James Ryan Dobson

What Can You Expect?

What Can You Expect?

 

You’ve just made a decision to take time out of your day to read my blog. That’s actually a pretty big choice and I want you to know that I know it. My old posting handle was “Time Is My Currency” based on the belief that I can make more money, I can’t make more time. I appreciate you coming here and I hope you’ll be happy you did. 

 

I’m going to do my best not to waste your time.

 

So what can you expect? Well, I have a lot of interests and passions so we’re probably going to run the gamete on subjects and topics. I’m going to try and inspire, inform, incite, (I’m running out of “i” words now), make you laugh, give you some relief and walk through the journey of life, parenting, marriage with you.

 

Some of you readers know me specifically, some generally and some not at all. So I’ll start with the briefest of bios and then a short sampling of what has my attention today to give you a feel of what you’ll encounter here in the future.

 

- My name is James Ryan Dobson.

- I am a believer in Jesus Christ.

 

- I’m 42 years of age.

 

- I am a husband to Laura.

 

- Father to Lincoln Cash

- Father to Luci Rose

- I am a son to James and Shirley Dobson and son-in-law to “Big Steve.”

 

- I am a conservative (politically and theologically).

 

- The truth is, I’m probably not what you were expecting (at least my new readers) and I’m ok with that.

 

Everything you read, watch and/or hear from me will be tainted and colored by who I am.

 

So let’s start the week off with a “three-for” Here are three topics on my mind right now.

 

1. I’m tired and it’s effecting every aspect of my life for the negative. 

 

Seriously, I blogged about this a couple weeks ago when I lost a night or two of “good” sleep, but I’m being stretched right now. Luci is getting two teeth right now so she hasn’t been sleeping well for what feels like an eternity. I’d love to give all you who are in my boat a solution to this problem but the only one I have is to try and get some sleep :-) The roughest part of this season (it is only a season) is how I’m acting. In the last 6 days I’ve raised my voice (some might say yelled) at my wife and son unnecessarily. They didn’t deserve it and I shouldn’t have done it, but I did anyway. Its a little embarrassing to admit here, but I do so to tell you that we’re in the same boat on the same journey together. And, to tell you I won’t lie to you. I probably struggle with all the same marriage, parenting, work issues you deal with and I’m going to work through a lot of them here (with you). Luci slept a little last night and while I feel a little better I’m still bummed by some of my actions. I feel like if I had formulated a plan going into this season I could have behaved differently. I’m writing a new book right now and one chapter is on planning. 

 

We have a baby, she is going to grow teeth, when she does she will probably be fussy and disrupt our sleep schedule, when I lose sleep I get irritable and cranky.

 

You see, I know all of this, but I didn’t plan for it and now, as a result, my family and I are paying for it. Maybe I should look down the road a bit and make some plans for scenarios that I know are heading my way? (I know I can’t plan for everything, but I can make a dent).

 

1. Our government is OUT OF CONTROL!

 

I read today that Gary Harrington of Eagle Point, OR is facing 30 days in jail and over $1500 in fines for collecting rain water and snow runoff ON HIS OWN LAND. Gary lives on 170 acres and he collects rainwater/snow runoff to offset the watering of his land. The problem is that in his part of the country (well I guess it’s not really his) rainwater is considered “public domain” and it’s illegal to collect it.

 

So let me get this straight. He is collecting water that fell from the sky and landed on his property. He is going to use that water to irrigate that same land. But, I guess delaying the water from getting into the ground is a problem. He isn’t collecting the water to then sell to other areas, put into bottles, or anything else. Do we not have enough “REAL” problems in this country that might skip ahead in line of this one? Does Eagle Point not have crime? Is their budget balanced? Is their education system producing the best and brightest? Are there no homeless or needy people in that area?

 

This is government encroachment defined. Who are these elected officials enforcing these unnecessary rules and when are they up for reelection? 

 

1. This is getting long so I’m going to stop at “2”

 

Yeah, I can do that :-) 

 

Thanks for reading. I hope you’ll come back.

 

I would love to answer your questions so that we can be on this journey together. If you have an issue you’re dealing with and need help, I’d like to help. If you want to know more about me and what I think about issues, ask away. I’m pretty open about EVERYTHING, just ask my wife :-)

 

- Ryan

 

The Life of Julia - Goverment: from cradle to grave

The Life of Julia - Goverment: from cradle to grave.

The goats like my camper

They aren't too interested in clearing out the vegetation yet. Looks like they'd rather go camping.

New Friends

Laura took better pix. I'll post them later & the progress on our out of control lawn

Rancher Ben Makes a Delivery

Guess who's came for a visit?

Watch What You Say!

When Billy Hardwick was 18 years old his dad came to watch him bowl for the first time. He opened with strikes in the first and second frames. On the third frame he knocked down 9 pins and left the 10 pin standing. At that point Billy’s dad stood up, looked at his son and said “You stink!” Then he walked out. This was said in front of all the competitors, fans and staff. 42 years later when Billy was 60 me mentioned to his dad how much that incident had hurt his feelings. His dad replied “You’re a bigger baby than I thought.” 

Billy Hardwick went on to be named bowler of the year in 1963, 1964 and 1965. He is in the ABC and PBA Halls of Fame. To say he was an exceptional bowler is a gross understatement.

How amazing that after winning bowler of the year 3 times, 18 PBA titles and making it into two sports halls of fame, he still remembers the hurt and embarrassment he felt all those years ago. I heard him interviewed when he was 70 years old and you can still hear the hurt in his voice from something that took place 52 years prior!

Your kids are listening. They are listening to EVERYTHING! I recently heard that it takes 14 positive comments to overcome 1 negative one. I think when it comes from a parent you can easily double that number.

God Bless

- Ryan

Do you have the courage to ask your kids (or spouse) if you've hurt their feelings? If you have, can you say you're sorry?

What's in your fridge?

This is my office fridge.

1) This Mints in the freezer area. This will make you very popular!

2) Mexican Coke. I'm addicted to original coke in the bottle!

3) Protein Shakes. When I didn't have time for breakfast.

4) Tagalongs. Love the peanut butter & chocolate.

5) Peanut M&M's. See #4

6) Curry Chicken Salad from Garden of the gods Gourmet. Today's lunch.

7) Dark Chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe's. I'm seeing a pattern.

8) Diet Coke. For friends or when I'm in a pinch.

Take a pic of your fridge w/ your cell phone and email it to me with a list of what’s in it. I’ll pick a few to post and I’ll send you a book too! Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just take the pic!

-Ryan

 

I forgot to ask!

Do any of you have sleep problems? Do you or did you see any correlation between lack of sleep and complications in relationships? Let me know in the comments.

Saturday Night Fever!

Or, is the baby crying on purpose?

This photo of my mischievous little girl was taken in the throws of fever and upset stomach.

Still cute as ever!

 

StayinAlive

I briefly posted over the weekend that my darling daughter Luci (Lucile Primrose Dobson) got sick on Saturday, had a fever, and kept Laura up all night. Sometimes people say they were up all night when they actually mean they were up part or most of the night. Saturday night Luci slept on average for 15 minutes at a time and then cried till soothed and went down for another 15 or so minutes. I was awake most of the night. My poor wife was up ALL night. Sunday was rough. It’s amazing was lack of sleep can do to a person. Sleep deprivation has been used for centuries as a torture method. When you lose sleep you’re more irritable, little things bug you all day, you get into fights with your spouse and kids more frequently. Sometimes you begin to suspect that your baby is being fussy on purpose. How dare she! But, loss of sleep can pop these irrational thoughts into your head.

 

I was reminded of a conversation I had a couple weeks ago with a neurologist. He was telling me of a study on divorce. He said that there was a rise in divorce in couples who had been married for over 25 years and that there was a very curious correlation between sleep apnea and these divorces. He went on to say that if these couples could get some regular good sleep the problems they are experiencing would have a high chance of going away. Or, at the very least they would be able to be overcome with very little work. 

Isn’t it interesting how sleep can have such a profound effect on our lives?

Dr. Arch Hart has written an amazing book on this topic. He is a BRILLIANT author!

 

I was up all night

Luci had a fever and was up almost all night. It's amazing how sleep deprecation can just sap all the energy out of you.

What's you're go to remedy for a fever?

- Ryan