a smile and a gun

"You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun." - Al Capone

It amazes me how few people smile. Especially those who work in customer service. Perhaps people don't recognize how powerful it can be. Or maybe people just hate their jobs.

easter pics

ultrasound pics for the fam

Full-body profile

Profile #2

Skeletor

Gender angle

child #5

I was trying to come up with something good to say about our latest news but can't compete with Kari's latest post.

April 7

It was 10 years ago to this day that I made one of the most frightening phone calls of my life. I remember it well. Most of it.

I stood in the hallway of my dorm floor at Emmaus Bible College and stared at the public phone on the wall. Beads of sweat covered my 125 pound, 5'7" frame.

I rehearsed my lines: "I was just wondering....I just thought I'd ask....I just wanted to know what you thought about..."

Oh screw it. I picked up the phone, looked at my phone card, and dialed the digits. Anne picked up with a cheerful, "Hello?"

In a shaky voice I spurted out, "Uh, hi...Mrs. Moe? Hi this is Joel."

"Hi Joel!!! How are you?!?" Her friendly, cheery voice calmed my nerves. For a second.

"Uh...good, thanks. Is Mr. Moe there?"

"Sure! One second."

In a flash Brian was on the phone. I must have blacked out because I don't remember anything that was said for the rest of the conversation. I do remember hanging up with a sigh of relief, thinking "that wasn't so bad after all."

An hour later I found myself sitting with Kari in Jeremy Goering's old beat-up truck in the Kennedy Mall parking lot, pulling a rose out from behind the seat and asking her to be my girl. 19 years old and no idea what in the world we were doing. A little over 2 years later we tied the knot.

So, I raise my glass and make a toast to 10 years. May the next 10 years be as happy and full as a fat squirrel in a peanut butter factory.

the pursuit of happiness

wipeout

guitar hero metallica commercial

I just saw one of the funniest commercials I've seen in a long time:

SWEEEEEEET 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(12) Arizona 71, (13) Cleveland St 57

And just like that, a mostly-crappy season has been redeemed.

kari

I had meant to post a couple comments about Kari on her birthday, and obviously never got to it until now. She deserves much more than I usually give, as our birthdays are 5 days apart and we tend to combine the celebration. I will work on doing better.

Perhaps the greatest praise I can give is in regards to her amazing response and growth through the trials she faced in 2008. This is not to say she did not have her moments of anger, sorrow, and depression. But the woman she has become (and is becoming) as a result of those experiences has been a pleasure to watch and experience. To see a beautiful woman, in all aspects, go through the hell she's gone through and come out the other side even more beautiful just brings joy to my soul. (I use the term "hell" within the context of this earthly life, and with recognition that pain is relative. Everyone has their own hell on earth, so to speak. Many others have experienced things much worse and much more painful, and that is their hell. The 3 miscarriages has been Kari's hell. The context of "beautiful" perhaps should also be clarified. While she certainly possesses external beauty, the beauty I speak of is in regards to her soul. At the beginning of our relationship (with the immaturity of a 19-year-old) I realize now that I was mostly enamored with Kari's external beauty. While that beauty continues to grow, it has become of less personal importance throughout our marriage. I've grown to appreciate the importance of the deeper beauty of the soul, and am now enamored more when that shines through and shows its fruit. I hope that makes sense.....perhaps I'm just digging a hole.)

So, all that to say, you are a beautiful woman, Kari. I have loved to see God reflected and shining in your soul more and more, especially as you turn another year older. Happy Birthday.

2-week summary

We've had an eventful past couple of weeks:

Mason and I were able to make his first snowman after a semi-heavy snowfall (rare this winter).

Due to the "cold spell" we had plenty of time inside,
which usually translates into Mase and I wrestling (Kari tends to steer clear).

We got to spend a weekend at Camp Elim, where we played "guns".....

.....hung out with good friends Dan and Georgi.....

.....and played a little Stolf (Stump Golf).

Fenny gave us Denver Nuggets tickets. Mase had a blast, but also fell asleep before halftime.

Mason was invited to the Children's Museum by one of his girlfriends, Hailey Page.


And my folks sent me a classic b-day card that I just couldn't help but share.

little helper

Mason's always shown himself to be a little helper, but sometimes it can get a little out of hand.

Kari makes an "ow" noise while cooking.

"Mommy, you okay?"

"I'm okay."

"Do you have an owie?"

"No, I'm okay."

Mason thinks to himself for a couple seconds.

"Daddy, you have an owie?"

"No, not right now."

"Daddy, I want you to burn yourself on the oven so you can have an owie and I can help you."

That's great. Maybe he won't grow up to be a fireman after all.