My list of dreams of my life includes daily journalling about my life, whether it’s big things or small things, exciting days or boring days. I still think that’d be a great way of life, but it may not happen anytime soon, but then again, it all starts with today, right? So here’s today.
Today starts with a little boost of confidence from yesterday. I finall butchered my first two chickens. The first one was quite awkward. No gagging, but it did take me three tries to find the jugular (or was it the coradid?). Once I made it over that hump, though, things were rocking and rolling. Erin helped me gut the first one with her slightly smaller and nimbler hands, but when she had to head inside to be a mother, I stayed out and did another one, all on my own. Still made a few mistakes (like dropping the edible organs into the bile I had spilled onto the table and thus ruining them), but it was soo much better. And in the end, I walked away with a renewed confidence – I CAN DO THIS. I DID do this. There were several people that believed in me long before I did, but I’m finding that sticking with those things you know are true even though they don’t feel true often proves truth to be just that – true.
So anyways, that was a highlight of my weekend, and bled into today. Had a meeting with a new potential client in New Jersey that is a project I’ve been longing to do for years. I’ve written about it on my website, talked to some others about doing it for them, but haven’t found the right match yet. This situation is promising. The company is looking for exactly what I’ve dreamed of providing, and their budget – time, dollars, and commitment – appears to be there. More to come after I research a bit this week, but this may quickly turn into an opportunity to sit down together and truly discover needs and map some broad solution strokes. Exciting stuff.
Following that, I had another meeting with a client I’ve done work with for about a year now. We’ve built a very unique e-commerce system for them, and it’s coming to the point of being more ‘upkeep’ and ‘new features’ rather than big projects and chunks of code… which has meant the working relationship we’ve had until this point is starting to get a little awkward. I wasn’t entirely sure where this meeting would go, but once again, I found that facing it head on, confidently listening with the intent to first understand instead of trying to come up with my response first, works. Left with my client having the “to-do” list of “writing the proposal” themselves and then putting some flesh on it with them. Worked out great.
Had another meeting down the street with another client I really enjoy working with. Good people, good relationship with their other consultant, and a bright future ahead.
On the way home I spoke with another client about a roadblock we’d hit that cost us about 20 hours in time that he has to pay for and pushed back a project 2 weeks. Not exciting news to share (although we’re moving around the roadblock now), but this relationship has been founded on openness and honesty from the get-go, so it really wasn’t a hassle at all.
Came home to a family waiting for my return – what a blessing. Erin fried up our chickens that we butchered last night, and boy were they juicy! My wife is such an awesome cook. She treats us so wonderfully.
Snuggled up with my kids in the recliner while colton did homework and played a game, and Mak watched sleeping beauty. Washed a boat load of dishes, put the kids to bed, and then went for a 2 mile walk.
The walk did me good. My knee has been giving me problems since I played b-ball 2 weeks ago, and it was good to get a walk in without a bunch of pain.
Listened to my DAB and actually got to LISTEN today. Read Hebrews 11 – examples of faith – men and women living in light of a life that’s eternal, not limited by their day to day circumstances.
That’s where I want to be. All of these things – meetings, growth opportunities, family, it’s all something part of a life that goes on forever.