Ryan B Small ~ What's On My Mind ~: Blurred Time!

I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted. I decided to start writing a little blog because I thought it would help me with my memory of the timing of the things I do. All of a sudden I can't remember if I did this super special thing two weeks ago, or five months ago. I'll say something like, "Bridgette, I can't believe it's been two weeks since the blah blah blah!?!" And she'll reply, "That was at least five or six months ago!"

Well, I've come to realize that my brain is just fried...period. I used to be terrible with names, then faces, then names and faces, and I've finally come to the point to where people that I apparently either know or at least have met before will walk up to me and say, "Hey, Ryan. It's been, what...two or three years since we last saw each other?" My response usually goes something like this, "HEYYYYYYYY, WOW, yeah, it's been at least that long. By the way, who are you?" (in a jovial way of course.) It's not that I don't try or don't care; I guess I just; heck, I don't know what it is!

Several seminars attended; books read; and leadership theories have suggested the whole take care of yourself thing. For those that are super-busy like me have to find time to take for ourselves. As a matter of fact, we shouldn't be "finding time" to take for ourselves; we just have to take the time. The one thing that has painted incredibly true is, things will continue on and progress regardless if you are there (at work) or not, regardless of your level of responsibility.

So, I am doing much better at, "taking" my time to be with family, friends, and alone! It's pretty obvious that I LOVE being around and supporting my wife and children. If any of the kids are having an event whether it be basketball for Jr, or Mo with her AOII (hey Mo, you catch that shout out?"), or Briahnna with her church or golfing activities. We even spend a great amount of time following UCLA Gymnastics with Hallie and her team. It's pretty cool being a Bruin fan (YES, even though I've got USC credentials on the wall in my office.)

Then, I love my ecumenical vocational duties too, and I do everything I can to not let those opportunities slip by. Preaching, teaching, music ministry, and all gets me all giddy. I think this is where this blog will start for real.

Holy Week 2015 celebrations concluded yesterday, Resurrection Day. Oh my goodness; what a weekend! Things started on Maundy Thursday when I had a wedding rehearsal; Friday was not only my lil one's birthday, but it was my mother's birthday too, but I couldn't really celebrate the birthdays like I wanted to because that morning I attended a longtime friend of the family's funeral, then rushed home to put the final touches on my sermon, then I had to preach one of the seven last sayings of Jesus Christ during the Good Friday Service; Saturday I officiated my friend's wedding (that was so much stinking fun!) and by the way, give it up for Gwin and Tim Bossier; Saturday, I also dyed Easter Eggs with the lil one for the children at church; Sunday morning we had to be at church at 8:30 for the Youth's Easter presentation, and then I had pulpit duties for the morning Worship service. On top of all of that, our home is being fumigated in a couple of days, so we had to come home Sunday to prepare for that! But hey, not before we stopped for some Bludso's BBQ.

So now, let me stop taking a break to write this blog so I can finish preparing the house. Did I mention we are moving into a hotel for the next four days; it's Spring Break for the lil one; I have to work this week; and then Mom's 70th Birthday Luncheon is Saturday and Briahnna's 9th Birthday Party is Sunday. I need a break. Oh yeah, that's what I'm doing; taking a break, I think...kind of.

Here are some pics of the fun I've had this week. Enjoy!

By the way...Briahnna made a fitness challenge for me and Bridgette (I guess her way of saying we need to exercise.) She took video of our (well, my) out of shape, winded foolery. I hope it posts so you can see it.

Oh yeah...Congratulations UCLA Women's Gymnastics on your 2015 NCAA Regional Championship Tournament Victory!