It’s the 13th; the 13th of the month.

It’s FRIDAY the 13th. 

For some of you that conjures up images of Jason Voorhees, and others a superstitious fear of Friday the 13th. 

My Friday the 13ths are neither a horror story, nor unlucky.  Just the opposite! 

Amy & I started going out on Friday the 13th.   
We married on the 13th.
Amy’s birthday is on a 13th.

Today is the 313th 13th that Amy & I have been “going out.”

It’s been 1361 weeks.
It’s been 9527 days.
And, I’m still counting my blessings!

I love this picture.

I see friendship, camaraderie, community, peace and hope.

On our best days TreeHouse feels like that.

Every time I meet someone I know they have legitimate needs and wants, hopes and dreams.

One of our hopes and dreams includes are desire for genuine community.

Community Vs. “Community Compromisers”

We want to know others and to be known by others.  Known for who we are are, not for who we pretend to be.  There are practices that compromise our safety in a community.

It’s the 13th, February 13th, today.

Yesterday I wrote about my lack of natural romantic notions.  I have not figured out how to discern what gift Amy wants at special occasions, when to push her and when to wait for her to ask for my advice, but I have been able to add.  Since we started going out we have counted months just like teenagers do.  Today is our 306th month anniversary!

For some readers that may not be a hope, dream or a goal. I understand, it was never a goal of mine either. My goal was that our love, our relationship, would never end.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.

I am timid and I am oversensitive

I am a lioness

I am tired and defensive

You take me in your arms

And I fall into you

I have insecurities

You show me I am beautiful

While she was embarrassed to stumble through the National Anthem on Super Bowl Sunday Christina Aguilera is an amazing vocalist. In her song “I Am” she explains her vulnerable weaknesses. Continuing:

Love me or leave me

It’s cost awareness that prompted President Obama’s health care plan.  It’s cost awareness that prompted his supporters to support his plan.  And, it’s cost awareness that prompts his detractors to scream and howl.

I must admit that the dollar signs and costs of the health care plan has caused me to glaze over.  I also glaze over when:

- A baseball player, even one as good as Ryan Howard, needs $125 million dollars to play a game he loves.

- I cannot grasp the benefit of searching for Noah’s Ark

- I cannot grasp the complexity of the debt problems in Greece