Emma and I's first Christmas in our new Home

Christmas is less than a year away. Tonight Emma and I put up the tree that my mom and dad are letting me borrow this year. Emma loves the lights of course. I didnt relaize how few ornaments that I have. Oh well, I have alot of sports figures hanging from the tree this year such as Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantel, Larry Bird, Jason Giambi, Cal Ripin Jr, Sammy Sosa, and more. Here are some pictures of the tree and other things. Really not too much decorating for Christmas this year.

Emma and I Putting the top of the tree on.

I dont have a star or angel to put on the top of the tree so Peyton Manning with have to do.

The decorated tree

Emma Looking at her Nativity set. My mom buys her a new piece every year. She even calls the baby Jesus. How awesome is that?!!!

our stockings

How Smart Is Emma

So my mom got some toys for Emma to play with at Bethel Basketball games. One was a Ernie K'nex set. Emma loves this thing. Emma played with it a little bit at home and it took her no time to figure out how to put it together. Heres what I mean.


This is what the finish product should look like

All the pieces

Emma working hard

All she didnt figure out was how to get the legs on!!!
Serisously I didnt help her with this at all

Memories of 2008/ New York

As the year is coming to an end, I will be taking a look back at some things that happened mainly in my life but maybe a couple of other events as well. Most of you know it has been a rough year but I am focusing on the good things that happened. These are in no specific order. Infact the first is probablyone of my favorites.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

So I was just going to take Emma to go out and see her Aunt LeeAnn in Delaware. I just wanted to pick a time that we could go see a Yankee game since they are tearing down Yankee Stadium and this would be my last chance to see a game there. This was my second trip to the stadium. As I am looking at the schedule I got pumped because the time we would be out there, the Red Sox were in town. Not only that but it was the last time that the Red Sox would play at Yankee Stadium. Things looked bleak for the Yankees early in the game as they feel behind. However, the game went into extra innings and Jason Giambi hit a game winning, walk off single up the middle to drive in the winning run.
It was great to go see Yankee Stadium one last time. Thanks to my sister once again for buying the tickets for us. I know the only reason she bought the tickets so that I would bring Emma out to see her, but I still appreciate it. Here are some pictures of that great day.




Just think if there was drinking in the bleachers of Yankee Stadium





Former Bethel Student Justin Masterson pitching for the Red Sox. The only bad thing about this game was that he did get the loss for the Red Sox.

Bible Questions

Here is a video that a friend of mine (Robby Lightfoot) did at the Elkhart County Fair. Very Sad

New Experience #2

The Cinamon Coffee Cake here at the Main Street Coffee House is fantastic!!! And yes, I did get another Mocha

New Experience

So tonight I dont have Emma, my family is still in Deleware seeing my sister over Thanksgiving weekend. So I have nothing to do. So I decided to take the laptop down to Nappanee and give the Main Street Coffee House a try. I have never been here so I thought I would give it a try. Plus they have free WiFi, which I found out earlier in the day that the neighbor that I get my WiFi signial from must be out of town because I cant get any kind of conection at home so I needed to go somewhere else. Anyways, it is nice and quiet here. I could do this more often when I have free time. But that is not the only new expereince I have had today.
I am not much of a coffee drinker. Cant really stand the stuff to be honest. But today I decided to try something new. So I got myself a Mocha. What have I been missing all of these days. It was awesome. (Can you beleive I worked at a coffee shop for a few months at one time and never tried a Mocha?) I cant beleive I only got a single. I might have to get another. What could be better on a free night? I got my Mocha and free WiFi. I can really get used to this!!! (however next time I will try to get a sofa to sit on) Maybe while I am here I can blog about something deep or profound. (probably not)

So somethings that I have noticed lately. Some good and some I dont know if it is good or bad.

1. I was able to fill up my car today for just $20.78. And yes my car was very low on gas. Never thought I would see this day. Maybe next time it will be under $20.

2. I have gone to Jimmy Johns way too much. It is bad when I go in and place my order (Slim 1- basicaly just ham) and they just say "you get the same thing everytime dont you?" I only go there once a week at the most, depending on if I had enough time to eat lunch before work.

3. Emma is smart. Ok I didnt just figure this out but she is wanting to learn. She sits still now when being read to, she likes things in order. She knows where things belong, and she wants to discover everythng.

4. Emma loves Veggie Tales. Wont take you long to notice her favoite Veggie Tale is (Bob). Maybe it is because it is easier to say than Larry.

5. Marathon Training is hard. Ok so once again I already knew this but I forgot how hard it is. I just started officialy training last Monday. It is making me tiered but it should get better. I do feel like I am in ok shape right now though.

6. The Colts could still easily make it into the playoffs. I counted them out a few weeks ago, but they are back in it now. Cant believe it. Last night was a great game to watch. Be looking for me on TV on December 7th. I will be sitting in the endzone seats, first level, top row, right behind the fieldgoal. OK so you probably wont be able to pick me out but I am looking forward to this one. It will bemy first pofessional football game I will go to.

Beat It

RULES
1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 5 friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you stole it from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"Enough" Jeremey Camp

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Anticonformity" Krystal Myers

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Open Your Eyes" Pillar

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"You Make Me Mad" Third Day

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Once Again" Matt Redman

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"The One Thing I have Left" Hawk Nelson

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"What if I Stumble" DC Talk

WHAT IS 2+2?
"Draw Me Close" Kutless

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Vertigo" U2

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"My Generation" the Who

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Dare You To Move" switchfoot

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Livin on a Prayer" Bon Jovi

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"I'm Alright" Jars of Clay

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Yellow Submarine" The Beatles

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Another One Bites the Dust" Queen

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Ride On" AC/DC

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Luv Is A Verb" DC Talk

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Your A God" Vertical Horizon

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Song of Love" Rebecca St. James

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Meant to Live" Switchfoot

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Me and Jesus" Stellar Kart

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Replace Me" Family Force 5

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Socially Acceptable" DC Talk

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Nothing Compares" Third Day

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"I Surender to You" Jeremy Camp

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Secret" Audio Adrenaline

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"God of Wrath" David Crowder Band

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" Poison

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Alive" POD

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Beat It" Michael Jackson

Well The five people I tag are whoever actually reads my blog. Since I only know of two people and I know one does not have a blog, I might get one person to do this. But if you read my blog let me know. Maybe it wont feel like so much of a waisted time. Although I would probably still do it.

Best Sports Movie Quotes

So I am following up with a new quote list after my Bob Knight list. This time it is my favorite sports movie quotes. You dont have to agree with them, but remember, these are the best. Some are funny and some are serious, but the last few come from the greatest sports movie ever created. By the way, there are not quotes from Rudy. A movie that lame doesnt deserve to be put on my list.

"All right, men, now here's the play we're gonna use. I don't think the guards know this formation. It's called 'incidental punishment after the ball is blown dead.' Remember, any man you tackle gets an elbow, knee or kick in the mouth."
The Longest Yard

"Juuuust a bit outside!"
Major League

"Mike Eruzione! Winthrop, Massachusetts! I play for the United States of America!"
Miracle
I hate hockey, but that sent sivers up my spine

"If you build it, he will come."
Field of Dreams

"So we finish the 18th and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, 'Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know?' And he says, 'Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.' So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."
Caddyshack

"I must break you."
Rocky IV
I love telling kids at work this.

"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."
Dodgeball

"People say that it can't work, black and white; well, here we make it work, every day. We have our disagreements, of course, but before we reach for hate, always, always, we remember the Titans."
Remember the Titans

"520? You get 400 for just spelling your name correctly."
Blue Chips

"Dodgeball is a sport of violence, exclusion and degradation."
Dodgeball

"Just a reminder, fans, about Die-Hard Night coming up here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant."
Major League

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
Chariots of Fire

"In case you haven't noticed — and, judging by the attendance, you haven't — the Indians have managed to win a few here and there and are threatening to climb out of the cellar."
Major League

"Look, mister, there's two kinds of dumb. Uh, guy that gets naked and runs out in the snow and barks at the moon, and, uh, guy who does the same thing in my living room. First one don't matter, the second one you're kinda forced to deal with."
Hoosiers

"If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says. At the end of the game, in my book, we're gonna be winners."
.Hoosiers

"I'll make it."
Hoosiers
The amazing thing about the scene in this movie is that he did make it on the first shot when shooting this scene.

"Welcome to Indiana basketball"
Hoosiers

So I came across a youth pastor friend on mine blog the other day (Jason Thompson) and back on October 15th he listed a bunch of quotes from what he calls a "Legendary Football Coach from Notre Dame" Lou Holtz. which I made the comment "You couldnt find a better coach to get quotes from?" So with that being said, here is a bunch of quotes from the greatest coach ever, the General himself. Mr. Bob Knight.

1. All of us learn to write in the second grade. Most of us go on to greater things.

2.If I came in to recruit your son, I would tell you, your wife, and your son, that I will be the most demanding coach your son can play for.

3. Mental toughness is to physical as four is to one.

4. Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win. (aint that the truth)

5. Well, I think it's pretty much established that I just didn't have any interest in coaching in the pros.

6. When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my a**! (My personal favorite)

7. Evervybody hears, but few listen

8. Everyone wants to be on a winning team,but no one wants to come to practice

9. If my primary purpose here at Indiana is to go out and win ballgames, I can probably do that as well as anybody can. I would just cheat, get some money from alot of people around Indianapolis who want to run the operation that way, and just go out and get the best basketball players I can. Then we'd beat everybody

10. People want national championship banners. People want to talk about Indiana being competitive. How do we get there? We don't get there with milk and cookies."

11. I fortunately have never worried about irritating people.

High School Basketball Season

High school basketball season is about to start (thank goodness). It has been a long wait but the best time of year is almost here. I know, NorthWood is still playing football and I plan on watching them till their season is over, hopefully raising a large trophy in Indy on Thanksgiving day weekend, but it is now winter and time to go to those high school gyms and watch some basketball. I found this video on YouTube and makes me wish that I could go back in time and see some of these old high school gyms in Indiana. Sorry you will have to follow the link for this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR-ae-xtKrw

First Real Snowfall

Well, I could have waited longer for this but I guess it is here, the first real snow fall of the year. When I say real I mean we actually got an acumulation today. I actually had to brush off my car tonight when leaving work. The roads were bad all the way home. Reality hit me on why it sucks to drive a Chevy Cavaleer in the winter. It is not fun. I knew it was coming but why so soon?!!! Oh well, maybe I can hit some kids at work with snowballs!!!

Frustrations At Work

As you can probably imagine, working with troubled teens can be somewhat frustrating at times. That became more evident to me today. Without going into specifics or names (of course I could get fired for that), I have figured out the one thing that is truly most frustrating about my job. After you put so much time and energy into a relationship with a resident at work, you then hear the words you never want to hear come out of their mouth. "Staff here don't care about me!" Usually this comes in different forms such as "Staff don't give a f*#% about me." or "Staff don't give a s%&* about me." (The first is probably the one I get the most) With a job like this I just have to realize it is all part of what I do, but that becomes hard at times especially with those that seem to have potential and you do have a relationship with.

Emma and my new place

Here they are, pictures of where Emma and I are now living. It isnt muh but it is all ours!!!

The kitchen is plenty big. Notice no chairs for the table yet.

The living room which Emma has already made a mess of

Emmas Room, she loves it

My room

our views

Emma's Favorite Song

We thought for a while that The Wheels on The Bus was going to be Emmas favorite song. Turned out we were wrong. THis is it. Jon Andrews will love this.

What Emma has taught me.

There have been alot of things that Emma has taught me. First of all would be patients. If you have seen Emma, you know why and I need to keep working on it.

Emma has also taught me the value of a good night sleep. Once again if you see the amount of energy she has you would know what I mean.

Emma loves school Buses. Jon, what is the deal with our kids liking buses. We live right next to the emelementry school and middle school here in town so we see buses all day. About the time Emma wakes up from her afternoon nap, the busses are going by and she gets so excited.

But probably the most remarkable thing I have seen in Emma is her desire to pray already. She is only 2 and she freaks out if we do not pray before a meal. You can not have a peaceful meal until after we pray. I am not sure how peaceful meals are with Emma but it seems to be a little better after we pray. She wont let you forget that is for sure. It is really cute.

We Need God in America Again

So I did something today that I don't usually do. As I was taking Emma to drop her off at her moms, I turned the radio onto WFRN. A station that I don't usually listen too. Anyways, The first song I hear is "We Need God in America Again." by Carman. Now I have been made fun in the past for listening to Carman, but I think there is alot of great things in this song. Sorry I could not find a copy of this video without Subtitles.


There is alot of crap in this country. As I go to work everyday, I am looking at teens who have done drugs, been abused, been molested, have charges against them, have anger issues, and been kicked out of school. These kids face judges in the courts and have seen the inside of a court room more times than I can even think about. I even deal with teens coming out of the closet. Why is all this happening, because God has been taken out of their lives by either their parents or by others. In many cases, the parents just don't care at all These kids do not know God. They have never been taught about God. Many of them know, and are ready, to go to Hell. They see no hope in that. It is truly sad. The only hope for alot of the kids that I work with is Jesus and that someone will show them who Jesus is. I just pray that they see Jesus through me and my actions. So if you would, pray that they do to.

Some of my favorite Youtube videos

Thought I would share a few on my favorite Youtube videos.

Maybe this is a good reason not to get back involved with full time youth ministry? Then again, I really hope to at some point. But overnighters are the worse!


Loved this when it came out a year ago


I dont really like the Williams sisters but they did make a good comercial with the Mannings. Its on like Donky Kong!


I would love to see this happen, but i am affraid it never will.

Another Peyton Manning Commercial

They just keep getting better and better

Voting Results

So I am not supprised by the presidential results from last night. What I am more ashamed of is that Indiana elected Obama. i thought I could atleast hang my hat on the fact that Indiana stayed a red state. I guess not

Why I love fall!!!

The snow can just stay away

Get out and vote

Did you vote today?!!! i did

Get out there and do it if you havent. Indiana you Got an hour and a half left.

Pray first. Who would God vote for?

I Pod Shuffel

Here is what you do, get out your I Pod and put it on shuffel. Write down your first 15 songs that come up. This could get embarrasing for me. For those of you who have seen this on my mypace account. It will be different.

1.Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf. Classic
2.Break on Through by The Doors
3.American Woman. Great Song
4.Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi. Whats not to Like about this song
5. Lump by The Presidents of The United States. Wow this takes me to high school
6. Neverending by David Crowder Band.
7.Bowling Ball by Superchick. Kind of reminds me of Before He Cheats
8.WooHoo by Newsboys
9. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson. Dispite the kind of guy he is, what a great song writer
10. We are The Pirates who Dont do anything by Veggie Tales. Remember I do have a daughter. But this might be my favorite Veggie Tale Song
11. It is You by Newsboys
12. U Can't Tough This By MC Hammer. Takes me back to middle school. Makes me feel old
13.Jesus Is Just Alright by DC Talk. Easily one of my favorite songs.
14. She Is by the Fray. I love this group
15. Higher by Creede

There you go. Try it. Can be fun.