We're Moving

Yep. We are moving a few miles from where we are for cheaper rent. We pay about $1100 per month now on a 1800 sq foot new home but we can't afford that now. Richard's business is building and we aren't seeing the kind of income we'd like to yet. We are moving about 3 miles from a State Park near our home. The satellite image shows our new place marked by the blue flag. The blue lines show our property. We are on about 27 acres. The home is a triple wide manufactured home on a permanent foundation. It is about 2500 sq feet. It needs some cosmetic work done. We will be renting it for about $500. The kids are really excited as there is a forest behind our house with a creek, tree fort, and an area with a fire pit and camp ground. The owners were originally going to sell but (too make a long story short) we both felt the Lord would like this arrangement for now and would benefit both sides. Richard isn't so excited as the rest of us but he'll be ok. There is a lot going on right now in our lives but we are healthy, alive and together as a family so what more can you ask for.

Group 1 Crew

I’m dead tired but I have to take a moment and say how awesome it was to meet one of my favorite groups, Group 1 Crew. Many may not know my past history and my interest in popular music. I love music and especially funk, dance, and hip hop/R&B. But nowadays the lyrics and messages in this music is horrendous. About a few months ago I came across a group on Itunes called Group 1 Crew. I listened to song that was played on the TV Show One Tree Hill various times, called Forgive Me. It moved me to tears. Not only was the beat and track so awesome but the lyrics sang right to me. Since then I’ve been hooked, but never as much as today. I decided to pack the family and travel 3 and 1/2 hours to Milan, TN to see them perform live. It was no disappointment. They were awesome. Pablo, a member of the group, gave such a stirring testimony about following one’s dreams and allowing God to lead one to serve a greater purpose. I was very touched by that especially during these times where I feel a bit disconnected with my life purpose. Even more awesome was the fact I got to talk to the group one on one and share my story with them. We had a great time talking and took some photos and got autographs. I even got to pre-order their new CD dropping Sept 16 for only $5. It was great! I pray they continue to have the success and strength to continue creating great music and inspiring young minds toward God.

My Projects

Without getting into much detail I have two exciting new projects in the horizon. One is the writing of a book. I had my second meeting with the co-author today and we have a tentative outline drawn. We should have one more meeting in two weeks and then the writing should begin. Very excited about this. Can’t say what it’s about, but it should be good. We have high hopes for it and what we can do for other people.

The second project, or better said, offer, is to work part time as a medical consultant for a European company that is introducing a new product to this country. I would be in charge of research, speaking to other professionals regarding the technology and giving keynote addresses at conferences and meetings. I’m very excited about the potential here. I had a conference call with the president of the company this last Wednesday and it went well. We will be meeting face to face sometime this month when he comes to the US with his family for business/vacation.

Homeschooling

Well it was a tough decision, but we decided to put all our kids back in homeschooling. We have been blessed with knowing so many good families both in our ward and from our neighborhood who home school. The majority use the Thomas Jefferson Education Model described by Oliver DeMille. My wife just got done reading his other book, Leadership Education: Phases in Learning. She is so passionate and excited about this that even with challenges and uncertainties, I could not say no. I haven’t seen her this passionate and excited in a while. My excitement is that I really want to teach my children the basics of literacy and math, but greater yet, the morality of character. The future of our country is “uncertain”. The foundations of morality, character, leadership, and integrity that built this great country are vanishing in place of materialism, power, greed, deceit, “experts”. The only hope is to do the best we can to counter this and raise children who can be great and good leaders. I’m excited about this too. We’ll keep you posted.

Laryngitis Sucks

Since about Tuesday I've been sick. Got laryngitis. Voice is still gone. Not very happy. Family makes fun of me when I try to sing. It's pretty funny.

Your Prayers Needed

I don't want to get into too many details here but we have some big challenges and decisions to make here in the near future and would ask for the prayers and support of all our family and friends.  Thank you for being there for us.

Poor Jaidon

So our little one Jaidon is not almost ten months old and he sure does get around pretty well.  This evening he was playing in the living room.  One of the dangers we have with him are his brother and sisters.  Despite our best efforts to baby proof the home, they leave lots of great little toys and crap out for him to insert into his mouth, and he does so very well.  Our kids recently received buttons from the library that have safety pin backs and say read on the front.  Well Jaidon discovered one of these and must have thought it would be good to eat.  I found him crying.  At first his mouth and lips all looked black...I couldn't see well in the dim lighting of the living room.  As I got closer I could see the word READ in his mouth.  I went to try to get the button out of his mouth but I met resistance and more crying.  HE GOT THE PIN STUCK IN HIS TONGUE.  We panicked.  Fortunately with very little effort we safely got the pin out of his mouth and threw it away.  We are both very glad he is okay and very happy that this, hopefully, will be our last baby.  We're both getting too old for these adrenaline rushes:)