Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Trish!!

Happy Birthday to my best friend!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life! 

I hope that you have the best birthday ever and that God will continue to bless you more and more.  May he continue to bless you with many more wonderful and amazing years to come.  Happy Birthday!  

Happy Birthday, with all my love and the hope for many years of love and joy to come.

Cassius

Welcome to Friday - 2.28.2014

Welcome to Friday!!

How are you doing?  How was your week?  How is your family doing?  I hope you had a great week and that you are doing well.  I pray that you have been able to experience an abundance of love and joy during this week.

I have had a great week.  The best part of my week is going to be today.  First, because today is Friday.  Second, today is going to be a great day because I have the day off and I am not planning to check any work related email.  Finally, because today is Trish's birthday and we are going to spend the day together hanging out.  The rest of my week was good.  I spent most of it in meetings at work and going between some amazing and exciting activities at home.  

Cassarra was inducted into the Beta Club at Dutch Fork High School this week.  She is also learning how to play the saxophone as a part of jazz band.  She learned "Mary had a little lamb" and "We will rock you."  

Sydney continues to receive accolades from the school for her conduct and character.  The former vice principal, now some sort of consultant, stopped me to give her high praise for how well she serves on safety patrol.  She is also practicing for the spring concerts for Honor Choir.  

Paige took her Tae Kwon Do test last night and she is now a green belt.  She is so excited because she can move up to the sparring class now.  That part is a little worrisome, but the exercise is really good for her.  

Gabbi did an amazing job this week on her project and presentation this week.  She did a presentation on Eartha Kitt for Black History and Social Studies.  She did an amazing job.  She was really into this project and she nailed it.  She is doing well in most classes, we just need to get her going again in Geometry.  Gabbi also continues to bloom into a fashion expert.

Emma took a few steps this week.  She takes about two steps, realizes that she no longer has anything to hold on to and quickly sits down.  She seems happy to explore a few steps at a time, reflect and then crawl.  

Ava is doing well.  She reminds me a lot of Sydney at this age.  She has a very strong will, fiercely independent, and she is very, very smart.  She has found new and creative ways to do so many things.  Our house has more guards, locks, outlet covers, knob covers and keep out gates than ever before.  Some of them work, and some of them are only minor deterrents.  

Trish is in the home stretch of the yearbook project.  The final draft is due to the principal for approval in two weeks.  She has been busy working on all of the final details.  She has also been hard at work with all of the girls and their schedules, events, and activities.  She is wonderful!

That's my week at a glance.  I hope you had a great week!  I hope you have a great weekend.  

Welcome to Friday!

With love (& in triumph)

They get expelled

We were sitting down in the family room one afternoon.  It was a quiet and lazy day where most of us were watching Monsters University.  The girls had already watched the movie ahead of their parents.  For Trish and me this was our first chance to actually see the whole movie.  It was interesting watching all of the ends and outs and twists and turns taking shape.  As the movie continued I happened to blurt out to Trish, "I wonder what would happen if...."  Before I could finish my sentence Paige answers, "No, they get expelled!"  Spoiler alert.  With all of her childhood innocence fully intact and completely on display she gave away the ending of the scene.  All we were left with is watching for the details between this scene and the final clip.

Paige's give away is a dead on reminder of how we live in this present world.  They get expelled is an excellent way to summarize the fate of our enemies.  They are expelled from this world and into a world of eternal suffering and torment.  They get expelled to the pit, the fire, to hell.  They get expelled b/c they have chosen the wrong path.

Paige's spoiler alert is also like the spoiler alert we, as believers, have.  Spoiler alert, we are victorious and conquerors in Christ!  Did you catch that!  We are the winners, we are those who inherit the promises, we are made right in Christ, we have the eternal inheritance, we get to see God, we triumph, the enemy is defeated and streets of "gold" belong to us.  Yep!  That is how it ends, a new heaven and a new earth with God as the center of our worship and our joy.  We lie down in green pastures, we have living water, and we find our heart's deepest longings satisfied.

We win!  We inherit!  We are blessed!  We are victorious!  We are loved!  We get to give God eternal glory and praise!  The only thing we need to do between now and then is prayerfully and obediently live our lives in expectancy and faithfulness until the final clips. The ending is certain, our way is Christ and He is faithful to complete what we have entrusted to Him.

With love (& in triumph)

Welcome to Friday - 2.21.2014

Welcome to Friday!   

I've been awake since nearly 4:00 am, and I am having simply the best day.  With great joy and excitement, hopeful expectation, and sincere love I wish you a heartfelt and deep - Welcome to Friday!

How was your week?  How has your week gone and how are you doing?  What was the highlight of your week?  What brought you the most joy this week?

I have had a really good week, aside from the confusion caused by having Monday off things went really well.  This week was another reminder that God is at work in our situations and circumstances and that our problems are never bigger than our Savior.  The highlight of my week was spending my day off with Trish.  After quickly completing the 'To-Do' list we had time for coffee, quite conversation while Ava and Emma slept, and a lunch date.  I had a hotdog and Trish had pizza.  Okay, so I had a hotdog and pizza but I did an extra lap on the treadmill first.  We had so much fun at lunch that we were late picking up the girls from school for their dentist appointments.  Needless to say they were quick to tell us how long they were waiting.  I had great joy laughing with Ava and Emma last night.  They were adamant that they were not ready to go to bed.  Enjoy the laughs when you see the photos.  

I hope you had a great week.  I pray that you will enjoy the weekend.

Welcome to Friday!

May you come to know and understand, to appreciate and to enjoy the love that God has for you and the amazing plans that he is bringing to bear for your good and His glory.

With love (& in triumph),

Cassius

 

Holiday Pounds Found & Lost

Christmas (2013) is gone and New Year's Day (2014) is gone.  They were both great.  My Christmas post is on the blog.  Sadly, I didn't do a New Year's Day post, I'm considering one.  Anyway, both major holidays for the end of 2013 and the start of 2014 have come and gone, but they both left me a little something.  Apparently they also left me a little reminder of just how good they were and how much fun and food we had.  It seems that I have the "holiday 5" lbs just hanging around.

I'm not too upset though.  The turkey was outstanding, the ham was exceptional and the finger foods from our New Year's Day blast is still on my mind.  We had two delectable types of dip, homemade soup, nuggets, deli meat, and chips.  So, I guess finding a few holiday pounds isn't too bad.

All in all, I've still managed to loose 60 pounds since early 2013.  I even took some of the weight off just in time to splurge on wings, chips and dip, and other goodies during the Super Bowl.

God has really blessed me in my efforts to lose weight.  God provided me with a great coach (Brandon W.), and awesome wife (Trish), good and healthy food, encouraging friends, and children who put up with all of my new eating and exercise habits.  I could really give God thanks for Ava and Emma who would routinely wake me up early, which gave birth to a new morning routine.

My goal for now is to take the holiday and Super Bowl pounds back off and keep a healthy weight from here on out.  I'll have more on the weight loss in another blog (or book) later.


With love (& in triumph),
Cassius



P.S.  It feels a lot better not carrying around so much extra weight.  Now if I can only get my clothes and shoes updated to the new slimmer profile.  I also want to push towards toning up.

Random Journey Notes - a blessed life

This quote comes from Nick Harrison's blog from January 11, 2014 entitled "A Life Full of Blessings" and it is so true for our lives.  It is true even if we struggle and struggle to believe it.  Here is Nick's comment and quotes.

"We live a blessed life." Yet, sometimes we actually don't believe the truth that is right in front of our faces, or hidden just behind the obstacle in our path.

Tell Yourself the Truth!  "I am a blessed person! God delights to pour His blessings on me. He has redeemed me in order to show me His blessing. He has given me Himself that I might be blessed. He has blessed me with His riches so that I can benefit others around me. I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. As I live out my earthly life, those spiritual blessings impact everything I do. Whatever I put my hand to in my walk with Him is blessed of God because it originates in God. Because of God's blessing, I cannot fail in life. That's His promise!"

Right now, my heart is screaming, "I am a blessed person!"

!!!!! I am a blessed person !!!!!

I have been blessed for years and years and so have you.  Truthfully, even before I knew it and even at times when I didn't and don't realize it or understand it.  I have been blessed and anointed.  Yes, I have been blessed by his redeeming blood.  Yep, I have been blessed by his saving grace.  I have been blessed by the family and friends he has given me too.  Do these friends and family sometimes leave me scratching my head, sure.  But when times are low, tight and hard these are also the very friends and family that open my eyes to the truth of God's great love and his infinite blessings in my life.  Many times God has reached down and touched me with hands that look just like the hands of a brother, sister, parent or friend.  Other times, he has reached down and re-ordered my life in unexpected ways through complete strangers.  These were blessings too.

Consider this, and I don't say it lightly, even the nasty, downright hard and hurting times, the ones where it didn't feel like much of a blessing - really were a blessing!  I can only cringe when I think of what would have happened had God not been so radical with his love and ushered in a complete readjustment of my focus.  Sickness gives me an appreciation of life and health.  Lack of money gives an appreciation of other blessings and just how rich I truly am - plus it destroyed the idol of money.  Hard times and rain - generates a greater appreciation for the sunshine and keeps my heart longing for that better day.

I believe strongly that it is indeed the Father's good pleasure to give me the kingdom life.  In my earthly life and the life to come I will sing of his love, grace and blessings.  I pray to live the truth repeatedly, daily, hourly and minute by minute - I am a blessed person.  I am highly favored and victorious because of Christ.  I have victory now, over my circumstances and in the midst of them, and I have victory to come in eternity.  And I have his word on that!

So, join me in telling yourself the truth everyday for the rest of your life.  Join me in believing that "We live a blessed life!"



With love (& in triumph),

In my heart...

I'm not sure where this quote comes from, but it stuck in my mind and in my heart. 

The Gospel keeps driving the same point home again and again: To see Jesus is to see God. To accept him is to accept God. To serve him is to serve God. To love Jesus is to love God.

Stuck in my draft folder (aka Welcome to Friday - 2.7.14)

Reflections & Thoughts from the week 2.1.14 - 2.7.14

Welcome to Friday

What a week!  I'm so excited that Friday is hear and that the weekend is just around the corner.  It has been a very interesting week.  If I had to choose three words to describe the week I would choose challenged, delivered and exceptional.

I'd say challenged because I've experienced a lot this week and had several not so good moments.  On Monday morning I was greeted by a difficult situations at work, including a project that was threatening to fall completely off the rails and a calendar of meetings for nearly every hour of the day.  Tuesday and Wednesday mornings were filled with more unexpected surprises and a calendar that was fully out of control.  Despite a great night Tuesday night, I was almost in full meltdown on Wednesday when I realized the same employee was back up to his antics.  

I'd say delivered because thankfully, God kept me and delivered me from the worry, anxiety and trouble of this week!  In the middle of the week, God reminded me that nothing and no one can hold me back from His love or from having a great week!  A few moments in my prayer closet, a few moments at my desk in silence, one morning devotional and several deep breaths later and I was better able to handle the antics and challenges of work.  I was even able to somewhat tame the calendar.  Best of all God delivered the rest of the day and remainder of the week has been so much better.  God has delivered me from the snare of being pulled into it and worrying about it.

I'd use exceptional as my third word because despite the bad, it is always good to know that God sees, cares and delivers.  Exceptional also describes the really enjoyable and exciting moments of this week.  The good moments include enjoying watching Emily play high school basketball on Senior Night.  I got to see her sink a couple of free throws, flash her smile and show a lot of hustle and grit.  Emily always looks so graceful and athletic, its like she doesn't really run in the traditional sense.  Her running looks more graceful, almost like she floats and dances from end to end.  Then on Wednesday evening the girls and I went out for an adventure.  Our adventure was supposed to be a walk through the mall.  It turned into a trip to Sam's filled with a bunch of laughter as Ava escaped Paige's grasp and ran up the store aisles.  We shared hotdogs, pizza, slushies and stories before heading off to the mall.  At the mall we had ice cream cones and bubble gum.  Even Emma got in on the ice cream action.  She smacked her lips and shuddered at the cold ice cream, but she kept coming back with her mouth open to get more.  After the mall, we all laughed and talked well into the night.  We recapped the stories of the mall, Sam's club, and ice cream to Trish, who stayed home and got a much needed break.  On that Thursday night, we all enjoyed a breakfast for dinner treat.  We sat around and talked about the best part of the week as we ate waffles (not Eggo Waffles, but the big ones).  We had chicken sausage, which was not a hit at all, and these really cool baked grits.  Yeah, I never heard of baked grits until yesterday.  Friday night, I'm looking forward to the Princess Ball at the Elementary School.  I will be escorting Princess Paige and Princess Sydney to the Father/Daughter Valentines Dance.  The two of them are looking forward to it.  I'm staying upbeat despite the fact that they plan to ditch me at the door and hang out with their friends until the final dance of the night.  :)

It didn't start out as an easy week, but it has still been a great week.  Even though the storms rose, he once again proved that he still speaks 'peace!'  May you remember that:  

God is God!  God is Good!  

Welcome to Friday!  Have the Best Weekend Ever!

With love (& in triumph) 

Welcome to Friday - 2.14.14

Thoughts and reflections from this week 2.8.14 - 2.14.14 ( Valentine's Day! )

Welcome to Friday!

What a week!  What an amazing week!

We had a very interesting week to say the least.  The snow started Tuesday morning in Irmo, but because nothing was happening in Lexington, where I work, I was not able to leave until late.  Thankfully I was able to work from home on Wednesday and Thursday.  We lost power for about 3 hours on Thursday.  That is when it got really real for us.  

It is hard to keep six kids calm, but take away the lights, heat, television, Wi-Fi, ability to fix a hot lunch at lunchtime, and add a blanket of snow outside... let your imagination run wild.  Our saving grace was opening the door and telling them to "take all of that energy and go outside."  Wow!  The wisdom of hearing your parents and grandparents words come out of your own mouth. 

I must say, once they got outside they had a ball.  Ava made snow angels every time she fell, which was quite often.  Her first fall was spectacular, like a blooper reel.  The girls made a sad attempt to make a snowman and then proceeded into a snowball fight.  My friends and neighbors brought their kids down and pretty soon there were 10 to 12 kids running, falling and throwing snowballs.  Our neighbor across the street has a very steep drive that became the SC version of the Sochi ski slopes.  Of course Paige and Sydney took advantage of distracted parents to slide down this hill on a skateboard and plastic lid.  Ava tried to sneak up the hill, but we caught her.  Emma watched from the door.  Trish has some great pictures on her blog.

The snow and ice was definitely a challenge for us.  Thankfully we all made it through and it provided memories for a lifetime.  Thank God for the indescribable gifts that come in the most unexpected situations.  

I hope you are well, warm and enjoying today.

May God's peace, love and grace be with you today and always.

Happy Valentines Day!  

Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)

With love (& in triumph)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

All the poetry of all the great poets cannot adequately describe that which remains indescribable - namely how I should have become so lucky as to be loved by you!

If ever two were one, then surely it is we
And if ever a man were loved by his wife, then surely it is me.

 - Adapted from "To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Annie Bradstreet

Happy Valentine's Day!

 To my forever love - from yours!

Welcome to Friday - 01.24.2014

Reflections from the week gone by: 1/18/2014 - 1/24/2014

Welcome to Friday!

I hope you have had a great week!  How are you doing and how has your day started?  Oh, how I hope that you day has started as mine has or even better.  My day has started with the reminder of all of the blessings I received over the many years of my life (okay not too many years).  I have enjoyed the blessings of health, family, love, safety, security, peace and joy.  I have been abundantly blessed with friends who stick as close as brothers and sisters.  I was reminded of my many mentors who have guided my life; the many open doors that should have remained closed; and of the various trials and tribulations that could have been worse.  I was so thankful to recall all of the beautiful sunsets I've been given and the glorious moonlight that inspires awe.  What joy I had just remembering the unbelievable amounts of love I have received.  I sure hope you have had a morning filled with joy and blessings (past, present and the hope for the future).

I had a great week.  We had Monday off to reflect and live out the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The girls were out of school for Monday and Tuesday, which meant a nice chance to sleep late again.  I have had the added bonus of listening to Gabbi recount the joy, excitement, fun and thrill of going to Philadelphia to visit Matthew at University of Pennsylvania .  We got so many details that I felt like I went too.  Wednesday and Thursday went well, and though today (Friday 1/24/2014) has started off with me not feeling well, it is still a good week.  Especially when I remember what my Bible study partner said today, "God is" still "our awesome father!"  

With love (& in triumph)

Do you know how to ride over them?

I am in progress! 

I am in progress!

I am in progress!

I am in the process of trusting, hoping and resolving to abide solely in and on Christ, and I have great days, good days and not so great days.  I have those days that reveal I need more surrender (practice, faith, trust, home, and submission to Christ).

Sunday 2/2/14 was one of those "I need more surrender" days.  Sunday was a day that revealed that this journey of faith is truly a lifelong process.  It reminded me of the truth that we "do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and against the spiritual forces  evil in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)"  Yes, it was one of those battle front, and full combat days.  This day also revealed that God is true to his word when he said, "I am with you always (Matthew 28:20"  Praise God and thank you Lord, that God doesn't let us go on or through this journey alone.

Here is how things unfolded.  We were riding to church and out of the blue the conversation and mood in the car turned sour.  We weren't late.  We weren't rushed and really we were all in fairly good spirits.  That is probably why the attack caught us so off guard. Anyway, a conversation about a 12 passenger van caused a slight upheaval in the good spirits.  I mentioned that I'd like a 12 passenger van as our next family car.  Almost immediately silence took over in the car.  The mood shifted and suddenly, I hit one of those rough patches that we all go through.  Somehow in attitude and emotions I hit a bump in the road.

For the next two hours I tried to work through it on my own.  During worship service I tried to sing, to pray, to quote scripture, to write and even to be silent.  When I tried to sing I found myself unable to get on beat, in tune or even get the words out.  When I tried to pray someone would nudge me or stop me from even bowing my head.  When I tried to quote scripture I couldn't find the right one and eventually I seemed to draw a blank.

As the service ended, I felt like I was no better off than when I walked in.  Even though this too was a lie of the enemy.  Anyway, that's when a friend, Dr. Bell, came over and asked me how I was doing.  I was trying to avoid his gaze during service b/c I was afraid he would see through to my hurt and ask this exact question.  Before I could guard my reply, I said, "I'm doing okay, I just hit a bump in the road."  What?  Why did I say that!  Why couldn't I have said, "I'm great!"  What if he asks another question?  What if I have to tell him that whole story and I look silly?  Too late!  It was already out.

Now, this is the good part.  Dr. Bell says, "You hit a bump in the road.  Well, do you know how to ride over that bump in the road?"  He smiled, and said, "You've got the right shocks right?  You've got the right foundation to ride over those bumps.  If you've got the right shocks, you'll barely feel them."

Almost immediately the battle was back on and the enemy was in retreat.  God began to brighten and strengthen my mood.  I knew that despite these clouds, or this bump, my life was built on the sure foundation of Christ and my shocks were the blood of the lamb.  In Dr. Bell I regained a foothold and I was reminded that I have placed my trust in the Almighty.  I was reminded of the goodness and might of God to calm even the storms caused by my insensitivity and silliness.

Over the next few moments the mood lifted and soon we were laughing and chatting about Christ being the foundation, the tires and the shocks that we can ride over and through the bumps of life. We talked about how Christ would cushion the blow, absorb the hurt and the shock and help me keep going.  What an awesome God!  Dr. Bell reminded me that I know how to ride over those bumps - relying on Christ.  I know how to lessen the hurt and dampen the shock - Jesus!  The emotional swing didn't go all the way back, but the swing was in full progress.

What a joy to be reminded that in Christ we have all we need to ride over and through the bumps of this life.


Yours in love (& in Triumph),

Why not you

I'm taking this one from the Super Bowl comments, but I think it is so true.  The quarterback for the Super Bowl was saying that his dad, or someone, said "Why not you?"  As in, why can't you be the one to win, or why can't the Seahawks go all the way.  His reply was, "Why not us?"  Or, basically "Yeah, we can!"

This week to come will be filled with awesome things and awesome events being done by someone.  Somewhere a gift will be given in kindness.  Somewhere a great sacrifice will be made.  Awesome will occur, love will be shown, grace will be given and forgiveness granted.  My question to you is, "Why not you?"

Why don't you be the awesome that world needs this week?  Why don't you show love, make the sacrifice, help someone out in kindness, show grace under fire, extend mercy or grant forgiveness?  Great things will be done this week - "Why not let them be done by us?"

Yeah, why not you!  Yes, we can!  I am planning to make the best and the most of this week.  While I'm not perfect, I am willing to show love, kindness, grace, mercy, forgiveness and try to sacrifice for others.

Awesome will happen this week and I will do my best to bring my gifts and talents to bear on it.  Will you?


With love (& in triumph),
Cassius


Great Super Bowl!  Not so great on the commercials though!

When you oversleep

In this house, when you oversleep and someone leaves the bathroom door open and Ava gets bored - this is what happens!  You end up with a monkey in the toilet.

Some mornings, all we can do is laugh!  Ava is always on the move and this particular morning she found a way to occupy herself while we overslept.  She took Emma's toy monkey and let him go for a swim.  Thankfully we got to it before she tried to flush him away.

As someone else once said of Ava, "Never a dull moment!"  She provides us with hair pulling moments and moments that take your breath away.  I wouldn't trade either for the world.  I love her and all the girls.

With love (& in triumph),
Cassius