~A day with the cows~

Okay so maybe it was not a day full of cows. For the most part it was a nice day.... we got to get out a little and see the town.. bigger then wayensboro, who would think. We went to a nice little coffee joint that had some really good coffee. I have been to some in small towns that can't make anything. And the price was really good to. We got to drive a little around town today and see what the downtown of Fort Morgan is all about. Smell but nice! When we got home we laid down for a nap but Emily woke up with a bad cold and a bad sore throat. Debbie went out and got her some meds and some things to help her. She has been off and on for a while now. She seems to want to be up and move around a little or be held and then she will fall asleep in a few secs. Debbie and her family went out to a dinner tonight in town and I had to stay with Emily as she is not feeling well. She is doing okay, I gave her something to eat and she seem to eat a little. I wanted her to drink a little more but at this point she is not in the mood. I will keep trying to push things down her. She wanted to be held so I held her while I watched the news and Touched By A Angel..(tonight they had Sylar aka Zachary Quinto. in it) it was really good. I have not seen Touched by a Angel in years. when it came out in the 90's I watched it everyday sometimes 3 times a day. I got the sound track that came out soon after a few shows. It was a great soundtrack. I like their Christmas CD too. Well Emily is past out in the bed (not sleeping well I can tell) and I am a little down my self. I have been taking a few meds for the past 4 hours and I am loving my new SEA-BAND It is a neat thing I have never heard of them before last weekend when I walked in Walgreen's to get some meds for traveling on the airplane. I didn't wear it on the plane as I was a little worried about it they really work and didn't want to look dumb wearing them. I felt really sick and nausea last night so I put them on and sure thing I felt a lot better after a while. I was not 100% better but I could tell a big difference. Check out their website they even have one for kids too. (www.sea-band.com) Pray that the Lord will heal Emily fast and she will get over this cold over night.. The sooner the better because she sounds bad. Updates later!
In His Grip,
Jonathan

~Dumb Pointless Facebook Statistics~

Company Figures

• More than 350 million active users
• 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
• More than 35 million users update their status each day
• More than 55 million status updates posted each day
• More than 2.5 billion photos uploaded to the site each month
• More than 3.5 billion pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photo albums, etc.) shared each week
• More than 3.5 million events created each month
• More than 1.6 million active Pages on Facebook
• More than 700,000 local businesses have active Pages on Facebook
• Pages have created more than 5.3 billion fans

Average User Figures

• Average user has 130 friends on the site
• Average user sends 8 friend requests per month
• Average user spends more than 55 minutes per day on Facebook
• Average user clicks the Like button on 9 pieces of content each month
• Average user writes 25 comments on Facebook content each month
• Average user becomes a fan of 2 Pages each month
• Average user is invited to 3 events per month
• Average user is a member of 12 groups

International Growth

• More than 70 translations available on the site
• About 70% of Facebook users are outside the United States
• Over 300,000 users helped translate the site through the translations application

Platform

• More than one million developers and entrepreneurs from more than 180 countries
• Every month, more than 70% of Facebook users engage with Platform applications
• More than 500,000 active applications currently on Facebook Platform
• More than 250 applications have more than one million monthly active users
• More than 80,000 websites have implemented Facebook Connect since its general availability in December 2008
• More than 60 million Facebook users engage with Facebook Connect on external websites every month
• Two-thirds of comScore’s U.S. Top 100 websites and half of comScore’s Global Top 100 websites have implemented Facebook Connect

Mobile

• There are more than 65 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.
• People that use Facebook on their mobile devices are almost 50% more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.
• There are more than 180 mobile operators in 60 countries working to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Okay so we didn't go on a train but we did go on this cool Auto-tram thingy at the airport. I would have to say the out of all the things that we traveled in I am a ground lover.... The only thing we missed was a boat.. and boy if we could take a boat all the way from SC to CO I would be in good shape... It might take longer but would be nice... The flights where fine for the most part but again this is from someone who hates to fly... and Yes I still hate planes. I am still going to push that we rent a RV for one of our trips down here. That will have to a longer trip so we can take our time and enjoy our stops. But anyway we are here now so no more talk about planes untill next week where we have to do this all over again (Oh Joy!)

Now I can fill the rest of this blog up with talking about PINE tress.... I am jokeing!!

I have a little rat dog trying to set ontop of my netbook so I guess that means the topic of Pine tress will come later... LOL :)

In His Grip,

J

~Post-Dated Prayer Request~

One thing I love about blogger is you can post things and then set a time and date you want them to post later in the day or week. So I am setting this post to post during Debbie and I's flight. Hopefully we are not dead.... and if we are then I am in heaven having a party without you! LoL Anyway please pray for us as we are in the air, taking off, landing, the crew, the pilot (lets pray it's not my dad :o Just kidding I am trying to be funny here. LOL) And please pray for our stay in Co. and again for our return on Jan 25th. Pray we get through airport security with no problems. Pray Emily does well as this is her first time ever in a plane and that she does not have her daddy's fears. Pray the weather is nice and we even get to enjoy the snow while in Co. Also please pray for everyone's health on this trip that we all stay healthy and safe. Thanks so much!!!

Always In His Grip,
-Jonathan

~PACKED~

Okay so 3 days later and I am now packed... I am ready to go and all is well. Carolina is in Doggie Hotel and lets pray all goes well and SAFE. Now that I am packed I have to find a way to get it all in the car. :)

-J

Someone said Airplane!!

Okay so if you don't know by now Debbie and I are going home to CO. for the week. We are both are happy about this trip, Debbie has not been home to see her family in almost 2 years and Emily has not seen that side of the world yet nor any family members their. God blessed us with a great price to get to go.. However.... It's on a airplane!!! DID I you see what I just said IT'S ON A AIRPLANE!!!! I hate planes and even blogging about it makes me want to cry.... (okay maybe it's not that bad, but it is really bad.) last time I went on a plane I was turned green and white. I looked like Kermit the frog and Michael Jackson's baby. LoL I hope and pray it will not be so bad this time.. The best part is Debbie and I will be able to have seats next to each other both ways and baby Emily will be there so I can keep my mind on her. Pray she does well as this is the 1st time she has been on a plane and with her still under 2 she flys FREE, can't beat that. I have start packing and trying to find a way to get my whole house in one little bag. I even watched a YouTube video on how to pack the right way... I know I am dumb! Oh we even got Carolina a hotel for the 1st time in her life... We have never taken any of our pets to a pet hotel before. This will be fun.. and as she is getting older we are hoping will do well with this long stay without us. I keep thinking it is like when you put your Neopet in the hotel on the neopets.com but Debbie says it is a little different then the video game... and no they won't have mints on their pillow... LOL :) I will give updates on how things go with Carolina and our trip... I am hoping everything will go fast and well during our getting into the airport... and PLEASE pray for us!
In His Grip,
Jonathan

PS: I am shopping around for a parachute if anyone knows of a good deal..... :)

~A another view of Christ~

Here is a story I have been telling for years. I was looking back on my sermon notes and found it again.. It was a great reminder finding it again.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near and the driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place.
I hope it makes us think.... I think pastors even miss this a lot in today's churches. It's hard to take it sometimes but it is true... I walk into so many churches and I see this is a big issue. Take it to heart! One good book I found over my years in ministry is one called "How can you worship to a homeless man on Sunday and ignore him on Monday??"
Even doing this blog post I wanted to find a picture that went along with this story and while I was looking I stopped at this picture of this homeless man... Wow what a cool idea for a picture of Christ.... What about the last picture??? What do you think? How do you view Jesus Christ?

In His Grip,
Jonathan

~Your Daily Cup~

"The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good."
Ecclesiastes 9:17-18

~Life is a do-it-yourself project~

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody is watching.

This is a good story to keep in mind each day.. what a great reminder on how we should live our lives.

-Jonathan

~Quick Update~

Okay, so our 3 year old is now in full-time daycare/ school. Debbie and I now just have Emily to watch all day. It is really nice when we have meetings and lately it seems we have a lot. This morning Debbie went out to lunch with a few people from the office and I got to stay home with Emily. It reminded me of Emily and I's year together at home on the farm. I enjoyed it for the time I was with her.... But no I could not go back to that again full-time. I told Debbie we should make a date for lunch sometime during the week where it can be a family kinda thing with just us. In other news It was a nice day today. It seemed to really warm up and after about a month of cold mornings and days and some even icy it was nice to have a change. I am currently still working on trying to get my computer back up and running with some more programs. I don't even think when you buy a new computer it comes with so little programs. The one program I am trying to find, and if not I will have to buy is MS office. I keep getting emails today from the office and they are not coming through right. maybe I will luck out in finding something. Emily found new friends this week... bigger then her stuff animals. She loves them I think she even slept with them all night last night in her big girl bed.

In His Grip,
Jonathan

~A Big Boy's Toy~

Okay I was trying to find this tool I saw on the TV a few years back that is a work table that has a saw, drill, and a few other cool things you can add to it. Well so far I can't find what I am looking for but I did find the mother of all tools I want to own one day and have in my wood shop. Due to the price I might have to wait 10 years LOL :) This table is: A Table Saw, Disc Sander, Lathe, Horizontal drill, and a drill press... What more could one want. I am blown away by all the things it can do.

The Shopsmith MARK V
Price: $2,999

~Our Daily Cup~

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
-Philippians 2:9-11

~BL Update~

Okay after weeks of being busy with things and our computer going out and Debbie bugging me to send out a update. I posted a short update on my Biggest Loser update! Thanks for everyone's support. Check it out Here

In His Grip,

J

"The past does not define, you the present does."

~2010~

So it is a new year. and I guess it is time for me to update and put in a post. Currently life has been busy. Debbie and I went to Fl after Christmas to spend with family and well we got really sick... It was not very enjoyable. I was hoping we where going to get to go the the beach and spend some time in the pool and hot tub. I guess it was just not our week. Well it has only been a few days ago I fully felt like I got over it and I am up to about 95% again... I really need to get back on riding my bike again as I have taken some time off over the Christmas break and I am in big need of a good workout again. In other news It seems we have hit the stage where Emily wants to try to kill her self. From having eating cream, to falling down 4 brick steps, and fall out of the bath tub over on her head... She has been giving mommy and me the scare of a life time. The bad part is it has all taken place in 3 days in a row. Out prayer is she gets out of the stage fast and we don't have to end up in the ER with her. Please pray for her to stay safe and that mommy and daddy's hearts don't blow up after all the stress she is putting us through. Talking about stress life has become very stressful over the past week. I don't know if it is just a bad spirit of stress or not but it is draining. I am glad however to be off and enjoying a nice break. Lets just pray I won't get sick. Work is going..... we have lost one of our girls as her case worker has moved her to another Home. due to some spacing issues. it's sad but feel it could be a good move as she will be with brothers and sisters once again... I can't be too said about the whole thing as the Home she was moved to is very dear to Debbie and I's hearts and we support strongly. But that is about for work stuff.... Did I say I was glad to be off :)
In other news... Well with the new year I have been seeing and hearing about all the new year's resolutions. It is funny how so many people make all these goals and stuff and it seems to be over by the end of the month.... It will be fun to see how long these goals will last. I for one am not setting a new year's resolution. I am however going to continue my health journey, one I have start months again... for more info about this journey check out Debbie and I's website at: "The Journey"
Well hopeful I will blog/post more that I get a little more free time in my day.

In His Grip,
J