“One day you are going to regret not visiting your grandparents more often. They won’t be around forever.”

I have heard that sentence many times in my short life. I always heard it and let it go in one ear and out the other. When you are young it’s hard to think past the next hour much less look years into the future. I mean I thought my grandparents life started when I was born, who knew that they were once my age? Well they were and let me tell you, I come from some good genes! My grandmother was absolutely beautiful:

I always wonder what she was doing when this picture was taken. What was she thinking? Was she facing any trials or tribulations at this point in her life? If she was, I can guarantee you that she was counting it all joy because she lived her life for her personal savior, Jesus Christ.

Now my grandmother was a peculiar person. She was so conservative that she makes Rush Limbaugh look like a left wingnut liberal. Rumor is that she wouldn’t allow her kids to have coke in a can because it looked too much like a beer can. (My mother disputes this – my aunt confirms it) She also believed in hard work. She once made me and my cousin work all week long for a “vest” in a store that costs about $5. (Many years later, I found out that it was a women’s vest)

My earliest memory in life came from my grandmother came when I was around 3-4. We were at Cook’s Museum and she bought me this:

I still have Snuggles. It is my most valuable possession. I have said all this to tell a simple story about her. She had the best sense of humor of anyone I have ever met. She would say things that were so witty it made you wonder where she came up with it from.

This happened maybe a month or two before she died. She was in her recliner and by this time her mind was pretty much gone. She was pretty close to passing on. A lady named Melba came everyday and cooked and cleaned and took care of my grandparents during the day. She was in the kitchen cooking when she looked over at my grandmother and noticed that she had her eyes closed and didn’t see her chest moving up and down.

She called out her name several times. No answer. She slowly moved from the kitchen to the recliner and once again said my grandmothers name and got no response. She leaned down and got up close to my grandmother to try and feel if she was still breathing. Melba was sure that this was it. That my grandmother had died right then. Just as Melba got down really close, my grandmother opened her eyes and said, “BOO!”

My parents were right. My grandparents weren’t around forever. All I have left from my grandmother are my memories, snuggles and an example. An example of what’s important in life and just how valuable family really is. At the risk of sounding like my parents, go see your grandparents. Ask them to tell the story of how they met. Just be in their presence, it’s priceless memories.

My next post will tell a story about my grandfather. In my opinion, it is the greatest end to a love story that has ever happened.

This year we did Christmas a little different. Due to people having different schedules, we delayed opening presents until Christmas night when my brother got there. Me and my mom went and saw an afternoon movie and l finished a book that evening. When my brother finally arrived, we all gathered around and began opening presents.

One of my favorite things is my stocking. I love it because it is full of stuff that I need, but just don’t want to buy myself. Stuff like deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. You get the idea. Well I was pulling out stuff left and right and loving that I wouldn’t have buy this stuff down the road and then I pulled out this:

My first words after seeing this were, “This is interesting. Are you sure this is for me?” My mom started laughing and told me that it was for chapped lips. Last time I checked, CHAPSTICK is what you use for chapped lips! Not petroleum jelly! My mom never ceases to amaze me.

Here is another story of how my mom never ceases to amaze me. One fine day Susan decided that she wanted to go shopping. If my memory serves me correct she went to Wal-Mart. Susan enters the store and buys what she needs and checks out. She leaves the store heading back to the car.

First off, she could park her car directly in front of the automatic doors to where you would actually run into the car opun leaving the store and she would still forget where she parked, so to say her forgetting where she parked isn’t an unusual thing.

After wandering around aimlessly for a while she finds her car. Yep, in the same spot she left it. She proceeds to walk up to the car and unlock it by pressing the remote control on her keychain. Instead of opening the driver’s door and getting in and leaving like any other sane person in this world…she does something different.

She opens the passenger side door. (This is when most of us would realize something wasn’t right unless we were putting groceries in the car) Once the passneger side door is open she gets in and sits down. Then shuts the door. (Please keep in mind she went to the store by herself) She sits there with her little bag in hand and purse waiting…on…who?? No one will ever know. I wish I could say that she sat there waiting for minutes, but alas I cannot. She eventually realized that that car doesn’t drive iteself and that she was supposed to drive.

That’s my mom. We are very proud.

The year 2008 will be remembered forever as the best and worst year of my life. It is the year of my “marked change”. You see, I was saved at the age of 9. I remember the date and everything about it. It was genuine and I can remember the change in my heart. I was baptized 4 days later. Somewhere along the line, I decided to live my life for me and not God and remained that way until this year.

2008 was the year I made it to the final 30 of a reality show called, “The Mole”. Had about a 50% chance of making it on the show and having my life change. When it didn’t happen it was a huge letdown for me. I also totaled my car and hurt my back 3 days before I was going to run a half marathon. After 6 weeks of physical therapy, I then dislocated my knee cap and was right back in therapy for 12 weeks. Medical expenses drained me and the year was only halfway over. Something was going on with my “luck” this year.

It wasn’t all bad though. I met a young woman and feel head over heels for her. I have never experienced a connection with someone like I did with her. It was real and emotions ran high very quickly. I was sure that this was it, and was on top of the world. What I didn’t realize is that God was about to use that situation and come calling for me once again.

My “marked change” occurred in the depth of complete brokenness. Laying in my bed and having no where else to turn, I finally asked God for help and admitted that my way of living wasn’t working. I gave him complete control and haven’t been the same since. I claimed Romans 12:2 as my life verse – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

I have learned more about God and myself in the past 4 months than I have my entire life. Discovering and experiencing God has been a journey of enlightenment that I never expected. Being able to share most of it with someone has been priceless.

Which brings me to Christmas. As I sit here, it is almost midnight on Christmas Eve and I am so thankful. Thankful for my family and friends. I don’t believe I have ever truly appreciated family more than I do right now. Thinking back on my Christmas morning experiences growing up and remembering the sheer joy and happiness is something I will cherish forever.

I absolutely cannot wait to experience that one day with kids of my own. God is preparing me for the next chapter of my life and I am so ready for it. I desire to be a godly man more than anything.

As I look back on a year where I cried more tears and was at my lowest point, I can only praise God for it all. A “marked change” is something only God can do. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know that God will be the center of it and that is the greatest blessing of all.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Birthday Jesus. Thank you for your perfect example and the ultimate sacrifice for my sins.

There are times in my life when I catch myself looking at someone less fortunate than me and thinking, “I am glad I am not them.” I continue on my way in my Banana Republic clothes driving a Ford Edge and pulling into a card access only parking lot for work.

It wasn’t until church one Sunday night at Cross Point Community Church that my attitude changed. I walked in to see over 200 ex-cons and homeless people in the sanctuary. At first I was taken back a little. I sat down and waited for the service to start. The band got up and started playing then the next thing I knew I was worshiping the same God with people I thought were “less” than me.

I learned that night that everyone would be on the same level ground when looking up at the cross. Which brings me to a story that I read earlier. It’s a story of a football coach at a High School that has all the best equipment, great support, and “good” kids that wanted to do something nice for a football team under different circumstances.

He arranged a football game against a maximum-security correctional facility. Not only did he do that, he asked that half the crowd cheer for them. Treat the criminals like they would their own sons. Treat them “normal”. Something most of us would not do.

A game where cheering for the other side is better than winning

I don’t like coffee, as a matter of fact, I loathe it. The taste of coffee never goes away once it touches your tongue. You are stuck with it. It’s like that family member that won’t shut up. Coffee is addictive and it also stains your teeth. So now you are committed to something that turns your teeth yellow. I couldn’t even commit to a dog, how could I ever commit to coffee? I have to admit though, having that cup in your hand is a powerful feeling. It’s just cool. You look good. It goes well with anything! Have on black socks and spandex? Add a coffee cup with a sleeve and you look hot.

Recently some of my friends began meeting at Starbucks a lot. I obviously wanted to be a part of the gatherings, but it presented me with a dilemma. What in the heck do I get? Sure, I could get tea but it’s just not the same. I snuck up to the counter and whispered my order and went and sat with the group. Everything was going well until I hear this: “Signature HOT CHOCOLATE for WES!!!!!!!!!” I was mortified. My cover was blown…but I still looked cool. I had the cup in my hand.

So when you are in the office getting coffee, just know that you look good regardless of the health consequences that you are suffering. Also, if you see me with a coffee cup, please assume its coffee and don’t yell out: HOT CHOCOLATE FOR WES! Thank you.