1st Day

Jan 12 2009. Hunter Vision sends docs to be incorporated.

It's not really my first day, but it feels like it. It's the first day that I can have a singular focus at Hunter Vision. I am excited about this new chapter that lies ahead. Nervous, yes. I'm betting the livelihood of my family that this will work. It has to.

Supposedly, some demolition work begins today or tomorrow at Hunter Vision. It will be little stuff (like tearing off old wallpaper and such), but it will be fun to see progress. These next couple of weeks will be really weird with all the travelin' around (see earlier blogs), but I should be able to get back into a rhythm around mid-April.

I can't keep a train of thought this morning to save my life.

My accountant bothers me because he replies slowly to his email. He will be replaced after this year's taxes are done.

My point exactly.

Onward.

A look back.

It's helpful to look back sometimes.

Summit Church: January 1st, 2007.

That was my first day on the job. I had just come off a massive project from Northland's building that nearly killed me. I was in a new place, with a new job and a clean slate. I couldn't wait to work with my brother. This was the step I chose before moving on to Hunter Vision in 3 years.

Here is an excerpt from a report I did (on things I'd accomplished) after 6 months on the job:

· 501c3 application (new articles of inc. and bylaws)

· Legal separation from Missionary Church

· New Church governance forms and takes over

· Finance Transition (completely new chart of accts)/ brought accounting in-house

· Built theater 3

· Sunday morning security

· Internal Ordination process completed (just needs to be finalized and published)

· Updated all Job Descriptions

· Created full time receptionist position

It is funny to look back now and think about those things. They are not thought of anymore. They happened. They are so done they cross no mind of anyone each day as they work. 90% of the staff never even knew a day when these things weren't in place. These things took months of my life to complete. I am so glad I did them. I did them for Summit and for God. I am glad Summit employees won't ever know of these days. They have new challenges to work out and don't need to be bothered by not having a phone on their desk...even though there was a day when there wasn't one there...

This is a great reminder to me to document the process of the birth of Hunter Vision. The things we will take for granted years from now are the things that are killing me to get done right now. It helps to put it all in perspective when I read these old reports.

It's been a great 3 years. I am going to enjoy today, knowing it is my last in this role at Summit. I gave it everything I had and am proud to have been part of the team. Here we go.

Good week ahead.

This picture has nothing to do with my blog.

Lots of Hunter Vision work. Tuesday is my last day at Summit.

I just want to say again what an amazing place Summit is and how proud I am of Isaac. The man is not yet 35 and runs a multi-million dollar a year organization that he and John built from nothing (obviously God built it, but you get my drift). That alone is awesome, but even more awesome is the good it is doing the people who are involved.

(insert feelingless, awkward transition here)

Here is the Hunter Vision update:

-The renovation drawings went to permit last week. Demo could start as early as Tuesday, we are just waiting on the permit to get moving.

-Our medical records software will be installed May 1 with massive training for me soon to follow.

-We hired our "Office Manager", Katie Romano. She starts May 1. She is awesome.

-Credentialing with the various insurance agencies has started. Medicare was the first, now we are on to the other guys.

-Working on...getting payroll set-up, getting health insurance, malpractice insurance, property...etc., etc.,etc...

-Going to Boston for ASCRS meeting in a couple weeks. That's where we will buy all of the little gear that we need.

-Oh yeah, I bought a laser a few weeks ago. That was expensive.

-Our first ad in RDV magazine goes out on May 15th. I have to get an office phone number by then, otherwise my cell bill could be a little high.

-We start booking appointments by May 17th. That is exactly 10 weeks from opening day.

-The website begins creation this week.

...and a bunch of other stuff...I just got tired of writing. Happy Holy week to all!

Catchin' you up on the python hunt

Carved on a tree deep in the Everglades

Here are some photos from one of the coolest hunts ever. We camped, fished, hiked and hung out for 48 hours in the middle of the everglades. No pythons...but a million alligators. The weather was warm and rainy. Evidently, pythons like cool and sunny.

Here are the photos...

http://gallery.me.com/joshhunter/100289

Username: python

Password: photo

Next year we are on 'em.

It was a great time with Uncle Matt, Aaron (some photos and videos on his blog), and Johnny. That's more what huntin' is about anyway.

2 days left.

Hunter Men (from Dec-09)

I work half a day today and a little bit next week at Summit. Then I am finished. I will be 100% Hunter Vision starting next Wednesday. I can't believe it. It will be a great transition, but I will certainly miss my day to day work at Summit and the people who made work fun everyday.

Summit is an incredible church and it's just as good as a place of employment. It's a bunch of people who love Jesus and will work their tails off to make sure other people hear all about Him. There is almost no limit to the time or effort that is put in to build that place...and get this, everyone actually has fun while they work hard. Not too many places in the world where that happens. Hunter Vision will have the same culture, but I will miss it until we can build it.

It's been an honor and a privilege to serve under my younger brother, Isaac. He is a gifted man whom I admire a ton.

Now, I look forward to the next 30 years of working along side my other freaky talented brother, Joel.

I am a blessed man.

Turkey.

I don't know that there is much I can add to this. I think it says it all. A good morning.

That was a long blog break...

The Daddy Daughter Dance

I am back to my normal sleeping patterns again. They will be all screwed up again soon, but I'll try to keep at the bloggin through the next month or so before I can settle back into a rhythm. The next few weeks are pretty big for me. I officially retire my jersey from Summit, officially become full time at Hunter Vision, go to Disney for a family mini-vacation...and then go to Boston for the big Ophthalmology meeting that ASCRS (American society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons) puts on every year. Last year Joel and I went to San Fran...this year, Boston. They have lots of stuff there that we need to buy, so it should be awesome.

The past 2 weeks included a daddy-daughter dance, a python hunt in the Everglades and the death of a close friend's wife. Pretty random, but all fairly huge events. There is a ton going on right now, but I know God is in control of all of it. I'll actually talk about more tomorrow... I had to warm back up to bloggin' today.

Quick update

While I fully intended to blog normal this week, I was derailed by tragedy on Sunday night. One of my close friends lost his wife in the middle of the night on Saturday. I have spent much time praying and being with him this week and can't get up early enough to blog because of being with him until late each night. The time with him matters right now. It is a minute by minute reminder to me to love my wife and kids like everyday were the last. I'll be back next week...

Back for a minute...

Daddy Daughter Dance 2010

Last week the common cold wiped me out of my blog rhythm. I'm back for now, but you well know that the big snake hunt is on soon, so that will take me out for a day or two. This next month is full of things that take me out of the normal routine. I'll blog as much as I can because I like to.

The biggest event since last I blogged...Ava and I went to the Daddy Daughter Dance. She had a great time and so did I. Watching her have fun was fun for me. It was a good reminder to purposefully make sure I do special, memory building things with my wife and kids.

Lent

This Lenten season has been interesting so far. I decided from the beginning that I would give up all food except for meal replacement bars. I figured since there is not much I like to do more than eat, it would help me focus on God when I couldn't look at another protein bar because it was the 4th one of the day. I was right, only it happens after one bar instead of four. It really has helped me change my focus, though. It has also reminded me of the value of some sort of fast to re-connect with God in the day. I will consume roughly 5 protein bars today...and be thankful to God that I have them...but also somewhat wishing I had a sandwich, too. I think that is what is supposed to happen. Doesn't it say somewhere after Eve ate the apple that she will have pain in childbirth and man will constantly want a sandwich?

I'm glad it's Lent. I'm even more glad Christ died for me and that protein bars remind me of it.

On the Docket

Daddy Daughter Dance 2009

This is the week of the Daddy-Daughter Dance. It's pretty big time. I can't believe how many people go to this thing... I mean like thousands (literally). Northland hosts it every year and it is a chance for dads to take their daughters on a date and show them how they should be treated. It's a black tie affair...a really whoop de do type of party. Ava is at the age (5) where she says stuff like, "Dad, why don't you just go this year? I don't want to go. I am tired." When I tell her she has plenty of time to sleep between now and then and I would really like for her to go, she says, "I'll think about it." Hardly an overwhelming response to my inquiry for a date, but whatever, I press on... it's what I do.

....A few days later. Ava decides she for real does not want to go. I say, "fine, no problem." Lisa enters the picture and assures Ava that she is going no matter what she says (because good moms know what is long-term best for their daughters even when their daughters don't agree in the short run). Then she reminds her that her cousins will be there with Uncle Isaac...Now she wants to go.

Can someone give me a manual on females? Evidently I lost mine. Maybe it's with my marbles.