Wednesday, May 27
nice
I am realizing that sometimes, I struggle to be nice. I am not sure why. I think that I am just naturally a sarcastic jerk. So being nice means I have to actually TRY to be nice. Like, it is a conscience choice that I have to make over and over again throughout the day in the midst of every interaction and event....like when Braedan spills syrup on the shirt he just put on, I have to pause and think how to be nice and calm in that situation. Or when there aren't any parking spaces in Oakland, I start to naturally get pissed. I have to pause, slow down, and relax. I am pretty sure that I have spent most of my life NOT being nice - that's about 12,600 days. So in another 12,600 days, when I am about 70, I'll break even and from that 25,200th day forward I will be able to be on the plus-side of being nice. Great. - - MARK
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day Weekend
We had a great time this weekend, and it was nice to not have ANY soccer, hockey, or baseball to deal with. Not that the weekend wasn't busy...
Saturday we got to visit with the Dominguezes, who were here here from North Carolina. They came over in the afternoon and then we listened to Patrick preach at the 6 pm service at St. Stephen's. Afterwards, they took us out to dinner at China Palace (where, thankfully, the Pens game was on a big screen TV). It was so great to see them and visit, but we wish we could have hung out more. I (Mark) actually missed out on the afternoon visit, as I had to be down at Pitt to volunteer with a few athletes at a charity bowling event.
Sunday we hung around the house and then headed to a birthday picnic of one of Hannah's classmates. Last night we finally got a chance to make a backyard campfire in our new portable fire-ring. S'mores n'at.
Finally, we headed to the village as me and kids marched in the Memorial Day Parade with our local youth sports organization. It was a thrill for Hannah and Haley to get to ride up high on the back of an antique fire truck. This afternoon we cleaned out and organized our garage, then headed up to Kristin's mom's to cookout and plant the garden.
Somehow, even with no sports games to coach or attend, we still kept busy...but I guess that's how we like it.
This week the madness returns:
Tuesday - Hannah's dance practice (and Pens game 4)
Thursday - Hannah's soccer game, and dance recital dress rehearsal
Friday - baseball practice AND Hannah's dance recital
Saturday - Hockey for Haley and Braedan, Soccer game for Hannah, then Baseball game for Hannah and Haley
Sunday - Hockey for Haley and Braedan, 3 v 3 Soccer for Hannah.
WHEW!!!!
Saturday we got to visit with the Dominguezes, who were here here from North Carolina. They came over in the afternoon and then we listened to Patrick preach at the 6 pm service at St. Stephen's. Afterwards, they took us out to dinner at China Palace (where, thankfully, the Pens game was on a big screen TV). It was so great to see them and visit, but we wish we could have hung out more. I (Mark) actually missed out on the afternoon visit, as I had to be down at Pitt to volunteer with a few athletes at a charity bowling event.
Sunday we hung around the house and then headed to a birthday picnic of one of Hannah's classmates. Last night we finally got a chance to make a backyard campfire in our new portable fire-ring. S'mores n'at.
Finally, we headed to the village as me and kids marched in the Memorial Day Parade with our local youth sports organization. It was a thrill for Hannah and Haley to get to ride up high on the back of an antique fire truck. This afternoon we cleaned out and organized our garage, then headed up to Kristin's mom's to cookout and plant the garden.
Somehow, even with no sports games to coach or attend, we still kept busy...but I guess that's how we like it.
This week the madness returns:
Tuesday - Hannah's dance practice (and Pens game 4)
Thursday - Hannah's soccer game, and dance recital dress rehearsal
Friday - baseball practice AND Hannah's dance recital
Saturday - Hockey for Haley and Braedan, Soccer game for Hannah, then Baseball game for Hannah and Haley
Sunday - Hockey for Haley and Braedan, 3 v 3 Soccer for Hannah.
WHEW!!!!
Sunday, May 24
Friday, May 22
Summer is almost here
I am sitting here at the CCO's Spring Institute, an annual all-staff training event taking place at Pitt-Johnstown. It has been a good week, but tough to be away from Kristin and the kids. I am ready to get home and spend the weekend with them and a visit from the Dominguezes.
Although Facebook has become more of a priority for Kristin and I, I am going to attempt to start writing on this blog more often and about more stuff - family, work, culture, theology, etc. I will be trying for two or three posts per week. So if you are looking for updates about our kids (including videos), or about my work at Pitt, or abut what I am reading, watching, or listening to, this blog is the place to look.
Although Facebook has become more of a priority for Kristin and I, I am going to attempt to start writing on this blog more often and about more stuff - family, work, culture, theology, etc. I will be trying for two or three posts per week. So if you are looking for updates about our kids (including videos), or about my work at Pitt, or abut what I am reading, watching, or listening to, this blog is the place to look.
Thursday, May 7
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