Family Talk

Since my wife has pointed out to me that I tend to not include my family in some of my posts, it appears the blog seems to be all about me. I assure you this is not the case, or at least not my intention. I only included them indirectly, or only in mentioning, less frequently as to protect my family from those people on the Internet that would want to cause us harm, if you know what I mean.



It has been a long spring and beginning of summer. I've traveled quite a bit across the Midwest and have spent my off time with the family. So let's catch up a little bit....



Felicia and I took the kids to Cumberland Gap and Cumberland Falls for the weekend. We did a bit of hiking and ended up getting rained on some. Miley was soaked (the family pet). But the point is we all had fun. Spending time together makes those family memories that will last a life time. As my girls grow into their teens, I know my time is deminishing quickly, so I try to make the most of it.



I've found that as we progress with technologies, such as twitter, facebook, Blackberries, Iphone, and such... we are spending less time together as a family, unless of course you keep a text count. Now I'm not against technology, surely you know this by now, but it tend to get out of balance. It is ok to turn them off once in a while.

Once upon a time families sat down to dinner and ate together. They had conversations about their daily activities, they were "fully present" to steal a term from the book "Fish!". They built relationships with each other. They were in tune if you will. Families now just pass each other on the way to activities. And an occasional vacation if you're lucky. I wish it wasn't so but this is reality. Life has become fast paced and a long marathon.

My family enjoys time together when we can. Now we get our fair amount of TV time and things, but we make it a point to spend quality time with each other. My wife and I enjoy watching DVD together, and we try to "date night" when we can. Evenings sitting around the fire ring in the back yard, or an afternoon of hiking.

We recently spend the Holiday weekend camping at my good friend Eddie's Lake, which lead to swimming, fishing, a lot of talking, and too much food of course (smoked pork loin, chicken, burgers, dogs, and everything to go with it. Hungry yet?)



Everyone has to figure out what works for their family, but talking is a good start.

Short Story...

In Jan '95 I was deployed to Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy while I was still in the army. For the next 93 days I told myself that if I ever got back home to my girl, I would never leave her again. Well of course I was a bit naive and life has brought me to a place where I travel as part of my career, but not a day goes by that I don't talk with my family, and make it a point to 'tuck' them in a night, and pray together.



Life is short, and as said well in a song by 33 miles (One life to love) we only get one time around, one shot at this... One life to Love.

Don't miss the opportunity to spend time on something valuable; relationships. There will always be time for work, time for TV, time to waste, but don't let life pass you by. Invest in your family the time you spend has huge paybacks.

Remember Look up, Live life, and be Thankful


Kevin

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Nestled in the hills of Leonard Harrison State Park in North Central Pennsylvania, and way the heck out of the way from anywhere, is the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.




We found this little hot spot on a Trucker Atlas (for those of you who have never seen one of these, it's a huge atlas, bigger than your steering wheel so you can read it going down the road, driving a truck that weighs enough to kill anything you hit, trying to find your way around a scale house). We were in the area (within 60 miles of our hotel, 20 minutes from our job site) and decided to take a drive.

It's a neat little park with the Grand Canyon as the main attraction. It host miles of trails to enjoy, which we did a smaller one just to take in the fresh Penn. air.

The best part of this trip was spending time with friends. Eddie, Dave, and I travel and work together on a regular basis, and even though I'm the Boss (jefe) we are all friends. Dave and I sat on a log for a short rest and watched a deer graze in a small clearing, as we discussed life. It's nice to just relax even for just a short time.

Here's what I don't understand: Now this is just my personal observation, but most people I know aren't very adventurous. Most people don't seem to venture off the beaten path for little moments like these. Now don't get me wrong, I know several outdoors man, and people that camp, and I think that's awesome, but most people like 'the A/C clicker command center' of the living room.

Life is a gift that was meant to be lived. At the end of the day when I lay down I like to think back over the day and say, "today was an awesome day!" Besides if we get past thinking of just ourselves, there are people out there whose lives we can change even if for just the day, by reaching out to them and sharing small trips like these.

I hope today finds you adventuring the globe, sending picture texts, listening to something great on the Ipod.

If you find yourself adventuring drop me a pix and location.


Total cost for this trip, including diesel fuel, soda, and water bottle: $13.74

Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful

Kevin

Adam's Falls

While on a recent trip through Pennsylvania I stopped off for a short Hike in the northeastern part of the state in a state park. Adam's falls is a trail along a small river through a Hemlocks forest.

As with most waterfalls of any size, they carry a certain majestic quality about them. A couple of friends of mine were with me to admire the view.

Hiking and being in the outdoors in general provides a nice break from the normal grind of life. The quiet and solitude it provides is like a refreshing rain for me. Life, at least my life, is always full of pressures, deadlines, goals, and busy, busy, busy. Life's balances seem to always end up tipped to far one way. So when I get a chance to nock off for a few hours and get away, I try to take advantage of the time. Which is how I found myself walking in the hemlocks. Just watching the water rush over the cliffs, hearing the constant roar, and feeling the mist in the air is an awesome place to sit and relax.

Life shouldn't be such a rush. At least here in America our priorities have tipped the scales to a materialistic society. This has driven the cost of living up through higher labor costs and manufacturing expenses, leaving us with a perpetual drive to make more and more. It doesn't take much thought to understand that this kind of life will lead to an unrealistic end. I'm not much of a materialistic person. I enjoy experience over things. Adventures instead of shopping, and for the majority, places like Adam's Falls, PA are free. All you need is a bottle of water and a good pair of shoes. I would rather collect pictures and experience than something I keep for a few years and then sell in a yard sell for pennies on the dollar. Or use as a tax write off at the Goodwill.

I find myself most in tune both with myself and God when I can get away from the noise and be quiet. I love early mornings before the world is awake and moving. Before the sun is shining and the dew is still in the air. I can find peace. I like to start the day early with a daily reader. I'm working my way through a book by Andrew Murray on Prayer. In times like these I talk to God and ask Him to show me direction for my life. My heart is torn because what makes me happy and fulfilled is helping people. And this is really what I think my purpose is supposed to be in life. But life cost money and we must spend out time working. But my thoughts in quiet moments always end up on the face of orphan children in Haiti, or one of many pictures I carry in my heart from the places I've been.

I try to take life day by day. My wife will argue the point because I am a planner and like things to be organized and all loose ends tied. But really I have found today has it's own troubles. I try to live each day the best I can. Taking advantage of each moment and making the best of them. As I write this tonight, I'm planning an excursion for tomorrow to see another place of God's beauty, but you'll have to come back to read about it.

I hope each of us find time to search our hearts, find God's peace, and then decide to do something positive with it. Never miss the opportunity to make a difference.

Remember Look up, Live life, and Be thankful.

Kevin

UP Coming Posts:

Pioneer Coal Mine

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Mother Teresa