A Journey Through the Bible

In May of 2009 I went on a journey; a long, almost daily, journey that involved a bunch of thought provoking reading and thinking.

Last week, May of 2011, I completed a journey every believer should take when I read the Bible from front to back, just 2-3 chapters a day, underlying key words, phrases and verses all along the way.

And these are my simple, non-theologian thoughts on this amazing book.

Certainly throughout my life I have read every book of the Bible and many Christians have read God’s word through the “One Year Bible” method. But honestly, after years of reading and loving God’s word, I realized I had never truly read it like a novel; starting at page one and reading until the end all the way through. Add taking the time to read it slow and highlight various aspects to each verse, and it’s a journey that can take a while.

It was worth every minute.

After a business tragedy hit my family in May of 2009 God laid it on my heart to get into His word for strength, peace and comfort. I wasn’t sure how books like Leviticus would do that, but frankly one of the key verses I discovered in this process came right out of that book! God is always full of surprises.

Now I know there are thousands of people who have spent their life studying the Bible - breaking it down into every small detail and part imaginable. Theologians, Pastors, Bible scholars, and even Bible critics have all spent much more time than I have for sure in such study.

But the thematic breakdown for me was quite simple. The Bible is a collective play of many stories depicting the stubbornness and ill ways of Man within the back drop of the grace and judgement of a holy God.

It just doesn't get much easier than that. Really.

Man continues to think he has it all figured out...turns away from God in pride and sin....something tragic happens in which Man needs God to bail them out....God comes to the rescue...Man turns back to God out of thankfulness and the cycle repeats over and over again.

Over the last two years this repetitive story line was always right in front of me, from Genesis through Revelation.

In short I would say this:
- man is sinful, disloyal, weak, inconsistent, small, arrogant, and yet creative
- God is forgiving, jealous, holy and loving

In the end we can only be the best God made us to be by realizing that without the Creator we are doomed to be the above.

All God wants is for us to ask forgiveness, never forget Him, be thankful for all He has and continues to do, and live a good life as a way of showing Him how much we care.

Like the ones before me, I am far from doing all of the above. Without His grace I would be certain for Hell.

I'm just thankful God gave me 2 years worth of reading to see that I'm not the only one...

Graduation One Complete

Sidney and Chloe strolled across the stage Wednesday morning as new pre-school graduates of Ridge Kids...provided by our church Walnut Ridge Baptist.

In a neat little ceremony the girls got to dress up in cap and gown, sing a few songs, and watch a wonderful slide show of them and all their friends.

As Julie and I watched together, me with video camera in tow of course, we couldn't help but both get a little emotional. Our little girls were already saying goodbye to one of their childhood phases.

They are officially no longer our little "babies". They are now our big, yet "little girls" - and oh how proud they are!

In just a little over 90 days we will be walking our babies into their new "big girl school" right down the street as they start the next phase of Elementary school. At least this time, the next graduation phase isn't for another 7 years. It just scares me when I think about how fast the last 6 have gone!

In 2005, God chose to bless us with these two little girls. It's now our job to parent them up for this crazy world we all live in. It's a chore, nights can be sleepless and money is always tight, but we certainly wouldn't have it any other way!

I just wish it would all slow down some...

Big Loss For our World - Dr. Kim Dies

This world has lost another amazing person as Dr. Kim Duk Whang, one of the pioneers of international adoption, died this week at the age of 96.

In 2008 Julie and I flew to South Korea to meet the people of Eastern Social Welfare Society, an orphanage in Seoul, and to bring home our son. Dr. Kim took the time out of his busy day running numerous aspects of this large organization to speak to us and to tell us about his heart for the needy and his love for children. Sitting in his office that day hearing him share his story and his vision for the future was awe inspiring and humbling. He even signed and game us a personal copy of a book he wrote about Christianity in Korea.

Dr. Kim started ESWS in 1972 after seeing the need orphans in South Korea had for love and adoption. At the time adoption was unheard of in South Korea. Orphans needed love and care and Dr. Kim stepped in to meet that need. Today ESWS is a very large ministry with offices and locations all over South Korea that helps orphans and needy children find families, get educated and receive love and medical care. see: http://www.eastern.or.kr/eastern/main/main.jsp?c_no=002

If only we could all be half the man Dr. Kim was our world would be a better place. Because of this man we have a son. Because of this man thousands and thousands of children around the world have families and parents have children.

Dr. Kim loved on orphans and built an organization that will continue this service to mankind and God for decades to come. He was an advocate for children like one this world has never seen.

Do doubt this man fulfilled his calling and did a job "well done". His reward will be great.

Now it's our turn...

http://www.eastern.or.kr/eastern/board/detail.jsp?bt_no=33&c_no=002006001&b_no=32650&page=1

Final Shuttle Goodbye - Almost

I will never forget standing in the playground grade school at Green Elementary when the Shuttle flew across right across the school on the back of a 777 during a landing at Ellington Air force Base in South Houston. We all froze and watched in amazement at this incredible space bird sitting piggy-back atop the largest airplane known to man. It was so low it was like I could touch it.

Growing up in Friendswood, Texas, a small town about 3 miles from NASA, I heard about the Shuttle nearly every day. The entire area was alive with NASA news all the time and many in our social network had someone that worked in relation to the space program.

Today the next to last Shuttle mission started and the last one is set for July, which will end nearly 30 years of voyages to "infinity and beyond".

I know Houston has to be a little sad today. A chapter in space flight comes to an end and for many of us, it has been apart of us most of our lives. Who knows what the next phase holds but I'm sure when the next vehicle to space is developed, Houston will play a vital role.

And we all will watch in all just like we have for the Shuttle.

Goodbye Shuttle and thanks for the memories!

8 Years and Counting

Julie and I made a promise to each other and still talk about it all the time.

We will not get divorced.

Seeing so many of our friends get divorced for such shallow reasons makes us sick, especially when kids are involved.

Since we met in 2001 and married in 2003, we have had a wonderful, balanced, easy going relationship. We have fun, we have the same values and beliefs, smae friends, and we love being parents and being together.

This week we celebrated our 8th anniversary. Here's to another year behind us and many more in front.

I love my wife and I know she loves me.

What else could anyone want in life? G.I.G.

Gotcha Forever Family Day 3

Three years ago Julie and I were experiencing life on the other side of the planet in South Korea getting ready to bring our son Quinn Seong Wook home to his forever family. It was a fast paced dash of seeing and learning some of the culture. It was truly one of the greatest weeks in our life. We cannot wait to go back with Quinny and the gang in tow.

We fell in love with this little boy the moment we saw him on our adoption agency's website. We quickly learned his nickname was "Mr. Smiley" and that smile was exactly what our family and life needed.

Quinn "the pooh" is one of the cutest, fun loving little boys in the world. Sure he has his moments, but he truly is one of the happiest little boys I've ever seen.

God is so good to allow us to be his forever family surrounding him with even more love from our friends and family members.

People always say "He is so blessed to have you". Boy, how wrong they are. We are so blessed to have him!

Another First

Our little Sidney lost her first tooth last week. She has another about to fall out.

Chloe has 3-4 that are getting loose.

This is NOT funny.

Sounds crazy but it nearly made Julie and me cry when that tooth came out. How can it be already that ADULT teeth will soon appear!??

Sidney proudly put it in her tooth fairy box and later that night it departed the earth in place of a $1 bill.

Life is so good, but PLEASE slow down would ya??!

Going to Disney World Soon? Read This

If you are one of the lucky parents blessed to take your family do Disney World in the future...below are some quick thoughts on what we learned regarding going with young kids.

- Prepare yourself to walk more than you can imagine carrying your kids alot of the time! Buy GOOD tennis shoes...I bought cheap ones and paid for it!

- Go in January or April. We've been both times and it's a totally different experience when there are NO LINES to speak of! Time is valuable and spending them in long hot lines is not fun...

- Use strollers with small kids! You will NOT regret the $20 a day you might spend!

- Buy PARK HOPPER tickets! This is a must!

- Get the parades you wanna see done the first few days and then ride rides during the parade times...

- Animal Kingdom is basically a zoo so spend your time at the others and maybe half day at AK. Bugs Life show is fun and try to have some adult fun on the amazing roller coaster "Expidition". It's fun!

- Plan to spend more time at Epcot than you think. Tons the kids will like but you can skip the countries...

- Disney parades, light show and fireworks at Magic Kingdom are a MUST! DO NOT MISS this!

- Find a way to ride Mt. Everest Expedition at Animal Kinkdom without the kids! Amazing roller coaster - same with Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.

- Use Fast Passes for the long line rides for sure.

- Buy giftcards before you leave - it will help you budget right. (Disney, Visa, etc)

- Do a character meal for sure! We did Chef Mickey one morning at Contemporary Resort and kids freaked. You have to call ahead of time and get reservation!

- Eat breakfast and dinners OFF SITE.

- IceCream shop right in front of the Castle is A MUST!

Disney Dream Comes True

Julie and I both were blessed to have parents that shared the magic of Disney World with us as children and since we started our own family in 2005 it has been our dream to continue that tradition.

In January that dream came true as we flew to Orlando with her parents for a week of fun at Disney World.

For years our 5 year old twin girls and 3 year old boy have enjoyed the music and sounds of Mickey and his gang, including Donald, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, the Muppets, Handy Manny, and all of his movie star friends - I think we have seen everything from the Aristocats to Toy Story 3. Knowing they all “live” at Disney World, our kiddos freaked when they learned for Christmas we were headed to go see them.

The countdown began and we all couldn’t wait.

We were not disappointed. Between the incredible weather, the amazing rides, the fun interactions with the characters, the nice people that work there and great shows, the week was just a total blast. Though we were all so tired we could barely function once we got home, every minute spent together as a family is a minute no one can ever take away.

Giving our kids experiences and memories that last a lifetime is one of our biggest passions. Our parents did it for us and we long to do the same for ours. Both of us still recall vivid details of those times with our families in the Magic Kingdom decades ago. Add to it our honeymoon in 2003 and Disney World takes up some serious space in our memory banks. Seeing the smiles on our kids faces, watching them interact with their Disney heroes and giving them 5 solid days of absolute fun will just be hard to top.

I guess it will take another trip back to Florida later in life, God willing.

We started missing Mickey and his pals as soon as we left.

See our photo slideshow here:
http://www.photodex.com/share/speers/79769mg4

Niece Headed to Mission Field, Support Needed

Prayer, Encouragement, Support. This is what my 15 year old niece, Maci, needs now that she has made the courageous commitment to join the iGo mission team this summer in an effort to reach out to the lost farming communities of France.

We all could not be more proud.

Feeling a strong call to take this step of faith, Maci will join a group of other students from around the country and head to Europe in an effort to minister to people that rarely hear the modern Gospel. She is nervously excited about what lays ahead - lots of work, little rest but many new friends and the experience of seeing God in action in another land.

Pray for her trip today and consider helping support her financially. iGo strongly urges students raise their own funds and discourages parents from providing big financial support, so it is all on the rest of her family and friends.

Maci needs our help! Will you please consider supporting her in prayer and in giving?

Send Donations to:

Walnut Ridge Baptist Church
Attn: Wayneen Cassidy c/o Maci Jensen
1201 South SH 360
Mansfield, TX 76063

You will be helping her learn more about God's work while she shares God's love to those in France!

For more visit: http://www.igoglobal.org/

Thanks everyone!

Quinn Fund Helps Families Adopt Children in 2009 & 2010

We recently learned that the adoption fund we set up in our son's name helped three kids in 2009 and two more in 2010 find forever families!

Thanks to each of you that have made a special effort to donate what you can to this fund named after Quinn. Every dollar helps a kid like him bless a family like ours!

Dillon International (our adoption agency) handles the fund and because of the economy funds are needed more now than ever before. Please click the link below to donate today! Just choose "Quinn Fund" from the list.

http://www.dillonadopt.org/

I promise fewer things make God smile bigger than helping an orphan!

Thanks everyone!

Disney World Is Magic

Every family should have the Disney World experience.

Two of my greatest memories in life center around visits to the world of Disney in the heart of Florida. Mom and dad sacrificed their time and money to take my sister and me twice during the 80s. Those two trips were some of the greatest times we ever had together.

Nothing compare to seeing Mickey and the gang and watching the Disney World come to life around you. I can recall those times like they were yesterday and I am so thankful mom and dad created that memory for us.

Eight years ago Julie and I made our own Disney World memories during our honeymoon stay. She too had gone with her family as a kid. It was so exciting to re-live the childhood memories as newlyweds and see sites we hadn't seen in 20+ years. Even in our 30s we still got as excited as kids when we ran across Mickey, Goofy or one of the others. We had our images engraved in stone at Epcot for us to come back and see later. We had no idea one day soon we would do just that, with three kids in tow.

In just a few days, our kids are going to get the experiene of lifetime and so will we as we take our turn in passing down the Disney World visit tradition. The kids are freaking out about seeing Elmo, Cinderella, SnowWhite, Mickey, Donald, Kermit, Woody, Buzz Light Year, and so many others I cannot even remember.

Years later I hope Chloe, Sidney and Quinn have those moments of thinking about this trip. The fun times with mom and dad and each other all while hanging with the Disney gang.

Oh boy, it's gonna be fun!

Letter from the NFL

With one of the most exciting regular seasons now completed and the playoffs about to begin, let me first thank you and all NFL fans for your incredible support. Many fans have been asking me where we stand on signing a new collective bargaining agreement with the players union. Let me update you and be clear at the outset:

I know we can and will reach an agreement.

My goal as Commissioner now is to help our teams and players find a solution that is fair to everyone and ensures that football becomes more popular, accessible, and fun. We want the next decade to be the best yet for our fans, and I'm ready to work day and night to make that happen.

We've come a long way. Compare where we are today with 10 years ago. From player accountability to player safety, more and better television coverage, upgrading the in-stadium experience, innovations like the RedZone channel, the Draft in prime time and playing the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, we are focused on doing what's best for the players, teams, and fans. My priority is and always will be the game and the fans who love our game.

The NFL is great because fans care deeply about it. Economic conditions, however, have changed dramatically inside and outside the NFL since 2006 when we negotiated the last CBA. A 10 percent unemployment rate hurts us all. Fans have limited budgets and rightly want the most for their money. I get it.

Yes, NFL players deserve to be paid well. Unfortunately, economic realities are forcing everyone to make tough choices and the NFL is no different.

These are not easy negotiations, but the outcome can be positive. If both sides give a little, everyone, including fans, will get a lot and the game will improve through innovation.

Even in difficult economic times, a new CBA presents us with the opportunity to secure the future of our game. You may ask how will the NFL look under this vision?

A significant change would be to resolve fan complaints about preseason by modifying our 20-game format. Fans tell us they don't like the quality of the preseason games, and we're listening. An enhanced season of 18 regular season and two preseason games would not add a single game for the players collectively, but would give fans more meaningful, high-quality football.

Our emphasis on player health and safety is absolutely essential to the future of our game. We are strictly enforcing rules that protect players from unnecessarily dangerous play, especially involving hits to the head. We are changing the "play through it" culture to a "player-first" culture to ensure that if a player has a head injury, he doesn't play again until his health is certain. We are also addressing the potential wear-and-tear on players in the way they train in-season and off-season.

It's not just the health of players that concerns us. We must ensure the health of the league. That includes a new system that properly compensates proven veterans and retired players by shifting some of the outrageous sums paid to many unproven rookies. Earlier this year, Sports Illustrated published a list of the 50 highest-paid American athletes that included five 2009 NFL rookies. Every other athlete on the list was a proven veteran. In 2009, NFL clubs contracted $1.2 billion to 256 drafted rookies with $585 million guaranteed before they had stepped on an NFL field.

Don't get me wrong: top draft choices will continue to be highly paid. All we're asking for is a return to common sense in paying our rookies. Other leagues have done this and we can too.

These improvements and more will lead to better football, plain and simple. A forward looking CBA that is fair to players and clubs will lead to a great future for the NFL and our fans.

My job is to represent the game - the fans, teams, players, coaches and business partners. Protecting the integrity of the game and ensuring it thrives is a responsibility I take very seriously.

This is about more than a labor agreement. It's about the future of the NFL. We have to improve and will be relentless in our quest. The commitment to our fans is to make the NFL experience even better in the years ahead. With a responsible CBA, we will fulfill that vision.

Happy New Year and enjoy the playoffs.

- Roger Goodell

New Opportunities, Not New Resolutions

Sure I've done the New Year's Resolutions thing too and like most of us failed at keeping most of them. But now I look at things differently as I ponder the new year in front of me.

It's about seizing opportunities. Opportunities to pay off some debts, spend more time with friends and family, serve and give more, build a business, save more money, lose some weight, get closer to God or enjoy the journey more.

I am excited about 2011 like no year in a very long time. In front of Julie and me are opportunities like those above. We intend to pay off more debts like we did in 2010, travel a little more, give and serve even more and of course we both have full intentions to get healthier...yes even me! I even plan to finally publish my first real book sometime this spring. Just in the process of editing it now...

We start the year off with a bang later this month by taking the family to Disney World (that was our big Christmas present) and then we get focused on all of those "opportunities" mentioned rounding it off with a fun trip to Galveston once again this summer.

Mostly, I am excited about what God is doing with my comany, Equal Health, and watching Him rebuild it has been amazing. We are well on the way to rebuilding our residual income base thanks to some new health plans we now offer. It's going to be an exciting year. The more we can earn the more we can give!

Take some time to consider the opportunites in front of you during the next 365 days. God will put them in front of you, that I can promise!

A Year in Review 2010

Enjoy our Christmas card this year? LOL. Hope so! That picture wasn't staged either. Julie took it one day when she heard the kids banging on the piano and looked around the corner to see them buttnaked! That's pretty much a snapshot of our year with preschoolers.

This year was full and busy as always. Julie stays busier than ever taking the kids to their preschool classes and various other activities. Plus she is involved in the PTA and a BSF group too. Between that and everything else she does there isn't much time for anything else.

The kids are doing great. Quinn continues to blow our minds with his personality and joy. He is potty trained (no more diapers!) and has his moments since he is three, but for the most part he is great. Chloe is our family comedian and keeps us all laughing all the time. She truly is FUNNY! Sidney is sweeter than candy and so motherly. Just fun times around here with them being 5 and Quinn acting like he is too. The things they all say....Next year the girls will start real school. Just 9 months away. Sad but exciting.

The boys are doing great too! Sadly, they are getting older. Max is basically blind and Sam has really gotten some grey hair. Doctor says they are both healthy as oxes and they have the kids around to keep them active.

My business made it through another year praise God. Last year was terrible and 2010 started out without a lot of direction. But God has led and blessed us beyond belief and 2011 will start our 10th year as an agency. The future looks brighter than ever too. The industry is in chaos right now because of Obamacare but that means agencies like Equal Health can take advantage of the market too. Hopefully we will be able to do so in 2011. We still have a ways to go to fully recover from what happened to us in 2009 but we are well on the way to a full recovery! God is good!

We love our church, Walnut Ridge Baptist, and our pastor is so real and down to earth it's amazing. We have finally found a great group of friends there and are having lots of fun. We are truly blessed to have so many great friends in our lives all over the place.

Our best trip of 2010 was by far our journey back down to Galveston. We discovered The Galvestonian resort and loved it! Julie and I celebrated our 7th anniversary by going down to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. What an amazing place! Go there if you can. Great weekend getaway. We went to Vegas this summer with some friends and stayed at the Rio. It was a total blast! Discovered the Voodoo Lounge on the top of the Rio and wow, that was cool!

Overall this was a very good year though it went way too fast.

Only downer for the year was the Cowboys....but the Texas Rangers made up for it and we got to go to the World Series and cheer them on! The kids love going to baseball games too. Let's Go Rangers!

Here's to next year being another great one to enjoy. See you all on Facebook!

Transfering Large Iphone Video Files to PC - A Solution

Have an iphone? Wondering how to get large video files onto your PC? Tried to drag it to Windows Explorer only to find it doesn't work?

I have your easy solution.

The Iphone rocks, but a big flaw is that for large video files (over 3-4 minutes) it does not work well with Windows in terms of copying the file to your PC.

Here's the solution.

1. Connect phone to PC
2. Open Itunes and sync phone
3. After sync is go to Windows Explorer and then to your C drive
4. Then documents and settings folder
5. Then owner folder
6. Then application data folder
7. Then Apple folder
8. Then mobile sync folder
9. Then backup folder
10. Then open last backup folder
11. Sort files in the folder by size - large files are your video files
12. Right click, copy and then paste into another folder
13. Rename each file by adding ".mov" to end and it will turn it into MOV movie format
14. Play file with Quicktimes and you are done!

Just Another Time to Say Thanks

Once a year we slow down just enough to think about all we have and how much worse it could be.

All of us should be thankful. I know we are.

I am thankful for....

our salvation and God's grace
my health
my wife's health
our kid's health
my wife (I am sure she is thankful for me....most days)
our amazing kids
our incredible families
the amazing group of friends we have
my business making it through another year
our wonderful church right down the street
the trips we've been able to take
the fun times we have had
God giving us strength in our worries
God providing week after week
our freedom in this country
what looks like a fun, amazing future!

Oh there is alot more for sure but time is after all, of the essence and we have a pizza in the oven - homemade too.

One thing I have learned in my 41 short years is to always remain in a state of humility and gratefulness before God. It covers a multitude of shortfalls with Him when we are thankful each and ever day no matter our circumstances. It is always worse off for someone somewhere else.

Take time to thank God today for all He has done and given you. Write and list - you will likely be shocked.

Our Kids Now

It’s neat watching kids grow up in front of your eyes. When they are toddlers or pre-schoolers it almost seems like they change daily. As a parent it’s a sad reality that these days won’t last long.

I’ve been thinking about my three kiddos a lot lately. They truly are all Julie and I live for, outside of Christ. They are our joy, our focus and our drive to be the best we can be.
One of the things we have learned is to pay attention to who they are as individuals. Knowing their characteristics, traits and tendencies helps us manage, guide and oversee them. I can’t wait to see who each of them become, but for now this is a short essay of who we see them as right now.

Sidney “Louise” Nichole Speers (age 5) – One word that describes her best is sweet. She is motherly, loving, sensitive and caring. She watches over her sister and brother as if she was the first born. In fact, she was 2nd by a mere 18 seconds behind Chloe. She is also very funny. Though I would not say she is whity. Just funny in her own way. She can even be a little naïve too – and I think that is a Wroten family trait! She has a great laugh and when she gets rolling along with her sister we are all usually cracking up. Sidney doesn’t need much in terms of discipline though she tends to be a follower sometimes. All you really have to do is express your disappointment or tell her how upset you are and that will do the trick. She has a big heart and learns very quickly and is also a great helper. In that regard she is a leader and I can see her being a classroom leader as well. A teacher’s pet maybe. She is good, just like her momma is!

Chloe “Gracifer” Grace Speers (age 5) – One word that describes her best is hilarious. Just about the funniest 5 year old I have ever been around. She is super whitty, sarcastic and a total jokester. Her little chipmunk laugh gets her sister rolling and anyone around her laughing as well. She is always up to something to try and get a laugh out of people. She is very active and brave too. She isn’t afraid to take off and do something except for being in front of a crowd! She puts on a front that she has it all together but deep inside she is sensitve too. She is more like her daddy than the others for sure and seems to have a deep sense of connection to daddy. I see myself in her every single day. Class clown appears to be a title she might win one day. She is also very independent and never stops. Since the day we first felt her in Julie’s belly she has been a squirmy worm. She has a fighter’s spirit which I like a lot!

Side note - Neither of our girls are very girly-like and neither play with baby dolls. But they love their makeup and stuffed animals for sure. Though the girls are identical twins, they are completely different in personalities.

Quinny “Quinny” Seong Wook Speers (age 3) – One word that describes him is joy. Since the first day we held him he has had a smile on his face. His nickname was “Mr. Smiley” in Korea and he certainly lives up to that now. He lights the place up wherever we go and everyone loves little Quinn. He is a people magnet. Though he has temper tantrums from time to time, he truly is happy most of the time. Considering all that he has gone through in his short 3 years you would think he would be the least happy. He loves people, is very caring and loving and is certainly a momma’s boy! A second word to describe him is smart. He was speaking complete sentences at 18 months and walking before a year. He figures lots of things out and hangs with his 5 year old sisters like he was their age. But overall he brings everyone around him a sense of joy. His cute little smile, the Santa Clause crinkle in his eyes and his soft skin just make him a total bundle of fun! As they say, we could eat him all up!

I’m eager to see what I will write about these kiddos in another 5 or 10 years. I’m sure some things will change, but I can also see how many things will stay the same. We have three very unique children and God has blessed us like no other!

Election Night Fever - Literally

As most of my family deals with fevers and bronchitis (me included), an important night in our nation's history took place in the form of the 2010 mid-term elections.

I swear if I could do it again, I would be a talk show host.

I love election nights almost like I do a good Cowboys game (which is hard to come by these days!).

It is our DUTY to vote every two years. Our freedom demands we pay the price of giving 5 minutes of our time to the booth looking over names most know nothing about. It is the American way. It's why we are free.

Shame on you, if you don't vote.

Voting is an honor and a privilege. Soldiers give their lives every day so we can.

I love America and thank you America for speaking out tonight.

Thanks to John Boehner for being real and standing strong.

Now, back to tracking some results...a few more hours to go.

Quinn and the Lizard

I felt like a schmuck.

Here is what happened...

I came home to take over on kid duty. Getting ready to take the kids out for our favorite pizza run with good ol' Daddy.

"Everyone go get your shoes on," I said. The girls complied. As usual Quinn pretended to not hear and started wandering around.

A few minutes later...

"Quinn go get your flip flops on now!"

"But there is a lizard in there," he said with a very poor attempt at crying.

"Whatever!"

Knowing he pulls these kinds of stunts all the time, looking for any reason to not obey, I wasn't about to be fooled.

"Go get your flip flops now or we are not going!"

"Whaaa!" he started crying a little harder.

"Quinn!"

I began pushing him towards the small basket the kids kept their shoes in.

Still he refused, frustrating me more.

Finally, I gave in.

"Never mind...we don't have time for this."

I started digging around the basket for his flip flops. "See!" I proudly proclaimed, "There are no lizards in here."

Right about then he screamed and I looked down at my hand to see a large Gecko running around the outer edge of the basket!

"Holy crap!" I yelled. (I couldn't help it).

By then the girls had joined the commotion and like the squirrel scene in Christmas Vacation, everyone ran from the scene screaming, including myself with the basket in hand.

Quickly I opened the front door and the little dude jumped off on the porch.

"I'm so sorry buddy!" I said while hugging a sobbing Q-ster. "There WAS a lizard in there!"

Thank God Father of the Year awards are later in the winter!

What a scene.