Bridal Shower

I know... not really my style to post something like this, but I'm real happy for Emily and Tanner. I'm also glad to see that there is some joy in the Chapman household.
Congratulations to the happy couple! Hope you have many years of joy and prosperity.

Here's a couple of pictures ("borrowed" from Grace's blog) from Emily's first bridal shower.

92.5 Hours!

Yep! That's what my time sheet says for this week...

Believe it or not, I've got close to 100 extra hours for this month so far.
I know, I know... I said I was going to cut back.

But the start of the school year brings all kinds of extra expenses. Cleats for three, athletic cups, socks, gloves, shirts and shorts for practice and thats just the beginning. Then there is gas to travel to all the games and practices, food on the road, booster fees, etc. Don't forget all the school supplies that schools are requiring parents to buy these days. I don't know about you, but I NEVER used 20 pencils in one year. The amount of stuff these teachers are asking for per pupil is outrageous. I think I'm going to make the purchases and keep the stuff under my control.

So. It's kind of hard to turn down the work with all the extra expenses. I'm tired, but not exhausted. I know that what I'm doing is enabling my wife to stay at home with the kids. I will not have had the time with them as little kids that I wish, but when you have a big family, expenses are big as well. I have taken time with each of them over the years. I plan to continue with one on one days, one on three days, one on ten days... you get the point.

As it stands now, I will need to work an additional 200 hours extra through the rest of the year to make our budget plus a few extras. I have two trips I want to take in November that I need to raise extra money for. One is a football game at Auburn. I'll be going with my sister and her two boys and plan to take two of my boys as well. The other trip is to Nashville for the Shaohannah's Hope fundraiser. I'll be bringing my wife, youngest son, oldest daughter and her baby (maybe - depending on when the baby is born).

Well, that's about it for this update. I'm sure to have more boring stuff to post in the next few days. After I get some sleep...

SCC on FOTF

Good news for your listening pleasure next week!

Focus On The Family will air Steven's interview with Dr. Dobson on three different days. Looks like we'll get to hear just about the whole interview according to Jim Houser.

I hope to listen to the podcasts and post the links sometime next week. I will be in a class in Baltimore each day during local broadcast time, so that's the only way I'll be able to hear it.

Please Pray For Me

I've been pretty busy lately. Seems like I'm running around in circles, though.
Please pray for me. I'm feeling a lot of pressure in the financial area. Also needing to make some decisions about moving or staying where we are.

I'm afraid I've gotten myself in over my head with the house we have now. I love the extra room and the land (16 acres), but we are 20 miles away from the school we are sending the kids to which means my teenage daughter will be driving herself and three brothers daily. Plus we have all the sports practices and other events to attend.

I drive 30 miles one way to work as well, which is taking a toll. It takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour each way. This all adds up over time. Way too much time away from family.

Not to mention the fuel costs... but it is a lot. We're probably driving close to 1000 miles a week (in three different vehicles). Then there is the added cost of maintenance on older cars. Gas has gone up almost $1.50 per gallon since we moved.

I've been looking into moving back North. Closer to work and school. I really don't want to move again so soon. Houses in the area where we lived are smaller. Lot sizes are small. No room for the kids to run wild and enjoy nature like we have here.

The other option will be to refinance the mortgage and take the kids out of Christian school. I'm not too impressed with the local public schools. Not that my kids couldn't adjust and probably thrive... It's just that I really like the extra spiritual stuff that they are getting in a Christian school.

And then there are the costs of college for my second daughter.

Just...
Pray for me, please.

Online People article on the Chapmans

Here's a link to the online portion of the article on the Chapmans. Not a lot on the webpage.
I have yet to purchase a copy of the magazine. Not really a fan. I probably will buy it though, due to the special content...

Almost there...

Today is Wednesday. The third of four day shift work days for me this week.
Only four - twelve hour shifts this week. That's compared to the last couple of weeks where I worked 84 and 96 hours.
Starting Friday, I've got 7 days off. Ordinarily I'd come in and work a couple of those days for the overtime. Not this time. I'm so tired of this place and the whole working everyday thing.

Ready for retirement!

More later

Larry King: 'About Last Night'

Larry King reflects on his interview with the Chapmans.
I believe the Lord is drawing this man to Himself.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/08/lkl.about.thurs.cnn?iref=videosearch

More

Just wanted to link y'all to a commentary that Steven did for CNN. Thanks to Kerry Hasenbalg for showing me the way. Please take some time to go to her blog and read her great insights. She is a very gifted writer who has walked the road that leads through the valley.

Here's the link to SCC's commentary.

Here's the link to Kerry's blog.

Larry King Live

If you missed the first broadcast, there is another one at midnight EST.

They did really well! A bit of stumbling and hesitancy, but that is to be expected. I am touched by the love this family has for one another and for the world that they would share this most intimate and painful of life experiences with us.

I wish Larry could remember that her name is Maria, not Mary. Oh well... he is pretty old. lol!

Some of the questions from viewers were hard, some were expected. I was glad to hear encouragement from all of those who asked questions. Guess the folks backstage did a pretty good job too.

Thanks to Jim Houser for his updates all evening long.

Here's a picture from Jim of Steven getting mic'd up.























And thanks to Grace for that great picture of the family getting ready to leave earlier today.
I'll post it here as well.

An older interview

I found this interview on Jesus Freak Hideout. It was done on November 17th of last year and is about the recording of This Moment. A good one to watch with the perspective we have now...

Concert Postponed

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I've had to postpone the concert by The Following.
I received an email from the band notifying me that Will Franklin has a conflicting appointment (not sure what type and it really isn't my business) on the planned weekend of the show.
I'm glad I hadn't purchased plane tickets or made hotel reservations yet.
I'm disappointed. I really wanted to have this show for the kids in September.

We're hoping to try again in a few months.

There is another band that I was hoping to line up for the show. Check out their website and let me know what you think:
Failure To Excel

Decent Interview

Well, GMA gave them 10 minutes! That's 4 more than I expected.
I think that overall, the piece was well presented. I'm sure that there was a lot of good stuff from that day of interviews that could have added to the witness of Christ in this wonderful, grieving family. Probably enough for an hour long special. Maybe that is something that ABC ought to look into (hint, hint).

My friend Kelby has posted the transcript from the show on her blog.

Jim Houser has linked the entire interview as well as links to download the new recording of "Yours" from iTunes and Amazon on his blog.

I'm at work, so I can't access those sites right now. I'll check them out tomorrow or Friday.

Don't forget to tune in to Larry King Live tomorrow night for his interview with the Chapmans. I'm praying for new ground to be broken in Larry's life as he speaks with this family of God Followers. Also praying that the world that watches (most of whom reside on the more liberal side of the debate) will be impacted for Christ.

Pray along with me, please.
Also, please, please, please continue to pray for Will Franklin.

This Morning on Good Morning America!!

Don't forget to watch, record, or TiVo!!

All of the following is copied from Jim Houser's Blog:









fyi. hearing that the Chapman piece will air in the 7am hour on Wednesday (7am wherever you are) Time May Shift!

I had a conversation this morning that struck me...

A friend said... interesting that the Good Morning America piece air date would move around so much.

I explained, well that's fairly normal in media, things change, producers trying to get best slot and most time for stories they believe in, news events, etc. That said, I'm really, really hopeful about the piece being what we would hope it to be. I am so thankful for the amazing lady who is producing and Robin Roberts was so kind and amazing. It's been such a great experience. So I don't think the moving around indicates anything but good things...

The friend smiled, I was clearly not getting their point... and then said... all the moving around and the airing lands on a Wednesday?

It'll be 12 Wednesdays ago (11 weeks) tomorrow since Maria went to be with Jesus. Because of her life and a tragic accident, millions of people will bump into a faith they may not understand on television outlets that don't often talk about God. Would you pray that hearts and minds will be prepared? That people will not be distracted from what could be a divine appointment tomorrow morning and/or Thursday night?

So this is my prayer...
God, would you please give the Chapmans strength and courage... and Your peace and Your words. If you do, I'm crazy enough to believe that the piece Good Morning America will air tomorrow, and the interview the Chapmans will grant to Larry King live in LA on Thursday could change someone's day, and just might change their life. And May it be so. May it be so for many. May you get the glory. Asking my faith and the faith of my friends be encouraged and emboldened by what You're doing. And that You'll show us, in obvious ways even my eyes can't miss, after this week all You've done already through this loss of Maria. And we'll try to remember to give you the glory God. This is our desire, that You be honored. Amen.

So... It's On Everyone. It's Serious. This Is A Key Moment. Pray Friends. Pray On.

If internet connections and emotions allow, I'll blog extensively beginning in the afternoon on Thursday from LA with the Chapmans.

More To Come

I've neglected this blog for a few days...
No time this morning to spend here. Got to sleep some. I'll catch everyone up tonight from work.