What's Up With That?

TAG? What's Up With That?

2008-08-14T21:03:00.004-04:00

I ran as fast as I could but my wife caught me :( I am soooooo tired now! I have always been really good at tag, but for some reason Robin was able to run me down. She doesn't play fair though, she tagged me really hard across my bald head. I have a few tricks up my sleeve though, so you better watch out. Anyway, since I am now it and have to chase you guys all over the place, I figured I would take my time. Is there really a reason to run myself ragged? I mean I can just sit back and watch all of you run around like chickens with your heads cut off....screaming at the top of your lungs "DON'T TAG ME, I WAS ALREADY IT!" But guess what, yes it's true, I am the one that turns around and tags you right back after you tag me! So here I go....READY OR NOT!!!

Here is your mission, if you choose to accept.
First you post the rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks you possess.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Ok, here are a few things that you definitely don't know about me.

1. I once was arrested for cocaine paraphernalia.
(I never went to jail or even the police station)
(You will have to ask me to explain another time)

2. I once jumped off a bridge over the Indian River in Daytona Beach

3. I applied to be on the hit TV show "Survivor"
(I am soooo waiting for them to call me!)

4. I was run over by a Semi Truck....same one twice!

5. I always sleep on the left side of the bed.
(not my choice but it just happens Robin liked the right side when we got married)

6. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST....
I was hit by a train....in the head no less....blood, brains, stitches and all!
(YES, a real train moving down the tracks)
(Another story to be told at another time!!!)

So if you knew some of those then that means you know me pretty good.....if you didn't then you need to spend more time with me and learn some stuff!

Now that I finally chased you down...I must say to you - "YOUR IT"

Josh
Eric
Emily
Robin
Melissa
Christy

Survival Kit

2008-08-01T00:14:00.007-04:00

Robin picked up this Bible Study a few weeks ago for us to do as a family. She gave Hannah and Jacob each a book and got us one to share. The book is set up for us to do 1 lesson a day, Monday through Friday and for 11 weeks. Each week there is a verse to memorize which is always a great thing to add to your day! It is a very easy read and great for the kids to use as a jump start on learning to have a special time each day with their Heavenly Father.

Our plan was to do each day individually and then have a family discussion on the weekend. Robin and Hannah jumped right in and did their first week with no problem. Jacob read the first week but stated he didn't understand how to do it. Meanwhile, I was a complete slacker and did nothing. So the weekend comes and Jacob and I are not ready to discuss anything. I didn't do it and he is complaining he doesn't want to do it at all. Not the best way to start a family Bible Study!

I know I can't be mad at him or force him to do it, especially when I didn't even try. So instead, I talked with Robin and Hannah asking them if they would be willing to wait while I (The BIG slacker) can get caught up and Jacob can try to do week 1 over again. They agreed! After that, I talk with Jacob about why he didn’t want to do the Bible Study and what he was having trouble understanding. He said he had trouble answering the questions. I found he was doing it without using his Bible. I explain how the book worked and how to use his Bible to look up the verses to help answer some of the questions. He still was reluctant to do it and really didn't like the idea of doing it every day so I decided we needed some encouragement and motivation.

I suggested we should be accountability partners and hold each other accountable for doing our Bible Study every day. I explained that it meant he could come to me at any time, any day and ask me if I had done my Bible Study. As well as I could come to him and ask him if he had done his. He agreed! I have to say he has really held me to it too! He has asked me several times this week to see if I did mine yet. "Dad, did you do you Bible Study yet?" I think this is a great time for him to learn about accountability and know what it is like to be held accountable to someone, not only to me but more importantly to his Heavenly Father.

How about you? Do you have an accountability partner? Is someone holding you accountable to reading God's word? Is your family doing a Bible Study?

I would like to hear some of your family Bible Study experiences!

This weeks verse is:

Psalm 119:11 (New International Version)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

P.S. I also want to thank Robin and Hannah for waiting this week to allow us to catch up so we can all be on the same page!

HELP! I HAVE PESTS IN MY YARD!!!

2008-07-23T13:59:00.010-04:00

I don't know about you, but I have PESTS in my yard. How do you get rid of these little bugers? They are digging up my grass, digging tunnels under my fence, and leaving evidence with tracks of dirt from their tunnels beneath the ground. I even witnessed one outside in my yard at 3am one morning. I was sooooooooo tempted to run and get a baseball bat and PUT ITS LIGHTS OUT with one of my famous HOME RUN swings. I then decided against it. If I had been at Eric's house and we saw one of these little devils, I would have witnessed Eric TAKE IT OUT with a perfect head shot with one of his guns! Jacob and I take turns going out in the yard stomping the dirt tracked tunnels back in the ground and filling the dug up holes with what grass is left. I guess it will take an ALLNIGHT STAKEOUT with several bats to take care of this bothersome situation. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Would you let them be? Would you pull out the guns like Eric? What would be your solution to these pesky little varmints that inhabit the yard in the wee hours of the night? TELL ME PLEASE, before I lose what little hair I have left on my bald head!

Feeling a Little Upside Down?

2008-04-25T14:40:00.012-04:00

Have you ever felt like your day is just a little upside down?
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Today was one of those days!

Spring Break 2008 - Gatlinburg, TN

2008-04-02T07:07:00.013-04:00

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We spent our Spring Break vacation at Gatlinburg, TN.

A Day at the Track!

Rubbin's Racing!

Snow, Snow, The Beautiful Snow, Step on a Flake and Down Ya Go!

2008-02-07T13:18:00.000-05:00

I have had one crazy trip to Wisconsin for my Grandmothers funeral. It all started once I landed in Milwaukee airport at 9:30am on Sunday. I couldn't get to Wisconsin as early as the rest of my family, so I had to rent a car and drive to Marshfield to meet them. The drive is around 4 hours and I figured I would make it there right around 1:30 just in time for the funeral. I left the airport around 10am and before I new it, I was driving the 45 minutes in the wrong direction. I was all freaked out because I thought I would miss the funeral. Once I turned around and got back on the interstate going the right direction, I got stuck in front of traffic. I tried to get out of the way and had to speed up to do so and got pulled over. Of course I got a nice sized ticket. Now I am so upset thinking how am I going to pay for this ticket and how will I ever make the funeral on time. So I decided to not think about it and just drive. Once I got past the big cities and out in the country the driving was pretty easy. The last hour and a half was a straight country road with no traffic at all. Long story short I drove at speeds I wont mention and got to the funeral at 2:30pm. My Aunt and Uncle were able to hold the services until I got there and everything worked out.

We had the burial service the next morning and then had to drive back to Racine. The snow really started to come down hard after the burial service. So now we have 4 cars carpooling back to Racine in the falling snow. Mind you 3 of the drivers were from Florida! It was really fun to drive in the snow. At times a little scary. We stopped at a really cool restraunt that my Aunt and Uncle love to eat at. It was really good food too. We finally got back to Racine and now have just had a lot of good family time. On Tuesday the snow really hit hard in Racine and Milwaukee. It didn't stop until late Wednesday night. I think there was a total of 13 inches. Christy and Doug's flight was canceled as well as mine. Now it looks like we might get out of here on Saturday.

All the pictures are from our trip back from Marshfield. The last one was taken Wednesday morning. We have had fun being snowed in and hanging out with Aunt Judy and Uncle Bill. We had to shovel our cars out of the snow banks a few times.

I have to say that this has been one of those experiences that I will never forget.

What's Up With Us? Soccer Season!

2008-01-23T21:34:00.001-05:00

Here it is our 5th season playing soccer as the Penguins! Every year is a little bit different but always a blast. I really enjoy coaching the kids in soccer. Last year Hannah had to move up so she was on an older team called the Pythons. I was very excited to have both Hannah and Jacob back together on the same team. We are a pretty good looking group if you ask me.

We have played 4 games so far and it has been fun. Jacob plays goalie alot and offensive center. Hannah is an awesome defensive player so she plays in the fullback position. I have tried her in the goal a few times and she always gives me mean looks but does pretty good. I am very proud of both of them and know if they keep it up they could both play high school soccer.

Hear are a few action shots that my wonderful wife took during our last game. Also she is the one who took our team picture I posted above. She is sooo talented! We have a game on Saturday so pray for us to do well. We would love another win!

Another O'Donnell Christmas!

2007-12-26T10:47:00.000-05:00

We had a great time celebrating Christmas together. We did miss David's family and Ann due to they all live in VA and couldn't make it this year. We spent hours opening presents and eating of course. It is always fun to get everyone together to catch up.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My New Fire Pit!

2007-12-09T17:39:00.000-05:00

Last year I made a Bon Fire location for all the limbs, sticks and junk I collected in our yard. It worked very nicely until Robin wanted to invite the Sunday school class over for a Bon Fire Party. She didn't like the location and said it was hard to sit around because it was on a slope. So reluctantly, I dug a hole in the middle of my wonderful grassy yard to make a fire pit. As most of you know Robin posted the fire pit on her blog and suddenly several of you were inspired to do the same (build a fire pit that is). Well over the year my pit has kind of fell apart and did not stand up to the weather. After visiting Eric and Melissa as well as Josh and Emily, I have found that their inspired fire pits turned out wonderfully. So now I was inspired to redo mine. The pictures above show Hannah, who worked about 5 minutes, and me digging out the new pit. As I was digging, suddenly I found a friend....a very ugly friend! I have no idea how he was living 1 foot underground but there he was in all his ugliness. Anyway I worked on it for around 2 hours and the picture below is the end result. I hope it can stand all the weather and stays strong for many nights of roasting marshmallows and keeping warm by the fire!

Go Seminoles!

2007-11-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

Way to Go Seminoles!!!!

I'LL FIX IT....Somehow...Someway...

2007-10-17T00:14:00.000-04:00

How many times has something happen to you or a situation arises and your first instinct is to take it on and fix it yourself? I struggle with this all the time. My wife comes to me to tell me she has a problem and what do I want to do... fix it! My kids come to me with a problem and I want to fix it. Why is our first reaction to fix things? I can think back to many situations that I spent countless hours thinking of ways I could fix or take care of a problem. Whether it's a bill that needs to be paid and the money isn't there to pay it or something bad has happened and I don't know what to do. My mind races from idea to idea, plan to plan...How can I solve the problem?

Well this week is no different. Last Thursday morning I went out to start my truck and it's a no go! I get some funky error in my odometer screen reading "No BUS". What's Up With That? I check the internet and find that the computer in my truck is malfunctioning. The internet searches say it's the PCM (main computer). Not only does it run the whole truck but the dealership will have to fix it. How can I fix it? That’s my first thought. What can I do? Why me? What am I going to do? My mind starts to race...my heart starts to sink once I see the estimated cost posted in the internet searches...how will we pay for this....how do I get to work...what am I going to do... This goes on and on and on and on. So here it is 5 days later and I am
still thinking of all the ways I can fix this....I can do this and get some money...I can sell that to get some more.. on and on it goes.

I know your saying "Michael what about God!" Well that’s were it gets difficult. In my head, I know He has a plan for me...He is the one who allowed this to happen to me...there is a reason for all this...I need to trust HIM! At the same time my mind races with all the ways I think I can fix this problem. It is a battle between the flesh of the mind and trusting in God. Do you ever have that problem? Do you battle with trusting Him? All the things I have learned and experienced in my Christian walk tell me everything is going to be fine. He will take care of it all. Do not worry. Trust in Me! I can hear God telling me these things. My head knows this and so does my heart. But I still struggle with wanting to solve it on my own and within my own power. All it takes is to just give it to Him and let Him deal with it! I can sit back and not worry, relax in Him and know all will be fine. I am always reminded of this song we use to sing in youth group "cast all your cares upon Him, lay all of your burdens down at His feet, anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you!" I am pretty good about not worrying. Most of the time I think I am just blocking it out or I pretend it doesn’t exists. I can go through the day and not worry... sometimes I don't even think about it. I think it is because we don’t want to face the fact that we have a hard time trusting God. I mean fully trusting Him in every situation...100%. I know deep down He will take care of me. How and When? I don't have a clue...but I do know He loves me and cares for me...that is all that matters. I think I will always struggle with the ability to fully trust in Him...there is a piece of me that always wants to do the fixing. Do you struggle with trusting God? What keeps you from trusting in Him?

I put all this out here so you can know.... God cares for you...more then you could ever imagine. In 1 Peter 5:7 it says "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Do you cast your cares upon him? Do you lay all your burdens at His feet? It is so easy to want to do it yourself...fix it on your own. Don't fall in to the evil ones trap...Trust in Him...rely on Him...He is the one who can sustain you in the worst of times. He loves you and does care for you!

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. How awesome is that! To know that our future is already planned out. Trust and follow Him and you will have Hope! Thank you Lord for planning my Future and giving me Hope!