Archive for the ‘family’ Category
The more days/months/years I get under my belt…the more I realize 2 things.
1) I know nothing. It funny how as you get older you realize not only how little you know, but how foolish you were. I had lunch a few weeks back with a good friend, and we talked about that exact thing…how “in our youth” we often count ourselves so much more highly than we ought AND take for granted the wealth of knowledge from those around us.
2) Life is getting busier. I remember years past when the most challenging thing on my “post-work agenda” was whether to play Madden or rock the DVR…not so today. Between growing responsabilies and work and @ home…life is definitely NOT slowing down.
So. Why do I write this? Well the first inclination might be that I haven’t blogged for 20 days, and unlike blogging rockstars like THIS GUY I have…well…left something to be desired…
But more than that…I find myself circling the wagons a little lately. I had a LONG conversation last night with a guy in my small group about the calling of a man to 1st be a good disciple 2nd be a good husband/father and 3rd be a good worker/employee/etc. God doesn’t need your 41st hour @ work. He doesn’t need the 3rd garage in your house or the new surround-sound speaker system…you know what though….He does ASK you to give ALL that you have and follow Him.
As life gets busier…compromising gets easier. Prayer for PS3…Devotions for David Letterman…it’s not that far a jump. Within a matter of days a slip becomes routine and then your “down and out.” One of the disciplines I’ve been pursuing lately is substituting good things for GODLY things. T.V isn’t bad…neither is PS3…but you know what is more that “not bad”….JESUS CHRIST. I want to love Him, live for Him, serve Him, follow Him and Lead people to Him whenever I can…and unfortunately…”busy” is in the way.
So why do I write this? I clearly DON’T have it figured out…
Well, that’s the point. No one does. I’m just a dude trying to live for the only thing worth living for. I get in my own way sometimes, but the Lord is gracious and leads me back to where I know I ought to be.
Thank-you Jesus.
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Suffering is a topic that is seldom discussed but always talked about. Meaning: Lots of people talk about suffering…give verses on suffering…tell you how sorry they are about suffering…BUT rarely do we hear from people IN suffering ABOUT their suffering.
For those of you that know me well, you know that my Grandma (or Nana as I call her) has ALS or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” My Nana is an amazing woman.
<==Here is a picture of her holding Stella right after she was born. Go check out her blog HERE. God continues to be glorified in and through her and although she cannot talk, her heart speaks volumes to the grace and faithfulness of the Lord. Last week I had the opportunity to visit with her and I continue to be amazed at how she “suffers well.”
I read an article about the recent happenings in the life of Matt Chandler and his family. Matt is the Teaching Pastor @ The Village Church, and is definitely a well-known teacher and leader within the Evangelical Church. Check out this quote from the article…
“Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter.”
It makes me truly wonder how anyone…apart from God can “suffer well.” The overwhelming peace it Matt’s responses…the unexplainable joy in the face of my Nana…it comes from Jesus…nothing else. The craziest and most convicting part for me is this:
When I’m having a crappy day. When someone yells at me. When I’m feeling “off.” Praising God is not easy. How much MORE difficult is it to praise him when my life is REALLY off the tracks. The token question that naysayer’s always go to is “Why do bad things happen to good people..?” I understand now more than ever before. It’s not as much about God letting the bad things happen, but rather what He does in and through the “good people.”
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Whether it’s the depravity in Haiti, a terminal illness, or just a bad say…STILL I will praise the Lord. God remind me of that truth when I forget.
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Tonight my brother-in-law Jordan and his girlfriend came over. We made homemade sushi. I’m definitely a FAKE sushi-lover. I like California Roll and stuff that FOR SURE isn’t really sushi…I haven’t made anything ridiculous like “hamburger sushi” but I walk the line with teriyaki chicken sushi…
Anyway, it’s cool to step-outside of the casserole box and eat something cool @ home.
Here’s hoping I don’t wake up in the night with food poisoning…
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I’m home. Got it last night around 7pm. The Jet Lag..it killer. Apparently today and tomorrow will be the worst of it, but I am trusting the Lord for strength as “down time” is not something that I have the luxury of right now. To compare this season in the Toy Business to something I’ve written about before SEE HERE. It is go-go-go until the end of February, so I’m buckling down and get’n-er’-dun!
It is DEFINITELY good to be home with my two ladies! Expect to see an update and highlights psot very soon.
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Today we went Christmas shopping. A long day, but got a lot done. It was nice to go out as our little family of three and then grab lunch afterwards. As the sick and crazy parents that we are…we decided to give Stella a lemon to suck on. 
Here’s the response we got…
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I seem to be a widespread traveler in the month of October. First Dallas for work, not Ottawa for some R&R with Hailey and Stella.
We stayed at my cousin’s house (who was away with her family in Europe) for 2 nights and now were at a hotel in downtown for 3 nights.
I usually make most of our travel arrangements, but this time Hailey did it. The “joke” was that the only other time she had booked a hotel for us was when we went to Florida for our 1-year anniversary. The hotel was…falsely advertised.
So when Hailey said that she got a killer deal on a full 1-bedroom suite…I was skeptical….BUT.
It’s amazing. It has a full sitting room, kitchen and laundry…weird eh?
All that said, it’s great for having Stella in another room and works very well!
Today we’re going to the byward market and parliment…good times!
Special thanks to Erin Sarsfield for being our e-Tour Guide
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My time in Dallas was different than I expected. I left knowing that I would struggle with being away (missing Hailey and Stella, etc.), but expected that with the craziness of work, I would be able to keep busy enough to get through….well….it was tougher than I thought. I found every spare moment my heart would travel home and would then leave me distracted.
I’m sure that “leaving” becomes more manageable as you do it more, but never (hopefully) becomes easier.
All that said, my time in Dallas was great. Here’s a couple pics from my time there…
The “Old” Texas Stadium from the freeway
And last but not least…1 of 4 Delorean’s used in Back the Future…it was…SWEEET! 
It was a great trip. Met a lot of great people, ate a lot of great food…Go Cowboys!
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Right now I’m sitting in @ Toronto Pearson Airport waiting to board.
I’m going to Dallas for work for a week.
It’s definitely mixed emotions.
Excitement is mingling with Anticipation
Leaving the known for the unknown.
It’s tough leaving Hailey and Stella behind…but I’m excited for the adventure that’s to come!
Here’s what I’m REALLY excited about….
I’m going to Dallas…aka Home of the Dallas Cowboys. Although I won’t get to go to a game…just being that close…very cool!
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My wife Hailey just a got a blog. For a softer, more intelligent version of the stories I tell…you can read what she says!
I love Hailey more each day and am so thankful for the example that she is in my life. Glory to God.
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Loved the T.V show “Where in the World is Carmen Dan Diego.”
But some have recently asked….”Where in the World is Matt MacDonald.”
In short…everywhere. Between Home///The Cottage///Relative’s Houses’…we’ve been like a touring circus.
Summer for me is really a time to unplug (not fully…did that for a week and almost died!) but just generally. I will be back to full-time blogging in September…WITH….drum-roll please…A NEW DESIGN.
My good friend Tyler has been working on a new blog lay-out for me over the summer and I am EXCITED to drop it in this space!
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Posted in Praise the Lord, RandR, daddy-time, family, friends, fun times, hailey, just for fun, life lessons | No Comments »
The more days/months/years I get under my belt…the more I realize 2 things.
