Memphis has a PR problem.  Although most of the things you hear about my beloved city are negative, sadly Memphis is a great city to live in with tons of awesome people.  Over the past couple of years more and more organizations are working hard to get the true story of Memphis out.

Like who?

Well like these people: Something Good in Memphis is a simple website sponsored by local mega charity MIFA (Metropolitan Inner-Faith Association) that is highlighting those in Memphis making a positive difference in our community.  Since mid-September you can now have a chance to give a little press (and love) to those who make Memphis the great city it is.

Take a couple seconds and nominate someone you know who is doing good things in Memphis.  It was fun seeing some of my friends I found highlighted on there:  Witt Meloni (former PDS student of mine), Katie Maxwell McLean, Kim Blankenship, Amy Beth Doudley (who shared this site with me), Mary Allison Cates, and Katie Hobson all fabulous people and not surprisingly getting some good press for all they are doing to make Memphis great.  Keep up the good work - invite others to help.

What are you doing to make Memphis great?

Who do you know that needs to be highlighted in the MIFA Something Good in Memphis campaign?


[Be sure to follow them on Twitter too.]

I'm aware that many of you are familiar with Tervis Tumblers.  For years I've used them primarily to keep my tables from cup sweat and my drinks a little cooler.  Through the years Kristen and I have collected quite a cabinet full of these with various logos stuck inside.  They are a step above the stadium cups we've collected through the years, but more user friendly than the top shelf glass glasses we rarely use.

My old job gave me some of the 24 ounce ones with lids and straws.  I tried to use them, but couldn't get used to the flaw in the straw design - for me it just didn't work and was too many things to clean and keep up with.  I really couldn't take them outside the home not having a good lid option.

The other night when Caroline (age 3) spilled her 16 ounce tumbler full of smoothie all over the kitchen table, her PJs, the chair world.  This pushed me over the edge and I decided it was time to grab a couple lids I'd seen at Bed, Bath and Beyond recently.

Now my Tervis is a game changer - these lids are awesome! Skip over the clear lids that comes with straws, the added trouble of extra pieces and uncomfortable feel of the large plastic straw frustrated me.  The snap on lids work perfect for my morning routine of grabbing some coffee to go.  I guess the word is spreading as my brother and his wife also recently purchase some and love 'em. Although I was questioned if looking at my coffee through the clear sides weirded me out any. Nope - If anything it helps me limit the huge amounts of creamer I usually add. So far I've noticed the little sliding part of the lid to keep liquid in or out works well. With the lid these can now replace my old standby of buying disposable cups and lids at Sams to take a throw away each morning. Less trash in the world too I guess, every little bit helps.

My only complaint is that they don't already come with lids attached. And I guess having them in more colors would be nice too.  If you've already got some of these cups, grab a lid and let me know what you think.  If you don't have these cups, they grab a set, but don't forget the lid.

And yes, they have a Deck Diva theme for those of you out there looking to make a statement to the world. Or maybe you will find one of the 6 possible options of John Deere logos more your style.

With my bride being down and out the past few days with the flu, life has moved pretty fast trying to keep everything moving smoothly - or at least attempting to look like everything is still okay.  Ladies, just know we husbands appreciate everything you do even if we're not good at telling you.  When you are out of commission it only makes us appreciate all you do even more.  Moms please, please, please take your vitamin C and drink plenty of water today.

Lately I've struggled with knowing the balance between living in grace and understanding the depth of my sin.  As my life struggles for this balance, I usually am heavy on one side or the other.  When I come clean I personally find it easier to focus on grace knowing His love is greater than any sin.  In Kellers book, The Prodigal God, he talks how our Gods mercy can not be outdone by any sin I might present him.  How even the carefully planned murder isn't outside God's grace.  Intellectually this is not new to me.  Yet, I struggle with this deep down knowing that in truth, I live like I can earn a little of his grace by living a moral life.  I constantly fool myself to think I'm worthy.  That my hidden sin is laughable to the sin of famous sinner of this world in comparison when really I should be comparing myself to his standard of perfection.  My brain knows I'm rotten to the core, but I often live life as if I am doing something good enough for God to love me.

As I am challenged with a friend going through a "rock bottom" experience, we've talked about how at the end of the day it is crazy hard not to think that we deserve to be respected (usually the bare minimum we ask of others in our culture).  But when all of our cards are shown and that bare minimum is gone, then what.  To look at the face of Jesus and consider him saying, There is nothing about you that is worthy.  Nothing you bring to the plate.  You're worthless.

BUT then to know that my identify isn't found in me, rather in his grace that he instead says: You are beautiful and worthy of being called heirs of the kingdom because of Jesus.  He even goes on more to use words like - friend, sons and daughters, children of God.

It just doesn't compute sometimes as I live our my faith each day.
Jesus tell me - You're worthless. Without me.

I'm not sure how my wife getting the flu and my rambles on depravity + grace go together, but somehow on this Tuesday morning they just fit.  Pray for me.  Yes, Kristen is feeling much better.

Sure my days of dominating walking the loveliest village on the plains down at Auburn are over, but I can't help but think this might of been some of my roommates idea if we were still down there.

"Yesterday in Physics someone's phone went off to the tune of the Justice League. After the professor paused his lecture to acknowledge the phone, the kid answered his phone and replied, "The University is in trouble?! We're on our way!" The kid stood up, ripped off his t-shirt, revealed the Superman costume underneath, and exclaimed "Super Friends, Assemble!" Scattered across the class of about 150, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Green Lantern, and Flash all stood up and promptly left the class to save Auburn University."

Why of why is Halloween perfect for little kids (and their parents) and unusually fun college antics like this.

[via]

[ *caution this is a long post from a proud uncle ]

Well after months of prayer and more than a few hospital visits, even a few scary stretches that included bed rest, hospital bed rest and then some more bed rest, I am a proud Uncle to introduce Emily Lorraine Hill.

Emily was a name that both parents fell in love with early and although they went back and forth on the final decision, it was their early favorite and won out in the end.  Lorraine is Laura's mom's name and is in honor of Laura's mom and family.

Below is the scene in the waiting room anxious to hear the good news.  We received a few text messages leading up to delivery, but still were waiting to hear how everything went and what the new parents would name her.


Emily came with a little hair. (this is before her bath)


The family was excited to meet little Emily.



Laura's sister Mary made the trip over and was overjoyed at getting to meet her new niece.



Next it was my mom's (Nanny's) turn.



As the hot potato was passed around, next in line was my sweet bride and proud Aunt Kristen. When you pray for someone you've never meet for as long as we have, it was expected that to hold Emily for the first time would mean sweet tears of joy for Aunt Kristen.



This was one of the few pictures I took with Emily's dark eyes open.


I was proud to meet my niece little Emily. Compared to the girls I had at home, this one was pretty light.  As a Dad to two little girls, I am so excited to partner with my brother as he steps into the roll of prince in his own home with his little girl.


My parents were happy to peak in as they measured her in the nursery and got her cleaned up to give back to mommy.



Emily's "Simba moment."



Sweet Emily, you will find your life on this blog lots, so I hope you don't mind. For now, be sure to get some good sleep as I hope to bring up your cousin Caroline later this afternoon.


When I showed Caroline these pictures on my computer earlier this morning - Caroline ewwed and awwwed and then kept saying, "Its okay Cousin, don't be sad."

I can already tell God has blessed the Hill family once again with a beautiful healthy baby girl.  Thank you everyone for your facebook and twitter comments to welcome Baby Emily.

If you are interested in celebrating with the family, please consider signing up to deliver a meal.  Leave me a comment and I'll let you know how.

View the growing flickr slideshow of Emily Lorraine Hill  I promise I didn't post every picture of her in this post - although I did want to.