Super Bowl weekend; who are you pulling for?

Maybe it's because I'm getting older or perhaps from watching my child develop her own opinions, but I've reached a point where I recognize having passion is not enough. Passion must be directed in the most positive of directions to benefit one's self and those around you. Anything less is time lost.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I love the Pittsburgh Steelers. I wear the clothes, the magnet is on my car, the frame is around my license plate, the autographed Terry Bradshaw picture hangs in my bedroom (thanks, Honey), dozens of football cards clutter my drawers, and I rarely drink from the special Steeler glasses because usage increases the chance of breakage. Amanda Faye likes to remind me about the first night we met when I gave an impassioned explanation why the Steelers are far superior to all other NFL teams. By most standards, I'm a fan...fanatical...but is that how I want to be defined? I think not.

Since our actions speak louder than words, those around us will know our true passions, often before we recognize them ourselves, through what we choose to invest our time in. That's alarming, since my conversations with, and gifts to, my daughter have lately focused around the Steelers' playoff run. If my time on Earth were to end today, I would have rathered her know more about my passion for understanding Christ's passion: for us to know and love Him.

So, on this Super Bowl weekend, my goal is to remind you, Taylor, and each reader, few as they are, that Christ is our passion and that a game will always be a game. We are but a dot in time, but life is a line of time. Live for the line, not the dot. It's okay to have a favorite team, to celebrate their wins, and suffer through their loses, just don't lose sight of whose team YOU'RE on. There is no greater return on investment than that spent developing our relationship with Christ. All effort, all time, all money...all everything.

This may be my personal epiphany, but if shared with the one's I love, it doesn't stay mine. Thanks for reading. Go Steelers...but win or lose, I'll be in church tomorrow.

It's a great time to be a Steeler fan...

Taylor sent me an e-card this morning that every Steeler fan father would love to have. Check it out:

http://www.ecardmadness.com/pickup.php?id=090128191103xuFFcOewF0gt

Waking up to a Tennessee morning

I took this pic with my cell phone while in Tennessee a few weeks ago. I just downloaded it to my computer and thought I'd share it with you. There's snow on the mountains and fog rising from the valley below.

Wordless Wednesday

Steelers - Super Bowl Bound!

The Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens last night for the third time this season, except this time, the AFC Championship was on the line. The Steelers are now headed to Tampa, FL, to meet the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

There's an interesting back story to this match-up. When the Coach Bill Cowher resigned two years ago, the Steelers hired their first black head coach, Mike Tomlin. In doing so, they passed over two experienced Steelers' coaches, Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt. As a result of being turned down for the job, both Russ and Ken left the organization and were hired by the Cardinals as the Offensive Line coach and Head Coach, respectively. Now, they'd love nothing better than to prove the Steelers' owners wrong...and everyone in Pittsburgh knows it.

This will be a record setting Super Bowl, regardless of which team wins. For the Steelers, a win would earn an NFL leading 6th Super Bowl Championship and accompanying ring. For the Cardinals, this is their first trip to the Super Bowl in history. A win would end their 61 year drought.

"Hold your hats and don't stand up!" This should be a great game.

Madeline James or James Russell?

We had our first ultrasound this morning and are blessed to report all indications are for a healthy baby...no twins. Dottie arrived last night from a flight and was able to come along for the excitement. The nurse took routine measurements to rule out possible birth defects and everything is normal, thank God. It's a little early to determine gender with 100% accuracy, but both the nurse and doctor predict, with 70-80% certainty, that we're having...











A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!A BOY!!!!!!!!!

We're very excited of course, and Amanda Faye started applauding the news. Reminding myself of the other 30% chance, I was more reserved and just smiled from ear to ear. The doctor also reiterated not to go monogramming anything yet or painting walls blue, as they've been fooled before.

The snapshots above may be difficult to discern, but the moving images showed ribs, spine, fingers, umbilical cord, etc. The baby was jumping so much, about every 30 seconds, that I asked if it had hiccups. The nurse said it was just stretching and arching it's back. So amazing. We'll have a 4-Dimensional ultrasound after several weeks have passed which typically will show much clearer images and features.

Thank God for the good news and keep praying for a healthy baby, pregnancy, and mother.

Surprise visit for Christmas '08

We got the great news that Kristy and Houston were driving up for Christmas. Once they arrived, and we could relax for their safety, we had such a good time. Having family to share Christmas with really makes it memorable. We exchanged gifts, both real and pranks, and are still finding a prank one here and there...

Here are a few pics from Christmas morning and Taylor/Mandy ice skating: