Andy is in town this week, which is always fun. Every time we get together we always talk about the various entrepreneurial leaps we should have made over the years. Mostly minor stuff, but stuff that would have been fun to see where it/they could go.

Today, as I drove into work, I thought about some of the risks I’ve taken over the years and how they’ve paid off. Sure I’ve made some bad decisions in my lifetime, but I’ve never been afraid to step out and jump. I quickly made a connection to my little guy, who is on the brink of walking. I know its a very basic connection, but at the core of it all – he is learning to take one of the first major risks in his lifetime. Its interesting to watch him battle through it…to watch the determination on his face, and the utter excitement and joy he gets when we cheer him on.

And much like now as he manages a few steps only to fall again, I know he’ll take a few risks in his lifetime that don’t pan out – but just like he is doing now, I pray he’s learned enough to know how to pick himself up and start walking all over again.

My little guy turns one next week.

ONE YEAR OLD.

Freaking incredible.

He has come a long way from the little, barely breathing baby boy he was a year ago.

When I think back to that day, and where I am today, I’ve realized that I’ve grown about as much as he has.  I have been thinking a lot about the importance of growth and how being stagnant sucks.  I’ve been stretched this year – more than any other year of my life (and that’s saying a lot because my first year of marriage streched me a LOT) – and I’ve loved it.  Its been one of the hardest years of my life, but I’ve enjoyed it all and am a better person because of it.

Here’s to more growth for Asher and his daddy next year!

I’ve been thinking a lot about identity as of late.  I’ll turn 27 this year and feel pretty good about who I am, and who others believe me to be; however, I don’t get the sense that many people around me feel the same way.  In fact, based on the recent, downward interest in personal blogs over the last few months, I’d say many in the blogosphere are right there as well.  Why is that?  I think its because social media (twitter, blogs, facebook, etc.) creates this crazy competition on number of friends, followers, comments subscribers, that the very reason why we blog/twitter/facebook gets lost.  That reason is different for a lot of people.  Maybe for some it is to build relationships,  for others it is to keep in touch while in the mission field, or for some, like me, its the one place that we can be real.

I started blogging in January of 2008.  This was pre-twitter-craze, so the best way to allow our family and friends to “watch” Jadyn’s first trip to Disney was through a blog.  I sent photos from my trusty Palm Treo and “posted” on the blog.  I then tried to be cool and trendy with it, but at the end of the day, I come back to me being me.  This mostly involves my struggles to be the best husband, father, emplyee, friend, musician, etc…..

So to all you who care about comments, stats, followers – give it up (unless you are blogging to make money – then don’t give it up!).  Figure out the identity of your blog – the reason you blog – and see what happens.  I find it pretty amazing over 100 people consistantly come here to check out what I have to say every day (or every other day…haha).  Sure, there are others with many many more, but I’m ok with that.  I’m comfortable in my blog….skin…?

Many of you know that our recent move has pushed my commute to work from 2 minutes to 10 minutes or so, which has required some getting used to; however, I’ve come to realize that it actually has been for the best.

I’m a deep thinker when I drive by myself. Heck, even when Andrea is in the car, I tend to drift off into deep thought. I think about everything – my family, old friends, work, the future – its therapeutic for me. I did not get to do that much at our old house. I barely put the car into drive before I arrived at the house. Now, I get a nice chunk of time to prepare myself for the day on the way in and some time to decompress on the way home.

I’m a burn-it-on-both-ends kind of guy – many of my coworkers think I have adult ADD.  I’m running full speed all the time.  BUT, for 20 minutes of my day, its just me, my dashboard and my thoughts.  I plan on starting a new series here called Dashboard Confessional.  I’ll share my thoughts from the weeks commute.  Some of it will be profound, most of it will be weird, but it will be straight and real.  That’s all you can ask for from anyone anymore, right?