the Beauty of Christmas

After traveling across the grand state of Alabama, the Andrews' Christmas has finally come to an end. With visits from Uncle Nolan and Uncle Joel, a dirty Santa toilet seat for mom (not to be confused with mom's dirty toilet seat), our first Christmas in our new home, and a special visit from Saint Roy (a.k.a. Big Paw Paw) we could not imagine how we could be more blessed this holiday season. I have always heard that as you get older and have children that your Christmas really becomes more about them and fight that notion as I tried... it is true. Ella's new big girl bike and massive doll house all the way to Olivia's Wii we have had so much fun playing with the girls. Who knew you could develop Wii elbow? My wrist hurts, my shoulder went out on about my fourth pitch, and I literally worked up a sweat playing nine holes of Wii golf.

But when it has been all said and done, my greatest gift this Christmas has been the friends who know me and still call me friend and the incredible family I have been so richly blessed with. Speaking of family... I keep waiting for some reality tv crew to show up and film my family during the holidays. We are definitely the red-neckersons. I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful New Year and may all of God's blessings flow to you and yours.

Merry Christmas

Well, I have to admit that this is truly my favorite time of the year. In what I am now doing job-wise... I get to see God showing off a little bit for just being Him. This year at Christmas has been over the top. At The Foundry, I have seen an outpouring of Him in some pretty practical ways. Just for example... we do this thing called Gifts of Hope where we collect gifts for our residents' children. These guys and gals have been here with us for quite a few months and have had no income and therefore have no means of buying gifts for their children. Well, that fell to me to handle this year.

I didn't really solicit any group but rather just let people be aware as they asked what our Christmas needs were. The God showed up. Every resident at The Foundry who needed assistance got huge bags full of toys for their children and we even were able to bless families within the community that just couldn't make it this Christmas without some help.

All in all... somewhere between $5,000-$6,000 dollars worth of toys were distributed to more than 131 children. Thanks for any of you who gave. Thanks be to God for making it all happen. He really is the reason for the season.

To all of our family and friends... throughout the year we may not call, return calls, or see you that often but be reminded this Christmas season that Karie, Olivia, Ella and I think of you often and love and cherish you.

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

I Wonder?

I met a 71 year old lady earlier this week at the store down from my house. As we began to talk she shared stories about when she was in high school. She told me she was divorced and I couldn't help but wonder...

I met a retired college professor and school teacher this past week as well. She is an African American who has spent the second half of her life living in Birmingham. She was extremely inteligent and had more southern charm than Scarlet O'Hara ever dreamed of. As I listened to her talk I coldn't help but wonder...

I met about a dozen young men at a local urban high school this week. They are a part of a group called Young Men of Distinction. They are learning manners, etiquete, and very impressive life skills. As I talked with them I couldn't help but wonder...

With a mild, self-diagnosed, case of adlt on-set ADD I find myself wondering quite a bit. I wonder when was the last time I filled my tank for $1.52 per gallon (other than today). I wonder if I am doing it right when it comes to raising my daughters. I wonder when Christ is going to return. I wonder how my country is going to rebound and when from our troubled economy. I wonder what suprise my mom has in store for me this Christmas. I wonder about old high school friends. Wonder, wonder, wonder.

I wonder if my new 71 year old friend lives with regret? If she could change one thing from her past what would it be? I wonder about the retired educator. What emotional scars does she carry from living in Bham during the heat of the Civil Rights Movement? What has she seen in life that haunts her and how does she deal with it all? I wonder about the young men who impressed me as they shared their ambitions and dreams of the future. I wonder what they will be doing ten years from now? I wonder what I'll be doing ten years from now.

I also wonder about a song we used to sing... God of Wonders. I cherish the fleeting thoughts that I have every once in a while about God when for an instant I get it. I catch a glimpse of what He may be up to in my life. I adore the times when I am sitting still and my mind drifts toward God and I am at pure peace in that moment. I wonder what He thinks about me? I wonder what He thinks about what I think about... after all, He is the God of Wonders.

12-1

Well, believe it or not... ALL is well at the Andrews' house. I would love for Alabama to have beaten florida earlier tonight but it just didn't happen. But, if you watched the game you have to admit Alabama played extremely well. Very few mistakes on either side of the ball. Alabama just never made the Big play that we really needed. Now, for the unbelievable auburn fans that decided it would be a good idea to call me about losing to florida... are you nuts?

Let me just remind you that just a mere seven days ago we caused the firing of your coach. We humiliated your tigers and sent the rumble through the plains. Please, all auburn supporters, God rest their souls, please consider the reality of your plight before you comment on ALABAMA FOOTBALL. And for those who wonder about rammer jammer... it still applies.

Hey tigers... we just beat (you know the rest). 36-0

I find it a little ironic that I turn 36 tomorrow. What a blessed year it will be.

facts are facts.

I know my recent posts have all been about Alabama football but hey, cut me some slack. We are in the midst of an amazing season and it's been dry lately so let me live a little. So here I sit on the eve of the SEC Championship. My boys are ranked number 1 in the entire nation. Whether you agree with that ranking or not... its the facts. As I check my emotions I am excited that we have a chance to have another SEC title and be playing for the BIG ring. I have heard the points line shift about a dozen times this week and I like our chances more since we are considered the number one team in the country and a ten point underdog. Anyway, I am anxious. I am trying to contain my tongue. I am just short of prayerful. I am extremely hopeful. I would love to play in the big game again this season. I wonder if Alabama can't beat florida tomorrow how many auburn fans will call me... to which I will respond.

we still beat auburn 36-0. fact.

PRICELESS...

beautiful reflections of a glorious day.

Rammer Jammer...

Well, after a long dry spell in the great state of ALABAMA my beloved Crimson Tide has finally come alive. I have waited patiently and for the most part quietly for more than 2,190 some odd days for this very weekend. Some might read that figure and think of auburn's past dominance but I read that number just before I mention these numbers.

36-0

Complete domination! auburn looked like a 4A high school team up against ALABAMA. BAMA had total control. The week prior to the game I kept hearing that BAMA was a two touchdown favorite. How about a five touchdown favorite? I heard that ALABAMA had not played a defense of the caliber of auburn's defense. Please tell me that was a joke? Two words that I just can't use in the same sentence is auburn's defense. Two more words... auburn's offense. Am I loving it all right now? You better believe it. After all of that trash talk I have received from auburn fans for the last few years... please, just please, take your verbal lashings from the BAMA nation because auburn got crushed. And one more thing, I have been overwhelmed in just two short days of the BAMA thrashing by auburn fans turned gator fans.

I wonder if they are actually listening to themselves? I say ROLL TIDE and they say... watch out for florida. I say 36-0 and they say... watch out for tebow. How quickly they jump ship when tommy takes them downstream! For all of you former auburn fans... I really don't care about florida. An SEC championship would be great and a chance to play for the national championship would be ever better. But my reality is this. ALABAMA has only 9 scholarshipped seniors graduating, one of the best incoming classes for next year and a coach who simply knows what he is doing. Everyone says that "we are ahead of schedule". Whatever that means. I say... it's good to be at the top. The future in Tuscaloosa is bright as ever and regardless of what happens this coming Saturday...

we still beat auburn 36-0. Rammer Jammer.

obsession.

As I sit here in what is about to become my previous living room, I can't help but notice the boxes. You see we have been packing for about a week now preparing to move and the majority of my earthly possessions are right here in this room. There are large, heavy boxes dwarfing the many smaller and more fragile boxes. They have instructions written on the outside like kitchen, master bedroom, garage. The memories that have been stored away for so long have been recently uncovered in an effort to downsize. I can only imagine what the garbage collectors must be thinking as the piles have grown day after day with discard.

As I sit here in what is about to become my previous living room, I am accompanied by the smell of cardboard. All of my possessions. All of my obsessions. In days of old men were not measured by what they had but rather who they were. Their word outweighed their stuff. They were known by their reputation not by their collections. But somewhere, sometime that all changed. Unfortunately we often measure success by our piles of boxes. We may have become obsessed with what we possess.

The scriptures refer to it something like this... where a man's treasures are... there is his heart. Maybe it is time for an obsession with confession. Time for obsession with compassion. Obsession with truth instead of perceived wealth. I wonder... where is your obsession?

Movin' On Up?

Alright... it has been a while but I've been extremely busy. Cheering on the number 1 team in the nation is a tough gig. Wait, that's not what I mean. I meant to say that Karie and I are moving (Olivia and Ella are as well). In fact we close this Friday at 9 on our present house and at 1 on our new house. It has been miraculous. Literally, in the present housing market our house sold in 10 weeks and we fell into a great home. It is the model home in a new neighborhood. Tons of add on's and bonuses. I'll share more later but you can see from the pics why we are so excited.

PTL.

ZERO.

As a right of passage in my house as a young lad, each Saturday between September and late November was spent cheering on the Crimson Tide. It never was an issue that we lived about seven or eight miles from the actual campus but it was just such a part of our childhood. You were just used to stories about AL football being on the news every night... even in April. Seeing players out about town wasn't all that unusual. Heck, even our mall was named University Mall. The University of Alabama is a big piece of my "heritage". Now don't get me wrong, my allegiance to a state, univerisity, former coaching legend (God rest his soul), or football team will remain in its place and will never interfere with real priorities. But... tonight I must make this proclamation to all those tormented, miserable, begging for the bleeding to stop, hateful, obnoxious, pain in the tail, you make me want to puke, disillusioned, how you like me now, Auburn fans.

4 and 4 stinks. That means that as good as you can possibly be... you are equally that bad. There are a few certain Auburn fans that have irritated me for the last few years and all I have to say is Mike Shula is available as an offensive coordinator, coach, mentor, or even player (he has one year of eligibility left). I truly hope in the most inward places of my soul that Alabama destroys Auburn this year (I will be there) but if they don't I can take pure joy in the fact that this week Auburn is 4-4 and in essence... they are 0.

The Struggle...

I think way too much at times and far too little at other times. But this weekend I had one of those still, quiet, moments of thinking and one of the greatest struggles made sense for a brief moment. I get frustrated at myself and for so many others who just seem to struggle. Some with self, some with sin, some with those around them, some with everything. There are days that I wish I could wake up and go about my business and it would just be easy. I have dreams about what a day would look like free of conflict and struggle. I know the scriptures about how we are not supposed to be at great peace because we are "foreigners" on this earth and I get that but where's the reality of all of that?

Then it hit me. That is the reality. The struggle for me is simply this... My faith and my skin occupy the same space.

Until that one day changes, the struggle will remain. How about 2 Corinthians 4 where it says "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

Sunday Perspective...

After a long week of ups, downs, surprises, disappointments, frustrations and the like... nothing does the mind and soul any better than a dose of Jesus" to launch into the new week. I feel that many may recharge or redirect their short term perspective on Sunday's as they enter the house of worship of their choice. Here's what I mean... it doesn't take an individual long at all to become self seeking and become completely consumed by selfish desires. In fact, our world tells us daily that we deserve lots of things. It's our choice. Do something for yourself today. You know, that distorted message we get bombarded with constantly. Well, if you hear it enough you may just buy into it. And then Sunday rolls around and we come back to our senses that the Word says, that if we want to gain the world we have to lose our self. We remember that real life is not all about ME. Sunday perspective. It's sort of like an attitude adjustment.

Well, as I drove to work this week I was listening to U2 and Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and I recharged my global perspective. How quickly can my little piece of the world become the only piece of the world? Really... for the most part many of us see things from just from our own view. We think that our brand of Christianity is the real version. Or our deep south Jesus is the most authentic. Our sports are the best. That means that we really believe that no other conference is as tough as the SEC. But what about Ireland? What about Africa? What about China? What about South America? Do they miss it? I'm not saying that I want to move or anything because my perspective tells me that America is definitely the greatest place on the globe. But don't you think that there may be someone in another country that feels the same way about their nation?

Most importantly... what about God? Ever wonder how He sees it all? I wonder if He holds us accountable ultimately based on the undeniable Truth but also with a splash of our culture. Don't misread this that Truth is culturally relevant but I mean about how we worship, how we pray, how we treat our neighbors, how we treat the piece of land beneath our feet. Are there variables built in to this whole thing? Truth is Truth and is not up for debate but I really wonder if He is much more flexible than we (I) often think? Sunday Bloody Sunday just reminds me that my perspective is not the only, the best, the most sanctified, or the most important.

His is.

I was born in a small town...

From the lyrics of John Cougar Mellencamp, Johnny Cougar or John Mellencamp... whichever flavor you prefer... he wrote a song a while back with the words, "I was born in a small town" and today I was reminded of just how special living in a small town really is. Not that I actually live in a small town but I work in a small town. Bessemer Alabama. Home of great food and the Purple Tigers of Jess Lanier High School.

As I sat in my office today I heard the drums of what sounded like a high school marching band. I lept from my desk to open me shutters and lo and behold... it was a dang parade! Sure nuff. I haven't seen a high school Homecoming parade in years. In fact I thought the Springville Tigers (home of Karie, Olivia, and Ella Andrews)were the only one's who still had Homecoming parades. Anyway, I may be just out of the 'high school homecoming day parade loop'.

All of that to say this... I walked outside and sat for about 15 minutes and watched new cars from the local car lot serve as a carriage for the queen and her court only to be followed by band after band after band. I actually watched people sitting through the sunroof of finely displayed automobiles as they threw candy to all of the kids lined up and down the street. Imagine this... a 98 Oldsmobile with chrome trim and 22's. Who knew the Olds was making a comeback?
Anyway, I sat and thought about the state of our market/economy/401K's/housing market and for just about 15 minutes none of that even mattered. As I sat there I remembered that I work in a great small town, I live in a great city and state, and even better I am a citizen of the greatest nation on the planet. Who's going to win the election you ask? Who cares, it's America. Where will we get the 700 billion dollars for the bailout? Who cares, this is the Home of the Free. OK, maybe those last two things are a little overboard but hopefully you feel me here.

When you take a minute to slow down, pause the hustle of your life, and for a moment let YOU be SIMPLE... see if you hear the band coming down the street. It's Homecoming.

How 'bout them Sox?

Well, in the midst of euphoria in the Bammer-Nation... once again the seasonal exit of Major League Baseball is upon us. I barely know how to contain myself during the next few weeks simply because I have gone from 0-2 to 3-2 in my fantasy football team, my Tide is 6-0, and my favorite MLB team is poised for another World Series. I make no bones about it. I'm a bandwagon Boston Red Sox fan. My only credibility is that I have been this way for the past seven seasons. Karie laughed at me this past post season because when I thought she had gone to bed, she entered the living room late one October 07 night to find me sifting through old baseball cards, wearing my Red Sox hat, and watching the World Series.

At my house, this is the ultimate sporting time of the year. The weather is changing, my teams are winning, and I have a satellite that keeps me connected. For all the naysayers... "How Bout Them Sox?"

We Are...

This past Sunday at church, we finished a series called "At The Movies" which took popular movies and intertwined them into matters of faith. This final message revolved around the movie "We Are Marshall". In a nutshell, the premise was how a college football team faced disaster head on. When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach (McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive. The plot reaches a pivotal point when the new coach takes a road trip on the morning of game day. The team travels to the cemetery where six of the former players have been laid to rest. In an emotional moment he addresses his players and informs them that "the funerals end today." His reference was to the fact that in order to move forward we have to forget the past.

Sitting next to my beautiful wife I was overwhelmed at the number of people sitting around us that were sniffling and wiping tears as we witnessed this real life example of what happens to so many of us.

We get crippled by the mistakes, the errors, the sins of our past. We walk around with this feeling of guilt, regret, and sometimes hopelessness about certain areas of our life. Areas like a marriage that did not last. Areas like a dream that failed to come true. Areas like a failure in a relationship, at work, at school, or personally. Maybe we become spiritually handicapped by a decision in our past. Here's a big one... what about our immediate past. Like yesterday. How can I experience the freedom that comes from the loving God when just in the past 24 hours I have blown it?

Well, according to God's Word... He removes our sins and separates them from us as far as the east is from the west. He casts them into the sea of forget fullness. Our repentant soul is washed clean.

So where does that leave me today? Well, I am under the impression that when it comes to the wreck of my past... the funerals end today. I will no longer mourn and grieve over what has been covered by the blood of Jesus. I will move on. I can move on. I will move on hand in hand with my Redeemer and Savior.

Let your funerals end today...

Daddy & Olivia Day

Well, the time finally came. I had to "train my oldest in the way she should go". This past Saturday I took Olivia to her first Alabama game. She has tailgated with us several times and loves the environment of the BAMA Nation but this was her first exposure to the game environment.

It all started early Saturday morning as just me and Olivia went to the Waffle House for breakfast. She wanted to know more about the football game (I swear it was her idea). So I took out a pen and some paper and explained to her what a QB, Running Backs, Tight Ends, and Offensive Lines were all about. I explained the Coaching Staff and where the Cheerleaders would be and how first downs worked. Breakfast was great and how she and I combined ran up a $18 tab at WH I still don't understand.

When we got to Tuscaloosa later in the day we went shopping. We bought her "anything she wanted" and she picked a pink Alabama fleece and a pink Alabama visor. We bought our pom poms and even picked up some things for Ella. Then we made our way to the Quad to meet B and Jason. Olivia climbed the climbing wall, ran and played on the blow-ups and just had some kid fun... then came the serious business. What I had waited on was about to happen.

As we entered the stadium her little eyes were huge! There was so much to take in. She watched the band, we saw Grammie and Paw Paw, we bought snacks and made our way to our seats. As the game progressed she was all in to it. Every time Alabama would get a first down she would turn to me and yell, "First Down Alabama". When we scored, and it was often, she would give me a high-five and yell "TOUCHDOWN". She enjoyed the game but I learned a very valuable lesson... new things are to be experienced with family. I couldn't have had a better experience than with my baby girl... pink Alabama stuff and all.

The Great Escape...

Thank the Lord for long weekends. Saturday morning Karie and I woke the girls up and suprised them with a get-a-way vacation. We had their bags packed when they got up and didn't tell them where we were going. They were so excited! We ended up at Ruby Falls and Rock city and then a weekend in Chattanooga. Who knew Chattanooga had so much to offer? We had a blast and it was good for the Andrews' family to have a weekend escape.

As you can see, we also went on a cruise down the TN river on the Southern Belle (Karie and I had a flashback to Chi Cruise days) and we also took the girls on their first carriage ride... (they played like Aunt B at her wedding) and they even got to drive the carriage. We swam in the pool and just had a great weekend together. We also found out that Olivia can NOT walk down the street without jumping, scratching, or pulling on something. Ella is the accident prone baby and is a threat to spill her drink, have ice cream all over everything, or spill whatever shouldn't be on anything she is wearing. They are amazing and we had a blast.

Roll Tide Roll

Well, if you know me at all then you know this blog had to appear. Wow... what a game this weekend. Alabama simply stated... "unloaded on Clemson". Preseason rankings don't always stand up when it is first and ten. I lit the cell phone up as I watched my beloved Crimson Tide whoop up on Bowden's boys from SC. I had so much fun watching that game and it could have only been better if I had been with my dad and my brother. But unfortunately we were all spread out. I was in TN, my dad in AL and my brother in CA but it didn't matter... in our own place in our own way we whistled a little Rammer Jammer.

Who knows what this year will hold for the Tide? But I can't imagine a better way to start it!

Overwhelmed in 60 seconds

I wonder if I am so complex that I am so far different than other people? I mean I can turn on a dime and I just wonder if anyone else ever feels this way? Here's what I mean...

One minute things are great in life. Everything just seems to be moving along in the order that I prescribe and the sun is shining and all of a sudden... BAM. Something clicks and there I am... in an emotional and attitudinal shift. I can go from great to shotty in about 60 seconds. It's the unecessary pressure of life that gets me. The finances. I only know a few people that don't face the financial pressure of making ends meet each month (and if the truth be known most of them have financial pressures of their own). But what gives? I mean I've been to poverty stricken places... I know just how little you can survive on. And what's the deal with insurance? You pay these monthly premiums and never use the stuff. It's funny how you never need it and can complain about it but when something happens you sure are thankful that you have it. The relationships. Why do other people have to be complicated? Why can't every one else see things just like I do? That would make it so much easier on me and after all isn't it all about me? Personal walk with God. My favorite hymn says, "prone to wonder" and unfortunately that too often fits for me. I am so glad that He doesn't see me like I often see Him. I am especially thankful that He doesn't treat me the way I sometimes treat Him. In all things... God is good. The health. I still get hung up sometimes about why people get sick. Is it my fault if I get deathly ill? Is is a sin thing? Is it a combination of stuff? I just get frustrated when I hear about people dying with this disease or that disease. Addiction. I heard someone say this weekend, "Don't we all have an addictive personality?" In fact, that person was me. I know people addicted to work, sports, the almighty dollar, food, security, and a long list of other self-centered things. Why is it so hard to keep it simple? Baggage. I don't mean suitcases but the stuff that we carry around from our past. The pain, the hurt, the lonliness, the disappointment, the unfufilled dreams. Why can't it be as easy as just moving on? I hear stories almost daily of friends who just get stuck in their own pile of issues and my heart breaks for them.

I guess in my pity party this morning I am reminded that no matter how quickly I can go from great to terrible... there is someone else out there that has it far worse than I do. It's strange how I find that comforting. When I get overwhelmed in a moment I guess it is good medicine to be reminded that He said He would never allow us to face more than we were equipped to handle. I assume that's part of the spiritual maturity thing.

For a little bit of self-therapy today I say... "Don't grow weary. Be of good courage and strong when simply standing. God is beside us... all the way till the end."

Lean On Me

As I sat in my office early this morning, I was serenaded down the hallway by 30 plus women who are alive in the arms of recovery. I just sat and listened as they sang the old favorite... "Lean On Me". I was frozen in my seat, I couldn't move, all I could do was sit and listen... it was so beautiful. The actual singing was good at moments and not so good at other moments. I actually hate the song... I got over-exposed to this song when DC Talk covered it... they way overplayed it on the jukebox at youth camp and I am forever scarred.

Anyway, the moment was so real and so sincere and so full of new life. It was weird... I was paralyzed in my thoughts. I wanted to think about other things and get to work but all I could do was sit there until they finished. Lean On Me... that's where we all need to be... leaning and dependant on Him. I was just reminded as I sat there that I have been a little too dependant on myself lately. Ever been there? The place where you just do it for yourself instead of waiting on Him. If you at all like me there are just things in life that you'd rather just do than delegate them to someone else because it is just easier to do them yourself. Well, maybe that's the way many of us also approach our Heavenly Father. It's more of a hassle for me to involve Him than it is to just do it myself.

O.K. If it's just me that ever feels like that then immediately stop reading this and start praying for me... that may mean I am completely heathen. Take a minute this week, get still, and hum the little tune to yourself... "Lean on me, when your not strong..."

Update from Beijing

Alright... I never post twice in the same day but here's the latest on Trey Hardee. After 3 out of ten decathalon events... HE IS IN THIRD PLACE! American Brian Clay is leading, some dude from some hard to say country is in second place and then its TREY! Because I still haven't figured out what time it is there and when he'll be on I haven't seen anything but maybe I'll see it tonight. Also, I found this article by R. Melick in the Bham News and just wanted to let everyone know what kind of kid Trey really is... GO USA.

RAY MELICKNews staff writer
Jan DiCesare doesn't know how all this happened; how her son, Trey Hardee, went from this gangly kid who spent all his time playing traditional sports such as football, basketball and baseball, to this man who is halfway around the world today, preparing to march into Olympic Stadium tonight for the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics.

"I don't know that it has even sunk in yet," said DiCesare, from her home in Vestavia Hills. "Hopefully, we'll see him march in the Opening Ceremony, see him walk in with the United States team ... wow."

Vestavia Hills' Hardee, 24, will be competing in the decathlon for the United States in Beijing. He is still young for a decathlete, perhaps four years away from reaching his peak. But on the other hand, he's put up good enough numbers that he has to be considered a threat for a medal.

The decathlon is made up of 10 events that include running, throwing and jumping. One of the jumping events is the pole vault, which is where an athlete uses a long pole ... or a big stick.

"That vision the lady told me about, I didn't know what to think," DiCesare said. "It's one of those things you say, `That's nice,' and you tuck it away and don't really think about it. Maybe you tell the story once in awhile, but when you're watching your son playing football, basketball, baseball, and there's no `big stick' involved, you kind of forget about it.

"But one night, just after Trey signed a track scholarship with Mississippi State as a pole vaulter, I remembered. I looked at Trey and said, `Oh, my!'"

It was the pole vault that got Hardee scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Auburn, Florida and Arizona State. It was his ability to pole vault and high jump that convinced his coaches he might be something special in the decathlon.

"I knew the decathlon," said Mountain Brook track coach Greg Echols. "Trey's senior year at Vestavia, he was a heck of a hurdler, and the best pole vaulter in the state. And he was this big kid, like 6-foot-5.

"Most decathletes are big guys like that, guys that are tall and fast. And when they already know how to pole vault and hurdle - those are the two hardest events to learn. A lot of guys who can run and throw can't learn to hurdle and pole vault. But pole vaulters can learn to be throwers."

Hardee was winning without much effort, and Echols could see the potential that was being wasted.

One of the first people to really encourage me (in track) was Coach Echols," Hardee said. "He stopped me after an indoor track meet and asked me to listen to my coaches and respect what they were asking me to do in training. I'd never gotten any advice from the opposition before. It made me feel like that was really important.

"Then some other coaches started saying things to me like that, and I began to think, `Could all these respected track and field people be right? Maybe this is something I was meant to do.'"

DiCesare remembers when her son came home and announced he was going to be a professional pole vaulter.
"We laughed," she said. "We said, `Sure. But get a major where you can get a job and support yourself, too.'"

In his freshman year at Mississippi State, Hardee's coaches entered him in the decathlon. When State shut down its indoor track program, Hardee transferred to the University of Texas to compete for track coach Bubba Thornton, who had competed in the decathlon at LSU and is this year's Olympic track and field coach.

"Trey didn't set out to be a pole vaulter, much less a decathlete," DiCesare said. "There have just always been things in place. Only God could have written this story. I know we never expected it to unfold this way."

Even now, sitting in his room at the athletes' village in Beijing, working out at Dalian University, walking through malls looking at exotic foods, standing by the bay and thinking it's a fog rolling in, only to find out later it's industrial pollution, Hardee can't explain how this happened to him.

"It's hard to say how you go from being a child running around, climbing trees, to where I am," Hardee said. "There was always a family behind me, supportive and humbling.

"But for me, personally, I have always felt I haven't really achieved anything great because there is always something or someone better. Winning a state title was nice, but then came the NCAAs. Winning that was nice, but I wasn't the best ever. Then getting into the professional ranks was great, but nobody remembers an Olympic Trials second-place decathlete.

"I am always desiring to be better than I am, at anything - Scrabble, ping-pong, or track and field. My goal has always been to improve to the next best thing."

Hardee was asked how he would define "greatness."

"Greatness comes from being prepared when opportunities present themselves," he said. "I'm just doing my part to be as prepared as possible when the time comes. I know God has something special in store for me. It could be this Olympics, it could be the next. It could be off the track completely. I'm just along for the ride."

It's almost as if he never had a choice, as if this were simply his destiny.

Indeed, Hardee believes his success does not come from his own will to win, but "more to do with grace, mercy and love of God. Every time I turn around, I'm being blessed. Isaiah 40 says, `Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.'

"How perfect is that for the decathlon?"

Lightning Strikes Twice?

A few months ago I wrote about witnessing a terrible motorcycle accident near where I work. You may remember that a motorcycle police officer was hit by a van whose passengers just happened to be two clowns. Well, a few streets over on the campus of where I work (The Foundry www.thefoundryonline.org) I was a first hand witness of another accident yesterday.

I was crossing the street with a few of our residents when out of the corner of my eye I saw a gentleman riding his bike... in a split second a van turned into him and hit the older man and flipped him over the hood of the van. I heard the man yell out and immediately the van gunned it! It was a hit and run right before my eyes. I was stunned and frozen in my tracks for a brief moment but quickly came to my senses. As the van sped off my attention turned to the man in the street. Someone started with him and I just reached down and picked up his bike and got them both out of the middle of the road.

The rescue unit and officers were on the scene quickly and fortunately the man was just cut up a bit... nothing major except his bike was messed up and we were all mad as fire about the person in the van making a run for it.

Here's the moral of this story... if you are the captain of any two wheeled vehicle or any mode of transportation with two wheels... stay away from me! The chances that you will be in some sort of accident may increase simply by being near me or Bessemer.

False Alarm

One of the more trying scenarios in a persons life is sometimes related to false alarms. For rescue services nothing can be as frustrating as repeated false alarms. I mean imagine, you get the call and your heart starts racing. You rush to the scene of a potential harmful environment... only to realize that a cat has set off the alarm. You get the idea.

Well, just as an update to those who are interested... our home offer was just that. A false alarm. I don't think the people were really interested based on the offer we received. So, here we are again... seven days into the process. No big deal and maybe next time I will wait a little longer before blogging about it. By the way, I mentioned that Karie and I had found a house that we really like in Trussville... well, the picture above is not it. Remember to "seize the day".

Life to It's Fullest...

When I was in college my mother sent me a letter (pre-email) and was basically doing her best as a mom to lift my spirits. First of all, she called me her "rough son". To this day I'm not sure if that was a compliment or a slam. Most importantly she told me that she loved my ability to "seize the day". As I have grown older that has really stuck with me. Truthfully, there are many days that I go through the motions only to realize that I didn't seize the day but rather the day seized me. I'm usually not in the best mooods after those days. But this morning Chris Hodges at Highlands made the statement that "Faith is an attitude". There was so much more to the message but I got hung up there. I truly want to live life like each day is the last one. Cliques like "leave it all on the field come to mind". And with that said... here's where we are at.

A2 lauched tonight and it was great to see so many friends. It was even more great to worship with Janet & Tony. I forgot how much I missed Chris' teaching. I truly love that guy. He's a true example of a man who strives for God's heart. A2 will make a difference in Birmingham.

We found a house. We call it the Highland House. This neighborhood is in Trussville and really is the entire reason we chose to sell our house and move out there. The exterior color of the house is terrible. The interior colors of the house make us sick... but the house itself is exactly what we've been looking for. It's a good thing that paint is cheap. Who knows... maybe we'll put an offer in? Speaking of offers, we are receiving an offer on our house tomorrow night! We are prayerful that it is along the lines of what we are asking. Only 6 days on the market and we have an offer! We'll see what will happen.

The job... those words are so not what is happening at The Foundry. I truly have found that next step in my life. I love the team I work with. I love the residents at The Foundry. If you haven't ever gone there... go to www.thefoundryonline.org

Olivia and Ella both have amazing teachers. They are already loving school. Ella asks if she can go back? I guess one day she'll realize she really doesn't have a choice.

Anyway, things are really rocking for our family. When you pray... pray for our house transition. Also pray that every day we will remember to "Seize The Day". I pray that you will.

Ever feel OLD?

If you are reading this then chances are... we are friends. News flash to all friends of Micah Andrews (We are getting OLD). Now let's keep it in perspective. For those of you a few years my senior you are probably offended. For those of you a few years my junior you probably agree. For those of you that are much older than me... you are laughing and thinking something like, "He has no idea." Granted you are all quite possibly correct. However, when Karie and I sat and watched 41 year old Dara Torres cruise in to a first place finish in the Women's 50 meter freestyle semi's it all came back to me.

You see, Dara is an incredible athlete but the swim just a few minutes prior to that really made me think. I forget the names (its a sign of aging) but some girl breaks the longest standing Olympic swimming record which has stood for 19 years. The previous record holder had that world record for 19 years. The race was the 800 meter women's freestyle... 16 lenght's of the pool, held by Janet "somebody" (no disrespect intended, just can't remember). The girl that breaks that long standing record was like 2 years old or something when Janet set the record. As Karie and I watched that together I said, "That Janet lady is only two years older than you." Boy was that stupid... here again, my judgement has also lapsed in my growing number of years.

Anyway, I guess old is all about perspective. All in all...my hats off to Dara Torres. She's a new mom and 41 and oddly enough, swimming for GOLD. About all I do these days is dig for a little gold!

So, tomorrow night Karie and I will be cheering on the talented and somewhat old Dara. Go USA!

The Final Countdown...

Well, not only is it one of the greatest 80's tunes by Europe but it is also the theme for 4412 Dolly Ridge Road. The home that Karie and I have loved for the past nine years is officially on the market. We were blessed with a wonderful home... not too big, not too small but much like the infamous bowl of porridge... it was just right.

Anyway, time to move on. T'ville, we're a comin'

2008 Olympics

Well, I have always heard the saying, "it's not what you know but it's who you know." For the first time in my simple life I actually know someone competing in the Olympics... and he's a big time player!

About seven or eight years ago I had this lanky, good looking kid in my youth group named Trey Hardee. He was a quiet and yet seemingly solid young man whose family I adored. In fact I had the priveledge of marrying his older sister, Eden, and her husband Josh a few years back... he's a fighter pilot and I must say that it was one of the most memorable weddings that I have ever been a part of. Josh and his Navy buddies are men among men.

Anyway, Trey graduated from Vestavia then went on to Mississippi State on a track scholarship and eventually landed at the University of Texas. He grew as did his talent and abilities and Karie and I have followed him closely through the years.

Anyway, Trey made the Olympic Team and will be competing in the Men's Decathalon on August 22nd throughout the day. Say a prayer for Trey and watch him as he competes for the gold!