Painting Pictures of Egypt

I am sure you have been anxiously awaiting my posts on my time as a bachelor last week. Why didn't I post? Was it because I was using my free time reading great novels? Was it because I was using my free time praying and fasting? Was it because I was using my free time on different household projects? How did I spent my time?

I watched a movie a day and worked until past midnight.

Nearly all of my non-work/non-sleep time was spent in front of the TV. A small defense was that we got our new 50" plasma HDTV that week so I felt obliged to "test" it out. But I watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy among other movies. That goes beyond just testing out the TV.

I started working from home right before I was married so I never really experience a home-work environment as a bachelor. I can confidently say that it is a lifestyle not healthy for me. I had nothing to stop my work day, and it was too easy to pick up later at night. I am in the midst of a very busy work season, but with my family, I know I need to focus on getting as much done as possible during the day so I can give them my time in the evening.

It definitely was not what I anticipated. I had these images of quiet evenings on the couch reading books or working on a project without interruption. I am sure if I was really a bachelor I would find a better balance in my life, but I was surprised at how unfocused my life was.

In my earlier post, my wonderful brother-in-law Wes made an insightful comment: "I hope you enjoy the quiet and solitude of this week and make the most of it. Not that solitude and “freedom” are better than the family life, but hopefully one will help you to appreciate the other all the more."

My favorite singer is Sara Groves, and one of her songs is called "Painting Pictures of Egypt".

I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard
And I just want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I've learned
And those roads were closed off to me
While my back was turned

The inspiration of the song is the Hebrews' complaints as they journeyed out of Egypt. They went through a tough spot in the wilderness, but it was obviously a better situation than enslavement in Egypt. Yet, through their sinful self-centeredness they focused on the immediate pain and ignored the past difficulties while magnifying the good of those past times. Groves then ties that into our lives as we gripe and whine on the change of our life not noticing that God has grown us out of that past person and past life.

That was me. I got too wrapped up in the difficulties of raising two young kids and being in a family unit that I overlooked the changes God has done in me. I really loved my single days, but they had hard times too.  It is not about one season of life being easier or better than the another one. It is recognizing God is transforming us into the image of His Son, and each season is being used to take us further down that road. You can't really go back to the old ways because you are no longer the same person who went through it the first time.

Last week was a blessing. I got to see an insight into my soul and the work God is doing. I got a reset on my attitude toward my present life. And I got to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I really do like those movies.

Being a Bachelor

My wife and children are visiting family this week. My work is especially busy this time of the year, and I could not take off to join them. Thus, I am a bachelor for a week.

Have to confess here at the 12 hour point: I am not quite sure what to do with myself. My life is now too open. I am free to do many things but the choices are nearly overwhelming.

I am going to sit down and make my list for the week. I have told myself I have to do some reading. I always complain about the kids interrupting me and making it difficult to read. Well, no excuse this week. And, I probably should write in this blog nearly every day.

No matter what I do, I will definitely miss my wife and children. I love you Shannon!

Good Visit with Friends

My good friends Greg and Tori Finley are visiting us this week with the precious little boy Will. I'll get some pictures up of the visit in a day or so, including Will's birthday party (he turns 1 tomorrow).

I am reminded how precious friendships are during the visit. Greg is truly one of my best friends, and despite not seeing each other very much in the last few years, we have reconnected rather seamlessly due to the nature of our friendship. It is truly a blessing from God.

Greg and Tori are missionaries to Argentina and will be heading out to the mission field next year. If you are interested in partnering with them for financial support, check out their website. Shannon and I are partners with them, and we feel priviledge to be able to work with people of this caliber who are called by God into this critical arena.

My Bio

I submitted a presentation proposal for my company to speak at this OASIS conference on Identity Management. Part of the proposal called for brief bio of the presenter so I wrote something up. As I was looking at it, I confess to feeling a little pride at what I have accomplished in my career. I am not a "career guy". I really like my job with DGI, and I love the people I work with. However, I have always seen my job as something I needed to do, but not where I want my heart. My heart is doing Kingdom work to the community and through the local body of believers of the church. That is what gets me excited. I have always wanted to do a good work at my job, but I never longed for career advancement. If I can stay gainfully employed doing something I basically enjoy that provides for my family, I will be content. I don't want to put in the extra hours needed to have a great career. I want to put those hours into my family, church and the overall work of the Kingdom.

Yet, I have to admit I have done OK with career. Many 34 year olds have done better, but as I looked back at my job and tried to summerize it in 250 words or less, I confess to having some good pride at what I have done. I have been working now for 12 years since college, the last 7 with DGI.  It has been good, and I hope the rest of my work career is as enjoyable as these first years have been.

Kyle Meadors is a Principal at Drummond Group Inc (www.drummondgroup.com) with expertise in their test service processes. He is responsible for overseeing and administering interoperability testing involving the identity management standard SAML and the global data item synchronization program of GS1 GDSN. Meadors has performed dozens of interoperability and conformance test events for Drummond Group as well as projects on various US Smart Grid initiatives. He is the author of several Internet-Drafts within IETF and has been published in IEEE Internet Computing magazine. Meadors has a BS in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University.

Orange Beach Running Club

After we decided to move to Orange Beach, I subscribed to their community newsletter. In it, they had an advertisement for their local running club. Ever since I started running 3 1/2 years ago, I have always run alone. It was my time of solitude which I looked forward to. But when I found out about this club, I wanted to check it out. One, it would be good for connecting with people in this community, and two, I thought it could help my running times and performance if I began to run with others.

I have run 4 times with the group, and I really like it, both the concept and the people in the group. We meet on Monday nights and run a nice 5k course. Afterward, we go to a local bar/restaurant, Calypso Joe's, which gives the running club free appetizers and half-priced pitchers of beer. It is a nice time to socialize and connect with the group.

Last night Shannon and the kids came with me. Shannon pushed Ava in the stroller and Jacob rode his bike. Afterwards, we went to Calypso Joe's, which is right off the marina. The showers cleared off and cool the evening off so the run felt good. Nice time all around.

Target is Amazing

I have never shopped at Target much until recently. When I was in Dallas, a Target store was just 5 minutes from my apartment, but it was not the type of store I would patronage as a single guy in my 20s. I have spent most of my married life and all of my time as a parent in Springfield which is Target-less. There was a Target about 25 miles from where we lived, but I figured Wal-mart is basically the same so why make the drive.

In Orange Beach, there is a Target much more accessible, and now that I have visited it few times I know it is waaay better than Wal-mart. Unlike Wal-mart, Target looks like it has actually put some thought into its selection and choices, especially in the houseware and home sections which are prime areas for families. Their choices complement each other, and they are fairly stylish. We still shop Wal-mart, but it really has more an organized flea-market feel. Cheap, but also, well, cheap.

But just so you know that I have not become some super sissy bragging about the container section in Target, I also got Super Mario Kart for my Wii and a Slip-n-Slide for Jacob in my recent Target visit. I am still a big kid at heart. I just now like my pillows and window treatments to match.

Breaking News: Michael Jackson is Dead but Kyle Meadors is Still Alive

Wow. Almost a month since I last posted here. From end of April until mid-May right before we moved, I posted nearly every day. Not sure what happened, but I am going to do better. And I have lots of things to update you on. I will be your daily break from Michael Jackson estate drama.