The Weight of Glory

Changing Blogs

2010-04-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

Due to technical problems at the Hagey house, I'm switching my blog over to another site. I'll have the new blog be more thoughts and less family stuff, since Rese has that covered. Feel free to check it out, but I can't promise anything earth shattering. I'm planning on copying a few posts from here over to there to save them, so sorry for any duplicates you see over there.
http://seanhagey.wordpress.com/
Grace and Peace, Sean

Happy 10 Months, Sweetheart.

2010-01-14T06:19:00.001-08:00

The Heart

2009-12-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Its been a long time since I blogged, thought I'd catch up starting with a C.S. Lewis quote.
Regarding the heart: " If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."
I've been reading a book about marriage (I thought I wrote the book on marriage, but apparently I'm mistaken) and though the quote above is used in it, it really refers to all relationships. Yes, you can avoid painful relationships by basically becoming a hermit, but to truly live you have to give your heart away. It will get broken, no doubt, so it will not be easy. There will be disappointments, disillusionment and unmet expectations. People will take advantage of you, turn on you and just plain suck the life right out of you.
For me, it was definitely "worth the risk". Though we don't have the perfect marriage, Theresa completes and compliments me more than I can begin to describe. I am so blessed to be married to such a loving and compassionate woman. She is an excellent mother and housekeeper, and somehow still manages to make time for me. She has so many demands on her time from so many people and is far more gracious than I could ever be.
Living in community has its share of thorns, but the rewards are far greater. Here's to a renewed effort on my part to continue to love, and to shun the desire to be selfish and hide my heart away.
Grace and Peace, Sean

Sean's Recommended Podcast

2009-10-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

If you are a podcast person, you should really check out "This American Life". It has been on the radio (NPR) for some time now and even a show on HBO. They just recently did a couple segments on the health care industry that were very informative. Here's the link to their archived podcasts if you are interested.
Unfortunately most people have taken strong sides on this issue without even looking at what's going on. It is way more complicated than most realize. I'll leave it at that. Blessings to you all.
Sean

Definitely a happy birthday for me...

2009-10-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

Pet Peeves

2009-09-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

So, one of these happened to me today, and I wanted to see if I could get some input on if some of these are universal. Here are my all-time pet peeves, to be edited later I'm sure, as I remember them after I post this.
1. I don't know why, but I absolutely cannot stand local t.v. commercials. I could never understand how someone would buy the legal defense of "temporary insanity" until I saw the Sioux City variety.
2. The guy/gal with the oversized truck or hummer who slows down to like 5mph to go over the railroad tracks. Yeah, gotta be careful with those vehicles, they're fragile.
3. Another car one. The dude who pulls out in front of you and then proceeds to drive 5-10 mph under the speed limit. Hey speedy, where's the fire?
4. Lawn care, in general. People who spend all day working on their lawn, in specific.
5. Being late. I'm not so picky about others, but I hate to be late myself.
6. From my days working at the evil empire: Parents who don't have any consistency at all with their children. "No you can't have it. No... Okay, which one do you want?" Way to set yourself up for failure later, dude.
7. Wet socks. Specifically, stepping in something wet when I'm wearing socks.
8. That one rogue mustache hair that tickles my nose till I go crazy.
9. The neighbor's dog, barking when Belle is taking a nap.
10. Backsplash. If this is one of yours, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Let me know if any of these resonate. Theresa gets much credit for jogging my memory and getting me riled up about a few of these.

Paramedic or Policeman?

2009-08-12T18:13:00.001-07:00

A long time ago I heard a pastor speak on this topic, and it has stuck with me ever since. His message was this - are we generally paramedics or policemen? A paramedic's job is to arrive on the scene and help whoever is hurting. A policeman arrives on the scene and his/her job is to assess who is in the wrong.
I think its fair to say that you either are one or the other. I'll own up to usually having the mindset of the latter. I think most guys are like this, we are "fixers". When we see something bad or an accident happen, we're quick to say how to fix it or how it could have been avoided. I've thankfully gotten better over the years at holding my tongue more and just loving more. It is a goal of mine to become more of the first, God willing.
Anywho, you get the point without me elaborating. Just some of my thoughts of late.

WWJD?

2009-08-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

Had a random bit of free time (almost forgot what that was like) and thought I'd update the blog with some thoughts of late. It will surely be ramblings, but who really reads this?
WWJD is the most outworn cliche in all of Christianity. And yet I don't think many have ever really asked themselves this question. Maybe because the answer would scare the crap out of them and they're afraid to ask it. Here's a great quote by Rich Mullins:
"Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you’ve done it to me. And this is what I’ve come to think. That if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my Savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they’re just wrong. They’re not bad, they’re just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken."
I wonder who Jesus would hang out with today. He was accused of hanging out with "the sinners" and that He would even have dinner with them. He associated with the outcasts in society. In those days it was fishermen, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Do we really think that Jesus would be all that impressed with us today? He never cared about wealth, power, what degree you had, or what you could offer Him.
It is a sad irony that Christians are some of the most arrogant and unloving people I have ever been around. Very quick to point out other's shortcomings, but unable to look in the mirror. Oftentimes they are more concerned about their political party than the mission of the cross, which is why I'm very conflicted about Christians in politics. I really don't think politics is the way to spread a faith or morality. People don't essentially change just because a law does. Making segregation illegal didn't rid the US of racism. A heart change has to happen. And unless Christians are willing to show love, we shouldn't expect anyone to want to join us.
I'll leave this open ended. Grace and Peace.

Thoughts on Pain

2009-07-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

My job almost exclusively deals with pain. There are exceptions of course, but most people that walk through those clinic doors are dealing with some type of nagging physical pain. I often use the analogy that pain is our own built-in "check engine light" to alert us that something's wrong. We naturally hate pain and seek to avoid it at all costs, but it serves a purpose. Physical pain stops us in our tracks and focuses us to take notice and address the problem. Many like to take meds to deal with the symptoms and only come to our clinic as a last ditch effort if that doesn't help.
There is a borderline epidemic going on in regards to the over medicating of society. Somehow pain has, wrongly in my opinion, come to be seen as an evil thing that can and should be solved by meds. Anyone reading this knows that this can be overdone in both ends of the spectrum, so I feel that I need to make that point clear.
I think a lot of parallels can be made with how we deal with both physical and emotional pain. I guess I'm thinking of the movie "Garden State" and especially the ending scene between the main character and his father. We run from emotional conflict and pain and seek to rid ourselves of it instead of dealing with it.
The beautiful thing about Christ is that he has redeemed pain, turned it on its head, so that we can see it for what it is. Pain can teach us a lot about ourselves, our world, and our God. Pain makes us human, in a very strange sort of way, and allows us to be able to have sympathy and compassion for others.
Just some random thoughts I thought I'd throw down. Unfinished and unpolished, as usual.

First Father's Day/Belle's Dedication

2009-06-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Remembering Uncle Ty

2009-06-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, and sometimes it punches you in the face. These last few days have definitely been the latter. Some things just don't make sense in this life. Sometimes there are no good answers, or even words. Like I implied in my last post, grief is a weird thing. We all handle it differently, and yet the same. I can say that I'm still in shock today. Definitely a little angry, confused, sad... I don't think I'll be done processing this for quite some time.
Today was the first funeral, a community funeral. Tomorrow is for the family. My prayer is for some little bit of closure and peace for the family during this awful thing we're going through. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Thoughts on Grandma

2009-04-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

We were in George, IA to visit the relatives this weekend. I had the chance to see my Grandma on my mom's side. She has been diagnosed with Parkinson's for quite some time now, over a decade at least. These last couple years, that has been the least of her problems as Alzheimer's has begun to take over her mind. This time was the first time that she has been unable to recognize me, even with reminders. These two diseases are just about at opposite spectrum as to their effects, one imprisons a healthy mind in a debilitated body, the other leaves a body with a mind stripped of almost everything we cherish in being human.
Its really hard to accept that I won't get back "Grandma" as I remember her. It's silly, but I began to sing a song next to her, something we had sung together all my life, when I finally came to the realization that from now on I would be singing it alone. I knew that it was inevitable, but it doesn't make my heart any less sad.
Lots of her personality still shines through. She's still a nervous busy-body and quite the talker. She still fusses about her appearance. But when I asked her about her son-in-law, my uncle, who comes and visits her very frequently for tea, she didn't know what I was talking about.
It's a strange thing to grieve for those still living. It makes me wonder about her soul, that sweet and nurturing spirit that made so many love her. It's times like these that I don't have any real answers, but maybe I don't need them either. She truly seems at peace. She's got her doll, Mary, that she "babysits", and her physical needs are met. Maybe all I'm grieving for are memories, and that seems selfish, but it is grief nonetheless.
I'll leave this unfinished, as I don't have the stamina to keep going. Maybe I'll pick this up later on down the road.

Road Trip!

2009-04-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hello all, Theresa here. Just wanted to put an update, and some pictures, on my hubby's blog.
This weekend we took our first road trip with Isabelle to George, Iowa to visit Sean's side of the family. What we expected from Belle didn't come to be - each time she gets into her car seat she has a complete meltdown where nothing can calm her down - not a pacifier, finger, loud music, soft music, toy, talking...there have been random moments where she has shown hope and has gone 10 minutes without crying but, it usually doesn't last long and leaves us wondering if we have the one in a million who hates car rides.

Well, needless to say an hour and a half road trip one way was quite the adventure and we were surprised when Belle slept the whole way to George. All Sean and I could do was sit in silence and raise our eyebrows at eachother as if to say, 'what the heck!?' God answered our prayers.

We had a wonderful time with the Krugers, going to Mikelle soon-to-be-Kruger's bridal shower, and visiting Grandma Vagts. We knew that even if Belle screamed the whole way there, the picture above and below would be worth all the ear-numbing cries. Thankfully though, God poured His grace on us and Belle slept all the way to George and, yes...all the way home!

We're home!!! I'll wake up and just stare at Mommy to make her giggle.

"Didn't think I could do it, huh Mom? Always keeping you on your toes."

Coming Up To Breathe

2009-04-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, time flies with a little one in the house. Thought I'd share a few photos with whomever checks this blog out. Our newest news is that her weight as of this last Monday is 9lbs 1oz! She's packing it on now. The diapers have let us know that she doing her share of eating well.
When you think of us, throw up a prayer for our sleeping situation. Just not a lot of it going around at the Hagey house. It was manageable the first few days, but starts to wear on you after awhile.
Anywho, thanks for the outpouring of love and friendship. It is appreciated more than words can describe.

For My Little Girl

2009-03-07T07:03:00.000-08:00

With fatherhood imminently approaching, I've been reflecting on my own life. I'm sure that though this is just "par for the course" for most parents, it is just finally settling into my scattered brain. Couple that with the unusually strong contemplative mood I've been in recently, and you have a recipe (why do I always spell that word wrong?) for a blog entry.
There's so much emotion going on in me lately. Excitement, anxiousness, awe, fear, confusion (that's normal though), longing, and love. So many ask me on a regular basis, "Are you excited?" I usually just respond "Yes" and move on, because my real answer would be something like this:
I am more anxious and nervous than anything. I honestly have no idea what I'm getting into. I've never done this before, and its thrilling and scary at the same time. There is a little soul that I will be accountable for, and its just sinking in how great a responsibility that is.
The natural pessimist within me is going crazy thinking about all the crap she's going to go through just living in this world, even if Rese and I do things "perfectly". How am I going to be able to shelter her from hate, darkness, evil...boys? And is that even necessary? How do I preform this balancing act of instilling purity and love in her and at the same time expose her to the awfulness that our world can be? How do I protect her from bad friends that will only bring her down? How do I keep her from the disillusionment that I so deeply experienced?
It is incredible that I could be so filled with love for someone I've yet to meet face-to-face. That someone will share my genetic makeup (pray for her!) but have a personality all her own. I want so much for her, but know that there's only so much I can give her. I'm scared to death to let her down and disappoint her.
I want to tell her that the world is her's. To find beauty and truth wherever it is and affirm it. To not run from conflict, suffering and pain, but to understand their roles in growing and shaping us. To understand that there's more to life than a career, money, or status. To know that true love really is possible, though it doesn't come easy. To embrace humanity in all its ugliness, not for what it is, but what it can be.
That's a good summary of my thoughts as of late. I'll leave it at that for now. To be continued...

Recent Thoughts

2009-02-21T20:09:00.000-08:00

As a person who has been raised in the "Modern World", I've been taught that the unknowable is a thing to be conquered. Its a thing to be pulled apart and dissected to its basic elements. My mind naturally works this way. I'm conditioned to think that if something is unsettled, that's a bad thing.
I'm discovering that faith is, in a lot of ways, at odds with this way of thinking. Theology, and Christianity in general, has been appealing to me for quite some time. Looking back, its original appeal was more concerning discussions that I look back on as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Theology was more comparable to math for me. Something to be reasoned out into categories and formulas, very black and white, analytical and concrete, systematic and debatable...you get the idea.
But now I'm slowly encountering a different form of Theology, more comparable to poetry, a dance of sorts. Being part of the discussion/conversation as opposed to a debate/lecture. I'm learning to appreciate and even enjoy the gray (not just in my hair), the abstract and indivisible. A Theology that is alive and growing and growing, as opposed to something to be conquered and analyzed. More mystical than a jazz solo...something you can't think, you just have to feel.
I never in my life have liked poetry, and I even went through a time where I wrote quite a bit. Poets never made sense to me - hippies, unsettled and unstable spirits trying to "get in touch" with who knows what. But something in my analytical, sterilized mind has started to brew. We'll see what happens...

A Reminder That Its All Worth It

2009-02-03T17:57:00.000-08:00

I had a great reminder today of why I need to get up every day. A former patient that I had worked almost exclusively with came in to say hello again and to say "thanks".
It was great to see that he was doing well. It was humbling to think that I had anything to do with him getting to where he wanted to be. I feel so blessed to be in a profession where I get to work with people one-on-one and be an encourager in their lives.
That's all. Just wanted to challenge anyone reading this to look for those moments in their life where it all really comes together. To realize that there's more to life than a paycheck or just working for the weekend. To really capture each moment and see the bigger perspective.
Blessings, Sean

Ice Cream Update

2009-01-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

Just wanted anyone who reads this to know that the Hagey household has started eating ice cream again! Yes indeed, it may have been some 30 weeks, but we're back on track. We've made a couple "Frosty" runs, and even have a half gallon of mint chip in the freezer. No so good for my sympathy weight gain, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thank you all for your letters and cards of condolences during this time. I'd still be in ice cream detox right now if it wasn't for all of your love and support. The staff at "Wells Blue Bunny Recovery" was very good at getting your correspondence to me in a timely manner between my treatments and group therapy.
Thanks again, Sean

Quote(s) of the Bi-Month

2009-01-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'm a quote junkie. I thought I'd share a few that are more thought provoking.

No man, for any considerable time, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself. - Leo Tolstoy

In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place. - Gandhi

It is a hard time to be a true individual. Everyone claims they love individuals, but only so long as they generally conform to the norm. To be a true person of character, to live with integrity and a clean conscience, to stand up for what's right...this is to be a true individual and a revolutionary. Could we all be so courageous.

Free Medical Advice For The Holidays

2008-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here's the disclaimer: you often get what you pay for, and this is only meant to be informative, not to take the place of your actual physician. That's for our sue-happy world. The info is for the rest.
1. Diets always fail. They're made to fail. They have the built-in assumption that at sometime it will come to an end. They are usually unsustainable for any reasonable amount of time.
2. Your metabolism slows as you get older. All things staying the same (physical activity level, eating habits) you can expect to gain a pound for each year after 40. So, that's why you start to pack on the pounds unexpectedly, even if you're keeping everything constant.
3. Fast foods and/or quickly prepared foods often have a lot of extra fat and calories in them. If it touches the grease, you're just about guaranteed an extra 10 grams of fat, and the same goes for mayo.

Here's what I suggest as someone who works in the medical field:
1. Make lifestyle changes, instead of dieting, by eating smaller portions. Share a meal at a restaurant. Stop eating before you get full, as it can take 20 minutes to relay from your stomach to your head that you've had enough.
2. Plan your meals ahead to avoid cheeseburger meltdowns. Don't have unhealthy snacks around to turn to during craving time, instead have things like trail mix or other things with enough protein to hold you over. Strawberries have a surprisingly low amount of sugar for a fun treat, just hold on that cool whip if possible.
3. Cook with alternatives whenever possible. You can use applesauce cup for cup instead of oil in baking recipes to cut out a lot of fat, but not flavor. Use spices for seasoning, as they bring no added calories like butter and sugar do.

That's it for now. Hope this will be of some help to y'all through the holiday season. Good luck.

Gambler Chocolates

2008-12-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I stole this from one of my favorite comedians, but I'll use it anyway. One of my fellow employees brought gambler chocolates to work this week. Gambler chocolates are the ones that have absolutely no rhyme or reason to their arraignment. It really is worse than gambling, generally speaking, as with gambling you actually win sometimes. Well, I took my turn at the Russian Roulette of desserts, and was successful this time. I managed to avoid the one with baking soda in it. I'll call it a year as you just can't push your luck too far. You're bound to eventually get the one with the toothpaste in it...just wanted to warn you.

Christmas Music

2008-12-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

I was under the false impression that this would be the year I could finally escape Christmas music. Not to be, I guess. The ladies at the clinic I work at absolutely have to have the stuff on all the time. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't been bombarded with it the last five years of working retail. So, for those of you who don't know my thoughts on this issue, here it is.
My theory is that there are only around 14 real Christmas songs. That is the real problem. This leads to everyone from Kenny G to Elvis coming out with their Christmas CD of the same 14 songs. The 14 songs lead to an amazing 1,402,965 different versions of such redundant songs as "This Christmas" and "What Child Is This?" That is what drives me crazy about the whole situation. Its all the same, over and over and over and over. For some four weeks straight I'll have to hear "O Holy Night" at least 5 times a day! I couldn't stand that if it was my favorite band (DMB) or favorite songs, let alone having to be subjected to everyone from the Hanson Brothers to the Billy Bob Trio (a made up group, if you were wondering) sing those same songs.
I'm currently doing my best to maintain harmony at my workplace. We've struck a deal that a few times during the day I am allowed to change the station to "Oldies" while I regain my sanity. That has helped quite a bit. There, I've made my peace on the issue.

Quote of the Week

2008-12-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.
- Samuel Johnson

Kinda fits in with my thoughts as of late. I think the application could be made for faith as well. If Christianity is about anything, it is about love and compassion to those who "don't deserve it" or have nothing to offer you back. That's my main complaint about "suburban" Christianity, that it caters to the crowd that "has" and spends all its money on buildings instead of helping the hurting.

The Commercialization of Life

2008-11-28T16:18:00.000-08:00

I know that everyone talks about how Christmas, or the holiday season, is just about pushing merchandise. I've had a lot of patients talk about how Thanksgiving is "overlooked". The best reason I've heard is that Turkey day just doesn't sell. Makes sense, if you think about it for a minute.
I've been paying attention lately, and it seems like people and things are only worth how much they can be marketed. That holiday, that celebrity, that thing...the mass market machine that America has become squeezes every last drop (or cent) it can get, and then throws it away for the next thing. Before I get too critical and blame all of this on "the man" and Wal-Mart, I find that I do just this same thing on an all-too-regular basis. I'll keep my thoughts in the first person, but I think we all can relate.
I have an awful habit of looking at situations, things, and (ashamedly so) people as what they can do for me. I am not by nature a person who genuinely loves others. I (without fail) look out for my best interests, even when those interest are not in jeopardy. Not that I'm going to blame this on society, as everyone still has a free will to make their own choices, but it just seems to be a common theme among Americans.
I'm hoping to make more than just a New Years resolution to enjoy life. To not always be looking for more. To look for opportunities to bless others, especially when they can't return the favor. To be content. To be at peace in the midst of it all.

Pet Peeves

2008-11-25T16:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to relay to y'all my pet peeve of the moment. It seems to have been happening more frequently at work, and it has been driving me crazy (crazy? I was crazy once....sorry, couldn't help it). I have to fill out charts as part of my daily routine. That doesn't bother me at all. What does is the current trend of my pen failing me. No, not just that, but how it continues to find it's way back to me so that I can once again be frustrated. It is almost as if there is one specific pen that doesn't work, and somehow it keeps getting back in the pen jar.
Yeah, I know what you'll say, "Sean, throw the thing away!"
Sure, that makes sense, but you must realize by now that I don't think that way. I'm the vacuum guy who will go over the same crumb continuously until it is sucked up or I give up. I refuse to use the huge amount of time necessary to just bend over and pick it up by hand.
Back to the matter at hand. Just wondering if anyone else has such tribulation at their workplaces. I'm very near declaring all out war on that pen (and all its relatives) and lighting it on fire the next time it finds me. I don't care if it sets off the fire alarm.
Whew, thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

The Iowa Smoking Ban and Other Topics

2008-11-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Iowa smoking ban has been in effect for some five months now and is not short on controversy. Here are my thoughts. I'd like to know what you all think.
I can see both sides of the issue. I'm an asthmatic, I can't stand smoke. It has been a pain in the butt to go to restaurants and get bombarded with the awful smell, and how it effects my lungs. Another point of note is that the health effects are obvious if you have been paying attention. I see lots of folks in clinic who are suffering the effects of a long life of smoking. It really is a sad situation.
But the side I'm going to take may surprise you. I'll try not to get too philosophical or political about this, but I think you'll see where you can take this argument. I think this issue is a slippery slope.
Here's an illustration of what I mean. Lots of people seem to forget Prohibition. Just to make my viewpoint clear, I'm against alcohol. I've personally seen the effects it has and what it does to many families. But even I don't think it would be a good idea to make it illegal. People have the right to make their own decisions regarding what they want to support or put in their bodies. When the gov't gets involved in things like this, they usually overstep their bounds.
You may not think that comparison is valid. Here's my real beef with the issue. If the gov't is going to allow the substance to be legal, they should allow restaurant owners to make their own decision about how they want to run their businesses. That is what America and capitalism is all about.
I think this kind of law could fall under the whole "legislating morality" banner. I think it is dangerous ground and once you allow the gov't to decide what they will or won't allow, that is a floodgate that is hard to close again. Because next time, the gov't might not be on your side.
Thoughts? I'm by no means an expert, just someone with concerns.

Considerable Upgrade

2008-11-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally did it. We've upgraded our computer before, but we've held onto the free monitor that we inherited from my Pops when he upgraded a long time ago. This monitor weighed roughly the same as your average refrigerator. It is a good thing we made the change, as our home's foundation was starting to shift. Thought you'd enjoy the contrast in the picture above. And, as a bonus, you get the wonderful, classic Sean-look accompanying it. It is actually a kind of creepy look, so ask any small children in your presence to leave.
Thanks Rese, you spoil me.

Baby Hagey Update

2008-10-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hey there. Just wanted to let you all know we've set up a Youtube account for the baby.
We're waiting on publicly telling the gender until we've had the chance to speak to our family, but rest assured the info is coming. Thanks for all the love and prayers.

Last Political Post, I Promise...

2008-10-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Just my two cents, take it or leave it.
I'm encouraging everyone to vote. But, I'm encouraging them to vote "Third Party". Think of it as a vote of protest, a vote as "none of the above", or whatever. Do yourself a favor and check out the other candidates out there. A lot of you Republicans might just be surprised how Libertarian you really are. Some of you Democrats would be surprised how much you agree with Ralph Nader.
Don't think of it as a wasted vote. Voting for the lesser of two evils is like trying to pick a winner. Voting third party is letting them know that you want more and better options.
As a side note, I have patients tell me very frequently how they are moderates in many issues. They feel like the two parties are becoming more and more polarizing and that they aren't looking out for the majority's best interest. I've met very few people who are truly down the line one way or the other.
Just wanted to let you all know that you don't have to throw your vote away for one of the two main parties. There are more options. Just my two cents.

Bitterness

2008-10-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

"Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
I don't know if I stole this quote from someone, or if I somehow came up with it myself. Almost certainly the former. If that is so, I apologize for not giving them the credit. If the latter, I might have just come up with the coolest quote ever. Cool not in the "Wow that's awesome" sense, but hopefully thought provoking and insightful.
I really learned what this quote meant at a very special and critical time in my life. A turning point, if you will. I had held on to bitterness for a long, long time and though I thought I had it under control, it was really limiting my emotional and spiritual growth. It was like a messed up pet that I had that I could bring out to entertain and haunt myself. It sounds ridiculous now as I look back on it, but I have found that this experience is all too common.
Lets try and cut a two hour lecture down to a handful of sentences. For one, bitterness and hate will do nothing positive for you in the long run. A good motivator, yes, but will only leave you empty at the end. Drop it like the book bag of bricks that it is and you will find freedom so rich that you might as well be able to fly. Like the quote points out, bitterness doesn't change the situation, it only destroys you. You can't change the person or situation, but you can control how you think about it. Don't hang on, let it go.
I could go on, but I think you catch the drift. Goodnight all.

A Little Contemplative Today...

2008-10-16T17:28:00.001-07:00

I took a walk over lunch today and had some good think time. So, here's my philosophical musing for the the day. A rambling if you will.
I was thinking about one of my patients, and my mind went on a tangent about the idea of contentment. I remember Rese telling me that one of the biggest struggles for many women during marriage is discontentment. Then I thought for a little while about what guys deal with in that regard, and the best I could come up with today is their career. But the problem is much greater than those two areas. I think it comes down to a human problem. We're just discontent creatures by nature. It is what makes us visionaries and ambitious, but also can be very destructive in our lives. And that is what I want to spend a moment on tonight.
I think that discontentment has become largely an American problem. Our society is built on instant gratification and materialism. Our economy is basically surviving on those who just have to have the next new thing. You aren't happy with your current situation? Just find something new! That's the temptation for all of us to deal with, large issue or small. We often lack the vision though to see what those decisions will bring us long-term. Our country's economic situation is just one example.
I also think that discontentment has a strong tie to happiness. I frequently meet genuinely happy people, and though they might have rough times in life, they are able to be content with themselves and their situation. Don't mistake me. I'm not talking about complacence, but staying away from that deep desire to always look for something better.
Lastly, I think you are more likely to become discontent when you let your circumstances define you. So many people place their identities in their career, hobbies, etc. When that changes, what do you have left? All that to say my final thought - Let something greater than yourself define you and you will survive the harshest storms in life. Build your life on a foundation that will stand firm even when the world falls around you.
Stream of consciousness, yes, but I hope you follow me. Good night friends.

Great Theresa Quote

2008-10-11T20:08:00.001-07:00

I have to set this one up, otherwise you just won't get the full effect. And I have the feeling that you possibly just had to be there, but its worth a try anyway.
The setting is that we were on our way home today from a family function. Rese has been doing well lately with the pregnancy, but she still gets overstimulated at times - along with hunger, bladder, sleeping, and those other issues that go along with being preggo. We had been driving for a little bit when I squeezed her hand and said, "How ya doing babe?"
She, very casually and without hesitation, replies, "In what way, I'm multifaceted."
I hope you can know Rese and I well enough to know how hard I laughed for the next couple minutes. She's right, you surely know. It is just that she said it "off the cuff", and her tone was very mellow. Just now I'm realizing that this might just not seem all that funny to you. Maybe that's a sign that I need to go to bed. But the flip side is that this is also when I happen to be at my creative peak. So, you can see the situation I'm in...yeah, I probably should just call it a night. Thanks for humoring me.
That's all for now. Goodnight!

Innovation?

2008-10-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

Just as I was drifting off to sleep the other night I remembered something from 6 years ago that caused me to laugh for a good few minutes. Here's the premise: Pocket protectors are vastly underutilized.
I'll explain with a story. Back during that year or so that I lived in SoCal, I took a trip with some students to minister to the homeless in Vegas. Now, you may or not know, but homeless people are the most upfront group of people that you'll ever met. Sure they can be living for the next high, or come from some horrible past, but they are very genuine (once they realize they aren't getting any money from you). Two guys in particular come up frequently in my memory, but this story hadn't until just the other night.
They told me of how they swindle the casino's buffets. One will line his pockets with plastic bags, and the other will make a huge scene. While the "loud one" is being attended to, the other one will make a haul on whatever he can fill his pockets with. Then, after they get kicked out or run out, they go hide and eat the spoils of their victory. I thought it was very innovative, and obviously funny too.
All that to say I believe pocket protectors could serve a new purpose. Unintended perhaps, but definitely greater than its original intention. How cool would it be to be working at your desk and to reach in and pull out a couple hot wings from your suit pocket?! Very cool. Let that imagination run wild, my friends. Just give me the credit when someone gives you the thumbs up for those tots in your shirt pocket.

Free Time?

2008-10-02T18:29:00.001-07:00

Now that I'm in the full swing of my new job, something has come up that was expected but unplanned for. We now have free time. Well, until the baby comes and things drastically change. But that aside, Rese and I have had a couple weekends where we had nothing planned and found ourselves looking at each other wondering, "What are we going to do today?"
Basically one of us has been in school over the course of our 5 years of marriage. Most of that time I worked in retail and almost always worked every Saturday, and many nights. Now that we have discovered this thing that you all know about, give us some ideas. Obviously, with the pregnancy, things that we love like hiking and biking are out. But it has been very odd to be longing for this opportunity, only to be somewhat perplexed with how to use it. I'm sure some of you can relate to some extent.
Right now with the pregnancy we've been on a movie kick. If you haven't checked out Netflix yet, and are a big movie fan, you're really missing out. Check it out at www.netflix.com
Maybe I'll just have to finally trade in my young man card and take up bowling or something. But, I'm going to hold out as long as I can.

Ice Cream Anyone?

2008-09-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

One of the things I was really looking forward to during "our" pregnancy is the consumption of copious amounts of ice cream. Theresa has always been an ice cream fan, so I had no reason not to expect that attraction to increase with her increasing size. Doesn't that just make sense: increased waistline = increased ice cream consumption.
So, I found myself in an awkward situation recently. I had been asking my lovely bride over the last several grocery store visits if she'd like me to pick up some ice cream. She has consistently declined.
I started getting worried sometime last week. I lied to myself that she was still dealing with the nausea and that milk was probably something she was avoiding. But, over the last few weeks she has drank more milk than she did all of last year. I thought to myself, "She'll come around, her tastes are still evolving".
All that to say there was the weirdest sight last week - Me buying a half gallon of Breyer's for myself and eating it on the couch next to my pregnant wife! I'm just about to lose hope. Yes, I can hear your thoughts, "But Sean, you can still eat ice cream even if Theresa doesn't." To that I must reply that I'm a social ice cream eater. I will on occasion jump into some mint chip all by my lonesome, but that is the exception to the rule. I don't want to slide down that slippery slope where you start that and suddenly are hiding it from your family and it begins to effect your work...waking up in the morning just fantasizing about when you can get that next scoop of Bunny Tracks.
Well, this is starting to become an episode of Seinfeld really quick, so I'll end it right here. Hopefully you can have some empathy for me.

I passed!!!!

2008-09-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, the turnaround time was amazing. So, shout out to the wonderful state of Iowa for that. That was a very large weight off my shoulders. It has been fairly stressful up till this point.
So, the good news is that my wages go up considerably and we can clear up some debt before the baby arrives. Thank you all for your encouragement during this time.
So, if you're in need of physical therapy and just happen to be on the east side of Sioux City, look us up!

$700 Billion More Wasted

2008-09-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry to delve into politics so much, but thought I should pass along a little info I recently discovered. There are so many in Washington D.C. that have no interest in serving the people they represent. Now the government (specifically the Secretary of the Treasury) wants a blank check to bail out failing/faltering financial institutions. And to top it all off, they want it with no accountability or oversight at all! We all know what great stewards the government is of our taxes and social security, so we can all be assured that they won't waste one cent of that $700 billion they're asking for (hope you sensed the sarcasm there).
Here's what really got me riled up. The recent bail out of Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac was bad enough. Then I found out that those institutions have given a ton of money to candidate's campaigns. (Better to invest in politics than sound banking, I guess) Who tops the list? Chris Dodd, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee. The same guy who is pushing so hard for the $700 billion bail-out also. Sure, no conflict of interest there. If you don't believe me, check it out. Here's the link - http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.html
This is only the tip of the iceburg of messed up stuff that goes down in D.C. And don't be fooled, it goes both ways. Enough of the rant. Have a good day.

Edit: And no sooner than I post this and Dodd is on capital hill today saying we need to not write a "blank check for this", when he was urging its passing just this weekend.

Test Time!

2008-09-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

The big day is finally near. It is one of those things where you just can't wait for it to get here. Then, as soon as it is nearing, you wish you just had more time as you don't think you're ready. I'm assuming that's what the situation will be like with the upcoming baby.
The test is scheduled for noon on Wednesday. It is supposedly a four hour test, but I'm guessing I'll only use 2 1/2 or so. Apparently the turnaround time for results is substantially quicker than it used to be. So hopefully we'll get word the first week of October. You'll hear it here first. Might just drive down to K.C. to get some Arthur Bryant's to celebrate.
So, if y'all think of me, shoot up a flare. I'd sure appreciate it.

I've always wondered...

2008-09-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Now, this will be a weird post, so consider yourself warned.
I don't know why, but oftentimes I'm struck by this thought: "Who was the first person to try this..." It often strikes me regarding food, but isn't limited to that area. For instance, have you ever wondered who was the first person to try cottage cheese? Probably the village idiot. I can just see the scenario...
"Oh crap, I accidentally left the milk out in the sun and it got all lumpy and smelly. Hey, let's see if Sean will eat it." And after that poor man threw up, who thought it would be a good idea to try it again?
I often wonder how many people died trying to find good plants to smoke, or foods to eat, or things to drink, or whatever. Going back to smoking, isn't it against human nature to breathe in smoke in a purposeful manner? When did someone come across the idea, "Hey, we should dry out that plant over there and breathe in the smoke while we burn it"?
How about other less socially acceptable drugs...who thought of the process to make meth? It really doesn't make any sense at all. It is almost like you need to be on meth to come up with the idea for it. Which is an awful lot like the whole chicken-egg theory.
How about the poor soul that was the first surgical patient. He must have been really desperate. Or the probably insane individual who attempted hang gliding, most likely with his bed sheet. Does anyone else ever wonder these things?
Anywho, I really could go on for a long time. But, I'll spare you, just this once. I warned you.

Baby Pics!!!!

2008-09-07T16:14:00.001-07:00

These are ultrasound pics that we got a month ago (almost to the day). This is baby Hagey at 8 weeks old. The next pics will be at least a month from now, as you can't tell gender till about weeks 18-20. The first picture is my favorite. We call it the "gummy bear" pic. Right now, at 12 weeks, baby is 2 inches long and weighs roughly an ounce. About the size of a lime. Due date is March 19, though the lady doing the ultrasound said the baby looked further along than eight weeks. So, lets just say sometime mid-march. At least Rese won't have to go through the toughest part of pregnancy during the summer.

Pregnant?

2008-09-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

If you're reading this, you inevitably know by now that Rese and I are expecting. I have learned to say "we are pregnant", not necessarily because that's what I would normally be inclined to say, but because that's what Rese says. And you should all know by now not to argue with a pregnant woman. Yes, when the woman is pregnant, the man is definitely going through the pains also, at least to some extent.
In all seriousness Rese has been great. Some very intense premature nesting perhaps, but she's been very sweet. The worst part has been a significant change in her some of her behaviors. I tell people that I've spent the last 5-6 years becoming a Theresa expert, only to now be starting again at ground zero. I've pretty much given up on guessing what I can do for her and now just ask her constantly. I'm sure that its annoying, but far better than guessing wrong.
Any advice would of course be appreciated. That's all for now. Good night and go Hawks!

New Job

2008-09-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, thought I should take a second and let you all know that while I'm still waiting to take the licensure exam, I have a job all lined up. In fact, I started there this Tuesday. Just doing tech work for now as insurance companies won't reimburse for non-licensed therapy. But, at least its an opportunity to get out of the retail world immediately and get a running start when I finally get that magical piece of paper.
The clinic is called Sioux City Physical Therapy (SCPT) and is on the east side of town. I had one of my clinical rotations there, and obviously I didn't mess up too much as they offered me a job. They specialize in Postural Restoration, workers comp, aquatic therapy, and pediatrics (the kids are so wonderful, especially the ones with Down Syndrome). Here's the site so you can check it out if you like - http://siouxcitypt.com/ - they're still working on the site, its a fairly new clinic.
Anywho, I'm excited to finally be getting a "real" job, and finally getting weekends and holidays off!

Time to get rid of the land line?

2008-09-03T17:54:00.001-07:00

I have to get something off my chest. I can't stand it when I get home and there are somewhere between three and seven hundred blank messages on our answering machine. I don't know if it is someone that calls a lot and hates to leave messages, or if it is the ever-annoying telemarketer trick. Whatever the case, it annoys me more than anything else, and Rese thinks its weird that it bothers me so much.
Anywho, this leads me to wonder if Rese and I should dump the land line for good. I almost never talk on the phone, (my loved ones can vouch for that) and when I do it seems it is almost always with someone on their cell phone. I held out for soooo long, it almost hurts to admit that it (the cell phone) is really handy.
I'm in a really weird mood, so I'll cut this short before I get too goofy. Let me know your input friends!

Politics: Why can't we all just get along?

2008-08-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have come to the conviction that when faith tries to become a political system, it loses it's true power. It sells the long-term for a short-term gain. And it alienates those who it should be reaching out to.

I didn't realize at the time how lucky Rese and I were four years ago to live in a non "battleground state". We really didn't see all that many political adds, and got very few phone calls. Thankfully we're registered Independents, so we don't really get any phone calls now with the wonderful invention of the "Do Not Call" list.
Here's my problem with the whole situation, and I know some of you will disagree with me. Why does everything have to be so black and white? On all these so called "hot button issues", why can't there be some middle ground? Don't we live in a pluralistic society?
For example: Is it realistic to make all abortions illegal? I don't care what you think, that door has been opened and it'll never be closed. But, on the flip side, why is it that a 16 year old can't get a tattoo without parental permission, but can have a fairly serious medical procedure without parental knowledge? Does it really have to be all or nothing?
Another example: How does it affect the church if the government wants to recognize civil unions for homosexuals? As long as they don't force churches to condone the practice (which they can't legally do), it should have no effect on religious practice. Can't there be some middle ground?
If prohibition taught us anything, it should be that when morality is legislated, people will rebel. If you really care about such things, do something about it. Don't just protest. All that does is spread division, distrust, and even hate.
One last thing for my Christian brothers and sisters: Consider Jesus. Actually love people and try to see where they're coming from. Don't judge them, don't consider them the enemy, don't sell out to a political party for the temptation of power. We have a higher calling, and a greater message.
Enough for now, I hope you see my heart behind all this.

Can I just get it over with already?

2008-08-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Boy, these are trying times. And I thought going through school with a full time job was driving me crazy. I'm all but ready to start the new career, to never again work nights and weekends, to get out from under the "corporate man". One thing is holding me back - the stinking state of Iowa and how slow their Licensure office is! Just send me the letter so I can sit for boards, please! That is going to be stressful enough as it is.
At least I can be more of a help around the house for my bride. She's been very kind at keeping the honey-do list to a minimum. And we get to see friends this weekend, which wouldn't have happened if I was still working retail. So, I shouldn't be so cynical and frustrated, but I am.
Oh, and to all of you out there who will be wanting free massages now that I'm a professional...it stopped being free when I stopped being a student! (some sarcasm there, but also true) I've worked for free all this spring and summer as a student and now I get paid for it. Can't wait.

First Post

2008-08-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Okay folks, here goes nothing. I'm new at this, so bear with me. I hope to be able to post frequently, but nowhere near the pace that my bride does. She's really good with the family updates and pics, so I'll keep the blog to my thoughts and musings, for the most part.
So, I'm going to set the bar low on this one and call it a day. Hello new blog world.