Sometimes I wonder who is watching.

So I have been blogging on this site and the qcmclaws family site for a few months now. Posted a few pics, had a few ideas that I laid out and I wonder..."Is anybody listening?" and "What is so exciting about my life that people would come home from work, plop down on the 'ol PC and tune into my blog?" I guess in the end it doesn't really matter if anybody reads it. I enjoy talking about my family, posting pictures.

Anyway here is what happened this week. Not much. Kim and I are feeling the weight of having an extra child as we have had a few long nights with some sick kids this week. Ashley threw up on Wed after stepping off the bus from her school field trip to the IMAX theater. She milked it for a couple of day. Nolan wanted in on the action but unfortunately was not able to reproduce the projectile vomiting. Deacon however threw up Thurs night after coming home from Tia Rosa's. I have been having the usual stress and some unusual migraine headaches that have made me appreciate Kim (even more) as she has to continue her motherly duties while I am at work even when she has one of these miserable headaches. Kim has been doing well until today (Sunday) and she is feeling shakey, feverish and has been blowing her nose most of the day. If you know a good doctor in the area be sure to let us know.

Thanks again to Jeremy this week. We got to work on his Jeep this week and replace some damaged steering components (I do now recall the incident that lead to the bent tie rod!). We hit a snag while replacing the tie rod but in true Jeeper fashion rigged it till he can get it completely fixed. He left it overnight in the driveway (I am sure I will get a notice from the local HOA for having a vehicle left overnight on jack stands) and so I lent him mine for the time being. We were trying to get it done on Saturday but the Ox was in the mire and we had to finish it after church today. He drives up sometime after church with my Jeep clean and shining. Thanks alot for the wash! I look foreword to getting his jimmy-rigged component permanently fixed.

As Sunday winds down the drama seems to wind up. I got some kind of a wild hair today and cleaned the entire kitchen, cleaned the fish tank, rounded up the troops and cleaned most of the house (although it is in some disarray again at this point). Not to mention cleaning some trash out of the garage, and finishing Jeremy's jeep. All in all a good day. As I think about tomorrow however I can feel my blood pressure rise as it's back to work. Just a few patients into it though and I am good for the rest of the week.

Come by and visit sometime, check out the clean Jeep, say Hi to Sedona or come and do our laundry. Whatever

Will

No longer neglected!

My poor neglected Jeep got some much needed TLC from me and Jeremy today. I finally was able to get that Warn gas tank skid that has been sitting in Kim's living room for about 6 months underneath the Jeep. Big thanks to Jeremy for his help as there is no way I could have done it without him. Downside...the tow hitch didn't fit with the new tank skid so I will have to get a new bumper with an incorporated hitch...oh darn.

Today also starts a new day in the history of my TJ as it is no longer known as WILLSTJ (nobody except Jeep aficionados had any idea what that meant.) My Jeep is now MCJEEP. This goes along with my Mom's MrsMac (VW bug) and my brothers MCTHING (VW Thing). I will get some pics up soon of the new additions. Have a good Saturday and I promise I will help you get that equipment on your Jeep next week Jer.

Will

New Baby, Wonderful Family

What a wonderful two weeks this has been. I commented to a co-worker that the past 10 days has been some of the best in my life. I had the opportunity to baptize my daughter Ashley and I feel that brought us closer to each other not to mention closer to our Father in Heaven.

7 days later I was there for the birth of my second daughter and our fourth child. I am so thankful for the bountious blessings that the Lord has given me and my family. My beautiful wife has been my rock, my anchor and such a wonderful companion. I love spending time with her, being with her and just holding her hand or feeling her next to me in bed.

I can not forget what wonderful boys I have. It has been such a joy for me to have Deacon, who has been such a mama's boy to cling to me this last week since Sedona was born and Nolan makes me feel like a hero everyday. There is not one of them that I would trade for anything in this world. They have truely brought me the greatest joy in my life.

Thank you everybody for your outpouring of service, for your phone calls, time, food and your love. We feel so loved and that makes us feel so appreciated. You will all be blessed I am sure. Keep calling and stop by to see how the family has changed.

The Fam

Thanksgiving is behind us. Christmas looms ahead. This is my favorite time of year. The temperature is nice, people are pleasant and giving is in our hearts.

Next week Kim and I head to Israel for ten days. I am really excited but the enthusiasm is tempered by our worries about being away from the kids for 10 days. Ashley and Nolan will be fine but Deacon is a Momma's boy and he may have a very hard time. We shall see. I am very happy that Aunt Mirm will be babysitting and she is soooooo good with kids. I am sure that Deacon will be fine.

I do have a few days of work before the grand farewell and lots of charts to finish before then so I will be a busy man for a while.

Pictures and Music...It's a miracle!!

The GREAT Outdoors

I love being outside at this time of year. The air is crisp and there is a property to it which is almost an anti-depressant. You may know that people in northern latitudes experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is a seasonal depression believed to be related to the long nights and lack of fresh air. I feel that i suffer from something similar in the long, hot summers where the sun is relentless and its heat even invades the nights here in the desert. But now the depression is lifting, the nights and mornings are cool, almost crisp. The top is off the Jeep which alleviates the stress of the long day as I drive home in the cooling night air. I went with Dr. McClure (my supervising physician at work) to a morning meeting he has at the local Hospice where he is the medical director. The meeting was on the screened porch off the back of the house...what a wonderful morning. Fresh air, birds chirping, green grass, shade trees...relaxes me just to write about it.

This also means that I am itching to get in the Jeep. Poor thing is neglected! I should be going out on Saturday morning if all goes well. I'll be sure to post some pictures. Have a nice Autumn

Road Trip

I just got back from a late week trip to Vegas where I attended a conference to maintain my professional license. There is something about the solitude of silence and the open road. Alone with my thoughts the unimportant disolves from the mind and the important focuses and sharpens. As I drove I listened to Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson. A great read and I recommend it to anyone. It got me thinking about one thing that has been on mind and allowed me to really hone my thoughts...the issue of immigration as it relates to what is going on at the Mexican-United States border. People are beginning to vilify the people not the policy which is reminiscant of the attitude that many German's had toward the Jews prior to WWII. We seem to think that this is "Our country" to the exclusion of everyone else. Remeber that none of us, with the exception of Native Americans, are transplanted to this country. It is this conglomeration of the worlds people that have made us geat, however we cant get hate out of our hearts. We can't understand how the German's could do to the Jews what they did. We can't fathom the depth of hatred that was the undercurrent for segregation in this country. Well folks here we are again. Within us is the ability to see the direction that we are heading and the potential to change it. I have always loved the poem by Emma Lazarus enscribed on plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty

cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

anyway...check out the book and thanks for endulging my rant