Best to Worst

... and working on back again.

Three years ago, I was in the best shape of my life.  I was running everyday, eating right, playing basketball regularly, and even ran the Des Moines marathon.  Today, I think I'm in the worst shape I have ever been in.  I don't think I could run a quarter of a mile without having to stop and walk.

That is the best to worst part.  Now, it's time for the "and back again".

Thanks to Lindsey, I have started eating right again.  In the first three days, I have lost five and half punds, and I am looking forward to getting back to where I was.  I know that it is going to take a lot more than just eating correctly. It is also going to take some serious amounts of excercise.  Finding the time to be able to do this is going to be the most difficult part.  However, with Lindsey by my side trying to do the same thing, I am hoping it is a journey that we will be able to take and accomplish together while having lots of fun getting there along the way.

Wish us luck!

UNO

In reading through past posts, I noticed that I mentioned Andrew leaving us for college this fall.  I am happy to say that this is no longer the case as Andrew will be remaining with us and attending UNO.  He still has a little bit of work to do in regards to orientation, scheduling classes, and figuring out the finances for it, but I'm sure it will all come together in time for him to attend this fall.

It would have been really difficult for Carter and Emily to not have him around anymore.  They need as much stability in their lives as we can provide right now, so this was a welcomed change to the plans for 2012. 

Engaged

A few posts back in "A New Year", I stated that one of the planned changes in my life that was on the horizon was a change in marital status.  However, I also stated that in order for that to happen, I needed to get a fiance first.  Well, I am happy to report that the first step is now complete and Lindsey has agreed to fulfill that role.

At this point, it looks like the second half of this (actually getting married), won't happen until sometime next summer.  This will allow both of us time to do the planning and get things ready.  We also wanted to allow a little extra time to let the little ones get used to the idea.  However, Haylee is very excited and her enthusiasm has been helping to win Emily over on the idea.  I have to admit, I am also really looking forward to being able to look down and see a ring on my finger as well.

Time Out

After eating ribs the other night, we cleaned up the table and sat down to watch a little tv.  When I later came back to the kitchen to get myself something to drink, this is what I found:

Yep... puppy had decided that he would like to have the left over ribs now in the trash for his dinner.  Andrew decided that he needed to be put in timeout for his behavior.  However, being as it isn't possible to simply put him in the corner and tell him to stay... this is what he came up with:

Goals

I stated in my last post that I intended to stay focused on the goals in front of me.  However, what are those goals?  In order to be able to stay focused on them, I need to know what they are.  Therefore, I decided to take a few minutes to jot down my top short term goals.

1. Be the best dad I can be - this is a short term goal that has a longer term goal in mind.  The longer term goal being to get full custody of my yougest two children. 
2. Get moved and settled into the new house - This is very short term at this point as we are supposed to be taking posession in just over two weeks.  So this item definately needs some focus over the next couple of weeks, or we simply won't be ready when moving day comes.
3. Be the best me I can be - I know, a bit generic.  However, if I focus on being the best me I can be, I feel that other things will fall in place and through this other smaller, more specific goals, can be achieved. 

By focusing on these simple things, I will accomplish things like getting in better shape, losing some weight, being nice to those around me, and who knows, maybe even get the chance to be a husband again and gain a couple step children in addition to getting full custody of my own.

Forward

There are many things and people in my past that have led me to where I am today.  However, if I I am moving forward and always looking backwards to the past, I will not be able to see where I am going.  Worse yet, if I focus too much on the past and concentrate on it, I think my direction might change towards it.  Isn't it human nature to move in the direction you're facing?

Therefore, I will keep my focus on the goals that lie in fron of me.  Just like Lewis Robinson, I intend to "Keep moving forward".

Custody

I have heard horror stories when it comes to custody battles, and with my ex-wife, I was positive that if I ever filed to have full custody, she would do everything possible to make all of those horror stories look like a children's fairy tale in comparison.  However, do to the events over the last couple of months, I am planning on doing just that.  I will be filing for full custody.

There are still several hoops that I will have to jump through in order to even be able to file.  However, I am now confident that not only will I be able to file, but I am also confident that I will be able to win without the long drawn out process and huge battles in and out of court.  At least I hope and pray that this is the case.

I have had temporary custody of the kids for a little over a month now, and having them back in my life has been amazing.  I will admit that there are some difficulties to overcome, but I love being faced with these challenges.  I no longer get as much sleep as I used to and the house is messier, but it is not only filled with more clothes on the floor and art projects everywhere, it is also filled with more smiles, laughter and love, and I plan on doing everything I can to make sure it stays that way.