Family Values

What do we stand for? What do we believe in? What are we about? What is important to us? What should we focus on? How do we do life?

I've been thinking about these things a lot lately, and I am starting to compile a list of Schmidgall Family Values - - in other words, what is valuable to us? What are important traits and views to have on life. Here are some that Sammy and I came up with after soccer practice one day:

1. Have Fun! (if it's not fun, make it fun. be able to laugh at yourself. enjoy the moment. love life)
2. Be a hard worker! (when we work, we work hard and do it right. take pride in your work.)
3. Do what you say you are going to do! (if you said you would, you must keep your word!)
4. Be Nice! (it's nice to be nice. be kind. be gentle. be compassionate. be nice.)
5. Be spiritual (love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength, and mind. trust in Jesus. It's all about heaven! this list is not in order of importance, cause if it was, this would be #1.)
6. Be positive! (your focus determines your reality)

They are still under development, but I think it is so important for us to learn what we are about. What is important to us!

So often people know what we are against. The real question is, do people know what we are for? Or more important, do we know what we are for?

I know I am a very imperfect person, and imperfect dad. But I hope to pass on some values in life. Some things that are important to me, and that I have learned to value as I have experienced life.

There are mean people in the world. There are hard times in life. There are all kinds of things that will come against you and make things difficult. But that is why we need to know what is important to us! And we need to remember what it's all about.

In the end, it's all about heaven. Trust in Jesus and accept His grace. I want to be in heaven with you someday! Please!

I love you boys! I really really really love you!

NO REGRETS

Noah and Sammy - I want you to always know how much I love you!

If they took all the kids in the world and lined them up and told me I could pick 2 kids to be mine, I would pick you two every single time!!!

You are both so smart, so funny, so talented, and such kind boys. Even though I make a lot of mistakes in trying to raise you right and teach you right, you still have both become some amazing young men! I could not be any prouder of you than I am every single day I am with you!

It's so important to me that you know how I feel about you both! I don't ever want to have regrets for not telling you, and so I wanted to make it a matter of record once again that I love you so much!

One of Mom and Dad's friends is a police officer, and her partner was shot the other day. I wrote about it on my other blog here. When someone dies unexpectedly, it always puts life into perspective! And my perspective on life is that there are two things that matter to me more than anything else in the world: my faith / relationship with Jesus, and my family (you boys and Mommy)! So I want you to know that, and I want you to know that I love you and I am so proud to be your Dad!!!

Don't EVER forget it!!!