Where have you been?

No, I did not drop off of the edge of the planet -- just seems like I did. Must be one of those reclusive writers...

First post of 2011...where to begin? Where to squeeze this effort into a soon to be even more crowded schedule?

Just looking around me at all the news events either ticks me off, frightens me, or sends my mind on any one of a number of rabbit trails. For me, this is not a time to discuss something that in the long run doesn't really matter much. I have my views, which by this time in my life are fairly well set -- like the Jello I had today. (Yummy, by the way. Even without the whipped cream.)

But within that I am open to learning. Starting next month I will start the pursuit of a master's degree -- by itself something I've wanted to do even before the start of my time in the Postal Service. And somehow I will have to fit that into the matrix (big word!) of my family.

But something else takes precedence even over the pursuit of higher education. My daughters, growing so fast, need me to be not just their father, but their daddy. My bride of now nearly eight years (wow!) -- if a person can start out with stunning beauty inside and out and only get better as time passes -- I have more wealth than can be measured, and am a very blessed man.

And first on the list -- my Lord, my Savior, my Jesus. Amazing that He sees this all too flawed man as someone He wants to be around.

"Where have you been, Chris? I've been here all along."

P.S. Prayers for my kiddos -- both under the weather. And prayers for my co-worker, Wayne. His journey may not have much longer to run. For healing for his body -- definitely. But primarily for his soul.