Community

Tonight we went to the MorningStar service in NYC - it was so refreshing to be around people our age with like-minds & hearts. Brennan introduced us to a dude named James - he was chill and we look forward to getting connected with a small group.

Worshiping God was awesome - we sang, "The Revelation Song" - "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almight, who was & is & is to come..."


Next was a Documentary Dance based off a Thailand chick's life - becoming a sex slave in a brothel in Australia & it was quite intense & interpretive-esque. In addition, today, MSNY put on a "stilettos race" for child trafficking and it was a huge success in bringing publicity to the issue! Yea, I think it was national "child trafficking awareness day," Brenna didn't you participate in Tallahassee?

And then John Bevere's wife was a guest speaker and brought the Word - "fashion the Sword - echo His Name on High!" It was an empowering word. So refreshing. Thank you Jesus. Goodnight all.

.Dougles.

Patrick, The Man In The Shed

This post goes out to our beloved "Patty-Cakes." What a character he was - to say the least. Sincerely though - I liked & still like Patrick. He was a trickster & stubborn yet brought a new atmosphere to the house - one that opened your eyes to a lot of things - the basic need for shelter, a bed to recover from BACK injuries & weariness, time to think about the things of life - to evaluate yourself spiritually, emotionally, mentally & physically; the desire to be loved & not be alone, the fact that we are all crazy & insane at some points of our life, the need to be firm with people - a form of love that most of us stray from yet once we rebuke our loved ones - we see the effect, the change, the beauty of loving in a way of helping build character.

Stretch out your hand, someone is waiting with theirs already stretched, even dirty, broken & weary....

.Dougles.

Dance

We have finally acclimated to White Plains. Work is going well, we’ve experienced a thriving nightlife, met new friends, and discovered new adventures around every bend. As I get ready this Friday morning (I may run late due to this entry!) I find myself in sheer and unadulterated excitement about tonight. Zumba class! On Wednesday I attended one of these rump shaking – heart pumping Latin dance workout classes with a Colombian girl from the salon. Her name is Yuli – it’s pronounced “Julie” but the spelling throws everyone off. --- We laughed and sweated and watched the clock in hopes the pain-caused-by-dancing would soon cease. It was a blast. SO tonight Yuli and I have invited more girls from the salon – more from Colombia, some from Argentina, some from Jersey, and me – the blonde in a sea of exotic brunettes (with a southern twang!) It certainly will be one eclectic group of dancers. The music is loud, it’s fast, and it’s sung in Spanish – It’s one heck of a workout – as well as a liaison to new friends and new cultures!

To see some Zumba in action visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm7DyRjtWRc

.Jecca.

Famous

Celebrity #1: Faclore
Quiggly, our dog, looks just like Falcore the Luck Dragon from The Never Ending Story. Sometimes I fly on Quiggly like Atreyu on Falcore.


























Celebrity #2: Batty
Quiggly, our dog, looks just like Batty from Ferngully. Sometimes Quiggly starts rapping (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtuKoD1Wbvg).

Stay-At-Home-Dad

Being a stay-at-home-dad isn't as bad as it seems these days...

Until I begin work, I am a stay-at-home-dad. Yes, my lovely wife pays the bills. She is the one with the wad of cash in her pocket. Me, I do the home stuff. I am extremely thankful for Jess and her sacrifices for our family. She works long, hard weeks so that Quiggly and I can eat, sleep, and live - and eventually do the work I have been waiting so desperately to do - Equity Trading.

Jess has more strength than any woman I know, besides my mother and her mother. Yes, I can't thank her enough for everything she does for me. She blesses me ten fold more every day. And every day I am that much more in love with her. I thank God for a woman that respects me, loves me, cares for me, and delights in me. I am truly blessed.

Therefore, I have been staying at home, studying for my Series 7 Exam, awaiting to begin trading. Now, with this current situation, of course I put away time to study everyday - given this is an IMPORTANT exam. Nevertheless, there is still a large chunk of time that I have to spend doing whatever STAY_AT_HOME_DADs do best, which is.....???

Here is a list of items I complete throughout the day, enjoy the knowledge of a stay-at-home-dad:

1. Feed, play, sleep, and walk the dog.
2. Yoga on the front porch on a pilates mat.
3. Write one new blog each day.
4. Create websites, t-shirts, merchandise, poetry, and songs
5. Read scripture, articles-online, etc.
6. Jam out to Hillsong
7. Walk to Atlanta Bread Company
8. Eat: Chewy Bars, Apple Thomas Muffins, PB&Js, Sun Chips
9. Drink: Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, & Spiced Chai Tea Blended
10. Clean: the dishes, sweep the floor, clean up clothes, Quiggly's torn-apart rubber bone.
11. Go to lunch EVERY DAY with Jess at 12:30 p.m. and eat on the outside patio of the Dept. of Transportation
12. Sit on the front porch with Quiggly, watching passer-byes & widdling my wooden stick
13. Play Old School "Super Mario 3" on Nintendo
14. Go to CVS, which is next door, to roam around or buy index cards
15. STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>STUDY>

That is the life in the eyes of a man-chorer-stay-at-home-husband-dude-man. Thank the Lord for my wife and the ability to stay-at-home to get done what needs to get done. Ya know, at first I was so anxious and paralyzed by my position as a stay-at-home-dad. But now, I am becoming more and more appreciative for the fact that I am able to be such, most people don't have the opportunity to wait a month or two to start working the job you will absolutely love! Thank you God. Thank you Jess. Much love.

.Dougles.

NYC

Yesterday, Monday, September 14th, 2009 - Bryant Park, Manhattan, NYC - Brennan, Jess and I hit up fashion week. Not too much action, considering we did not have tickets to any of the shows (INVITATION ONLY) - nevertheless, we did some massive people watching and hangin around the city.


In fact, we saw some chick from America's Next Top Model and a ton of other random fashion peeps. All in all, it was fun - got to enjoy the city on a magnificent day - did some window shopping...


And in the end we met up with Keenan and ate at this Japanese restaurant, "Tokyo Bar" on 277 Church St. Might I say - they did not take our RESTAURANT.com coupon! I was a little upset about that; anyway, the food was strange, too: cooked squid, "ketchup" rice with eggs, IshiSEEmi a raw animal, and some normal old french fries. Oh well, that's what you get with RESTAURANT.com Still enjoyed the atmosphere & their music...

.Dougles.

Restaurant

Taste of White Plains? Taste of Rye? Taste of Greenwich? Taste of Port Chester?
Today was a day of tasting. We feasted on the Word and worship and then feasted amongst all the little towns within our area.

It was supposed to be "Taste of White Plains" - 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Umm yeah, we walked around found all the free food there was - which was like one booth, got a free day pass at a pilates wellness center and then dipped out.


We thought we would go to the Rye Beach, little did we know - parking = $8.00, GETTING ON THE BEACH = $8.00 PER PERSON! That would have cost us $32.00 just to go to the beach. Ridiculous.


Therefore, we continued on - listening to the GPS tell us there is a Coldstone Creamery in Greenwich, CT...Yeah, the Gipsy was confused itself. Could not find the Coldstone -


So we went onward - to Port Chester, NY. (All of these areas are 15 minutes away). Drove around and finally found an AWESOME LATINO ICE CREAM SHOP!


DANKLICIOUS ICE CREAM BARS = $2.00
BEASTALICIOUS CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANAS = $1.50
BIG SCOOP OF INSANE ICE CREAM = $3.00

We let the ice cream melt in our mouths as we (Jess, Bennan & I) ate our tasty treats on a bench along the Port Chester Downtown Area. Good times...

.Dougles.

Football

Florida State vs. Miami

What can I say?

What a typical football game played by FSU. The ending could not have been more predictable.


Golly day...it was exciting the whole way through - I guess that's all you can ask for...

.Dougles.

Hiking

Hiking - Bear Mountain
Today was quite the adventure. Up and over, through and under, Jess and I fumbled and rumbled across the Bearess Mountains. Also known as - Harriman's Trails.

Yea...First we found ourselves at a construction zone in a state park? then we were in an unknown graveyard, then we were plundered by a bald man with a wife-beater in the jungles of down-under.

.Dougles.

Music

Song of the Month: Hillsong - "Desert"
"All of my life, in every season, You are still God,
I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship
I will bring praise, I will bring praise,
No weapon formed against me shall remain,
I will rejoice, I will declare,
God is my victory and He is here..."

.Dougles.

Is There A Way Out Of This Madness?

Eyes wide open-popping out of their sockets like seeds in olives -
Searching frantically - clicking, clicking - mimicking the grasshopper,
Yet mastered by the mouse: a slave to a four day fast,
Hoping in not the past but the future:

"He who works his land will have abundant food,
But he who chases fantasies lacks judgment" Pr. 12:11

Falling for the same lie - the same false hope, time & time again.

What happens if you win? Will that "selfless prophecy" come fulfilled?
What happens if you die? Will that "selfish prophecy" come fulfilled?

The numbered, snow-white balls fall into place -
Gaining freedom for children to receive wisdom -
But your children are chained to the ground by injustice,
With an addict parent eating away their college dreams or even their morning Fruit-Loops...

Why continue? Haven't you learned?

There is a lottery in heaven -
Your heart must have the fear of God & obedience written on it.
You once understood - you once felt your numbers being called,
Your's slowly fades away -
You thought you had the "lucky-numbers,"
Not so lucky now...

.Dougles.

To Fall is to Crawl to the Feet

Humbled by the "detrimental circumstances" that surround us -
Only because of our own disobedience
Or to realize the pride that chokes us by human appeasement.

Why run with your tongue as a gun?
Shooting aimlessly at children,
No, wash then with wet kisses,
Embrace everyone with a new heart,
Every situation with a new love.

Find yourself as a glutton for peace, humility
And brotherly encouragement,
Then you, yourself will not be down-cast.
Certainly don't think highly of yourself,
Being "better" than others at certain life items.

Only serve. You only live once. Only serve.

.Dougles.

Truth Unfolds Its Crusty Wings

The dust it collects on my nightstand,
My skin dying, flaking off without me noticing.
Life moving so fast and killing me quickly.

Some days I find myself paralyzed in thought,
caught up in my emotions, my hopeful past,
my stand-still present. Cold as a dead body.

I shake, I quiver, even occasionally weep.
My life outside of this - hope in materials, time,
thought, even people - it's better than this.
I know first hand.

When I fall asleep to my pride, my fears, my hope in this world,
Well, my gaze it shifts - my heart flutters,
my lips tingle, I can feel real hope, real life.
No more being blind or deaf, mute or hardened,
No more worries.

And then - life becomes what it should -
Truth unfolds its crusty wings.
People, the world, experiences -
They shimmer, but not in a way of idolatry,
No, in a way of love.
Hidden in the spectacles of grace.

.Dougles.

Pictures

 
Wednesday Night Photo Shoot
So - Currently Dougger and I are in the living room. I'm sitting on a bean bag chair. Doug is playing Super Mario - a good way to reduce stress before a big test. Yes. Tomorrow. Eight hours of Series Seven Examinations. Tonight we picked up some dinner at a little market up the street...Then busted out the camera to take a few quick pictures of the Quigg and debut the new haircut. This was the result.

.Jecca.

Faith

Let the Light Shine In...
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them...Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."
Ephesians 5:8-17

Quigglet: The New Addition to Our Family!

Quiggly, Quigglet, Quigg-Monster, Quiggasaurus-Rex, Quiggly-Puff, Quigg-Meister, yes...

The slumberous monster has risen from her cave. This little sucker has found a new home that resides in White Plains, NY. Quiggly: 4 yrs. old, 28 lbs., beagle-pug-dachshund. She loves to take long walks on the beach, play with her red-bone, lick people's feet, chase geese, slide on the hardwood floors, & snuggle. She is a lovey-dovey beast of nature.

Quiggs. Our new baby. Welcome to the family.

Love,
Doug & Jess