believe me.. I get it

This one comes from the deepest part of my being.

Sometimes life just sucks… It’s a plain and simple fact that is so deep, dark and complex.

I know that most everyone of you will agree to some point so follow me here and lets talk about it for a few.

I have personally fought the battle to overcome depression for more than two thirds of my life.

At the age of 13 I was diagnosed with PTSD after watching my mother and sister die in a horrific car accident. Three years later I was hit by a drunk driver, barely escaping the fiery crash I was the only survivor. Two years after that, through my own stupidity and carelessness, I was life flighted from a motorcycle wreck with 2 broken legs and neck. After regaining conciseness several days later the doctors told me I’d never walk again.

All of this before the age of 18. Throw in watching my parents go through an ugly divorce as a child, brokenness was pretty much all I knew.

That is part of my story and I share it not looking for self pity but so maybe you’ll understand me that when I say “I get it” I truly get it.

We all have our unique dark moments in life, no two are the same so I am not claiming to know exactly what you may be going through but from the bottom of my heart I am empathetic because I do understand what its like to face darkness.

In our society, especially here in America, brokenness is not something that is usually talked about, even our churches are filled with hypocrites dressed for their Sunday best. The fact though is that we are all broken in some shape or form. We all have issues, some that we might not want to talk about.

I refer to it as my journey because for me that’s what it is, it is not something that happened overnight or that will be gone when I wake up one random morning. I have spent years exploring different ways to deal with it, sometimes it feels like I’m making progress, other times I would prefer to crawl in a hole and hide.

Again, I am not telling you this because I want or need your sympathy. I am writing this for those of you that need to hear it, to know that you are not alone.

You are not the only one that faces darkness so please don’t face it by yourself.

As we approach the holidays it’s especially easy to withdraw, on the outside we’re putting on a really good front but on the inside its turmoil, all kinds of feelings that have no place in our life.

So here’s what I am going to suggest. Lets talk about it! Jesus said that darkness cannot overcome the Light. Lets be more proactive in talking about it and bringing it into the light. Open up and expose ourselves, our hurts, our pain, our tragedies, our vulnerabilities.

If that is not where you are in your journey that is okay, maybe you just listen to someone that needs to open up because you can truly empathize with the pain. When the time is right for you to open up you’ll know.

What a relief it is to share. What a relief it is to listen. Both have roles in the healing process.

If you need someone PLEASE know that I am your friend.

I don’t care if we’ve never even met, I will gladly listen to you and offer any encouragement I can. If you’re lonely and need someone lets share a meal together, I’ll even do the cooking and cleaning! Just know that you are not alone and it’s not worth suffering a minute longer.

Send me a message. Give me a call. Reach out to whoever is on your heart. Whatever you do just realize there is no need to sit in the darkness any longer and you don’t have to face it alone.

You are AMAZING and you can Overcome this!!! Last but not least you have a friend in Texas praying for ya 🙂

Quick look at summertime 2018 in Freeport TX

Well here we are in full swing with a GREAT summer so far!  I like to call it productive instead of busy, makes me fell better about how much I have going on!  I haven’t posted lately so I thought I’d take advantage of the insomnia that’s kicking in right now (at 3am) and share some of my favorite pictures with you.

I’ve had some really cool opportunities come up and some exciting personal spiritual growth as well.  I’m still fully committed to making myself available to what God has in store for me and will continue to say yes to the natural flow of life.

I believe that God’s plan for me is way cooler than what I could ever dream,  I’m so Thankful and Blessed to have supportive and creative people in my life!

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So I make a conscious decision to live each day to its fullest knowing that its a gift from God!

when a shoe is more than a shoe…

I recently joined some friends for a 5k walk, the purpose was to raise awareness for suicide.  Its taken me a few days to process, honestly I’m still not sure I can effectively communicate how it made me feel but I’ll give it a try because its something that we need to talk about.

I arrived early as I always do for an event but this time it was a different atmosphere, the crowd didn’t seem to be rushing around.  Everyone moved with a little slower pace, you could feel the difference.  I found my friend Terri and hugged her neck, after all she was the reason I was there.  You see she is a survivor, a miracle actually.  I’ll provide a link to her blog later in the post, don’t want you clicking it now!

The opening ceremonies were very powerful and moving.  They gave some very painful statistics such as an average of 123 suicides a day in the US, that’s over 44,000 a year.  For every suicide there are 25 attempts.  Let that sink in!

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Each Heart represents a Beautiful soul that left to soon.

1st 5k of 2018!!

When a friend asks for support what do you do, support them of course!  Terri signed up for the “Out of Darkness 5k” and offered if anyone wanted to join her they were welcome to, so I signed up… DUH!! Quick and Easy.. just like reading this post 😉

Terri has a story that is filled with Love.. Hope.. depression.. fear.. Love.. Miracles.. tragedy.. heartache.. Love.. Faith.. darkness.. loneliness..  Love and Beauty!  She is proof that Miracles happen.  Terri has spent hours documenting her journey, check out the blog at Miraculous Failure.

Here’s the deal with the 5k-

Walk Date: 02/17/2018
Walk Location: Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins – The Woodlands, TX
Check-in/Registration Time: 02/17/2018 at 9:00 am
Walk Begins: 10:00 am
Walk Ends: 1:00 pm

For more information about the walk and the cause please click here but you’ll definitely want to wait and sign up under Terri’s Team by CLICKING HERE  🙂

Here’s a few pics from previous walks we have done.  We always have a fabulous time and what a great way to spend the day with friends by being active and supporting such great causes!

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Our Captshayne.blog team for the Pink 5k last year in the Woodlands, that’s Terri next to me front and center!

Jesus loves fishermen

HI! Thanks for stopping by to take a look at our new project “Jesus Loves Fishermen”, as you can imagine we are pretty excited.

To avoid any controversy let me clarify in BOLD that Jesus Loves EVERYONE, not just fishermen, but since we are called to be fishermen and I actually fish for a living I thought it was perfect.

When I searched for the domain and it was available my heart smiled, I knew it was meant to be!!!

I’ve asked a few friends to help me get started, they loved it and jumped on board immediately, after all life is better when you share it with friends!

We are in the very beginning stages so please be patient with us as we explore all the possibilities ahead.  We are currently working on a website where items can be bought online so for now just click here to contact us and I’ll get back with you about your order.

Here’s what we have so far!

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My beautiful sister wearing the Jesus Loves Fishermen white t-shirt

really… it can’t be!!

I enjoy being a simple man, this wasn’t always the case but the older I become the more freedom there is in it. No one will ever call me a great philosopher, nor will you see me on a red carpet and that’s OK. You see I believe we all have the ability to be everyday heroes regardless of our class or status if we find contentment in where God has us at the moment.

so far this summer on the royalties!

The weather here in Freeport, TX hasn’t exactly cooperated with smooth seas and light wind so we have only gotten a couple of trips in this summer!  As I am writing this post we have our first disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico (Cindy), she has the wind blowing about 30 knots here at the marina so I decided to spend a little time and post a short blog for y’all.

The boat spent some time at Baron’s Marine Ways for routine maintenance before we started the season and Baumann Propellers did a great job on the wheels like always!

I won’t kill ya with small talk so on to some pictures!!!

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That’s a BIG lift at Baron’s Marine Ways!

a pink 5k picture story!!

I had a great group of wonderful people that I get to call friends join me for the PINK 5K in The Woodlands.  We shared stories, tears and laughs while celebrating this journey we are on called life!  I hope you enjoy the pictures 🙂

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Shalene let me stay with them so I didn’t have to drive in, we made sure to eat a nice healthy meal before the big day ahead.  Love cooking with friends!

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The PINK Captshayne shirts were perfect for the day.  These are the last two I have, guess its time to make some more!

I did it… conroe to college station!!

Well I did it!  I’ll try my best to tell a good story of the walk, there are lots of things to share.  Fortunately I like to take pictures and they are supposed to be worth a 1,000 words so that means less reading and more looking which is always better!

The reason I have decided to do these various walks is to simply start conversations and raise awareness for some things going on in our world.  I am also exploring what it means to Love my neighbor as myself and try to put that into real everyday practice.  In my opinion if we all Love one another just a little bit more we can change the world.

So here is my story, my two feet one in front of the other from Conroe to College Station.

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My dad and nephew started the journey with me!  My sister wasn’t feeling well but she has been there the entire time supporting me so that’s OK..  I walked 15 miles on Saturday (5k for Free the Captives in Houston, a few at the zoo for family day and about 6 miles that evening to help with the long day that was ahead on Sunday).

I tried to rest on Saturday night but spent my time in prayer and on the phone making final preparations and dealing with emotions.  Having no idea what the next few days were going to look like, I allowed myself to become somewhat nervous. 

headed to college station

The Pilgrimage continues as I gear up to walk across Texas!  So far there have been smaller walks supporting charities in the Houston area that have been very successful but the time has come to venture a little further.  Next up I’ll be walking from Conroe to College Station.  It will be a nice route straight down 105 West to Hwy 6 North.

This will be the first walk that is an extended distance at just under 60 miles and hopefully I will get to enjoy the late spring weather and wildflowers.  Fortunately, I have friends and family along the way that will allow me a place to sleep and eat so that will not be an issue.

I am still being asked the same general questions of why I’m walking and how I can be helped.  I’ll continue to give the same answers until something changes.

I am walking in hopes to start conversations with people regarding what they are passionate about, what injustices they are opposed to and how we can be inspired to take action.  I am also interested in learning how to creatively love my neighbor as myself and putting that into action!