40 Things to do before I am 40

In just 11 days I shall turn 39 years of age.

39....how?!?? but I was just......

When I was younger I made a list of things to do when I grow up.  Number One was become President of the United States, this was influenced by a letter I received from Ronald Reagan with a book titled the White House.  Fast forwarding to 39 I find that job, to be for better men, women, robots than myself.  However I figured for fun and a little motivation to write more bloggery I would begin to compile a list.  This is my list and I will attempt to do some things outside of my comfort zone.

How many things should I do?  What should I do?  Where should I go?  I will stick to 40 things to do and see how that goes.

This is my short list, Ill expand it in a few days.  Just off the top of my head.

Tell each of my children I love them and my wife every day for the year

Take my kids to at least 40 parks or fun places to play this year WITH OR WITHOUT (challenge) my wife

Encourage or listen to someone everyday

Take a personal photo with at least 40 of my friends, individually would probably be smart lol

Attempt to learn to Roller Skate

Attempt to learn to Ride a bike

Attempt to Learn to swim

Tell 40 others about Christ (Just telling you, striking a conversation, hoping God will be glorified through my words)

Read the Whole Bible in a year

Memorize 40 verses

Sing a song in front of folks in a Karaoke place (Do these even exist anymore)

Lose approximately 40lbs (looking at about 160-165) figure I'll go back and forth a little

Read 40 books in a year (I've done 176 in a month, should be a breeze hehe) looking mainly for theology, history, biographies, sci-fi Ill take recommendations

Perform in a community play.

Find our future home (help)

At least that is some of my thoughts, figure it would be fun to try.

Two Years

I don't have screens in my front windows, victims of cats and kids long ago.  Dad's last project with me was to re-screen them and I have never been able to get them back in the windows.  The frames are weak and the the little plastic tubing just doesn't hold in the seams.  I just cant seem to throw them away.

My kids are asleep upstairs in a "cool kids club" they made with blankets.  I asked for a membership card and they said I was too old.  Erin watches re-runs of Dog the Bounty Hunter, I give up trying to understand why.

Yet I can't stop thinking about it

Dad will have been gone two years tomorrow, and I feel like that screen managing to fit in the frame but struggling at the seams.  My siblings deal with the day to day each with their own struggles, changes since he's been gone.  Mom has good days and bad, overall the communication between all of us could be better.

I want to record the kids memories of dad, there may not be much there, going to do it anyway  Connor tells me stories of hot dogs and how papaw loved nascar and guns. The kids wrote letters and drew pictures, I spend time with Collin telling him stories of Dad    I pray with my kids and as I pour my heart out, I sometimes fall asleep slumped on the floor.  Did dad do this?  Am i like him?  Have I let him down?  

It has been a slow go all this healing business.

The frames are bent, the seams are weak but they are still screens.

Dad I miss you, we miss you. Lord grant me the strength to deal with the day to day