Carson Leslie

Those of you who have frequented this blog know from my previous posts about my friend Carson (See My Friend Post - September 14) who a little more than three years ago was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, the most common form of pediatric brain cancer. Carson fought bravely and consistently throughout his battle and unfortunately for us, Carson lost that battle last Tuesday about 3:45 am.

Despite the 22 years difference between us, Carson was one of my dear friends. Incredibly honest, funny, quick witted, athletic and was never one to let his disease define who he was. Carson would often be heard talking about his life verse, Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." He would say "I am neither strong or courageous, but God is and I can take comfort in that."

Before his death, Carson's wish was to write and publish a book about his journey. That wish came true and his book Carry Me is now published and in its first printing. Carry Me was written to give a voice to the teenagers and children who have cancer but are unable to express how such an illness affects their personal, social, physical, and emotional life. Carry Me will help others understand how to be a better friend to someone they know that has a life threatening disease.

Carson said, "Even though every day of my life is a battle, I have learned that God is always there to lift me up, and I live each day as if it were the Day of Judgment. I believe my story will give readers a new perspective on the importance of how words and/or actions affect those around them. I wish to make a difference, and I know others my age want to do the same. Maybe after they read my book they will discover how to live the struggle . . ."

I love and miss my friend dearly, but hope you get a chance through his pages to get to know a little bit about this man who showed us all what it was to live.

If you would like a copy of the book, you can fill out the form here or send a check for $17.95 to:

Carry Me - CarsonLeslie
Suite 102
16250 Knoll Trail Dr.
Dallas, TX 75248

Another One In The Books

So another year has passed and with it another decade. Pretty amazing to think that just a short ten years ago the word "blog" was not known to 99% of the population and the 1% who claim they had a vision for what a blog is are lying.

By now we have all seen the Top 10 lists of the decade, the year etc. but I thought I would add a little of my own top stories of the year/decade. Some of these stories you will know, others you may not, but for what its worth here we go. (Please note that these stories are in no particular order and the names have not been changed to protect the innocent).

10. Bonnie Shaw gets in trouble for the first time ever!

Yes, this is a noteworthy event as Bonnie Shaw was well into her thirties when this occurred. Bonnie, is a mom at our school, who accompanied us on an overnight field trip to Galveston a few years back. On the way home after a stop at Starbucks we set-up a ruse to make her think we were going to spill hot coffee on her . . . she bought it big time. She then decided to hit the empty cup which flew through the air and hit our bus driver Gus in the back of the head. Gus yelled, Bonnie ran to her seat and we then had to destroy the WWBD (What Would Bonnie Do?) yarn bracelets we had made as the pure as the driven snow veneer had forever been tarnished.

9. The Office Premiered on NBC

Of course you know this and for those who don't know what The Office is please stop reading. This show is perhaps one of the greatest things to ever hit a television screen and for a television lover like myself has made my Thursday nights that much better (That's what she said!)

8. Every Day Society Considers to Entertain

I mean where else can you find stories so entertaining as the White House Party Crashers or thieves that rob a restaurant then sit down and eat. Think about what the next 10 years will bring and all the stupidity that will come with it.

7. OJ Got His

What goes around comes around

6. 27

My beloved Yankees finally overcame the curse and won World Series number 27! Let's all just bask in that greatness

5. Fast Food Tried to Get Healthy (With One Notable Exception)

In the last 10 years fast food joints tried to put on their best healthy face and delude the public into thinking that they could actually get a healthy meal in 2 minutes and from a Value Menu. That is except for our friends at Burger King who have made no discerable effort to even try and make like they care about health. As a matter of fact in a stand of what appears just health defiance, Burger King has introduced killers like the Triple Whopper w/Bacon which sports a robust 96 grams of fat. So while the others are health evangelists Burger King continues to march to the beat of its own lard drum and play Get Your Fat Ass Here!

4. Speaking of Delusional: Give Me a T Give Me a S Give Me an A!

Yes, in the biggest attempted dupe job in history the US Government brings you the TSA. Who here doesn't feel better when walking through an airport and seeing the ever alert TSA agent frisk a 92 year old woman with a metal hip? You know she could be a threat! Yes, the TSA was brought to us in response to terrorist attacks and threats and we have never been the same nor will we ever be. I am glad the government felt the need to take the airport screening process out of the private companies hands only to hire back all of those screeners that once worked for the private companies. Nothing like the good ole' boys in Washington using their noggins for the good and safety of the American people.

3. We Got A Dog

After 14 years of marriage and four kids, we decided a good present for the kids would be to get a puppy for Christmas 2008. Now looking back on the chewed clothing, shoes and furniture, the dung coating on the underside of numerous shoes and the vet bills for grooming, neutering, shots, heart worm, flea meds, boarding and any other medical procedure you can think of, I think we made a good choice.

2. I Am Still Married

While for most people another decade of marriage would not prove to be anything monumental, that a woman the caliber of my wife Susanne would continue to be my wife with no signs of slowing down is indeed nothing short of a miracle. As one whose maturity peaked at 14 I am indeed grateful and yea even shocked that a woman would continue to press on in the face of such adversity

1. Luke

At the beginning of the decade Luke blessed us with his arrival and our family and those who have met him have never been the same. He continues to amuse us with his quick quips (most recent being "If you can put cookies in beer I will be the next Santa) and antics. He is a great kid and one that makes my heart happy as do all my children

Genesis Farms Nigeria

About 18 months ago I had the opportunity to visit Nigeria and take in first hand the ministry of a dear friend. His ministry to orphans and widows is tremendous and is changing lives. This ministry has started a new project called Genesis Farms and are building Greenhouses in order to be a self-sustaining ministry and teach life skills to the children with whom they work.

Please watch this video and consider giving to this life changing work by clicking here.

Christmas

Had a great day today and seems each Christmas gets better! Here are a few of my favorite things that happened today and some thoughts I have had:

• Luke posing in his new robe and Wii pants which he has worn all day
• Taking the boys sledding and being told it was "the most beast thing ever!" Can't beat that!
• Chocolate pie
• Pumpkin pie
• Lauren and Luke making pie
• Watching my kids give Susanne a present they had made and how proud they were of it
• Talking to my niece Peyton and her telling me she loves me and will give me big hugs tomorrow
• Crashing on the sled with Jonathan and laughing our heads off
• Watching my boys wrestle and laugh
• Relaxing with the family
• Talking to my brothers
• Being amazingly thankful for the friendship I have with my friend Carson and thinking of his family
• Jeremy just proclaiming he does not want to be hot as he sits in front of a fire
• Watching Harry Potter with the kids

I have had a great day and am very thankful for it!

I Will Be Getting This Book

The Good Stuff - Here is the Official Description from The Publisher:

Sometimes, we fall in love on mission trips even though we know we’ll break up when we get back.

Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend’s prayer because she’s asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship.

Sometimes, you think, “I wish I had a t-shirt that said ‘I direct deposit my tithe’ so people wouldn’t judge me.”

Sometimes, the stuff that comes with faith is funny.

This is that stuff.

Jonathan Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like is your field guide to all things Christian. Like a satirical grenade, Acuff brings us the humor and honesty that galvanized 730,000 online readers from 209 countries in a new portable version. Welcome to the funny side of faith.

No Glamour

A few months ago I was on a plane headed from Tampa to Dallas next to an all to perky lady who was so excited to be on her first business trip. As she began to tell me all that she did and how much fun she was going to have with all of her business travel she had ahead of her I had one thought . . . . SUCKER!

After my recent trip from which I just returned, I can assure you that there is no glamour in business travel. Need proof, here are some low-lights of my most recent trip:

12:15 am

Arrive in Boston and go stand out to wait for the Rental Car bus to bring me to the Alamo counter. Upon arriving at the counter, I am met with a less than enthusiastic "Far Side" character looking man who speaks with all of the volume of of a church whisper and then gets frustrated when I say excuse me because I did not here. Mr. Boombox and I finish our transaction and despite his frustration with my poor hearing he upgrades me to a mid-size. I walk out to get my mid-size and there are none. After some discussion and a few more "excuse me's" I am finally in my car and headed to my destination. Did I mention it was a PT Cruiser? More on this later.

Day 1

12:52 am

I drive all of 35 feet and come to the gated outpost where I must brandish the contract that was just issued to me. This is where I meet Dennis Leary's ugly kid brother who is obviously quote bitter that he has the third shift in the Alamo Car Rental check-out post. I deliver my license and contract and Smiles begins tapping on a keyboard which brings on a strings of "damn it's" and other obscenities that would make a sailor blush. Finally my silent prayers are met and human wit has overcome the key board, I receive my contract and license back and manage to pull out of the lot without any harm (I was afraid during the course of his near mental breakdown that the third shift bitterness may have overtaken him at some point and in his insane rage he would have snapped and I would be abducted and stuffed in his freezer).

1:04 am

I drive 450 feet and am met with a toll booth where I part with almost $4.00. I am informed this is for the privilege of using the tunnel and that it beats swimming. I am so tired by this point that while my mind is racing with a swarm of comments, most of which include "Dumb Ass", I reply with a weak smile, take my change and drive on.

1:27 am

I pull into the hotel and check-in explaining to the agent that the last time I checked in after midnight I was assessed a full room fee and a cancellation fee and I need assurances this won't happen again. The peach of a woman behind the desk, we will call her Connie, give me a look that tells me she is thinking of a swarm of comments, most of which include "Dumb Ass", but because she is to tired she simply gives a weak smile and says "ok". I get my key, am told the general direction of the elevator and off I go.

1:31am

Arrive at my door and get that red blinking light when pulling my key out that tells you its not working. I begin to think I am at the wrong door or perhaps the third shift man in the Alamo outpost beat me to the hotel and wants to stuff me in his freezer. After a rain dance to the gods of business travel, the key works, I dump my belongings and go to bed.

Day 2

7:00 am

Alarm goes off, words I learned just six hours before from the Alamo outpost man come screaming into my conscious thoughts as I reach for the snooze.

7:09am

Alarm again, this time the words are audible and I wonder why in the world do they make the snooze 9 minutes? Would it kill them to just go an even 10? I ponder this thought for awhile and the words "Dumb Ass" come to my mind and I am beginning to sense a trend.

7:10am - 6:42pm

Spend all day working in the hotel room because it is $600 cheaper for me to be there a day before my meetings than actually fly in this day. Why? I have no idea, ask the airlines and insert running theme here.

6:49pm

Sit down at the local Chili's bar for a salad and a chicken sandwich. It is there I meet Jim who just retired in October. We speak about our families, his career in electronics, politics, sports and other various topics. He asks me what I do and when I inform him I run a company with my brother he becomes exuberant and the next 30 minutes are me giving our corporate pitch to a man I know damn well has no intention of buying.

7:28pm

Mark sits down to my right at the bar, Jim, who is to my left introduces himself and me to Mark. I take advantage of a quick breath taken by Jim to inform Mark that Jim and I are not a couple and have met simply by coincidence. Jim catches his breath and finishes by informing Mark that I am a CEO of a company. I suddenly feel like a show&tell item, we make small talk but refuse to make eye contact. I am still not sure Mark believes my story and Jim & I.

7:54pm

I announce my departure, shake hands with Jim and Mark and tell them how delightful it was to meet them both and walk out the exit alone. Mark has to believe me now . . . . . doesn't he?

9:13pm

Trying to get the hotel iron cord untangled so I do not look like a wrinkled mess on the next day's presentation. Have a close call with burning myself, escape unscathed

9:52pm

Crawl into bed and after some time finally asleep

Day 3

7:01am

Alarm, I hit snooze

7:10am

I see it is indeed 7:10 and while I know its been nine minutes it feels like 10 and I feel some kind of satisfaction that I have just outwitted the programmers of the universal snooze button.

8:25am

Head off to Starbucks before I go to my conference, need a good boost and look forward to a Venti dose of caffeine. Pull into the Starbucks and my key will not come out of the ignition and the car won't turn off. I laugh, but its a nervous laugh, as I know I can't get my Starbucks as leaving a running car in the parking lot is not an option. I turn the key, I plead, I pray, I dance to the gods of travel and get nothing!

8:28am

I call Alamo Roadside Assistance and inform them of my plight including extra emphasis on my inability to get coffee. My assigned agent, we will call her Mikayla, has me run through all of the steps I went through just 3 minutes prior minus the dance. FAILURE!

9:18am

Second call with Mikayla where I inform her that due to my being due in a meeting I will leave the PT (stand for piece of trash) Cruiser (sorry Mr. Iacocca I know you worked hard by the PT Cruiser sucks) running in the Marriott parking lot. Mikayla informs me to lock all the doors except for the back door on the drivers side. Apparently car thieves are thrown way off when only one door, especially the back-side driver door is left open.

11:00am - 2:13pm

Fight the Marriott wireless network to get a connection. Flashbacks to the Alamo outpost man come storming back.

2:14pm

Success! Connection made!

2:15pm

Are you ^%$*&($# kidding me, where did the connection go?

2:17pm - 9:41pm

Presentation, Q&A, dinner

11:48pm

Watch the Yankees wrap-up the game and celebrate their 27th World Series Championship!

I guess travel is not all that bad

27!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!