It sho’ feels weird…

I’ve been sans beard & mustache for three days. The barber shop shave was awesome. There’s a reason shaver ads compare themselves to a “barbershop shave.” My face was as smooth as baby’s skin on Friday. So yesterday was the first time I’ve shaved it myself. It felt so weird to shave areas that I have so carefully avoided for decades.

It also feels weird not to have lip hair to comb. I still whip the comb to it when I fluff my coiffure. Woops! nothing there!

I’m slowly getting used to it. I’m also being mean to some friends. At church yesterday, I walked right up and stood in front of a fellow production team member, he glanced at me, and kept going about what he was doing. I didn’t say a word so he had no reason to know it was me. I sent him a message later in the day and he was flabbergasted that he didn’t recognize me.

I’m liking it more each day. I think I’ll keep it.

Vs. Getting Things Done

I have an illness. This illness usually results in in-action. It is something I struggle with and sometimes am successful in conquering and sometimes not. This illness is the compulsion to not do anything until I do it “the best way.” This is an illness I have struggles with all my life. I’m in recovery now and I usually can get things done without it having to be the best. But recently, I’ve had a relapse in the disease. I have a lot of things to find new homes for. I have an inventory of Trudie’s work that I know people want. I have a bunch of nick-nacks that I no longer need and have been loved in the past but are no longer appreciated by the present owner. I want to move on but I also want to do “what’s best.”

As I have said before, one of my new favorite sayings is “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.” I still have times when I don’t do anything but now I tell myself that it’s worth doing poorly and I go ahead and do it.

Do you have times of perfection paralysis?

Thank You, Fay!

We got almost 5 inches from Tropical Storm Fay. The plants are much more happy!

Here are “before” pictures:

Here are the “after” pictures:

How Far Do I Go?

I’ve decided to shave my beard. I’ve located a barber shop that still does straight-razor shaves. I’ve got a couple of friends lined up and they are going to video tape the operation. But I haven’t decided how far I will go.

Should I leave the mustache or shave it all?

Leave me comments as to your opinion and why I should or should not shave the mustache too.

Back from Bosnia

We got back from Bosnia a little over a week ago. We flew in on Tuesday (8/5) just in time to greet evening rush-hour traffic. The next morning I was at work. There has been much going on at work in my absence and now that I’m back I have much to do.

Trip Results

We had an awesome time there. We saw many sights and learned a lot of Bosnia history. The Childrens’ Festival was a huge success. The kids had a great time and the Novi Most center had a great response. The kids had never seen such toys, games, and the bounce house. I’m sure it’s being talked about for weeks.

Video Man

I took my video camera and got some good shots. I’m trying to sift through over three hours of video now to show how to make it interesting.

The Spiritual Journey

This was an amazing spiritual trip for me. I’m calling this year my “boot camp” year because it has been such an intense spiritual walk. Well, this trip was the 20-mile hike with full pack! It was very tough – and I’m so glad I did it.

Thank you so much to all of you who supported me on this trip. I had a lot of financial support but, more importantly, I had a lot of prayer support. I needed the prayers and they were felt.

Thank you!
Patrick

Avery Visit

Avery visited last week for a few days. But what she got done was so helpful. She went through the studio and got a lot of the cloth-for-the-millennium out of there. She also found her old baby book which we feared was lost.

Avery also showed me her phone which a treasure trove of Gracie photos. I got her to send me the one to the left. She is so cute!

Avery posts the latest Gracie story on her blog at The Blig on Live Journal.

Grave Marker

I had finally ordered Trudie’s grave marker last month and they sent me notification that they had delivered it.

I went by on Saturday to see it. It’s the first time I had been able to get up the gumption to go there. I couldn’t find it at first so I had to ask at the office but the nice man led me right to it.

It’s been a sad time for me. I’m leaning hard on Jesus the last couple of weeks. I know this is part of the normal grieving process and I’m glad I’m going THROUGH it and not around it. But it is not easy. “This too shall pass.”

Bosnia

Most of you know that on July 26th our team leaves for Bosnia. We will be updating the Bosnia Youth Festival ’08 blog to let you know how we are doing. Put your e-mail address in the side-box and you’ll get updates to your e-mail.

Short Term Mission Trip

I’m going on a short term mission trip to Bosnia. We leave July 27th and return on Aug 5th.

Read all about our team on the blog we’ve setup:
http://bosyoufes08.blogspot.com/

We will be posting things along the way and while we are there. You can subscribe to that blog and get e-mailed when we’ve added new postings.