5 posts tagged “family”
This time last year I was in the process of buying my first home. To describe me as "overwhelmed" during that time is an understatement. I was clueless about loans, insurance, inspections, and closings. Through God's grace, I was able to buy the house and enjoy it over the past eleven months. My parents did a ton of little repairs when I first moved in, and since that point, I've had to do very little. However, this past tuesday, I experienced what owning a house often brings... plumbing problems! One of my sinks decided it was not going to drain properly, so I set out to become "Rhodes, the Roto Rooter." My first step was to call my dad. Yep, I'm 25 and not ashamed to admit that I need dad's help. I'd be dumb not to call a man that can fix everything. You know when you're a kid and you think your dad can do everything. Well, that thought for me never changed. My dad is awesome! I've called him at least a dozen times since saturday. (My lawn mower broke saturday then the sink stopped up tuesday.) Anyway, I call dad first, and he gave me several options. Options 1,2, and 3 did not work, so I'm currently on option 4. Option 4 is using a plumbing snake, and frankly, I've yet to fix the problem! But I'm not going to give up yet.
Hello World (or two people that read this blog not including my family)! I thought I was going to make it two months between blog posts, but I actually found time to sit at my computer and write. I'm not going to say that this has been the busiest time of my life, but it has been a crazy few months. Needless to say, blogging took a major backseat. Here are the highlights and lowlights of my life since...Thanksgiving:
- Thanksgiving in South Carolina was awesome! I love my family. I love my friends. I miss Charleston. I'm really glad Erica got to join me.
- I had been to the doctor once in my four years in Louisiana, but I've been four times since Thanksgiving.
- I had my first wreck and received my first ticket. I hit a car in the back going at least 2 mph and no more than 10 mph, and the girl called the cops and claimed that she hurt her neck. It was a stupid driving mistake, and I hate that she got hurt. I have a court date for February 29. I'm kind of bummed that it's a leap year now. If it would have been a normal year, I wouldn't have to be in court. (Some of you may get that by the end of the blog.)
- I finished another semester of seminary work!
- I had another wreck. It wasn't my fault this time, and no damage was done to either car. I'm still baffled how someone can attempt to turn into a parking lot from a middle lane of traffic without thinking a car just might be in the right lane that is meant for turning vehicles. For the record, that's two wrecks in two weeks.
- I had another wreck THAT DAY! Yep, you read correctly. That's THREE wrecks in two weeks, AND TWO IN THE SAME DAY! My driving record was squeaky (yes, that is a highly intentional use of that word) clean two weeks prior. Quick summary of wreck number 3: I'm stopped on the interstate, and a car hits the car behind me who hits me and knocks me into the car in front of me. My car looks fairly sad right now, but it's still drivable. It goes into the shop next Monday. Thankfully I didn't get hurt in any of the three wrecks. PRAISE GOD! As I'm writing this, I feel like there has to be some correlation between the number 3 and driving cars. Any rednecks with me?
- Christmas in South Carolina was awesome! I love my family. I love my friends. I miss Williamston. I'm glad Erica got to spend time with her family after sacrificing the previous holiday with them for me.
- New Years was great with the exception of the Clemson loss on Christmas Eve. I got to spend a few days with Erica's family in the Shreveport/Bossier area. They're great! I really enjoy spending time with them.
So today is my brother Brian's birthday! In honor of December 12, this special day, I'm going to give you the top 12 things that I've learned from the most awesome brother in the world:
- Brian taught me how to be ambidextrous. That's right...you read correctly. Due to Brian's height and shot blocking ability in basketball, I had to learn how to play with my left hand.
- Brian taught me how to use wood glue. I'm sure many of you have heard the story of the Christmas mice. If not, I may share it later. Let's just say...I never knew wood glue would work so well!
- Brian taught me how to be myself. Brian has never been at a loss for words, and he always has a joke or two or four to tell. I've constantly watched him be comfortable with who he is, and it always challenges me to be me.
- Brian taught me the importance of the Army-Navy rivalry. Mom and dad, you really have no idea how many times we hurdled the couch when Army and Navy were playing.
- Brian taught me passion. Brian's competitive fire is up there with the best of the best. He's never slacked off, and he's always played sports and lived life with passion.
- Brian taught me how to play golf backwards. Actually, he simply taught me how to run to the previous hole when he decides to duck hook a ball on #5 when he's already aimed fifty yards left. It just so happened that a car and duplex were 100 yards left of the fairway.
- Brian taught me perseverance. He was behind in almost every 400 meter hurdle race going into the last 150 meters, and he never gave up! In fact, he rarely got beat! Sprint out of the gate, take it easy, and then sprint to the finish.
- Brian taught me how to throw a football properly. Thank you UNC football camp.
- Brian taught me how to love people. Everybody loves Brian, because Brian loves everybody!
- Brian taught me how to love my future wife. Brian loves Michelle, his wife, and there's no doubt about it (even when she takes an hour to eat a box of french fries, haha...love you Michelle)!
- Brian taught me how to be excited about ministry. Brian is always talking about his youth and what God is doing in the youth ministry!
- Brian taught me humility. It's not easy to admit to a church you are serving that you just recently found Jesus! Wow! I only hope that I can live my life with a community of believers with this type of humility.
To say the last few days have been "exhausting" would be quite the understatement. I read a lot of blogs that begin in this way. For example, "Sorry for not blogging lately, I've been really busy." "Life is so busy right now." "I'm so tired from how busy I've been recently." First off, this blog is not about the Sabbath, resting, or resisting laziness. However, maybe I need to take the time to write a blog about that if I ever get a chance, haha. Onto my issue (since this is my blog)...you may be wondering why the last few days have been more than exhausting. After spending five days at the National Youth Workers' Convention, I proceeded to head home to South Carolina for the Thanksgiving holidays for five more days. I had such a wonderful time at both of these places. I love youth ministry but being at home with my family in friends is so much better! I really cherish the time that I get to spend at home now that I only get to do it about three times a year. Honestly, those ten days weren't exhausting at all. I came back to Baton Rouge very well rested and refreshed. The only exception was the sinus infection I gained while at home.
Fast forward to this past Thursday...I wake up with a pounding sinus
headache thinking my head could really explode from the pressure at any
moment. That afternoon I went to take care of Erica, my wonderful
girlfriend, who was really sick herself with a fever. She felt
much worse than I did. While I'm with her, my stomach decided to
begin doing gymnastics...only a few of the light gymnastic events like
the pommel horse and rings. I didn't think much of it. When
I get home that night, a few more of the events were added like the
uneven and high bars. The entire male and female all-around
gymnastics programs, including the floor exercise, continued in my
stomach through Monday when I was finally able to go to the doctor for
major stomach issues and a fever on top of the sinus stuff I've had
forever it seems. The doc proceeds to prescribe antibiotics,
anti-diarrhea medicine (i'm not ashamed), an IV because I was so
dehydrated, cough syrup, and a nice prick in the left buttock area with
some steroids. If I was in the NFL, I'd be suspended quicker than
Ricky Williams right now. If I was in the MLB, I'd be breaking
the rules...i mean the records. I would
definitely have an asterisk by my name in the Lamb's Book of
Life. And if I was a professional wrestler, they wouldn't find
out until I died or was still being put in the figure four by the
Nature Boy at age 75. Needless to say, I have a whole bunch of
junk in me right now, because I didn't have anything left in me that my
toilet hadn't captured over the past few days! I'm so exhausted
but getting more energy daily! I definitely would appreciate your
prayers right now. I'm trying to do youth ministry stuff and
finish up the school semester with a lack of energy.
I've had plenty of time to think over the past few days though. And the biggest thing God's showed me is that He loves me and so do a whole lot of people! There are a few people I really want to thank! Josh and Christian, thanks for putting up with a sick roommate over the past few days. I wasn't much fun to be around. Thanks for your patience and grace. Palmer, thanks for your phone call. I'm sure you thought it was short and insignificant, but it meant a lot that you would take the time to check on me. Erin, thanks for holding down the fort at the office for me. Erica, thanks for everything you've done...cleaning the kitchen, getting me cold rags to put on my feverish head, spending your money and bringing me food and gatorade, and just being here for me while you didn't feel good either! Mrs. Lev, thanks for being my bullpen mom. I have the most wonderful mom ever without a doubt, but it's hard for her to take care of me when I'm eleven hours away. I know she would have jumped in the car immediately if I would have really needed her. Thankfully, God's given me so many people in Baton Rouge that really do love and care about me, like Mrs. Lev. Seriously, thank you for the food, the advice, the ability to be blunt and honest about my problems with you, picking up my medicine, and for the great conversation we had tonight when you brought me my first real meal in a few days. You're great, and I really appreciate you! Finally, if you're reading this and thinking "Michael, I'm sorry I didn't help you out. I didn't even know you were sick." Quit apologizing! You didn't know. I didn't tell many people. I know you love me, and you would have helped if you would have known.
In conclusion, the past few days have literally been physically exhausting. I'm excited about eating more than jello, crackers, and gatorade in the upcoming days. I'm excited about getting to connect with all sorts of amazing people that I haven't had a chance to connect with for a LONG time. This time has caused me to appreciate a lot. One of the things I appreciate now more than ever is Kerri Strug's gymnastic performance at the 1996 Olympics. Anyone that can finish all those gymnastic events with a broken ankle deserves a gold medal. If I would have had a broken ankle this week, I really think I would have died from all the gymnastics I went through!
God is love,
Rev Run (Sorry! I've had a lot of time to sit on the couch and watch TV over the past few days, hahaha!)
Last Thursday night brought a buzz to the area of
Baton Rouge. LSU kicked off the college football season with a
45-0 route of Mississippi State. I'm still wondering if MSU could
beat some high school teams; nevertheless, LSU was dominant.
Since moving to Louisiana, I know more about LSU than I ever wanted to
know, and I'll admit: Deep down inside, I'm pulling for them to
win every game. However, I wasn't feeling the same buzz as
everyone else around here last week. "Why?" You may
ask. My true and faithful loyalty will always lie with the
Clemson Tigers, and they weren't playing Thursday or Saturday.
The day has finally come though! Yes, that's right: Clemson
kicks off their season tonight versus Florida State.
It's under two hours until game time, and I'm about
to erupt. I'm trying to hold all of my excitement in right now,
because my roommates and pretty much every person in Baton Rouge could
care less about Clemson. I don't want to be the obnoxious fan who
makes everyone hate my favorite team, but I'm so pumped right
now! I've been rocking the Clemson shorts, shirt, and hat all day
long, but my words have been few. There's something about Clemson
football that just brings out my emotions. As most of you are
aware, I'm a really laid back guy, never getting too excited or too
angry. However, most of my outward anger is spawned from
ping-pong, golf, or Clemson football. The only time I bite my
fingernails is during Clemson games. The only time I'll jump out
of the recliner in my house is during a Clemson game. The only
time I scream at the TV (other than watching stupid people on reality
shows) is during Clemson games. I'm passionate about Clemson
sports, mainly football, yet right now I'm having to contain my passion
for a couple more hours.
I know this is childish and immature, but Clemson
games make me miss home a lot! I miss seeing thousands of tiger
paws. I miss driving over the huge tiger paws on the road.
I miss South Carolina fans that complain. I miss seeing a sea of
orange. I miss making fun of South Carolina fans. I miss
being able to talk about "Thunder and Lightning" with people that
actually care. I miss seeing a blur when Jacoby Ford returns a
kick. I miss talking about Rendrick Taylor being "The
Hulk." I miss tailgating.
