May 2008
Memorial Weekend
05/27/08 08:18
What a weekend! I'll go
backwards.
On Memorial Day, Monday, Jess and I took advantage of our day off and spent the entire day at our trails by the Trinity River. We ran, rollerbladed, enjoyed a picnic, read, and walked around the river while Jess took about 200 pictures. Nearly two years into our marriage and God is still blessing us with the best dates together.
Sunday was spent with the church by the lake. We had our first baptisms, grilled-out, worshipped, and played some games. I put pictures at the bottom of my new blog on our church website here and also updated the Body Life album on our pictures page.
Jess and I spent the first part of our weekend, Saturday, with Jess' family and their neighbors. We had a decathlon. That's right, we all divided into teams of two and competed for points in 10 events. Jess and I finished in 2nd by like a point and a half, but that's probably just because she had to carry me in the basketball free throw competition. It was a blast though despite our loss. Jess' twin sister, Nicole, blogged about the decathlon and put up more pictures here.
On Memorial Day, Monday, Jess and I took advantage of our day off and spent the entire day at our trails by the Trinity River. We ran, rollerbladed, enjoyed a picnic, read, and walked around the river while Jess took about 200 pictures. Nearly two years into our marriage and God is still blessing us with the best dates together.
Sunday was spent with the church by the lake. We had our first baptisms, grilled-out, worshipped, and played some games. I put pictures at the bottom of my new blog on our church website here and also updated the Body Life album on our pictures page.
Jess and I spent the first part of our weekend, Saturday, with Jess' family and their neighbors. We had a decathlon. That's right, we all divided into teams of two and competed for points in 10 events. Jess and I finished in 2nd by like a point and a half, but that's probably just because she had to carry me in the basketball free throw competition. It was a blast though despite our loss. Jess' twin sister, Nicole, blogged about the decathlon and put up more pictures here.
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ichat
05/21/08 09:00
If you have a mac, hopefully you've taken advantage of the ichat feature by now. It's a great little application that makes it unbelievably easy to do live video with your family and friends who live out of state. Last night, I was able to do a four-way chat with some of my best friends (Brian, Willie & Clint--the old Face Down worship band). Willie and I were in Texas, Brian was in Florida, and Clint was in Colorado--and, by the magic of ichat, we were able to talk and see each other as easy as you're reading this blog. Getting to see and talk with all of them at the same time, as if we were just sitting around Waffle House hanging-out, telling stories, and laughing, was just fantastic!
Click here to see other screen shots from ichat sessions, most of which feature my brother and his kids.
Campus Pastor
05/19/08 11:00
For the past two years, Jess has taught and coached at Trinity Christian Academy. Well, starting next August, she will have some company as I will begin a new position as the school's first ever Campus Pastor. I'm pretty excited about the opportunity. I will be on part-time, allowing me to continue to invest into our church plant, Body Life, and my studies at the seminary (only taking 2 classes in the Fall though).
As Campus Pastor, I will teach the Junior and Senior Bible classes and be available for counseling, while leading or planning chapels, small groups, Spiritual Retreats, and the Senior Mission Trip. After talking with the principal several times about our vision for this role, and praying about this job with Jess, I am looking forward to the chance to make disciples, encourage the other teachers, and help bring spiritual intentionality and purpose to all that we do at TCA. Plus, it's going to be great to be able to see Jess every morning and even eat lunch with her (my office will be right next door to her classroom)!
My schedule then, will be as follows: M-F: I will spend every morning at TCA until noon or so, teaching, counseling, and planning. M,W,F: I will leave TCA and spend the rest of the day serving Body Life. T,TH: I will leave TCA and go to my two seminary classes (taking a philosophy of religion course and a missions course).
5K Races Keep Williams Team Motivated
05/18/08 20:34
Following our Half Marathon, Jess and I put a couple of 5K runs on our calender to keep us motivated. The first one, the Seminary Stride, was two weeks ago. We ran it in 24 minutes 10 seconds last year, so our goal was to beat 24 minutes. We ran hard and finished at 23 minutes 40 seconds. Jess finished 2nd overall among the women and got 1st place in her age division. I got 2nd place in my age division.
Last weekend's Faith Run found us a bit slower as I ran the 3.1 miles in 24 min. 4 seconds and Jess ran it in 23 min. 44 seconds. Jess finished in the top 50 out of 400 and got 2nd in her age division, which was the most competitive division for the women. I would have received 2nd place in the division below me or above me or in the pastor's division, but since I ran in the 25-29 division, I got 1st. No one else was in my division.
Summer Brings Free Time & New Goals
05/18/08 20:33
Seminary classes are finished until next Fall and I am left with extra free time. This summer will find Jess and me spending a week on the Florida beach with Brian, Brooke, Ainsley & Braxton, enjoying a family reunion with Jess' family in Kentucky, celebrating our 2nd Anniversary, and, possibly, going on a short cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Along with these trips, I have set a few goals for myself (Jess is also included in many of these): (1) Read at least 7 non-seminary assigned books. (2) Go on a camping/spiritual retreat. (3) Finish writing my second novel. (4) Take surfing lessons with Jess. (5) Go rock climbing. (6) Train for a triathlon this Fall. (7) Update my blog every week!
May Fest Strikes Again
05/13/08 19:56
For one week every Spring, May Fest takes over our park at Trinity Trails, forcing us to run and bike elsewhere. This year, however, we thought we'd check out this big event, and we were glad we did. It's like a huge carnival with live music and funnel cakes around every corner. They had a high dive show that featured an 85-foot dive, a jet ski stunt show in the Trinity River, a 1,000 pound pig, and a ferris wheel that afforded Jess and I our first ferris wheel ride together.
Los Wildcats get #1 Pick
05/13/08 19:56
For yet another season, I will be in a fantasy football league with my brother, Clint, Gregg, and some other guys.
Well, we just had our lottery to see what picks everyone will get for next year's draft, and my team, Los Wildcats, drew the #1 pick. Now I have until August 31 to decide who my first pick will be. Will it be Brady, Manning, LT or Adrian Peterson? Westbrook? Romo? Moss? Leave a comment and let me know who you think Los Wildcats should get.
Editorial Spot
05/13/08 19:56
I've been thinking
lately about slideshows. You see, the husband/father
of a family we know recently died, and at the
receiving of friends, they had this computer set up
showing a slideshow of pictures from his life. I had
already heard this about this man, but the pictures
also illustrated that he was a good man who had lived
a full life. There were pictures of him skiing,
celebrating holidays with his family, and horseback
riding with his daughters.
What I kept thinking about though were the pictures that didn't make the slideshow. I kept thinking about all the moments we live that won't be worth celebrating or remembering when we die.
When we die, there won't be any pictures of us sitting behind a desk, sitting on a couch watching TV, or stressing out during traffic. And while I recognize that not every second can be adventurous or romantic, I have newfound resolve to try and fill my life with slideshow worthy moments. I want to live out pictures worth celebrating.
What I kept thinking about though were the pictures that didn't make the slideshow. I kept thinking about all the moments we live that won't be worth celebrating or remembering when we die.
When we die, there won't be any pictures of us sitting behind a desk, sitting on a couch watching TV, or stressing out during traffic. And while I recognize that not every second can be adventurous or romantic, I have newfound resolve to try and fill my life with slideshow worthy moments. I want to live out pictures worth celebrating.
Prom at Last
05/05/08 16:28
Ten years ago, this year, I asked Jessica to go to my senior prom with me. She abruptly turned me down. Well, perseverance pays off, for last week, I was able to take Jess to her school's Junior-Senior Banquet (i.e. their prom). Jess wore this incredible dress that made the waiters drop all their plates when she walked in the room. The glorious event took place at the semi-famous Stonegate Mansion. No dancing, but we did hit up Ft. Worth's Downtown Art Festival afterward for some live music and unusual art.
"The Wedding Singer" Kicks-off 2008 Season of the Dallas Summer Musicals
05/05/08 16:27
For Christmas this past year, I gave Jessica season tickets to the Dallas Summer Musicals at the Dallas Music Hall. It's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round (well, actually, until October), but doesn't start giving until April. Finally, three months after Christmas, Jess and I had the opportunity to go to the first of the seven Summer Musicals, namely, "The Wedding Singer." It's based on Adam Sandler's movie by the same name and uses many of the same songs and, of course, the same character names and plot. I really enjoyed this comedy and am optimistic about the rest of the upcoming shows. "High School Musical" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" are two of the most promoted musicals that we'll be seeing, while "Ring of Fire," a musical about Johnny Cash, is one that I'm really looking forward to.
Zoo Proves Animaltastic
05/05/08 16:26
We made it to the zoo
for the fourth time in two years this week. Jess'
10th-grade biology class went on a field trip and I
got to tag along. The Ft. Worth Zoo
is amazing,
currently featuring penguins.
This year was fun because Jess has become an excellent photographer and has this great new camera and was, therefore, able to take some zoomed-in, spectacular shots.
This year was fun because Jess has become an excellent photographer and has this great new camera and was, therefore, able to take some zoomed-in, spectacular shots.