On Monday, October 5th, I and eighty-nine other prospective jurors entered the Crighton Theater in Conroe, TX expecting to be sent home in short order because...well...they won't pick me. Surely they won't.
We sat and listened to both sides of the counsel describe what type of juror they were looking for. They wanted someone who would be fair and just. They wanted someone who could listen to the facts and reach a verdict based solely on those facts. The administration of justice, after all, is what's important in a court of law.
Myself and thirteen others were chosen to sit on the jury. Myself and thirteen others were unhappy about being chosen.
On Tuesday morning we listened to the charges that were being brought against the defendant. Two counts of aggravated sexual assault against a child. Count one charged the defendant with penetrating an eight year old girl's vagina with his penis, count two charged the same defendant with penetrating an eight year old girl's anus with his penis. Upon hearing the charges, myself and thirteen others felt discust like none we had felt before towards a man we had never met. "Remember", said the judge, "he is presumed innocent until the State of Texas proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty."
After hearing four days of testimony, after receiving all evidence, and after roughly six hours of deliberation...myself and thirteen others found the defendant guilty on both counts of aggravated sexual assault against a child. Myself and thirteen others then deliberated another three hours to rule that the defendant should receive a punishment of sixty years in prison for each charge. For the mathematically challenged, that's 120 years of confinement in the Texas prison system. He will be eligible for parole in sixty years at the age of ninety-one.
The decision was difficult, one of the most difficult I have ever been involved with. There were tears of anger, discust, and despair shed in that jury room today. It's a difficult task, administering justice. None of us asked to be this man's jury, we reluctantly served our great state because it was the task placed before us. One man's life was taken away tonight, one twelve year old girl's life was taken away starting at the age of five and maybe tonight was the beginning of rebuilding what has been stolen by a sick, perverted scumbag.
One man will never hurt a child again. One twelve year old girl can begin her life without the fear of this man assaulting her again. Myself and thirteen others? We will sleep well tonight knowing that justice has been served.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I'm out, done, finished...
What am I talking about? I'm not out. I'd like to be...but I'm not. My CrackBerry will sound the wake up call at 4:45 tomorrow morning and I will yet again drag myself out of bed to sit in an office for the next nine hours of my life. It all comes down to money, I suppose. If money weren't an issue I would surely grab that CrackBerry tomorrow morning and heave it with all my might out the nearest window. Money is an issue, though. If I don't heed the call of the CrackBerry then the options for myself and my family are very limited in life. So, I will heed the alarm and begin the next installment of my race here on earth.
The good thing is that perseverance is a character builder. Each time I roll out of bed at 4:45 it says something. I could make that CrackBerry a Nolan Ryan fastball (ok, more like an Obama first pitch) but what would that say about me? On the face of it I would be lazy. Deeper, maybe it would mean that I don't care. Maybe it would tell my children that work isn't that important. (Not to mention that cell phones make good fastballs) Maybe it would tell my wife that I'd rather sleep than be productive.
One of these days the race will be over. This isn't a race with winners and losers, oh no, it's a different kind of race. The big question will be, did you compete well? This isn't a race pitting people against other people. No, this is a one person race and there are billions of them going on around the world. Some races will be longer or more difficult than others. Some races will have booby-traps of every kind and other races will be on a solid, stable, racing surface. My race may have a curve where yours is straight, mine may have a hill where yours has a valley. Whatever the case, I hope you and I both compete well.
What am I talking about? I'm not out. I'd like to be...but I'm not. My CrackBerry will sound the wake up call at 4:45 tomorrow morning and I will yet again drag myself out of bed to sit in an office for the next nine hours of my life. It all comes down to money, I suppose. If money weren't an issue I would surely grab that CrackBerry tomorrow morning and heave it with all my might out the nearest window. Money is an issue, though. If I don't heed the call of the CrackBerry then the options for myself and my family are very limited in life. So, I will heed the alarm and begin the next installment of my race here on earth.
The good thing is that perseverance is a character builder. Each time I roll out of bed at 4:45 it says something. I could make that CrackBerry a Nolan Ryan fastball (ok, more like an Obama first pitch) but what would that say about me? On the face of it I would be lazy. Deeper, maybe it would mean that I don't care. Maybe it would tell my children that work isn't that important. (Not to mention that cell phones make good fastballs) Maybe it would tell my wife that I'd rather sleep than be productive.
One of these days the race will be over. This isn't a race with winners and losers, oh no, it's a different kind of race. The big question will be, did you compete well? This isn't a race pitting people against other people. No, this is a one person race and there are billions of them going on around the world. Some races will be longer or more difficult than others. Some races will have booby-traps of every kind and other races will be on a solid, stable, racing surface. My race may have a curve where yours is straight, mine may have a hill where yours has a valley. Whatever the case, I hope you and I both compete well.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Back to Work!
Holiday season 2008 came and went faster than any I can remember. Where does the time go? Seems like just yesterday I was looking forward to two weeks off of work when actually yesterday I was taking down Christmas lights and getting ready to go back to work. The McClain family had yet another memorable Christmas with lots of food, lots of presents and lots of quality time together.
As the new year so unstoppably engulfs us I find myself wondering what it will bring. So much can change in a year's time. A year ago today I did not know that my Grandmother would die of cancer. A year ago today I did not know that my brother and his wife would be expecting a third child. A year ago today I did not know that I would be changing positions at work. A year ago today I did not know that we would elect Barack Obama to be the next president. A year ago today I did not know the Houston area would be hit with a devestating hurricane. Things change at an ever increasing rate in this age of information. News becomes history extremely quickly and time is certainly not on our side.
With that in mind I cracked open a daily devotional book last night that my dad gave me, along with a new Bible, for Christmas. The devotional is based on the one year Bible, yesterday was January fourth, so naturally it was the fourth time I had opened it. The passage in scripture was Romans 6:15-23; not a new passage to me, in fact, I've read it many times. This particular time it really grabbed my attention. Maybe it was the new year, the thoughts in my mind, or more likely God rewarding me with a little clarity for spending time in His word. Paul, one of the most inspirational men of all time and a super-dedicated follower of Christ, shares his Godly view of slavery.
15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first thought I had after reading this passage was that while I am free from the eternal consequences of sin it still infects my human body on earth. To become a slave to righteousness I need to offer myself as such, just as Paul points out in the passage. I will still fall to sin because ultimately I am weak on earth but each time I am obedient I will become more and more in the control of righteousness. In other words, God will change my way of thinking from one of wickedness to one of righteousness. My desires will change and sin will cease to have a stranglehold on my life because I am no longer a slave to it. I am sin's borrowed prey but God is my ultimate predator.
I hope that a year from now when I look back on 2009 I will be able to say this was the year when I became a slave to righteousness.
As the new year so unstoppably engulfs us I find myself wondering what it will bring. So much can change in a year's time. A year ago today I did not know that my Grandmother would die of cancer. A year ago today I did not know that my brother and his wife would be expecting a third child. A year ago today I did not know that I would be changing positions at work. A year ago today I did not know that we would elect Barack Obama to be the next president. A year ago today I did not know the Houston area would be hit with a devestating hurricane. Things change at an ever increasing rate in this age of information. News becomes history extremely quickly and time is certainly not on our side.
With that in mind I cracked open a daily devotional book last night that my dad gave me, along with a new Bible, for Christmas. The devotional is based on the one year Bible, yesterday was January fourth, so naturally it was the fourth time I had opened it. The passage in scripture was Romans 6:15-23; not a new passage to me, in fact, I've read it many times. This particular time it really grabbed my attention. Maybe it was the new year, the thoughts in my mind, or more likely God rewarding me with a little clarity for spending time in His word. Paul, one of the most inspirational men of all time and a super-dedicated follower of Christ, shares his Godly view of slavery.
15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first thought I had after reading this passage was that while I am free from the eternal consequences of sin it still infects my human body on earth. To become a slave to righteousness I need to offer myself as such, just as Paul points out in the passage. I will still fall to sin because ultimately I am weak on earth but each time I am obedient I will become more and more in the control of righteousness. In other words, God will change my way of thinking from one of wickedness to one of righteousness. My desires will change and sin will cease to have a stranglehold on my life because I am no longer a slave to it. I am sin's borrowed prey but God is my ultimate predator.
I hope that a year from now when I look back on 2009 I will be able to say this was the year when I became a slave to righteousness.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Super Fights...COME ON DANA...MAKE'EM HAPPEN!
For all the negative things I have to say about Dana White he's still got to be one of the coolest guys on the planet, not to mention one lucky SOB. Of course, he's worked very hard to get where he is but man, what a lucky SOB! One positive I can say about Dana is that he takes care of his business. He also puts on great fights, fights fight fans want to see. Yeah I know, matchmaker...Joe Silva, but we all know who runs the show that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship. If Dana were to bring me into the "TUF" (The Ultimate Fighter reality show) warroom and ask me what fights I want to see...this is what I would tell him:
1. Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko vs. Brock "The Next Big Thing" Lesnar
1. Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko vs. Brock "The Next Big Thing" Lesnar
- Why? Fedor is arguably the greatest combat fighter of all time. His record stands at a gaudy 28-1 with that "1" being the result of a cut over his right eye and consequential ref stoppage. Fedor has beaten the top fighters in all of MMA including current interim UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira...twice. Lesnar just KO'd 45 year old Randy Couture and stands to face the winner of UFC 92's interim heavyweight title match between Nogueira and Frank Mir. If Lesnar makes it past his next fight unscathed, which is not a given by any means, a matchup with Fedor becomes even more desirable as Lesnar would be the undisputed heavyweight champ of the greatest mixed martial arts organization in the world.
- Why not? Dana White and Fedor Emelianenko are not exactly best buds, if you get my drift. Dana has made attempts to bring Fedor into the UFC fold to no avail. Unfortunately, the reason the two sides cannot come to an agreement that would allow Fedor to fight for the UFC remains a he said, he said or he said, they said ordeal. For now, Fedor and the UFC coming together is a pipe dream for fight fans. Also, in the rather unlikely event that Fedor were to lose his January 24th match with former UFC heavyweight champion Andre Arlovski, it would make this matchup a little less enticing. On the other hand, Lesnar is no lock to win his next match. He's already dropped a contest to Frank Mir via kneebar and Nogueira is an all time great in the fight game. Both Mir and Nogueira are brazillian jiu jitsu specialists and Brock Lesnar's submission defense is his perceived greatest weakness.
- The Last Emperor and The Next Big Thing seem to be on a collision course that may never climax in the cage. Here's hoping the god of fighting, who may very well be Dana White himself, will do whatever he can to make sure it does.
2. Urijah "The California Kid" Faber vs. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
- Why? These two top featherweights have been feuding as of late, both issuing challenges to each other. With Faber's record standing at 21-2 and Yamamoto's record at 17-1 both fighters have plenty to brag about. The growing popularity of World Extreme Cagefighting, thanks to the VS channel and an influx of smaller weight class talent, may make it an alluring destination for Norifumi...not to mention the fact that Urijah Faber makes the WEC his home.
- Why not? Urijah lost his WEC featherweight title to Mike Brown in his last fight. Popular belief seems to be that Faber will win his belt back in the near future but in the case that he does not it could be a damper for Yamamoto's motivation to make the fight happen. Also, Yamamoto fights for K-1/Dream in Japan. One fighter would have to agree to go to the other's organization which is typically not an easy hurdle to jump. (See Fedor above)
- The California Kid vs. Kid Yamamoto...a match made in Heaven for fans of featherweights. This would surely decide who is the best of the smallest.
3. Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson II
- Why? It would be a mixed martial arts tragedy if these two didn't duke it out in the cage for a second time. In the first match, Forrest won by a controversial at best unanimous decision. Quinton arguably did the most damage and almost certainly won multiple rounds. Griffin went to work on Jackson with devestating kicks to the legs and visibly hobbled him in the second round. All in all this was a great fight and to leave it at a controversial decision does not serve justice. This was a title fight and a more concise outcome should be reached.
- Why not? Quinton Jackson had a Brittney Spears, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson moment earlier this year when he went on quite the literal rampage through Orange County, California. Despite his out of the cage issues, Jackson will be fighting Wanderlei Silva in UFC 92. The winner of this fight will presumably be very high on the food chain in the light heavyweight division and probably not more than one fight away from a title shot. The problem is, Jackson has lost twice to Wanderlei in the past, albeit in the Pride organization. Griffin is also scheduled to fight in UFC 92 against Rashad Evans who is coming off of a devestating KO victory over former light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell.
- Who knows, if Rashad Evans can pull off the upset and Wanderlei once again pounds Jackson into submission with repeated knees to the face, it may nicely set up a rematch between Forrest and Quinton. Also, if both fighters were to win their matches on December 27th it may set up a role reversal title bout between the two. Here's hoping it's the latter...
4. Georges "Rush" St. Pierre vs. Anderson "The Spider" Silva
- Why? Georges and Anderson have just about exhausted their weight classes' ability to provide good competition by dominating any and all comers. St. Pierre has a fight of the year candidate scheduled for January '09 against BJ Penn. Assuming he wins that match, Thiago Alves would be the only real challenge for Georges left in the welterweight division. Anderson has already handled any real contendor left in the middleweight division, including former champ Rich Franklin twice and Pride former champ Dan Henderson. Both Georges and Anderson are listed atop most pound for pound ranking lists. This would be a dream matchup for many fight fans and a huge pay-per-view draw for the UFC.
- Why not? Many fans contend that St. Pierre's frame is not built to handle the extra fifteen pounds and Anderson is presumably not interested in moving down to welterweight. This fight could happen at a catch weight...say 177.5? Georges also has the fight with Penn looming and most likely a responsibility to defend his title against Thiago Alves after that. Georges is not a lock to win either of those matches when considering the quality of opponent, however, he should be the favorite going into both fights. Anderson, on the other hand, has talked about retirement as of late. Hopefully he is just talking and not seriously considering leaving the fight game.
- Rush and The Spider fight for the same organization, holding belts in their respective weight divisions. With a measly fifteen pounds separating the two...would it be too much to ask to see a super fight?
5. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva II
- Why? This would be the second super fight between these two cage warriors. The first was so inspiring, so awesome, it would be nothing short of an honor to see them go toe-to-toe once more. Liddell won the first bout by unanimous decision. Both fighters did a lot of damage during the fight, it's a shame it wasn't for the title and for five rounds. In the end, Chuck did the most damage and also uncharacteristically scored points with multiple takedowns. The prevailing feeling throughout the fight is that either fighter could end it with one well placed knuckle sandwich. Silva deserves a rematch before Chuck retires.
- Why not? Liddell is 1-3 in his last four fights with three ugly losses to Quinton Jackson, Keith Jardine and Rashad Evans. With each loss it seems he is closer to retirement than contendor status. Still, Chuck says he still has something left to give and will not retire. Wanderlei is looking for a title shot more than a second shot at Liddell. If Silva loses to Quinton Jackson at UFC 92 this fight could become a real possibility.
- The UFC and Dana White like to make money and there is no doubt that a rematch between Silva and Liddell would draw pay-per-view numbers. Two legends in the sport deserve to settle it at least once more in the cage.
Mixed martial arts provides the most raw, real venue for competition in the world. Two men climb in a cage and see who can get the best of the other. These are epic matchups, dream matchups even that fight fans deserve to see. Dana White, as the god of fights, please...make them happen.
Honorable mention: Gina "Conviction" Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva, Urijah "The California Kid" Faber vs. Miguel Torres
Monday, December 8, 2008
Santa Claus is coming...isn't he???
I'll go ahead and say it, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Sure, Thanksgiving is nice, Easter is a celebration; but Christmas is my favorite. Of course, it doesn't hurt that you get an unprecedented two-for-one deal with Christmas and New Years. Things that come in two's are always better! A double tall late from Starbucks, a double screwdriver at 9AM on a cruise to Jamaica, a double cheeseburger from insert favorite fast food restaurant here, a BOGO sale at insert favorite store here...
I think, though, that many people have lost the real meaning of Christmas altogether. Yes, it's about family, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, giving and receiving presents, eating, even going to church. I remember, when I was a kid, almost every house on our street would have lights and a Christmas tree. Now, having lights is the exception instead of the rule. These days of little money, little time, little patience and the like make it easy to lose focus on what's important. It's about serving others, loving others, putting others before yourself...but why???
The real meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. Most people know this, they go to church on or around Christmas and may even hear the REAL Christmas story here or there. It's important to make sure you don't keep the real meaning of Christmas a secret. Somewhere along the way someone kept it a secret. Many people don't even celebrate Christmas any more. Jesus is the greatest gift that could ever be given. If I could come up with one passage in the Bible that summed up Jesus' life and what He, and Christmas, is all about it would be this:
Mark 10:43-45
43"whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
As was tradition in my house growing up, we will read Luke chapter 2 (The real Christmas story) as a family on Christmas eve and let the kids open one present before Christmas morning. I remember years when my dad would sit us down to read Luke 2, I would be so anxious to open that present that I would feel put out by having to sit and listen to the story. Looking back, I'm grateful that he built values such as this into me so I can do the same with my children. It is my hope that because my wife and I will read this story with them every year that they will never forget the real meaning of Christmas...or keep it a secret.
I think, though, that many people have lost the real meaning of Christmas altogether. Yes, it's about family, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, giving and receiving presents, eating, even going to church. I remember, when I was a kid, almost every house on our street would have lights and a Christmas tree. Now, having lights is the exception instead of the rule. These days of little money, little time, little patience and the like make it easy to lose focus on what's important. It's about serving others, loving others, putting others before yourself...but why???
The real meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. Most people know this, they go to church on or around Christmas and may even hear the REAL Christmas story here or there. It's important to make sure you don't keep the real meaning of Christmas a secret. Somewhere along the way someone kept it a secret. Many people don't even celebrate Christmas any more. Jesus is the greatest gift that could ever be given. If I could come up with one passage in the Bible that summed up Jesus' life and what He, and Christmas, is all about it would be this:
Mark 10:43-45
43"whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
As was tradition in my house growing up, we will read Luke chapter 2 (The real Christmas story) as a family on Christmas eve and let the kids open one present before Christmas morning. I remember years when my dad would sit us down to read Luke 2, I would be so anxious to open that present that I would feel put out by having to sit and listen to the story. Looking back, I'm grateful that he built values such as this into me so I can do the same with my children. It is my hope that because my wife and I will read this story with them every year that they will never forget the real meaning of Christmas...or keep it a secret.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
If you're happy and you know it...
There are people out there who are life takers. No, I'm not talking about serial killers, I'm talking about your every day person who comes around and drains the life out of others. We all know at least one of these people. When they show up at your door you want to hide out like no one's home to avoid talking to them. When they call your cell phone you quickly press the "ignore" button. When you see them at the mall you duck behind a clothing rack praying they didn't see you first. Yes, we all know at least one. They are all talk and no listen. Preying on your sympathy...devouring your positive outlook...demolishing your perfectly good mood. They are selfish and self serving. The last thing they want to do is hear about your problems or concerns, however, they are more than happy to dump their issues on you.
Personally, I'm not a "feel-sorry-for-myself" kind of guy. I don't like dwelling on negative things. I'm a compartmentalizer. I can take a negative and store it deep in the back of my brain...and because I try not to think very often...those negatives tend to get lost back there and never come up again. I don't like feeling sorry for myself, therefore I don't like feeling sorry for you either. I'll listen and try to help but after awhile I just want to say "GET OVER IT!...SNAP OUT OF IT!...MAN UP!...QUIT FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF!!!", but I digress.
I don't enjoy dealing with these types of people but sometimes it is absolutely necessary. I have to put on my delicate gloves and treat them to a good ol' fashioned pity party. I'll only do this a limited number of times, mind you, because pity partys are the worst kind of party possible. Eventually I will say ENOUGH with the pity partys, lets go out and have fun! Lets get through one conversation, one day even, without discussing the reason behind your pitifulness. Look, I get it, you're depressed because your girlfriend left, your dog died, you don't look quite how you think you should, you're addicted to this or that, your parents don't love you, you don't like your job, you don't make enough money...blah...blah...blah. You are not unique in your problems, though. You're not the only one that has feelings like that, the difference is you choose to let your problems define you where I do not.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see your problems or your successes? Do you see the moment or the big picture? Do you see hope or despair?
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 "I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come. 12 Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. 13 When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.
Personally, I'm not a "feel-sorry-for-myself" kind of guy. I don't like dwelling on negative things. I'm a compartmentalizer. I can take a negative and store it deep in the back of my brain...and because I try not to think very often...those negatives tend to get lost back there and never come up again. I don't like feeling sorry for myself, therefore I don't like feeling sorry for you either. I'll listen and try to help but after awhile I just want to say "GET OVER IT!...SNAP OUT OF IT!...MAN UP!...QUIT FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF!!!", but I digress.
I don't enjoy dealing with these types of people but sometimes it is absolutely necessary. I have to put on my delicate gloves and treat them to a good ol' fashioned pity party. I'll only do this a limited number of times, mind you, because pity partys are the worst kind of party possible. Eventually I will say ENOUGH with the pity partys, lets go out and have fun! Lets get through one conversation, one day even, without discussing the reason behind your pitifulness. Look, I get it, you're depressed because your girlfriend left, your dog died, you don't look quite how you think you should, you're addicted to this or that, your parents don't love you, you don't like your job, you don't make enough money...blah...blah...blah. You are not unique in your problems, though. You're not the only one that has feelings like that, the difference is you choose to let your problems define you where I do not.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see your problems or your successes? Do you see the moment or the big picture? Do you see hope or despair?
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 "I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come. 12 Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. 13 When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Da Big Boy!
I love my son. His name is Roy Michael McClain. He’s the coolest kid I know. No, I don’t know that many kids, but I’m convinced that even if I did he would be the coolest.
Every day when I pick him up from daycare he yells “DADDY!” and runs to me as fast as his short legs can take him. Then I tell him “Daddy missed you today Roy!” and he says “I miss you and Mimi today!”.
He loves spiderman or miderman as he calls the web slinging superhero. He has miderman pajamas, a miderman t-shirt, two pair of miderman shorts, a miderman ball and two miderman rings. I’m sure I’m missing multiple miderman items that he posseses.
He loves trucks, any truck will do as long as its ripe for pushing. He has so many trucks that at the end of the day our living room will look like a matchbox/tonka truck junkyard. Almost every time we go to Wal-Mart I can’t resist taking him to the toy truck section and buying him another one. He doesn’t need it, but I know it makes him happy. He loves his new trucks, but he loves his old trucks too. He has one that is his favorite. It’s a dump truck. It’s big and noisy and he loves to push it around as fast as he can. He’s a truck maniac. I look forward to buying a real truck for him one day. I know that’s what he’ll want because HE LOVES TRUCKS!
At night my wife and I let him lay in our bed with us until he falls asleep. I know, big mistake, but I like it as much as he does. He plays and plays until he gets tired. Then he’ll begin nodding off and when he realizes it he’ll say “Mimi, look at me.” or “Daddy, what are you doing?” to try to stay awake as long as he can. Then in the middle of the night I’ll hear his music come on in his crib. He’s woke up and is using the music to go back to sleep. Such a big boy!
He loves riding the four-wheeler with his daddy. He will try to hold the handle bars but his arms aren’t quite long enough yet. A few weeks ago there was a hurricane that was supposed to come through our area. We got the day off of work and decided to go check out Spring Creek on the four-wheeler. I took Roy to Academy and bought him some camo boots and he was so proud of them. It was raining steadily as we were riding so we were wearing raincoats. He looked so cute in his raincoat and boots. He would frequently point to his boots and say “My boots!”. He’s so proud.
I could go on all day about my boy. He’s the coolest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
