"Merry Christmas!"

This will probably be my last blog of the year. Once Wednesday the 23rd comes, the likelihood of being on this site for the remainder of the year drops dramatically. So, I offer you all holiday wishes. I hope you will know or find the unending joy the season brings. And my prayer for you all is that you will know His joy each every day forward:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"Annoyed"

I haven't written lately about pet peeves. So here goes:
You have all seen one of those word verification thingys.
Why is it, not matter how clear or how blurry those thingys
are, I can't seem to get it typed right the first time?

Last night, I heard from an old friend. Someone who had coached me many many years ago.
It was great to hear from him. It wasn't a long conversation, but after the New Year we're hoping to have our families together some weekend. The last time I saw him and his wife... well, it was at least 2, if not 3 children of mine ago. That's too long.

SO you ask, "What's the turtle got to do with this?"

Well, where I come from, it's not every day you see a turtle around. And in one afternoon a few months ago, I saw two in the forest behind my grandmother's house. Really it was amazing.
I'm not sure before that day when the last time was I saw a turtle. I took the picture after I had picked the turtle up and had him hiss in my face. It was so cool.

Christmas time is here. And as holidays do, we tend to remember when, and gather with those we don't see very often, maybe just this one time of year.

But I think this year, I would encourage you all to ask God
to reconnect you with a long lost friend.

Maybe you even need to reconnect with Him.

"Breakfast with Santa"

It's December the 5th. And We are taking the kids to see the Jolly Elf today.

Last year was great. No tears.
Other years, not so lucky. LOTS OF TEARS.

I wonder how it will go today? Hmmm....

"Out of the Mouth of Babes"

This is the K-grader. 5 years old. Going on 16.

She's a straight shooter. She tells it like it is.

Spent from 3pm to 5pm asleep on grandma's couch with a migraine. I did. Not her...
or the grandma... or the k-grader. I did.

Should have been in my tree-stand awaiting Mr. 10-Point. Couldn't help it. Headache won.

Came home that night and told the family about my day. Empty handed I came.
K-grader made feel so much better. She told me if I hadn't spent 2 hours asleep on the couch and had spent them in the woods, maybe I would have gotten a deer.

Like I said. She's the real deal straight shooter.

You want to know if your clothes match right... ask Abby.
You want to know if the dinner you cooked was good or not... ask Abby.
You want to know...
YOU WANT TO KNOW...
or maybe you don't... ASK ABBY.

Dear Abby...

I love her. Just have to understand there will be no pulling punches with her.
the K-grader. She's 5.

God help me when she's 13 and above. Wait. God help me now.

"Happy Thanksgiving"

Oyster Stuffing... Traditional Bread Stuffing.

Cornbread Dressing Stuffing... Pork Sausage Stuffing.

Gluten Free Stuffing... Vegetarian Stuffing. (which I guess doesn't go in the turkey?)

Stuffing, stuffing, stuffing!

Sure, I love my turkey on Thanksgiving. But for me, it's all about the stuffing.
I'll skip the 'tators and the gravy. Skip the green bean casserole. Skip the cranberries.
Skip... skip... skip.

Show me the stuffing.

I guess it really is what's on the inside that counts.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Over the hill, and Thru the Woods..."

I love my children.


AND I love my wife.

I'm also grateful that my parents are willing to take on the four kids overnight.
This is so important for Samantha and I. It not only affords the both of us rest,
and quiet time; it goes far in keeping it real for us. It's needed, time alone.

Oh, How I urge all of you to find this time alone. It's hard, I understand.
Finding babysitters, parents live far away, no siblings to help out. I understand.

But some how, I urge you, find a way. Your marriage needs it. Your children need it.
Find someone you know and trust at church to take care of them for you. If not overnight,
at least for a long evening.

In the words of Nike: JUST DO IT!

"It's in the Genes"

Sometimes I wonder if I have an influence on my children's lives. I wonder if they listen and hear me. I wonder if they see how I live and will choose to model their lives after mine. This is a scary thing; because I do understand that they will not only (hopefully) model the good things in my life, but that they will also model the things that I do that are not so wholesome. I wonder.

But do I really have to wonder. Though some where I live in Western Pennsylvania may think we all are born with the black and gold gene, the fact is, loving our Steelers is a learned behavior.
Thankfully. 'Cause when that first rebellious child comes home one day wearing brown and orange... well, look out below.

"11, 11, 11"

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. Thank a Veteran if you have the opportunity. Go out of your way to do it. They certainly went out of their way to provide you the cover of freedom you enjoy right now.

"If you had permission to do what you really want to do, what would you do?
Don't ask 'how', that will cut your desire off at the knees. 'HOW' is never the right question; 'how' is a faithless question. It means 'unless I can see my way clearly I won't believe it, won't venture forth'... 'HOW' is God's department. He is asking WHAT. What is written in your heart? What makes you come alive? If you could do what you've always wanted to do, what would it be? You see, a man's calling is written on his true heart, and he discovers it when he enters the frontier of his deep desire. To paraphrase Bailie, don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive because what the world needs are MEN who have come alive." "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge, Thomas Nelson Publishers

That's the big K-grader.
She's down and out today.
In Bed.
Cough.
It just stinks.

The question I am left with is this: how do you insulate my other 3 children from the hacking/sneezing sick girl?

Or should I?

Right now, 3 of us are downstairs, she's upstairs sleeping. Eventually the brother who naps will need his crib... yep, that's right, he shares a room with the K-grader.

Oh well. Nothing to do about it, but give unconditional love.

That's not me in the dinghy. Well, not literally.

I have been riding around in one for quite a long time. HEY, I am literally afraid of water...
and spiritually, I am just as afraid.


"As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said,
“It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them:
“Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”
So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out,
“Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him,
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:25-33 NET Bible

I am starting to understand more each day that I don't want to hear Jesus say to me:
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

It wasn't exactly deep water, but it was cold. 58 degrees if I remember correctly.
It barely went any higher that what you see there. There were a few pools deeper.
Nothing to worry about.

But it was voluntary stepping in.

Yet, sometimes, we step into it. Usually we use images of stepping into, well,
poop. (Hey, I have children, you need to call it something.)

Most of the times, I step into it because I am not aware of what is going on around me. I'm not seeing things clearly. I'm being selfish. I'm not being self-controlled.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
Proverbs 25:28

"Spiderman Underwear"

I often blog about our 3-year-old, Luke (Lukestein). Usually it's how he frustrates me, or challenges me, or how he is helping me learn about patience. Well, since I usually rag on the poor kid, today I thought I would celebrate the kid.

Today marks one week of "pooping and peeing on the potty." That may not be a big deal to you, but to me, that's an incredible accomplishment.

CONGRATS, son. And thank you. Keep up the good work. And keep those undies clean.

"Horton Hears a... WHAT?"

I don't want anyone think that I actually encourage my children to stick their heads in a bag; even though the thought of putting them in one from time to time does have a strange appeal.

Yesterday was speak-fest 2009.

"What do you ever mean?"

Well, it was non stop from the time the 2nd grader and K grader got home from school, right up until the time my lovely and endearing wife went to bed. Non-stop chatter. Non-stop questions. Non-stop ramblings about a refrigerator ( a large cold one), the reindeer on my shirt (don't they know the difference between whitetails and reindeer by now), and on and on and on.

I'm exhausted just recanting the events in my mind.

Really, I just wanted to put on a brown paper bag like the one's they wear when their team is really bad. Go to a Pirates game some time and find out.

Now, don't get me wrong. I promise you that one day I will ask at least one of my children why they don't call me enough. It will happen. And when it does, I won't be the biggest hypocrite in the world, I'll just be the loneliest dad in the world.

SO, I'll suck it up again today. Listen as best I can. Ask questions the best I can.
That's what dad's do... and husbands do if they enjoy sleeping on his eighth of the bed each night.

"May The Force..."

Yeah, I know, it's only October 5th, but for some reason I wanted to re-post something I wrote Halloween 2008. I don't know, maybe give you all a few weeks to prepare for 10.31.09 !

Today is October 31st, 2008... Halloween.
Setting aside the discussion of whether or not it behoove God's people to participate, isn't this a real opportunity to evangelize? I'm not sure how many people are going to come to your door, willingly, everyday. But this one night, the most impressionable will come. 10, 20, 100 kids knocking on your door looking for candy.
Can't we use this time to give them so much more?
They are coming seeking. Feed them.

When they had finished eating,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you truly
love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15 NIV)

I guess it's time to start swallowing my own thoughts for a change.

"From 1 to Infinite"

I know I have written regarding the Lukenstein in the past. He's seated on the right.

I'm not quite sure what goes on in the brain of a 2.5 year old thru 3.5 year old, but I'm guessing it's God's way of ensuring parents they learn patience.

That being said, I should be an expert in patience when Levi (seated on the left) gets through his tantrum-terrible 2.5 thru 3.5s.

I certainly do believe our Wonderful Creator has a humorous side.


By the way, HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, Levi. Goodbye to your months, son. Hello to your year-olds.

"Brain"

I've done a lot of thinking in the past few days. It's not that I normally avoid it, but sometimes I find myself too busy for it.

I understand that my brain is always working...

Maybe I shouldn't say I did a lot of thinking; maybe I should say I did a lot of reflecting in the last few days.

All over the map reflection.
Unfortunately, it's tragedy that brings those types of reflective sessions to mind.

"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
2 Timothy 2:7 NIV

"I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." Psalm 143:5 NIV

"____________"

My father-in-law died today. Only recently, as recently as this past Monday, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He leaves behind his wife, 3 married daughters, 6 grandchildren and one grandchild on the way. Please pray if you would for comfort to all through this difficult time.

"The Best Part of Waking Up."

I was reading the paper on the porch this morning, enjoy a cup of instant caffeine free (i guess it's called DECAF) coffee. I was reading about last night's Steeler/Titan game.

Here's How I like my coffee: not too hot, no sugar, equal parts coffee... equal parts cream. Delicious.

After I read a few articles, I grabbed my cup of java and looked forward to savoring a big gulp.

YIKES!

I didn't find drinking pleasure. All I got was mouthful of lukewarm.

YUCK!

And then, I was reminded of this:
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:14-16 NIV

The following is a commentary on the above taken from biblegateway.com:

By the time Revelation was written, the Christian community in Laodicea and vicinity seems to have prospered. The angel at Laodicea is described as boasting, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing (v. 17; compare "Babylon the Great" according to 18:7). But in contrast to the angel at Smyrna, who was materially poor but rich in God's sight (2:9), this angel is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (v. 17; compare 18:8). His works are compared to tepid water, neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth (vv. 15-16).

The site where Laodicea once stood includes an elaborate fountain and a water tower supplied by an aqueduct from hot springs at the site of modern Denizli, four miles south. Not surprisingly, many have suggested a possible local reference here, "a play on words, contrasting what may have been the tepid water of the aqueduct at Laodicea with the possibly fresher and colder water at Colossae and with the very hot water of the cascades at Hierapolis" (Finegan 1981:182). Yet readers in any of the Asian cities, no matter how close or how far away their water supply, would have understood the metaphor. Either cold or hot water is good for something, but lukewarm water is not. The point of the rebuke is not lack of zeal or enthusiasm. If it were, "lukewarm" would at least have been better than "cold"! The point is rather the utter worthlessness of what the congregation has done and is doing. The metaphor is a more blunt and colorful way of saying what was said to the angel at Sardis: "I have not found your deeds complete [that is, acceptable] in the sight of my God" (3:2).

Lukewarm coffee is gross to me. Lukewarm Christians are unacceptable to God.

"Goodbye Summer"

Autumn is 22 days away. But it sure feels like it came 3 weeks early from where I sit.
Low of 50 degrees tonight. Highs for the first week of school are to be somewhere between 68 and 72 each day. Maybe that's normal for you all in North Dakota or Minnesota, but for us yinzers in the Pittsburgh area, that's not normal.

I was going to try to compile a list of what I learned this summer, but my memory is just not allowing me to find anythings to share. Not that the summer was uneventful. It just was.
Maybe I've got the "end-of-summer, back-to-school" blues. I'm not sure.

I guess I will look forward then.

I guess I'm wallowing. But I know I shouldn't. Too much goodness lies ahead.

Hey, If you got a moment, check this out: Climb Ridges.

Some times it's just one of those days.

During one of our camping trips this summer, we visited Fort Necessity near Farmington, PA. It is only a few miles away from Ohiopyle State Park and the Youghiogheny River. Fort Necessity is a National Parks site. It's claim to fame is being the site of the first battle in the French and Indian War... which some consider the foundations for the American Revolution.

Fort Necessity isn't very big. It was pretty pathetic in fact.
It was apptly named. The only purpose that it had was to
give Washington and his men some cover for what was to be
sure the onslaught that was coming. They needed a place to take a
stand, and the built Fort Necessity in 5 days.

In our lives, we need a Fort Necessity. We need a refuge from the onslaught that awaits or even the one that is pouring down around us.

"In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge. " (Psalm 31:1-4 NIV)

Fort Necessity in Farmington, PA is crude, rough and anything but mighty fortress.

Praise be to God that we have access to the Strong Fortress in our time of necessity.

I'm really not in the habit of blogging twice in the same day, but after completing the above book, "Scars & Stripes" by Eugene B. McDaniel Capt. USN (Ret), I had to make an exception.

I was at my dad's over the weekend and asked him if he had anything worth reading. For some reason I love to read these days. Never enjoyed it all through school or college, but now, I can't seem to stop.

He (my dad) said he had a book on his desk that my aunt had given to him, but he hadn't got around to reading. So I said I'd take it.

I am so thankful I did.

I'm not so good at summarizing or writing a book review, so I've borrowed an account:

"The story of Eugene "Red" McDaniel is not only about a prisoner of war in Vietnam, it is the story of a hero who defied the odds and overcame extreme adversity.

Eugene McDaniel was shot down in 1967 and spent 5 years in captivity in North Vietnam's Hanoi Hilton, Zoo, and Zoo Annex prison compounds. While imprisoned, he made very aggressive strides to keep secret communications going between the prisoners even though such communicating was prohibited. In continued defiance of his captors, he paid a dear price.

McDaniel had the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most viciously tortured prisoners of the Vietnam war. Methods used on him were sadistic and barbaric and leaves you wondering how his jailors could possible treat another human being in this manner.

In the most trying of times, when all hope was lost and despair was complete, McDaniel turned to faith and prayer in God and was lifted up from the depths he was in. McDaniel was a constant source of optimism and strength for his fellow prisoners during confinement.

This book, outstanding in its message of courage, perseverance, and inspiration, will leave you knowing that no matter how difficult things can become, faith in God will always see you through.

A magnificent book from start to finish and definitely recommended to everyone."

The unspeakable torture that was heaped upon Red McDaniel was summarized this way in his own words:

"Whatever honor I had carried into Vietnam, then, as an American, a military man, the achievements of my past life were nothing compared to what I now sensed in what He had give to me of His character, His knowledge. I had been broken in that prison, brought to the very end of myself, allowed to suffer so I might know how to help those who would suffer around me. I had gone to Vietnam a respected churchman who had a healthy, ideal family-- but had not the inner capacity, in God or anyone else, to minister genuinely to the suffering of another person. For some reason, known only to the Lord, I had been chosen of Him to be that instrument for Him, and what I had gone through would bring a new sensitivity to the needs of others and perhaps an example of the goodness of God to them. Through my suffering, others could see proof that He would keep them in their hour of darkness as well."

I encourage all to read this book, "Scars & Stripes."

"Onions and Chili"

I have eaten plenty of hot dogs this summer, but for some reason I get a craving for 2 of those Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe dogs.

Onions, chili. A small fry cheese chili. Regular diet coke.

Sure, it's probably clogging veins and arteries somewhere inside of my body, but it's too yummy to pass up from time to time.

SO, if you're ever in the Beaver County area, stop at a Dog Shoppe, it's so well worth it.

Trying to catch the moment of flash of a firework blowing up, for me at least, took too much patience, to much luck and too much, should I say, too many tries.

It certainly is a split second. Exactly how much, I find myself lacking the desire to google it.

But it certainly is a here and gone experience.

What is our life?

According to James 4:14 (NET Bible)
"What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes."

The NIV version translates: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes."

And still, the King James Version says: "For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Puff of smoke? mist? vapour?

But too me, the most important part of each of those is this: "a short time", "for a little while"
and "for a little time."

I once heard it put this way: "One never knows which breath will be their very last."

So now you are saying to yourself: "What's the point?" And so here it is. This life is too short.
You may live to be 101 years, 101 days, 101 hours... life in this human body is too short.
We need to understand this. We need to be prepared for what comes next. Are you prepared for what comes next? It may only be a breath away.

Images are everything. In the world of news, if you don't have video, usually no matter how dramatic the story, you don't really have a story.

That's first and foremost why most of us put a picture into our blog attempts.

For this rant, I give you Levi. The third son of Jacob, but the forth child in the Trimble family.

I had to take him yesterday to the doctors for his 9-month check-up. Loads of fun. Only one vaccination for this visit, so no real tears.

As we were waiting for the doctor to examine him, I was holding him and we were looking in the the huge mirror on the wall. At first he was all giggles about the mirror. There he was. There I was. Laughter. It was funny.

But then he got all serious. He kept looking in the mirror, then looking at me. He would reach out for the mirror, and only get the cool glass. But then he would turn to me and reach out. And usually I got a cheek or lip pulled, or I received a finger in the mouth or nose.

Back and forth he went. Impressed with the mirror, however, definitely more impressed when he could squeeze my face.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NET Bible)
"For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face."

Yep, I was reading the love chapter the other night and this verse popped out at me. Seriously, I had to re-read it, because I wasn't sure I could remember that in chapter 13.

Right now, we see God indirectly. As the footnotes in the NET Bible say:
"Paul’s point in this analogy, then, is not that our current understanding and relationship with God is distorted (as if the mirror reflected poorly), but rather that it is “indirect,” (i.e., the nature of looking in a mirror) compared to the relationship we will enjoy with him in the future when we see him “face to face”.

That played out for me in the pediatrician's office yesterday. Levi was impressed and enjoyed the company of the mirror; but he was certainly engaged with the real "face to face" me.

And then I think this: how awesome is God's grace and mercy and love to me as I view Him in the mirror? It is beyond words. Yet, he promises us an eternity "face to face".

"MLB: Mightly Low Buccos"

I must confess I would rather not do much complaining on this blog. No one really wants to read it, and really, I don't particularly like rehashing my frustrating experiences. But for this one moment in time, I digress.

My family is having a reunion this weekend. Lucky for us, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a home game. SO, a few of the family have gotten tickets to the game. I didn't get into the desire for going to game until after they had already purchased tickets. But one would think it shouldn't be too hard to add a ticket to the game in the same rows as them, or the row in front or in back of them. IMPOSSIBLE.

I have tried now for 2 days to get ahold of the Pirates, but am only met with the never-ending ringing of the phone. I tried online. But in an effort by MLB to make ticket buying ridiculously impossible for re-salers (i won't call them scalpers) you can't choose exactly the seat you want to sit in that maybe available.

SO what am I left with. Well... GO SAN FRAN GIANTS, BEAT THE TERRIBLE BUCCOS!

I mean, really, the Pirates are on the verge of their 17th straight losing season. That would be a record for years of futility by one team-oriented organization in any of the team professional sports (NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB). It is pathetic.

I used to love baseball. But really, when Barry 'roids Bonds can't throw out one-legged Sid Bream at his attempt to score from second, then your organization deserves this legacy forever.

I guess the thing that really gets me is MLB's anxiety over re-salers and their lack of anxiety of juicing. HOW PATHETIC! Personally, I think it's time for baseball's anti-trust exemption to be revisited... i mean, renigged!

Locally, I am so thankful for the Penguins and the Steelers.

"He Watches Over Me"

A few weeks ago, the kids and I found these two baby sparrows in the front yard. We watched as the mother sparrow kept coming and feeding them as they hid the browning grass of our front yard. That night we went to sleep well aware they were hiding out in the long dying grass out front. The next day I had planned to cut what little green grass there was in the front, and the thick lushes grass in the back of our home. So Luke (the soon-to-be 3 year-old) went on a mission to find out if it was safe to cut (safe for the sparrows that is). What we found was one baby hopping and hungry... and the other, lifeless.
We buried the one in the back yard and helped (with the aid of a shovel) the other into the tree. (Hence the picture above).

Fast forward today's (7/12/09) Daily bread and this promise from God:
"Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 NET Bible

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

"Changes"

It is time to stop wallowing in my own self and start living the live Jesus bought for me.

"Spring Is Here?"

March 20th, 2009.
Officially, the first day of spring.
Here in Pittsburgh, PA it's 45 degrees,
overcast, and kind of drab... but then again
that's Pittsburgh 90% of the time. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

But even in the up and down temperatures that
each day brings, spring is in the picture. The trees are budding. The flowers are peeking through the ground. The birds are starting to
find nest mates. The grass is beginning to look
green again.

I long for warmer days. The opportunity to be outside and alive in the warmth of the sun.
IT'S COMING! I know it is.

Spring is when life is breathed back into the black and white of winter. And thankfully
God gives us a microcosm each March/April of His ability and desire to make all things
new again. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Thank God He makes all things new.

"The Cabin Fever"

February is never a dull month around the Trimble abode. 2 of our children were born in this month, so birthday parties are the way to break up the mid-winter blues. This year, with the fabulous victory of our Pi-ck-sburgh Stillers, and 2 birthdays, and a trip to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs, I really can't complain that the winter is dragging on, and on, and on, and on... etc. You get the point.

Spring is around the corner. Swimming lessons, baseball practices, multiple family birthdays, a 10-year wedding anniversary (anyone know of a good wedding anniversary gift made of tin); lots to look forward to.

Yet, somehow, sitting here listening to the 5-year-old whining like a 1-year-old, the 2-year-old whining like the 5-year-old and the 5-month-old maintaining the only quiet I no longer enjoy (only because he's asleep); in concert all of this with the snoring of a yellow lab, I find myself cramped in this cabin.

Don't get me wrong, I love unconditionally. I wouldn't change where I am right now with anyone else. But with the sun beaming brightly in complete disregard for the 25 degree temperature, I long for the ability to mow the lawn. OUCH!

There are millions of fathers who never get to spend more than a few hours a day with their children. Surely they miss some of the best of their children. Most of the time I don't envy them. But this cabin is shrinking. And I am, as are my children, ready for the sun to be in harmonious expression of a spring 70 degree day.

"XLIII FOR SIX"

I've got a feeling... STEELERS WON THE SUPER BOWL

"HERE WE GO!"

HERE WE GO!

4 agonizing hours later, and the sweetness of another Super Bowl trip is tingling my nerves away.
It might be cold and snowy and rather miserable here in BeavCo, but the next two weeks of Steeler mania is going to fill the airwaves, the restaraunt chatter, the bus talk, the grocery line fodder. It will dominate.

2 things I have sought to stress and impress on my children is this:
1) love God, know God, have a personal relationship with God, serve Him wholeheartedly.
and 2) There is no other team worth rooting for unless it's the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bleed Black and Gold.

I remember within the first week of Mike Tomlins hiring by the Steelers, somebody asking me what he's got to do to be loved by the Steeler nation. And to me the answer was simple: "Win a Super Bowl, and they'll love you forever."

HERE WE GO!

"Going, Going... HELLO!"

Well, the new year has arrived... 2009! Much like thanksgiving time is used by some to reflect on all they are thankful for, the new year brings resolutions for the new and reflection of what has past.

The holiday season is, in my humble opinion, still going forth as long as the Steelers are in the hunt for the Lombardi; yet, tomorrow, we here in the Trimble abode will say good-bye to our christmas trees. (the lights outside much to the mrs. non-delight, will remain up until that first 70 degree day of 2009.)
What was 2008 to me? It was a glorious week serving God in the Dominican Republic in February. Immediately followed by the elimination of my job upon return. It was the entire house turning 34, 6, 4, 2 and well, I won't tell you how old the lady of the house is.
It was camping with friends in West Virginia, and camping again with friend in Raccoon.
It was transition from K to 1st grade for Noah. It was our first and last run at coaching t-ball.
It was planting our own home-grown trees in the park with Abby. It was 2 nights in the hospital with Luke. It was the birth of our fourth and final child Levi. It was full of parties and planning,
rainy and sunny days. It was a week of cleanup in Galveston. It was time spent with family and friends. It was all things joy, to the glory of God.

What will 2009 bring with it? I can only imagine. I want to live life as an open book;
to experience all God has to offer and to do everything according to His purpose.
I understand I will fall short, but in that, I understand the He is there to pick me up
and carry me home.