It's Not Spongy

Ok, so here's the new blog. I'm writing it, but I haven't decided what it's about yet, so bear with me for just a minute. That's a pretty cool phrase, "bear with me". I guess it means to help me carry this thing I'm carrying for a minute. I don't really know how that applies to you waiting on me to figure out what I'm writing about, but I guess idioms don't really have to make sense, do they.

You know what's cool. I don't ever have to accomplish anything, and I'll still be fine. That's my new thing right now. My mantra for the month is "Obedience Equals Success". All I have to do is do what I'm supposed to when and where I'm supposed to do it and then I'm successful. God does the rest. Can I make you do what's right? No, I can't. I can only control myself. So, I do what He tells me to do and the results are up to Him.

I went to an estate auction the other day with my father-in-law and brother-in-law. It was kind of sad. There was all of this junk that this couple had collected over their lives. There were blankets and dolls and tools and candy dishes and the junk that life accumulates. All of these things that were precious to this couple: The blankets they snuggled under, the dishes that they used when company came, the toys that they bought for their children. All of these precious artifcats that were being auctioned to the highest bidder (who didn't bid that high). Their entire life was being dispensed among junk collectors. Everything they were and everything they had acquired was gone. It kind of makes me understand why some Kings buried their servants with them when they died. The people they loved could never be valued by other masters as much as they valued them. Ok, so burying people alive is a bit extreme, but you get my drift.

So what do these have things have to do with each other. Everything that I acheive on Earth will one day be boxed up and auctioned off (if not burned). So, I am trying to do what I'm supposed to do and not worry about everything else. Enjoy your money while you have it, because one day it won't be worth anything. Don't work yourself to death, you're going to die anyway so why do it yourself. Spend time with the ones you love, they may not love you tomorrow. This sounds like a load of trite crap, but I'm serious. You can't even make yourself taller or change the color of your hair, how can you possibly cause the forces of the world to bend to your will. Relax, Obey, and go to Disney World.

Say Hello to Baby!

Well, I'm sitting here with many of our neighbors waiting on the imminent arrival of our newest friend Hana Niah Woodring. She decided that she would come tonight and so we packed up all of our stuff and have camped out in the waiting room outside of Labor & Delivery and I just discovered that Baptist Hospital has an internet connection for patients and visitors, so "Thanks, Baptist Hospital! I appreciate it." I told Jonathan that he should blog as Kristine progressed in labor, but he didn't think Kristine would appreciate it, so I'm doing it for him.

At about 5:30 p.m., March, 6th, the doctors decided to break her water at about 8:30. It is now 8:47 and the doctors have yet to come in and break the water. I asked Kristine if it was worth all of the trouble to have a baby, she said she didn't have a baby yet, so she didn't know. I think she was just being polite.

Jonathan is doing amazingly well. I can't believe how composed and relaxed he is (despite the huge amounts of caffine that he has had today). I thought that he would have at least a moment of breakdown, but he has taken it all in stride. He'll do well being a strong Dad for his baby girl.

That's it for now. Hopefully, by the time you've finished reading this, Niah will be here and it will be a whole new place.