Life according to John

Well where to begin?? It's almost spring break...two more days for me...and then off for a while. Thank goodness!! Not a moment too soon...definitely need a break from work...and all that comes along with it.

Kiddo update: Well Bailey is growing so fast...definitely turning into a "big kid." The latest was a dentist apt, that evidentally the Dentist wasn't the nicest to take a kid to...so she didn't have a really good first experience. She's very much into The Frog Princess, and Hannah Montana...and of course the Chipmunk movies. She often walks around singing "all the single ladies, and put a ring on it" quite funny!! As for Emma, she's quickly growing up as well. Her hair is finally down past her shoulders, curly as ever and she's developed a very different and distinct personality from Bailey. Which is both good and bad. She loves following her big sister around...and trying to do the things that Bailey does...hmm, sounds kinda familiar? :)

The weather is starting to get warmer now, so we've been spending our afternoons outside in the back yard, or going for walks, or at the park. Soccer has been the favorite activity...that and spraying every board on the fence with their water guns. Lots of fun - that's for sure!!!

A lot of things going on right now: let's see....wonder why?

Well - back in February, I went and spoke with MJ's dad - about the idea of marrying his daughter. We had lunch, and discussed the idea, and his thoughts and my thoughts. It was a very good talk, which laster almost 2 hrs. At the end, he gave his blessing, (as long as I would take Maggie) -[one of the beagles] - I said, I'd think about it.

So knowing that I had his blessing as well as MJ's mom...I began to start the planning for the proposal. Now given what I know about MJ and what she likes and the fact that her team teacher Patrinka, told me, "better make it good or she'll say no" I didn't feel ANY pressure at all.

So a few weeks went by, and I began to not have many ideas...and then the one night I was laying in bed..not able to sleep...and I got it!! A disney proposal (sort of)

So I got the idea, that the best way to propose would be at school, so that she could be the center of attention for the day, and tell her story, show off her ring...and get all of the "congratulations" she needed.

Last year when we began "dating" - showing interest in each other, I used to play the piano in the auditorium. Most mornings I would be at school around 6am and be on stage playing away. Some of those mornings MJ would come down and listen. So it was kinda our little time together in the mornings. So I told her, that I had ordred a new song that I was going to start playing...(which ok, wasn't really true) and that she should come down in the morning and hear me play it. Well that week was her last week for grad school...and she was stressed out completely! So i went over to her house for a few days...and "helped" her write her paper...and keep her calm. Well wednesday night, of that week...she wanted to pull an all nighter to finish everything because she was going away for the weekend to present at a conference. i had planned on proposing thursday morning...so the idea of an all nighter...didn't fit into that plan. So i talked her out of that...stayed late and did some work with her...and then "sent her to bed" around 9pm. I then went home, got all of my "stuff" together and headed to the school.

Now I had already arranged for one of the drama teachers to meet me there around 10pm...to help me with some setup. So what we did was, set a small table in the center of the stage, draped a black table cloth over it...and put a single red rose standing up from the middle of the table to simulate the red rose in Beauty and the Beast. It looked great!! Then I pulled all of the curtains, and runners on the stage to make it more intimate...and then we began playing with the lights. Setting some spots, and some background lights, blues, pinks, greens, etc. We hooked up an iPod so that we could play Tale as old as Time from Beauty and The Beast and worked our lighting to go with that. We left around 11pm...and were all set!

The next morning...I came to school around 530am....changed into my suit, put the ring in my pocket, and headed for the Auditorium...she was to be there by 630. As I waited, I made sure the lights were set, music was cued, and that the roses that were going to be delivered were on their way, as well as the tulips from the girls.

She pulled into the parking lot around 628am..and I watched her walk into the school. When she walked into the auditorium, the music began...there was a faint spotlight on the rose, and I walked across the stage in my suit. She didn't really know what was going on, and I don't know that she was really awake. I led her to the center of the stage and we danced to "tale as old as time." While we danced the lights changed around us, and we talked. At the end of the song...we were once again in the center of the stage, I got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked her to marry her. She said YES!!!!!

We then danced to Rascal Flatts' Bless the Broken Road, and then she called her parents. :) She never even noticed that there were lights on, let alone changing.

She went to her classroom and tried calling her best friend and then her sister. I went to the office and took the Roses up there...had the office staff call her and say there was a delivery, when she came up...she got her roses...but also began telling everyone around...and soon there were girls screaming, and squealing in the hallways...and she was in the center of it all!!

I think I did alright :)

So now, we are in planning mode....date is almost set, waiting to hear back from church and reception place...and then we're off!!!

It's going to be absolutely wonderful!!!

God is truly miraculous, this time last year...I never thought this day would come...and that I would be blessed with this person in my life that makes me laugh, and smile, think, and feel so loved and accepted. He has shown me the path and guided me along it...and right there waiting for me....was MJ!

Love you buddy!

Hello everyone!!!

It's been forever since I have posted last....and sometimes that's just the way it goes. So hold on tight...time for an update.

I've moved....(yes again!!!) but this time it was definitely the right decision on multiple levels. I have a townhouse in Springfield, VA....moved here in November. Much more space for the girls to run around and play...a small yard in the back...so the Grill is out...and I'm so looking forward to when it warms up...so that I can go out and use it!!

Anyway, just about finished with my Leadership Cohort program...(1 year well worth all of the work) we'll see what comes of it. I graduate in February so really looking forward to that. I was offered a job contracting with DOD this past weekend...which really shook my world..and even thought i submitted my resume, the pay was less than what I make now..so it was not meant to be...I was still a little bummed...the idea of doing something new and exciting...was just that...EXCITING!!!

It is clear to me that God didn't have that in His plan for me at this time...just not my season, yet.

Speaking of God....He has really been speaking to me the past 4 or 5 days...encouraging me to come back to Him and His word. I have found this sense of renewed faith...and vision. I have been spending about an hour a night (usually after 11pm) to read. INSANE!!! I'm not a big reader. I've been reading "Every Man, God's Man" and "Before you plan your wedding, Plan your marriage" (reading that with MJ) and of course navigating my way through His book.

It's really been an experience reading, and thinking and meditating on some of what I've come across in all of my current selections. I've been reading in Hebrews, about Character change...and I've read about how to change and become a true follower with Christ and a devoted spirtual learner, that there is a change...and i've been reading about how to strenghten that relationship with God and with my friends and family.

I must admit, that i have some work to do in those areas...but don't we all? I'm positive I'll never be done growing and learning...but then again...shouldn't it be our goal, our responsibility to take care of ourselves...and to strive to be more God-like?

Anyway, there is a lot going on in my life...but I'm taking the time for the things that are important....like this morning...i made sure i didn't leave for work until I had a chance to spend some time with my daughters..and make them breakfast.

It was a great time!!!

Well Hopefully I can get back to posting regularly...but who knows...

God bless everyone!

So it's been forever since I have posted last...and honestly, I had to read my blog to see what I wrote about....but let's get up to speed shall we?

So where to begin....well Melissa and I are officially dating!!! I met with her father, and discussed some things that were on my mind...and to let him know that I really am fond of his daughter and very much want her to be in my life. It was a pretty good talk.

School has started again, and while the summer was extremely busy, and the first couple of weeks of school have been insanely busy, (yes i've had to work several saturdays :-/ ) I am glad that everyone's back to school.

Mom and dad are on a cruise, my older brother went to disney world...AGAIN! Lil brother is working way too hard at his job...and my girls are getting so big! Emma went through two shoe sizes in the span of one summer!

As for me, I've decided that it's time to move, YES....again!! -At least I'm a pro at it now. This time it's for several reasons....one, they are increasing my rent here...and I'm getting nothing more for it, other than stress of a small apt and NO parking if I come home late :( Another reason is this apt has served it's purpose, but the kiddos deserve a little more space to grow up in...and quite honestly Nana could probably use a little more space as well. So I'm looking...gotta be out by Nov 22nd...so hopefully I can find something that will work, and I'm trusting God to guide me to the right decision.

Speaking of putting trust in Him, I have done a few other things to let him guide my path. Melissa and I have signed up for a class together...that is held at the church once a week, for eight weeks...and we both just joined small groups tonight at church. She has joined a women's group..that will be meeting Tuesday evening, and I joined a men's group that meets on Wednesday nights. I'm not quite sure what to expect but I'm really looking forward to what is in store, and what i can learn from other men walking with Christ.

So this week looks to be another exciting week, I'm starting 3 new students in my studio this week...some day I wish I really had a "studio" in MY HOUSE, so that they could come and I could teach them and still be around my family. Traveling to their houses all week long is quite exhausting and sometimes, by the time i sit through traffic, I often don't want to even teach the lesson. Oh well, some day it might happen!

I'm excited about this weekend! Friday Melissa and I and the girls are going up to PA!! YES, Melissa finally gets to meet the rest of the family, she's met mom but not Pop and my brothers and their families. So it should be exciting. I know she's a little nervous...but I'm sure once everyone meet everyone...everything will be fine!!

Anyway, it's 10:22pm...my eyes are so tired...going to go and take out the contacts...curl up in bed...and finish watching some football.

I'll do my best to try and write at least once a week...we'll see how it goes.

Nite nite everyone!