Mashburn's Musings

Customer Service

2011-02-09T14:57:00.002-05:00

Poor customer service:
employee parked in the space right in front of the store, one employee cleaning while the other has to handle a rush by himself, no eye contact point of sale, second employee then starts helping people that are way back in line. #jambajuicefail

Great customer service:
he always calls me by name, grabs my clothes when he sees me pull up, remembers what we talked about the last time I was here. #EliteDryCleanersWin

Could this be the catalyst?

2011-02-05T13:28:00.001-05:00

Android now has a blogger app. Could this be the catalyst to get me back to blogging? I think it might. Being able to crank out a post right when I have an idea could be just the thing to get me going again. Stay tuned to see if it works out.

Mashburn

Update on Nick

2009-07-05T23:36:00.004-04:00

First of all, sorry we have not been able to return all the calls, text messages, facebook comments, and tweets. The support has been overwhelming and encouraging. Here is the sequence of events for today:

Nick came downstairs this morning while I was reading and seemed disoriented. Bailey and Melissa have been sick, so after we got him to wake up, we assumed he was getting the same thing. He went back to bed in room with Melissa so she could keep an eye on him while Bailey and I went to church. Turns out he probably had a seizure before he woke up.

Bailey called Melissa at 11am to ask a question about kids ministry and when she woke up to answer the phone, Nick was having a grand mal seizure. She called me at church and I rushed home while she called 911. When I got there, he was incoherent but came around about the time the paramedics got there.

They stabilized him and transported him to Memorial West. The Doctor there ran many tests and after consulting with the neurologist, decided to move him to Joe Dimaggio at Memorial Regional. They put him on anti-seizure meds and transported him via ambulance to Joe D (our favorite hospital where nick spent 51 days in 2005 with pancreatitus).

By the time we got there, he was feeling better. They performed an MRI of his brain tonight and are going to run EEG's, both awake and asleep, tomorrow to try to determine the source of the seizures. They said we are probably in the hospital until at least Tuesday.

For updates, I encourage you to facebook friend us (www.facebook.com/mattmashburn or www.facebook.com/mels_world) or follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/mattmashburn or www.twitter.com/mels_world) as we are pretty good about keeping those up to date.

Many have visited and lifted Nick's spirits. Thanks to all of you who have stopped by. Thanks a ton for all the prayers, calls, texts, comments, tweets, etc. Your concern is felt and appreciated. We will keep you updated as things develop.

Back from Guatemala

2009-06-24T21:13:00.003-04:00

Sorry I have neglected to post since we were in GU. We all arrived back in South Florida safely (after a minor flight delay). It was great to see family again and be in a place where you don't have to constantly be thinking about whether or not you can use the water. I still hesitate every time I turn on a faucet. I miss what I experienced in GU but would not trade my life for anything. I like my routine and the challenges that are unique to my calling.

Many of you may be considering sponsoring a compassion child after following us through Guatemala and the good news is that it is never too late. If you are interested in sponsoring a compassion child, just go to www.compassion.com and click on "sponsor a child".

Realize that if you do, it is not just about sending money - that is the easy part. It is about building a relationship with your child through letters and pictures and maybe even going to visit them someday.

I am already beginning to think about the next time I will get to visit with Ericka - hopefully Melissa, Nick, and Bailey will get to meet her too.

6/19/9 Update

2009-06-20T00:54:00.004-04:00

Another great day in GU. It was our last full day on this trip. We left this morning to visit our third project of the week. Robey and I had the opportunity to visit with the pastor for the church that partners with the project. In this city, they are fighting gangs, spiritual warfare, witchcraft, child abuse, and so many other things. It was great to talk to the pastor and I would ask that you add him to your prayer list.

We then went on a home visit. The home was very spartan, but the family had joy on their faces. We asked them to show us some letters from their sponsors (2 kids were sponsored in this house). The mother said they keep them in a very special place. They pulled some out and as we looked at them we realized that some of the letters were from April, 2000 and some of the pics were from April, 1999. They had kept these letters and photos for 10 years! If you ever wonder how important it is to write to your sponsored child, that should clear it up for you.

We left there and had lunch at Pizza Hut - I requested a moment of silence for pizza before we ate. I have missed my simple American diet. It was great and there was great conversation.

After that, we went to a local market and got some amazing deals on some gifts to bring home. The day ended with dinner and a wonderful debrief where we took time to honor the compassion staff that has done an amazing job on this trip. Thank you Brenda, Claudia, Laura, Sandra x 2, and Pablo. You guys were awesome. Some of the folks are leaving at 3:30am, but we are leaving for the airport at 9am. Looking forward to getting home to families.

Over the next few days I will try to break down some of the experieinces in more detail. Thanks for following us this week.

Below are some pics from the day:

Robey and I with the pastor and our translator - Brenda

The view from the project

Our crew behaving

Our crew misbehaving

6/18/9 Update

2009-06-18T22:58:00.004-04:00

Today we got to spend the day in a local amusement park with the children we have sponsored. In our group from West Pines there were 3 children sponsored. My family had the privilege of being one of those sponsors, so I got to spend the day with our compassion daughter, Ericka and her mom, Leticia.

It was am amazing day. Seeing the park through the eyes of a little girl who has never been to a place like this before was truly amazing. I was really nervous about the day, because, as most of you know, this is usually Melissa's area of expertise. I had already asked Letty, Robey, and Rebekah to spend the day with us to help me make it a great day for Ericka and hopefully, deal with some of the awkwardness. Little did I know that Ericka would be the one who made it easy and anything but awkward. Having met me on Monday, she knew who I was when we got off the bus and ran over to me and gave me a big hug. She was so excited to go to the park and spend the day with her "padrino" which means Godfather in Spanish. Her father left them 5 years ago after her younger brother, Miguel Enrique, was born. She grabbed my hand and held on all day while we walked around the park, rode rides, and played games. It was an amazing day made even better by getting to share it with friends.

Here are some pics from the day:

Me, Ericka and Leticia (mom)

Ericka and I

Ericka teaching Rebekah a song on the swing

Ericka opening the gifts we brought for her

Ericka showing off her new sunglasses

At the end of the day, we taught her to play UNO. It was tough to say goodbye. She wanted to know when Melissa, Nick, and Bailey were coming to visit. All of the child visits went extremely well. It was a great day. More home visits tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

6/17/9 Update

2009-06-17T21:44:00.003-04:00

First, A Few Pics from the last few daysThe Family we visited in their home

Their Kitchen

Their Stove

A little Boy at the first compassion project

Little Girls waiting to throw confetti on us

Today started out with a little relaxation time at the hotel while we waited to checkout and head back to Guatemala City. Some folks walked around the city, some slept in, and some did other things. After that, we all loaded the bus and headed to Guatemala City. After a short stop at a mall, we stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

Then we headed to the Compassion country office in GU city to tour and meet the folks that make Compassion happen in Guatemala. We got to see all the behind the scenes stuff that helps support the children and keep the communication up between the children and the sponsors. These folks churn out a lot of work with a small staff, but do a great job from what we saw.

That was followed by a presentation about the Leadership Development Program, which is a program for Compassion Children that have graduated and would like to go to college. We have spent most of the week with Magda, who is an LDP graduate and is now responsible for 12 projects in Guatemala. She had already impressed us with the program because of her amazing presence and leadership. We heard from 3 current LDP students and then got to have dinner with them and ask questions. We also met 2 other LDP graduates who serve on the Country Office Team.

Tomorrow, we get to take the kids that our group has sponsored to an amusement park in Guatemala City. Everybody is very excited about that. Should be fun.

6/16/9 Update

2009-06-17T10:24:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the late update, but last night was a little rough. Guatemalan food not liking my stomach.

We had a great day yesterday. First, we traveled to another Compassion Project and from there we split into groups and visited homes of people whose children attend the project. The poverty was shocking. They were so happy to have us. They were so excited that we came to visit them. Our host even cooked tamales for us. It was humbling to see their environment but encouraging to hear all that compassion is doing for them.

Next, we had lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to the project for a special presentation from the kids. They sang for us and were very excited that we came. They also did a short play and some special music.

After the presentation, we got to tour the administrative offices and see the way compassion has built accountability into their program. As an administrator, I was very impressed. They have an amazing system for holding the projects accountable so that the funds you send go where they are intended. We then got to observe the kids in the classroom. They have a great teaching staff.

While everybody else was touring the facility, Robey and I got to meet with Pastor Alfredo, who is the pastor of the church that is associated with the project. He is the only pastor of a 80 year old church of 1500 people that he is trying to transition to a more contemporary style so they can attract more of the local community. Please pray for him as he has a difficult battle ahead of him. We were able to encourage him and pray with him. It was an awesome experience.

After that, we headed back to Antigua for some dinner and rest. I will try to post some more pics tonight, as we have wireless internet at the hotel in Guatemala City that we are headed to today - cool.

Keep those comments and prayers coming.

BTW - Rebekah got her bag last night - thanks for the prayers.

A few pics from 6/15

2009-06-16T08:38:00.002-04:00

The countryside as we drove to the Compassion Project

The kids welcoming us to the project - humbling experience.

6/15/9 Update

2009-06-15T23:19:00.002-04:00

First of all, I apologize. We have not had internet access, but I just found some. Cell phones also not working like we expected. We are in Antigua. Everything worked fine in Guatemala City when we landed but as soon as we got to Antigua, everything got spotty. We will be back in Guatemala city Wednesday afternoon.

I am going to give you the highlights, because only a book would fill you in completely. This morning we left for one of the Compassion projects in Guatemala. When we got there, the kids welcomed us like royalty. They sang and danced and threw confetti on us. After that they did a short presentation of some of the things they have been working on for our visit. Then we broke up into groups to do different things. Robey, Danny, and I were in charge of recreation (go figure) and got to play basketball with the best 10 year old basketball players in the world. They schooled us, but it was an amazing time. By the way, they were also girls - quite humbling. It is so easy to bond over games like that. We ran around, laughed, got rained on, and kept playing. During this time, the other groups were doing a craft project with the other kids and just palying games and hanging with them.

During our game, I got word that our family's compassion daughter was there to meet with me. So, sweaty, wet, and dirty, I got to meet her and her mom. What an amazing thing. I showed her a picture album that Melissa put together and told her about my family. When I told her she could keep the album, her eyes lit up. She gave me several hugs and thanked me many times. After that, I asked how we could help them. Her mom began to explain that she has a problem with alcohol and then just broke down and asked if our family would pray for her so that she can overcome this problem and be a good mom for Erika and her 5 year old brother. We prayed with her and then Erika showed me around the school, holding my hand the whole way. We were leaving for lunch and she asked the translator a question and the translator said yes and she came over a gave me a big hug.

We had a great lunch at a local restaurant then headed back to the project. Erika was still there and I got a chance to meet her little brother and give her a stuffed animal we had gotten for her. We said our goodbyes, but only for a few days as she will be coming to meet me at the amusement park on Thursday when the other sponsors get to meet their children.

After that, most of our group began the service project - to paint some of the school. While they were doing that Robey and I got to meet with the pastor of the church that compassion works through to sponsor this project. He introduced us to some of his deacons and elders and shared his vision for reaching this community and also for a church they are planting in a neighboring community. We had an amazing time talking with him (thru a translator) and hearing him talk about some of the same struggles that we face doing ministry back home. We got to visit his church and his home. We got to have coffee with his family and spend a lot of time just understanding what he faces doing ministry in Guatemala. We asked how we could help him and his first request was that we continue to help the compassion project because that is where the kids are hearing the gospel. His second request was that we pray for his church daily. It is amazing to think that neither of his requests were about us giving money to his church, which is what we would assume would make everything better. It is funny how your priorities get challenged by those who have less.

After that, we met up with the rest of the group and headed back to the hotel for dinner and debrief. Still have not gotten Rebekah's bag, so please pray for that. I offered her some clothes, but I don't think she is that desperate yet. Please pray that the rest of the trip will go as well as today. It was an amazing day. I will try to post some pics tomorrow.

Headed to Antigua

2009-06-14T23:47:00.001-04:00

We are on a bus headed to antigua to check into our hotel for the evening. Flight was warm with some turbulence, but ok. Lost one bag (rebekah's) but everything else made it. More to follow......

Headed to Antigua

2009-06-14T23:47:00.000-04:00

We are on a bus headed to antigua to check into our hotel for the evening. Flight was warm with some turbulence, but ok. Lost one bag (rebekah's) but everything else made it. More to follow......

Off we go

2009-06-14T15:29:00.003-04:00

Here is our crew. We will keep you posted.
Robey was really disappointed with the brevity of this post so I changed it.

Firing the blog back up

2009-06-13T22:14:00.002-04:00

Well it has been a while since my last post. A lot has happened. I am back in full time ministry (where I should be) at a wonderful place called West Pines Community Church. Melissa is also on staff there. I feel like we are back in our sweet spots again. The kids are having a good year - getting really big. That kinds of catches you up.

Now for the real reason that I am starting back up. Tomorrow I am heading to Guatemala on a mission trip with Compassion International. We are taking a team of 10 people from our church and I can't wait to get there. I am committing to keep everybody updated on our trip through my blog (assuming I can get on internet), so stay tuned. We have some cool things planned for our trip that I will be sharing along the way. I look forward to making you a part of it.

Big Waves

2009-01-04T22:11:00.004-05:00

On our last day at Hutchinson Island, there were some huge waves at the beach. Checkout these pics of the boys tubing and boogie boarding - hilarious.

Nick in the wave

That's Bailey's foot sticking up - if you look close you can see Nick totally engulfed in the wave on the left

Nick's head sticking out

That's Nick's foot sticking out of waves

and Bailey tubing.

I think it was the most fun they had the whole trip.

Cassette Tapes

2009-01-03T20:03:00.002-05:00

Did a little cleaning about a week ago and ran across a box of my old cassette tapes. After a full house search, I discovered that I did not even have a cassette player. While away on our vacation, I picked one up. I just busted out the tapes and am listening to a little Mylon Lefevre. I'll bet nobody knows who that is.

Our Last Day

2009-01-02T20:37:00.005-05:00

I thought I would share a pic and a video from our last day at Hutchinson Island:

Our Trip

2009-01-01T22:20:00.004-05:00

This week Mel and I took a little trip to rest, plan, and dream about 2009. The kids joined us on day 4 after they went to Kentucky with the in-laws. The best way for me to describe our trip is with pics.

The view from our resort

Our little reading spot on the beach

Nick catching a wave

A little thinking time - look at that view

Some props for thinking and planning

The view from our balcony

I can't wait to see if our dreams come true in 2009

On Our Way to Alabama

2008-11-26T16:03:00.002-05:00

We are more than halfway to our destination in Alabama. I am taking a break from driving and getting a little work done while Melissa takes the wheel. What does the week look like:

Thanksgiving food and football at my grandmother's house - a family tradition
Hang out with all my brother and sister and their families
The Iron Bowl - Auburn vs. Alabama - the biggest game of the year
A little cold weather
A little re-focusing

Hopefully I will keep you updated on all the happenings. Right now we are nearing Auburn where we are going to pay a quick visit to the campus (the kids have never been) before we head into my mom and dads.

Chazown

2008-11-19T17:35:00.002-05:00

At the same time that I was reading "It" by Craig Groeschel, I was also reading "Chazown" by Craig. I actually started "Chazown" first and then someone recommended "It" so I read them at the same time. I was just as impressed with "Chazown" as I was with "It". I would say that "Chazown" is about finding your personal "It" and "It" is about finding your ministry or vocational "Chazown". They both have some awesome exercises to work through to help you figure it all out. I highly recommend both books. Obviously I now have to read Craig's other book - "Confessions of a Pastor"

What I'm Reading

2008-11-18T15:05:00.002-05:00

I just updated my Amazon Widget (on the right side of the page) with all the books I am currently reading. For those of you who don't know me, I read a lot of books at the same time. I find that it appeals to my short attention span and also allows me to absorb and apply what I read better. The books I read at the same time are all from different categories of my life and personal goals.

The first 4 are ones that I read as part of my quiet time. The next 6 are my morning reading. The next 6 are the books I read at night (usually only 3 or 4 nights per week). There are two others that I read occasionally. I typically red 5-10 minutes per book depending on how much time I have.

I have been reading this way for years and I find that I get a lot read and keep my interest up. I probably read 50-60 books per year this way. Mixing the topics is a key part of the plan.

Fire Pit

2008-11-17T17:58:00.004-05:00

Last night, we decided to go outside and enjoy the cool weather. One of my youngest son Bailey's favorite things is to roast marshmallows around the fire pit. So, after a little homemade chili for dinner, we cranked up the fire and did some roasting. To the left is a pic of the fire. Below is a video of the fire. Enjoy.

Cool Nascar Story

2008-11-16T16:39:00.004-05:00

Watching the race at Homestead today reminded me of one of the coolest things I ever got to do. 2 years ago, I had tickets for my oldest son and I to go to the Nascar Race at Homestead. Unfortunately, that day was a big commitment day at the church that I used to pastor at. Fortunately, two of the other pastors had tickets also. One of them knew a guy that flies people to the race via helicopter. He got him to meet us at the Opelika Airport right after service and fly us to the speedway. We were dropped off right behind the track and rode a golf cart to our seats in the infield grandstand. It was those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I will never forget.

Margin

2008-11-15T17:06:00.003-05:00

This week I finished the book shown on the right called "Margin". You have probably never heard of it. I picked it up off a bargain table because I struggle having margin in my life. It started off tough - written by a Doctor (Richard Swenson), but I stuck with it and found it to be an excellent book on finding margin in your life. He not only talks about how to find margin, but why we have lost it and how our culture has changed over the generations. It is a little cerebral, but worth the effort. I got some great ideas from it but have not had time to implement them - get it? Haha? Click on it to order it.

Car Line

2008-11-12T18:21:00.002-05:00

I have discovered that car line is a very precise science. As part of my fatherly duties, I take my oldest son to school each morning.
On the first day of school, we left 20 minutes before school because it is only 5 minutes away. He was 5 minutes late. This is absolutely the worst car line I have ever seen. Even though I am sure they know more about it than I do, I have some theories (surprisingly) on how to make it better.
Nevertheless, we adjusted our departure time to 35 minutes before school starts and I would drop him off with 10 minutes to spare - the whole ordeal taking me about 35 minutes.
By a twist of fate, one day we left 5 minutes early (40 minutes before school starts) and I got him there in 10 minutes and completed the whole trip in 20 minutes. That has become our new routine.
It is hard for me to believe that the whole flow is so precise that 5 minutes can make a 15 minute difference, but today we left 5 minutes late and it took me 35 minutes again.
Oh well, I guess people are more routine oriented than they would like to believe. It is also interesting to note that we pass the same people running and walking in the morning in almost exactly the same places.

It

2008-11-11T15:53:00.000-05:00

I just finished "It" by Craig Groeschel today. It was absolutely one of the best ministry books I have ever read. I think it could definitely be applied to business as well. Craig talks about ministries that have "it" and how to get it, keep it, and also how you might lose it. His humor and storytelling style make it an easy and entertaining read. I DEFINITELY recommend it to everyone. It is a MUST READ if you are in ministry. A great book to go through with your team. If you have read "It" leave a comment. As always, just click on the book to order from Amazon.

Nick's First (Real) Job

2008-11-08T16:36:00.000-05:00

Well, today I drove Nick to Publix for his first day on the job. He has been to training a couple of times but today was the Grand Opening of his store so it was his first official day. As we pulled out of the driveway I realized that this is about the time that I got my first job as a gopher on a contruction site.

No, I did not have to impersonate an animal. I was the guy that had to go for everything.
"Matt, get me some nails"
"Matt, get me some more 2x4's"
"Matt, clean up this mess"
"Matt, get me the saw/hammer/other tool I need"
It actually paid well for a 14 year old, so I had more money than all my friends. I have worked ever since that day but ironically don't have more money than all my friends anymore.

Today, Nick starts his work life. I expect that he will be very successful.

Almost 10 months

2008-11-05T18:59:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been almost 10 months since my last post. I picked up my first consulting client about that time and got caught up in that and just fell out of the routine. I have thought about restarting many times, just have not taken the time. Well...the time is now. My catalyst was that there are still people checking in and I would just like to say thanks for that.

The last 10 months have been challenging for the Mashburns, but we have learned a lot. I am going to try to post more often. I have read over 50 books since I last posted (a little scary) so I will probably post about some of them. Maybe that is where my posting time went?

We are involved in a great church that you can read more about here and really enjoying it. Melissa is still doing well in the network marketing arena and the boys are great. Check out an article that Melissa just wrote about Nick's hospital ordeal here and an article Nick wrote about thankfulness here.

Today Melissa helped me setup a Facebook account (a little late I know) that you can checkout here. I hope to get that all figured out.

I am looking forward to some hopefully entertaining musings to share with you. Until then, leave a comment and let me know you are still out there.

For One More Day

2008-01-12T17:12:00.000-05:00

I had previously read Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" and really enjoyed it, so I grabbed "For One More Day" to give it a try. I was not disappointed. It was great. Very inspirational. It reminds us that our loved ones may be gone at any time and we don't want to live with regrets about how we spent our time with them. I enjoyed it so much, Mel and I tivo'd the movie and watched it also. They changed a few things, but the message was the same. I highly recommend this one. Click on it to order.

For all my Mac Friends

2008-01-08T18:01:00.000-05:00

More Than a Carpenter

2008-01-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

I recently finished More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell. One of my friends recommended it a while ago. It has been around a while. I was expecting a book that went into more depth about Jesus' life. What I found was a book that gave evidence of Jesus' existence. It reminded me of "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. Even though it was not what I expected, it was a good read and a quick read. I definitely recommend it for anybody you know that is investigating the claims of Christ. Click on it above to order it.

Updated Reading List

2007-12-31T16:30:00.000-05:00

I have to apologize. I have not kept my reading widget updated (on the right side of blog page). It is updated now and reviews of the books that are no longer on the list because I finished them will follow over the next several days. Sorry about the delay.

Free Furniture

2007-12-29T21:17:00.000-05:00

We are still really having a great time with the Wii that the kids got for Christmas. We decided tonight that we are getting rid of our living room furniture so we will have more room to play. If you are interested in any of the pieces, just post a comment. We are willing to trade the whole group for a second wii controller. We are tired of swapping controllers. We could also use ice packs, ace bandages, and any emergency room connections you might have.

Cool Sunset

2007-12-28T22:30:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share:

A Few Pics from our Trip So Far

2007-12-27T11:55:00.000-05:00

This is where the day starts with a little reading, thinking and conversation with God:

This is the view from there:

This is my spot on the beach (a little more reading, zune, and playing with the kids):

and the view from there:

More later,

Wow Wii!!!

2007-12-25T23:08:00.000-05:00

We had a great Christmas morning at the Mashburn house. Melissa and I were fortunate enough to score a Nintendo Wii for the kids this year. They had no idea we got it and were so excited Bailey actually screamed when they opened it. The fun did not stop there, though.

I used to be a big gamer as a kid but have never been very interested in video games as an adult. The Wii will change all that. What an amazing game system. The way you actually act out the motions to play the games is amazing. I got so tired from playing that I actually was wishing there was a game you can play sitting in your chair.

I also think I rediscovered some old sports injuries. I think I will actually be sore in the morning.

We got to Marco Island tonight (and brought the Wii). We are looking forward to some beach and wii time over the next few days.

Going to bed with sore elbows,

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T22:10:00.000-05:00

Hi Everybody,

I know it has been a while since my last post. I will be back soon, but I wanted to pop on tonight and wish everybody a Merry Christmas.

Tonight we went to Christmas Eve Services and then watched "The Nativity Story" together. We are off to Marco Island tomorrow after the gift opening festivities in the morning. I am sure that will provoke some blogging.

See you all soon.

Merry Christmas,

We Are The Champions!

2007-12-06T13:37:00.000-05:00

Sorry it has been almost a week since my last post. I have started my new company/job. More on that later. First, I want to share some exciting news.

Five years ago, myself and Sammy Waller started a softball league at Flamingo Road Church. It started with about 120 guys playing on 8 teams. Since then we have played 7 seasons (twice a year for 2 of those years) and this year we had 16 teams with about 250 guys playing. I have seen a lot of guys get connected to church and God through the league.

Since the beginning, I have had good teams and bad teams, but never won a championship. This year, that all changed. Last Thursday night, we won the championship. It was a great night and something I have been waiting for. We all celebrated and had a great time. Here is a pic of the team with the monster trophy:

Sorry about the quality, it was taken by my son with his camera phone.

I just wanted to post this to say thanks to all the guys that have played with me throughout the years and to celebrate success.

My Favorite TV Theme Songs

2007-11-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

I recently realized how catchy some TV show theme songs are. I took the liberty of capturing a few . Below are my top 5 right now, not in any particular order.

BTW - I like the shows too.

Boundaries With Teens

2007-11-30T12:31:00.000-05:00

As part of my daily reading, I read a book to help me be a better father. This is a part of my life that is not intuitive for me. I tend to be very busy and therefore miss some of the cues that I should pick up on. This book helped me a lot with that. The best part about this book is that most of it is broken up into chapters that take on one challenging topic for teens. Not only is it a great sequential read, but it is a great reference tool. The solutions were very realistic, unlike may parenting books. I definitely recommend it for those who are raising teens - boys or girls. It gives equal time to both gender's issues.

The LikeAbility Factor

2007-11-29T15:06:00.000-05:00

Tim's first book "Love is the Killer App" is one of the best books I ever read, so I came into this one with high expectations. You know how sometimes when you go to see a movie that everyone has told you is great, it turns out to be just OK and you wonder if it was because your expectations were too high? This book was like that for me. It is a good book about relationship building which is one of the 3 principles in his first book, but this one did not knock my socks off. However, if you struggle in this area, it does have some great info. Bottom Line - read his first book and go from there.

Getting Things Done

2007-11-28T17:29:00.000-05:00

I blogged about this book when I first started reading it because I thought it was going to be a great book. It did not disappoint. A great book to help you get organized and productive. I HIGHLY recommend it for everyone. The major premise is to create organizational systems for the things you need to get done, so that your mind can be freed up for creativity, relaxation and true productivity. If all your important tasks are in a system, you will not waste valuable brain power trying to remember the things you need to do or worrying about forgetting to do them.
Pick it up - definitely worth the read.

My New Favorite 6-pack

2007-11-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

Today Auburn beat Alabama 17-10 in the Iron Bowl for the sixth year in a row. It is the biggest game of the year for us. Back home, they are calling it a 6-pack.

War Eagle,

The Battle is won

2007-11-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

Even though it was quite cold, the annual Thanksgiving football game went off without a hitch today. The field of warriors looked like this: This is an action shot of one of the plays:
This is the winning team in a full battle strategy session:
The winning team scored 56 pts:
and the other team scored 28 pts.
Another great Thanksgiving day battle. No injuries. One faked.

Preparation Day

2007-11-22T00:40:00.001-05:00

Today we went up to my grandmother's house to help her do some things around the house and prepare the field for our annual football game. Here are some pics and notes. Here is Bailey working hard: My brother, Eric, doing a little grounds keeping:My brother-in-law, Pat, removing a tree that has always been in the field but was just getting too big:
This is me putting the finishing touches on the field:And this is the rest of the crew working on various tasks:After half a day of hard work, the field is ready. Here is what it looks like before the battle:
Notes from the battle tomorrow.

Golf Day

2007-11-21T11:47:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, I got to play 27 holes of golf with my dad, my brother, and my brother-in-law. What an awesome day. This is a view from the first tee. Yes, that is the fairway below.
This is my dad helping my brother:

This is the par 3 where I hit into the water 3 times in a row:

This is just a great pic of a hole:

This is an even better pic of a hole:

Another great day in Alabama.

The Place

2007-11-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

I always like to share where thinking, reading, and talking to God goes on on my trips. Here is my spot in Alabama:

with this view:

Thanks to my parents.

Arrival in Alabama

2007-11-18T00:40:00.000-05:00

We made it! We are in Alabama for the next 7 days. On the way we crossed two state lines:

saw what fall looks like (note the trees changing color)

and did a little shopping.
Not a bad trip at all, but 13 hours in the car is never fun.
Nick and Bailey got a new bed mate:

and we are looking forward to a great visit.

40 Below

2007-11-16T22:59:00.000-05:00

This is a picture from this morning at home. I was quite cold in South Florida. 67.5 degrees when this picture was taken. We left for Alabama today as we embark on our annual pilgrimage to the homeland. When we left it was about 79 degrees. When we stopped in Lake City for the night, it was 39 degrees - 40 degrees below what it was when we left. Needless to say it did not take us long to get unloaded and into the warm hotel room. Looking forward to building a snowman in the morning before we head out.

Deep Sea Fishing

2007-11-15T14:24:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I got to go deep sea fishing with 4 guys. Two of them I already knew and two of them I did not. This is a picture of us on the boat:

We had great time fishing even though we did not catch a lot. The best part of the day was getting to hang out with friends and making some new ones. I will try to post some of the video of the vicious battles we fought with the fish, but that was all secondary to the fellowship. I look forward to going again soon. One more pic:

Almost Done

2007-11-12T20:12:00.000-05:00

Today we put another seven hours into our atrium renovation. The fence is finished except for the gate. The last two days have been the hardest physically that I have had in a long time. It is worth it. The atrium looks great. Take a look below:

More pics when the gate is installed.

Half Way There

2007-11-11T20:39:00.000-05:00

When we moved into our current home about two and a half years ago one of the projects we wanted to do was to replace the fence in our atrium. Drum roll.....

Today we started that project with the help of our home improvement consultant (Melissa's Dad Dennis). Here is what it looked like before we started:

So, I equipped my two helpers:

and off we went. Today we tore down the old fence and set the posts for the new fence. Here is a look at the progress so far:

We also decided an entrance that goes out to the common area in back with a sidewalk:

Tomorrow, we will hopefully finish the project (if my back allows) and you will get to see the finished project.

Stay Tuned...

Chasing Hope

2007-11-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, I was handed this book by the family that the author speaks of at the end. I know the author personally, so I put the book on my shelf, intending to read it soon. Several months passed and then I finally put it on my reading list. What a great book! I am sure that my personal connection lends some excitement, but in all honesty, it is a great story, well written. I highly recommend you click on it and order it. You will definitely enjoy it. It is about 2 young boy's journey from war in Afghanistan to life in America and everything that happened in between. The in between covers some great stories. Pick it up and support a young and promising author.

Awesome Day(s)

2007-11-04T12:21:00.000-05:00

It all started yesterday as the temperature started to drop. For those of you in colder climates, I apologize at the beginning. As the temperature passed 75 degrees on the way down, we turned off the A/C and opened the windows and doors.

Last night we sat outside in what we call our "Quiet Room"

(usually where reading and thinking happens) and watched a few of our favorite shows. It was actually chilly for us (about 70 degrees). We left the windows open over night and woke up to the birds singing outside and the sun shining in the window.

This morning, I sat out in the Quiet room and had my morning reading time (click here for details) and then loaded up some worship songs and an Andy Stanley Podcast on the Zune and went for a nice walk.

This weather makes us long for our trip to Alabama in a few weeks. It will probably be much colder there. How cold is it where you are? Leave a comment.

Cluster Map

2007-11-02T00:02:00.000-04:00

If you have not checked it out yet, check out the cluster map thing on the right hand side of my blog. Some visitors have come from Germany, U.K., and Venezuela. Also have some from some far away states. If you are one of those, drop a comment on this post and let us know how you heard about the blog.

The 4-Hour Workweek

2007-10-31T12:16:00.000-04:00

This book is a little off the beaten path for me. It is not one of those get rich quick books, though. It is a get rich enough to take vacations and enjoy yourself book. Although the general principle is rather radical, I found some interesting tips in here to streamline the way I work (though most ideas are way too radical) and some cool tips on travelling to some really cool places. At the very least, it challenges your thinking and I think will help you evaluate the effectiveness of what you do. Click on it to order it from Amazon.

Too Busy Not Too Pray

2007-10-30T13:37:00.000-04:00

If you are having trouble getting your prayer life on track or just looking to get closer to God through prayer, I highly recommend this book. Not only does Bill outline the reasons which we MUST pray but gives some great ways to pray and to take our prayer lives to the next level. Do you keep a prayer journal? Ever written down your prayers? Does it feel like your prayers a stopping a the ceiling? Give this classic a try.

One Final Picture from Marco Island

2007-10-29T17:37:00.000-04:00

It was overcast the first 3 days we were there. Then on the last day the sun came out:

This was the view from our balcony.

Louder Than Words

2007-10-27T12:02:00.000-04:00

I have enjoyed all of Andy's books as well as his teaching at Northpoint Community Church. Louder than Words was no exception. In this book, Andy defines character and describes the process of building true character. This book is one of the best I have read lately. I recommend if for everyone as we can all us some work in this area. Click on it to order it.

A Great Day at the Beach

2007-10-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

The day started here. I have always taken pictures of the various places I get to have my morning reading/quiet time and here is the latest:

Bailey even joined me today:

When we got to the beach we found these things washing up, They were crawling around trying to get back in the water. I did not make this up. It is an actual pic.

We got to ride a waverunner today. What a blast! We got it up to 72MPH. I did not think they went that fast. This is Bailey and me going out.

This was a cool pic towards the end of the day. A little hole in the sky.

More of the same planned tomorrow. Wish you were here.

We're Here!

2007-10-25T22:05:00.001-04:00

A few quick notes from today. We travelled over to Marco and got settled in. A little pool at lunch with the boys:

A view from our balcony:

Great room - as always. More to come...

We're Off!

2007-10-25T08:34:00.000-04:00

To The Surf Club at Marco Beach. Hope to blog from there, but we all know how technology goes.

Explanation

2007-10-24T12:44:00.001-04:00

Why are here 16 books on my "What I Am Reading" list? BTW - There are actually 17.

I find it very hard to read one book for an hour or more at a time. I have devised a reading plan for me to combat that and also allow me to read many different types of books at the same time. (I also had problems in the past deciding what to read - problem solved as follows):

I start my day with the One Year Chronological Bible. I feel that this is the best way to start and allows me to continually read through the Bible in a year. I try a different version each year. 15 minutes a day tops.

Later in the morning, I have my "Morning Reading Time/Quiet Time" It consists of the following categories of books for about 10 minutes each (and the current book I am reading in that category).

-Inspirational - Chasing Hope
-Financial - 9 Steps to Financial Freedom
-Leadership - The Likeability Factor
-Spiritual Growth - Louder Then Words
-Physical Fitness - Lose it for Life - Hardest category for me
-Parenting - Boundaries with Teens
-Devotional = Pathway to His Presence
-Bible - NLT Study Bible - Different from above reading in that I read a smaller passage and read all associated notes.

I wrap up this time with prayer. Total time about 90 minutes

During the day I read a misc book of interest, currently, The 4-hour Workweek whenever the opportunity presents itself (waiting rooms, bathroom, etc.)

At night (usually after the kids go to bed) I read the following categories (books) about 10 minutes each:

-Misc Book - Getting Things Done
-Personal Growth - The Power of Positive Thinking
-Parenting - The Chicken's Guide...
-Marriage/Relationship - The Five Love Languages
-Business - Leading at a Higher Level
-Spiritual Growth - Hard to Believe

Before Drifting off to sleep, I finish up with varying books for enjoyment currently The Google Story.

By reading this way, I finish a lot of books, retain a lot more information, and keep my reading interesting. I also hone many different skill areas at the same time.

Well, there it is. Insane or not. That is my explanation. Try it.

Props

2007-10-23T12:02:00.000-04:00

Props to my wife. She spent some time last night helping me add some cool things to my blog. She is a blog master. We added the following:

Hit Counter - Not sure I want to know

Cluster Map - Shows where people are checking in from. If you know anybody far away - help me out.

Amazon Widget - very cool tool that allows me to share with you what I am reading and you can click on it to order the book (saving me a few steps in my book reviews). When you look at the widget you are going to ask the question "It says you are reading 16 books right now. Is that right?" More on that later.

She is also helping me setup labels and other blog things.

I just wanted to say a big thanks to her.

Thanks,

P.S. Cool Signature huh? She helped with that too.

One Minute Wellness

2007-10-22T19:41:00.000-04:00

I just recently finished "One Minute Wellness" By Dr. Ben Lerner. I had previously read "Body By God" by Dr. Ben and am still trying to implement that one. "One Minute Wellness" has a very unique layout. The left side pages are a fictional story that relate the principles covered in the book. The right side pages are the principles that lead to a healthy lifestyle. After trying to read a little of the left and then a little of the right, etc. I gave up and finished the left pages first then went back and read the right side pages. The principles in this book are similar to BBG but go further in depth. If you are looking for a wellness model that does not involve medication and traditional medical practices, give it a try. I personally believe in the principles he outlines and think he has found one of the keys to a healthier lifestyle and disease prevention.

The Dip

2007-10-21T12:34:00.000-04:00

On our trip to Sanibel last weekend I finished a pretty cool book. It was especially cool for me at the stage of life that I am in now. Seth Godin writes about how we determine when we should quit something that has no future and when we should persevere through "The Dip" The trick is identifying whether you are in a dip or in what he calls "a cul-de-sac". If you are in a time of your life where something you are involved in is getting harder, whether that be a job, a volunteer opportunity, pursuit of a life goal, etc., I recommend that you give this book a try. It is a short easy read. Click on it to order from Amazon.

Matt

The Shrewd Christian

2007-10-17T19:25:00.000-04:00

This is a book that I have been meaning to read for a long time. It turned out to be well worth it. While the cover and title are unimaginative, it gives some very practical guidelines to personal money management - sometimes bordering on too cheap. It is however, definitely worth the read and will help you manage your money and your household. Click on the pic if you want to order it.

Matt

Final Day at Sanibel/Heading Home

2007-10-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

It started like this:

Lunch was here: (Our favorite place - The Bubble Room)

then on to the Outlet Mall for a little shopping. After that we headed home. Another great weekend.

Matt (Rested)

A Day at the Beach in Sanibel

2007-10-13T23:11:00.000-04:00

Today I spent the day sitting here:

Looking at this:

and ended the day with this:

Tough Day and then Auburn beat Arkansas tonight in a nail-biter.

War Eagle,
Matt

Mashburns in Sanibel

2007-10-12T20:59:00.000-04:00

We are on a little trip to Sanibel this weekend. Below are some pics that you might find amusing.
No Wireless - had to bring a switch and run cable.

Bailey practicing for tomorrow

A Bird flew over and this is what happened to Nick.

More to come...

Matt

A Day at the Beach

2007-10-11T15:42:00.001-04:00

As some of you may already know, Thursday's are the day the Melissa and I spend the day together. Below are a few pics from the beach today.

The view from my chair

The view from the lunch table

The view from heaven.

Matt

Zune Rocks!

2007-10-09T12:51:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I had a lapse of consciousness and slipped into an alternate reality. I blogged about how great my new iPod was. After having the iPod for couple of weeks and fighting the most ridiculous music program on the market (itunes), I got the opportunity to get a Zune cheap from www.woot.com. I went for it because I am a windows guy. I will never regret this decision. Not only can it play all my music, but will hold my pics and videos that I have downloaded from my Tivo. The best part of all is that this is done using a program that actually works. I might also add - bigger screen. For those of you that were surprised and disappointed by my Apple lapse, I apologize. I am back on the wagon.

Matt

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

2007-10-08T15:48:00.001-04:00

Mixed feelings about this book. It was very interesting as he talked about the judgements we make in the blink of an eye and why they are right sometimes and not other times. He also discusses how to use this to make decisions that will be more accurate. I did not really enjoy this one as much as some of the last few I have finished. However, click on it if you want to order it.

Matt

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job

2007-10-07T16:16:00.000-04:00

I just finished another really good book. This was another of Patrick Lencioni's fables and well written as usual. This book talks about learning to manage your employees in a way that makes their success measurable to them, therefore giving them fulfillment in their job and vision for success in their job. A definite read for managers/supervisors. As always, click the book cover above if you want to order.

Matt

Movie Poster

2007-10-04T17:35:00.001-04:00

Walking through the theater today the following poster caught my eye. Not sure why.

Tired

2007-10-03T14:41:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you don't realize the toll that recent events have taken on you. As most of you know, the last 6 weeks have been emotional for the Mashburns. I think it hit me last night. I slept for over 13 hours - I know - impressive. I think I needed it. The cool thing - I did not get up until 1:30 in the afternoon and my phone did not ring once. A little divine intervention maybe?

Matt

Hockey Game with Bay

2007-10-01T12:27:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday some friends gave us tickets to the Panther Preseason Game. Nick had tons of homework so Bailey and I decided to go - just the two of us. We had a great time. I love Hockey and I had the chance to explain the game to him and also to have some other conversations that we would not otherwise been able to have.

Cool sidebar - It was raining when we got there and in the scramble to get my poncho on and get into the arena as quickly as possible, I dropped my Blueooth headset in the road. When we came out, it was still there - in the rain. It still works. Unbelievable!

Attention All Verizon Customers

2007-09-26T11:38:00.000-04:00

The Verizon stores located inside Circuit City stores are a lot cheaper. They are corporate stores just like the standalone stores, but offer much better prices and deals. I asked the salesperson at the standalone store if that was true and she simply said "yes". I asked her if she feels that that is fair and she said "We can't compete with their prices because they are a corporate store too". If that makes sense to anybody, please leave a comment. I am bewildered.

Matt

Two More Books

2007-09-25T14:38:00.001-04:00

I finished a couple of more books and wanted to share them with you.

The first one is called "Light Force" and it is part of a series of books written by Brother Andrew. He founded the Open Doors ministry. I enjoy reading these type of books because they remind me how easy it is for us to do ministry compared to what some others have to endure. The stories in this book are great and very inspiring.

The next one is "The Difference Maker" by John Maxwell. It is a quick read, but well worth it. He explains in detail how our attitude is the difference in everything we do. As in all Maxwell books, it is well organized and setup to be easy to apply.

Pick them up and give them a try. Click on the pics if you want to order from Amazon.

Matt

Being White

2007-09-23T12:07:00.000-04:00

Sounds like a rather insensitive title. I have read many books on diversity since being assigned the task of championing diversity at my previous position. All have been extremely good, but this one does a great job of helping "white" people truly understand what they thought the understood. If you think you are "colorblind", read this book. You will find that being colorblind is just a way of expecting other cultures and races to be comfortable in our (white) societies and customs. That is not diversity. True diversity is immersing ourselves in other races and cultures and truly understanding how they feel in ours. If you are serious about being racially and culturally sensitive, read this book. Sissies should pass on this one and just keep thinking that you have it figured out. Incidentally, you can click on the book pic above and order it from Amazon - if you are brave enough.

Matt

Water Skiing 2

2007-09-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

If you look back about a year I blogged about the Mashburn's first Water Skiing adventure with the Mossers. Today we had round 2. Unfortunately as you can see below, I am still skiing using the boom. I found out today that I have to quit walking by the Ab machines at the gym.

In the next picture, you see the only evidence we have that Bailey gave it a shot. 2 reasons: Nick fell asleep at the camera and Bailey was not that interested in water skiing after the first try.

Below you will see the Water Skiing master of the family. Nick mastered the rope handle (off the boom) right away and continued to get better all day.

There was some tragedy in the day as my video camera took a swim. The good news is that I can buy a new one now. The bad news is that a lot of our footage from the day was on the tape in it. Oh well.

Big Thanks to the Mossers for making a great day for the Mashburns possible. We had a great time.

Matt

If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat

2007-09-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

Today I finished the above mentioned book by John Ortberg. I got it from him when he was here a few months ago. He even autographed it for me - cool. I had previusly read "The Life You Always Wanted" by Ortberg

and thought it was one of the best spiritual growth books I have ever read. Even though I enjoyed the Water book, it was not quite at the same level. It did however end with several chapters that were very timely for me in the stage of life that I am in now. Great chapters on hope, faith, and worship. I recommend the book, but you have to stick with it. Starts slow and finished strong.

Matt

Apple Seeping In

2007-09-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

It is hard for me to write this blog. Apple influence is seeping into my house. Last week, I got an iPod for myself. A deal I could not pass up (20GB 4G iPod for $99 - you have to watch http://www.woot.com/). I have already dumped 12GB of stuff on it and I really like it. But, that is not the most disturbing news. This morning I was outside doing my morning reading and when I came in I asked Nick what he was watching on his laptop. Much to my dismay he was watching Steve Job's press conference on the new iPod release. It gets worse. I just walked by and he is still watching it. I asked him how long it is and he said "1 hour and 20 minutes". He is watching the whole thing. Unbelieveable! Incidentally, he washed cars this summer to earn money to buy an 80GB Video iPod and a new Laptop - a windows laptop. I still have hope.

Matt

A Family Tradition

2007-09-05T20:45:00.000-04:00

A while back we took the kids to the grand canyon. While there we took a family picture in a tree as a tribute to when my family did the very same thing when I was 12. I found the old picture. We just figured out that it was the very same tree. What are the chances that we would pick the same tree? I have not seen that picture in 15 years. It has been 27 since we took the original. See the comparison below:

Mashburn + Vacation = Injury

2007-09-02T21:45:00.002-04:00

This picture of Bailey's finger and the associated precautionary sign is worth a thousand words.

Matt

My Birthday

2007-08-22T21:40:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that today was a pretty cool birthday. I got MANY birthday wishes throughout the day, including some hugs solicited by Garland on my behalf. Got some really cool gifts also. Thanks to everybody who made it special including Ricky and Heredes for the heartfelt serenade (brings a tear to my eye even as I write this). FYI - my birthday meal was Little Ceasar's Pizza - one of my favorites, especially considering my dietary restrictions of late.

39 (but who cares?)
Matt

A Special Treat

2007-08-21T22:20:00.000-04:00

As hard as it may be for some of you to believe, I have been eating pretty well lately. Tonight, I had to take a brief vacation from that plan. My birthday is tomorrow and my son, Bailey, made me some special brownies. Brownies have never tasted so good. Now I have to run extra miles for the rest of the week, but it was worth it.

Matt

Mashburn Family Tradition

2007-08-18T20:49:00.000-04:00

For the last 8 years it has been a well protected tradition in the Mashburn household to attend the Monster Truck Races twice a year. In August they race at the BankAtlantic Center and in February at Dolphin Stadium. Today we went to our 16th race and had a blast. Although I do get some ridicule for it, I always say, if you go once you will be hooked. Tickets for the Feb show go on sale Sunday at midnight. We will be seated on the front row 50 yard line. Below are some pics from today as well as one from our first show.

Grave Digger and Maximum Destruction Get Ready to Race

Monster Mutt doing a Wheelie

The only Dodge that looks better than mine

Grave Digger gets sic air

Nick at his First Show in 2001

Elevator Etiquette Part 2

2007-08-06T22:25:00.001-04:00

When you step into the elevator, move to the back. Dont' just stop inside the door causing everybody behind you to body slam you. Surprisingly, you are not the only person in the universe.

Sincerely,
One of the other people in the universe

Elevator Attack!!!

2007-08-02T21:16:00.000-04:00

Was anybody else ever taught any elevator manners? I was always taught that when waiting on an elevator, you stand back so that if there are people in the elevator when it arrives, they can exit before you get on. (Also taught to let women enter or exit first but that is another topic).

In our travels over the summer, we had several hotel stays that resulted in many elevator rides. Every single time we were getting ready to get off the elevator and someone was waiting, they would practically run over us to get in the elevator before we get out.

I don't get it. Are they afraid it is going to leave them? Are they afraid that no other elevator will come for them? Have they been waiting for hours and simply can't control the urge to jump right in? Or maybe everybody enjoys elevator rides so much more than me that I can't sympathize with their uncontrollable enthusiasm.

Matt

Getting Things Done

2007-07-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

I am an organizational/time management obsessive compulsive enthusiast. Figure that one out and then remember that you do not want to be one. I love systems, processes, solutions, challenges, and procedures. I have spent a lot of time honing my personal organizational/reminder/time management system. I have always felt that it is unique to me as it has been developed over many years and as a result of my many idiosyncrasies. Recently I have found out that it is not so unique. I have been reading a book called "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. This is may be the best book I have ever read on personal organization, project management, and team leadership. The system he describes is a lot like the one that I have painstakingly developed over many years. It's a little frustrating to re-invent the wheel, but at the same time it is reaffirming. I suggest you check it out if you feel like you have more plates spinning than you can handle all the time. If you don't feel that way - get married, get a job, find your holy discontent, have kids, strive to be a learner, find someone to lead, find someone to follow that challenges you, live a healthy lifestyle, and try to rest in the middle of all that - then read the book.

Matt

Cannonball Contest

2007-07-28T22:55:00.000-04:00

Here lately, the boys and I have kind of made it a part of the regular routine to work in the yard a little on saturday evenings and then jump in the pool. We usually just hang out and spend some time beaning each other with splash balls. Tonight we decided to have a cannonball contest. Below are some pics from the contest. Sorry they are so dark.

Bailey's Jump

Nick's Jump

My Jump

As you can see it is quite obvious who the winner is. Below is the podium shot from the awards ceremony. Everybody was a winner in the end.

Matt

Vacation Ends

2007-07-23T23:22:00.000-04:00

Looks like another great vacation is coming to a close. We have had a fantastic time. Vegas has been great. There is way too much to see here, so we feel like we missed a lot, but we got to see some really cool stuff. Coolest of all was probably today when we visted the Stratosphere. I would not say that I am afraid of heights (I do not lock up in those situations) but it definitely makes me uneasy. We could see the whole town of Vegas. The kids rode a couple of rides on the top of the Stratosphere - one that shoots you straight up and one that hangs you out over the edge 866 feet in the air.

I used to like that kind of thing, but I think I am getting old. I did run into an old friend today - see pic below:

Vegas is a town that represent a lot of the things that are wrong with our world, but there are a lot of things that are good for families.

Tonight, I asked the kids what they liked the most and they said the trash chute. Everytime we need to throw out the trash, they run down to it because they can hear the trash falling 22 floors. Sometimes it is the simple things in life.

We have a long day of flying tomorrow (two 3 and one half hour flights) and then we will be home. It will be good to be back. Hopefully our bodies can adjust back to EST. Here is a cool pic of some of the hotels:

Had to eat my own words

2007-07-21T02:28:00.000-04:00

You might remember a few days ago I blogged about the inherent danger at the Grand Canyon and the fact that people seemed oblivious to it. I finally found a warning sign (above). Well, the next day while we were visiting the GC, Nick stepped in a crack and fell and cut open his elbow.

We had to take him to the GC Clinic for 5 stitches. Seeing him in that hospital bed brought back old memories and also reminded me that it can happen to anybody.

We did get to see some more of the GC including the sunset and then headed back to Flagstaff to prepare to leave for Vegas the next day. I share a few pics below:

Train Ride to the Grand Canyon/Fatalities

2007-07-19T14:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, we surprised the kids with a train ride on the Grand Canyon Railway to the Grand Canyon, They knew we were going to the GC, just not how. They were so excited. The train ride was awesome, complete with entertainment and train robbers.

It was very scenic and allowed us about 4 hours in the park to check it out. Below are some pics from the park time. Today, we are going back a little later to finish seeing the sights and end the day with a sunset over the GC. One of the most interesting things I saw is that the rim trail runs right along the rim (hence the name) with NO GUARD RAILS. You can walk right out to the edge. In a society that is fixated on liability, this was very weird. I saw people who were not used to having this kind of freedom, making questionable decisions about how close to the rim to get. I can't imagine somebody lacking in their judgment to that level.

It seems that their tendency to rely on rules to keep you safe found them without judgment when rules were removed. As we were walking, I thought that it must not be much of an issue or they would put up rails. When we returned to the gift shop, Melissa found a book about fatal accidents at the canyon – that was about the size of a phone book. Maybe my original observations were right.

THis picture has an interesting significance. When I was 12 years old (26 years ago) my family took a similar picture in a tree at the Grand Canyon - the traditions continues.

Spontaneous Human Combustion

2007-07-17T23:42:00.000-04:00

I am calling it right now. I am the only known survivor of Spontaneous Human Combustion. Today the Mashburns embarked on a journey to the Grand Canyon for our Summer Family Vacation. The day began at 3:20am (for me) and you can see what time this post is. We had heard news reports of the heat out west, but you always hear “There is no humidity, so you don’t feel hot”. NOT TRUE. When we got off the plane in Phoenix it was 106 degrees. And it felt like 106 degrees. After cramming all of Melissa’s luggage into our rental car, we set off for a short trek to Flagstaff where we are staying to explore the Grand Canyon and other things in the area. On the way, we drove through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, which leads me to my near demise. In Sedona, we stopped to see Montezuma’s castle – which sounds pretty cool and it was. The problem was the unbelievable heat. It was so hot, it was hard to breathe. Not long after I boasted “I could burst into flames any moment. Let’s get back in the car” Melissa and the boys saw smoke coming from the top of my head. Being the quick thinking wife that she is, they quickly doused me with water and, it would seem, averted what would have certainly been a catastrophe. The weird thing is that neither of them remembers the part after I said I might burst into flames. I think maybe the heat got to them. Besides the oppressive heat, it has been an amazing trip so far. I posted some pics below to share.

Suds

2007-06-09T18:41:00.001-04:00

Just in case you were wondering if you can use dishwashing soap when you run out of dishwasher detergent.

Sure wish I had bought that wet vac.

Matt

My Little Drummer Boy

2007-03-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

Today Bailey made his public debut on the big stage. Maybe it was a glimpse into the future when he will be up there on the weekend during the services. For now, he played for the school audience in the FRCA talent show. Above is a picture of him on the kit. It was cool to see him up there doing his thing both as a drummer and as a 10 year old willing to put himself out there in front of all those people. It took a lot of courage to do that. Thanks goes out to his drum teachers – Cory Farver (his first teacher who went off to college) and now Pastor Igor (who somehow finds the time to squeeze the lessons into his schedule). You guys have helped Bailey find something he is truly passionate about and I will be forever grateful for that. It is cool to see your kids grow up, but you also realize how fast it happens.

Matt

Someday I will be 40

2007-02-28T09:42:00.000-05:00

But not today! That honor belongs to our Pastor - Troy. I remember when I thought 40 was old (yesterday), but as I near that magic mark myself, I see that now 50 is old. Pastor Troy gave me the opportunity to go into vocational ministry and I will always be grateful for that. He also fuels my argument that its the healthy people that get sick (also thanks to Greg Mize, HP, Raul). Despite the sometimes strange sicknesses, God is using him in a big way and it is cool to be on he journey with him.

Last but not least, let me be the first to publish what science will determine in the future - The Snickers diet is the only way to be truly healthy; King size = more healthy.

HB - TDG,
Matt

Colonoscopy

2007-01-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

OK, so I have not been very consistent blogging so far, but I am going to try to do better. On Friday I had a colonoscopy. Let me share a few thoughts with you about this process (but no graphic details).

1. It is not good when one of your good friends said that his doctor threatened him with a colonoscopy but then said he was not old enough....and he is the same age as you. This person also shared some of his thoughts on the process and the humor in it over the next few days - not so humorous to me.

2. I can only imagine why they put you completely under during this procedure - but am glad they did. If anybody knows - keep it to yourself and suffer in solitude.

3. The best part was the sleeping part.

4. Why do doctors tell you that yo will be done in 1 hour and then make you wait 3 hours to get the one hour started - after not eating for 36 hours. (It took almost 2 hours by the way - total time lost from my life never to be recovered - 5 hours not including prep (graphic details spared here) and recovery time)

5. With the impending sense of doom you feel about what the test might uncover, I reflected on my way to the procedure that these may be the last few moments of my life that I do not know a particular peice of horrible news that will change my life forever.

6. Laying in the waiting area, there was a poster right next to my bed that explained in detail all the things that could be wrong thereby making #5 even more important and making my nervousness even more acute.

7. As I laid on the bed in the procedure room and tried to see how low I could get my heartrate by concentrating (48 by the way) to kill time, the doc walked in and it jumped 25 points involuntarily.

Usually I post a pic or two, but I felt they would be inappropriate so I spared you.

BTW - turns out that I only have a minor issue so #5 proved to be a non-issue.

Back upright and loving it,
Matt