Watch the Groom

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Jenny and I went to her friend’s wedding Saturday night in Dallas. I didn’t know the couple, but many of Jenny’s friends and family were there. At someone else’s suggestion, I’ve started a tradition when I attend a wedding. When everyone rises to watch the bride enter, I watch the groom instead to see his reaction when she appears.

I was a groom myself nearly 6 years ago. My heart was racing with anticipation by the time both our sisters had walked down the aisle and taken their places at the altar. I knew that when those doors at the back opened, I would finally see the woman I was about to marry, and my world was about to change forever in ways I could only begin to understand. Normally I’m not a big cryer, but I teared up before she even opened the door. Happiness, gratitude, relief, pride, excitement, fear, and many other emotions swirled together in a fluttery mess in my chest. Then I saw her. I couldn’t help but smile. My vision blurred a bit as the tears rose in my eyes. The wait was over. We would leave the room as husband and wife. My wife-to-be-in-20-minutes was walking toward me, her eyes never looking away, to promise her life to me. The weight of how crazy and perfect and wonderful that truth was convinced me that I was exactly where I needed to be, and I didn’t care if I looked like a blubbering idiot penguin up there.

Watching Mike, a guy I’d never even met, wait for his bride and finally see her enter…it got to me. It takes me back every time. Next time you’re at a wedding, and the mother of the bride stands up, forget the bride for a second. You’ll be staring at her back for the next half-hour. Watch the groom melt instead.

Car Repairs

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This week we are attempting to fix minor problems with both of our cars. My car has a mysterious water leak. When left out or driven in rain for long periods, water often collects under the driver’s side floormat. After putting up with it for some time, I finally decided to take it to the dealer before the warranty expired. After keeping it for two days, they figured out that water is collecting inside the door and spilling over the speaker into the floor. Unfortunately, the technician at John Eagle and the Honda corporate tech support people are baffled. I finally got my car back last night with the water drained out but no solution yet.

I hope we’ll have better luck with Jenny’s car. Some time ago her windshield took a nasty hit from a rock, leaving a pretty big star crack. A windshield company is coming out Friday afternoon to replace it.

Toboggan

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My wife and I have a friendly ongoing dispute about the definition of the word “toboggan”. I have always thought it meant a type of sled. So I was really confused when she first used it to describe a hat. We debated the meaning and never came to an agreement. Finally I decided to find out who was right. Jenny says I always have to be right. I know it might seem that way, but I really am interested in the truth, whether it turns out to agree with me or not. If a toboggan is a sled, then don’t call a hat a toboggan. If it’s a hat, don’t call a sled a toboggan. This world is gray enough. Can’t we have a little black and white sometimes?

So which is correct? According to Dictionary.com, a toboggan is a flat-bottomed sled. However, Wikipedia also mentions that in the South, a toboggan is…a type of knit hat. So both are correct. I’ve seen other descriptions that use the term “toboggan hat”, a long knit cap that one wore while riding a flat-bottomed sled. No wonder English is so hard to learn!

I still think my definition is more correct. =)

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I Am Thankful for…

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Here is a partial list of things I am thankful for on this Thanksgiving week. God has been very, very good to us.

  • Being right with God through his Son, Jesus
  • My awesome wife Jenny
  • My adorable son Brenden
  • My great extended family and in-laws
  • Having a meaningful job I enjoy at a great company that fits my skills/interests, pays well, and has good coworkers and benefits
  • Good health and good medical care when my health needs improvement
  • Irving Bible Church
  • Good friends from all sorts of places, including church, work, our apartment community, school, and more
  • Living in a country that allows me to worship, speak, vote, conduct business, and do so many other things freely without fear of governmental persecution
  • Having thoughts, talents, and experiences to share with society
  • Technology that helps people connect to each other better, including the Internet, Facebook, cell phones, texting, and email
  • That the world isn’t perfect, because without challenges and growth we would all be bored out of our minds
  • Clean water, electricity, paved roads, reliable transportation systems, and other daily blessings that so many people around the world still don’t have

Those are some of mine. What are you thankful for this week?

Posted in Fun

Hobbling

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Most of you know by now that I enjoy running, or used to. Unfortunately I have developed some knee pain over time that forced me to stop running temporarily. Finally I decided I had two choices: give up running forever, which essentially means giving up regular exercise since it’s the only kind I’ll do consistently, or see a doctor for help. I chose the latter and saw a sports medicine practice on Monday. As I expected from internet research, the doc diagnosed me with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). The tendon that runs between my hip and my shinbone is too tight. It’s rubbing on bone in my knee when I run, causing inflammation and pain. My treatment plan includes further rest from running, a cortisone shot that afternoon, new running shoes (I think I’ve been running with the wrong kind), and physical therapy starting Dec 8.