Randy Wray’s Blog

Did you catch this news article about the motorcycle rider that lost his leg on a ride and kept on riding? 

His leg was cut off and he failed to notice that very important detail?

How did he brake?  How did he shift? How? How? How? 

Filled in yesterday as coach for the soccer team.

My particular philosophy of coaching is dive right in and play along. 

I know I can’t keep up with 11 & 12 year olds but come on, I should at least be able to walk the next day!

Must get in shape. 

Yep, it’s true we’ve been in Stockton one year.  We made the move because we absolutely felt called by God to move here.  The thing is, it has been a challenging year.  You would think that when you respond in faith it would be smooth sailing.  The difficulty is you miss the friends and connections you’ve made in the last place and it always seems in the new place that everyone’s dance card (the one that’s filled in with friends) is full.  In the past year we’ve been blessed in so many ways and have so many reasons to be thankful.  We’ve also been challenged in many ways and have been greatly tested.  It’s part of the experience and part of the journey.

The kids are spending a couple of days with their grandparents in Fresno so Beth and I have been experiencing life as empty-nesters - a future reality that is not that far away in the future.  I realized the other day that we only have five more years with Madison and 7 more with Reese until they fly the nest that is until they return home like some swallows seem to do.  5 and 7 years may seem like an eternity to some but we know the time will pass quickly.  You have to make that time count.

We went out for some really good sushi Saturday night and since I am the hopeless romantic we went to Lowes after dinner.  9PM on a Saturday night and lo and behold they are have a scratch and dent sale on appliances.  We purchased a brand new $550 refrigerator for $140!  It had a small scratch on the bottom door and was priced to go.  We have a 20 year old refrigerator in the garage that this new one will replace the energy savings alone on the new unit will more than make up for the price difference.

And finally, we went yesterday afternoon to view The Bourne Ultimatum.  My kind of film for a Sunday afternoon.  There were some scenes that the action was so fast I had a hard time keeping up.  Is it true?  Am I really that old?  I enjoyed the film, I like the ending that leaves and opening for another film.  Of course, there’s nothing left for Bourne to fight unless he decides to come back and take on Walmart.

Krispy Kreme is closing today in Stockton.  My first impulse was to rush out and buy a couple of dozen in solemn memory.  The more I thought about it the more it seemed appropriate to just spend a moment in silence.  I do realize that, unless a Guitar Center opens in Stockton, Greg may never come visit me again.

Besides trouble with the SEC and way too much over-expansion, was it just a tasty, hot, glazed fad?

Have you seen them?  Tell me have you seen them?  The bluetooth headset for the mobile phone is becoming a commonplace item. 

Sure, the early devices were hastily purchased by Trekie and Techno Savy Geeks but now grandpas, grandmas and grandministers everywhere are sporting bluetooth headsets. 

I resisted and resisted.  Even hurled a disparaging comment or two at headset wearers — of course none to any of you that I know who have worn a bluetooth headset. 

And then I decided to try one of the entry level devices.  All I’ve got to say is "hands free baby, hands free and beam me up Scotty!"

Reese went to sleep a 10 year old and awoke as an 11 year old.

It’s a bit of a downer when your birthday falls on a Sunday so we will make a full day of it some day this week.

He’s already received one present that should turn out to be interesting.  It’s a book entitled, "The Dangerous Book for Boys."

This book is filled with much wisdom.  For example, did you know that breaking wind and other bodily noises does not impress girls?

Yesterday I went with one of our church members up into the foot hills to try our hand at a mountain stream. After a two hour long drive (of excellent conversation) we arrived.

Once I figured out what color of wooly bugger the fishies preferred it was off to the races. We didn’t catch any super big fish but the escape was well worth the effort.

Don’t worry this guy went into the stream and swam away the second after the picture was taken.

We sat outside last night eating dinner and the question came, directed at Reese.  He smiled and said "salad and vegetables, grains and milk."   We were home-free had he not continued talking.   "And dad," he said excitedly, "bought me an Oreo Frappe from Mocha Joe’s every morning!"

We enjoyed our time together in so many ways.  The boy has struggled making the move here and over the past three weeks I began to see the happy boy emerge again.  We missed the girls and there is a certain equilibrium that has returned with their presence.

My advice?  Spend time with your kids.  Forget about working endlessly to buy stuff they don’t need or stuff that will break (or as Jesus said, will rust or moths will destroy).

You cannot put a price on the time you spend with kids.  Don’t you dare leave a comment about quality time over quantity time.  You never know when the quality time will happen.  It’s in the quantity that we are able to discern the quality.