I'm a big kid now!

At 5:27am today I turned 30 years old. I started my day with a trip to the Old Market Farmer's Market with My Breezy Yo! Next I went to the gym sans ma famille and chopped it up with an old friend on the treadmill. When I returned home I took my niece to a doctor's appointment, chopped it up with my mom, and then returned home with two borrowed weedwackers and a borrowed mower. After a general purpose lunch with the family, I proceeded to crushing the yard of death (an assist goes out to Cornbread). Next, the whole fam watched Michael Jackson (RIP) videos as Jan Jan attempted to entertain the children. She ended up entertaining us all. Now off to the shower, My Breezy Yo! and I ventured out to the Pizza Shoppe for my birthday outing. It was the best experience ever at the PS. By the time we returned home, the children had already been shuttled off to their rooms for the night. About an hour later, Emenike called for Katie and I told her to just let him come down. My little boy layed right next to me for about an hour just making me feel special. Shortly thereafter, I received a couple unexpected phone calls. Achinike's voice is always an interesting sound. Later on Katie, Deekie and I all headed for bed where I am now writing this entry. I had a day filled with love. I can't ask for more than that.

A Year of Growing

Today has been a day of reflection for me. I can truly look back over the past year and see tremendous growth in every aspect of my life. Somehow the birth of Emenike bonded our family in a unimaginable way. As the only biological child of my wife and I, he seems to belong not only to us, but to his two adopted sisters. Emenike is the spiritual glue of my family. His presence has created a peace inside me that allows me to "take things easy," which is the definition of his name.

Taking things easy has allowed me to continue to move forward in my own spiritual, mental, and physical recovery from compulsive overeating. Starting to learn about letting go of things out of my control has made me more useful to all other people that I encounter. The Spirits guide in all aspects of my life when I make myself available to their knowledge. Today I'm thinking with my recovery voice, and that feels amazing.

Amazing also best describes the growth that is happened in my marriage over the past 12 months. Everyday Katie's and my relationship grows more nourishing. Through the function and the dysfunction this woman and I are committed to make one another and ourselves better people. The Spirits have placed me in an environment of love and recovery; I continue to be thankful and careful with this gift.

My Monkeys keep my on my toes. They provide me lessons on life, love, responsibility and trust daily. Genevieve, Tanea, & Emenike have changed me forever. They have taught me how to "soak up the sun." I am humbled to be their father.

Life is good, if you live it,
-Chinwendu