• Work has been exceptionally busy - but exceptionally rewarding of late.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Facebook, our company builds Facebook games and we currently have two very successful games that you can try out and play on Facebook.  You can learn more at our companies website: http://www.brokenbulbstudios.com I am exceptionally thankful for my opportunities at the company and the blessing of having a good job in the current economic climate.
• Due to the wonderful housing market, the possibility of moving anytime in the distant future seems impossible, as we’re well upside down on this house.  So we’ve decided we’re going to do some renovations!  We are in talks with a couple of contractors about converting our garage into a family room, and building on an additional office behind it, as well as expanding our porch.  It looks like we’ll definitely be getting started on the project in the next few weeks, and it should be pretty cool.  Will give Caleb some more space and us an extra bedroom.
• I’ve decided to abandon my gluten free diet, after about 2 months of efforts to fix my stomach problems.  I only improved about 10% over the time and the diet was exceptionally limiting as well as difficult to get enough calories to maintain weight.  We continue to pray for a means to solve the stomach problems all the while knowing God’s plan is better than ours for the trial.
• Lastly we ask for prayers for a couple of friends of ours and their kids as they go through an exceptionally difficult situation.  Pray that God may use the difficult situation to shine the light of the gospel into the hearts of those involved.  Also for great comfort to the families dealing with the difficult time and long recovery.

I took the first picture of Toby a few days ago and thought a picture of caleb would go great with it. I’m getting these printed for the bathroom

My friend Matt sent out a facebook note asking people to send back 15 books that you’ve read that will “stick with you”  - After replying to that, Bri urged me to post them on here because I’ve been neglectful of the ol’ Holloblog lately.  So here they are…some old, some new, some tried, some true.  Some probably included becuase of what they’ve brought me “to” either spiritually or intellectually, or where they’ve brought me from..and some just plain fun, with no great impact on either

1. The Bible
2. Mere Christianity
3. Don’t Waste Your Life
4. The Great Divorce
5. The Imitation of Christ
6. The Screwtape Letters
7. A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness
8. Harry Potter Series
9. The Chronicles of Narnia
10. The Lost World
11. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
12. Congo
13. The Problem of Pain
14. Jesus and the Victory of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 2)
15. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

I’m sure there are some forgotton, but one of the rules was ones you could think of or remember in 15 minutes!  Feel free to reply with some of your favs even if you don’t have 15 to type.

Note: All the links above are affiliate linked to Amazon, so if you end up buying any, a % of the price will be given to us, which we’ll funnel along to Compassion International.  So you can read and help at the same time!

We got Sims 3 a few days ago and like everyone else, the first thing I did was make our family. There are a few annoyances which I couldn’t work around; like how I’m the same height as Andy (which in reality, I’m about a foot shorter than him) and how Caleb looks like a two year old. Anyways, this is a family portrait of us in front of our newly renovated bungalow right across the street from the beach (sigh).

Bri and I have been playing a bunch of chess lately…seems like we go through a chess phase every year or so.  After about 10 games back and forth, I’ve come to realize that chess is simply a medium for one to live out their entire personality in a game.  I play chess exactly the same way that I live life.  So does Bri.

I’m quick to get excited at an opportunity on the board, so quick in fact that it bites me in the butt sometimes.  If I see something that looks like a great move I sometimes lack the patience to think through it, and I make the move instantly so as not to miss it.  It pays off sometimes in a big way, but it seems like I end up getting taken by my blind excitement as I leave an opening on the table.  I feel like it’s a perfect parallel to the way I am at work sometimes.  Not necessarily blind to all the consequences but when I see something that can be great for the company, I want to run to it as fast as I possibly can.  Checkmate is just around the corner some of the time.  But sometimes it’s not, and I just don’t want to believe it.

Bri plays her personality to a tee as well.  Methodical with each big decision, frustrated with an oversight if she somehow misses something.  Super excited for the big moves.  At least I can win some battles in chess…Bri wins all the real life ones.  :-)

Once upon a time, in a city far far away (from the cold) there lived a team that no one thought could or would amount to anything. Often doubted, always mocked, and forever in our hearts as let-downs, this redbird was destined for failure. Until the whole stinking world turned upside down. THE CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!

What an amazing, incredible game! We had an amazing time tailgating and then watching this incredible match up in our home stadium in Glendale. We got picked up by my buddy Robert and his Dad, who came into town from Utah to see the game. My friend Andrew and my Uncle Steve also came with us. We headed down early and ended up meeting up with some more friends, Jason and his wife, Bryant, and some others. The place was a madhouse. I traveled to Green Bay and saw a game in Lambeu and dreamed that ONE DAY, SOMEDAY the Cardinals might have a fraction of the excitement and fan base that they have in the frozen tundra. That day was today. The place was absolutely filled with fans and it was like a giant party with 60,000 of your lifelong friends.

The game was a roller coaster ride of emotions. We had the most incredible first half, up 24-6 and ready to shock the world. Incredibly, and appropriately for the playoffs, the Eagles stormed back and took at 25-24 lead. It was up to Kurt Warner and the Cardinals to rally and they did with an amazing game-ending drive to score. The place erupted into a mix of jumping/screaming/crying/disbelief as we watched confetti fall down upon the players and the NFC Championship trophy hoisted. UNREAL. For a man who has lived 24 years in this state, and been around for every single game this team has played since they moved here, it was surreal and amazing. I had a dream the night before that we would win 33-13…and I was wrong. The final score was 32-25, but we did win and now we’re in the Super Bowl! So all you family and friends better root on the BIG RED in two weeks!!! Go Cards!!!!!!

PS…more pictures to come, as Robert got some of us in our seats from across the stadium, and we also took a little family picture with the little guy before we headed out.  Special thanks to my parents for watching him all day long!

(Oh and isn’t my wife extremely cute in Cardinal red?)

I have a new found respect for all parents. I never knew newborns take so much work. Our days have been filled with diapers, feedings, laundry, soothings, cleaning, and sleeping (mostly on Caleb’s part). We often have to squeeze in meals and potty breaks in between baby-related chores:

I’m so so so grateful that Andy has had these past two weeks off of work to help out. I dont know what I would have done without him here. Between the two of us (and a lot of help from Andy’s family) we’ve been able to get through each day.

Our nights have been touch and go. After a few days home, Caleb seemed to be sleeping pretty well at night. Unfortunately, he was circumcised a few days later and that seemed to mix his days and nights up. Yesterday, we tried to keep him awake as much as possible during the day so he’d sleep through the night. I think it worked because he would wake up, get changed eat and fall back to sleep within a half an hour.

Yesterday, we went on our first family outing to the shoe store and Target. Since Caleb slept through the whole trip, it was considered a success. This morning we went out for a second time to church. I wouldn’t consider it a complete success because as soon as the sermon started he decided to wake up and start crying. I took him out to the lobby where he began to scream. So I took him to the nursing room where he pooped through his outfit, screamed more than ate and spit up just about his whole meal. By the time I finally got him cleaned, soothed and somewhat fed, service was over. He did enjoy all the attention from our friends however.

Tomorrow Andy goes back to work and I get to take Caleb for his two week appointment… by myself. Yes, I’m terrified to do this without Andy there. But there’s got to be a first time for everything. Last time we were there, He had gained all his birth weight back so he’s eating well.

Here are some more pictures from his first two weeks:

For the rest of this week, I’m going into nesting overdrive. It’s somehow different when you can actually count down the hours instead of guesstimating when you’ll go into labor.

I feel quite accomplished. As of today, I’ve completed all of my Christmas shopping, wrapped all the presents (based on the way I wrap, it’s an all day event), went down to the fire station to get the car seat installed, cut my hair (yes, I got a “mommy doo”) and sanitized all the plastic baby things. Tomorrow, I’m going to do some hardcore cleaning around the house, grocery shop and wash every fabric thing in sight. Friday is set aside as a freaking out day. Andy will be off so he can get some last minute errands run. I will be packing and panicking.  If we’re motivated enough we might go out for a “last supper” as just the two of us.

I bought Caleb his first Christmas ornament today. I absolutely love it; its so classic. Plus I got a smashing deal on it.

Once upon a time, Andrew Michael Holloway was born.  The year was 1984.  The olympics were about to be hosted by Los Angeles, Ronald Reagan was in the white house, and no one had heard of iPods.  Soon little Andrew would grow up, playing football with his father.  He’d dress up as a football player for Halloween, small nerdy head in a gigantic helmet.  It was around this time that the Arizona Cardinals arrived in Phoenix.  Football was here.

Oh how swiftly the joy of a football franchise crumbled into the misery of being a Cardinals fan.  Year after year, season after season, game after game, the pathetic red birds took the field long enough to flap their broken wins and collapse into the basement of the NFL.  And year after year young Andrew would get his poor hopes up only to cry little cardinal tears of sadness by season’s end.  Mocked by his peers, he perseveared in hopes that one day his team would learn to fly.  ”Someday,” he said.

The late 80’s and 90’s came and went without more than a chirp.  He’d watch teams like the Cowboys, Packers, and Steelers win championships with the support of their loyal fanbase, as the Cardinals continued to bring new meaning to ineptitude.

There were famous late-game collapses, injuries, controversy, and ultimately 4-12 seasons.  There were embarassing losses on national television and the mockery of the nation.  But little Andrew, who was now not as little, would not soon give up.  He’d continue to wear his Cardinal red with pride, hope and dillusional dreams of grandure.  And then, by some great and wonderful stroke of Kurt Warners pen - the time had finally come.

The Arizona cardinals are the 2008 NFC West Division Champions.  Their first division championship since 1975.  Yes, I said 1975.  They haven’t won a division since I was negative 9 years old.  So if you are asking yourself why a man can get so excited about a football team, just remember that he’s lived his whole life in the closet that is Arizona Cardinals fandom.  He’s proud of his red birds!

Okay everyone, put on your lucky socks. We’ve set up our official baby pool. On here, you can guess Caleb’s weight, length and date & time of delivery. I expect to see lots of early dates because I don’t know if I want to wait the entire 40 weeks.

Click the link below to begin!

Holloway Baby Pool

We went to a fun Halloween party last night hosted by some friends of ours. Until yesterday afternoon, we (well, Andy for the most part) had no costumes and no idea what we were going to be. Finally after several stores, and $30 of random materials, we made these costumes:

We actually made eachother’s costume. I sewed together Andy’s Waldo shirt and he painted my belly. I think we make a good team

Anyone have any good movie suggestions?  Bri and I muddled around Blockbuster for about 30 minutes with absolutely no desire to see anything we could find.  We finally stumbled on “Shattered Glass” which was actually pretty good…but 30 minutes…come on.

Any good movies that you’ve seen lately?  Anything people might not know of?  Any movies you want to say are really good just so we rent them and then waste our night and hold you personally accountable?

I often wonder what it would have been like to live during a different era.  Perhaps the early 1900’s when people had less as far as “wealth” - but also developed a different perspective.  Instead of this murky world of comparison and relative (and not ultimate) success, it seems like things were more simple even if they weren’t so “advanced” as we think we are today.

Or maybe my problem is not eras but countries.  You need not travel backwards in time to achieve this different perspective, just head overseas.  My time in Israel was enough to see the gap in perspective and priority.  We were tourists in a strange land filled with historical sites.  They were people in their home land living their lives.  We were probably nothing more than flies.  Like rich politicians who spend 3 hours in a warzone or refugee camp.  We visit, we have compassion, and then we fly home to our warm beds and safety.

I think it’s probably a cop-out to want an “all around me” change like a time flash back or country move, so that I’m forced to change my perspectives and priorities.  I know I’m capable of doing that with dicipline, submission and ultimately humility, but often large changes seem easier.  It’s why people make resolutions on New Year’s and not March 11th or June 5th.  It’s a simple or seemingly simpler starting point.  I suppose the quest should be to run after that bigger perspective at all times and be contented with slowly moving and not feel guilty for my place in this world.  As an American, it seems to be getting more difficult to do.

No parchment nor sweet onion,
shall dare their minds persuade,

When devils dance with candy sweet,
and move like seas in sway.

When careless minds find more to gather,
yet time finds them alone,

They loathe the inconveniences,
which nest likes host in home.

Fine the wind it blows in swift,
to switch the mind in stride,

open your eyes, the mirror waits
do welcome in your pride.

I am suddenly awake, a thousand impulses reach me in a fanciful flurry.  I realize all at once that I am at at a loss.  I am physically broken and spiritually shaken.  I lie in wonder.

I am like a man who has suffered a head trauma.  Suddenly I begin remembering not only what has occured in the past few days or weeks, but also who I am, have become, will become, should become, am becoming or maybe was becoming?  The questions swirly like a shifting wind and all the while I still marvel at how they are in my head.  I am suddenly awake, yet at a loss.

Where have I been the past few weeks?  My King has sent his most trusted search party to scour the highlands and find me, wounded and defeated, somewhere in the distant plains.  It appears I have attempted a journey that my own two feet have failed to sustain me on.   What a pity, I think.  It seemed as though I could have made it at the time, but at the time I had made such a decision I must have been in a silly mood.  The distance looks far to broad and wide now that I am suddenly awake.  These feet are far to battered and these legs can barely stand even in the cool of the day.

What a silly man I have become, am becoming…was becoming?

I pray the latter of the three holds true.