As I write this, I am drenched in sweat. Actually, I was drenched in sweat. That sweat is now dried into my shirt and emitting a fragrance that is some mix of sweat, plywood, dirt, and mustard. I also just tooted, which felt great and for which - after a long days work - I offer no apology.

Today I helped build a home in east Fort Worth with Habitat for Humanity. My employer, TD Ameritrade, sponsored a house and gave me the day off to offer my contribution. I spent the day helping frame the roof, which should be completed tomorrow. It was nice at the end of the day, seeing how far we came, starting with just a plywood skeleton, and by the end beginning to look like a real roof. I don't remember who the lady is whose home we are building, but I'm excited for her anyway, and am glad to be a part of that effort.

Meanwhile, I have my own projects back at Casa de Deano. With my dad's guidance, I've recently repainted the back-side trim, re-caulked the bathtubs and the kitchen sink, fixed a door that literally fell off, completely re-do a bathroom skylight area, and will soon repaint the front entrance to the house, among some other projects. I do all this in preparation for my new roommate, Cara. I don't know how long we'll be in this house, but I am doing what I can to make sure we start our marriage focused on our new life together and not all the broken things we have to fix.

The fun aspect of home-building a home is you never really finish. Some people might see call this a negative, but I see building a house as allegorical to much of our personal growth. We are always in process; never quite finished and hopefully renewing and refreshing prior areas of development. A complacent house rots, and so does the heart and mind. We are always in process.

I'm very excited for the soon-to-be homeowner in the house I worked on today. I feel that in my own way I can relate to the anticipation of memories to come, as I feel I am, in my own way, building a home as well. In both cases, the page is turning and a new chapter is about to begin. I'm glad to have been a part of this lady's story, and I'm glad that she, while not knowing it, has become a part of mine.

That's all I've got for now, as I have to get in the shower, which will be long and cold and wonderful. I may have to burn my clothes. I can taste my stink.

I'm excited about getting married. If that's not the biggest 'duh' statement of my life, well, it is, but I digress. The date draws near, now less than five months away. There is so much left to plan and sort out. Cara is moving some of her furniture when she comes to Fort Worth next month for my brother's wedding. Did I mention I'm going to Arkansas this weekend for her sister's wedding? Or what about August, when Cara's bridesmaid and my groomsman get married (to other people) in back to back weeks? I'm still holding out that another wedding will somehow happen this year that I'm not yet aware of.

2008 is officially the year of the wedding, and I am glad to offer my contribution to that effort. On October 25th, Cara and I will cross that line and start our life together. The road will wind and bump and be filled with all kinds of oddities, but I trust that God has His plan for us, and we are open to His direction. I think I say that because I mean to recognize God's overwhelming presence and movement in our relationship and the steps we've taken therein. I also say it to remain humble, and to recognize my place before Him. And, with all that said, I am excited. Excitement is a wonderful feeling and a special gift from God that we might feel and enjoy. As I've written before, I do not make the mistake of assuming life will always be exciting or that excitement is what I should strive for. Neither are true, and much of our growth in love and faith with God happens outside these times. In my excitement, however, I am encouraged and renewed in my belief that Christ will lead me in all ways at all times.

I look forward to stepping into my role as Cara's husband, lover, friend, and provider. I've no doubt that these roles will come with great challenges and a good deal of heartache. My excitement does not blind me from these truths, but arms me with the knowledge that in the trials we will face, the same joy in Christ that fuels our current excitement will also fuel our future perseverance in the face of such trials. The joy and hope of Christ is our common thread; our Rock in both calm seas and high waters. I am thankful for the calm waters of today, and on the watch for the high waters of tomorrow. But, being the present calm waters that they are, I smile, relax, and enjoy His blessing bestowed, and allow myself to get caught up in the excitement of what He's preparing for us together.

I haven't written anything in awhile. I'm still engaged, which is great, except for not wanting to be engaged anymore. I of course mean that in a good way. I'm very excited about being near and dear to my best friend, about spending life with her.

I feel bad about something I recently said to her. I'll be sure and tell her soon, so she doesn't find out here, though since no one reads this blog I assume she'd be the first to know either way. She wants to see the movie 'Baby Mama'. I don't. Self-contained within the argument of whether that movie is worth paying for, I still believe my opinion is correct, as my opinions in my mind often are. The broader question, however, of a working relationship's need for self-sacrifice and service means my opinion, though correct within its context, exists in a context too narrow and small to serve the broader - and better - point. In short, I still think I'm right, but we'll see how far that gets me when I want to make out.

Beyond making out (which I do love so), I enjoy drawing closer to Cara, and I appreciate that I therefore get to share in activities I would never, never do myself. That's right, gents, I said 'get to', because we know there are parts of those awful chick flicks we like that we don't admit. Many are shallow, but some are actually good. Regardless, there is inherent value in sharing activities together, even those activities one party might not be drawn to individually. I'm drawn to depth of character, plot, and script. Cara is drawn to stories of two people falling in love. We are both, however, drawn to each other first, and we step into each other's realm of interest willingly and in love.

All said, God is teaching me all these new ways I can love Cara better, and in doing so honor him. I'm getting off the movie train for awhile as blog posts go, but I felt this was an appropriate chapter on the heels of my prior reviews. I'm learning that Cara and I are (gasp) different in our movie tastes, but more that we're just different people. I know God desires us to strengthen each other out of our differences, and I believe He's leading us in that way.