Our Heazzzzzzzyyyyyy

Well, the whole house thing worked out. We're buying a house. I can hardly believe it. It has been an exciting process. I know the process isn't over, but I'm still stoked. We probably won't be able to move in until the first of September, but I'm cool with that. It gives us some time to get things ready and to not have to mow the grass a little longer. Actually I'm bubbling with the idea of working in my own yard. That will probably wear off within a year but for the time being I am going to enjoy it.
Go check it out...
http://www.realliving.com/robbin.kramer/MyListingsDetails.asp?mls=2551826∝=2725135&ID=6902

Biting my Toenails...

Alright, Bran and I are in the process of buying a house. And today is the day that we made an offer. Now we play the waiting game. We wait till the selling couple either accepts, denies, or counters our offer. Till that point we wait. Cricket sound, Cricket sound(chirp, chirp for all you non-imaginative types). We are supposed to find out before 9:00 this evening. But that is nearly an eternity away. I know that the rest of the day my mind is going to be wandering to "So, do they like our offer, or do they not? Are we really about to do this? I'm buying a house!!! Was there a clause in the contract about me getting attacked by a rabid pack of squirrels in the house and who pays for those damages?" My mind is not going to rest. And even worse yet, is that I know once I find out my mind will only continue to gain steam at that point. It is a raging whirlwind that I have actually chosen to be a part of and am mildly enjoying it. So for the next 5, 6 or 7 hours until I find out, I will continue being anxious(which I am), looking at the clock(which it is exactly 2:07 right now), checking to see that my phone is working(which it isn't...piece of junk), and biting my toenails(which I wouldn't actually do cause that is just sick, not even fingernails...ewww).

Becoming One

Brandie and I had a great weekend. Not to get to personal on this thing. We have had our struggles in the past like everyone does but finally this weekend I feel like we had a small breakthrough. We had a very personal discussion that showed us a few things about us. One of those things was that we could communicate at an intimate, personal level. It is difficult to open yourself up to let someone else see you for who you really are. It is also difficult to make decisions knowing that the reprecussions from those decisions may not be liked by all people. I honestly feel that this weekend was a huge turning point for the better for us. Some areas we opened up and talked about this weekend will be affecting us the rest of our lives. The craziest thing is that none of this conversation involved us buying a house, which is also going to have a pretty big affect on our lives. I know that we are no where near perfect or even an example to follow after but I am still thankful for the steps that she and I made this weekend in becoming one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CiXvxVZsD4


On a lighter note, check out the link to see some great dancing. This guy is funny and entertaining doing a little bit of everything for everyone. I wish I had skills like that but God chose to bless me with two left feet and no sense of rhythm.

"That 2000's Show"

I recorded the finale of "That 70's Show" for Brandie last night cause I knew she would like it and she had to work. So we watched it last night at about 10:30 together. At the end of the show, two of the title characters, Eric and Donna are talking about their love for each other. Donna had just looked back at their relationship over the past years of the show. During this flashback you see a scrawny, dorky Eric very much in love with a beautiful, smart Donna. They really don't fit together but the show made it happen. It was during this little flashback took place that I realized I am Eric and Brandie is Donna. She is totally out of my league and I never should have ended up with her. She is the smart, funny, beautiful one. I am the dorky, scrawny one. I am not sure exactly how God organized this one, I suppose this isn't really a difficult task for Him compared to small things like creation, or unconditional love. But I am truly blessed and I definately married up. Cause this "Eric's" "Donna" is way out of his league.

Children make me Happy

No, children don't make me happy like that, you perv!!! I would have to say that kids have a way of bringing a smile to my face. I have had a busy day/week, and today I walked in to do a chapel for kindergarten through 3rd graders. I had already done one chapel for the day which was for 4th through 8th graders and it was okay but those kids are so busy trying to act cool and like they don't care that they forget that they have a pulse beating in their veins. But the younger group is so alive. I really can't think of a better word. And that life is infectous. It is hard for me to worry about some of lifes struggles right now when those little kids aren't worried and just want to see you smiling and talking with them. Part of me longs to go back to those days. Not that I am SSSOOOOOO unhappy now. I'm really not. I'm actually probably the happiest I've ever been. But remember when the most important thing about your day was how long you were going to get to ride your bike. Or will dad bring me some candy when he comes home from work? (Luckily, Brandie still brings me candy when she comes home from work sometimes.) A carefree life, that must be what makes children so alive.

I hate to have to be one of those people but I'm gonna quickly comment on last night's American Idol. I always liked Elliot. He was just an all-around nice guy. The type of guy you wanted to be your friend, not because of the excitement of craziness he would bring but more because of the stableness or trustworthiness. I'm not trying to say I know all about him but he just seems like a nice guy. He has a great voice. I was sad to see him go. The whole show seemed to be a set-up for his departure, like everyone knew he was going to be leaving. Paula balling her eyes out. What a freak.
As the AI year has progressed, I've gradually become less interested though. I guess I'm one of those junkies who likes the beginning of the year when you have the people who can't sing but don't know it. Or the ones who want to create all sorts of drama. Now it's down to Katharine and Taylor. I really hope that Taylor is able to pick up all of Elliot's voters.
One other thing about last night. Is it just me or is that show becoming more and more of a commercial. Whether for Coke, or Ford, or last night for the American Idol CD. It's doing commercial's about itself now. It's ridiculous.

Jealous...

Dueteronomy is the book I'm reading right now for devotions. Two days ago was when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments for when they moved into the Israel(Not in real life-I mean, in my reading 2 days ago). Yesterday Moses was telling the people that they were to follow those laws and to teach them to their children. They were to make it such a part of their life that they would talk about it constantly.
Today's reading was especially interesting though. Moses was telling the people that when they moved into the Promised land they were to be careful to remember who they were and where they came from. God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt and was about to give them a land of their own to live on and populate(that populating part sounds fun, huh). Moses then commented on God being a jealous God and that they should be cautious to not begin worshipping the gods of the land they were about to inhabit.
When we say "God is a jealous God." it always sounds so mean. Jealousy is recognized in our society as being entirely evil. We're not supposed to be jealous. Then it kind of hit me. God has every right to be jealous. I mean He brought them out of slavery. Cared for their needs while they traveled around for 40 years trying to get their acts straight. Then gives them a large chunk of land. Why wouldn't He be jealous? He has cared for them like they were His own-which they were.
And what about me. God has saved me from being an eternal slave to sin. He continues to care for each of my needs and many of my wants while I wander around on earth trying to get my stuff together. Then to top it all off and slightly quote the old hym-"He's built a mansion for me in GLORY!" I don't blame him for being jealous and expecting that I give Him my all.

My Mind Is Going to Explode

Brandie and I are looking into possibly buying a house. This is an all new experience for me and I feel like my mind is about to explode. I have been making phone calls, researching online, and trying to sort out information and advice. I have been trying to pack it all into my small cranium with big ears. I have about 4 different types of loans and their corresponding interest rates bouncing around at any given second. I know that the payoff will be worth it-assuming we are able to get the house. As long as I'm alive to enjoy it.

Alright, So just cause I have a picture of myself on here doesn't mean I'm vain. I am trying to post this picture so that I can also upload it to my profile. I'm relatively good at this internet computer thing-even though I just think it's a passing fad-but I'm still learning.

I just want to comment for a minute on my night last night. I work at a church and the church also has a small christian school that goes along with it. Well this school has been practicing for the past few weeks for the upcoming children's musical. It just so happens that my door is right next to the auditorium and I can hear most everything that they have been doing. Not all of it I suppose, but enough to be able to sing along with some of the songs. So I thought I was going to be able to miss out on the program cause I had other things to do. Well, sure enough, all of my other things got canceled leaving me with only this musical to do. Now, I suppose I could have easily stayed home but all I would have done is watch TV or play PS2. How important are those two things? -Okay, you're right, Playstation is extremely important, but that is besides the point.- So I went to the program with less than the best of attitudes and was floored but what I saw. I saw a bunch of kids singing, telling a story, and working as one group. My entire attitude changed throughout the course of the night. It was great. I was extremely happy I had gone and watched. There were your classic child moments like the couple of kids who can't stand still but try so hard and you can see on their faces that it is probably hurting them to try to be still for this long. Or your classic kid who says his line at a serious part but says it with the biggest grin and a slight giggle. That of course just sends me laughing hysterically. Aside from the mildly cheesy choreography and story line, which I wouldn't have changed for anything; the entire night was great. The kids very clearly presented Jesus' love for the world in a fun and enjoyable way that only kids can pull off.
Though to be quite honest, the whole night, I was like this is one big episode of "KidSongs". Which for those of you who never saw this, was a program that ran on TV when I was a kid on Saturday mornings featuring a bunch of kids singing kids songs(thus the name, genuises) and dancing rather ridiculously. The premise was that one of the kids had gained entrance to an old abandoned TV studio and they decided to clean it up and put it to use to air their own show. The showed sucked but I was always strangely drawn to watching it. But this was more of a Christian "KidSongs". And once again I was strangely drawn in to the children's joyous world.

Well, this begins my blogging journey. I have many questions about all this though.
Why am I doing this? Do I think I have something worthy of documenting and saving? Will I use this more as a way of letting people keep in touch with what is going on in my life? Do I just want people to hear what I have to say? Will I stay at this or will it eventually taper off? Will I keep the format of it neat and clean or sloppy and informal? How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Will this stretch me to be more creative and dynamic in communicating? Will it include pictures and links? Will it be funny? Intuitive? Creative? Political? Spiritual? A blended smoothy of several of these items? I could continue jotting down questions for days and maybe that is what this will become. A place for me to question.
In any way, I am not secure enough yet in this digital diarying to let everyone read this. So for now I will keep this to myself and maybe to my wife. She will be objective with me about this and tell me what's up. Then maybe she'll make me some brownies...hint, hint. That just makes me laugh cause if you know my wife she isn't the hint, hint type. It's straightforward, which I am very thankful for. I don't have time for guessing games. Anyway, maybe someday I will feel adaquate enough to let the world in on my personal wanderings, questionings, and laughings. Until then, I'm just going to keep this private. (At least, as private as anything is on the internet.)