13 years…Andrea Bocelli

Carol and I celebrate 13 years of marriage at the end of the month. The night she went into labour with Harrison we heard a singer on PBS that captured our hearts and became the music we would rock our first child to sleep every night. We danced many nights with Harrison, together, and with ‘him’. Last night we saw Andrea Bocelli in concert – I surprised Carol and she didn’t know what we were doing until she walked in the concert hall. We sat 12 rows back from centre stage! It was so good to be there with my bride and recall our early years. We can grow old listening to his beautiful voice.

Paintball

Harrison and I went paint balling with two of his friends today to celebrate his 12 birthday on 10th November. What was to be a 4 hour day, ended up being a 8 hour round of shooting (and being shot). We had a great time and despite early rain and lots of mud and puddles (lakes), we ended up winning the competition against another team – 90 points to 10!! We got hit in the face a few times, but the full body armor and head gear helped protect the vital parts. Harrison ended up with a bruise on the inside of his leg and I have a couple bruises on my left hand. Here is a photo of the day:

Some family photos

It has been a while since I have posted photos. Of course there are none of me – I do really exist – as I take the photos. Recent photos I have posted on facebook include one of Ewan McGregor who was filming near our shop. These are better as they are our family. It has been hectic lately and I am trying to leave the shop each day at 1230 so I can go home and work and get caught up. It seems to be working as I have had a moment to do this.

However, in the next 3 weeks we have: 2 day photo shoot, one year anniversary part, Halloween, Mosaic gathering, 3 house guests, and one birthday party for Harrison plus a special suprise for Carol (in advance of our anniversary). So, I’ll be going silent on the blogsphere again…Peace, Mike

Hollywood days

The kids are on break so we went to eat an early dinner at a restaurant ‘in town’ (i.g. the city centre). We went to Wagamama a chain of noodle bars across the UK. We say in the front window and as we were about to leave, out walks Billy Connolly. He looks right at me as I was checking my phone for the time as we had to feed the meter. I think he was thinking I was going to snap a photo. Then as we drove back home and were passing near our shop we see a turned over car, police, rubbish strewn about, and people standing around. It looked like a tornado had hit. We realized what was happening so we parked and walked back to watch. It was a film crew shooting The Last Word with Ewan McGregor and Eva Green (a bond girl). Sure enough out comes the two of them and we all stood around watched (and joked how we might sneak Harrison into the scene and get him close to ‘Obi Wan’). Who would have thought it would be Hollywood in Glasgow!

Why I like Sen. Coburn

Follow this link to see a video interview of Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. I like this guy more and more:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/08/10/rep_coburn_on_town_halls_people_are_afraid.html

Home and away…again

Wee returned home on the 31st July and after a few rough days of jet lagging, made it to church and then I started work the next day. It has been a busy week for us. Carol has been unpacking, doing mounds of laundry, organizing the school clothes shopping and preparing us for another trip. We have our annual CAI staff conference (Tuesday – Saturday) in Germany so we are off again. I have a 5 minute presentation to give but Carol is planning a day of children’s Sunday school lessons for the children that are attending (I’m one of the workers).

In the shop I am working to hire new staff  & get temporary staff, place orders, and completed our quarterly VAT return. The shop continues to have strong sales and we are very thankful for its success.

The kids are hanging in there but they miss their family in the US. It was a rough few days with lots of tears and we had a few nights where we were all up at midnight playing cards (Kings int he Corner!). Each night we have tried to put them to bed early and this seems to have helped as they are basically back on schedule. When we return from Germany they have one down day before school starts on the 17th.

After school starts, I’ll update the site with some photos of our trip and some information about our future plans here in Glasgow. For the family, Mike

Random thoughts

Just heard Beat It by Michael Jackson. This album was my first tape for my Sears Roebuck ‘walkman’ that I bought with my paper route money.

Think I saw a guy that looked like Michael Jackson.

Just finished email a friend called Michael.

Sitting in a cafe after I fried my Blackberry and lost the data. Tried to upgrade software and it had a hiccup. It is being repaired so I have time on my hands.

Phil. 4:6-7 has been very meanful to me and a great salve to my soul.

Playing football with asylum seekers – Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. The USA is some international finals here so they may be expecting a lot from me. Keep wishing!

Anadvert we placed is in a magazine I sat down next to – i openned it and left a business card on the counter. Alwys a good businessman!

I leave now listening to one of my favourite songs by Jimmy Hendrick’s (his version at least) – All Along the Watchtower. I consider it a tribute to my best friend Jim as we drove down to Key Largo in his Chevy Sprint. No A.C., switch drivers without stopping, and my soon to be wife paid for the trip! Gotta love her and I really miss her.

On my way

Well I am cracking away at my top 10 list. I’ve been really busy with work stuff but I think that is because I am focused more on spending time reading scripture – I then pack in a lot of work in intense periods. It seems to be working…HERE ARE THE UPDATES in CAPS

ADDED: July 4th BBQ at our flat! Making dinner for friends and going to movie in evening with them, giving business consulting advice to two sets of friends, prepare short Sunday message

1) Devote myself to regular prayer and fasting – GOOD TO GO

2) Connect with others in Mosaic that I would not normally be able to for lack of time/margin in my life – CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

3) Take my sister in law’s family on an outing – I want to share a special place with them – PLANNED FOR SATURDAY

4) Spend time with some asylum seekers – with limited time since opening the business, I tend to spend my time increasingly, and importantly, only with my family. PLANNED FOR FRIDAY

5) Prepare the business & staff for my 3 week trip to the USA – I want to give them more encouragement, responsibility, and direction. UNDER WAY BUT MORE TO DO

6) Bless my neighbours with a meal – they always (and I know they will) have me/us around – THEY BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH, AND OFFERED AGAIN – NEED TO GET ON THE BALL WITH THIS!

7) Clean up and clear out our house – I don’t want idle hands and I can be more ruthless in purging our household of the junk that accumulates. Ever try to get rid of a kids ‘favourite’ toy that is broken & hasn’t been played with in 4 years? They won’t know what is even missing! – YET TO DO

Enjoy some live music with a friend in Mosaic. Carol and I are returning to our early relationship/marriage pleasures of listening to music. I’d like to hear some live music to inspire me/us more. – WENT OUT FOR A MEAL, LISTED TO CD’S AND BOUGHT TWO. OUT AGAIN TONIGHT

9) Pray, think through and write out my priorities in life – just a general list of things that can serve to give me focus and celebrate what God has done in our lives. – PRAYER IS HAPPENING, NEED TO JOURNAL MY THOUGHTS

10) Go on a hike alone – to be healthy in community you must be able to be healthy alone. I am rarely alone and I need time to unwind and get my mind centred on Him. – NEEDS TO BE NEXT WEEK

They are off! My top ten list

Well today, I dropped Carol and the kids off at the aiport for a six week stay in the USA. I join them in three weeks time. I have tons of work to do but I am trying to use this time wisely. When I returned from the airport this morning, I started the dishes, got dinner prepared for this evening (I am joining an existing bible/dinner study for 3 weeks) and then read scripture and prayed for 45 minutes. My goal is to discipline myself with work and play and not allow the 3 weeks to slip by with useless or off balanced priorities. Considering that since Harrison was born, I have never been apart from the kids or Carol this long, I want to use this time profitably. Here is my top 10 “to do’s”:

1) Devote myself to regular prayer and fasting

2) Connect with others in Mosaic that I would not normally be able to for lack of time/margin in my life

3) Take my sister in law’s family on an outing – I want to share a special place with them

4) Spend time with some asylum seekers – with limited time since opening the business, I tend to spend my time increasingly, and importantly, only with my family.

5) Prepare the business & staff for my 3 week trip to the USA – I want to give them more encouragement, responsibility, and direction.

6) Bless my neighbours with a meal – they always (and I know they will) have me/us around

7) Clean up and clear out our house – I don’t want idle hands and I can be more ruthless in purging our household of the junk that accumulates. Ever try to get rid of a kids ‘favourite’ toy that is broken & hasn’t been played with in 4 years? They won’t know what is even missing!

Enjoy some live music with a friend in Mosaic. Carol and I are returning to our early relationship/marriage pleasures of listening to music. I’d like to hear some live music to inspire me/us more.

9) Pray, think through and write out my priorities in life – just a general list of things that can serve to give me focus and celebrate what God has done in our lives.

10) Go on a hike alone – to be healthy in community you must be able to be healthy alone. I am rarely alone and I need time to unwind and get my mind centred on Him.

I think these are realistic and today I am off to a good start!

Photos from our new camera