The New Year is here and came whispering into our house last night. We spent the last hour of 2005 laying in bed with Lisa dozing and me playing on the computer. The ball dropped with some mis-counting by Regis, I kissed Lisa Happy New Year/Goodnight, and we drifted off to sleep.
Yesterday was a really good day. The Brothers and I hung out Friday night and they crashed at the house since it was “Bachelor Week” with Lisa gone to Boston. (Bachelor only in the sense that we had no Lisa to keep us in line.) Up early to get the Brothers back for their engagement later in the day only to find out it was cancelled - a New Years Fireworks Extravaganza was happening at the house afterall! I got home just in time to see Lisa’s sister and neice getting ready to leave, and Lisa and I were able to mill about, run around, and just spend some good time together after her days away. Later on about six-ish the gang gathered - Phillip, Mike, Kevin, Justin, Jennifer, Robert, Lisa, Maggie, and I spent the earlier part of the evening making a rather decent ruckus, playing some videogames (that was mainly the guys), and eating some great food.
The night ended just like the first paragraph said, and we’re just inside the door of a brand new year. Never in my life have I begun a year with the motivation, determination, and all out resolve I have. I’ve come so far towards being the person I want to be making huge leaps first by becoming a husband and second, and most substantial, becoming a father. It truly is the latter that has brought into perspective what in life is worth it and what is just crap. There are so many things to chase after simply just chasing in this life, but only very few that matter. And that is what Maggie has taught me, that if we live life only for ourselves then we have nothing. But if everyday we give of ourselves to other to help them, encourage them, and build them up then in turn we have done something worth doing.
There is nothing in this life worth more to me than my family and those I love. There are things right that I know to do that I have either done only in part or have drug my feet on for so long and by doing so I simply chased the wind. So if this is even a resolution this is mine, to give of myself to help build up and grow those I love and that God puts in my life to help build up and grow. But I also want to dedicate to my family in the same way to begin to grow myself as well. There are real life health concerns that I have to take control of as well as other things that are required of me as a husband and father, and no longer will I just get by doing the minimum required. But this year, and from here on out I will do what I have promised and be the husband and father that God has commissioned me to be and I committed to be.
Lisa and Maggie, you have no idea how much I love you and what I would do for you. You deserve so must more than I feel I could ever give and I promise if for the first time ever I won’t give just what I have to give, but I’ll give you everything I have to give. I love you so much, I couldn’t do it without you, thank you for all you are, have been, and will be to me. With all my love for all my life.
This started out much more lighthearted than it ended so thank you for your patience. I have never really made any kind of New Year’s resolution to speak of and this wasn’t so much of a resolution as a renewal of determination. God bless and Happy New Year!
And here we go again… Lisa’s expecting! She’s approximately 13 weeks along, just about a week into her second trimester, and we couldn’t be more excited!
But I tried my hardest, Lisa helped me a long, and I learned that I wasn’t the only parent who didn’t get a manual but that you learn as you go. I know that every year won’t be like this one, some will be harder and others easier, but there is nothing else in the world worth all you have than your family - and I have the best wife and daughter I could have ever asked or hoped for! I also have the best parents, in-laws, and friends in the world, too!