Winter Wonderland

Posted on by danielvandenbrink

Hello again!

Here is a random one for you. I love winter so much, but even more than winter I love the Christmas season. Tonight as I sipped on a carmel apple spice from Starbucks it made me feel very winterry/christmassy. I intend on telling you what I am super excited for this year, and I hope that you will join me in my excitement of the intoxicating feeling of Christmas.

This year will be my first Christmas where I have got to spend a whole year with my wife before the season rolls around. It excites me that I will go home at night time and see my house all lit up, with lights on the railing, and the glow of our Christmas tree through the frosty living room windows. My wife laying in bed asleep, and only waking up ever so briefly to acknowledge how happy she is that I’m home safe and sound.

I am excited to lay in bed and hear the snowflakes gently tap on my window as I reminisce about my childhood dreams of a huge snowfall, waking up and not having to deal with the problems of the day because the roads are closed and you just can’t go anywhere unless you plan on walking. I find it so refreshing to put on my skates and feel the brisk air on my face as I glide around on a fresh sheet of ice at my local outdoor hockey rink, while I imagine my wife at home making her and I some hot chocolate we can enjoy together on the couch.

I am excited for a night of listening to some of our favorite Christmas records on the record player and sit by the glow of the lights silently in our living room. I am excited to volunteer around where needed during the festivities. Christmas pageants, making Christmas cookies, putting together operation shoeboxes together, and Bringing things to those in need. It’s just such a magical time of the year.

Lastly, I am excited for 2 things. This year with Becky, and spending time with our family. This year I get to experience Christmas in her families household, How she grew up with Christmas. I get to experience their traditions, and on Christmas day share that day with my side of the family. It warms my heart so much to think about all the things 2014 has brought in to my life. It was an amazing year filled with amazing people, and I can not wait to end the best year of my life sharing it with the people who mean the world to me. So I would really encourage you this holiday season to figure out what is going to make this year amazing. God has blessed me so richly this year aside from my family. I have air to breathe, I have eyes to see his glorious works in the form of snowfall, and a job that provides so well for me and my family, I could go on and on but seriously. Stop right now and focus on 2014, and enjoy whatever it was this season.

 

Daniel.638

Great Sex

Posted on by danielvandenbrink

Before you read the title and judge me you should read the article i’m about to post and really ask yourself some questions.

As a newly married man I can personally attest to this article. It may come off brash or extremely “in your face,” but I found it to be a good read and give some great advice that many couples may think about, but have never been told or educated on. I think in a society where it’s acceptable for our teens and youth to be watching MTV, and listening to Wiz Khalifa  and an article like this is frowned upon is terrible. More young adults & newly married couples need to be aware of this, and make an effort to have this in a marriage.

http://www.xxxchurch.com/thehaps/7-keys-to-great-sex-in-marriage.html

I know one struggle for me as a married man is finding God in sex. I have always been told that sex inside of a committed marriage is God-honoring. I have been married for almost a year now and I am willing to admit that I am still lacking the ability to have worshipful sex, but I long for that and I know my wife does too. I wish more churches would discuss this matter openly and not be so ashamed of an act created by God to honor him. (Sorry to be all churchy for the non-church goers, or non-believers. It is about to stop.)

Lastly one thing that is not listed in the article above, and I think it should be is to have love in your hearts while you’re having sex. It doesn’t matter on the circumstances. The time and place are irrelevant. I know a lot times when I want sex it is not because I think my wife is gorgeous. (which she is by the way.) But because I am so in love with her, I’m thankful for her, and I feel like she completes me. I am never in a place of anger with my wife while we’re having sex. That is a very slippery slope in my opinion, and I don’t suggest it to anyone. Make sure both involved are okay, and in a good state.

Lastly, honor the other. I know from personal experience that sex which is not mutual or done in a state of love is hurtful. You will feel the same way you do after looking at porn. (See my post on pornography.) You will be weighed down. It can be a relationship breaker, and make your partner fear you and feel like they have a duty to preform rather than the both of you mutually want to have sex because you love each other. I don’t know if this article has made any sense for you, or if this is just something that I have needed to get off my chest, but regardless it’s getting posted. I really encourage you to take a step back for a second and think about where you are physically. Figure out how important it is in your marriage and if that’s where it needs to be.

Have a wonderful evening.

 

Awesome Vinyl albums?

Posted on by danielvandenbrink

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Hello again!

Sorry it has been a while between posts, I only work on weekends and so I usually blog through work. Awesome right? So you can expect my posts to be fairly sporadic.

Anyways on my last set of days off I went to a couple local record stores. I have been dreaming recently of owning a record shop, and spending my days sifting through new, used, and rare records. What an amazing dream right? I just love them so much! The sound of the needle gently floating on top of the vinyl, the scratch of old records, and even taking a break mid way through a record to flip it.

Anyways bringing my record collection up to where it needs to be is my first step in making my dream a reality, which brings me back to my record shopping. I recently bought 5 records.

1 – Jackie Gleason – White Christmas

2 – Perry Como – The Perry Como Christmas Album

3 – Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction

4 – The Doors – 13

5 – AFI – Burials

Now I already have many others in the collection, but I know that I am missing so many great Records, especially Christmas albums. So please comment on this post with some of your favorites and I will most certainly look for them next time I make a trip out to Recordland. I also want to get in to a lot more oldie rock and roll, and soft blues & soft jazz, Please don’t hesitate to make what you believe is a great suggestion.

All the best!

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Figuring things out

Posted on by danielvandenbrink

Good afternoon,

My name is Daniel. I am putting myself out there to the online world, excluding the world of Facebook & Twitter. Simply I would like to put my thoughts out there and not know the people who are reading my minds thoughts on a personal level. Not to say I don’t care about you or want to know you. Heck if you know me and stumble upon my blog by coincidence then congratulations & welcome. I am happy you’re here.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am married to a wonderful woman. She has a gorgeous set of eyes and a smile that can take words away. Her name is Rebecca, but I call her Becky. Always have, and more than likely always will. We met at a bible camp. The whole story is actually quite funny. I lived 8 hours away from the camp, and was lonely & wanted a girlfriend. I have had other girlfriends previously but I never quite felt right about any of them, so I figured. “Hey, I bet I could move to a summer camp and live there for free, & maybe meet a girl.” Obviously my intentions were different from many others at a bible camp, but nevertheless I got invited to be a staff member there. Within the first week of being there we all had to tell our life stories. Becky stood on a stump, and on a foggy evening in May she told her story. I particularly remember her saying she didn’t feel pretty, and I remember thinking to myself how could she think that? She was only 16 and I could tell that when she was my age she would be even more gorgeous than she was on that day.(*In 12 days she will be the same age I was then, 21*) As the summer progressed she found out what my interests were so she could talk to me. I was oblivious because as I previously mentioned she was 16 and I was 21. It wasn’t until my friend Jeff told me that she liked me that I took notice of her interest in me, and I then started to return the flirtatious behavior. At the end of the summer it was a done deal, and over 4 years later the rest is history. We are now married with our only child. Our child is a Yorkie crossed with a Maltese. We have named him Fang. He is a dirty blonde colored puppy. Playful as a puppy can be. There you have it friends, my family in a nutshell. I love those 2 goofballs and wouldn’t trade them for anything.

1618560_10152591288144698_886318348_n Fang!

 

Now for my work life. I have been working in airports & as a Ramp Agent for about 5 years. I am once again a team lead, this isn’t my first rodeo. It is a good job but I have an absolute ton of down time, hence this blog you’re reading. (Thanks for reading by the way.) I am the guy who smashes all the fragile things in your luggage, and makes you take stuff out if it’s above 50 LBS. It is a good life. I used to work for a commercial airline so I got wicked flight benefits, but I made such a little amount of money that I could never use them. Now I work for a company which pays awesome, with no flight benefits. I guess you win some, & lose some.

Now the last section of this post is where I plan on telling you what you’re probably going to care most about, if you care at all. My hobbies & the things that interest me. The things you will more than likely see posted here. I like to listen to a good vinyl record while I cook, I enjoy whittling, Hockey, & trying new things. I like shaving & shaving supplies, beards/supplies, & Whiskey. I try to be a classy gentlemen and that’s why I’ve titled my blog classygentlemen.wordpress.com

Daniel

Porn, the relationship killer

Posted on by danielvandenbrink

Good afternoon;

About 64-68% of young adult men and about 18% of women use porn at least once every week. Another 17% of men and another 30% of women use porn 1-2 times per month.

Two-thirds of college-age men and half of college-age women say viewing porn is an acceptable way to express one’s sexuality.

Porn is destroying families

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports that 56% of divorce cases involve one party having “an obsessive interest in pornographic websites.”

I come to you all as a man who has viewed pornography in his lifetime. I can tell you what a regrettable decision it is, mere seconds after you’ve stopped viewing the content it’s like a the world has just dropped a huge burden on your shoulders. I am sure if you’re reading this post you know exactly what I am talking about. As I have discuss this topic with my wife she has mentioned to me the similarities to viewing porn & cheating on her, and how she would feel like I don’t think she is very pretty. It kills me inside to hear those things. I know that I have looked at women with lust in my eyes, but I would never ever want to hurt my wife. She means so much to me and losing her over an image online sends chills down my spine. Why would I do that? Why would you do that to your wife, future wife, girlfriend, fiancée. I understand the urges. This post is nothing more than an encouragement from an online friend. “You can do it!” When you do turn off your computer and set yourself away from the urges I can guarantee there are many people who would be so proud of you. I am one of them.

I tell you all this to shed some light, coming out and telling people it has been a problem is a very difficult thing to do, even if you’re saying it anonymously online. (Seriously, poor Rob Ford. ;)) I say this publicly to help each other out. Be there for me, as online readers you can support me with your kind words, and I will do the same. I have the support of my wife and I know that without even asking, but sometimes I know the struggles when you stare at the screen and get sweaty palms. Hormones take over, and as you stare blankly in to the screen 10 minutes later you will wish you could take it all back. Perhaps this is post you need to read telling you to turn off your computer, or put you phone away right now. If that’s you, just do it. The temptation will pass.

Go read this link. – http://www.covenanteyes.com/2013/02/19/pornography-statistics/

If you’re a female you do not need to take your clothes off online to feel beautiful or loved. Men will have that regrettable feeling I was talking about earlier as they stare at you on a screen. I can’t imagine the pain I would feel knowing someone is looking at me and wishing they never had. People will always look at you, and more than likely judge you. Give them something to look at and admire, a family, a career, a life you’re proud of. An online image your future employer could look at and know you’re happy and doing well. There will always be someone in the world who will think you’re pretty. Figure out why they think that. There is a difference between pretty & sexy, beautiful & hot. I would encourage you to figure out what it is you love about yourself. Really dwell on it. What do you absolutely love about yourself? When you figure it out flaunt it. Figure out what it is you want people, friends, employers, & family to see.