Well, its about time we tell you...

Hey everyone. After 4 wonderful years of marriage, God has decided to bless our family with a new addition! Kristen and I are happy to announce that we are going to have a baby!

Now, I know most of your initial responses...Lane? A Father? No way...but its true! Kristen and I have decided its time for the family to grow. We love our Chloe, but she's a bit too hairy and she licks everything in sight.

Kristen is 9 weeks pregnant, and is due on May 29th. Just in time for camp, Impact, and about a zillion other things that a youth minister is involved in. No worries though...God will take care of us.

We solicit your prayers in all of the times we have ahead of us. Kristen is doing well, with the typical nausea and fatigue that accompanies a human being growing inside you. Yesterday we met with the doctor and we got to hear the heartbeat! Its a strong baby, and Kristen is determined that the child is running a marathon inside her belly.

So, any advice from anyone?

Cell Phone Manners?

I didn't write this. I saw it on msn.com news and I just loved it, so I thought it would put it here as well.

The world of cell phones drive me crazy, even though they are a necessity. So here are the top rules of good cell phone manners.

Be nice to the person behind the counter
Last week I was waiting in line to order lunch behind a man blabbing away on his phone. When he got to the counter, he handed the cafe employee a piece of paper with his order and said, "I'm on an important call." So is it just me or is that completely rude? Doesn't the person behind the lunch counter deserve just an ounce of respect? I think so. Next time Mr. Important, hang up or at least put your caller on hold.

Take it outside
I'm also in favor of taking your phone outside, or at least away from the table, when you get a call in a restaurant. No one around you, much less your tablemates, cares to hear what you have to say. That is, unless you're guiding someone to your table in a cavernous eatery. And if it's really important, you could always text. But even that has a limit, as well.

Use your inside voice
I'm always fascinated how people's voices (me included) automatically go up a few decibels when they get on a cell phone. I can understand when you're using your phone in a crowd, near a construction site, or next to your local airport runway, but it happens even in quiet rooms. I just don't get it.

You're welcome
Have you ever held the door for someone who's been on the phone without them acknowledging your presence? It happened to me last week. Remember folks: Even though you're on the phone you still exist in this world to other people.

Drive to distraction
I know I'll open a whole can of worms here but please, when you're driving with a phone use a headset. And whatever you do, don't text while driving. Yikes.

Yes, they're talking to you
I don't pay $10 to hear your cell phone ring during a movie so turn it off. But if you absolutely have to keep your phone on, please turn it on vibrate. And please don't start talking until after you've left the theater. It's just being polite. The same goes for weddings, funerals, and other milestone events. Every time I went to my college's graduation, they'd ask people to turn off their phones before the ceremony. And every time, someone's phone would ring and they'd slink out of the building. Remember that when they ask you to turn off your phone, they're talking to you.

Work out your body, not your mouth
I don't care how important you think you are, the gym is no place for a cell phone. Don't talk when you're doing cardio and don't take up space on equipment so you can sit and catch up the latest dish. If you're bored while you spin, read a magazine.

Not in the bathroom
Don't use your phone in a public restroom. That's just gross.

Remember the people around you
If you're out with a group of friends, it's fine to answer the phone for a few minutes. Just don't make that conversation more important than the one you're already having. Granted, I know I'm throwing stone from a glass house, but be courteous and keep it to a limit.

Bluetooth geeks
I've made no secret of the fact that I think wearing a Bluetooth headset when you're not talking on the phone just makes you look like a geek. That's why I'm saying it again here.

Wildfires

Hey everyone. For the one or two people that haven't given up hope and are still reading this blog every once in a while, I want to ask everyone to pray for the people in California who are being devastated by the wildfires.

I was watching on the news this morning how they were attempting to fight these fires. They offered little hope for the next few days as the winds continue to pick up and as there is a shortage of firefighters to help. Now that it has been declared a federal emergency, there will be federal help arriving soon...but I think we learned from Katrina that can't be relied on too much.

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a fire consume all of your possessions and there be absolutely nothing you can do about it. May God bless all of them and send the rain to them soon.

Also, continue to pray for the south as we are going through one of the most severe droughts in history. If Georgia has their way, they will stop allowing water to flow downstream, which will affect both Alabama and Florida. Atlanta is in a real bind now, and hopefully rain will flow soon. Even though it rained steadily here for most of last night, we're still far behind.

My Personality test results:

I stole this from Jason's blog. Its pretty accurate.