Stages

 

Photo courtesy of steephill and letour.fr not for sale or reproduction for profit. 

We all go through stages. The imperfect one wishes that they were all as easy to get through as Radioshack/Nissan Trek rider Fabian Cancellara seems to make them appear in the picture above. Fabian understands that the road ahead of him is a tough one, however. No sane person, would ever tell you that all roads are smooth, and that all mountains are easy. The roads are beautiful, and the vistas incredible in the mountain stages in the Tour de France (Tour of France or TDF), but they are difficult for even the most skilled and best conditioned riders. So goes the trials of life.

Fabian won the Prologue (the opening stage of the TDF, but not Stage 1) of the International Cyclist Union's (UCI) and the worlds biggest cycling event, in doing so he also claimed the first place yellow jersey by winning the Prologue (Individual Time Trial).

Fabian is a time trial specialist. Fabian has won four UCI Time Trial World Championships (breaking the record), the opening stage (time trials) of the Tour of France five times (tying the record this year), he has won Olympic gold, other, numerous UCI races, and time trials as well. However, Fabian has never won "The Tour." He has won a ton of races, and awards. He has an impressive resume for sure, but what really makes this guy special is his selflessness. Fabian works with his team in every way possible, he takes it under his wing every year in his specialty event, the time trials, and leads them in the team time trials (TTT). This Swiss born rider with an Italian bloodline, is a team player. Fabian never goes out and says, anything about what he has done, or who he is. He doesn't have to, his actions do that for him. He doesn't have to be an, "I did that," or an "I was that guy!" He is still that person, just at an even higher level because he takes others with him. He never boasts about past achievements, he just focuses on the team at hand, and tries to make them better! He held the yellow jersey for the first seven days in this Tour, and has helped keep his team together, to pursue the team yellow now, and is doing so with no complaints. This just in, the team has the Team Yellow Jersey, and lead all teams in the TDF! Fabian has done his part, and is now on his way home to make being a great dad look easy. He's going to experience the birth of his second child. Congrats Fabi, and if you are the was that guy, here's to your change.

Peace, blessings, and joy... that real PB&J.

Do You Remember The Best Part?

Do you remember what the best part of the cake was? Did you savor it, and enjoy every morsel, or just remember that it was good?

The imperfect Christian stood by his great-great grandmother's bed side and held her hand as she died. After that day, he was fearful of death! The imperfect Christian thought about it as a youngster on a daily basis. As an adult that fearful memory was refreshed, but this time in fear for his children. The imperfect one as a young newly crowned father, had a dream that his infant son (oldest son and no longer an infant) walked out of a skyscraper window, and fell several stories. The imperfect one scrambled in the dream and forced himself to sleep, and to continue the dream, until he could catch his son before he fell to his death.One of the imperfect ones most frightening events for sure!

Then later in his adult life, and being blessed with a girl, the imperfect Christian was sent a message from an angel to give to his little angel. She woke up one night, screaming, and daddy flew to her rescue! She told her imperfect daddy something that tormented him. She spoke of a horrific death that she dreamed about... her own! The imperfect Christian fought back tears until after he talked with her. He thought about the times he dreamed of himself drowning as a child. By the grace of God he swims very well now, and survived childhood by that same grace. So we speak no such curses about death, when it is our time, it is our time. The Word that the angel gave to this imperfect father, and imperfect Christian was... "baby you don't dream of dying, you live, and dream of living!"

Life vs. Death, Heaven and hell, an eternal living God vs. a lying deceitful devil... Who wins, which do we seek most? You see we give in and let evil take way too much from us. We think about the doctor saying, "You are going to die in six months." We don't hear him say, "You have six months or longer to live!" We don't hear GOD saying, "I have prepared a place for you," or "I am the God of the living." We hear that we are going to die. It numbs you doesn't it? It made the imperfect Christian numb to think about hearing those words, he can't lie. How would we face those words? This is how the imperfect Christian chose to face them... See that pound cake above? The imperfect Christian can normally down a piece of cake like that in a breath! Not today, however! Today it took almost 35 - 40 minutes. He tasted the goodness of God through butter, sugar, flour, milk, eggs, and took his time with it. He felt that cake dissolve around his teeth, melt on his tongue, and hit every taste bud on the way down! It was a wonderful piece of cake, and the best part of that cake, was every part, not just the sweet, but the satisfying of sweet, and hunger, and the joy of having something to enjoy. To think someone cared enough to bake it, and share it with others. Thank You God for sharing first of all Yourself, but also the loved ones I get to appreciate on a daily basis, You are too good to an undeserving wretch like me!

Today the imperfect one wants to strive not just to see his children as good, but see the spirit (Spirit) within them, the full vibrant glow in those brown eyes, on each member. The perfect pink lips, and the wonderful white toothy smiles! The active little and not so little fingers with the dirty nails that show the indoor and outdoor activities. All the way down to those long finger toes with complimenting nails. Today the imperfect one challenges you, to savor each moment, and LIVE!!!


Peace, Blessings, and Joy in Christ... that real PB&J!!!

Daddy's Girl Part 2

This is the imperfect Christians little HAM! Will perhaps be the imperfect Christians perfect lil' Mia Hamm, but they will cheer my little ones name this go round. She has an opportunity to play soccer this fall, and daddy is way stoked! But you know what blesses me even more? The look that is not for anyone else but daddy. The bashful look when she drops her head on my shoulder when I hug her and give her sugar in the morning before her mother drives off with her and takes her to school. Oh tug at a brothers heart strings! My best friend has two girls I can only imagine how ruined I would be with two! I pray that one day I can get that candid shot of my little girl and our morning embrace before I blink and she's grown. I love you baby girl, with all I my heart... Daddy loves you!

Daddy's Girl

This is an imperfect Christian picture of his perfect playtime with his perfect little girl. This is why I live a better life from day to day! Thank you God!!! Nuff said.

Angel In My Morning

I was awakened again this morning by a feisty little girl that loves to crawl into a warm bed. The set back is that she likes to snuggle as close as she can get, and then she draws out every bit of body heat that you once had, and kicks the blankets off of you. So, you have a tremendous drop in body temp, and she is closer to you than your drawers, so you can’t move for fear of crushing her. Oh did I mention the fact that if you move to the edge of the bed she follows you? That’s right good dads you know what I’m talking about. If you roll to the right you face plant in the floor, and if you roll to the left you hear, “Daddy you’re squeeching me!” You put her back in her bed about twenty times per night, and tell her, “no,” but she comes back anyway. She is the only one that I have a hard time pulling pranks on. Girls are so emotional sometimes! Well good people, a good Saturday morning breakfast blog to ya! The life of an imperfect Christian with the cutest little girl in his life at 7am on Saturday morning, and she like he, is looking for cartoons. Yeah I still dig the toons just not as early! Well she is a joy, a jewel in the crown, and nowhere near the nuisance that her old man was when he was little. In fact here’s the perfect time for my childhood prank story:

I Can't Feel My Face...

I almost feel bad for the little fella on the left. I actually feel worse for my grand kids, if I am blessed to have some. They will have to endure second generation torment from their father, and grandfather!

My kids are very compassionate, and all of them have big hearts. If someone is feeling down, or under the weather, my kids will do what they can to help lift their spirits and perk them up. Well on Monday night Smiley was sitting in front of the TV messing with some Legos or something, just hanging out. He and his brother had played Need For Speed Go Fast, Crash, and Somethin' or Nother Edition, and at this point it was just time to unwind before bed. We had a big road trip that Tuesday, and he was just chillaxin.' I went into the bedroom put on my long Black silky shorts to get comfy, then went to the bathroom, and said with no hesitation, "Hey the right one came out pretty easy." I had struggled with my contacts for a couple of days at that point, and was getting more frustrated with each day.

Smiley amazed said, "You got it out already dad?"

It had taken me about 3 days to get them out with the last attempt.

I paused for a second and then belted out a grunt from the center of my belly, and then literally screamed! My son just looked up with a deep look of concern. I stumbled out of the bathroom with eyes wide open, and feeling threw the air like I had lost my way...

Smiley sat with his mouth gaping open, and his eyes fixed on my left eye, that had no pupil, just a red spot running from where it used to be. He was frozen in fear. He was truly paralyzed and just sat there! I fell through the kitchen laughing and he finally got up caught his breath and said, while gently placing his hand on my shoulder, "Dad please don't ever do that to me again, I almost wet myself." He was smiling at the time, but his heart was really racing, it was priceless!

OK anyone else with great stories on what pranks they've pulled on their kids are welcomed to comment. Or even better, if you had one of your parents pull one over on you, please share...

Peace and I'm out... Tomorrow at 1pm starts my 3 day extravaganza!