Fan into Flame the Gift of God

I've had little desire to blog as of late. Life has been too real, too pressing, too crushing. What would I say, if I wanted to maintain a degree of levity and optimism? I will not allow this blog to be a place to rant and mope (any longer). If I have something to say to the world, it should be worthy and uplifting.

Perhaps that is why I'm writing today. I've been pulled up, accomplished much, and find myself in a good place. My marriage is strong. My work is going well. My bank account is full. I live in an apartment with no cracks in the doors and central air.

I work now at Truline Bearings, a Christian airplane parts machine shop. It is an astounding place with no premium health insurance, an excellent work environment, meaningful pay, and every chance for advancement. I'm a machinist there, running a CNC lathe, doing facing and turning operations on our bronze, aluminum, and aluminum-bronze bearings. It gets repetitive and my body aches from standing and wrenching off tight parts, but I have never felt more valued or valuable in an occupation. I'm constantly placed in situations of responsibility and trust, even despite my mistakes.

I live in Hartstown Village Apartments in Mentor, OH. The apartment is smallish but so completely our own. Jessica and I painted many of the rooms such vibrant shades. Our bedroom is a chocolate milk brown and a rich, velvety red. Our living room is a sandy tan and a forest tree-green. It wouldn't be the same without the paint on these walls. We are fortuitous, both for our income and our landlord's consent.

The basics of my life before you, blog of mine, I now must let you know what I pursue. Our house is filled but disorganized. I hunger to see it cleaned and set aright. Particularly, I want to see my kitchen transformed into a place of shelves and pot racks, spices and sauces. I have let that day slip away from me, but now I have energy. I shall seek it.

I want to be freed of my tuition debt. Graduate school has not been kind to me, leaving me with half the credits needed to graduate, but also $8000 in debt, in addition to the $20000 remaining of my college debt. The value of the education I set aside to later discuss. The financial fallout is my target. I seek to be debt free in two years. Already, by aid of my parents and Truline's excellent pay, I have cut my indebtedness to the Federal Loan service to $21,269.03. With time, I shall be debt free.

I want my marriage to remain strong. We have faced many trials, fought many fights, suffered much suffering. But I would not face these things and survive on without my beloved beside me. I must do my duties as  a husband, to support, to clean, to do other small tasks about the house. I must plan vacations to preserve our mental stability. Even now we are considering a day vacation to the aquarium.

A friend of mine has been talking to the Internet, explaining his life and the plans he's laid out to accomplish mighty goals. I am no speaker, nor do I have a video camera to speak to. But I find something useful in declaring my intentions, even if no one hears them. It makes them more real. And it seems I need more real things in my life, not less, only that they be good and not ill this time.