Sunday, June 17, 2012

War of 1812

O' Say can you see... The Blue Angels!!!! This weekend in Baltimore there was a sailabration to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. For those who don't know this is where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. 
Here in Maryland, we were privileged to have the Blue Angels and tall ships and battleships from many different countries. Hundreds if not thousands flocked to Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The best part of this weekend for me were the Blue Angels.

On Thursday they starting their practice fights and apparently my house was right in the line for their practice... On Thursday I was able to get some get shots from my upstairs closet.


 
Then on Saturday, my family and I were able to see the entire show. These planes were as great as advertised. After, the show I understood why the Blue Angels were always my dad's favorite. They were great and I can't wait to see them again....  Here are the shots from Saturday.















Thursday, June 7, 2012

God's Promises and Reminders!!! (Genesis 9)

Lately, weather in Maryland has been very strange. Stormy, sunny, and then stormy... Cold, Warm, Cold, Hot, Cool... The more I think of it I would say the weather has been a lot like Buffalo. Anyway, tonight it was raining and sunny at the same time. I remembered that is the perfect combo for a rainbow. So I ran outside to see and sure enough there it was in the eastern sky...

My wife was tucking the girls in for bedtime... Naturally I ran into their room and told them to come downstairs and look at the promise of God. I took a few moments to remind that a rainbow is a promise from God.

Then I was reading the portion of scripture that talks about rainbows. It is found in Genesis 9:8-17
'Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. 
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.'
There it is rainbows are God's promise and His reminder... I love that God sees a rainbow and He remembers us. How awesome is that? God remembers us and His promises. It isn't like God suddenly sees a rainbow and says "Oh yeah there is those people down there... I almost forgot!" I think of it more like this when I see a rainbow I think... God is telling me again "See I haven't forgotten you or My promises" Here is a little a reminder for you! I will never forget you nor will I ever forsake you!

God is so good to us... If you take the time to look around you, I promise you God will show you that He hasn't forgotten you... No matter how dark the clouds look... If you look around enough you will see God's promise and reminder somewhere... God bless! Here are some of the other shots that I got of the rainbow.








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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Hair Cut That Led to a Job

Today, I was on my way to go study for a little bit for my World Literature class at a Starbucks and I was driving by the place where I get a hair cut (right down the street from my house). So, I looked in the mirror and thought I could use a hair cut. So I pulled in and noticed that there were three people in the shop. 2 hair stylists and 1 older gentlemen just sitting around talking. My thought was "great I can get in, out, and onto the rest of my day..." Boy, was I right but little did I know that "the rest of my day" wasn't what I had in mind.


So, I sit down and the lady who always cuts my hair says "So are you still looking? (referring to the fact that I am without a job)" I said "yep." Then the older gentlemen begins to ask me about a million questions...
What do I do, how much was I making, how many interviews have I been on, where have I applied, what kind of skills do I have, when I am not working what do I like to do, where I am from, what is my heritage, etc... etc... etc... Honestly, I was starting to say to myself "seriously dude, I just wanna get my hair cut, pay my $16.00 and get going." I just sat there answering all his questions and then the unexpected happened: He got up and handed me his business card and said "My son's name is _________. You call this number and ask for him. I believe that you would be able to help him out with his business. As a matter of fact I am going to call him right now..."
This gentleman calls his son and says "__________ hey this is Pop (by the way this is what I used to call my dad) and I am sending you someone who reminds me of ___________ and ___________ (his two Godsons). I would like you to interview him and see if there is a fit."

So, I am thinking to myself well, it can't hurt to go to an interview... Now, I am in jeans and a sweater and I don't have my resume or anything about myself with me. But, this guy is expecting me so I jump into my vehicle and I drive to the interview. Turns out this company is a family owned (rather large) Catering business and the position that they are looking for is someone who is good with computers and a jack of all trades kinda guy.

I sat with the owner of the company for about a hour and half talking about everything from World War II, Mac computers, Sarah's (My sister-in-law) boyfriend, to website hosting, photography, evangelism, New York City, Buffalo, Tex/Mex restaurants, my schooling, Bible College, being a Paralegal, how my family came to Maryland, married life, children, Army v. Navy football game, New York Yankees, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Polish people (the family is Polish and so is my mom's side of the family) and bagels. After I mentioned that I love photography his eyes lit up. He mentioned that I might be able to get some weddings gigs and that I should go home and write him an email about what I think I can do what for the company. Mind you at this point I have no idea what the job description is of the job that I am interviewing for. He then gives me his cell number and I mentioned to him that my number is going to be from the Rochester area because I can't/won't ever change my number. He then asks why I can't/won't change my number. "Well, I used to work a boy's correctional home and I always gave out my cell number to the boys there (even though that was against the rules) and I told them that if they ever needed me or were in trouble just call. Well, now I can't change my number because if they were going to hurt themselves or were in trouble and couldn't get a hold of me I would feel horrible." So then the owner says "I tell you what. You show up here on Friday and don't worry about writing me anything... I have heard all I needed to hear"....

So, I have a job!!!! I still don't totally know what I am going to be doing... However, God once again whispered to me " Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are?" (Matthew 6:26)

Just like that God, met me in the barber shop and set me up with a job!!!! Plus an added bonus I got the hair cut for free... As I am writing this blog I am listening to a song that says it better than I ever could...
"All You ever do is change the old for new, people we believe that God is bigger than the air I breathe the world we'll leave... God will save the day and all will say My Glorious!!!! (My Glorious by Delirious) "

Thank you my Glorious for saving the day!!!
Below for your viewing pleasure are some photos of Rebecca feeding Jack....





Thursday, February 2, 2012

"I am a serial thriller, I am a boring killer, I wanna pick my own grave stone... "

Recently, I saw this truck (2012 Chevy Silverado) commercial where one guy is talking to another guy who has just moved into the neighborhood. Of course he asks the new guy the one question that we all ask... WHAT DO YOU DO?


Well, recently I have been "let go" of my job. I was a litigation paralegal for a law firm (personal injury). I can tell you all you need to know about the laws of Maryland and how the Court system works. What to say and what to stay away from.

Well, since I have been "let go" I have been increasingly more and more aware that I can't really answer that question. At least not the way that most men can answer that question. I want to start answering that question this way.... "Oh I am a lover of God, OH I am worshiper of Jesus, Oh I am a dad, husband, brother, and mentor..." There is a tag line at the end of the commercial that says "for those who live life for a living the 2012 Chevy Silverado" Kinda, my line of thinking... I want to live my life for a living (it doesn't pay as much though). But when I pass I don't want my gravestone to read "Justin D. Heim a paralegal"

I want it to say: A loving Husband, Father, (Grandfather if time willing) and liver of life... In the last couple of days I have had the opportunity to hang out my children more and I am realizing that they are what my life is suppose to be about not punching a time card in and out...

There is a song by Jason Upton called "Between the Graveyard and the Garden" and one of the lines in the song says:
"I am a serial thriller, I am a boring killer, I wanna pick my own grave stone... "

I am not sure that I could have said any better than this... I have no idea when I am going to get a job (sooner rather than later) or what that job is going to look like. But what I do is not who I am any longer...

Here are some pictures of my boy for you...






If you would like to watch the commercial please visit this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpzvsQAtkaY