In 17 hours I went from a non-handy, uninterested-when-it-comes-to-around-the-house-projects man to a confident, willing-to-learn-new-skills-around-the-house man. Lisa and I wanted to have wood floors in our home, so I got some quotes on what it would cost to have someone come in "turn-key" style and lay the wood. The verdict for this young, soon-to-be parents, couple: having someone install floors is outrageously priced. (I take that back. It's not outrageous. It's just expensive. In fact, after installing the floors with my bro's-in-law and a few generous friends, I understand why floor installers charge a lot--it's hard work! Actually, relative to how hard the work is, I'm now convinced they don't charge nearly enough.)

So I decided I'd learn how to install wood floors on the fly with some trusted advice readily accessible by phone. I learned how to cut wood to fit in corners, use a massive nail gun, remove, repaint and restore baseboards (fyi: I learned to always re-affix baseboards from right to left...I tried left to right and I can tell you firsthand that it doesn't work well), how to use a skill saw and a jigsaw, and how to rack a floor. I was a great experience. I'm glad I decided to jump in over my head knowing it would force me to learn.

And I saved around $3,000 by doing it myself. Come on over and enjoy the floors with us.

Ok, here is my first--and fourth total--entry in quite some time. I've got good reason to write this time. My wife, Lisa, is pregnant with our first child, a baby girl. We are so ecstatic. She is 24 weeks along and is due to have the baby on May 31.

Here is the thing that presents some issues: naming the girl. Think about it--this requires Lisa and me to NAME a real human being. Last time I checked, I had never done that before. And I still haven't. We really feel like we've landed on the right name for her--Lillian Carol Grothe--but how are we really to know? Lisa is pretty settled on liking the name, and so am I, but I wonder sometimes if I'm supposed to have an epiphany before settling on a name.

I'm smart enough to know, on most days, that its just a decision we have to make, but that doesn't mean I don't wonder from time to time. So, now you're clued in to what I've been thinking about on occasion.

Sidenote: My wife's name is Lisa Carol Grothe and her Mom is Linda Carol Wakley, so we'll be passing on the middle name to our little one. I love middle names. And I love that she'll have her mother's and grandmother's middle name. (My middle name, Wilson, is my mom's maiden name. My parents named me after my Grandpa, Daniel Wilson.)

This is me on our wedding day being outfitted by my brother-in-law, David King. I'm trying to figure out how to post a picture in my profile. Everytime I try to put one in, I'm told the file is too big. My tech unsavvy-ness is hurting me at the moment. And since its 3 minutes from midnight, I'm not going to fight it.

Help!

Due to the encouragement of my friend, Margaret Feinberg (http://margaretfeinberg.blogspot.com), I've started a blog. Here's my first entry:

My wife and I attended a lovely wedding last night with a group of our friends. Since I was married 13 months ago, every wedding I have gone to has been quite an experience for me. When the bride walks down the aisle guided by her father, I'm fully there (a side note: ever since I had my own wedding, I can't seem to make myself watch the Bride walk down the aisle. It's only because I remember what I felt like when I saw my wife, Lisa, dawn through the two center doors in the back of the chapel, as she walked--if not levitated--down the aisle with her father, and I find myself transfixed on the Groom, knowing that he might feel a hint of the feelings that I felt that day.) When I hear the officiant tenderly guiding them through the vows, I'm there. When the music is softly and sweetly playing in the background as the couple partakes of holy communion, I'm there. I'm there!

For those of you that don't feel called to marriage, who feel like God has graced you with the ability to be celibate, I applaud you. So does the Apostle Paul. You'll do much more for the Kingdom of God that most of us married people ever will.

Yet I always knew, from a very early age, that I didn't have that grace bequeathed on me. So, for those of you who are not married yet, but someday will be, I say go for it! I can't recommend it enough. As long as you find the right person to connect your life to, and to be connected to, you are going to have a great life.

And, just one more piece of advice: settle between yourselves from day one that the "D" word (divorce) will never be a part of your family vocabulary.

Thoughts? Additions to?