Now that's teamwork!

As many of you know, I work for the best specialty hospital in Lafayette! I am very proud to work there not only because we offer excellent patient care, but also because the employees are the best in healthcare. We are one AWESOME team! Never have I worked at such a professional place, yet so much like a family.

I am very honored to have taken part of the United Way Day of Action this year with them. Our project was to build and paint a Born Learning Trail at the Brown Park Recreation Center. With every drop of paint there were two drops of sweat, but every single drop was worth it. The effort pales in comparison to the joy it will bring the generations of kids that will walk the trail. Not only was it fun, but the reward will be returned to us for many years to come.

If you are ever in the area, please stop by and enjoy the trail. Even better, join us next year for many other great projects.

First, start with fresh ingredients...

I used to have a desire to start a blog back in the day of MySpace. Some teenagers are thinking, "Back in the day? MySpace is still cool!" I actually wrote two blogs that drew little attention so I decided to stop writing before I felt like a failure. I have always tried to say things that I thought people would find cool or interesting just to keep their attention. Otherwise, I would keep those thoughts to myself.

You see, I used to be a people pleaser and one issue I had was that my weight was not very pleasing to others. It has always been an issue for me because I didn't want others to label me as lazy. I have since learned that it's OK to have a couple extra pounds (or 50) because no matter what my size or any other issue I have with myself, there is someone who loves me with unconditional love. He doesn't judge me by my size, or the double chin I have (that I've since labeled my second smile), or that I think it would be neat if we could wear shoes on our knees in order for them to be easier to tie. I have since turned my people pleasing ways into serving others. The hardest lesson I had to learn is that the world does not revolve around me. Serving others cannot begin with selfishness.

My desire for this blog is to be a big ol' jambalaya that people look forward to reading. In order to avoid confusion, I want to be clear that it won't solve the current "Oil in the Gulf" crisis, or contribute to world peace, but I know one thing...it is going to be real. I cannot even tell you what ingredients will go in it, but it will definitely be a dish to remember! I just want it to be a way for me to put in writing those things that are important to me. I want Annabelle to be proud of the Daddy that loves her, but most of all I want her to know the God that I know and what He is all about. Along the way, I hope I'm already teaching her other things I know that she loves to learn and she will appreciate.

This past Father's Day, June 20, she told me for the first time that I was her hero. I've heard other Dad's say this and I've secretly rolled my eyes because it sounded so cheesy. You can roll 'em if you want, but that was the best day of my life, by far!

Let's start with some fresh ingredients and get this jambalaya started! I think I smell something cooking...Bon Apetit.