jnwilkerson

Create SPACE

josh — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:05:57 +0000

Let’s pause for 5 min. and be still and quiet….. It can be very uncomfortable, if you try it. We are surrounded every day, hour, min almost every second of the day with just stuff, noise, distractions. And I bet if you look at most of the stuff in our lives at least 50-60% of it does not even really matter or have purpose. We just do it because it is what people or society deems as what we should or shouldn’t do. The TV tells us what to wear, what not to wear, how to act, what to say, what to do, who we should be, what our goals in life should be, how we should look. We have let so many outward influences control and govern our lives. We let the news tell us who to vote for. We let politicians lie there way into office and we do not hold they accountable. We are like sheep that just wander around eating the grass with our noses down not realizing that we are about to eat our selves right off a cliff. Where has our purpose and intent gone? We have listen to the wrong vioce for to long. I believe that we were all made for a purpose and we all have a reason for being on this earth. I believe that God created us for a purpose. All of us were created in his very image. The Creator created. We were made to be creative. We were made to solve problems, to fix things, to be good stewards, to be encourager’s, to be good, to be kind, to be faithful, to be courageous, to be smart, to be loving. But some how along the way that spark, that light , that purpose disappeared. It was because we rejected the one who gave us the light the source of the light, the spark, the purpose. But He still made a way for us to get it back. He sent another man that would get it right and pave the way for us to ‘be’ again. I have found him and many of us have. But we still let this world determine so much of our lives. So let us create some space. Let us throw off the things that hold us back from our intent, our purpose. Just start small. 5 min. each day to pause be still and quite. listen to the still small voice that is longing to be heard.

Funny Button

josh — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:29:20 +0000

Here is a funny piece of flair that I received on FaceBook.
Chris Harrison a co-worker made it made it.

“Let’s Do Two-Player”

Audrey — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:25:40 +0000

I just realized this is two posts in a row on ‘peeing’, but I’m telling it anyways!

…I’m guessing that every household with children has some sort of evening routine. Our’s mainly consists of dinner, family time, baths, brushing teeth, a story or two, and off to bed (for the kids that is). The last thing that Joshua and Jesse do before bed is go to the bathroom. Now, sometimes we have a hard time getting Jesse to use the bathroom. We usually get responses like, “I don’t have to go!”, ” The peepee’s not coming!” , or my all time favorite, “My peepee is not working!” However, one night after being instructed to go potty before coming to bed, Josh and I heard Joshua say, “Come on Jesse, two-player!” We both looked at eachother from the living room couch and jumped up to see what in the world that meant! As we made our way down the hall and into the bathroom, we saw the boys standing on either side of the toilet, each peeing into the bowl at the same time. Apparently the object of the game is to quickly get to the toilet and whoever finishes peeing first, WINS!
Now you will never hear of two girls doing this, for obvious reasons. But I think this tops the fact that girls always go to the bathroom in twos. No more making fun of us! At least we don’t use the same stall at the same time!
My boys never cease to amaze me–or humor me. However, this two-player “game” does get Jesse to empty his bladder every night before bed, so I’m forced to say, the game must go on.

~Audrey

“I have to pee NOW!”

Audrey — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:18:51 +0000

I was sitting in the car line at my oldest son’s school yesterday. It was about 2:45 and he doesn’t get out until 3:00, so I was balancing my checkbook and taking my time. Suddenly my three year old yells from the back seat, “I need to go pee!” Well I took that as a five minute warning and began packing up my things so we could go into the school and Jesse could use the bathroom. Our van has automatic sliding doors and I opened both of them at the same time. Jesse got out on the passenger side and waited for me on the sidewalk while I got Owen (baby) out from my side. In the ten seconds it took me to walk from the driver’s side to the sidewalk, Jesse had pulled his pants down to his ankles, in front of about thirty other parents sitting in their cars, and was peeing on the sidewalk with his hips thrust foreward making quite a stream in the air (that always impresses him). Shocked, I put the carseat down on the sidewalk and swept Jesse up in my arms, in midstream, and stood him as inconspicuously as possible, next to the van where only a FEW parents could see. Needless to say, everyone stared as we made our way into the school to wait on Joshua. It was quite easy to see which parents had boys and which ones only had girls. The parents of boys were sitting in their cars smiling or laughing and gave me a friendly glance as we past their car. However, the parents who have never been “blessed” with boys, had the most disgusted looks on their faces, as if to say, “how dare you allow your child to do that in public!” If only they knew that this was just about a weekly occurance for me. When Jesse says he has to pee, he will drop drawers as soon as he exits the van unless otherwise instructed. Yes, he has peed in the parking lots of the mall, many grocery stores, Bank of America, friends homes, and now, a public school sidewalk. Oh the stories I’ll have to tell his wife one day.
~Audrey

Josh, husband, daddy, son, brother, worship leader, graphic designer, friend…

Audrey — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:38:58 +0000

As I talk on the phone, check my email, watch TV, read books and magazine articles, I’m more and more convinced that I have the best husband in the whole world. He is the hardest working man I know. He wears so many different hats. I don’t even know how he keeps up…well, yeah I do, its called ME, his personal day planner and reminder. But all joking aside, he’s quite an amazing man. He gets up early to make chocolate milk for the boys, while letting me sleep just a few more minutes, knowing I was up a few times with the baby through the night. He gives all four of us kisses ‘good-bye’, but not before grabbing two bags of trash to take outside when he leaves work. He calls me at lunch to see how my day is going and to check on the kids. While at work, he’s patient and kind; always a good friend. On occasion, he has to leave work early so he can get to church in time to lead worship. Afterwards, I have countless people approach me to tell me how much of an annointing my husband has for leading the congregation in the most intimate time of worship. I always agree, knowing that is what he’s called to do. In the evenings, he comes home from work and we have dinner as a family. He helps me do dishes, or at least brings them all to the sink or dishwasher. He helps me give the boys a bath and brushes their teeth. Once, I asked him to put the boys in bed while I took care of the baby, and when I went to kiss the boys goodnight, they were all three on the floor playing “Rescue Heros.” How could I complain; he was spending quality time with the boys, and they would never forget that. After all the boys are asleep, we sit together on the couch and watch our favorite shows before calling it a night. He sits and listens to me as I tell him about my day. He thanks me for little things like cleaning the house, and having dinner ready when he gets home from work. I never feel unappreciated. If, in the middle of the night, Owen is crying and I have already fed him, Josh will get up and rock him back to sleep, allowing me to stay in bed. He loves our children wholeheartedly, and when I’m nine months pregnant and as big as a house, he tells me I’m still the most beautiful woman in the world.
But that is only part of what makes him so amazing. He is also a son, brother, and friend. Josh has a little problem with the word no. He NEVER uses it. Sometimes that bothers me, but most of the time, it just makes me appreciate how willing he is to help others. He’s quite a ‘handy man’ and will leave the house at the drop of a hat if someone calls and needs a strong back or a roof patched. He’s a prayer warrior and will stop what he’s doing to pray for you if you ask. He’s selfless, always asking the Lord to show him the way in which he is suppose to be leading our family. On top of all this, he’s a very talented and creative graphic designer. His work never ceases to amaze me and he’s often offering his services free of charge to friends and ministries who can’t afford to go the ‘normal’ route to developing a webpage.
After all is said and done, six o’clock comes and goes, church is over, the children are in bed, dishes have been done, and it’s just me and him, I smile and I thank God that he created Josh to be MY perfect help mate, friend, confidante, and love… did I mention that he’s HOT too! I’m a pretty lucky girl.

I’m sorry Josh, if this embarrassed you, but I want all the other wives out there to know that they’re wrong… I HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I love you babe.

Because you didn’t listen!

Audrey — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:39:53 +0000

As the mother of three boys ages four, three, and an ever-so-innocent two months, there are quite a few phrases that I am forced to use on a daily basis. Some may include, “Because I said so, Be nice to your brother, Get your shoes on NOW, Don’t tell me NO, Do you want me to get the Hot Sauce?, I said GET IN BED!, Get your toys off the floor”…The list is almost endless. However, the phrase that I use most often would have to be:::drumroll please::: “BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T LISTEN!” Boys are hard wired, apparently, to defy the odds, rebel against nature (and gravity), and push every possible limit.

I had just put baby Owen down for a nap and I turned a movie on for Jesse. Inspector Gadget seems to be the movie of the week. I decided to sit down and check my email, bank account (*sigh*), and whatever else might peak my interest. However, before I could even settle into my chair, I could hear my three year old playing with the baby toys. It’s not a big deal, but I could also hear him jumping FROM the couch TO the baby toys. I told him to stop several times, never bothering to leave the office to check if he actually obeyed. Finally, about ten minutes later, I heard a loud whack against the living room wall. It wasn’t until I yelled his name that he began to cry about how he had hit his head and it was hurting. I believe this was the first time today that I was forced to say, “BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T LISTEN!” Usually, we haven’t even sat down for breakfast before those words cross my lips, but today was an exception.
Let me give a few more examples: Like when the boys are running laps through the house and I tell them to stop, but they don’t listen and my plants end up sideways on the floor with potting soil from the front door to the kitchen!; or when they’re in the bathtub and I tell them not to splash too much because the floor will get soaked, but they don’t listen, and I walk in and bust my butt on the SOAKED floor!; or when I tell them to stop pulling eachother around the house on a blanket, but they don’t listen, and Joshua slams his face into a stone fireplace (at someone else’s house), or when my mom would tell me that I needed to buckle Jesse into the stroller when he was a baby, but I didn’t listen, and we ended up in the after hours clinic because Jesse fell out of the stroller and landed on his head at the mall (OOPS!). Yeah, kids don’t understand that most of the things we are trying to protect them from, are things that we already have scars from! Oh well, one day they’ll learn, and until then, we’re becoming well aquainted with the ER nurses and the social workers from Family and Children’s Services (just kidding!). Oh the joys of boys!

I am so glad tomorrow is Friday. Did I mention it was only 87 degrees at 11am this morning! Usually it’s 105 by then! Must be a cool front rolling in. My children are going to die from lack of fresh air if it doesn’t cool off enough for us to go to the park a few times a week. Not to mention my sanity! One whole month of 110 degree heat and being cooped up inside with three kids; I need a seriously large martini… oh wait, the electric bill is almost $300…I guess that martini is just not in the budget, but we DO have some Nyquil (just kidding!).

Work Stuff

josh — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:24:38 +0000

I am very fortunate to love the place and the people that I work with. We have a lot of fun. I am a Web Developer/ Designer / Email admin. for PowerServe International. Any ways, here at the office we occasionally participate in office challenges. I am know as the “Iron Stomach Man”. The other day we had a challenge to eat a can of potted meat, a can of spam spread and a can of Vienna Sausages. So I said I can do it no problem. It has to be some of the sickest stuff I have ever eaten. But I finished it all. The potted meat was the worst out of the three. It looked and taste like it was cat food. Then the next day Patrick brought in a can of “pig brains in milk gravy”. I ate two big spoon fulls of it. I was pretty gross. It had a mealy texture and a salty taste. NASTY! No body else even tried to eat it. I have not puked yet but I have come close. Oh and we have video.

Adam Sandler Movie Night

josh — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:32:16 +0000

Me and Audrey went to the second movie club movie night. The theme was Adam Sandler Movies. It was a lot of fun. Here is order of the moves:

Billy Madison
Click
50 First Dates
Anger Management
Happy Gillmore

We pushed play at 5:00pm and got done at about 1:30am. It was a lot of fun. Audrey fixed a soggy bottom cake (Mmmm Mmmm!!!) and some strawberry short cake. It was very touching to see Scott tear up at times during Click & 50 First Dates. Audrey was out for a while during the last movie. I hung in there.

4D ultra-sound

josh — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:31:44 +0000

Well Audrey and I are about 7 weeks away from having our third boy. Friday we had a 4D ultra-sound. It was pretty awesome. “Baby Owen”, as our other two boys call him, looked so very cute. It was amazing you could see his eyes, hands, feet, and his little puckered up lips. Even his little round double chin. I would recommend it to anybody that is wanting to get a very good look at your baby in the womb. We are so very excited.

To appease my husband…

Audrey — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:03:53 +0000

Okay, so I’m now married to an official “computer nerd.” My husband is paid to sit at a computer eight to ten hours a day with his fellow “google gods” and locate websites with information on such things as ‘Chuck Norris toilet paper’ and fat guys singing addicting hungarian tunes into his webcam. Its quite entertaining when Josh decides to share these “findings” with me, but it also leaves me questioning whether my husband comes home ‘dumber’ with each day spent at work, in the presence of this much misdirected testosterone… clearly us wives are not doing our duties at home! However, this happens to be the best, most enjoyable job he’s ever had and he seems to like all (or most) of his coworkers, SO… I can’t complain; he comes home a happy man and thats all that matters. I’m in love with the computer nerd!