A day in the life of...Mark Williams

Ballroom dancing

I did it....and I still have my man-card.

I signed up my wife and I for ballroom dance classes.  It's something Melanie has always wanted to do.  So guess what....I love making my wife happy and full of joy.  Last night was the first of six lessons (group lessons).  We are going to Starlite Ballroom in Mobile, AL.  Last night, we learned the Foxtrot and the Waltz.  We had a great time together....and even had a couple that we're friends with join us.  I'll let you know how this goes. 

Malaree singing "Shout"

Here's Malaree singing "Shout" before worship at Kids' Camp 2009.  3 years old. 

my stinkin' eye hurts

I go through this phase.  My eye will hurt.  Not bad.  But just enough to bother me for a day or two.  And it's not always the same eye. 

What's been going on....

Melanie and Malaree took a weekend trip to Starkville this past weekend.  Melanie had not seen her parents since they went on their trip to the Mediterranean.  They had a great time while in Starkville.

Micah and I stayed here because of soccer. His team (I'm the coach) won 8-2.  They played a GREAT game!!  Their passing is getting so much better.  Micah scored 3 goals.  He has 10 goals through the first 4 games. 

I'm starting to read a new book by Malcolm Gladwell entitled Blink.  It talks about the "thinking" that we do in the first few seconds of "seeing" something.  

I'm also reviewing some videos for possible DT classes for the spring. 

KidStuf prep has been in full swing also.  Tomorrow night, we'll take on our 27th KidStuf.  Wow!!  I'm constantly amazed when I look back over the past 3 years at what has happened with KidStuf.  It's just a really unique way to connect to kids and families. 

Our Wild Goose Chase Bible study on Sunday nights has been great!!  Our attendance and the commitment to it has been encouraging.  I enjoy receiving the feedback and interaction during our small group study time.  This coming Sunday will wrap up this study.  I promise, though, that there will be more to come. 

Whirlwind week

Last week was.....well, unexpected.  Just cutting to the chase, Dad had a heart attack on Tuesday.  I headed up to Meridian, where he was taken to the hospital.  He stayed there through Friday morning.  They placed two stints in where he had blockages.  He is very fortunate and blessed to be here.  I thank God that he is doing better.  Our assumptions that we expect things to always be the same are sometimes rattled.  Life changes.  Things happen.  We're never given a "heads up" on these types of things.  I am grateful that God never changes.  That our hope in Him is what keeps us on solid ground.  I am thankful that my hope rests in Jesus.

Saturday Soccer update:  The team I coach tied our opponents.  Micah scored 2 goals in the effort.  He's playing good.  I've just gotta get our guys to play in their positions and make good passes.  I'm proud of them for their efforts. 

Wild Goose Chase update:  I'm really enjoying leading a group in this study.  It has been a great study with great church-wide involvement.  I'm excited about what God is doing at Agricola right now.  I know that He continues to have his hand on us. 

What's happening with me

For starters...

The Labor Day holiday was great.  We wound up eating at friends' homes for both lunch and dinner.  That was great.  The downside...it threw my "rest of the week" routine for a loop.  I've been off all week.  That's ok though.  I can handle being out of the routine in return for a day off.  We are supposed to break out of the Cage of Routine anyway.

on being a soccer coach....I'm trying to get 8 boys that are 8 and 9 years old to kick a ball into a net.  I'm also trying to get them to keep the other team from doing the same.  You think this would be easy.  It is not.  It is a love/hate thing.  I actually think I'm a half-decent coach.  The other half of me thinks I stink at it and believes someone else could definitely do a better job than me.  We're gonna have to have fun with this.  Otherwise, my hair is going to turn more gray than it already is. 

...on being a Miss. State fan.  I pray that this past weekend wasn't a game just to get our hopes up.  We play a real team Saturday in Auburn.  I'm not naive enough to believe that we'll have a winning season this year.  If we do, GREAT!!  But I know better than to expect that with a new coach this year. 

...on Wild Goose Chase.  I'm enjoying the weekly time I have teaching and leading a group through this study.  I believe that, if applied to our lives, it can literally change the course of what people do with their time on this earth.  I think it can be that life-transforming. 

...on being a daddy.  My kids are great.  But this week, they've been driving me (and Melanie) crazy.  I'm not sure if its the moon and stars, or what.  I've been ready to "take a belt" to em though. 

...on being a husband.  I love my wife.  She's planted the fire out of some plants this week.  I helped last weekend with it.  But this week, she planted 50 something without me.  God bless her.  And she's an amazing mommy too!! 

...on being a son-in-law.  Melanie's parents are on a cruise....in the Mediterranean.  Yep...Turkey, Greece, Italy.  I'm one jealous son-in-law. 

...on being a camp director.  We opened up registration for M4 Camps last week.  So far, we have over 300 ALREADY preregistered for 2010 summer camps.  Wow!!  I can hardly wait!!

Sickness, Soccer, Football, and Bible Study

The sickness hit our household 3 days ago.  Hence, the reason for no posting.  Melanie came down with some sinus junk with a sore throat.  I pulled double duty with that.  I'm so thankful she's doing better now.  

Tonight, Micah and I will go see George County vs. Stone County in football.  Looking forward to this!!  I love me some football.

On Sunday, we start our "Wild Goose Chase" Bible Study at church.  This is going to be an excellent 6 week study.  

We had our first U-10 Boys soccer practice last night.  We had six of our 8 players there.  We should be ok this season.  We are a little young, but we'll get better.  

Trip to New Orleans

I admit it.  I love New Orleans.  Actually....I love the food of New Orleans.  I like other things about it too.  Some things, however, not so much.  It is definitely a city with much diversity.  New Orleans reminds me so much of trips with my family to the Big Easy.  I can remember going for my birthday one year.  I remember going down for road races like the Crescent City Classic.  New Orleans is also where I went to seminary. 

This trip, however, was a short, 2-night family mini-vacation.  It was the last-hurrah for the summer.  We knew that if we didn't get away, school would swallow us whole without us even knowing it.  So...everyone was game.  I finished work on Thursday, and we headed out. 

It took us 2 hrs and 15 min. from our driveway to the Riverside Hilton.  We had a NICE view of the Miss. River.  Our room was literally 10 ft from the water, except about 5 stories up.  It was a nice nighttime view especially.  We headed down to Drago's (actually in the Hilton) for dinner on the first night.  I had their world famous charbroiled oysters!!!  Man....they were delicious!!  Melanie had a nice seafood pasta.  We enjoyed our dinner with the kids.  

After Drago's, we walked down to the French Quarter and had some beignets at Cafe du Monde.  We made the walk around Jackson Square as well.  I love Beignets!!  I'll say it again....I love beignets!!  It was great to see Malaree eat beignets for the first time.  She had powdered sugar ALL over her.  It was great!!  We then walked back to the hotel.

Friday, we got up and headed out around 9:15 am.  We walked down to St. Charles and rode the streetcar through Mid-town, Garden District, and ended up at Audobon Park.  We were headed to the Zoo.  We elected to take the shuttle from the streetcar stop to Audobon Zoo, rather than take the 1 mile walk.  It was a wise choice.  We knew we would be doing plenty of walking throughout the day.

The zoo was great.  The weather was great.  And we all loved watching the animals.  After the zoo, we headed back toward Canal St. on the streetcar again.  We took in the Insectarium.  Pretty cool exhibit.  I ate some dip made with crickets.  It was actually pretty good.  The "Butterfly Garden" was absolutely amazing.  Melanie took some EXCELLENT photos of some of these beautiful creatures!! 

We then headed back to the hotel for some afternoon swimming on the roof of the hotel.  It was nice to chill a little before supper.  For dinner, we headed to a true Cajun restaurant, and my dad's favorite....Mulate's.  Mulate's is known for great food, great Zydeco music, and some good ole dancin'.  Malaree and Melanie got in on the dancing.  I definitely recommend going if you make a trip to N.O. 

Today, we got up, went and got some beignets, and made our way to the Aquarium.  Micah and Malaree LOVED it too!!  We also caught the "Wild Blue" IMAX movie about the Ocean.  Really cool stuff.  You may think all these "outings" were expensive.  Actually, we bought the "Audobon Experience" tickets, and it wound up being less than $8 per "attraction" for adults, and less than $5 per for the kiddos.  Definitely the way to do it.  It was nice to take a day and a half to take them in too. 

After the IMAX today, we headed back to the hotel to pick up our minivan.  Then we were off to home.  All in all, it was an AMAZING time with the family.  We ate some Fabulous food, saw some of God's most amazing creations at the zoo, aquarium, and insectarium.  And I prayed a lot for the city and it's people.  In a place where sin rules, God is still doing some amazing things in New Orleans.  We had a great time, and I can't wait to go back!!

Good summer times

It's soooo hot!!  We''ve been flirting with 100 degrees each day.  The heat index has been hovering between 108 and 111 also. 

After work, because of the heat, we went outside with the kids and set up Malaree's pool and Micah's slip-n-slide skimboard.  It felt so good to get in the water.  We stayed out for awhile.  I finally just laid down in the kiddie pool.  It felt SOOOO good!! 

Melanie cooked a GREAT supper of Chicken alfredo, rolls, (and nasty english peas...not for me, but for her and the kids). 

This afternoon, we had some friends bring by some sweet corn and a 5 gallon bucket of squash.  We all shucked the corn on the back porch.  It reminded me of growing up some.  I don't so much remember shucking corn as I do shelling peas.  It was fun to see the kids shuckin' corn.

Tonight, we had a friend come over and just chill and talk with us for a little bit.  We hadn't done that in awhile. 

Tomorrow, we're headed to the beach for the day.  We initially were going to stay a few days, but decided to save the money and just go for the day.  It actually turned out great, though.  We now have a good crew going to Gulf Shores for the day.  I'm looking forward to it.

On a short camp note...we had over 900 shirts arrive today via UPS.  13 boxes of shirts!!  Needless to say, I'm sure the UPS man didn't appreciate my large order.  Anyway, they are all of ONE style.  It was actually the shirt we give to everyone at camp.  We'll count and sort through them all this weekend.  I kept thinking that is was more than just those.  But it wasn't.  We still have that many shirts coming in the next week for giveaways and to sell. 

On the church front, we had a pretty good week.  Tuesday night's VBS follow-up turnout was great.  Wed. night was a little low, but that's about normal for summer.  In the office, I felt like I got a lot accomplished.  I got started on some more video editing that hasn't been done. 

That's it right now.  I'll post about Father's Day this weekend also. 

The blog is not dead

It sure seems like it right now though.  It's not that I don't have anything to post.  It's that I haven't had as much time.  So....here goes.

Last Thursday:  This was Micah's last day of school.  At approx. 2:15 p.m., I get a frantic call from the school saying Micah busted his head open.  Short story:  running backwards trying to catch a kickball.  Ran backwards onto the concrete, fell...split back of head.  No stitches required, although our Dr. friend said he could probably use one.  Not worth trip to ER though.  Said he'd be fine.  So....Micah ended the school year with a bang!!  Literally.

Last Friday:  Micah and I ventured out for a day together.  Our first stop was the USS Alabama battleship.  We both LOVED it!!  There were some Air Force special ops guys doing some training on there.  It was pretty cool to turn the corner on the ship and see these guys all around you.  I thanked them for their service.  We also checked out the Flight Pavilion, where we took a simulator ride.  Micah loved that too!!  We then checked out the submarine.  I could handle the battleship.  Staying on the submarine though....not so much.  It wasn't made for people 6ft tall. 

After the battleship outing, we headed over to eat at Backyard Burgers.  Then we went and saw the new Night at the Museum 2 movie.  It was GREAT!!

That night, I scored a ticket to graduation for GCHS.  It started almost an hour late b/c of a venue change due to weather.  It'll definitely be one to remember.  Kelsey had a speech that she did great on.  Two of our students from Agricola also prayed during the commencement.  Wow!!  It was a wet night though.

Last Saturday:  We ventured off for a few days to north Miss. to Melanie's parents.  We ate lots of barbeque, ribs, and fish. 

Last Sunday:  We worshipped at Melanie's grandmother's church, Sparta United Methodist Church in Holcomb, MS.  It was an experience. 

After that, we stayed in Starkville through Tuesday morning.  I came down with some horrible allergy junk that I'm still trying to shake.

I'm back in the office now.  VBS prep is in full force.  Less than 2 weeks away.  I can't wait. 

Last Day

    Today is the last day of school for both of my children.  Well...technically tomorrow is Micah's last day, but we're letting him skip.  We will go up to the school and pick up his report card at some point.  They have already done the party thing, and the teachers and students are ALL ready to be done.  After today, that means I'll be the parent of a 3rd grader.
    For Malaree, her end of Mom's Day Out program is today.  She'll be singing (and probably starring) "The Wheels On The Bus" for her class song.  She loves this song.  You see, Malaree wears pigtails most every day.  Two for those of you who may not know...ha!!  And she is adorable.  I am absolutely 100% super proud of both of our children.  They have a wonderful mom that does a great job with them!!  I can't begin to tell you how much joy they bring to our lives.