Vacation is almost here!!

I cannot wait. This time next week we will be in B.C. kicking it together and not a care in the world. My plan is to bring my camera and document some of our trip on here when I have access to wifi. If you are interested by all means, join along with us on this mini journey. It is a much needed break which I also believe will be a important time to reflect and look to the future as well. Nothing beats family time especially in the mountains, by the ocean, in all of God's glory known as British Columbia. How I miss you!! Stay tuned!!

Believing is Seeing

I awake. It's a fresh sunny morning and I can smell the dew on the grass. I hear he birds chirping outside my window and stop to listen. It's mornings like this I live for. An overwhelming sense of peace with only nature alive and vibrant. It seems like just yesterday I had no sense of direction. Had no idea where I was headed and what I was doing. Now I have strong belief in myself and who I am. Dreams pour out of me like a glass of water overfilled by someone not paying attention. Most people live the "seeing is believing" mantra which I understand. That doesn't require any faith. Faith is something people take for granted and a word used lightly that we miss the significance and weight of the actual meaning. I am trying to walk out "believing is seeing". I have believed. I have saw.
I take the first sip of my newly made coffee in my french press. My mouth savours every ounce as I am truly satisfied with the levels of flavour that cascade down my palate. It's going to be a good day. Why? Because I am believing it's going to be a good day. I continue my life long journey of learning to become a man. A good man. A strong man. The true definition of what a man is supposed to be. When will I become a man. I am. Why? Because I believe I am.

Seasons Change

Seems ironic to say that when it feels like winter will never leave us here in Edmonton. But seasons do change. Hopefully they will here soon too. But I am talking about seasons in life. Sometimes they are small changes, sometimes they are huge changes. We are having a small one right now. We are moving to the country for a year and slowing down a bit. It will be a slow transition but a much needed one. I am wanting to write more music, record the album we have been wanting to do for 2 years, shift some priorities around some, simplify! I know it is going to be an amazing little season in our lives. I also feel there is a huge season change coming on our horizon. I have no answers or definite direction of which it will be but I know it's coming and I know it will be outstanding! For me, I love to know the "plan" and have all the answers before hand but usually it DOESN'T work that way. I am reconciling that. I also don't want to keep looking past the season I am in and miss the fullness of joy I will have while in this season. That is pointless and then you miss the blessings of being where you are at. That is the process I am walking through in my life. It's a discipline thing. Yes, with Vaughn it is usually always a discipline thing!! ha ha. It's good though, until the day I die, I will always be working on shaping my character. I always want to grow as a person (except physically where I want to keep shrinking!). Anyway, that is my thoughts this morning as we hopefully start experience some season change in the weather we can all embrace the season we are in and live it for all it's worth while in it as there is always something to learn and grow from even if it feels like a winter season. Until next time...

vaughnarchy

Distant Thunder

So I tend to suffer from OCD symptoms. I even wrote a metal song about it. I thought it was pretty decent. So when I am faced with a dream, a thought, a possibility, an inkling, I tend to fall into some OCD tendencies. It is something that I really have to try and keep at bay in my life or it can throw me all out of whack and out of focus. So I DO have dreams and things that I want to see come to fruition in my life, but I do know that TIMING is EVERYTHING! There is nothing worse then stepping out to do something and being unprepared. I have seen some people fall flat on their faces by not exercising wisdom and heeding wise council. But there are times when you feel like you need to step out when it doesn't make sense and that is faith. But for me, I have to know that I know that I know I am supposed to step out and can't deny it anymore otherwise I won't set myself up for a fall. Confirmations are a great thing! It is wisdom and faith coupled together that makes for an awesome experience. I am a firm believer in common sense but also firm believer in listening to the small voice inside that directs you.

As MLK Jr. said "I have a dream!". I feel like mine is close enough I can taste it but it isn't even close enough to totally see it yet. i know that doesn't really make sense. The best analogy I have is that it is like thunder. You can hear it long before the storm is upon you but you can't always tell how long you have till you are getting pelted by rain. Could be seconds, could be many minutes. I hear the distant thunder of my dream. How long till I am in the midst of the action? I am not sure. But I want to exercise wisdom and timing. I want see the lightening so when I am in action, it will be ELECTRIC!! Bring it!!

- vaughno

2011...Bring it!!

So here we are upon the brink of a new year. What will this year hold for me and my family? I believe it is going to be a year of hard work and preparation for shift and change. I think things are going to be done externally and internally. I will be refined, shaped and molded into a better man. I don't do resolutions but I do set goals and here are some of the goals I have for 2011:
1. Be debt free (except the car payment...that will be a little later )
2. Loose 50-60 lbs. (mmmmm...discipline!)
3. Live on our strict budget (mmmm...discipline!)
4. Prepare and work on completing C3E album
5. enjoy nature more this year including camping, hiking, fishing and maybe even hunting
6. Use my time wiser...no t.v., less computer/video games (except for spending time and playing with my son), more studying and physical activity
7. Learn how to play a new instrument
8. Get knee to 100% (lots of exercising it!)
9. Be a better husband and father (I know it is hard to imagine how I could be better at that! ha!!)
10. Become a better person
So come on 2011!! I am ready for ya! I will take ya on! It is going to be a milestone year for me and I am going to love every minute of it good and not so good...because the journey makes me who I am! vaughnarchy!!!

What makes a man a man?

I have been going through a lot lately, internally. Feel like I am being pushed to become a better person. To let my character and integrity be shaped and formed. This sucks!...but it is great in the long run. I am in a constant war of conquering myself. Whether physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. I really want to become a disciplined person. Many phrases are rolling around in my mind. "Be above reproach!", "Live a fasted life", "Make the hard choice", "Give your first fruits...", and the list goes on. I guess I am on a quest for holiness and fumbling my way through which is o.k. I just need to cut myself some slack some days and figure out that I am not perfect...far from it. But if I can see the good and slow results of this process in my life then that is more than good enough. I want to give a different meaning to the chorus of Pearl Jam's "Betterman". So when people look at me they say "Can't find a better man". Not out of an arrogant desire but one of being the most complete person, disciplined, giving, honorable, integral and godly person I can be. As my friend Nicky was just saying, "being salt and light". Ya baby! My quest is to get in shape all the way around....I just have better days then others. Sometimes it ain't so pretty when you see the "shaping" times and I sound ridiculous and am acting like a tool. But, "His grace is sufficient for me!" Anyway, this is my thinking outloud forum and I wanted to get some of this out there. If you read this, thank you for listening. If not I am not offended as my ramblings are exactly poetry or Nobel prize worthy ;) Until next time!!

I Have a Dream...

Yes it is definitely true!! But what I find is that TIMING is EVERYTHING!!! You may think you ready for it and you are not. You may think it should happen exactly how you want it to, but it won't. But when it is time...when everything falls into place...when you are on the brink of seeing things come to fruition...it is amazing. I am not there yet. It isn't quite time. But it is on the way. I can feel it!! It is close!! And the way time seems to fly by it will be here before I know it!! That is crazy and almost scary! But still I cannot wait. I am all about the adventure and the journey. I am so not into safe and secure which to me seems boring. I need adventure and a little chaos. As long as it is part of the journey. This year is going to be amazing. A lot of preparation and planning. A lot of soul searching and "taking inventory". A lot of exercising and training. A lot of "getting the hands dirty". It will be good. When you have a purpose and destiny, life is good!! It has meaning. You feel like you can take on the world. "Hey world! Here comes Vaughn!!" Having amazing people around makes it way easier too. Nothing beats the relationships and people in the trenches working with you together and sharing lives together. That also makes it all so worth it. I am truly blessed and thankful. That's right...you know who you are!! I love you all! This is going to be an awesome year....