Immanuel

I am sitting in a Starbucks doing some preparation on my talky talk for the gc on Sunday and I am so hopeful I think I am going to burst. I have spent a lot of time thinking about Isaiah's prophecy (chapter 7) this week and I am so thankful for God's presence with us. I have truly sensed His presence in my life in a powerful way this week. Maybe it is the Christmas stuff (music, decorations, food, etc.), a podcast I heard from Erwin McManus, several conversations with students, or God's written word in Isaiah 7 but I just believe, now more than ever, God is alive and active in this world. That gives me great hope and joy. It gives me passion for those around me. It gives me much to celebrate. Peace! Immanuel is here!

Thanksgiving - a day late

This has been a week full of emotions. On Monday I flew to Columbus to spend a few days with my family in Ohio. My sister Penny had surgery on Sunday as a result of some cancer issues. It is never easy to see someone you love experiencing pain. Everything inside of me wishes I could be the one laying in that hospital bed recovering. I wish I was the one pushing the morphine pump and struggling to take walks down the hallway. But more than likely Penny is recovering faster and tougher than most people would. Her resolve to get better and faith in God inspires everyone around her. I told her back in January when she was first diagnosed that I was 100% confident that she could handle all this disease would throw her way. She has proved me right and then some. I am very proud of her.

I flew back to MN on Wednesday and yesterday was simply a wonderful day. Gretchen's entire Iowa family came up from Iowa to celebrate with us. Both of her sister's families are crashing at our place for the weekend and her parents are staying at a nearby hotel (they weren't up for all of the craziness). We also had our friends Dan & Heidi with their two girls with us along with three new friends from India. Two of them are International students at the U and the other one is working in the states but just arrived in MN a month ago. As we all took a turn sharing a few things we are thankful for it became clearly evident once again that God is the giver of all great gifts. I heard people giving thanks for a lesson in contentment, the joy of doing what they want to do in life, family, friends, church, good job, life, etc., etc., etc. My father-in-law Gary ended the sharing time by saying how great it was to hear everyone share. He told us it brought such joy and amazement for His Savior to hear our thanksgivings because these were many things he has prayed for over the last few years. He said he prays for us everyday (family that is) and it is great to hear and know that his Savior hears these requests and is alive & working in this world.

I have great hope today because Jesus lives. And although my heart is heavy and I find my thoughts & soul existing in two places, I can move forward because I am truly experiencing this peace Paul describes that "surpasses all understanding". So thank you God for a treasured four days. I am blessed to be Your child and walk this life fully with You step by step.

Start the Christmas music!

Worried for my kids

My goody goody wife was pulled over the other day. She was going 44 in a 30. Do you think I can trust my kids to ride in the vehicle she operates? I may never look at her the same again.

Fall is Glorious

I haven't written in a while but I today I just feel like I need to. Almost like it would be good for me to just write. So I think I am going to write about my favorite time of the year - FALL. Fall has always been my favorite season but in the last few years it has become BY FAR (abs) my favorite season. My reasons:

1. I love the cooler temperatures ranging from a little above freezing to the high 50's and low 60's.
2. I love the full moons and multi-colored trees.
3. I love football.
4. I love cider.
5. My favorite Holiday is in the Fall - Thanksgiving.
6. I love the new beginning that fall seems to bring me.
7. I love playoff baseball.
8. I love taking the girls around the neighborhood for trick or treating.
9. I love the sense of satisfaction I feel when the leaves are raked.
10. I love fires with friends on a chilly night.

I always feel more alive in autumn. As if I have this clearer vision of God, life, and my purpose on earth. I realize for others it is summer, spring, or for you real sick people - winter. But I love the seasons and how the earth changes and in some way how we change with it. The seasons roll on and the years continue to add up and I am learning more and more to create that space in life to enjoy the little things God brings our way. As Gretchen tells me, "to enjoy the little things." During the fall, I see more of these "little things" and all these little things begin to add up into a collection of memories to draw from for the not so good seasons in life. Below are some "little thing memories" for me from so far this fall.

Coffee, Chopped, & Myrtle Beach

This morning I am drinking a sample cup of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew (or better known as instant coffee). Honestly...better than I expected but I believe I will continue on being a staple American and prefer brewed coffee. Maybe it is just in my head but it isn't the same. The taste isn't bad but the texture and finish of each sip just feels...well instant. For camping or other extreme circumstances where coffee is needed I would prefer this over other instant coffees but never will you hear me say, "You know what, don't go through the hassle of grinding up those fresh beans and brewing a glorious pot of coffee. Just boil up some water, pour that pouter into the cup, and stir. It tastes much better."

Over the lean summer months of television viewing my family and I have DVR'd on more than one occasion the show CHOPPED on the Food Network. The basic premise is you begin with four chefs. The first timed round is the appetizer. They have a set amount of time to take three random ingredients and turn it into an appetizer for the three judges. The judges critique the chefs based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The bottom appetizer is "chopped" and they move on to the entree round. Following this round someone else is "chopped" until there are two chefs left for the dessert round. Following the dessert round the final competitor is chopped and one person is left as the "chopped" champion. This past Friday night the girls (Isabelle & Tori) competed in a Chopped challenge where Mace and I were the judges. Gretchen took pictures so I will allow her the privilege of telling you exactly what happened on her blog. Lets just say I had more than enough sugar intake on Friday.

Heading to Myrtle Beach next Sunday for a week with my sister Katie's family. We have been talking about this trip for like 3-4 years and it is finally going to happen. The girls have never seen the ocean yet so it will be a wonderful trip (except for the 2600 miles in the van driving there and back!!!).

Summer - 2009

With college football beginning late last week and today being Labor Day, I say goodbye to summer. I know officially we have a few more weeks but after Labor Day it always feels like fall for me. Personally, I don't mind. I love fall. It is my favorite season of the year - the beautiful colors of trees, football, apple cider, Thanksgiving (my favorite Holiday), sweatshirts, etc. But before I get ahead of myself looking to the future, I thought I would say goodbye to June, July, and August. Here are some of my favorite moments from the summer:

Annapolis, MD - A beautiful little gem of a city we stumbled upon while visiting D.C.

Sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with my family and looking at the lights of D.C.

Reconnecting with friends in Clarks Summit, PA.

Norwich, NY - Great conversations with Woody Evans and Eric Beavers over a fire along with an amazing lunch in the cabin porch. Oh...and I milked a cow.

Columbus, Ohio - To me, the most beautiful place in the world because I love the people that live there.

Grand Ole Creamery - The coconut chip ice cream is amazing!

Iowa State Fair - It took me 15 years of knowing Gretchen and her family but I finally made it to the greatest fair in the U.S.

GC Shooting Clinic - I love giving back to our community and I love teaching basketball. It was a great joy to have our good friends the Chapmans with us for a week as well.

MN Visits - My sister Penny and her family came for a visit. We went to the zoo and dug through Taco John's trash together. Raymond Lines made an unexpected visit to the cities. It was a real blessing to have him here for a few days. There were also various visits from the Iowa Staffords/Frys/Baker clan.

So goodbye summer and hello fall. The seasons continue to roll and the collection of memories are getting greater. I am blessed by God to know Him and His children He intersected my life with.

Banana Butt

I still love Banana Butt Cheerios but I am on a different kick currently - HONEY KIX. And just in case you're wondering they are still "Kid-Tested, Mother-Approved!"

I highly recommend them.