I'm having a baby.

- Well folks its true. I am having a baby.

- I guess I am not going to carry and deliver, my wife is doing that.

- The picture above is of a 16 week baby (I don't like the word 'fetus,' it strikes up images of destroying fetus's in gruesome ways) Its not a picture of our baby. Our baby is just a little bit bigger than an apple. I don't like fruit very much. But I like the fruit growing in my wife's tummy. Our due date is December 6th.

What does this do for Rebecca and I's future plans? It changes them. It changes everything. The world takes on a different hue. Colors, words, actions, decisions, friends, jobs, schooling, even church, have taken a step back in their order of importance.

- I can not, and do not think the same way I did 4 months ago when Rebecca and I painfully (and joyously) decided to apply to seminary. My motivations for going are not the same either. The grandiose idea of seminary education enlightening my mind and transforming my soul kind of has to take on a different form. A form that is rigid, and practical. Example: I must study A, to prepare me to do B.

- We've gone back and forth. We found out about the baby, and seminary on the same day. April 1st, April fools day, no joke! For the first month or so we processed and internalized this huge life step. Then for about 6 weeks we were in the "There's no way we are going to move to Chicago and go to school." But this past month or so has been different.

- As of right now we are planning on going to school. Its scary to think about. Do you know who else is scary? Scarecrows!










I guess I've been in a process of deepening my faith. I am trusting that the scarecrows aren't real things. And they are meant to scare me away.

I have also learned that children are a blessing.


ben

who reads this?

- I know people read this. I know its not just robots from google because people actually "clixk things"

- I am really curious as to who reads this. I think my mom and my wife do. I am also pretty sure my friend Mark reads this, as does the buffalo. YP Cereal and my mother in law also read this. Also, so does this slave guy, and sarah.

- Who else? If you comment, you dont have to say your name, maybe just mark a tally. Or describe yourself and why you read (ok i know thats asking for a lot). Part of this may help me in deciding a direction for this blog.

- What google search led you here?

- I bet it was "annoying people," or "church and cynicism," hopefully it wasn't "christian postmodernism." If it were the last one, I think I need to mix up my subject matter a little bit.


Ben

Dear Alltel

Hi Alltel,

-Its me ben, you know me, I pay my bill every month. Ive signed contracts for you, and ive even paid full price via insurance for phones (high mark-up/big profit)

- Just wanted to let you know how things are going. Its been several months since we've had our issues. These past few months have been really good for our relationship. I have been relatively happy with my service, and biggest of all, no surprises in my bill.

- But things haven't always been so nice between us. Last Fall and winter, we were on the verge of divorce. Yes its true, I looked for loop holes to get out of paying the $200 X 2 ETF (Early Termination Fee). I even considered paying the $400, just to get away from you.

- I had many surprises in my bills. A couple that made the $400 for ETF look small.

- Things would have been great if things would have gotten fixed after the first bill. Or if my service would have only gotten disconnected once.

- But it took several months for me to get my bill straight. You even apologized multiple times for my service WRONGLY getting turned off.

- Alltel right now you are still on thin ice. Im glad you are getting bought out by Verizon. I wish it would finalize today, instead of having to wait until December.

- Right now when I move to Chicago this fall, a 3g Iphone is looking very attractive. Sure they may have problems too, but I don't have such a muddied past with them.

- You better take care of this guy too. Men of the cloth are important.

- Get your act together, especially since you are joining your big CDMA brother that is Verizon.


Ben

twitter and little people big world

So I am on twitter now.

-I dont really know what it is all about.

- I guess its this thing called micro blogging.

- Its probably not these guys typing away at their blogs, but they could be.

- My twitter name is "benjaminreis" that is also my real name.

- You can also call me "super cool guy." Its a camp nickname that never caught on. They even made me a shirt so it would catch on, similar to this guy.

- I really like the roloffs. They are good people. I think if I lived where they lived, I would be friends with them. Hopefully I wouldn't be the creepy guy that shows up at their house all the time. (Check the link above for the roloffs)


Ben

take a shot at gas prices

- Did you know gas prices have been rising? Its true, they have.

- Today at Hy-Vee (grocery store) they were offering 5 cents off a gallon, plus an additional 5, 10, or 20 cents off if you can make a basketball shot. They also offered "challenges" where someone would take a shot, and then another guy would shoot from the same spot. If you made it, and he missed, you'd win a 24 pack of water. Rebecca really likes bottled water.

- I decided to give it a whirl. I like to save money, especially on gas.

- When I stepped up, the guy asked me my name. He then said that i was going to be a challenge.

- I took my shot, and made it. Then the guy who I was challenging took his shot. He made it. Boo!

- I decided to take a shot from the 10 cents off line. I missed my first shot. Boo!

- I then prepped for me next shot. I looked up, aligned my shoulders, and released. It hit the right rim. The ball bounced up, and spin towards the backboard. It shifted directions from the backboard to the left rim, then rolled along the edge of the rim in the hoop.

- Woo hoo! I just saved 15 cents a gallon. Rebecca said she was proud of me.


Ben