**Mustard Seed Distributed**

It is true, my birfday was yesterday. A turkey born on turkey day. Every so often, I get to enjoy my birthday with my family when it lands on Thanksgiving, kind of a cool added bonus gift. I don't recall ever getting so many birthday wishes from friends before on my birthday, so thanks to each of you who made my day special. I also got to enjoy some of dkny's incredible pecan pie. I didn't eat sweets/treats for the last two months. That was a challenge for me, but I did it, and I mean that because I LOVE sweets. But yesterday, I had a piece of pecan pie for breakfast. And it was awesome. And week two of couch to 5k was easier today, and it was SO nice out, I got to run outside-that's a first. Also got to eat great food, enjoy a great margarita, play Wii golf, watch Christmas Vacation, and fall asleep on the floor. Thanks to all who made my birfday special. Much love.

I have so many things to be thankful for. The sunshine, my lovely wife, my healthy children, a job that pays well, food to eat, a family that loves me even when I'm dumb, friends and partners in my journey, Jesus Christ dying for ME, Laughter, joy, pleasure, hope, health, happiness, experiences around the world, people that encourage me, children, love, courage, shoes, clothing, warm showers, heat, a vehicle, and on and on. As I sit near Phatlanta with my family, I am so thankful that I have parents that cared enough for me to show me the way, the truth, and the life. Spending time with them reminds me of how I can cope with the world around us on a day to day basis. Because I have hope in the world, and hope in other humans. I love them dearly, and I am thankful that God has blessed me with their love. We all really need to have thanksgiving each day we live and breath, not just one day a year when we have turkey. Thank you always God, for all good things come from you. I a...

Week two of potato to 5k is a lot harder than week one. It hurts to stretch yourself-physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have been challenged for the last year with all three areas, if not more. It is painful to realize just how much we all could grow in any one of these areas. It hurts. But after it hurts, the scabs fall off, the area heals, and it even may be stronger as a result of the stretching. This is certainly true in all three areas. I am enjoying the stretching and the hurt, and I enjoy watching the 'healing' that is taking place in all three areas of my life. As Thanksgiving comes tomorrow, I am so thankful that God continues to push my thinking and stretch all three of these areas for me. I am thankful that Jesus lived and died so that I could have a connection and a covenant with the Creator of the universe. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is here as a result, and guides me even when I don't want to listen. I am thankful for so many things, I ...

Today I finished week one of Couch potato to 5k. It is getting easier as I go. But I had many thoughts as I ran today. Jesus is my work out partner. Why, because physically I couldn't run a mile. But I just keep going, and ask Jesus to help me run, and it gets easier. Why am I running? Because I was always the guy that said "I hate running. I don't even get people who run." But I do know that I have not been taking care of my body. But because of my pursuit of a relationship with God that is more intense than I have worked in the past, I continue to see God work on my physical body. I am not smoking (38 days mg!), I don't drink as much, I am eating healthy, and I am losing weight. Here's why: 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. I know I have not honored God with my body in the past, and...

Today we went to Citadel of Faith in Detroit to try to help load/unload prep/pack baskets to get to families in need in Detroit. It was a great day in Detroit-beautiful day with sun shining, got to see people that I haven't seen in many months, and got to see God today. I really engaged with people that were there today. It wasn't the homeless. It wasn't necessarily those in need, but I served the people that were there serving. First off, it was my honor to watch tmp showing her given talents and showing the joy in her heart. It was great to see people working together. It was clear that the devil did not want things to happen. But because people are faithful to him, it came to pass. I wish that every single person that came to serve today could have heard what Harvey Carey said when we were there putting tables away. He went through the story of Jesus multiplying food, even though the disciples wanted to 'send them away'-that being the people that were c...

Who are you?

Next week, we will be caravanning down to Phat (or is it Hot) lanta to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. It is going to be great fun for the girls, as their cousins are the same age, and we celebrate Christmas with the family together. There will be much screaming and consternation (see dictionary.com) as the excitement overwhelms most of us. But it will be great to be together. The girls get to ride down with mom, kt, tracy t wacy, and wonderboy on Tuesday. But having school on Wednesday, I get to ride down with my nugget cousin , mattsy t wattsy, and grma lizzy. Oh yes, there are three non-negotiable stops that will happen young grasshoppers: 1: Starbucks. Probably multiple times if we are to make it driving through the night. 2: Waffle House. Most likely an early morning Thanksgiving Day feast that will put us into coma mode soon after arrival. 3: Chick -Fil - A. I am still amazed when I mention the fil-a (sarcastically announced file-uh), and people have never he...

I continue to find myself in today. God continues to remind me that tomorrow is in His hands, and that I need to focus on fighting to be counter-culture thinking and follow Jesus today. Today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not for Christmas. Not when we get to NYC. Today. Now. Where are you at? I am here, and I am now. Tomorrow may never come for us, but by the grace of God we will live to see another day. Only by His grace and if He chooses to bless us with another day. So Today I try to follow Him. But people around you try to drag you to the bottom of the lake. Sin and darkness surround us in every moment of every day-even when we are with our 'church friends'. So today I try to follow Jesus. It is not easy. It is a narrow gate. See Matthew 7: 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few fin...

Today is the first day of the new nine week program to get my big butt into a regular regimen of running. It seems odd that I am even saying that at all. I used to be the guy that would say "I hate running" , "I don't get it", and when the superstar would say 'I'm going to go for a run', I would think in my head: "Well, you're stupid." But mg mentioned the couch potato to 5k regimen, and that is laid out over nine weeks. So that is what I'm doing. To get more info, click here . Today was day one. Like I have said, I feel like I need to get my body prepared for the city life. Lots of walking, lots of walking, lots of walking. And considering the fact that I ran three miles last week, I am pretty sure I can do this. (Although I don't suggest a two hour raquetball session during the same week that you run three miles for the first time in twenty years) Just a suggestion. So today I started my running program. Crazy, I...

Today is the superstar's birthday, and as I sat across the table from her last night at dinner, I realized once again just how much I love her. A LOT. She is a gift from God to me. There is no other woman on earth that I would want to be married to. Her work ethic, her smile, her laughter, her desire to follow Christ, her beautiful eyes, (as well as some other bodily attributes), the joy that flows out of her, the way she fits into my arms. I could go on, but I know you want to call me schmoopy right now. As I sat and thanked God for the beauty of this gift in my life this morning, I realized that we have been together for more than fifteen years, and that both of us are near the age of forty now. Doesn't seem like we are that old, but the star said: "well, when you are healthy and taking care of yourself, and you are in a good place, it doesn't feel like you are that old." Amen and Amen. I love my superstar yesterday, today, and always.

Just want to give a shout out to my boys to men group. Cay-uh and sick pete. Thanks for pushing me up when I fall down. Thanks for encouraging me to follow Jesus, and live the way God wants me to live. Thanks for being real and sharing your struggles. Thanks for giving me the honor in sharing in your celebrations of God working in your life. As we met Friday morning, I realized how much I missed meeting with pastor to focus my boydom to manhood walk. Having a christian man to pour into my life is something that I have always needed, especially with how stupid I usually am. Pretzel used to do that, and for years I asked for someone. Then came along pastor. That was an incredible spring board in my spirituality, my listening to Jesus, and my personal growth. Then pastor goes and leaves me-just kidding-he moves on to serve others and follow Jesus. So, my own dumbness kicks in without having a set time to meet with him. I can't wait to get to nyc so that we can pick up wher...

That word can be so powerful, and if you don't know how to do it, you are dead. If you can't learn continuously for a lifetime, you are going to go down, and hard. You have to be able to learn how to eat, how to use the bathroom, how to speak. You have to learn how to 'behave appropriately'. You have to learn at the bare minimum some basic skills in order to be able to acquire a job and pay for food and rent. But let's move on to adulthood. The average person today will transfer between 12 jobs in their lifetime. For my dad's generation, it was one change. I heard the other day that the kids that graduate from high school this year will change at least 17 times in their work career. You can't do that without new learning. Not to mention the complexities of life in general as an adult, and learning and relearning, and new learning on how to live in this society. Then take into account the mobility of people in the world today. Which brings me to tod...

Yesterday marked the first snowfall of the year that I have witnessed. I knew it was coming, but walking in gr at night getting hit by snow, sitting in the lobby watching snow go by the glass walls in a horizontal line. Just doesn't seem like it is that time yet. All that and when I wake up and look out the window (if I am lucky enough to stay in bed until after the sun is up....) there are no leaves on the trees. As superstar often states..........everything is brown.......but for not at least the grass is still green...hooray! Falling. Falling. Falling. I understand that Satan is the enemy. He attacks like a lion sneaking around you. So if we all know that, why do we not fight mightily? Why do we serve ourselves and not try to at least punch the lion in the mouth? I am struggling with maitaining the focus on Jesus. And the more I let my focus wander, the more I slip and fall. So I need to step up my focus on Christ, and my commitment to Him being the center of my lif...

I am not only the PIR at my school where I 'work', but I consider myself the educational leader of the Casa de Kelly Academy on Woodside. Today, I had the privilege of attending the morning session at CdKA. I can tell you that I could not be prouder of my chicas bonitas. Olivia is such a smart kid, and she just trucks along with math and other tasks like there is nothing hard in the world. Alli knocked my boots off with her incredible writing about a book they are reading with the star. All this, and the dancing to start the day, and in between activities, and snuggling on the couch while we read, and the smiles and love that is demonstrated in our 'classroom'. Life is good, and I couldn't be more proud of all my girls, star included, and I can't wait to see what great benefits all three of them gain from the 2008/2009 school year at CdKA.

Today is the first day that reality set in for me during the darkest part of the year. Don't read some deep spiritual meaning in the previous sentence, but take it literally for what it says. You see, for much of the school year, educators leave their house in the morning, and the sun is not yet up in the air (air, air a a air air a a a). So you leave your home, you arrive at work, and if you are lucky enough to have a window near you at some point during the day, you can see out and look at the brightness of the sunlight. Then you get caught up in your daily gig, you learn a new handshake, you high five someone, you have a kid named Demarkus read you a book. Suddenly, you have a bunch of things you need to get done, but if you don't leave the building soon, and get home to see your girls, you will literally go insane. So you finish something, you think about what you need to do tomorrow, you shut down, you make your way to the exit. You do seven more things and get caug...

It's not smart. Running away. You need to listen. Blame game? No blame in silence. Break the chains. Confess to your maker. Live free like you were meant to do. Wisdom is magnificent. But your heart is the end game. Without love, there is no wisdom. Fear not loving for the one. Don't be a simpleton. Be a champion. Jesus lives in your pursuit. First your heart, then you learn wisdom.

So Saturday, I went for a bike ride. I went a route I don't normally travel on, not sure why, I just did. So I'm riding along, and I have my ipod kicking it, and I see a parent that used to volunteer at my old school, and run our fundraisers, help out, and we had some great laughs over the last few years. So the easy thing to do is to keep riding my bike, and wave, and take care of myself and ride on. But she was standing there looking up at the guy on the roof of a house. So I stop, talk to her for a while, and she tells me about her husband doing the roof for their friends. They are struggling with their business, the wife found out a month ago she has cancer, and the 13 year old daughter is going in for back surgery on Monday. She says that her usband is going to do it for free, but the 10 people that were supposed to show up to help did not actually show up. It just so happens that I had about that many people coming to Rtown to clean up an area of the school ground...

It is hard to believe that it is November today. As I grow older, each year seems to go faster and faster. I love November-fall colors, Thanksgiving, superstar and my birthday, getting closer to Christmas. What's not to love? To finish October off, my nugget cousin , mg, the donald, cdubs, hammy and mrs. hammy all came over to hang out. Star, the nugget, and the girls and grma went trick or treating. It was so nice out, we sat out on the porch and handed out candy. It has been quite a few years (not sure I remember ?) since I was able to sit outside in shorts and hand out candy. Usually, you need to put winter coats on under the kids costumes...so we hung out and played loaded questions until 1 am. It was a riot. Thanks to all my peeps for the laughs. So for November, sick pete, cay-uh and I are reading a book of Proverbs each day. (Why don't you join us?) There is so much wisdom packed into this part of the bible. Today in 1, I read in verse 33: 'but whoever li...