Tearing it up - as a couple

M and I did it.

We are NOW mountain biking partners.

We spent Memorial Day shopping for a good bike that will be ours for this life.

Up in Madison, Wisconsin we've encountered a biking mecca. Everyone bikes in Madison and it's one of the most 'bike friendly' cities I've encountered. People of all ages are encouraged to bike and the city did a wonderful job securing areas for bike routes. You can go from UofW to the the city loop and back faster than a car.

So at Madison we secured two Gary Fisher hybrid bikes with 'saved the family jewels-gel seats'. It's amazing where biking has come to. The options and the variety of bikes is truly overwhelming. It took us severals hours of testing and interviews before we settled on two bikes. Afterwards, we tested it riding along the lake in Madison for about eight miles.

Biking really is a great joy:
1) Great time to spend with each other
2) A free gym membership
3) Great cardio workout without the pounding impact of running
4) Learn more about the area you are
5) Go on tourism on the cheap - you'd be amazed to discover the little unknown shops and rivers

No sendentary activities with us!

A love note to my wife

To My Michele,

...you are truly the most wonderful woman for me, and I’m so happy I married you.

I’m so proud, so happy, so content to call you my wife. All that I am, my joy, affection, devotion and love is for you alone.

I’m constantly humbled that God made such a wonderful woman for a sinner like me. I am so blessed to have the greatest of all earthly treasures - a wonderful wife.

Love your husband, always faithfully yours.....


Gordon

A Victim of Crime

Bound to happen, but didn't think AFTER my honeymoon.

My wife and I discovered my car stereo was stolen when we were going out to dinner.

The driver's side window was smashed and the job was certainly one of amateurs. The dash was brutally ripped apart, and the thieves tried to break into the back door, but apparently got fustrated and decided to break the window with a sharp instrument (too much CSI watching).

When I discovered it - I was not phased. It happens. No one got hurt and that was the best thing.

BUT it did get me charged and worked up to start my very own 'neighborhood' watch program. I personally talked to the tenants in the complex, and found out there were six additional break-ins. iPods, car stereos and misc car valuables were stolen.

The thing about this whole thing? It didn't make me feel bad - it made me wanted to fight back.

You can't be a victim in life. You have to work up your fighter in you and do something. Bad things happen - we live in a Fallen world. Doesn't mean you have to sit still and do nothing about it. So I wrote a crime report and encouraged each tenant to look out for each other and ask the landlord to install more lights around the complex.

Now as a husband - it made me spring into action even more.

Part of me wished I booby-trapped my car, but in the end the beauty of my wife caused me to pray for these individuals and pray God would intervene in their lives.

In this lesson: fight evil with good. Allow the yearn for justice to spur thyself to action that is beneficial for the community, and most importantly embrace the opportunity to be a protector.

Honeymoon 2007

***

First of all, I have to thank Gail and Noelle - two very caring women in my life who insisted that Michele and I take a week long honeymoon! It was needed! Two days?? No, we needed a week to spend with each other.

The week was very special for Michele and myself. We had a wonderful time together and looking back to the wedding to have family, friends, and co-workers come out - it was surreal and precious.

My friends from California made it very fun, as they left 'messages' in our honeymoon suite. Michele and I laughed when we saw the messages.

We stayed two days in the hotel to sleep in as lazy souls, and then we packed our bags for one full week in the most beautiful cabins we've encountered. The cabins were voted 15 of the most romantic B&B inns in the country, and we highly recommend them - for the price and what you get - it's a true bargain.

We had a great time at a private lake with our own private cabin. The cabin was as romantic as they come! Your own king sized bed, a private patio, a giant hot tub, free flowers, daily chocolate handmade truffles, breakfast in bed, chocolate-strawberries dipped fresh every day, and a secluded spot in the Wisconsin woods!

The cabin near a large lake at Lake Geneva, a millionaire's water club - names like Wrigley, and Montgomery Ward are dropped there. Not to mention this one particular millionaire who drops money for parties like small cities does for celebrations.

Michele and I are simple people - we just walked around the lake, spent time biking, and exploring with walks and hikes. We wanted to keep it simple and relaxing - with elegance and simplicity. The days were warm, and lovely at Lake Geneva.

Again, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME TO THE WEDDING. We can't wait to see the California friends and family come July!


Love, G and M

Most Blessed Man

It's a few days before the wedding.

It's almost surreal. Can this really be happening?

I think heaven, the return of Jesus will be like that!

Most of all, I am writing as Michele amazes me. She is working, and just getting life ready for the both of us. The whirlwind of prepping the guest beds to finalizing the wedding. She truly is the most hardworking girl I've met. The woman actually gets energized by cleaning and organizing! And the beauty of her soul, and eyes at times serves me to stop and pause.

In all this, I have to say: it's a gift from God.

That's the take you get from a undeserving Christian. Inspite of all my faults, failing and weaknesses, God has blessed me with incredible gift from heaven. When she looks at me, I cannot help but be humbled. Michele came, just like every woman, to a point where she trusts, and gave her heart into my hands.

I'm to be the captain of her life, stirring this beauty of a ship towards the great seas for high adventure.

I cannot be a little boy, playing in a tub carelessly. She is in every sense, magnificent.

When you see the gifts from God, you have to be humbled - there's nothing in this earth you 'deserve'. Sure hardwork has merits and rewards, but ultimately we are not in controlled, but when you understand that, you take life with careful steps and with care.

I'm amazed by Michele. I'm amazed with God of this great gift.