I could start this blog by saying something about how I am going "home" in a few weeks for Christmas. "Home" would refer to California and all of the family and friends that I have out there.
I'm not going to say that. Not anymore. In a few weeks I plan to visit California. After a week there, I plan to visit Arizona. After a couple of days there, I plan to fly Home. To Florida. I hope this is my home for a long time. When I say "Home" I mean to say that I hope that I stay here, and I hope that the people that make this place "Home" to me, stay here as well.
I've spent this weekend with people that I did not know four years ago. Although I did miss seeing a few faces that I would expect to see on Thanksgiving, I never once felt that I was away from Home. It's been a great weekend... and there are still two more days to relax.
I'm realizing more and more that my well thought out ideas of what a perfect life was when I was younger, was all based on TV shows, other people’s opinions, and my own interpretations of what people presented their lives to be. It's all junk. Nobody is perfect, and nobody lives a perfect life... and it's a great realization to live with. Do I live exactly where I want to live? No. Do I have the job I wanted when I was dreaming as a teenager? No. Do I have the wife and kids that I always dreamed would complete my life? No. But more and more as I let these things come and go as God pleases, more and more I realize he provides me with everything I need to be perfect in his sight.
I vividly remember the end of my junior year of high school. I was in a terrible neighborhood (seriously, don't try to tell me yours was worse... I can top any story). I had very little Christian influence in my life. My parents decided that we were moving away from our "Home" town. Three months before my senior year of high school and I was uprooted from everything I knew. I have never been as mad in my life as I was at that time. It was an extremely lonely time for me (there is much more that I would have to say to explain this statement, but trust me). I remember setting in my room one evening at seventeen years old asking God to change my surroundings, and to help me.
It would be a long drawn out story to tell you how I came from that point to being here today. What I can tell you is that God has done exactly what I asked him to do. I only hope that I can hold up my end, and do what he has asked me to do. I like calling this place "Home", but I hope that one day I will be "Home" with all of you for eternity. If it's anything like this, it will be worth it.
Glad you are home. Our home would be strangely quite and boring without you in our family. CONNOR BY THE WAY SAYS HE LOVES YOU uNCLE STEVE. AND NOW HE SAID SOME OTHER THINGS TOO=BUT NOT ON THE SAME TONE...GOTTA GO.
Till Thanksgiving break. Thanksgiving is always my favorite holiday. There is no major hooplah before thanksgiving; no gifts to buy, no over-advertising, no cards to send... it's all about relaxing and eating. These are two things I do very well. I am especially excited this year, because I have not had more than a day off per week in more than nine months. I'm even partially excited about the teenie-bopper movie I have agreed to see next weekend.
Other than that, there's not much else new. The design work has been steady lately (sometimes more than I can handle). I'm hoping to start a website soon so I can show off what I've done.
I'll try and update again in a couple of months...
HE's alive, He's alive. Hey do not forget about Friday night thanksgiving after Thanksgiving dinner. It is going to be good- and your in charge of desserts
Yes, the teenie-bopper movie is my fault. I confess wanting to see it. And I can't imagine a better way to view it than with you and Josh alongside mocking every moment.
This has caused issues when trying to get a plane ticket. I was late for a flight once while waiting for the ticket agent to clear me. Sleeping on the floor at the Las Vegas airport waiting for the next connection flight to Fresno after missing the flight is another story all together... maybe another time perhaps.
I asked one of the agents if there was any way I could get past this issue. He explained that I could fill out a lot of paperwork with homeland security and that they would send me a letter explaining that I am not the individual on the "No-Fly" list. He went on to explain that I would still have to go through the same process of getting cleared to board the flight and that the letter would really not do me any good.
So, after a few months of thinking that homeland security, while inconveniencing me, was tackling the issue... I tried a new approach. I started using my middle name as the first name on my plane ticket... whalla... I never get stopped anymore. So... if Akhmed Mamhud Abed Al-Samara wants to board a flight, I guess he needs to go by Mamhud.
It would help if you didn't look like a terrorist. i mean aren't most of them 6' 3" and around 250lbs. Fair complexion and clumsy? That sounds about right
I fully expect you to wake up one day in a motel room in some strange city (like fargo, or springfirld or something random) and not lnow how you got there. I keep waiting ofr that phone call. "Hey Josh, um I am in pittsburg, and I do not remember how I got here. But I have the mega phone so I am alright."
Hmmm. That wouldn't suprise me either. Actually, it would probably go down more like this... I would wake up in strange hotel room, get out of bed... walk to Starbucks, get my coffee... walk outside and THEN realize that I don't know where I am or how I got there.
I don't know - supernatural this week was almost more tham I could take without commenting. It was like they were baiting us. Survivor is just stupid fun. We watch it to make fun of the idiots. Like sugar is really a pin up model with brains - yeah right.
I want to move back to Temple Terrace. I currently live in Lutz. It’s a long drive to anywhere and everywhere. There is absolutely no reason to live all the way out here anymore; thank you Chris. I spend more time driving to services than I do attending them. Not sure when I can actually move, but it is planned. When I think about it, I really can’t figure out why I moved 3,000 miles from home, made great friends, and then moved away from them. Every once in a blue moon I make a flawed decision.
The economy might be bad, but I’m happy to see the gas prices dropping. My personal economy is getting better because of this.
I haven’t had a drop of coffee in months. You don’t want to know why. I will however tell you that it hasn’t helped anything and I’m strongly considering getting some on my way to work in the morning.
I’m planning to go to California for Christmas. This is always a stressful and challenging trip. It always starts out with a plan to keep it simple and relaxed, but it never works out that way. Seeing your friends and family once a year is tougher than I would have thought when I left. After almost four years I am starting to feel disconnected. It’s a strange feeling. This is probably why I really want to move back to Temple Terrace. I wish I were a more independent person, but I’m not.
Does anyone else think that they are spending far too much time advertising the switch to digital television? Won’t people figure it out when their TV’s stop working?
Speaking of commercials… I like the VW commercials with Brooke Shields. However, the new VW minivan is a just a dodge with a VW logo. Very, very disappointing.
Ok, I’m sleepy. More to come later.
***This message was not approved by McCain or Obama, but I think Palin would approve***
you can laugh, but i hide his cell when he omes over. he spends more time looking useless info up on his wonder cell than he does visiting with us. In fact maybe he should use to help his FF team.
This comment is for your previous post... I am so impressed with the way that you have handled all of your new responsibility. It is so awesome that a company is out there recognizing your talents! Now I am a little disappointed with your ability to keep your car keys out of your locked car!!! Text me your cell...813-401-0685. If you don't want me to have your number then don't send it.
