She's better off.. but we aren't.

I woke up this morning, just like any other day, got out of bed and played with my kids kissed my wife and left for work for the day. As soon as I started walking down the street it hit me, I really miss my mom..

You see as long as I can remember, every year around Thanksgiving/Christmas time my mom would become the Christmas guru.. Our house would transform into the winter wonderland. She would throw on old Christmas vinyls from names like Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and some of the Rat Pack.. and we would decorate the Christmas tree and make cookies, it would be an all day event. After we had the house all decorated we would end up on the couch and watch whatever Christmas movie was on, with our hot chocolate and cookies by the television.

I really miss those times, you know the times when we weren't fighting, we weren't thinking about the cost of things, or what we needed to do next.. Family is so valuable and I really appreciate the family that I came from. They have taught me that no matter where you are at, no matter who you have become, family will always be there for you.. with love.

So as for the title of this blog.. I was thinking on my walk today about my mom and this thought came to me, "she is better off where she is, but we are not better off without her". She changed everyone's life that was around her, and I believe for the better. So as we will continually miss her, we must remember what she showed us while she was here. To be love and share that love.

July 3rd 2009.

One year ago today my life changed.. It was a really normal day for me and my family. We were over at a good friends house playing board games and just hanging out listening to stories of an old man's childhood and laughing.

Then my phone rings and as I go to pick it up there is no one on the line.. So I looked and saw it was my brother [in Ohio] it was pretty late there.. So I sent him a text message.. "Are you ok?" he texted back.. "I'm not sure yet".. So I continue to hang out for a little bit.. On our way home I called my brother back and he answers, he's crying, he's not making much sense.. and the next words that came from that phone just ruined me.. He says "Mom has been shot!" I continued to ask questions through disbelief, tears, anger.. I was still in the car at this point so I was trying to just figure out what to do. I can't remember exactly what happend next either my cousin Jason or my uncle Gerry got on the phone and just told me we needed to fly out to Ohio ASAP. When we got back to our house I just started freaking out, trying to figure out who I could call what we needed to do.. I called a few people and a few people showed up to help. After I was trying to figure out flights, pack my stuff up, and get ready to go I came to a place where I couldn't move anymore and I just sat in my closet and started to cry, I was just trying to figure out why this could happen, and really just trying to understand that this is real!.. Wow, so after a little while we packed up a car headed to the airport and then to Ohio.. I didn't sleep at all that night.

As I was going through all of this, the questions, the anger, the frustration, the confusion.. The one thing that I kept coming back to was that I have a God who loves me and my family and no matter what happens he will always be there for us.. The song "How He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillian was playing over and over in my head and I was able to actually play it at my Mom's funeral. This song is just a simple reminder of who God is, and how much he cares for each and every one of us, even though we don't deserve it.

This whole tragic experience totally sucks, but God is good, and he will always be good. It sucks that there are people in the world that don't understand or know God's love and that those people have to hurt other people, but that is just the reality of sin. All we can do is learn to love, and learn to experience and know God love. We will all die some day, but how many of us will start to live today.

I love all of you, and I really miss my Mom, and I never thought that she would be taken from us so soon, but I know that she would want us to continue to love life, to share the joy that she most certainly had and to see people the way that God intended.

I know that some people may read this and think that I am a total hippie, but the truth is I just really appreciate what God did for me, my mom, my family, and the world.. He died, so that we can live!

I love you mom, i miss you..

God Bless..

Follow Jesus.

Here are some images that I created for our new series..

Let me know what you think..

Poll: What has God been showing you in this season?

Fun At the Park.

The other day I was at the park with some friends and decided to take some fun photos, here is the result click here.. I want to start taking more photos and get a little better at what I am doing. So if you would like to go and shoot sometime, or have some photos taken of you.. Let me know.

Safe Place.

We live in a special place. When is the last time that you’ve said that? These past few months, I've been realizing how special Redding, CA is.. I mean everywhere in this town there is a sense of God’s presence. I was at Starbucks the other day and realized that there were at least five conversations about Jesus and what he is doing. We live in a special place, but I also realize that some of us, my self included, are wasting our time here in the special place.

This is a safe place. This is a place to train and grow in what we are supposed to do for your entire life. If we can’t do it here, why do we think that we can do it somewhere else?

God has been really showing me that we need to be stepping out in faith in the safe places, so that we can conquer the dangerous ones.

I think that Simpson University has a huge opportunity to equip and empower world changers. I think that practicum, and internships, could be so much more than getting people involved in local churches, it may not all be that way that is just my impression, but it could be challenging students to take leadership of something for a semester, or more, and have some thing to look back on and say, “wow! That was hard, but I really feel that I learned something and helped started something that is going to last”.

I am not saying that I have all the answers, in fact, I am not saying that I have any of the answers.. I would like to start a conversation, and hopefully challenge us to think about where we are at, and that we have been placed here on purpose.

Poll: Do you know why God has placed you here at this moment in time?

Living God's Dreams.

I have been super busy with life lately and have had little time to socialize.. I have been getting lots of work. I have even had to say no to some projects in order to say yes to some bigger ones.

Here is a design that I created using resources from the web, we didn't use this exact design for the series, it was a bit too kidish, but I wanted to share it still..


What going on in your lives that is worth celebrating?

5 years.

So Bethany and I got married this day five years ago. It was an amazing day, that was a little unorthodox and not ideal for most couples.. but for us it was perfect!. Bethany looked amazing and a lot of our close were there to witness the moment and pray with us afterward. Times were hard back then, and they are still a little hard.. but we are super happy and very excited about the future. We have two kids [Josiah 2yrs. and Promise almost 1mo.] and we love every minute with them. We are busy, but not too busy for each other. God has been so good to us, and the family that we have here in Redding, CA has been so great! Also our family that lives a little ways away have really been there for us too.

My wife Bethany is so amazing! If you don't know her you should get to know her.. She is beautiful, she is a great mom, and an amazing wife!. She is so chill and calm, perfect for me.. She is my best and closest friend. I love doing life with her.. I love you babe! XxOo..

God, I thank you for such an amazing family. I pray that we just continue to grow closer to each other and to you. Thanks for the years of joy that you have given us.. Amen.

Positive Reading.

I hardly ever read the news or watch it, because it is most likely bad news.. Well I found this blog the other day that shares a lot of good things that are happening in the world. It shows me that there are good things that are happening all over the world and we can be encouraged by that everyday.. The blog is called majoritymag.com go check it out, be encouraged..


What encouraging things are you seeing happen throughout the world?

To Write Love On Her Arms.

Jamie Talks Woodie Awards from To Write Love on Her Arms. on Vimeo.

To Write Love On Her Arms.

The founder of To Write Love On Her Arms was nominated for a woodie!. If he wins it will help the twloha.com movement spread even further and reach more people which will enable more people to be rescued. Please click and vote.

For more information, or to see how else you can help, go to twloha.com

Josiah.

Bethany and I have the cutest little boy in the whole world.. We are so amazed by who he is and who he is becoming. I can't believe that he will be turning two years old in a few months.. Man how the time flies. You hear that phrase a lot in life, but it really makes more sense, and becomes far more relevant when you start to have kids, and see them grow up right before you eyes..

So.. I just wanted to say that we have an amazing son, and I thank God everyday for him!.

Jesus Culture.

So a while back Jesus Culture did a live audio/video recording for their new album that should be coming out soon.. I was able to take some photos of all this happening, and so I started editing a few and this is just something I was playing around with..


Let me know what you think.. It's not a new concept, but I think I like the feel of it. I may edit a few more from the event and post them as well..

some of you may know..

So, some of you may already know, and I apologize to close friends that I didn't get to tell sooner.. but.. we are having another baby!!. We are so excited. We think that we are going to have it sometime late November early December, but we haven't received an official due date as of yet.. So when you see Bethany you don't have guess whether or not she is pregnant, and so now you can congratulate her.. I will try and keep you all posted as to what's happening and what we will need help with, but for now just pray for us and our growing family..

soulpancake.com

It has been some time since my last blog, and this doesn't really count as one, but I found this site today and I wanted to share.. www.SoulPancake.com

Easter baptism.

So other people have already put this on YouTube, but I like vimeo better, also I am pretty sure that you can download a copy of this from the place it is hosted on the vimeo website.

Anyway.. This is a video from Easter Sunday of 2009, we had 40+ people baptized in the three different gatherings we had that day! It is amazing what God is doing.

Easter Baptism 2009 from the Stirring on Vimeo.

another year..

So yesterday was my 29th birthday.. the thing is I don't look any different?

So, We had a ton of people over to the new house and we had a blast!. I am glad that I was able to spend my birthday with my good friends.. If you didn't make it, don't worry there will be lots more partying in this house.

I have been lacking in the posts, due to some internet problems [not having a connection at home], but now things are back to normal.

Thanks to all that left me a note, got me a card, came over to the house, or just said hello to me yesterday..

a little birdhouse in your soul..

Ok, so first of all, who of you know what I am making reference to in that title.?
So as some of you know, yesterday I was summoned for jury duty, I had to be there from 8 - 3pm, and I wasn't even picked to serve..

but while in the court room, the very thorough judge said, "not to put too fine a point on it".. My first thought was, "who actually uses that statement in a normal sentence".. Then I immediately, in my head started singing, "..say I'm the only bee in your bonnet, make a little birdhouse in your soul.." They Might Be Giants - "Birdhouse In Your Soul" It was really weird to hear someone use that phrase in a sentence, not relating to that song..

This made me think of a few other weird songs/bands that I used to listen to, like..

• The Presidents of the United States of America - "Lump", "Kitty", "Peaches", "Dune Buggy", "Feather Pluckn" [weird songs]..

• They Might Be Giants - "Istanbul", "Particle Man"..
  

• Spacehog

• Silverchair

POLL: What are some of the weird songs/bands that you used to listen to?

Josiah vs. ice scream?..

So I came home today and thought, "man I am in the mood for a hot fudge sunday". So I loaded the family into the car and headed to Denney's? Well there really is no good ice cream sunday places around, that I know of.. But we had fun and so did Josiah.. Here are some pictures.

I found this really neat app that make my iphone pics look like Polaroids..


What are your thoughts.. Do you know where a good ice cream place, in Redding, CA is? Another question is what is your favorite dessert?

bandannas and the eatery.

So I have been wearing a bandanna lately, and I really like it. The reason, is that my hair is getting ridiculously long and thick.. I don't know yet if I am going to continue to grow it out, or call one of the three people that cut my hair..

Which brings me to a thought. I really don't like getting my hair cut. I am not really sure why, but I really feel bad for the people cutting my hair, my usual reaction is that I don't like it.. in reality I do like it, but not for the first day or so. No idea why that is..

I have been spending a lot of time at "The Downtown Eatery".. I really love it here, I like the food, the people, the shows, and the Free Internet. I have been doing a few thing for them, design wise, and soon we will have them printed and you will all be able to take advantage of the great little perks, like drink coupons, lunch deals, and student discounts!. So keep an eye out for them..

Oh, and good news!. We are going to be moving [still in Redding, CA] at the end of the month, finally. Thanks to everyone that prayed for us. We will need help, so I will keep you posted.

free stuff.

So I was looking around on the internet and I found this blog where this guys has won tons of free stuff. So I pretty intrigued, and started to look around a bit more. I ended up stumbling onto this site called Blingo.. It is a search engine site, sort of like google, except when you use this site you could win prizes!. The blog that I was on has been searching and playing the blingo game for a few years now and has won 140 prizes..

So I thought to myself why don't I give it a shot. Most of the prizes are little like $10 amazon gift cards, and movie tickets, but there are bigger prizes.. $50, $100, and $500 in cash. And even bigger prizes like cars, tv's and computers. So I know that it sounds a little sketchy, but it is owned and operated by publishers clearing house.

The coolest thing is that if you sign up under me, I win the prize that you win, and if you can others to sign under you.. You win what they win, and so do I..

So let's start winning..

You can get started by clicking this button.