Author: Wick

Amid all the business, and enjoying my daughters and my wife…I’ve been able to watch a few minutes of the news as well. Here are a few opinions….u’ll either ignore, agree, or disagree with. 🙂 But I figured….ranting is what blogs are for, right?

1. Our Governor and State government is planning on assisting NIU with recovering from the tragedy that occurred a couple weeks ago. I don’t want to sound insensitive…but tearing down a structure that’s obviously still usable, and giving $40 Million Dollars in State Assistance to construct a building that will no doubt be way too ornate seems a bit over the top. I can understand a memorial, and offering counseling to families and students, and changing security measures, etc…..but a $40 Million building??? I thought that was for rich private Universities who are trying to show how much God has blessed them? There are many other necessary State projects that could use that funding, that will probably be set aside. If we tear down every building a shooting occurs in or near…the years ahead could be expensive. Let’s set a precedence of healing people, not million dollar structure renovations. Still, if I was a student or family member close to someone who had been shot….would I want to see the Hall torn down? Yeah…probably. But a flashy new building would remind me just as much, what had occurred there.

2. The State of Illinois is trying to lower the voting age to 17. The article linked explains it better. But it doesn’t sound like they’re actually researching people who work with 17 year-olds on a regular basis. Sounds like politicians racing to be “the first”, or “the hippest” state. I’m not even sure most 26 year olds should be allowed to decide the future these days. I think there are a few 18 and 17 year olds who stand out in a crowd…but overall, I think at 18, the voting age is already allowing plenty of people who are swayed by commercials and appearances on talk shows. We don’t need Nickelodeon adding to the 20+ debates we’ve had to endure already this political season. Let’s work on educating our youth, and getting the average American more involved in how our world happens.

3. The economy. Oh man, if you’re watching the financial portions of most news shows, you’ve heard about the people who are panicking, not panicking, and just talking about the status of our economy. What’s the answer? Somehow “boost” the economy? Pass out checks to everyone, hoping the “dimwitted” general public will simply pour the dollars back into stuff they don’t need? (they’ll probably buy from overseas anyways) Cut the Federal rate, so that it’s easier for us to buy stuff we don’t need, with money we don’t have? If ever we’ve had an illustration that the “buy more” mentality has infected us…..it’s now. Seriously friends…don’t wait until Christmas this year to give to charities, and talk about spending less money on stuff you don’t need. Our world needs us to change our lifestyles….now. (and buy some canned foods, just in case…hehe)

Those are just a few things my mind can throw up onto my blog right now. Hopefully they make sense….they do in my head.

Also, if you live in the Decatur area….please get online and fill out our city’s new survey...get involved in your neighborhood!!!!

So have I mentioned my church rocks? They’ve given me 2 weeks paternity leave, so I can be at home helping my wife assimilate to a 2-child home, and loving on my 3 favorite females. It’s stinkin’ awesome. Literally, stinking, sometimes.

Sophie is still too young for us to make her face much publicity outside the home, so she and Sarah pretty much stay indoors. I try to let Sarah get out a few minutes here and there….but since we’re not using bottles at all….well, it can’t happen much.

But Addie needs fresh air….so I get to take her out on errands, like Wal-mart, or Kroger, or running around a bit. We’ve gone to the mall a few times too, and made some great discoveries!

1. The Mall ROCKS for an 18-month old between 9am and 11am. (the stores open at 10am, but it’s still relatively quiet). Imagine a hundred surrogate grandparents, all smiling, and sometimes offering to buy you a cookie, just cause you waved at them and smiled!! Mall walkers are AWESOME!!! (make sure you walk the opposite way with your child, this increases the amount of smiles she gives)

2. This is also the PERFECT time to play on the playland at the mall. Maybe one other kid…but usually completely empty. Time to explore safely, and when there is another, they can be social without having to dodge the 4 year olds.

3. Umbrella strollers need to be just 2 inches taller. No excitement there, just a shout out to the stroller companies. My back hurts.

4. Window displays are boring. C’mon stores, let’s work on this. When the doors are all closed, give us a reason to come back when they’re open. Don’t just throw some products up there, and figure that will do it.

So let’s see…home is going great. My wife is awesome. Sophie is SO MUCH SMALLER than Addison ever was. This is realized even more when you try and change her diaper….she has no butt. It just goes from tiny little leg….to the back. Even so, those tiny little legs pack just as much strength as I remember Addie havin’.
Other updates…hmm. Lent is going well. No books or movies, although I added another clause: If it’s a movie I would never want to watch (a.k.a. a girly movie my wife really wants to see), I’m allowed to watch it with Sarah. We need that time relaxing together, and she didn’t give up movies. I figured it’s okay, since I’m reading books with Addie.

The Redwings have had a rough month, and have several injuries right now. They need to get McCarty back into shape, and a couple back from DTD status. Playoffs aren’t too far away!

God is good. Doing some more writing for CREDO magazine, and very greatful for the experience/development of that hobby that they’re offering me.

Thanks to my INCREDIBLE youth workers/parents and church staff/volunteers for covering for me…..I miss all you guys….and to the teens…..we’re praying for you, and miss you too! I pray that I’m being faithful to the time I’ve been given to focus on family. (no Dobson pun intended)