Don't worry

Today, Pastor Jon talked about not worrying. Most of what we worry about in life, we have NO control over...and no responsibility to be worrying about in the first place.

As we take a look at our lives, we need to see all the things we are thankful for...and not just the problems. As I look at my own life, there are a few things to note:

1. Both Carlyn's and my cars are old and have significant problems. BUT...at least we live in a country where we are able to have two cars. We have freedom to go when and where we want.
2. We live paycheck to paycheck. BUT...at least I have a job that pays as well as it does so that my wife can stay at home to raise our daughter.
3. Our 4 year old daughter is testing our patience everyday. BUT...at least she is healthy and actually brings unmeasurable joy into our lives.
4. I have to drive 35 minutes to get to work. BUT...at least I have that time to clear my head and sometimes spend with God.
5. We couldn't decide earlier what to have for dinner. BUT...at least we had several options. God has provided us well.

And I was going to make my list longer, but realized....hey....why am I trying to come up with a list of things that I worry about, or that are troublesome. Honestly, if my list is only 5 things...and one is about what we had for dinner...I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination.

When you really get down to it...what are YOU worried about? Really?

The 80's live again!

As if the 80's ever really went away.

Came across this video and thought everyone should experience it as well. It is a LITERAL re-voicing of a-Ha's Take On Me video.. You know the one with the comic book that comes alife and back.

Enjoy!

Super Benjamin!

If I had a theme song...I think it would be better than this one...at least I'd hope.

http://www.makemesuper.com/r.php?i=4_236e3-132740-m-Benjamin

Enjoy!

Chuck Norris endorsed!

Had I seen THIS...my vote might be different come November!

Wagons

So...for Makayla's upcoming birthday, we thought she could benefit from a wagon. Something to use at the zoo, the park, the fair...etc. In an email from my dad, he started writing about his youth and having a wagon...it was so good...I thought I'd share it with all of you:

"Wagons" by Randy Canady
I was once a kid... had a wagon... played with it in the yard and on the driveway. Put one knee in the bottom and pushed it with my other foot on the ground. Had dynamite control... with my knee in the bottom and my bare foot wedged against the back. Why I could handle a corner at 100 miles per hour... or so it seemed. Didn't need some ole grown-up to pull me around... I had the handle bent back and one good foot on the ground. Got lots of exercise and occasionally got a break with a ride unassisted down a hill. Loaded it with all my junk and pulled it around wherever. Occasionally filled it with leaves or twigs to help out with cleaning up the yard. Occasionally helped dad move something heavy by balancing it on the sides and slowly moving from one place to another. It was an early "utility vehicle" of sorts. It was a wagon... I was a kid... what did I know?? I was happy.

Occasionally I got going too fast and it dumped me on the ground... but occasionally on the pavement below. I was happy... I had a wagon... I was just a kid! Needed something moved short of a refridgerator???? I'm available... I got a wagon!! When the "gunfire" started, I'd roll it over on it's side and hide behind it... firing when able, unless, of course, I had been wounded. If wounded, I'd just lay there until the coast was clear! I was a kid... I had a wagon.... I was happy.

One day, I decided to ride it standing in the bed... fine until the wagon stopped... and I didn't! But what did I know... I was just a kid with a wagon... I was happy. I made my own entertainment! I knew better would come along some day... but if not... I was happy with my wagon.

It's amazing how high you can reach when you pile things up on top of your wagon. Once I stacked two open lawn chairs and a crate on top of my wagon (wheels down, by the way) to reach something Daddy had "put up" in the garage. Bet he didn't know I could reach it with my wagon!! Then there was that mean cat in the neighborhood! Cat not so mean under my turned upside down wagon!!! The next day... I felt remorse and lifted my wagon. I'll bet it's mother will quit calling it now!! But what did I know... I was a kid... had a wagon... lots of time in the yard.

Had to come in when the street lights came on. Only wore shorts and a mean buzz haircut. No shoes... they just slowed me down. Surely didn't take long for my tub bath. Only having to take off my shorts and "tighty-whities" only too a second! My feet and toes took a beating... always stepping on something sharp, or mean. I wish I had a dollar for every stumpted toes... I could really retire then.

But I was happy... I had a wagon and lots of love.

How To Pronounce Beijing!

Okay...the Olympics are drawing to a near, but I came across this fun video on the PROPER way to pronounce the host city of Beijing.

Watch and learn!

Olympic Hopefuls

So, we are at about the halfway point of the Olympics in Beijing. Since I work at NBC, it has really generated a lot of late nights and extra work for us.

To celebrate the halfway point, I thought I'd share some of the Olympic hopefuls that DIDN'T get invited to China.

Enjoy!

Morning Show Fun

You gotta love live news. This was on our newscast this morning...early.

And the winner is....

So, as many of you may know that my family and I have been looking for a new church.

We have decided that our new church is True North Church in Garner, NC. TNC meets in the White Oak theater and has tons of personality.

The senior pastor, Jon McClarnon, has a passionate heart for what God is doing in the Garner area. He's hilarious and down to earth...the kind of guy you'd wanna go have lunch with...

True North is cool because it doesn't have it all figured out. It is raw, and fresh, and new.

If you're in the Garner area on a Sunday morning, come check out True North (off Exit 306 on I-40).

Hard Stapled

So, as many of you know, I love movies. Even went to film school. But as of yet, I haven't done anything with my passion. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was the catalyst I needed to return and try to do something with film.

One of my friends, Christopher Moore, shot a critically acclaimed comedy short and has recently be invited to take part in an upcoming film festival.

Check out his short "Hard Stapled"

DewMocracy

My Lovely Bride

Many of you out there, know my wife, Carlyn. Some of you, perhaps, may have not met her yet.

Carlyn Jaye Bradley Canady RN BSN MDiv.com (her full name that I call her) is the best thing that has ever happened to me. This time of year is always special in our household. For you see, there's Mother's Day. A few days later, Carlyn and I celebrate our wedding anniversary (on the 17th). And then 4 days after that, we celebrate Carlyn's birthday. It's all about the Carlyns!!

We just celebrated 11 years of marriage. And for those that know us, know that we have been through a lot! But no matter what we go through, good or bad, we both know that in the end, it will still be the three of us (Makayla is the third, duh).

Carlyn is one of the biggest factors in my life when it came to refocusing my attention to my Christian walk. In college, I sort of drifted away (as many do). Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't a 180 turn away from Christ...just not a daily focus as it should be. It was Carlyn's passion and drive that really helped me steer back to what was most important.

I remember our first date. It was an unofficial date where we had lunch together with a lot of friends at a dumpy Mexican joint. We flirted like middle schoolers...and we were both college students! Then our first "official" date the following week, we both took off our tomatoes and cucumbers off of our salads at the OutBack...we knew it was love.

We've celebrated life and death together.
We are each other's biggest cheerleaders (although I really hate wearing the skirts).
We rate each other's burps (you guys know this is important).
We "get" each other.

You would think that well into our 30's, that we would have grown out of popping each other with the dishtowel in the kitchen...but alas no. Carlyn...remember, don't pop me in my face (that's my money maker!).

We are as content with a night on the town as we are at home doing nothing.

Thank God Carlyn loves Nintendo.
Thank God Carlyn loves Macs.
Thank God Carlyn loves Japanese food.
Thank God Carlyn tolerates my love of Def Leppard.
Thank God Carlyn loves the fact that I love Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Thank God Carlyn loves me.

Carlyn is the best mom I could hope for our daughter Makayla. Her constant push to correct Makayla is shaping her to be a confident and strong little woman. Her unconditional love of her is unmatched. Her ability to nurture and lead is amazing.

I love Carlyn's obsession with all things Eeyore.
I love Carlyn's obsession with web based computer games/puzzles.
I love Carlyn's obsession with sweet tea.
I love Carlyn's obsession with wanting more out of a local church.
I love Carlyn's obsession with the line of Saturn automobiles.
I love Carlyn.

To really know Carlyn is to love her. I love all the little things that make up who she is. She is my partner, my wife, and my best friend.

To quote our vows 11 years ago (which quoted a movie before that)..."She completes me". Now, if you must barf, please don't do it on your computer, those things are expensive.

I love you Carlyn!

World's crappiest radio

Okay. So, my car is aging, and not gracefully.

Apparently, there is some kind of wicked short somewhere in the radio wiring. If I apply my brakes to stop the car, the sound appears to float to the front of the car while stopping. Of course, it sounds like the back speakers are cutting out, but it sounds like the radio sloshes the sound forward when I brake.

This is a stupid improvement from the previous problem of having to hit the door like Arthur Fonzerelli to get the sound to play out of the left side of the car.

ANYONE OUT THERE GOOD WITH CAR AUDIO? I CLEARLY NEED HELP!

What do you do for a living?

I get that question a lot. Even when I tell someone that I am a director for a local news station, they still don't understand.

A friend of mine showed this video to me on YouTube and it is the most realistic (even though it is 30 years old)...the most realistic and honest look at what I do each and every day.

One thing to keep in mind as you watch...THIS director featured, is just a director. I get to fullfill HIS job along with the video switcher AND the assistant director (I have neither of those positions with me).

Enjoy:

Retirement Homes are COOL!

My grandmother lives in a retirement community here in Raleigh. They were just featured in the News and Observer as a place where older citizens are now experiencing Nintendo's Wii.

The thinking is, is that younger generations (grandchildren) would come to play Wii with their grandparents. Things like golf and tennis. This also does double duty in that the older folks get a chance to exercise as well.

The best thing about this article? This picture:

Thank God Nintendo put on the Wiimote straps...but she isn't using one!!!!

And, not only do they play the Wii there....but last time we were there, The Matrix was playing on the lobby television! I can't imagine someone actually turned it to there...but who knows? I just hope no one was confused with the whole blue pill and red pill scene and end up taking their medication at the wrong time (that was wrong...why did I say that?)