Run The Race Well!
It is fitting that it is Jan 13 and I am just now reviewing 2009. As I have reviewed 2009 and looking ahead for 2010 I may not have given myself a passing grade for the accomplishments of my 2009 goals much less a prize. The Apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 9:24 to run the race as to obtain the prize because only one wins. Even though I did not achieve many of my goals, I came away with so much more. 2009 was a reaffirming year for what I am passionate about and confirming the direction I want to go for 2010 and beyond.
At the end of Paul’s life in 2 Tim 4:7, he says that he has fought the good fight, he finished the course, and has kept the faith! In other words “He finished well!” I want every year but especially this year, 2010, the year that I can say I finished well! How many can say that with a heart full of joy and gratitude? I find it very interesting that Paul speaks about many things that relate to physical competition. I am very competitive! Sometimes, too competitive. Matt Hughes said once if he can not win he does not want to play. I have used that excuse for not trying too many times this year. If I can not win every time, I will not try! We all want to win! But what is winning in the end? I think we all need to define what does it mean to WIN! As for me, winning is finishing the race well and keeping the faith! Now there is so much that encompasses that I can not begin to contain it all in this first entry. It is my hope and prayer for this year for this to unfold and I hope that there are others that will join me on this journey. I want to always remember that I am in a race, but not a race with anyone else. I am in a race with me and time. time itself is all I have to run against. I will either maximize my time, talents and treasure to the glory of God or I will squander the time I have to my regret at the finish line.
Physically 2009 was a great year! I accomplished more than I have in a long time. For many years I have gone up in down with working out and had back problems. Last year was the year I changed that for good. I am a team player and needed a team. I found a team in the Iron Tamer Clan! I knew that I liked training differently and was drawn to kettlebells. David Whitley and I had trained before together in 2008 but I did not stick with it. This year I was tired of having back problems. With strong encouragement from Cami I called David and joined Nashville Kettlebell Boot Camp and quickly became hooked. I met some great people who I now call not just friends but family and who have become known as the Iron Tamer Clan. When I joined NKBC there was 3 months before RKC which there where 4 others already going. At age 40, I needed a challenge and it needed to be physical! At first the cost deterred me, but the challenge was too great! I went home and attempted the Snatch test and got 85 in 5 minutes. I had to get 100. I knew then I could pass the test if I trained, and trained I did! I did not miss if I could help it. I passed RKC in Aug. and was hooked! I have finished the year stronger than I have ever been and at 12% body fat. I know now, again, one of the things I was made for!
Family was also a very great year for 2009 but with many challenges! Cami and I have been trying to get pregnant and have another child. We wanted to have one more and then adopt. I have always been very passionate about children, especially the fatherless. We have talked many times about adopting. It looks now the Lord has other plans. We have not gotten pregnant so will be moving to become foster parents and pray for the Lord to give us the children He has for us through adoption.
I love being a father, even though I often feel like I fail more times than I succeed. This year, especially I have felt like I fail more with David than ever. He is a great kid! I love him very much! He has some of the best and worst of both me and Cami. Cami and I have had to learn in how to parent in this new stage of David’s life. He is 10 and is very much emotionally like a teenager. He is a lot like me and can get into an attitude and not know how to get out of it. When it can come to decisions he can be like Cami and not want to make one. He has been very challenging to homeschool. We learned that he will do better under someone else’s authority when it comes to teaching and sports. He loves football! This year he was able to be coached by someone else and he did very well! I look forward to many more years of watching him flourish as a football player. Even though he does not want to show it he has a tender heart. He is very smart and reflective but at the same time very shy and timid, almost fearful at times of new situations. Like most of us he wants to grow up fast than he can.
Joshua has flourished this year being at a new tutorial and having his own friends. It is fun to watch him discover his own identity aside from his brother which is really all he has known for 8 years because they are so close in age. He has developed a love for football that is only rivaled by his brother. They both know more about the players and teams than I do. If they are not playing it outside or on Play Station they are watching it with me. Josh loves rooting for the opposite team against me or anyone else for that matter. He is also my entertainer. He is trying branching out with Kingdom Kids Choir at church recently and likes it.
Caleb is just plain adorable! He has such a special sweet spirit! He loves his brothers and wants to be and do whatever they are doing. He is just as feisty as they are. He is in speech therapy this year because he has a disconnect that they are working on. He is shy with other but loves Mom and me equally. He will come up to me and just want me to hold him. He still gets in our bed each night at some point and sleeps with us. I will cherish it while it lasts!
Business has been good and bad this year. My spine sales have slumped because of several reasons. Some out of my control and others that are in my control. I look forward to a year of growth this year with it and maybe a change in roles that will bring new challenges and greater rewards!
I also started a home based business with a great product, Enagic USA and Kangen Water! I have had great results personally and with others. I did OK in 2009. With anything it takes awareness and constant exposure from multiple sources. It truly is one of the greatest products I have ever found! It also has a great financial opportunity with it. The Lord rekindled another passion I have in health and working from home.
As with the water I love training others with Kettlebells. I have joined forces with 2 other RKC in Tennessee Kettlebell. Together we want to bring the RKC system to the Cool Springs/Franklin/Brentwood area.
SO what do I take away from 2009 to 2010? I know what I am passionate about and what I want to pursue! There are many other areas that I want to do much better on. But going into 2010, I want to follow my dreams and passions, use the gifts God has given me, and finish the race well!
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