I like to write humorously about my life as a dad, a husband, having a child with autism, and other unrelated non-sequitors. So that pretty much covers everything. Hope that inspires you to, you know, subscribe.
The Best 2007 News Story About a Tiger Escaping at a Zoo and then Killing Some Dude goes to:
The tiger at the San Francisco zoo who escaped and then killed some dude story.
I have to admit that I thought it would be funny this past year to release an animal at the zoo in my area so that I could watch the ensuing chaos. I busted open the display window with a rock and ran away when no one was around. I waited around for a while and when nothing happened I just went home. As it turned out, sloths are very savaged and cages are just kind of optional for them really.
Today 9 years ago around 3:30pm Chase and I exchanged vows and were pronounced Mr. And Mrs. Roper for as long as we both shall live. We were 18 and 19, expecting a son in May and never imagined what would lie ahead 9 years later. None the less, we are here 9 years later, with 4 amazing kiddos and a love more stronger then I could ever imagine to know.
Being young and immature(although mature for our ages) I never knew what it really meant to be married for "as long as you both shall live." Are those words you live by or just say? At the time, I can admit that I didn't fully grasp the seriousness of those words. The dedication and work it would take to choose to live those words.
3 things I contribute to the success of our marriage thus far and what I believe have gotten us to this point with so much stacked against ourselves is first and foremost God, laughter and fun, and thank God, us growing up TOGETHER. So much growing up happens from 18 to 27. And we have been blessed to do it on the same path with lots of work and dedication to keep our marriage strong and healthy. There is nothing Chase nor I wouldn't do to keep our marriage vows to one another. Trust me, we have had our times of desperation, times of sadness, and times of forgiveness.
I am so proud of us. I'm thankful to God for choosing Chase for me as my husband and shaping him into the man I never knew existed out in the world. For Chase's dedication to our marriage and for giving of himself fully. For loving me the way he does. I look forward to many many more years of memories, laughter and since you can't go through life without hills and mountains to climb, I'm thankful that I get to go through them with my husband, because when there's times I feel like I can no longer hike up that hill and the desperation gets to be too much I know it's Chase's hand I get to hold and God's arms that are picking me up to carry me through.
A few months ago I had announced that I would be taking time off from Chaseblogger to write a screenplay. I'm reading some material to help me prepare and write the best possible script and in doing so, I'm learning that there is a lot of research and character development involved. I've decided to integrate Chase's MySpace Blog along with my posts at Punchline Magazine here on this site. Aren't you excited? I am.
Here are some links to stories and posts I've found that you might enjoy reading as well. After the links are some thank yous for the end of the year.
I want to also thank all of you readers who helped make this blog worth writing for this year. I've appreciated all of you comments and feedback (even if you called me names or left me spam links to other sites) and I hope you all find true hope, joy, and success in the new year! Here are some of you that I'm especially thankful for:
Sabrena, my wife! For always supporting me in whatever I set out to accomplish but also helping me keep my feet on the ground and focused on what matters most. Also for sharing my sense of humor. Love you!
Punchline Magazine - For taking me under their wings this year and giving me a more credible avenue for my writing and giving me the opportunity to interview great comics and review awesome shows.
The Cease Brothers - Kevin and Kyle for including me (even if just on a small level) in their wonderful comedy world. For asking my humbled opinion about various short films and being even remotely interested in the sketch ideas I've had.
Bob Bledsoe - For the brief words of inspiration back in the Northshore green room.
Jim Gaffigan - For being really funny and also for staying subscribed to my MySpace blog. I like to pretend that you actually read it.
Finally, Dan Licoppe - For his kind words to my family, his jokes, . . .and bananas.
If I didn't list you, its not because I'm not thankful for you, its just because I ran out of time to look for pictures to post. Have a great New Year everyone!
Since I first posted about why its ok for parents to watch The Golden Compass with their kids, I've received a lot of feedback both good and . . .constructive. I wanted to share some of these with you and invite you to join in on the converstation. (Catch up on what we're talking about here!)
I agree with what you're saying here. I don't have kids yet, but I am planning on going to see the movie myself in an attempt to understand our culture a little more.
I've read that the movie does not do the themes in the book justice (the whole anti-God thing). The real "danger" I see is that the movie is going to make the books a must-read for parents and kids. I could care less if Christians read or see the movie...as you said, it's a great opportunity. It's those who are already far from God that I'm concerned about.
Thank you for this blogging, I agree completely. I don't think the movie itself is what the critics are so concerned about, according to one source(i saw referenced to snopes.com)they are worried kids will love the movie and then buy the books that have the serious anti-Christ messages.
Harold Dean Sink (no link available) said. . .
I can see your point, but I don't think we should openly expose our children to something like that. Does this mean you would take your child to a strip bar and tell him that even though most men go to these places, women have to make a living some how? I would think not.
Finally, no post would be complete without your random anonymous commenter. . .
You're mentally bankrupt...do you have family book burnings? If your faith is so week it can't survive fiction, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your choices.
Thanks everyone for trying to keep an open mind and enjoying Chaseblogger. Share your thoughts with me any time.
It was recently brought to my attention that the new movie, "The Golden Compass," is based on a book written by, Phillip Pullman. I've discovered that a lot has been written and discussed on this guy already so I won't get into that here. Feel free to Google it if you have the time. Apparently, Pullman's mission for his book series was to "kill God in the minds of children." It should come as no surprise that Christian parents across the nation are organizing a movement to keep kids from seeing this movie. If you haven't heard of this film yet, here is a preview.
After watching that trailer, I think taking my oldest son to see this film could be fun, entertaining, and allow me a great opportunity to lead into a discussion with my child about God and address any themes from the movie or questions it may bring up. As a Christian parent, I feel that it is not only our responsibility to God but vital to our children that we raise them to be free thinking, unique individuals who look God to know their true identity and desire to have a personal relationship with Him. I do not feel that the best way to accomplish that goal is by acting as a spiritual filter and trying to block or protect your children from opposing ideas or beliefs. Rather, I suggest that you embrace those questions and oppositions as wonderful opportunities to demonstrate to your kids on how to handle and reconcile them as they come up in your everyday walk of life.
“If you just say ‘no’ to your kids without engaging in a conversation, they’re going to see the movie anyway and all you’re teaching them is power, not really teaching your values,” Sister Rose Paccate, director of the Pauline Center of Media Studies in Culver City, Ca told MSNBC. “If we have faith, what are we afraid of?”
Unless our children have been properly equipped with the necessary tools and experience to deal with the notion that other people don't agree with them, they will one day "leave the nest" for college or work and be confronted with this other worldly view. They will likely feel conflicted, confused, and question their own beliefs. It is my hope for my own children that when this day comes for them, they will understand and appreciate the perspectives that are different from their own and will have been equipped to find what elements of truth do exist in them and be able to credit those truths to God and not just dismiss them out of ignorance that they ever existed in the first place.
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