The Gift of Giving

Yesterday while I was at work I received a phone call from a Senior Chief telling me that I won a free Christmas tree. My name was submitted by my Master Chief and luckily my name got picked. I was so excited because my wife wanted a real Christmas tree this year, instead of our fake one that we've had for so many years. Later on that day I told my wife and she was excited as well. I'll be picking it up today but I won't be taking it to my house. My wife and I just found out that my neighbors parents just moved in their new house and don't have furniture, beds, nothing at all. Not even a Christmas tree. Well, they kind of have a tree, if you think a drawing of a Christmas tree on a wall counts. I felt sad when I heard that. They have their Christmas gifts against the wall that has the drawing of a Christmas tree. How sad is that? So my wife and I decided that instead of us having a real Xmas tree this year, we are going to give it to my neighbors parents. So they too can have a very merry Christmas like the rest of us. They are really cool people too. I've met them and they mean well. They don't know that I will be coming over their house today with the tree. Its going to be a surprise they will never forget. It feels good when you have the chance to help others, and I hope that my kids will learn from this. It's not always about getting what you want, but helping others who are in need. Now that is a true gift worth wanting.

Last Chance Workout

We vowed to make 2010 different.  We will try new things, work on relationships, make more friends, be better parents, and our latest thing is to be healthier.  Thanks to The Biggest Loser, we recently been inspired to make better choices for our health.  Although we aren't seeing results yet, we are feeling better about ourselves.  I have recently started a Compound Crossfit class which is a fitness bootcamp.  We do a lot of cardio and strength training and working out my body like I have never worked it before.  The best thing of all is that it is....FREE.  As for my wife she has been doing circuit training at the community center and has discovered that she has muscles in places she never thought she had...lol.  I attended one of her classes and being the only handsome and fit male (don't hate now), I really do have to say what these mothers have to do to get back into shape after having babies is very hard, but admirable.  Oh yeah and can't forget that its...FREE.  Sometimes we lose sight of ourselves thinking that we are doing good by our kids by putting them first.  But we now know that we have to take care of ourselves in order to be here longer to take care of our kids.  To end this I would like to leave you with a quote:  "The only way to stay healthy is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not".  

A New Spark

After 7 and a half years of marriage my wife and I have fallen into a rut.  Each day seems to be the same work,school, homework, sports.  We lost ourselves in our children and in our daily lives.  I found that we were always angry and bitter at the world.  We never had enough of what we wanted.  One big fight changed it all.  I realized that nothing could replace my family.  Not friends, not money, not anything.  I have been trying to look at things from my wifes point of view and her from mine and its seems as though we have a new respect for each other.  I knew I always loved her but now I have fallen in love with her all over again.  We are like a couple that just met and are starting all over again.  I am greatful I have a second chance because not a lot of people get that.  I plan to live out the rest of our marriage as if we are on our honeymoon but we have two beautiful kids to share the journey with.  For those who feel as though they are in the same position as I was  I hope they work it out because life is so much sweeter when you know it can be taken from you at anytime.  Even though we still have many things to work on I am hopeful that we are now on the right path.  I am a true believer in the saying "you dont know what you have until its gone". O ya and this is my new saying I will live by  "A happy wife makes  a happy life" Some men might not agree with me but trust me you'll learn.

Missing Her Bubba

I love how my kids are so close.  I always knew that I wanted a tight knit family and I do not know exactly how  it came to, maybe it is our family home evenings,  going to church every sunday,  or the bike rides we take.  I really do not know how it happened  but my kids really truly very close.  I thought Milani would really like the time alone with her mom during the day while Tama is at school, but she is lonely without him.  She looks for him during the day and there is the constant "where did bubba go, I can't find him".  But when 2:00 comes around she is ready with shoes on and at the door.  I love to see her eyes light up when she sees him coming down the hall.  She runs toward him screaming bubba and hugs him like he has been gone for years.  This is her routine everyday.   And I do have to say that he is the same way he acts all tough, but he babies her more than we do.  Maybe thats why she cries for him instead of me or Clarissa.  I love to see them jumping on the trampoline,  reading books,  doing homework together (Baby Tama gives her homework when he comes home from school)  When I get a chance to sit back and see my kids  all I can say is God is good because this is what it's all about.   

Winner at Heart

September 12, 2009 was our first lost.  It taught me a life long lesson.  The game was a pretty tough game and I would say that most of our guys had already lost even before they touch the field.  See all week the head coach kept saying how hard this team was to beat, and that they had never beat them before and how fast and strong they were.  If our leaders do not believe we can do it how do our children believe they can do it.  I really think we had the potential and definitely we have the talent on our team to have beat the Norfolk Saints, but in reality we did not.  After the game the older more competitive boys on our team were crying because they were so upset for there defeat.  And my son he was so happy and excited.  He was saying "how great the game was and how fun it was".  I looked at him and asked him if he knew that his team lost.  And he looked straight at me with these big happy brown eyes and said:  No body got past me,  I did a great job and that means I didn't lose.  I had to smile and said you are right son.  I could have told him it was a team sport and when one loses they all lose, but I think what he said taught me a lesson that I should learn to apply in my life more often,  even though you did not get the outcome you wanted, it is how you played the game.  Therefore, I am glad he walked off that field with his head held high and a big smile on his face.  Because he is a winner at heart at all the things  he does, because he does them to the best of his abilities which means he will never be defeated. What more can a father ask for.  

Sweet And Innocent

Well, the first day of 1st grade came and went so fast.  I was so worried to see how Tama would adjust to 1st grade, a new teacher, new students, and no more year round.  But like always he does things with a positive attitude and supprises us.  Although, he is a big mama's boy and was a little hesitant for us to leave right away, he came home so happy because he made a friend (A Best Friend).  This is  how that story goes:  A little boy from his class also plays for the mustangs, but not on Tamas team he plays for team 2.  So the little boy and Tama recognized each other from previous scrimages and said "hey I know you and he said do you play for the mustangs and Tama said yes and the little boy said cool lets be best friends, and Tama said okay".  So I told Tama, cool you have a friend and he said no a best friend.  So it got me thinking man if only it was this easy when you are an adult.  But with all the hatred, racism, and judgement it is hard to find friends now a days.  Where has our sweet innocence gone?  When do we lose it?  Why do we lose it?  I really am trying to teach my children to love people of all shapes, sizes, religions, and colors.  The world would be a much better place if  we learned a few things from these little children.  I am here to teach my children and to mold them into great adults but I find that they teach me too and they are molding me each and everyday.  Thank you babies.......

GO MUSTANGS

The first game is over. Bring on the rest of the season.  The MUSTANGS spanked the knights four touch downs to zero that is right four to zero.    We trained late last night and got up at 5 this morning to get ready and drive to Chesapeake to play our first game.  We were worried that Tama would not make weight to play.  See he started the season at 80 pounds and he had to drop 5 pounds in order to play and  I refused to put him on a diet because I didn’t think he was big to begin with but he did it by himself he started watching what he ate and exercised more and his determination paid off he had 3 pounds to spare.  I am so happy he likes it, surprised but HAPPY.  See every sport Tama has done, he has started on top.  He  is usually a natural and very atheletic .  For example Taekwando  he is on top of his class with out even trying and its fun for him.   He spars with the black belts and usually wins Therefore he really doesn’t work for it  just comes to him.  Baseball the same he was reffered to as  watch out here he comes heavy hitter.  He even use to hit the ball it to the other  baseball playing fields.  In soccer we got the usual are you sure he is  5 (at that time) I want to see his birth certificate he is to good to be five .  Swimming  He was like nemo the first time they put him in the water while everyone else was hanging on the ledge.  And now football  what I thought he would be a natural at he really has to work hard for it.  He started out the season scared and crying every practice  and now he is loving it and is asking to play spring ball and to be switched to defense.  I can’t  believe  he likes it even though it is difficult for him.  I am so Proud of him.  I don’t know if the win was because they have a great team or it could have been the little prayer we said before the game,  but I do have to say I am one proud parent today and we will be praying before every game J  I hope they have a great season.