Project Termination

Official Notice: The Conrad experiment of militia building by natural means will come to an end, effective July 2007. The experiment, code named "we-ad-a-baby-itsa-boy" has been deemed a tremendous success. This project, spanning only 4 years, has provided our nation with three super soldiers capable of wearing down ANY enemy in only minutes. The information below is classified.

Version 1.0 - Code Name "Gabriel"

Gabriel is an exceptional warrior with keen awareness and adaptation capabilities. He is quick to embrace new technologies and strategies through observation and training. As with most 1.0's, he experienced focused, one-on-one training and protection for the first 2 years of his service. He shows natural leadership abilities with 1.0's from other programs around the country as well as newer versions. Note: Though he is showing growth and control, it is unwise to employ 1.0's at this stage of training to command or control newer versions from the same facility. Hostility from newer versions and the 1.0 may occur.

Warning: Gabriel has the unexpected ability to change personalities exceptionally fast. He is gifted in the art of negotiation and has the ability to combine personality change with this skill to gain control of any situation. Our scientists, known as "Parents" were sometimes slow to understand this phenomenon. However, a laboratory has been created to solve this issue. Called the C-MACC or Counter Manipulation and Attitudinal Correction Center, this facility is affectionately called the "room." Gabriel also displays a cunning ability to wear down opposition with a technique called, "Hounding." This technique shows great strength of will and determination whereby Gabriel besieges the target and remains focused on one mission, sometimes for hours, slowly eroding defenses.

Version 2.0 - Code Name "Noah"

Noah is a gifted soldier and has shown remarkable abilities to observe and learn from version 1.0 and the Parents. He has proven himself exceptionally gifted in covert ops with stealth capabilities. When captured, he uses natural gifts to morph himself and convince his captors of his innocence and peaceful intentions. He is also adept at incorporating version 1.0 into his plans, sometimes without his knowledge. He is known to use 1.0 as a smoke screen to escape and accomplish his goals undetected. He is a determined warrior and will achieve his mission, at all costs.

Warning: Noah has shown the unexpected ability to focus, without distraction on tasks not sanctioned by the Parents. Once an unsanctioned mission has begun, Noah will disregard any command given from the Parents to halt his advances. Noah has adapted and is virtually unaffected by the C-MACC lab. On occasion, Noah will also become hostile to version 1.0 and without Parent interaction, damage to the facility and both soldiers will occur.

Version 3.0 - Code Name "Joel"

Unknown - Project Underway. Observation and training to begin July 2007.

God Is A Car Guy

Alright. I have rediscovered my blog and I am making my return. I haven't posted since last September (blowing the dust off my screen as though I've found my old blog in the attic). Kelly has been posting some great stuff and I feel the need to get back to it. I wanted to share with everyone the experience we had at the first annual DadFest Car Show at our church. First things first...confession. I doubted. I was very concerned that this event would not work out, especially at 10:00 a.m. when it was scheduled to begin and we only had one car there (not including our members...thanks Vance and Rick). I must also confess that I doubted so much that I took things into my own hands and began "working" the issue. Calling around and finding out who, what, when, where and why. It was a test of my faith and I went down in flames. One hour later, I was all "God is awesome!!" But, between you, me and the world...I had an early moment of "this event isn't going to happen." On the way home, after an amazing event with life changes happening...I literally slapped my own face, looked up to God and said..."There. I did it for you."

Okay, with that said I do have a story to tell. At the event, I went to say hello to a couple that came by to see the show. Joanne brought Brian as a surprise. She saw in the paper that his favorite car EVER (1966 Shelby GT 350) was going to be there. We talked for a while and they were very nice people. We spoke of our church and they expressed thanks for holding the event. We talked of church pasts and I encouraged them to feel free to explore the campus and go inside if they'd like. "No...I'm not dressed for church." a humble Joanne replied. "It's not about your clothes," I said, "God doesn't care what you're wearing and neither do we. It's about you being here." After that, we talked for a little while longer and they went on their way looking at cars. Around an hour later I was wondering around the event and Joanne and Brian flag me down. "I'd like to ask you if I can get your phone number." Brian said. "Sure." I replied, with curiosity. It seems Brian and Joanne did go inside our church. They listened to Matt (our preacher) on the monitors and spoke with people inside for a few minutes. They walked out of the building with new friends, some excitement and a new, plastic wrapped bible in hand. They found me to ask if they could have my phone number in case they had questions. "It's been a long time." Brian said, "and I know I'll have a lot of questions when I read this over. Can I call you?"

Well, it turns out that God had several reasons for having Brian and Joanne at DadFest. Two days later I got a call from Joanne. She was in tears and wanted to ask if we would be willing to pray for them. Brian's brother, in a Michigan ICU, was dying of kidney failure and Brian got the call to come and say goodbye. She asked for prayers regarding many important things related to this situation.

When I look back, I'm in awe of God. You see, He used a car to bring them to a church. It was not a accident that it was Brian's favorite car at the center of our show. Or, that it was mentioned in the paper Joanne read. Or, that we had a chance to meet and talk for a while. Or, that they got a bible and wanted a phone number for help. Or, that she felt comfortable calling me (after getting to know me ever so briefly). Or, that Brian was seeking, for the first time in years, to get closer with God. No...God brought them to DadFest because he knew that in a few days, they'd need a phone number to call, courage to share their faith with a dying brother and a church family to lean on during this time.

Bed Rest

Well I've almost survived the three weeks plus of bed rest. It's really been a hard thing for me to deal with. I'm so independent and want to do everything myself. I don't like asking for help or having to rely on others to do things when I'm capable of doing them myself. Not like anyone reading this didn't already know that. The hardest part for me is to rest when I don't really feel the baby is in danger. I understand I "could" have the contractions again and go into labor but with the baby measuring a few weeks bigger (estimated 6 lbs two weeks ago)....I think he's going to be just fine. So...much to my disapproval, I've tried my hardest to do what the doctor and my husband tell me and sit on my rear. I have had a rough time with the baby pushing on my pelvis and giving me major back pain, cramping and keeping me up 3-4 nights out of the week because of the pain. I am eager for his arrival since I'll be awake all night then anyway and will at least have something to do/take care of. Now, I just go to the couch and stare out the windows of the french doors and toss and turn. I can't get up, because I don't want to wake up the boys or make Jonathan think one of them is awake so I just stare. This morning I actually got up and folded clothes quietly and baked muffins for breakfast all done before 6:30am. Well...I guess enough blah blah, feel sorry for pregnant me. I will take this time to also praise my wonderful husband who has gone to work everyday, come home for lunch to make lunch so I don't have to, cleaned the house and completely takes over the boys when he comes home. He is so great! I'm lucky to be married to such a guy! He hasn't complained a bit! Also to all our friends that have brought us dinner, gone to the store or even come over and let me have adult conversation with them during the day. We have wonderful friends too! Well...it won't be too much longer now. 34 weeks and two days. Hopefully Joel will arrive soon so everyone can meet this little porker and see whose been causing all this trouble! Thanks to everyone for their prayers for my patience...I wouldn't have made it through with them!

FUNDER?!?

Last week we had an afternoon shower and it thundered a little bit. Gabe being a little afraid of the thunder, woke up and came running to my room. Every time it would thunder, he would tell me to put my hand on him to protect him. This went on for a few minutes...I enjoyed being the "protector" and we just laid there for a few minutes. Not long, Noah (who calls thunder...funder) came running in my room. "The funder scare me in my room," he said. He then climbs in my lap and wants to be held and protected. Gabe being the wise older brother (and now calm and not afraid) then tells his little brother...."The thunder won't hurt you Noah, there's nothing to be scared of."

I guess we all need to be the protector from time to time.