Mid-year update

I'm a little late for the mid-year update, but it's been a busy July. I also want to do a post with some reflections on life here in Kansas as a pastor as I just hit my 2 year anniversary. That will one come when I get some time to really consider it though I have the seeds of a few thoughts germinating.

But back to my 2010 goals (for the last quarterly update click here) which are posted on the sidebar to the right:

Goal #1 - Read 16 books

• I can't believe it, but I'm done. I have re-read 2 books, read 1 book on preaching, 2 biographies and am on #3, 2 on marriage, 2 on parenting, 1 history, 1 Puritan, 1 on worship and some miscellaneous ones. I think the numbers show that a lot of my emphasis this first half of the year has been on marriage and parenting - they are so closely related. I am in the middle of teaching a parenting class which has been really exciting and fun for me. A lot of parenting thoughts that I have chewing on for the past few years are crystallizing as I teach this class. We'll see where I end up on books for the year, but I hope I can make it past 20.

Goal #2 - Run the KC Half-Marathon in under 2 hours

• It's getting close. I'm only 11 weeks away. I've got my training chart up on the wall and am on track...so far. It's so hot and hard to run, but I'm getting excited! I just ran 5 miles last week and felt great. At my next update, I should only be 2 weeks away from running it.

Goal #3 - Read through the Bible

• I just finished Psalm 90 and am at the end of Romans. I'm still about 10 days ahead of schedule and if anything, feeling like I should / could read more. After finishing the biography on George Muller and preaching 2 sermons on loving God's Word, I have already decided that I will read through the Bible twice next year. I want and need more of God's precious Word!

Goal #4 - Memorize 12 new Bible passages

• All caught up! I'm back on track with this one. Although I must admit, out all of my goals this one has been the toughest to stay motivated. I used to love memorizing so much more, but now it feels like all I do is review, review, review. I think it's good to keep pushing myself in this area though. Hopefully, I'll fight through this and it'll become more joyful soon.

Not a bad mid-year update. 1 down and 3 are on track - praise God!

Grandparents

My parents literally rolled into town on Wed night and rolled right out this morning. They are moving back to CA and stopped by on their way. The boys and girl were super excited of course.We went to Chuck E. Cheese for some fun. Emery got to do her favorite thing with grandma...monster truckin'!Grandpa got Matt a paper airplane book. He was stoked.Andrew got one of those origami paper fortune tellers from Chuck E. Cheese. Boy was he excited about telling everyone's fortunes.And while we all went to Chuck E Cheese and had a great time,Sandy stayed home to paint! Just kidding...but this is the latest. Just don't look at any other side of the house.

Progress

We're getting closer on many fronts. The house is getting closer to being done. The front door is done.

Matt suddenly got inspired, probably from seeing Emery start to swim, and is now starting to swim! He's getting closer to swimming...and he is soooooo proud of that too.

After starting to swim 2 weeks ago, Emery has regressed. All she wants to do is jump in the pool with her life vest on. Oh well - at least she's not trying to jump in without the life vest!

After watching me do a monster cannonball in a pool last year, Andrew has set his sights on this day. Another step towards manhood achieved...

#16 - Half-Marathon: You Can Do It

I recently finished Half-Marathon: You can Do it! by Jeff Galloway.

And now I know, I can do it. One of my goals is to finish the KC Half-Marathon which is 13.1 miles in less than 2 hours. I have 11 weeks to go. I just ran 5 miles this past Saturday. It was only 89 degrees with about 99.9% humidity when I finished. I got going a little too late in the morning that day.

There is absolutely no reason to read this book. Unless, you are planning to run a half-marathon. In which case, this book is fabulous. I have my plan. I am on schedule. And I can do it.

After 2 years of slowly getting into shape (which was preceded by my first 6 years of being a father where I lost all semblance of fitness), I am probably in the best shape of the last 10 years or more. My weight is right around 150 pounds which is the lowest it's been since around my college days. I am wasting away!

This is also a milestone because I hit my reading goal for the year and it's only July. I think I'll beat my record of 19 books read last year without any problems this year. I can do it.

Room makeover

It was just another day in the Lee household.

The kids calmly relaxing and enjoying breakfast before church in the sun room. Ha!

How much the sun room has changed! Here's the before picture from earlier this summer. And this was a huge change (and improvement) from the previous summer (though we don't have any pictures from back then. Things always seem to be changing around here!

The boys love it! Anybody up for a visit? Free ice tea included...

1 Peter 3:8-9

It's really nice that Andrew can read on his own now. I just send him to his room, tell him to memorize his next verse, and after a few days, voila!

I don't know what came over Emery. But wait, it gets better...

Really, does it get any better than this?

Random stuff

Andrew made a sign today and posted it on his bedroom door.

Lately, he's really been into G.I. Joe. Remember that? Greatest American hero? Cobra agents? And I apologize for his spelling. We're working on that, but it looks like he's never going to win a spelling bee.

And the painting continues. With the heat wave interspersed with monster thunderstorms, we haven't been painting outside much. But the new front door is almost done!