FAMOUS

In trying to bring meaning to Famous Dave's, we went to the questions. It was really good. Maybe not for the people that work there, but for me to get back to asking questions. It really helped me to start to get back to really caring and learning about people. It was another day of "wasted" time though, not getting much done. After spending time with Rachel, there wasn't much time for anything else. I just don't know if that did any good, but let's hope so.

THE MEAN GUY

I don't know what happened today, but I think it had something to do with waking up at 2:00 am. I don't know why I can't sleep. I don't know why I am in such great shape right now. I don't know why I am so crabby. I know that I am doing a bad job of not letting stupid stuff get to me, so while I am getting better at not letting food keep me from being selfless...being a husband is constantly getting in the way. I think I need to be more like an NFL wife, just support your spouse, be totally into their work when they are there and when they are not there, do what you need to do.

TWO DAYS DOWN

This was the second of the two-day fast. Basketball in the morning was not even a challenge, as I played probably as hard as I have played all year. And that was with little sleep. I wasn't even crabby. I can sense every day that I am doing even better with the chance to become less relient on food. If I can lick that, it would be a great step towards selflessness. Why does that seem so tough? Once again I was reminded today that our kids are great and that we are blessed to have such a great family! The kids are playing together really well. They are so fun to be around. Now to love others!

HE'S BACK

Spring break brought a little bit of getting off of the wagon. We are trying two days of fasting and just wondering when it is gonna get tough. Part of the problem is that I got too lax in planning for the time ahead, forgetting about my stuff and spending all my time getting done only what "has" to get done. So besides fasting, my prayer life has been pretty poor. Now that the kids are in school though, all I can do is forgive myself and get back on track. I am getting closer to not relying on food.

ICE CREAM DAY

We spent a day catching up with all the home stuff that we haven't been doing; homework, exercise, reading, family games and eating real meals. But no worries, on a 38 degree night, we went to the playground in flip flops, traveled downtown Oswego and got ICE CREAM. So while I was still crabby and not a great Dad, we had a great day!

WACKED OUT

It has happened again. We are on Spring Break, and I just can't get anything done. I feel like everything is getting bad...prayer life, workouts, living for other people. Every once in a while I realize that I really have it good right now and during periods like this I just need to "suck it up".

CARNIVAL OF ANIMALS

I did a good job, and it was cool to hang out with Steve. And watching Tim Tebow, of course, awesome. Jogging with Freddy was even good. Sure, my eating wasn't very good for a fasting day, but it is a work in progress. The play at night was really good. Mark seemed to really enjoy himself and did a really great job of singing and playing the glocks. Most importantly, he showed his best and had a great performance, no nerves, no scaredness. He was great! On my end, I could have done a better job of relating to people, but it's a work in progress.

CAR IN THE SHOP

I really didn't do anything today. We did get the kids from school, and had a great time at night wrestling and reading books. We even took a bath. I did call Jeff McMahon and got a ride to the shop, but man, what do I do all day?

FUN HOOPS

It was a great day of basketball. I don't even know if we won or lost, but my sense is that we won. I just didn't get mad and really enjoyed playing. Maybe it was because I got to sit out every game so I didn't get tired. Or maybe I am getting more mature. I can tell you this, praying for people has been great and fasting is getting easier and easier. I may be on to something.

FRIEND DAY

The fasting thing is becoming too easy. I am getting past the dependence upon food. But for some reason, I just can't sleep, so this may be a long one. I will say the highlight of today was Friend's Day. We had 5 people over today, and they weren't the best kids, but our kids really excelled. They were flat out awesome, being nice and even telling them when they were doing things they shouldn't do. We have great kids, and we are grateful. Looking back at the day, and what I like about praying for others, other than talk to parents at drop off, I really did nothing to love others. So fasting and praying for families seems like it serves a purpose on days when there just ain't time to do for others.

NEW CAR

We did it, we bought a car and paid cash for it. So that was cool, but it is a shame to be $15,000 down. They were great though. The problem is, it sent me a little back on the schedule. I'm gonna have to get up pretty early tomorrow, or just invite 10 kids over. DONE!

BEN COULTER

I tried to live for the Coulter's today, but by the end of the day, it was all about me and my desire for food. I just have to finish the deal. But overall, I gave you a chance and it really seemed to work out for the best, just doing what came naturally, not living out of fear and doing what it seemed you would want me to do. I think today was a good first day, but I have to figure out when work is gonna get done.

FAT TUESDAY

Tomorrow it is on! After a final day of being overly concerned with myself, including missing yet another wake, we start Lent focusing on others. Thank goodness!

FAT MONDAY

Liana got her cast today and was one of the greatest patients you could ever imagine. She really has a great way of making people happy. I am really proud of her. Of course, I almost killed her when she shintamoed, but that's the roller coaster. We did have some great Speedway today and I made the tough phone call (thanks to Mark), so we are on our way to loving people more and more every day.

BULLS CHURCH

This was our first practice on what we like to call the Sabbath, and it didn't work out all that great. I took a couple of naps, watched basketball and didn't really like it all that much. I would just rather play with the kids, but it is something that I have to get used to. It was great to see how the Brost family is really getting into church and God. And we did a much better job of relating to people and trying to love them. This should be a good Lent.

THE AUDITION

This was one of the toughest days we have had in awhile, but once again God proved to be there. The play audition was really hard. First, Mark felt horrible. Second, as a parent, there is nothing tougher than seeing your child completely disappointed. He was totally scared, and I couldn't find anything to do to help. I felt like a failure. He felt horrible. It was bad. And then, when he would have been able to do it, it was over! In the end though, I think that it was all good. For one, he battled through to play a great basketball game and didn't let one bad thing turn into a lot of bad things. Second, after a season of not scoring a basket, I asked God to please enable Mark to find a way to score. And he did! Now it didn't do a lot for his attitude, but the lesson I think was learned, that he didn't let this get him down, he still lived life and lived it well even after a disappointment. Looking back, I think this will be good, but it did make for a very rough day.

LAST BROOK GAME

Once again, we ended a basketball season at the Burrito place. Man, sometimes I know being with people is the way to go, but it seems so hard sometimes. Another late night doing Home and School stuff. And I didn't even eat healthy tonight. Hanging with Freddy was cool though. I guess, as I sum this up, it is 3:30 and I should have gone to bed a long time ago. Now I ain't making no sense.

TAX MONEY

This period of limbo is starting to get to me. With my job situation, for some reason, I am worrying about it again and it doesn't make sense. Sure, we may need a new car and sure, Kathy may not get paid for working the principal gig, but what the heck, we are in the best shape financially we have ever been in. I even have some speaking gigs lined up. And for the summer, it would be cool to work in the hospital. My schedule though, really tough. Shouldn't I just do what the plan says and enjoy myself, enjoy life. We can live on what we have for the time being, and just enjoy the moment. I will tell you what I did much better today, talk to people, all people. Forget about contacts and networking, it was great to just connect with people and try to be Christ a little.