If there was a time when the phrase “where to begin” was appropriate it would be for this last week. I clearly missed my weekly post goal by two days but understandably so. Our newest addition to our family was born on the 12th of January at 5:59am. Being 40 and a father to a newborn agin is just unreal in my mind. He was born 6 1/2 weeks early and that alone causes so much anxiety. This little life we are now responsible for during the current climate in the world is a tad bit overwhelming. My struggles with anxiety are now at an all time high but I take things a day at a time. My hat is off to the wife for her strength and resolve. It’s as though she has to deal with a new born, a preteen and a grown man child.

With new life always comes the though for me regarding death. It test my faith at times to think of the what comes next? Is there a next? The absolute true unknown. It scares me to think of leaving behind a family, my kids and my life. As I get older I grow evermore concerned and try to find peace in prayer and the daily breathe in the morning of a new day. The occasional ache in my body send an alarm to my brain sometimes with irrational thoughts. I recently saw a meme of a young child a representative of life and a grim reaper we have come to normalize as death. The young child asked death why do people live me and hate you? Death reply’s by saying because you’re a beautiful lie and I am the painful truth. I think what death is trying to say is that we are caught up in life sometimes that we only look at death as an end and associate it with pain.

Life is not always beautiful and can be extremely painful. Many of us take for granted our time breathing and living. We are devastated when someone close is embraced by death. I will be the first to admit my fear of the unknown, my fear of death. I was raised in the church and the belief of heaven and of hell. As much as I truly believe there is always that fear and that doubt that I struggle with. So having said all that I ask for the blessing of positive thoughts and prayers for myself and my family as we navigate this new adventure in life as parents at 40 and a new sibling at 12. Pray for my doubt and my anxiety and know that all is appreciated. Thank you for reading and I wish you all the very best in life and even in death.

You can’t have no in your heart…

You can make anything happen with a positive attitude!

Some were never so lucky to make it to 40. As for others 40 was only halfway. Although I am not much into the actual number of years I have been alive but I do have that feeling of being blessed as I turn 40.

I remember being 12 years old mowing yards with my grandpa and aunt wondering what I’d be doing at their age. I was always curious about what the future had in store for me when I was a kid. I never really was much to plan for anything and have taken the approach in life as more of an experience.

Reflecting back over the years people tend to think of the different choices they could have made and the different outcomes those choices would have produced. I truly believe the choices I have made have lead me to be who I am today. I have experienced a life only unique to myself.

If you have been part of my journey in anyway over the last 40 years I’d like the opportunity to say thank you. I have so many memories and look forward to making so many more.

Life is a blessing we only experience once so go out and live.

Teach children to love one another by showing love to one another. Let them love. Children follow the examples set. The only way to change our future is through changing the way we teach our futures. Let’s be better by setting the example. We each have the ability to make a better future for our children but we have to start with making ourselves better.