Blake Bouldin

Your Questions.....

There is a whole lot of good stuff going on at WCC right now that is keeping me very busy.  Couple that with all the year end stuff that goes on with four kids getting ready for school to let out and I have barely had a chance to slow down for a second to blog.  As soon as I finish this blog, Angie and I are heading to Raleigh to pick up her mother's day gift.  Can you guess what it is?  Give it a shot!

For those who don't blog, one of the toughest things about blogging is figuring out what to blog about.  There have been several instances lately where my mind has been so full from all the stuff going on in my life that when I would sit down to blog, I would have brain freeze.  My mom says that brain freeze comes with age, but I disagree.  I think brain freeze comes from having too much "stuff" on the brain.  Anyway, because it's been hard for me to concentrate lately, I need your help.  What would you like me to blog about?  What are the tough questions you are grappling with?  What are the things that you have been dying to ask but never had the nerve?  Now is your chance.  Let me know what is on your mind and I will do my best to respond.

Off to Raleigh.

Encouraging Words

My daughter Brianna has to be one of the most positive people in the world.  I rarely ever see her down.  When I do, I know it won't last for long.  I love that quality about her.  On my desk at the office is a framed piece of paper that she gave me several years back that happened to catch my eye today.  I see it everyday but rarely take time to read it.  Today, for some reason, I read it and thought, "these words should be put in a place where they can offer as much encouragement to other people as they have to me."  So I decided to put them on my blog.  I hope you are inspired and encouraged by reading them like I was.

Here you go:

1. Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do.  But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

2. Triumph is just the "umph" added to try.

3. If people are kicking you in the behind, at least you are in front of them.

4. A river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.

5. When you have come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

6. Fall 7 times, stand up 8.

7. The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.

8. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

9. If you are going through hell.....keep going.

10. God brings men into deep waters not to drown them but to cleanse them.

11. Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we do.

12. Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.  You can't cross a chasm in 2 small jumps.

13. Where there is no vision, the people perish.  Proverbs 29:18

14. Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.  Proverbs 16:3

Shout out to Dear Ol' Dad! Happy Birthday!

Hey Dad!  This blogs for you.  It was your birthday on Monday and so I thought I would write you a birthday blog.  It's hard to believe you're 70.  I was telling Bryson and Brett the other day that I can remember just like it was yesterday when you were my age.  Time really does fly.  When I was younger I wanted time to fly. But the older I get the more I wish it would slow down because more than ever I realize that there really is only a finite amount of time that we will spend with each other here on earth.  That is why I really do cherish the time we spend together.

But I don't want this blog to be sad!  I want it to be happy!  So I started thinking about all the memories I have of you like:

1. How you would walk in from work, throw your keys on the counter, walk into the den, and without fail, say "Well hello gang.'

2. How you would sit in your favorite chair with a pocket full of snickers watching something on TV.

3. How you put your shoes on before you put your pants on.  I used to try to do that until Angie told me I was stupid.

4. How you would throw baseball with me in the front yard and make Ric Flair sounds when you snapped off a curve ball.

5. Your green "BERMUDA" shorts.

6. Your athletic socks and your Adidas tennis shoes.

7. Our talks on the way home from church in the yellow Toyota.

8. Our talks at the kitchen table fighting over the sports page.

9. Our trip to Dallas to watch the Cowboys play the Eagles.

10. Hearing you preach and thinking, "my dad can lay it down!"

11. Hearing you say, "Son, how many times do we have to go over this?"  Ha...I used to think this is the first time we've gone over it, what are you talking about?

12. Hearing you say "Dad Gum It!" every time a car pulled out in front of you.  Paris was the worst!  I thought you were going to blow a gasket.

13.  What a great father and friend you were to me every day of my life!

I could go on Dad.  I have so many great memories of our times together but you know how I feel about you.  I love you more than you know. I hope you had a happy birthday.  Here's to many more.

Your Son,

Blake