Love is . . .
1970-01-01 00:59:59
It's time for a multiple choice test. Love is:Telling your wife you're moving out three days after your anniversary.Using your child as a tool to dig at your wife during your separation.Blackmailing your wife with threats of fighting for full custody of your child if she does not agree, carte blanche, to your demands in the divorce settlement (including getting the savings account and a mandate on her living in the same area as you).Pressuring your wife to sign and finalize the divorce papers on Valentine's Day.Taking your young child to your new girlfriend's place three days after the papers are signed, while claiming you still have no interest in dating again.(Hint: This is a trick question. There is no right answer; merely the timeline of a close friend's tragic recent history. A friend who needs a great deal of prayer, that she be able to grow past her husband's choices.)Tags: Divorce, Love, Life, Marriage, Prayer
Split Blogging
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Baby LottoWe went in for another baby checkup yesterday. The official due date is March 6th, 11 days from now. Mrs. E is already dilated 2 centimeters, 50% effaced, and Lil'er Euphrony is dropping like a rock. Will she make it, folks? What do you think; take your best guess.Tags: Pregnancy, Poll, LottoDownhere in HoustonThanks to the amicability of the lovely Mrs. Euphrony, and some kind friends who thought it would be nice to watch Lil'E for a few hours to let us relax before D-Day (Delivery Day), Mrs. E and I got to go to the KSBJ Brownbag concert last night - featuring downhere. For those not from the Houston area, KSBJ (the monolithic local CCM radio station) hosts a monthly mini-concert, sponsored by and located at a Chick-fil-A®. And since downhere is a Canadian band, they don't get, well, down here very often. I've liked their music since their first self-titled album came out in 2001.Let me set the mood for this concert. First, this was at a Chick-fil-A inside a mall, so t
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He's on his way!
1970-01-01 00:59:59
More news to come, but Lil'er E is on his way!
Lil'er Euphrony is here!
1970-01-01 00:59:59
It wasn't easy. It never is, really. But our son is here! Mrs. Euphrony
started having serious pre-labor Friday night, with contractions at night every 5-8 minutes (harder when she was laying down) and during the day every 15-30 minutes. With such nightly fun, and having a three year old jumping with energy during the day, Mrs. E got very little sleep over the weekend. Saturday night and Sunday night were identical, so by Monday we were both exhausted. I stayed home from work to help with Lil' E and we took Mrs. E in to see her midwife for a check-up. Apparently, all that pre-labor was doing something, because she was dilated to a 4. Since she still was not in consistent labor, we went on and saw a chiropractor for a "labor" adjustment (stretching the back and pelvic muscles, relaxing to prepare for labor), after which we went home. By this time, Mrs. E was in steady labor with contractions every 4 minutes, and we called our doula to come and help until we were ready to go in to the
You may address me as "Milord"
2007-03-02 04:45:00
As another addition to the "get to know me" series, here I detail why it is you should all bow in my presence (a simple, respectful, bow - no groveling, please) and address me as "milord".My uncle (mother's brother) has done extensive genealogical research on our family tree, and what he has found is interesting. For example, it would seem that I am a direct descendent, through my mother's father, of Francis Scott Key. That's right, the Francis Scott Key, author of the poem that is sung as the national anthem of the United States of America. This also makes me related to such notables as Dana Key, Christian rocker and one-time head of Ardent Records, F. Scott Fitzgerald (very famous author), Thomas Hunt Morgan (who was awarded the first Nobel prize for genetic research, before Watson and Crick described the DNA molecule), and the American fashion designer and socialite Pauline de Rothschild. I am, of course, too humble to try calling in favors based on these wonderful but distant re
REPORT: Dora gets religion
2007-03-05 18:45:00
SPRING, TX (EP) - Popular children's star and toy, Dora Marquez, better known as Dora the Explorer from her wildly popular series of televised adventures, has apparently had a spiritual experience. Reports indicate that the child icon, while in the midst of play with Little Euphrony, was overcome with the Holy Spirit and gave her life to Jesus. Conflicting stories may arise, as no actual confession of faith was heard from her lips; however, Lil'E assures all that this was entirely Dora's willing decision and was not forced upon her. Lil'E presided over the baptism. To be sure it took, Lil'E accommodated Dora by actually baptizing her twice. Indications are strong that Lil'E also believed Dora's baby brother and sister, twins delivered in a television special in 2005, also desired to be baptized. With issues of infant baptism arising, it was decided that their turn would be delayed until they could speak and decide for themselves.Attempts were made to contact Señora Marquez for
I'm so blue . . .
2007-03-11 00:21:00
I am sick as a dog. I don't have the flu, but I do have one of the flu's kissin' cousins - just about as bad. I ache, I shiver, but I cannot seem to sleep. And so my mind runs amok. Scary. Here's what I have mulled over today.I have discovered, after my last post on Dora the Explorer, that lots of people google for Dora info. These bored googlers have been visiting my sight in droves, wondering why Dora found religion. I've had visitors from New Hampshire, France, Dubai, and Israel. Since Dora is the second most popular Nick character, behind Blue's Clues, I guess that if I blog about both in the same post I could - just possibly - take over the world. (Cue evil laugh and "Pinky and the Brain" theme song.)Since I can do nothing today (except maybe infect my whole family) Mrs. E has taken off with Lil'er E and gone shopping. I sit at home, so bored out of my wits that I am actually watching, nay, enjoying watching this. That's right, it is the ultimate combination of sand sculpt
Confessional: Finding My Voice
2007-03-15 21:00:00
Weekend before last, Mrs. E and I went to see Amazing Grace (with Lil'er E in tow, he slept the whole time). One quote from William Wilberforce, early in the movie, hit home personally to me. Wilberforce, who they say was a good singer in college, is worn down from his constant struggles and says that he has lost his voice and can no longer sing like he once did. This hit me, because I feel much the same way right now.When Little Euphrony was born, I would sing to her constantly to sooth her - singing while I changed diapers, while I rocked her, while I walked with her, all of the time. And the songs I would sing were invariably those I knew best, songs of the church about Christ and God and what they have done for us. Now, with Lil'er E here, I find that the songs do not come. I try to will myself to sing, but the songs and their words seem to elude me. My voice is weak, faltering as I try to sing. Instead of confidence and passion, I find that there is hesitation in my voice. Where
Read more: Confessional
, Voice
Damage (Over)Done
2007-03-19 19:26:00
(My apologies to Shaun Groves for this gross (mis)appropriation of the title of one of his great songs.)I'm no stranger to auto accidents, unfortunately. Add Friday afternoon to the long list of dings my various cars have suffered. I'm not really a bad driver, and most of the accidents are not my fault, but that never makes dealing with them any easier. Especially when it comes to working out insurance disputes. As accidents go, though, this one tops my list for "best overall outcome" (at least, thus far).Here are the details (I'll post a picture later): I was driving home, minding my own business, when approaching a green light I observe an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens entering the intersection from the cross street. Naturally, I slow to a stop and allow the emergency vehicle to pass through the intersection; the person behind me, though, did not see or hear the sirens, did not see my brake lights, and rear-ended me. He was a nice, older gentleman, who was very responsi
Read more: Damage
Music Spotlight: Nate Sallie Ruined for Ordinary
2007-03-23 23:15:00
I discovered the music of Nate Sallie about four years ago, shortly after his debut album Inside Out was released. I liked what I heard then, and have kept tabs looking for follow-up work. It's been four years, and apparently quite a journey, but Nate has now released his sophomore project Ruined for Ordinary, available March 20th on the Curb Records label. From what I've heard thus far, I like this one, too.Here is what Nate has to say about himself and what lead to this album on his website bio:I've been ruined for an ordinary life; ruined for an average existence; ruined for an everyday, run-of-the-mill mundane lifestyle… ruined for business as usual. From the moment I experienced the life-changing power of God's love—an overwhelming flood of mercy, grace, joy and the peace of the Lord that passes all understanding—there was no going back. There would be no returning to good when great had been found.In the fall of 2004 I lost my life. It was the best thing that has ever h
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, Spotlight
My work is trying to kill me
2007-03-23 16:53:00
Or, more accurately, the facilities staff seems to be trying to kill me. You may think me crazy (you may have already thought me crazy), but I'm convinced that it is true. They're out to get me, and there's no stopping this cabal of cleaners. The attack is two-pronged, one blunt and one more subtle. The first, and most obvious, attempt on my life is through insidious use of the A/C system: they're trying to freeze me solid!Now, you may think this delusional paranoia on the part of ol' Euph. To be honest, I thought nothing of it at first. With large buildings, you just have to run the A/C year-round. Even in the winter, there is so much heat generated from people and computers and other items that requires some degree of cooling of the building. So, when it was regularly 55oF at my desk and in my lab, I just figured they were having trouble getting good control of the system. But that was from the winter of 2003: the sub-60 temps are maintained spring, summer, fall, and winter and
Blessed
2007-03-27 18:40:00
Today, our new son turns one month old. Besides being truly blessed with my beautiful wife, this little boy, and his big sister, we have been blessed in many ways this month. Little Euphrony has had no problems so far with having a new baby in the house. She loves him so much; we have more problems trying to get her to give him some space and not smother him than anything else. She wants to hold her little bro, leans over to give him hugs and kisses on the forehead constantly, and wants to help with everything - including changing his diapers. (Hearing her help to sooth Lil'er E during a diaper change by singing "Grace Flows Down" (Christy Nockels) to him absolutely melts my heart.) We worried that she might act out and become jealous of the attention he gets that we once solely lavished on her; this has yet to happen. She may act like a three-year old girl, but that is normal; she loves her brother and seems to understand the needs he has and how mom and dad must respond to him.Our f
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Copper Clappers: Classic
2007-03-29 19:32:00
Alliteration, adroitly applied, always adds amusement amid average activities. Adieu!Tags: Jack Webb, Joe Friday, Johnny Carson, Dragnet, YouTube, Classic
TV, Tonight Show, Alliteration
Read more: Copper
El Guapo
2007-04-02 19:30:00
In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be *the actual* El Guapo!Who or what is your El Guapo?For me, El Guapo is one of two things: french fries or oreos. This is a problem right now, as Sonic has yummy fries and a fudge oreo milkshake.Y-U-MMrs. Euphrony has enticed me: she challenged me to loose ten pounds, with the reward being the above-mentioned oreo shake. The game's afoot!Tags: ¡Three Amigos!, El Guapo, Sonic, Oreos, I'm Getting Fat
So much for spitballs
2007-04-04 16:30:00
Once upon a time, when an elementary or high school classroom was left unattended by a teacher for a few minutes, a few crazy things would happen. When the cat's away, the mice will play, right? Spitballs would fly, perhaps a tack or whoopee cushion would be placed in the teacher's chair. In my case, on the occasions this would happen, a few friends and I would break out some cards and play poker. Some people did really crazy things: I remember one kid who used a rubber band to shoot paper clips at others, and other who stuck a paper clip into an electrical outlet (ouch!).These activities are too tame, now. Apparently, the in thing to do is to have group sex in front of the rest of the class (follow the link to read a news story on this). Five 5th graders - I'm talking 11 and 12 year old kids - in New Orleans have been charged with obscenity for doing just this. I must say, I'm shocked.Okay, maybe I'm not shocked. We live in a society where the line between the normal, the accepta
Prayer for a friend
2007-04-09 18:00:00
A good friend
of ours, ErinLo, recently found out that, despite the unlikelihood of it, she was pregnant. This past week, at ~9-weeks into the pregnancy, she lost the baby. Having gone through this about 18 months ago, Mrs. Euphrony and I know how she and her husband are feeling right now. Here is what she wrote on her blog about this:Miscarriage.It's always been a word I have hated. If you "misspell" something, you have spelled it incorrectly. If you "misunderstand", you've understood something incorrectly. Doesn't it follow that if you "miscarry", you've carried something incorrectly?Don't even get me started on the term "spontaneous abortion". The sight of it makes my stomach cringe.Nonetheless, that is what we are facing right now. It started on Monday evening and with a little help on Friday, this pregnancy will be completely over.Yes, we are sad. Yes, I feel guilt. Somehow, at the same time, I feel peace and comfort in knowing that although I don't understand at all why the
Read more: Prayer
Dear Santa Kat,
2007-04-11 19:57:00
I'm writing this letter to claim my major award from the captcha contest. I've been called a "funny guy" in the past (Mrs. Euphrony says it was done mockingly, but I think she's just jealous of my wit) and I'm glad that through shear volume I found some way of making you laugh and causing the stitches from your c-section to hurt. If the pictured item is not readily available, I will gladly claim the offered five free songs. While it could never match the "glow of electric sex" that this lamp would give, I will thoroughly enjoy the listening of them. Below is my list of song requests.Kate Rusby "The White Cockade"Beautiful voice, simply mesmerizing. My favorite song, which she does with her husband John McCusker on his album Yella Hoose, is "Night Visiting Song". Alas, iTunes is incomplete.Jason Gray "The Cut"I've been meaning to check out Jason Gray for a long time (since way before his name change to "Gray"). This is a good opportunity to do so. As a bonus, it features Sara Grove
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, Dear Santa
Serious prayer request
2007-04-13 21:00:00
Mrs. E just called and told me the 4-month old son of some friends is in the hospital in very bad shape. Fractured skull, blood in the brain, non-responsive. They suspect that either their nanny accidentally dropped him down the stairs and doesn't want to own up to it, or that the nanny has been shaking and beating him. They honestly don't know at this point how bad the damage is and what his chances of recovery are. On top of this, they have CPS investigating both the nanny and them. (They also have a boy Little Euphrony's age.)Please pray for them right now. They need God's help so much right now.
Free Music
2007-04-16 18:42:00
For those of you out there who enjoy finding free music, might I recommend dropping by FreeCCM. Recently redesigned, this site (which I have blogged about before) is run by INO Records, home of some great artists. Currently, they are offering free downloads (registration required) from new group 33Miles, Derek Webb, Disciple, Echoing Angels, MercyMe, Phil Wickham, and Sara Groves. I already had the Sara Groves and Phil Wickham songs, but I still was able to get five free songs here today. Sure, the whole sight is a big ad for what is going on with INO artists, but if they are nice enough to let me get some free music, then I'll happily stop by.It's been a good week for me with free music. Not counting the five songs gifted me by Kat, I've downloaded 18 new songs for free in the past five days, introducing me to the music of five artists whose music I had not heard before and giving me bonuses from five others whose music I do know - not a bad week. This has been an active download w
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This is my life
2007-04-17 16:30:00
This is my life. I signed up for it; I just didn't realize all that it would entail (not that I'm complaining, mind you, I love my kids to pieces). Rather than talking big issues or art with friends, I talk about how Lil'E has started snorting when she laughs or how Liler'E goes into vapor lock when he really gets to screaming. I do have adult conversations, sometimes, and not just about work. Really.Note the change in wardrobe in the above comic strip. Even the drinks go from "adult" drinks to ones with little umbrellas.Tags: Baby Blues, Comic Strip, Lifestyle Change
Who's cuter?
2007-04-19 19:23:00
Kat and I seem to have a small disagreement as to whose new child is cuter. I thought I would put it forward to the readers - Who do you think is cuter, Lil'er Euphrony or Kat's Smallest Person? Pictures are below. (Since it is my blog, I may have taken a few liberties here, but I believe it to be a completely unbiased poll. And remember, this is all in good humor, a friendly competition between two internet acquaintances.)Lil'er EuphronyKat's Smallest PersonI'm gonna get into so much trouble for this, I just know it.
L or R
2007-04-20 20:12:00
I'm tired today, so I'm just going to ask everyone: are you a lefty or a righty?Tags: Left handed, Right handed, Poll
This is my life: Part 2
2007-04-26 19:08:00
thrush - noun a disease that is caused by a fungus of the genus Candida (C. albicans), occurs especially in infants and children, and is marked by white patches in the oral cavity (Webster's Medical Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2005.)thrush - noun An icky, painful white coating of a child's inner check that makes then grumpy as all get out and not eat very well. Side effects include temporary insanity in parents as they try to figure out why the child is crying for no apparent reason, also resulting in loss of sleep for the whole family. (Euphrony's ad lib Dictionary, 2007.)There's a fungus among us. Lil'er E is normally a happy baby, but has not been the last few days. We've got medicine, and he is already feeling better, eating better, and acting more content. Now its time for us to try and get some sleep.As a side-note, I especially appreciate the comic's subtle reference to Edvard Munch's Scream (pictured right) in the father's face. Perhaps it is a little exag
Get To Know Me: Nerd Edition®
2007-04-23 20:05:00
Not too long ago, I did a version of Get To Know Me: Geek Edition
® which included an excerpt of a just finished paper for an upcoming conference. Well, two months have passed and I have successfully presented that paper; but I also moved on to the next paper (it seems all I've worked on lately is papers). I just finished writing that paper (you can take a breath and relax, I'm not including any of this paper on my blog), and it is due to the combined mental strain of solo-authoring multiple papers and the mind-numbing effects of sleep deprivation that accompanies a new child that I have not thought many deep theological thoughts lately.Well, that's partially true. I've been preparing to teach a four-Sunday class at church on the Holy Spirit and I plan on putting those lessons up here, as well. But that's not until May, so in the meantime I will again entertain and stupefy with another in the Get to Know Me series. I now present the Nerd Edition®.I'm a engineer. I'm an engineer
Smoke Break
2007-04-30 19:44:00
I give my best at work. I try hard to work diligently and to add to both the company and to the field in which I work. I try not to let (un)professional jealously get in my way.But they've broken me.I'm considering the unthinkable: taking up smoking. Sure, I'm deathly allergic to cigarette smoke. Sure, it may shorten my life expectancy. But consider the advantages! Instead of working eight hours a day, broken up by lunch and the occasional bathroom break, I could be working much less as I feed my addiction with periodic 10-15 minute smoke breaks. If I were to jump into the deep end, say 3-4 packs a day, I could reduce my actual work time to around 4 hours a day. All done legally within corporate and federal guidelines!And don't forget the social benefits. Rather than being walled off from the "community of smokers" I would open up new networking avenues. I could schmooze with the big wigs as they feed their addictions. This could seriously advance my job possibilities! I'll no lon
Read more: Smoke
, Break
Good medicine
2007-05-07 18:12:00
The last couple of work days last week very, very long and trying days. Without going into details, I got to be the target of marketing's ire. This, in turn, raised my hackles and had me seriously ticked off all day Thursday. And a good part of Friday, as well.This can be a big problem. I don't want to take this kind of work junk home with me. Sure, I need to share these things with Mrs. E and keep her involved in my life. But in no way do I need to take home the anger and impatience that was building up in me. It's bad for a marriage, and bad for parenting. So, as I leave work and get in my car, I took some good medicine.Music.When I'm losing it like that, I need to be reminded of God's peace and gifts. For me, the reminder has to come through music or it just doesn't seem to get through. I put on Sara Groves' All Right Here, skipped forward a few tracks, and listened to "You Did That For Me". Every time I hear this song, from the opening chords on the guitar, I feel a wave pas
Here's to the number three!
2007-05-09 19:08:00
The power trio. The jazz trio.The three layers of yumminess. The three selves:Ego, Super-ego, and IdThe movie trilogy:Star WarsThe written trilogy:Lord of the RingsThe Three Tenors:Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti And, of course, the Holy Trinity.Tags: Three, Power Trio, Trilogy, Rush, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Oreo, Freud, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Tolkien, Three Tenors, Holy Trinity
James 1:27
2007-05-08 20:11:00
The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world. James
1:27, Bible in Basic English8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10, NIVTo Jehovah, it seems, there are but two types of action: love and sin. The religion He implores us to practice is one that showers love on everyone, but most especially those who are destitute, poor, broken down and discarded. This is something that should be approached through personal interaction, where prese
'Nuff Said
2007-05-18 19:57:00
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)P.S. Thank you God! Teach me this every day!P.P.S. For more, listen to Sara Groves' song "When It Was Over". If you don't own this song, I'll buy it (through iTunes) for the first five people who ask. Just e-mail me at euphrony at sbcglobal dot net. It's that good.Tags: Love, Sara Groves, Sin, Forgiveness
There and back again
2007-05-17 22:40:00
No, this is not a hobbit's tale. This is the story about how I seem to be traveling more for work these days. It's also the reason why I've been essentially absent from the blogosphere the last week.I blogged about being in Tulsa last January. Well, I was there again on Monday and Tuesday. And it seems likely that I'll be going back in November.I blogged about going to Norway last December. Well, I'll be going back there in June, to give a paper at a conference.I like traveling. It's nice to get out and see the world. But I love being at home. I'm a homebody more than anything else, and I hate being away from Mrs. E and the little E's. I wish I could take them with me more, but they would have little to do and we cannot afford to pay for their tickets to travel that much. Mrs. E notes that it is part and parcel with being more important at work; that is both a good thing and a bad thing to someone like me who works to live, not lives to work.I'm home for a month, now, and prep
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