is right in the world. Yes, today is Opening Day! It’s the only day of the season when there’s a 30-way tie for first AND last place. 29 teams are filled with the hope of a season with a different outcome than last year. 1 team carries the hope of a repeat. Rookies nervously await their first steps on the freshly manicured grass. Starting pitchers anticipate their first fastball called for a strike. Fans wait eagerly for that first run to cross the plate, the first strike out, and, of course, that first big shot over the outfield fence. Yes, my friends, it’s Opening Day. Soak it all in.

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Also, today is the day BEFORE Seth turns 1. I’ll write more about that that tomorrow, but we had his birthday party over the weekend. Let me just say I LOVE that kid. He’s already got so much personality and when he lays his head on my shoulder my heart just melts. But, like I said, more on that tomorrow.

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Tonight is the NCAA Final Four Championship Game – North Carolina vs. Michigan State. My money is on the Tar Heels (GO ACC!!!), but the Spartans have surprised a lot of people. Regardless of the outcome I’m confident it will be a great game.

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My “To-Read” list is growing significantly larger. I was working on three at a time, but that got too overwhelming, so I’ve decided to finish G.K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy” first, then “Waking the Dead” by John Eldredge, followed by “Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers,” by Shane Claiborne and some other guy. Our church staff is currently reading “It’s Your Ship” by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. It’s a good book on empowering those under your leadership. Also on my “To-Read” list are: “Outliers,” “unChristian,” and one whose title I found fascinating – “Buy-ology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy.” Any recommendations for Blogland?

You can check out www.mlb.com if you want to listen live to your favorite team’s game today (or tomorrow). Crank up the game, open a window, grab a good book, and feel the love of a beautiful day!

What is your take?

More companies this week have announced layoffs around the country. Our “Consumer Confidence Index” is at an all-time low (which means people are afraid to go out and spend money right now) and, to top it all off, the world might end in four years!!!

President Obama is pushing his new economic stimulus plan. One of our students last night said he heard part of the money is going to an art gallery. I had not heard that, so I decided to investigate. Below is what I’ve been able to find regarding Obama’s stimulus plan. Take a look at it. What do you like? What do you not like? What do you think the answer is to our economic woes? Give your take, Blogland!

 

Immediate Relief for Families

• Cut taxes by $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families.
• Greater access to child tax credit for working poor and expand earned-income tax credit to families with three children.
• A $2,500 college tuition tax credit.
• Allow first-time homebuyers to keep $7,500 tax credit.
• Keep extended unemployment benefits through 2009 and provide job training.
• Increase benefits to the poor by $25 billion.

Modernize Federal Infrastructure.

• $32 billion for transportation.
• $31 billion to modernize federal buildings.
• $19 billion in water projects.
• $10 billion mass transit projects.

Double Alternative Energy Production in Three Years

• $32 billion for a “smart electricity grid.”
• $20 billion in renewable energy tax cuts.
• $6 billion to weatherize homes.

Expand Health Care

• $39 billion to subsidize health care insurance for the unemployed.
• $90 billion to help states with Medicaid.
• $20 billion to modernize health information technology systems.
• $4 billion for preventative care.
• $1.5 billion for community health centers.

Improve Education

• $41 billion to school districts.
• $79 billion to states.
• $21 billion for school modernization.
• $16 billion to boost the Pell Grant.
• $2 billion for Head Start.

Invest in Science Research and Technology

• $10 billion for science facilities.
• $6 billion to expand broadband.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census.

(Source: AP, Highlights of $825 billion plan, January 15, 2009)

Just like that…

Christmas is over. Call me a Scrooge, but I get annoyed when Christmas begins in September. You know what I’m talking about. You walk into Wal-Mart to get school supplies and you have to walk past the inflatable Santa’s to find the backpacks. Ridiculous!!! Nevertheless, I’m always sad to see it go. This year was especially fun.

Levi really got into the whole Santa thing. He made his own decorations around the house, got all excited about our Christmas tree and the lights in our yard. Christmas Eve we watched The Polar Express while eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate. He left a note for Santa asking him for a football helmet, which Santa delivered along with a truck for Titus and a walk-behind toy for Seth to go along with the 10 bajillion gifts the boys got from Nana, Poppy, Aunt Karen and Uncle Greg, Gram, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Peyton, Aunt April and Uncle Jeff, Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Doug, Great-Grandma and Great-Granddaddy, Great and GrandMoe, and Mama and Daddy. Our toy inventory was raised by approximately 500%!!! In addition to toys, Christina and I cashed in on a new espresso machine, a kitchen cabinet-mounted CD player, the Perfect Pushup, and generous amounts of cash.

Nevertheless, I’m sad Christmas is over. The gifts were great, but I loved when my side of the family came to Houston on the 21st to eat, open gifts, and ride the church bus around town looking at Christmas lights. We then all went to San Antonio, stayed at a hotel on the Riverwalk, and spent Tuesday at Sea World. It was one of the best Christmas’ our family has had together.

I also loved going to Belton to be with Christina’s rather large family (large in number, not in size). We spent an afternoon at Putt-Putt golf and games riding go-karts, bumper boats, swinging in the batting cages, putt-putting, and playing video games. It was a blast.

For me, that’s Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed my gifts, but I loved being with family even more.

At least Wal-Mart’s back to normal.

What were your Christmas highlights, Blogland?

I’m so rich…

Over the weekend our high schoolers participated in World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine. At one point during the weekend I asked those participating to fill in the blank: I’m so rich ______________. The responses were interesting. I’m so rich:

my dog is fat

if I want to starve, I have to do it on purpose

I have a car

I have clean water

There were many others. I thought I’d throw it out to Blogland. How would you finish the statement?