Miss it already

Sadly, Christmas is done.

My favorite time of the year came in like a Lion, and before I knew it, we were taking off the Christmas bulbs and wrapping the lights around sleeping children for photo ops. (Sigh..)

Grace woke up this morning and groggily stumbled over to the tree with an odd look in her eyes. As she flicked the power cord switch, the former vision of grandeur stayed dark. "Daddy. The tree's broken, Daddy.." she repeated twice. -"Yes honey. The tree is broken" was my reply. And like all broken trees; out it went, leaving a flurry trail of needles throughout the living room, kitchen, and breeze way, until it's final resting place... in the back yard burn pile to be used as a seasonal fire safety example: "WOW that thing burns fast!"

Lastly, for one of the final posts of December, I wanted to update everyone who gave the wonderful gifts to the kids this year. Grace's absolute favorite gift is...... (Drum roll please.)

Thats right! You guessed it folks. It is my old tape measure! Providing over 30 feet of crazy retractable fun, chasing this heavy duty 'contractor grade' giggle maker is sure to exhaust even the most spunky of kids. (While providing parents the quality time to reflect on the more important life's questions, such as: "..I wonder if they make a sixty-footer?")

-C

P.ost S.cript: BTW, I did get my Midland 2-way radios. Now. I am tempted to build a radio tower... I shall call it: "The Tower of Babel"

Don't let your guard down

Audio on?

(PG)

The Hilton Family

Grace and I went out to Way-town last night for the Hilton clan Christmas. Tess and Noah stayed behind as Noah is still grounded while his immune system develops. I especially wanted to share the last two pictures because I can tease my siblings over them.

A. The sharp looking kid with the 'mullet man' is my niece Tara. (This is a picture of a picture) She's grown into quiet an excellent young lady since this picture was taken "X" amount of years ago, but my brothers hair and moustache are worth posting for the entertainment value of the 80's and 90's. (Love you bro).

B. My sisters husband 'Mike' was kind enough to bring by the boots that I had left in Way-town this afternoon. Hence, Mike scrubbed in to hold Noah while he was here. Mike says he's happy with two, but catching his watchful eye over Noah might give argument for another one... Except that he seems to vividly remember the waking and feedings every two-to-three hours with a newborn. -The picture is more of a childish 'Na, na, na na, na' for my sis since Mike was able to hold him and she was not. : - /

Thanks to Chuck and Renee, and Mom and Dad Hilton, for hosting the Gathering. It was great seeing everyone and we miss you all. Anytime you want to come up to A-town, and you don't mind a mess, consider this an open invitation.

-C

Mount Allendale Expedition

In the past I've been justly identified as being a "hard; but fair", Marine Corps Staff Non-commissioned Officer. Perhaps....

However, I do not feel that my former USMC training style has entirely penetrated my family training values... (Or has it?)
(Audio on?)

In all seriousness, we had great fun on our expedition. Grace just kept on going, and going, and going.. (You get the picture.) Even after an extra runabout, she protested when I insisted that it was time to claim victory over Mt. Allendale and go home to warm up.

Semper Fidelis. This girl is Hard Corps.

-C

Jesus' Birthday Party!

Merry Christmas!

Last night Grace was intent on playing 'catch and return' in her bedroom. She was put to bed around 8ish' only to wake up two hours later and bounce back to bed at least 7 times until she finally fell asleep around 3am. Yes. 3am... (I'll post the night vision footage later) -What that meant to us this morning was that little Miss Grace didn't wake until 11 a.m. (Woot! Woot!)


While Noah slept and ate, Grace loved the new sled sleigh ride and all of the Christmas morning action... She actually LOST INTEREST in opening presents after awhile! (What kind of kid is this anyway!?) I now understand the joy that my parents had by watching all of us kids openings gifts on Christmas morning.

Today or tomorrow sometime, "HiltonLife Web Log" will break the 10,000 visitor mark. We'll try to come up with some type of momento/white elephant tribute for our 10,000 visitor. Until then, Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy the awesome day.

-C

Historical Bethlehem - Merry Christmas!

Who would have thought that in all of time; past and present, and of all the places that were; are, and will to be, the Messiah would be born over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem?

Although Bethlehem lies roughly 6,059 miles from A-Town Michigan (USA) as the eagle flies, it also lies about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Jerusalem, standing at an elevation of about 775 m (2,510 ft) above sea level, thus 30 meters (100 feet) higher than Jerusalem.[2]

The city, located in the "hill country" of Judah, was originally called Ephrath (Gen. 35:16, 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2), Beth-lehem-judah (1 Sam. 17:12), and "the city of David" (Luke 2:4). It is first noticed in Scripture as the place associated with Rachel's death and burial "by the wayside" (Gen. 48:7). Rachel's tomb is located at the roadside near Bethlehem. The valley to the east was the scene of the story of Ruth the Moabitess. There are the fields in which she gleaned, and the path by which she and Naomi returned to the town.

City of David
Bethlehem is believed to be the birth-place of David, the second king of Israel, and it is also believed to be the place where he was anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sam. 16:4-13); and then, it was from the well of Bethlehem that three of his heroes brought water for him at the risk of their lives when he was in the cave of Adullam (2 Sam. 23:13-17).

Jesus' birthplace

The Church of the Nativity
Micah 5:2 prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Accordingly, the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:4) reports that Jesus' parents are forced to leave Nazareth, their place of residence, and return to Bethlehem for a census, where Jesus is born, before they return to Nazareth, where Jesus grows up. Matthew reports that Herod the Great had "all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under" killed shortly after Jesus' birth (Matt. 2:16, 18; Jer. 31:15). In the gospel Jesus' earthly father Joseph is warned of this in a dream, and the family escapes this fate by fleeing to Egypt, returning only after Herod has died. But being warned in another dream not to return to Judea, Joseph withdraws the family to Galilee, and goes to dwell in Nazareth (Matt. 2:22-23).

On this, the day we celebrate Jesus Christs birth, we humbly thank God the Father for giving to us His most prized possession and love. -We also gaze at the Heavens and ask "When father? When will you send your Son again?"

Our hope and prayer for you and your families this Christmas is simply a 'blessing and reassurance of salvation through Jesus' saving Grace'. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Here to make Christ known, and learn to know him better;

-The Hilton Tribe.

C, T, G, N, and M

Pictures

Damage Inventory

Can you say "Blessed"?

Even though the wind is still pushing things around, we should give thanks that we don't live in little huts that would have been blown into a pile of rubble like 98% of all Haitians.

We had lost internet, Television, and Telephone for a brief period this morning, but everything is back up and running. (I should come up with a backup plan for the future).

...Oh look outside ! It's snowing! Michigan weather rocks!

-C

Two days before Christmas

The wind sounds like a freight train outside right now. There is about an 10 acre area of clear flat area right behind our house, so the wind has plenty of area to maintain velocity right before our house blocks half of the wind volume. So far we haven't lost power, but if the snow comes as quickly as they say after the storm, there may be alot of limbs and debris to pick up either after the storm or after the next thaw. If it keeps up, I'll try to get some film footage once the sun rises.


DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MILES AN HOUR ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS
STORM. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
TWIN LAKE...CUTLERVILLE...VICKERYVILLE...MARNE...RAVENNA...WALKER...
WRIGHT...KENTWOOD...GRAND RAPIDS...DUTTON...SLOCUM...HOLTON...EAST
GRAND RAPIDS...CALEDONIA...COMSTOCK PARK...BRUNSWICK...ALASKA...
BRIDGETON...CASCADE...REEMAN...CASNOVIA...ST. HUBERTS...BELMONT...
SPARTA...ADA...KENT CITY...BAILEY...FREMONT...ALTO...HESPERIA...
GRANT...CANNONSBURG...ROCKFORD...NEWAYGO...WOOSTER...LOWELL...CEDAR
SPRINGS...CLARKSVILLE...LAKE ODESSA...GRATTAN...SAND LAKE...WHITE
CLOUD...SARANAC...CROTON...SMYRNA...PIERSON...WOODLAND PARK...CROTON
HEIGHTS...BELDING...BITELY...SEBEWA...GREENVILLE...ORLEANS...CORAL...
IONIA...HOWARD CITY...GOWEN...TRUFANT...WOODVILLE...TURK LAKE...
AMBLE...MORLEY...STANWOOD AND HAWKINS

How do you play with the reindeer in YOUR yard?

I'll protect you, but I'm not waking up..

Pill of humility

Okay. Time to post.

Driving into work Tuesday night, right around Hudsonville, the car suddenly had gotten louder. -I mean LOUD! (worse than any of the beater cars I had as a teenager.) Somewhere along the exhaust piping; a rust spot, seam, or connection must have broken. While praying it didn't collapse on the way, I made it into work and back to Allendale this morning.. (Sigh.) Merry Christmas.

This evening, I got a call inquiring on the condition (since it is our only car).

Between the whirring water pump and the exhaust surprise, I was told to "bring it into a local garage to get it fixed." It would be taken care of as our Christmas present..

What a humbling experience. I can't express our gratitude and thankfulness enough.. (Especially the difficulty I'm experiencing by typing this out.. I think Grace got something sticky in-between the keyboard spacebar)

I'll be calling Tollmans or the shop across from Grand Valley first thing in the morning and hoping that I can get it in immediately so it'll be ready for going back into work Friday night.

To the person whom I'm speaking of above: Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts. You may never understand the depth and impact of this random blessing.
__________________________________________________________

I was so grateful to get home this morning from the E.R. (Besides because of the obvious) Some days are real good. Some are rather unpleasant. When I spend the entire day (night) dropping foley caths into every third patient, participating in multiple pediatric sepsis workups and L.P.s' (spinal taps) ect. the days pretty much bite.

The past two days I've had some really great cases and actually was able to help genuinely sick people. -Not being sarcastic, but what I mean by that is the other 85% of patients that don't belong in the E.R. but use it as a detox clinic or drug seekers, or drunks, or simple frequent visitors that use the E.R. for everything from a runny nose, rug burn, UTI, headache, abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, whatever. You get the picture.

One particularly challenging case that stands out was a 68 y/o female brought in by EMS that was complaining of vertigo/lightheadedness. No significant history, but could have been clinically dx'd as a COPD'r. She was actually really quite sick. Her blood pressure was bottomed out (hence the lightheadedness and fall) She had some kind of funky systemic infection that we couldn't pin down. We had to treat her vitals first and foremost. The way her verbal responses were, and level of consciousness was, she appeared not as bad as she really clinically presented.

Her B.P. hovered around 80/30ish, she was throwing ectopy (heart dysrythmias), and her Oxygen sats were only in the mid to high eighties on 4 liters of O2. After the fluids and I.V. antibiotics she was still hypotensive, so we started her on dopamine. (Dopa is causes vasoconstriction. "The smaller the container, the less volume needed", the greater the blood pressure) ...She wasn't responding well to the dosing so we up'd it as much as the peripheral line could take.

We started a central line (femoral vein) which I always like to assist with.. -Got the line on the first attempt, and increased the dop with minimal response from her. I have to confess, I'm really glad she made it to the ICU without crashing on us on the way. She's a nice lady. I hope she makes it through the holidays, and maybe even improves enough to recover. I hesitate to even guess how her prognosis goes. She was alot worse than her family was aware of.. and incidentally, a parent of someone that was a year ahead of me back in High School. Generally, If I recognise a patient or family member from the past; rarely, if ever, do I identify myself outside of what is on my badge. If they figure it out, (who I am) that's fine. If not, thats fine as well. It's better to keep it jovial but professional.. especially if there's a negative outcome. ...Besides, it's more fun to watch someone trying to figure out who I am without them literally asking and allows for anonymously blessing through actions instead of words.

Time to go. Noah is beginning to sqawk.. Time for his 1:00am feeding..
-C

Still?

Still no comments on the 2-way radios eh? I can only take everyone's silence on the idea as a silent approval of such an ingenuitive plan. ; ) heh, heh, heh...




This was this mornings sunrise as I was getting ready to go home. Amazingly beautiful. I had to pause and get a few shots. -The sky appeared brilliant; as though it was literally blazing. (Click on the image for the full size) Wow.

As you can guess, I worked last night. Rather than get absorbed into detailing clinical cases, I really need to 'decon', and briefly see the family before I grab a few hours of sleep.
-C

Comparision

We're checking into something unique, different, and maybe a little fun... Two-way radios for the household.

When we were in Haiti last year we used two-way radios on a regular basis around and between the villages of La Digue and Barbencourt. Since that was mountainy, hilly terrain, the new "26 mile range" handhelds might do well here in, and around A-town.

I had started looking at the new Motorola radios, but most of the reviews I've seen on places like Amazon dot com summarily say things like: "Although it's sharp, good looking, and Motorola has a good name; Not this one. This one is junk"

Midland radios has a comparable radio with the same boastings and MUCH better user reviews.

If you've ever had experience (aside from Nextels') with the newer 2-way radios... (I know alot of hunters use 2-ways) let me know your opinion.. I understand the marketing hype of "Range of 26 miles" is rarely attainable unless someone is optimally standing in the line-of-sight on a dry desert lake bed... But, I'd like to hear what they can do (according to 'Google Earth, my workplace is only 13 miles from A - town as the crow flies (Mmmmm??)

Fun. Practical. And $$ Saving. Good idea? Bad Idea?

-C

SNOW STORM BURIES A-TOWN !!

Just kidding.

Actually, we did received a fresh snow covering last night. When I had listened to the nightly weather "report", I realized that if all Grace's summer toys and the motorcycle stayed in the attached garage, and the car ended up getting buried in the snow, I would not hear the end of it... for YEARS to come.. -I spent the night cleaning and making room for the car. (One more thing off of the "list")

A huge "Sorry Guys" to the East side of the state. I heard the Detroit area got battered with alot more snow that we did.

Think of it this way; at least you didn't have to dig out your driveway with a 'tea-spoon', like I did this morning. (I'll show you a picture of 'tea-spoon' in another post).

Cheers!
-C

"And in this corner, weighing in at just 29 lbs..."

(Right side)

Bruised but otherwise unshaken, our 'Welter Weight Champion' displays her marks of the day (right cheekbone).

We were able to enjoy a birthday celebration with our dearest Friends last night, when Grace and Becky (not pictured) endured a cataclysmic accidental collision between Grace's face and Becky's forehead. Both were knocked from the race for a little while, but with some help from Grace's "Boo-boo Bunny" recovery only took about fifteen minutes..

Because she hit her head so hard, we kept a close eye on her last night. When she rolled over on her pillow as she slept, the pressure put on her eye woke her up crying (understandably). After some childrens Tylenol and a little TLC she finally dozed off. -I'm really surprised she doesn't have a shiner this morning. Right now (2:03pm) it looks a little bruised, but it hasn't migrated up to her eye. (Yea!) It should make for some memorable Christmas pictures..

And yes! We finally got our Christmas tree decorated with the help of Grace's cousin Sam! (Thanks Sam!!)

For the tribe,

-C

Diaper business, is MY business...

....And business is GOOD!

Geeeze, Little brother..

Having a newborn in the same house with a two-and-half year old toddler presents it's challenges...
Thankfully, sleep time is a reprieve from the chaos. Unfortunately, sleep time only occurs in two hour increments; between the hours of 11pm-1am, 2am-4:30am, 5:30am-7:20am, and finally AFTERNOON NAPTIME 2:30pm-4:10pm.

We have to keep a closer eye on Grace for a few new different reasons.

1.) To prevent Grace from hugging the air right out of Noah at every given chance. 2.) To prevent Grace from turning Noah's head too fast or far to receive a kiss from Grace at any given moment. 3.) To keep Grace from spreading every form of baby butt cream we have within reach onto every piece of furniture, appliance, door handle, and square centimeter of her own face at any given moment. HINT: If you are a guest, and Grace wants to give YOU a kiss, but smells "mediciney".. red flags should go up. It's not baby lotion.

Grace also seems to enjoy Noah's baby bottles.. (Which is another oddity.) It's not formula or cows milk if you know what I mean.

-If we're burping Noah, and the bottle disappears.. Look no further than the sound of Grace's gulping..

-Which of course leads me into another *TABOO warning for all men of the species: "*Don't try giving advice on breastfeeding to the women." Regardless of the mechanical aptitude and natural problem solving desire that we have. . . It will not be well received (if at all). -And if it is received, it will probably be met with, "WHATEVER!! Do you have a pair of these? -Have YOU ever breastfed?!" - -This can only be replied to with a meek: "Uh. No dear. . . I'll just step into the other room and briefly reflect on my male dominated ignorance.. -before I wipe the newly found butt cream off of the doorknobs". (As I wipe my hands on my pants.)

Grace now uses her "potty"! -For a step-stool... She drags it around the house to step up onto, to see how she can help with Noah. (She gets an "A" for effort).

All and all, I am learning that: Not just two kids; but, a toddler and a newborn are a challenging and often humorous mix; It definitely is a team effort to tame and groom the younger complimentary 50% of the tribe.

It's a good thing Noah is too young to learn how to behave like a 2-year-old. By the time Noah gets to his two's.. Grace will be like: "Geeeeze, Noah! For sure! -Quit acting like such baby.. Your so immature! Whatever! little brother.."

So we'll keep the transient butt ointment facial stories mum for now, until Grace's High School Graduation. ; )

Oh! It's 2:45pm nap time!! Gotta go!

-C

(BTW: this post was published with Tess' laughing approval)

More Holiday "Not so Greats"

While we're stuck on this side

So what was the topic that ruffled my feathers last night? It wasn't Grace or Noah. They are both doing just fine..

-It was more, the recollection of something that I had learned the hard way, years ago when I was working for full time ministry. That sad truth is: "There is no perfect Church, this side of glory".

Back then, I was offered a very handsome proposal/offer to assume the role of 'development officer' for a "growing" West Michigan International ministry as I was transitioning out of the Marine Corps field and marketing arena.

In the Marine Corps I was able to speak freely of my faith in Christ and provide testimony in numerous ways and venues like high schools, college campus', lectures, radio, and special events. At that time, I was able to mentor and minister to literally hundreds of high school, college and career age youth, as well as many influential individuals throughout the Northern Michigan communities. What a lovely thing it is in this life to take our past screw ups and establish "hazardous road ahead" signs to bear witness to others. This seemed to be the perfect transition to another more organized level.

After relocating my family from Traverse City in anticipation for the wonderful things in store for us, things weren't as they had appeared.

The financial stability of the organization (I had learned after the fact) had been quite overstated. Although I was unaware of it when I 'came on board', the organisation's board of Directors and President had previously deemed that since this position would be one of the newest, and largest of the expenses, if the financial outlook didn't rapidly improve, the position would be on a 'trial' basis. Needless to say, that was a little piece of information that was withheld. I was out of the loop. After a one-quarter time period (3 months) I was laid off with zero notice, with a pregnant bride, in a leased home we could no longer afford.

That timeframe of my life was particularly painful. -Alright. It downright sucked. Just when we think we are doing God's will to the fullest of our abilities, we realize, "Oh yeah. I'm still just a person in the flesh, working for people in the flesh." ..I lost my job; we lost our home and had to move in with Tess' parents (while Tess was pregnant), and then, we lost our first born baby girl the same day of her birth. (Abby would have been four this past November 10).

Just prior to a prayer conference around that same time frame (around 2004), Pastor Paul scribbled this insane little quote on a piece of paper I had kept on our refridgerator. It said: "God's timing, and ways, are always perfect." I've repeated this to myself when I left the ministry. I repeated this to myself when we lost our home. I repeated this to myself when we lost our baby.

I'VE ALSO REPEATED THIS when I was hired else where. When we found and purchased our new home. When Grace and Noah were in the womb, and when they were born.

How does all of this relate to the deliberation?

It was a sobering reminder that no matter how wonderful of a church is, that anyone attends, "There is no perfect church, this side of Glory."

Monday's budgetary/annual requirement whatnot, was exactly that; an annual requirement.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

"God's timing and ways are always perfect"

I truly didn't, and still don't have a conviction of preference whether the decisions went right or left.. The bottom line is God's 'will' is going to prevail regardless of our fleshy best intentions, interpetations, or perceptions. Recognition and self reflection is in order for all of us. (me first)

Simply put, what hurt the most was, 'tangibly visualizing the drastic miscommunication within today's Christian Churches'.

Nobody's perfect. Not within the body; Not within the elders; Not within the Deacons; Not within the Pastors. We as Christians should approach other Christians just as we might approach a nonbeliever. With humility, understanding, listening, praying, and thinking hearts.

Feel free to comment.

Rules: No labeling, and no names (except the commenter as required), no recognizable statements/quotations, and finally; it's got to build up the body of Christ in one way-shape-or form.

I have already written a volume and two hours later, deleted a dozen paragraphs of content.. I should close this.

Thanks for letting me vent a little.

-C

Deliberation

My apologies for not posting earlier. I had full intention of painting absorbable images of yesterday's events late last night, but I felt it more appropriate to exert my energies on something kinder, gentler, and more productive.. (Such as trimming, setting, and applying lights to the Christmas tree so Grace would wake to find it illuminating the living room this morning.)

My original (intentional distraction) diversionary intent was to break out the chainsaw, 'lop off' the trunk and lower branches while taking in the crisp out-doorsy, exhilarating aroma of chain saw exhaust and pine tree smell. Since it was around eleven-thirty at night, I decided to silence the passive aggressive in me, and give back to my community by courteously using the ever quiet hand bow-saw. Generally, if my neighbors hear power tools or 'sounds of construction' late at night, they can pretty well guess where it's coming from... "It must be the night shifter's day off." -Thankfully, we are all understanding friends.

Anyway. I ended up staying up until 2 a.m. to catch Noah's feeding while simultaniously attempting to tie in some sort of healing or directional scripture or revelation to the days events (of which I'll offer my perspective in the next post). Right now, I need to take a nap. : )

May all of you have a restful afternoon,
-C

Successful Hunt

Day 10 of Christmas tree season, Grace scores a hit.