Thanks!

This post is dedicated to the friends who are there for you NO MATTER WHAT!

I just got back from the worst track meet in history. It was about 45 degrees and a drizzling rain that just made life miserable. I was optimistic at first, thinking to myself that I could just suffer through the cold and still have a good showing. But optimism flew in the wind as I received a 12.5 inch bloody mess on my right shin (yes i actually measured it), gladly given from a deeply disturbed hurdle. It definitely made me feel better when a few of my friends had to scream to everyone at the meet to "watch out for the injured kid!" and "Hey everyone! Look at this kid's leg!". My scraped up shin was a perfect symbol for how the day went. I had terrible times in the 2 hurdle events and terrible distances in the 2 jumping events.

And then I got home and was quick to realize I had a true friend there for me no matter how bad I did or how depressed I was.

I was at home, sulking in my sorrow for a couple of hours and sure enough she texted me to cheer me up. We both talked about how bad our day of sports were but the difference between us was that I was still sulking and she tried nonstop to cheer me up. Her positive words and good heart inspired me to get off my butt and write this blog to simply say, thank you. "Thank you" is a term thrown around pretty loosely these days but this one has a ton of meaning. I know I make fun at her for not being able to stir hot chocolate but she has so much skill in everything she does that it just makes everyone else look foolish. I'm thankful that I get to wake up everyday and see her and I believe that God has huge plans for her. I just can't wait to see her live up to His plan. Friends are out there whether you see them or not.......sometimes you just have to open your eyes.
---Joe---

Spike

to be honest,

I need to make more time for you guys so I can give you another blog. of considerable quality.

I realize me reminding you isn't helping

Hopefully another shaker will step up and knock yer socks off.

Thank you for your patience while good posts are in the oven.

Much Love

ø Connor ø

Stress

It gets to all of us. (stress)

Doesn't it?

I'm gonna try to rush though this post (sorry readers), because at the moment I have way way way lots on my plate, no kiddin around. Graduation stuff, Internship stuff, Work, Track, College, Camp....AHHHHHHHH.

So it's going to sound odd for me to encourage all of you to live some days like this. It will make you a better person in the end that can handle deadlines and bidness. I wish I had more to tie it to today but I'm beat beat beat.

Much Love

ø Connor ø

Thought(s) of the Day

Sorry followers. In response to my lack of blogging, that is. I'm not sure why I haven't been feeling it. No matter. Here I am. So here goes.

A couple things that have run across my brain in the past couple days:

I was talking with John Amundson the other day about all stuff John Piper (a super solid preacher. Look him up) and we were talking about a couple of his books. I'm currently reading "Desiring God" and John A is reading "When I Don't Desire God." The thing both of them are writing about is that God is most glorified when we are full of joy for Him. Which is a crazy thought. God is most glorified when we are giving Him praise and taking joy in Him. Think about that.

Second thought: I heard this quote a while back and I was very surprised to find out that Rob Bell said it. I was watching the Nooma video entitled "You." Here it is.

God loves you just the way you are. But He loves you way too much to keep you that way.

I love it.

Third and final thought: I've been reading "Mere Christianity" also and I've rediscovered something.

I love C.S. Lewis.

I share in Connor's enthusiasm about him and I see that Lewis really was a revolutionary. Something that he was talking about last chapter was that there is a Law of Nature for humans. He calls it the Law of Right and Wrong, too. He uses those terms interchangeably. And he raises the point that deep down humans have a sense of right and wrong. No matter where they were raised. But he also talks about this want in society act in "descent behavior", as he calls it. So if we want that there has to be a right and there has to be a wrong. Absolutes.

I know that's a lot to take in but take what you need from it.

Be blessed shakers,

-sam

Song of the Day: Hold my Heart by Tenth Avenue North

Coconut

Shaker readers,

I'm afraid we are in the midst of another buffer period in time. But that's not all bad. I actually think I have some questions to pose. Helpful questions for me and my fellow shakers.

Firstly, I'm thinking about changing themes to something more esthetically pleasing and up beat. The shakers are not your generic group of gents and their blog should follow suit. I was wondering if you would be opposing that at all.

Secondly, What are some topics you would like us to address in future posts, or at times when we don't have anything crazy happening in our lives worthy of your valuable time.

If you could email fourguys82@gmail.com, Message any of us on facebook, track any of us down in person. Any method of answering these that would be greatly appreciated.

Lastly before I go. The challenge for the week that I forgot. Hug your mom, and someone else. Easy one this week huh?

Thank you again shaker readers.

Much Love,

ø Connor ø

Mom

It's pretty obvious what today is.

It's Mothers Day.

I'm glad I have a blog to express things to my Mom. Especially when she is gone doing Mom type stuff and I can't say it say it. Truth be told I miss her right now.

I would find great difficulty in thanking my Mom for everything with mere words. I wish she was in town so we could catch another chick flick this year. It would be hard to be last years hit "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

Actually typing this right now, despite the broken apart thoughts and what not. Just thinking about everything my Mom has done for me amazes me. Went through a "C-Section" just to get me into this earth, pulled off a single working mom of two-three children for a couple years. (taking a break to get pizza.....ok back) After re-marrying and settling down into a groove, She continued to amaze. Raising four kids, two well actually make that three teen/preteens and rockin it. No doubt flaws involved. Refusal to answer her phone, and scarce use of AMAZING baking ability. But this isn't about flaws.

This is recognition of a role model.

My Mom continues to astound me with one simple fact about herself.

She never quits.

Still under the hill, my Mom has started her own business. Twice. She has never backed down from a challenge. Constantly inspiring me and pressuring me to live how I want to live. Allowing me to go through life without a map, but still with the bowling ally bumpers provided by her and my dad so I don't get in the gutters. Not to mention a Mom that has helped me through two sets of friendships that fell through. Along with putting up with me, granted I can be one of the harshest, most critical people you can meet. On a bad day.

Although I could never put my appreciation for her into words. I can firmly say that I have met Moms. I know a few of them actually. I don't mean to offend any other Moms out there. You all deserve today, but I have to say it: My Mom is the best.

Bar Nun

I will go to college with her and make jokes with her any day. Even if it means I have to endure some of her "lame" jokes. Essentially this post is for you Mom. It echos for every Mom that reads this no doubt, but my Mom is the primary inspiration for this as well as someone that I will do my best to visit on breaks from school. No matter how much I don't feel like it.

This one's for you Mom

I love you

ø Connor ø

Some People

Every time I step into work (Papa Murphy's) I recall the story involving a women, her coupon, and a scared group of workers.

It was the usual busy night. Things are moving smooth and fast, everyone is working hard until this stubborn woman walks through the door. We had a younger girl working on the "call-in" register and she was new at the time. This older women walks up to the register and I see the 2 of them start to talk and the women is getting frustrated and mad for some reason. So I take it upon myself to handle the situation because the young employee is looking frightened and doesn't know what to do. I walk up to the register and politely ask if everything is all right and the women starts freaking out because she can't use a 2 dollar coupon. The coupon has nothing to do with the pizza she ordered so I tell her that she won't be able to use the coupon, but that is not what she wanted to hear.

She continued to rant and spaz so I just decided to let her use the coupon but that wasn't enough for her because now she wants a free pizza because of HER "inconvenience". She demands to speak with our manager so I go and get our manager and the woman once again begins to scream and create a scene. At this point I'm curled up in the feedle position in the corner because this woman is actually scaring the poop out of me. Everyone at this time has completely stopped what they're doing. No one is moving, no one is talking, everyone is just watching this crazy lady. Finally the scene ends with the woman throwing the coupon in my manager's face and storming out the door (without her pizza). I can't believe what I just saw!

We tend to overreact sometimes but this woman raised the bar a bit too high. I know that when we are frustrated the hardest thing to do is treat people with respect, but nearly 100% of the time your respect with return with greater value. I guarantee that your display of respect is going to influence all those around you who witness it. If we continue to show each other respect and kindness "than one day the whole human family is going to live in peace." Keep your mind sharp and your coupons even sharper.
---Joe---