God Is putting something big together, I just know it. Lately I have been going through a lot of challenges and refining in my patience. I also have had many spiritually strong friends come into my life and I cannot wait to see what He has in store. I will keep you all posted!
-Andy
About Me
- Andy
- Damascus, Oregon, United States
- I absolutely love anything that plugs in! My iPhone may just be an extension of my body. Networking, business, Christ, serving the community, husbandry, fatherhood, friends, and my amazing family are all that keep me ticking!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Criends/Frustomers
Customers who turn into good friends are rare. So rare in fact, I only have a couple of them. What's the secret? Not too sure yet, only been doin' this for half a decade. My guess is that it is based on a foundation of mutual respect. Most of my customers I have little in common with. Come to think of it, most of my friends I have little in common with. I try to keep a diverse group of loyal companions whom I trust and respect for their own skills, strengths, beliefs, and yes...flaws. So here's to you Mr. Customer-Friend, you know who you are and I'm blessed to have you as one of the few!
-Andy
-Andy
Monday, February 14, 2011
Random Thought
When God is changing your character, let him. It means the one you have is defective.
-Andy
-Andy
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Diet
Yesterday I started the first diet that I have ever done. Yeah I know, if you know me you'll probably say what I've been hearing since I committed to this diet; "You don't need to diet! You have nothing to lose!" the truth is, I don't have a lot to lose so let me explain...
My wife and I just welcomed the biggest blessing into our lives. Six weeks ago we had a healthy baby boy, Graham Andrew. One of my Christmas gifts to my wife was to get her the meal plan for the Medifast diet. We had not met a person who did it and lost less than 40 lbs. It is virtually a miracle diet.
A few months back I started having trouble fitting into my work/dress pants and shirts. Now I am a very active person, run frequently, and am very conscious of what I eat. I am convinced it was just a combination of my age/metabolism and my newly sedentary lifestyle with a new baby.
This being said, I decided to go on the diet with my wife. This is of course a dual purpose endeavor. Aside from wanting to shed some Christmas weight, I am a firm believer in the proactive support of your spouse. Saying you support someone is not supporting them, it is just saying you do. The best way for us to succeed at this diet is for US to both do it together. This way, she won't be eating her "lean and green" dinner while I eat a whole plate of tacos!
So men, or women, when your spouse comes to you and says they need your support through something, work on putting yourself in their shoes and bearing the burden along side them. You might just end up a better person, with a smaller waistline.
My wife and I just welcomed the biggest blessing into our lives. Six weeks ago we had a healthy baby boy, Graham Andrew. One of my Christmas gifts to my wife was to get her the meal plan for the Medifast diet. We had not met a person who did it and lost less than 40 lbs. It is virtually a miracle diet.
A few months back I started having trouble fitting into my work/dress pants and shirts. Now I am a very active person, run frequently, and am very conscious of what I eat. I am convinced it was just a combination of my age/metabolism and my newly sedentary lifestyle with a new baby.
This being said, I decided to go on the diet with my wife. This is of course a dual purpose endeavor. Aside from wanting to shed some Christmas weight, I am a firm believer in the proactive support of your spouse. Saying you support someone is not supporting them, it is just saying you do. The best way for us to succeed at this diet is for US to both do it together. This way, she won't be eating her "lean and green" dinner while I eat a whole plate of tacos!
So men, or women, when your spouse comes to you and says they need your support through something, work on putting yourself in their shoes and bearing the burden along side them. You might just end up a better person, with a smaller waistline.
Random Thought
If you don't remember the last time you apologized, you have some serious work to do in the character development department.
-Andy
-Andy
Saturday, January 29, 2011
New Appreciation
Have you ever wished you were a sports star, famous musician, or something that takes years and years to prepare for? That seams logical to me, if you want to be great at something you must prepare, train, and practice for years. Well how 'bout parenting?
Lately, I've been blown away at how much of a professional my wife has been as a parent. She has had no training, little instruction, and even less practice. I have been really working to offer my fatherly support where I see I'm needed, but it just amazes me at how much a woman has these instincts built right in once their baby arrives. So my hat's off to those mothers who take these gifts and apply them to raising children correctly and with all of the love that they have. It doesn't go unnoticed at all!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Swindled!
Ok so it has been so long since I blogged. My eventual goal is to move from the occasional rant, then disappear back into my private life. Since I have blogged, I have experienced one of the most amazing times of my life...fatherhood. It is everything and more, an absolutely incredible experience.
Well it's time to take Graham's first pictures. Yep, that means we get to take him to some foreign place, set him on an un-disinfected blanket that hundreds of other babies have drooled on, put him in positions that no infant would ever sit in, flash lights in his eyes and watch him squint through each shot, then pick out each shot that we think we love yet don't quite know until we get them home. Notice how I didn't include the step of going over pricing, packages, etc. That is because it almost doesn't happen!
Now picture this; You walk into a supermarket, someone shoves a piece of food in your mouth, tells you all about how great it is, explains the different ways you can prepare that food, you walk up to the counter with it, go through the entire checkout process, and have to pull your card out before you know the price. Does that sound like how you want to grocery shop? NO WAY! Then why in the world do we allow this process with baby pictures?? Not once did someone talk about packages, prices, coupons, or anything else that would allow us to get an idea of what kind of investment we were about to make.
My wife and I are pretty into the teachings of Dave Ramsey lately. He would absolutely be floored at this process of throwing money at an emotional sale after getting through the entire process. It seems to me that these companies would have more guaranteed sales if they walked customers through the entire shopping process prior to snapping one photo. This would also keep them from expending any resources (labor) at the risk that someone (me) walks out halfway through the process because all they can think of is the $400 that the photographer mumbled under his breath during the shoot. Now I don't mind putting down some scratch on memories of my child, but is that $400 somewhere to start? Does it include all the photos I want or do I have to pay hundreds more to get those?
My point in all this is to empower those parents out there to not be afraid to ask, "What am I spending at the end of this process?" Granted, some high schooler will look at you like you have a foot growing out of your face, but you are making the right decision. You are the better husband/wife/parent for getting these things in place before someone reaches into your bank account and takes your kids' college fund in the spirit of making memories.
Well it's time to take Graham's first pictures. Yep, that means we get to take him to some foreign place, set him on an un-disinfected blanket that hundreds of other babies have drooled on, put him in positions that no infant would ever sit in, flash lights in his eyes and watch him squint through each shot, then pick out each shot that we think we love yet don't quite know until we get them home. Notice how I didn't include the step of going over pricing, packages, etc. That is because it almost doesn't happen!
Now picture this; You walk into a supermarket, someone shoves a piece of food in your mouth, tells you all about how great it is, explains the different ways you can prepare that food, you walk up to the counter with it, go through the entire checkout process, and have to pull your card out before you know the price. Does that sound like how you want to grocery shop? NO WAY! Then why in the world do we allow this process with baby pictures?? Not once did someone talk about packages, prices, coupons, or anything else that would allow us to get an idea of what kind of investment we were about to make.
My wife and I are pretty into the teachings of Dave Ramsey lately. He would absolutely be floored at this process of throwing money at an emotional sale after getting through the entire process. It seems to me that these companies would have more guaranteed sales if they walked customers through the entire shopping process prior to snapping one photo. This would also keep them from expending any resources (labor) at the risk that someone (me) walks out halfway through the process because all they can think of is the $400 that the photographer mumbled under his breath during the shoot. Now I don't mind putting down some scratch on memories of my child, but is that $400 somewhere to start? Does it include all the photos I want or do I have to pay hundreds more to get those?
My point in all this is to empower those parents out there to not be afraid to ask, "What am I spending at the end of this process?" Granted, some high schooler will look at you like you have a foot growing out of your face, but you are making the right decision. You are the better husband/wife/parent for getting these things in place before someone reaches into your bank account and takes your kids' college fund in the spirit of making memories.
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