How time flies...

I cannot believe it has been so long since I update the blog. I apologize to anyone that still may check it from time to time.

We continue to watch the G's grow...Big G turns 5 in a couple of weeks, Little G is 20 months and doing everything he can to keep up with, and antagonize his big brother...and the guitar collection...yep, still growing!

Hope you all are doing well!

Still alive!!

Yes...I'm still here, but I've been really bad about keeping this updated. Here is a nice picture of guitars to keep you occupied until I have more time.

Brad Paisley Concert!!

This past Saturday, L and I were invited by my cousin and his wife to go see Brad Paisley at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. My cousin is in a group called Go Fish, and they share the same financial management company as Brad Paisley. Due to this relationship they were able to score some free tickets to the show! L and I were both extremely excited to go to the show as we're both big fans of his. None of us knew where the seats would be, but we were hoping it would be close enough to see the stage well. When we got to the venue and picked up the tickets, we opened the envelope and found that the tickets said....row one!!!!

It was an amazing show, and even though none of us were smart enough to remember a camera, we still got some nice phone pictures! Here is Mr. Paisley himself about 20 feet in front of us.



...and then during the very last song of the show, he walked out into the crowd and stood right next to my cousin's wife and L!!! We couldn't believe it!!



It was a great time and so much fun to see one of my favorite guitar players of all time. I have never been this close to the stage at a venue like this and it was a great experience. Can't wait until he comes to town again!!

Christmas time!!

Hello again everyone! We're back from my Christmas/NewYear/Anniversary hiatus. Our Christmas break was spent with LOTS of time in the car, lots of presents, and lots of fun. Our first Christmas was supposed to be at our house on Christmas morning, but the weather changed our plans rather quickly, so we opened presents at our house on the night of the 22nd.



Big G also got a couple nice gifts from friends, and we caught him during his act...



If you're wondering, the picture of Big G with his new guitar is his "rock out" face. The other picture is him playing his new air drums in the mirror...such a goof!!

During a family Christmas, we got a great picture of Little G, Big G, and their newest cousin Isabella! I can't believe they all sat still long enough for this picture.



Once we got back, Big G took some time to play in the 18 inches of snow we got on the deck...



...and here's a picture of Big G mid-flight into his pile of snow...




...touchdown!!!!



I hope you all had a great Christmas season too!!

True Generosity

I am always amazed this time of year the acts of both selfishness and generosity that I see. It's almost like we see people's true spirit during the holiday season. For example, I overheard someone in the hallway at work the other day saying...

"well, it was nice that I got it from her, but I really have no use for it and now I have to figure out where it came from so I can get something I really want."

...not only was this person not thankful or grateful for the gift, but was almost annoyed that someone was thoughtful enough to get her a gift.

On the other hand, every year I am amazed at the generosity I witness, but also that I experience. This year definitely is one of the top experiences for me personally.

Being the guitar nerd that I am, I am part of guitar forums where nerds like me talk about all things guitar related. Over the past several months, I've become friends with a guy from my home state of Iowa. He's a very well off guy, and has a very large guitar collection. There is a particular guitar in his collection that I had been admiring for quite some time, and I had told him if he ever wanted to sell it to let me know, and if I could, I would buy it from him. Well about 3 weeks ago I got an e-mail from him that said something to this effect...

"Hi Andy - we're heading out for the holidays. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and travel safely. Sincerely, .....

p.s. I sent you something that will be arriving next week. Just remember to pay it forward when you can."

So, I didn't really think anything of it at the time and returned the e-mail wishing him a Merry Christmas as well, and so on and so forth. The following Wednesday, as very large box arrived at my door and low and behold....it was the EXACT guitar that I had been admiring! Inside the case was a note that read..."Andy - I hope you enjoy this guitar as much as I have. It is yours to keep. Just remember to do this for someone else when you can. Merry Christmas!!"



I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!! Here is a guy that I've never met face-to-face and he sent me this guitar no questions asked. What an amazing display of generosity!!

It's acts like this that remind me why we celebrate Christmas. For all of our generosity and gift giving, we will never match what God did for us those 2000+ years ago. He sent His ONLY son to take away EVERY sin that would ever be committed, no questions asked. All we have to do is ask Him to forgive us...now THAT is true generosity and I hope we all take the time to remember that this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Down on the farm!

Having been raised on a farm, I love to get to drive the big green machines every year, and I have missed getting to do that lately. So on a nice weekend this fall, Big G and I drove the 2 1/2 hours to my uncle's farm in southwest MN. He was right in the thick of combining corn for the fall and we got to ride along in the combine with him. Big G was a little nervous about climbing up into the big combine, but once I got him up there he didn't want to get down! Of course I didn't remember to take a picture of him riding along, but got a couple good pictures of him driving one of the old John Deere tractors.



I remember riding along on these older tractors when I was a little boy and it was such a lot of fun getting to take him along for the ride too.



It was a great day and it was a lot of fun to get to share the experience with Big G. Hopefully next year Little G will be ready to go along for a ride too!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! I have so much to be thankful for this year, and really every year. What a blessing this year to have little G added to our family, and I'm so thankful for how big G has grown this year. Most of all, I am thankful for L. She is the best wife a man could ask for, and puts up with more than most!! I truly am blessed.




Happy Thanksgiving!!