So last year didn't work out for blogging. LOL

This year I have made an agreement with myself that I will journal in my "Old Fashion Blog" or "Man Journal" (it's really cool looking) at least once a week. Some of those things will remain unshared as they are for me or maybe just a few people... but some of them will make it here too. I like to write, maybe not the best at it, but I also believe that God has put me here to help people in whatever way I can. I have been through a bunch of crap and come out on the other side only to go back into more... and maybe, in talking about it, something I say... even if just part of a sentence, can help someone get through their tough time, their day or even their hour... it's all worth it.

Been over a year???

Wow - guess I haven't been doing this thing very well. :) I do hope to start writing more though. It's fun and it can really help... either me or others... help me vent or relieve tension... or just spread smiles and laughs. I hope to be on here more now... not anything routine... but just more than once a year. LOL

Who are you?

Not what you do... Not a title... Not what you been told you are... Not what people think you are. But who are you? It's who you are at your core... Maybe it's a title, but it can't just be that.

I am a pastor... but that's not what I am... it's not just a title. When a pastor is WHO you are you're a person that, no matter what, cares about people. It's someone that is ready to help... even if just by listening... sometimes best by just listening. A good pastor is someone that doesn't have an agenda FOR you, but when they're with you, their agenda IS you. How you are, what's going on, how they can laugh with you or cry with you, can they help or do you just wanna hang out? You are NOT a project, but you are loved! As a pastor you're a spiritual leader, but that's just the beginning, not the whole picture.

I'm gratefully broken... I think when that first came to my mind I saw it as a phase in my life... but it's who I am. In the dark and fog, I'm gratefully broken. In the light and joy, I'm gratefully broken. Being so has and does make me who I am. It's also what causes me to change what needs changed. It is the imperfections that are me... and it's the strides that I take to avoid or better those imperfections.

There is more to WHO I am... and the great part about it is that I am continuing to learn it... it doesn't all just come out... you have to search for it... you have to explore and listen and find WHO you are. One of life's many great adventures... and well worth the risk... risk because who you are may not be who you want to be... and that requires a whole other kind of search and adventure... and a different post sometime maybe. :)

I challenge you, take the time to really know WHO you are. Even if you're not a spiritual person, ask God who you are... because it's in HIM that we find these things out.
Feel free to comment on this or leave a comment of WHO you are... I would love to read them!

Gratefully Broken 2.0

When I started this blog I was in a "deeper" and even "darker" place than I am now... and my definition of gratefully broken was very appropriate. I am in a much lighter place now and you know what... the definition is the same. When I started this, I felt that it would be something that would only be for the deep or dark... but gratefully broken isn't just a thing... it's who I am. I am gratefully broken... and that means sometimes things are dark and deep and this is an out that I have... even a cry out for help... but other times it means that in my brokenness I get to share the joys and wonders of life with everyone.

Gratefully Broken 2.0 isn't a different version... just a realization that being gratefully broken is all inclusive and not just how I'm feeling... but who I am. I like that!

I'm back

Didn't really know I was gone... Just haven't thought about blogging lately. But I do enjoy it. I can honestly say things have been going well... in the midst of annoyances... but still really well. I could turn this into a HUGE entry by going on about what has been going on (yes it sounded funny in my head too). But basically I'm back... things are good... and I'll try to post more often.

Clearning the Fog

Opened my front door this morning to fog... yes that's right fog... I thought to myself... well it's June and we've gone from winter weather to fall weather... Alright, we're working our way towards summer... just a little backwards. And so I shrugged my shoulders and walked out the door.

I love the fog. I love the feel of the mist against my face, I love how quiet things seem. To me, fog is very peaceful. Some might disagree and don't get me wrong... it's not my favorite to drive in... but I wasn't driving. I was walking in it... I was just "being" in it.

I got on the train and as we started going towards Seattle, the fog began to clear... revealing a gorgeous summy day. At that time I remembered another part of the fog that I love. When it clears... revealing a beautiful new day.

Kinda funny how this can be said about our weather, but also about our lives.

She's Beautiful

This last weekend Julia and I went for our Horseback Winery Tour. We got to stay the night in one of their Luxery Teepees and it was amazing. It was the perfect mix of rugged (with the ranch and the horses... with the outdoor sink with a mirror for shaving that was right by one of the horse pens... and more) and elegance (with the decor of the teepees and the food that was served and just the atmosphere). It was so relaxing and simply amazing... but this isn't meant to be a review of the place... I'll write one of those on their web site. :)

All of that is needed for this post though. This last weekend there was amazing for me. I was so relaxed and just didn't want to leave. The horses were great, the scenery was breathtaking and so on and so on... but you see, this last weekend was PERFECT for Julia. It wasn't just something she wanted, it was something she NEEDED! She needed to get away. She needed the horses. She needed Pepper and Tiffany (the two that run this place). Whatever it was that she needed, it was there. And as a result she was absolutely glowing. She hasn't glowed like that in a very long time. My wife is breathtakingly beautiful all the time, but seeing her come to life this weekend when she was around those horses made that much more. For too long she has deprived herself from these things that make her come alive. As her husband, it's my pleasure to help her NOT lose that glow.
She is so beautiful all the time... but when she does the things that make her come alive, somehow, that beauty is magnified.