12.31.12 - Our Completed Puzzle

The 2012 Kaopuiki/McDonald Puzzle Team

Like many families, we have a tradition of doing a family puzzle during the Christmas season.  Typically, this is something we look forward to doing while we're in Oregon and we use the puzzle time for a chance to just sit and visit while we work to accomplish the task together as a team.  We started this year's puzzle with some sadness that we would be doing it with just the six of us this year, but no sooner had we started than Lisa and Travis arrived and we again had some of our extended puzzle team to help us complete this year's 1000 piece challenge.

Over the past week, everyone in the family has found a seat around the table at one point or another working on the puzzle.  It's been a collective effort led by the Puzzle Princesses (Marcy, Makela, and Lisa) So it's only fitting that on the last day of the year, on the eve before Travis and Lisa return home, we finished our Christmas puzzle as an entire team.

Next year is certain to bring some new experiences for our family and I look forward to everything a new year has to offer me personally, professionally, and how God will use the next year to grow and stretch our family in new ways.

God Bless and Happy New Year!

Christmas Song of the Day

Winter Snow by Chris Tomlin featuring Audrey Assad

This is more Audrey Assad than Tomlin, but great song.  I need to find some more of her music to have playing around the house on relaxing days.

12.30.12 - Night Sledding

my night sledding crew

Last night we went night sledding at Northview.  I really didn't want to go, but I knew it was important to the kids so I went, thinking it would be too cold and everyone would wimp out quickly.  We had a blast!

So when someone asked what we were going to do tonight the idea of night sledding again quickly popped up and this time I agreed to take everyone.  Again, we had a blast, but this time we had to share the hill with a few more people so it wasn't quite as fun as feeling like you own the place with your unique idea of sledding in the dark.

After two nights of sledding in the dark though I have learned a few things:

• I have some adventurous kids - the idea of sledding down an icy hill without being able to see the different bumps and dips didn't phase them.
• My body is not as young as my brain thinks it is.  The kids came home wanting hot chocolate to warm up (they got orange leaf instead) and I wanted some ibuprofen for the aches and pains.
• My kids love it when I do something like this with them. I need to remember to take more time to do 'kid stuff' with all of them.
• The best advice for night sledding is to hit the slope relaxed and just go with the bumps and dips you can't see and don't expect.  If you tense up and worry from the beginning of the ride it only makes it more painful when you do hit an obstacle and less likely you'll enjoy the ride all together.

That last bullet point is actually probably true for life in general....

Christmas Song of the Day

Hope was Born this Night by Sidewalk Prophets

Here's the second selection from Sidewalk Prophets, the only artist.group to appear twice on this list.

12.29.12 - Our (far from) Misérable Date

I have long loved musical theater and one of my favorite theater memories was in high school when my mom and I went to go see Les Misérables as the national touring company came through town.  It was really a great night with awesome seats, a back stage tour, and some fun at the cast party afterwards.  As a result of that experience, not to mention the great music and story, Les Misérables has always been one of my favorite shows. That was a time in my life when my love for musical theater, and the theater in general, was just beginning.  It was also the time in my life when Marcy and I began our friendship and eventually started dating.  So, when we learned a few months ago that Les Mis was coming to the big screen it was one of the most anticipated movies in our house for quite some time, in part because of that connection to the past.  

Although the movie has been out less than a week in the theaters, it felt we were waiting forever to see it, especially after hearing so much about it from friends.  Marcy and I finally were able to see it today and although I had more than a few critiques of the production and performances we really enjoyed it.  The story and music are both still great, but for almost 3 hours today I had a chance to revisit an important part of my youth through a seat in a different kind of theater - all of it with Marcy still beside me.  AWESOME afternoon date!

Christmas Song of the Day

You're Here by Frencesca Battistelli

Francesca Battistelli music has been a popular choice in our house over the past year as we've discovered more of her music. It's only fitting one of her songs makes our list.

12.28.12 - Family Carriage Ride

The family with Fergie, the horse.

We told the kids tonight that we were heading downtown for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory - a family favorite - and then we were going to hang out downtown for a while.  While everyone was excited about dinner, there was more than a little grumbling from the boys about being forced to hang out downtown.  

In fairness to them, we held back any details about the post-dinner activities except that they needed to dress warm because we'd be outside the whole time.  None of the boys really like surprises, so the lack of information really bugged them but we kept promising they were going to have fun.

As we walked up to the front of the Hyatt, everyone saw the horse drawn carriages and it quickly clicked in what we were going to do.  It has been 15 years since Marcy and I had been on a carriage ride like that, but the rest of the family had never done it, including Lisa and Travis.  It was a beautiful night and everyone had a great time!


Christmas Song of the Day

Come Now Our King by Chris August

It's sort of fitting that I have a selection from a WOW Christmas compilation.  It's sort of how I got the inspiration to put together my own Christmas music list.

12.27.12 - Sledding!

We took advantage of all the snow still on the ground today and most of the family went sledding at Northview.  It's been a couple years since we've had a snow fall that really made this worthwhile, but as you can see from the pictures below, the kids had a fun time!

I think the last time I got out and took so many pictures of them sledding like today was one of our first winters in Indiana and my Dad was here to go sledding with them.  5 years later, that day is still one of my favorite and definitely one of the kids' favorite winter memories.  Kyron was too little to be with us back then, but he sure had fun today!

Fun in the snow!

Christmas Song of the Day

I Believe in Christmas by 33 Miles

I don't really know much about this group, but I really like their Christmas album.

12.26.12 - Let it Snow

After the very mild winter we had last year, it was sort of nice to get up today and see some snow on the ground.  THIS is what a midwest winter is supposed to be like!

So, I guess we get another lazy day to enjoy as a family but this time with even MORE family to enjoy it with this time.  Marcy and Lisa are doing a puzzle, Makela is baking, Uncle Travis is watching movies with the younger boys, and Caleb is on the xBox. Honestly, it feels like the perfect day after Christmas!







Christmas Song of the Day

Day After Christmas by Matthew West

Great sentiment and message in this song: "Here comes the letdown. Christmas is over. Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer. But before we have a breakdown, let us remember, the Light of the World is still here."

12.25.12 - Merry Christmas!

This really is my favorite holiday of the year.  Of course there is the spiritual significance, but I love that there is a whole season of the year that builds up to today.  It's rarely about the stuff we get in our house - fortunately we had parents who kept us pretty grounded in this area as kids ourselves - but I think being away from all our family has helped our own kids to measure and weigh what is most important to them: quality time with family or a shiny new toy? Thankfully, they answer that question correctly, most of the time.

We had some great gifts today for each other, but the biggest gift/surprise has been a few months in the making and I was having trouble keeping it a surprise at the very end.  Marcy's sister, Lisa and her husband, Travis, surprised the family with a Christmas Day trip to Indiana.  Makela started to figure it out and as she started to put the hard press on me I was saved by the arrival of 'the best Christmas gift of the year!'

It was awesome to see the kids get so excited at the sight of the Aunt and Uncle, but even better to watch Marcy's reaction and surprise at seeing her best friend in person and not via a FaceTime call.  With a blizzard supposedly coming into town overnight, I guess we may have that opportunity to have a lot of quality family time. Sounds perfect to us!

Hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas!


Christmas Song of the Day

Mele Kalikimaka by Bette Midler

We've got to bring a little Hawaiian flair into the Holiday season.  Bette Midler probably has one of the more 'fun' versions of this classic I've heard in recent years.

12.24.12 - Happy Birthday Marcy!

Marcy & the Guys

While everyone else is scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping and doing their last minute wrapping of Christmas gifts, December 24th represents something different in our house: it's Marcy's birthday!

Admittedly, I've never really done a great job of separating her birthday from the rest of the holiday season.  She's always been a great sport about this, and for someone who really loves birthdays she probably feels like she wishes she had her birthday at a different time of year.

Marcy & the Girls

This morning though, we had a little fun with her as we attempted to recreate an annual tradition.  Each year, Marcy and I go out for a birthday breakfast to Mother's Bistro in downtown Portland.  Since we're staying in Indiana this year,  we're missing out on this tradition.  Instead though, I planned a little surprise breakfast gathering for Marcy with some of our closest friends.  It was a nice surprise for her and I think was a nice distraction from not being with all her family as she's accustomed to.

"My cheeks hurt from smiling!" was my favorite line from breakfast and I hope I can keep finding a way to keep her and the rest of the kids smiling this week.

I should be the one smiling though.  This woman is an absolute blessing to me and my soul mate.  She's an amazing mother, thoughtful friend, hard worker, and all-around awesome person.  If you aren't friends with her, your life would be better if you were.  If you are friends with her, you know what I mean.

Happy Birthday Marcy!  I love you!

Christmas Song of the Day

Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin

I guess in it's traditional version, Joy to the World is a great worship song, but leave it to Chris Tomlin to modernize it and make it even better.

12.23.12 - Lazy Day

We did nothing today.  Ran a couple errands, but for the most part, we stayed home and were lazy all day.  Marcy made lots of cookies and baked all day, but aside from that we did a whole lot of n-o-t-h-i-n-g.  It was pretty nice.  In that spirit, I'm going to cut this post short. :-)

Christmas Song of the Day

O Come All Ye Faithful - by Katharine McPhee

Admittedly, I haven't watched American Idol for several seasons, but K. McPhee still goes down in my book as the absolute best runner-up and she should have won that year. Beautiful version of this carol.

12.22.12 - Christmas Lights

We had a little family time tonight when we all piled into the van with coffee and hot chocolate in tow to drive around Hamilton County looking at other people's Christmas Lights.

I wish I could say that it was joyful bliss with everyone singing Christmas carols and kindness overflowing throughout the minivan, but unfortunately it ended up being a 'forced fun' event that didn't quite live up to the expectations Marcy and I had built up in our minds.

Not quite Griswold, but enough to make a statement

Enter Grammy & Papa to save the day.  From the minivan we made a Facetime call to my parents who joined our Christmas lights tour from 2000 miles away.  Immediately, everyone's attitude and energy changed.  Sure there was still a little fighting, but most of the tension left the car as my mom began engaging in conversation with her out-of-state angels.  It's always hard to be angry when your grandma is around.

We had some really fun laughs, shared some funny stories from the week and spent some quality time in what has become our new normal for quality time with distant family.  It may not be ideal but it's amazing how technology impacts our lives in a positive way sometimes.

Christmas Song of the Day

Grown up Christmas List by Michael Bublé

Unfortunately, iTunes isn't selling this CD any longer and neither is Amazon on their MP3 store.  This is a great version though.

12.21.12 - Thank You Team!

I think today is the day the world was supposed to end.... glad they were wrong.

Today was the end of an era for me though.  Officially, this was my last day in my role as VP of Enrollment at Harrison College.  Next week, I move over to the Chef's Academy and begin a new era.  There is a lot I can reflect back on over the past five-and-a-half years and feel very good about.  I entered into this position with a timeline of 3-5 years until I wanted to transition to something else, so the timing is right and the next opportunity is very exciting.

I have had some really great teams in the past and have worked with some very talented people, but I have to say that the team I am leaving has been one of the best groups of people I have had the privilege of working with.  The core group has been six administration team members (7 including myself) for the last three years with others joining more recently as we restructure.  I could spend some time talking about their work professionally, their expertise and how competent they are but that's not really what I will value the most from my experience working with them - at least not the things that will matter in the long term to me personally.

I chose to come to work at Harrison because of the culture boasted a balanced philosophy of Faith, Family, Health, and Job - all very important values to me, personally.  I made no shame in sharing the importance of my family and my commitment to my them as a priority in my life.  As I shared with my team more of myself and my family they came to do the same.  I've had the privilege of watching couples become parents, parents grow and share, and families become friends.  This team grew into a work family themselves because each person was willing to openly share who they are, what they believe and value, and in the end receive acceptance from the entire team.  Each person brought a very different personality and perspective to the group that after some bumpy starts, became a team trait that was valued within the team.  Our individual differences made us collectively stronger. What resulted was not just a group of co-workers, but a group of people with genuine relationships who saw the strengths and faults of each member but worked tirelessly for each other and for the betterment of a vision they all helped to build and develop.

This group embraced an approach of always moving forward (IMUA) and working with the priority of the student experience at the top of the list. There was celebration when that experience was a good one and collaborative problem solving effort when we fell short.   As a team, we were not perfect, but we worked hard to be the best we could be and called each other out when we sensed opportunity.  That ethic and determination will be something I remember and hope to achieve again.

I don't know if others share my same high opinion of this team, but no one has worked more closely with this group that I have and as a result I am confident in the knowledge that I had the honor and privilege to lead a great group of people the past few years.  I have been blessed my their impact on me personally and professionally and I will miss working closely with them on a daily basis.

So "Thank you, Team!" I can't say it better than that.


Christmas Song of the Day

Go Tell it on the Mountain by Seabird

This is actually one of the first Christmas songs I remember singing as a child. I think I sang it in a Christmas concert at church when I was little, but somehow it has always been special.

12.20.12 - Snow, maybe?

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I can probably count on one hand how many really significant snow falls I saw in my first 30 some years.  The biggest I can remember with any detail was probably about 6-8 inches while I was in high school.  When we moved to Indiana one of the expectations we had was that we would see a lot more snow at winter time.

The first winter we were here lived up to expectations, we had 16 inches fall on Valentines day 2007 and there have been a number of 6"+ snowfalls since then.  We also had that once-in-a-lifetime experience a few years ago when we returned to Oregon for Christmas only to have 36 inches of snow fall and basically trap us at Marcy's brother's house for 8 days.

Last year though, we saw virtually no snow in Indiana and the kids have been fearful this year will be another repeat of last year's unusually mild winter.  Oregon actually has sen more snowfall the past two winters than we have in Indiana - global warming?

Well, there is snow falling as I type and the forecast is for it to continue through the night.  I have a house full of kids hoping for a delay in the morning, but I told them not to hold their breath.  It's the last day before winter break and the last day of finals, it would have to be a significant storm to cause a delay and certainly a closure....I guess we'll see.....

Either way, it's nice to see some of the white stuff falling.  It would be even better if it showed itself on Christmas Day too!


Christmas Song of the Day

Shake Up Christmas by Train

Just a fun Christmas song with a catchy rhythm.

12.19.12 - Christmas/Holiday Card(s)

The "just in time for Christmas' version

In the past, the family Christmas Card has been something that I have taken a lot of pride in and have had fun being creative with it each year.

This past year, I started a board on Pinterest of Christmas Card ideas and uploaded some of my past work.  I was pleasantly surprised how many 'strangers' saw the designs and repinned them.  I was even contacted by several people asking who did the designs and how they could order their own!  It was very nice to have something creative I did validated in that way.

Yes, I just wrote about my Pinterest activity and some need the creative side of me apparently has to be validated...ugh... I didn't just forfeit my Man Card with that last paragraph; somewhere, someone is shredding it.

The post-Christmas/pre-New Year version

Anyways, the past couple years, I've let time get away from me and I've been a slacker.  Case in point, we're less than a week away from Christmas and we still haven't mailed our cards.  Furthermore, I'm so confident that a significant number of friends won't receive their cards in time for 'Mele Kalikimaka' to be appropriate, that we also had 'Happy Holidays' cards printed just in case some of them arrived after Christmas.  So, while this year may not be my most creative design - there's two different versions! So that's got to count for something!?

There I go, searching for Christmas Card validation again....



Christmas song of the Day

Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Sarah McLachlan

12.18.12 - The Stress of Time

Every year we talk about how we want to make sure the holiday season is peaceful and restful in our house.  We want to intentionally slow things down so we can spend time enjoying the events of the holiday season and really celebrate throughout the month, not just the few days around Christmas.  That was part of the point in why I started this blog in fact, to force myself to slow down a bit and reflect each day.

Yet, here we are passed the mid-way point of the month and this year seems and feels more crazy and stressful than any year on memory.  Maybe it's because we're staying in Indiana - every other year, we've already left and are in Oregon. Maybe it's juggling new jobs - I'm in the middle of a transition at work and Marcy is working full-time for the first time since we've had kids. Maybe it's stress at work - the shootings this past week have caused a stir at Marcy's school, as should be expected. Maybe it's older kids and balancing their active schedules with our own.  Maybe it's school staying in session an extra week compared to past years. I clearly can't pin it on one thing, but we definitely need to SLOW DOWN.

I'm fearful that we're getting so busy, we're missing Christmas. What's that teaching my kids?  Got any ideas for some creative ways to slow things down or fun things our family can do for the remainder of the month?  I'd love to hear them....

Christmas Song of the Day

Christmas is all in the Heart by Steven Curtis Chapman

There are probably a number of songs that on any given day I could say are my favorites during the holiday season, but THIS song is at the top of that list and has been since 1995.

12.17.12 - Primetime Basketball

Synonymous with winter and the holidays in our house is basketball season.  I used to watch a lot of NBA basketball and even college basketball.  I still catch some of those games when I have the time, but the bulk of my attention as a fan is really around watching all of my boys and their games.  

I really don't know that I enjoy anything more than watching my boys play basketball.  Seeing them do something they love, competing, and growing as players and little/young men through challenges, adversity, and success is awesome to watch.  I really need to work on getting some more pictures of the boys playing though because those that I do have from this year have been taken by someone else and I  only have pictures of Caeden.  I typically stick to video recording the games so the grandparents can all watch the boys play.

We've been fortunate and blessed to find a great organization to play basketball with in Indiana Primetime Sports.  When we joined this group almost four years ago, I really couldn't have known how big a part of our lives the coaches and fellow players and their families would become over the years.  Some of our best friends and certainly our boys' best friends are Primetime families.  What they're learning on the court and the skills they are developing are great, but the additional focus on development of these boys as young men of character with a social conscious beyond the basketball court is awesome! As evidence, check out this video highlighting a recent Primetime event with Kids Against Hunger to help fight hunger in Central Indiana.  I think you'll agree it's pretty cool!

Some action shots of Caeden in a recent game. Photo Credits to Cassy Pickett - Great shots!

Christmas Song of the Day

Emmanuel by Laura Story

12.16.12 - A Heavy Heart

The point of this blog is to force myself to slow down and reflect each night about the day in an effort to not let the holiday season fly by with busy schedules and long to-do lists. It also has become a way to document for myself and the family significant moments that occur each year.  It's nice to be able to read through previous years posts and spend a moment remembering time gone by, even those sad moments.

This has been a rough weekend, emotionally.  The school shooting in Connecticut on Friday still has my stomach in knots, especially since it occurred just days after the shootings in Clackamas, OR in a shopping mall I've been in a hundred times.  I won't spend any time sharing any opinions on gun control or school safety or even attempt to explain why such evil things happen in this world.

I do think it is important to acknowledge these feelings and honor the memories of those children and adults whose lives were tragically ended last week.  I've challenged my older kids to not let these evil acts result in fear, but in action.  Action to show others that there is Love in the world and that Love is more powerful than anything the enemy throws our way. I don't yet know how they will respond to it, but we've had some deep conversations the past 48 hours.  We are a house of heavy hearts right now though and our thoughts, prayers, and Love go out to all those victims, families, and others impacted by the shootings last week. 

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Christmas Song of the Day

Because it's Christmas by Sidewalk Prophets

Sidewalk Prophets is the only artist/group to have two songs on my December Days playlist, not certain what that says except they write some good music.

12.15.12 - I'm going to Haiti!

Ok, I know I just announced that I'm going back to Ghana in February, but before I go on that trip, I'm going to Haiti in January with Kids Against Hunger!

For the last few years I've enjoyed all the different opportunities our family has had participating in KAH packing events and about a year ago was really feeling led to try and get involved even more.  I started taking on more responsibility in running the packing events done at Northview, but also began working to bring this type of service activity to Harrison College and other organizations I am involved in.

1 bag of KAH food, provides 6 meals

After a food pack a few months ago, I came home and was debriefing with Marcy about the event.  I told her that night that I thought it would be amazing to be able to go and be part of a team that delivers these meals to those people who need them.  To see the process come full circle and how it impacts real people would be powerful stuff.  In my head I was thinking some place international, but later thought I could probably have an equally powerful experience if I just went to downtown Indianapolis where some of the meals are distributed and served each month.  That's still on my list to do.

Anyways, a few weeks later, I got a phone call at home one evening asking me if I would be interested in being part of a small group representing Kids Against Hunger to travel to Haiti and deliver meals that have been packed here in Central Indiana.  The purpose of the trip would be to document and tell the story of what happens after the packing events - to meet the people and tell their stories whose lives are impacted by the food and the work of Kids Against Hunger.   I said 'absolutely' without even talking to Marcy (not the most sensitive thing to do, but have I mentioned how amazing, supportive, and understanding my wife is?!).  Fast forward a couple months and we're 28 days from going!

We had our first training session today and it was great!  I knew very little about Haiti, but after today I know a little bit more.  This will be a very different trip than Ghana and I am anticipating a difficult trip in many ways.  I'll be blogging more extensively about it on my Moving Forward blog, so I hope you'll follow along.

Christmas Song of the Day

Winter Song by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michelson

Not exactly an uplifting song, but it's simplicity and twisted harmonies really make it a beautiful piece.

12.14.12 - I'm Changing Jobs!

I've been in my current role at Harrison College for five and a half years.  I really am blessed (1)  to have remained employed through the challenging economy and (2) to have worked with such amazing people during these years (more about them in a future post).

Thankfully, I am staying with Harrison College, but moving out of administration and to the culinary division of the college, better known as The Chef's Academy.  I officially begin with the new calendar year.  This is a great opportunity to work with some amazingly talented staff and chef instructors, not to mention some of the nation's best young culinary talent.

I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with the staff/faculty and even some of our new incoming students today.  It was nice to begin meeting everyone and confirmed that this is going to be a great group to work with!

My biggest fear though, is how much weight I'm in danger of gaining.  Perhaps my new job should accompany a new work out routine....


Christmas Song of the Day

Hibernation Day by Jars of Clay

I love this song because it captures that feeling I think most of us get when the snow comes at winter and all you want to do is just relax and take a day to enjoy the winter season..... and because I like to sleep.

12.13.12 - Returning to Ghana

Words to describe my previous trip to Ghana

I was blessed earlier this year to go on my very first mission trip overseas to Ghana, West Africa.  It touched my life in ways I could not have imagined previously and the experience continues to impact me today.  God continues to place Ghana on my heart and I am returning there early next year with another Global Outreach team from Northview.

Tonight we had our first team meeting as we begin to prepare for the trip and discover how God intends to use when we get there.  I have a whole different set of emotions and a different kind of excitement about this trip than my first, but the next 70 days are sure to be exciting as we prepare.

As I did last time, I plan to blog about and share the experience in greater detail in my other blog: Moving Forward.



Christmas Song of the Day

Baby It's Cold Outside by James Taylor w/Natalie Cole

Truth be told, my favorite version is Buddy the Elf's impromptu version with Zooey Deschanel while she's in the shower. Love that movie!

12.12.12 - Happy Birthday Caleb!

December is a month of celebration in our house because we have a couple different birthdays we celebrate in addition to Christmas. Today is Caleb's BIG THIRTEEN!

So, in celebration of Caleb's 13th birthday, I thought I would share my top 13 favorite things about Caleb, in no particular order:

13) Nobody rocks the Forever Lazy like Caleb.

12) He's got Gangnum Style.

11) He's the best movie buddy I could ask for.  From the time he was an infant and still today, we love watching movies together.

Caleb at 1yr.

10) He is loyal.  I think this is a hard trait to find in middle schoolers, but Caleb has this down.

9) He is idolized by his younger brothers - most of the time.

8) He picks good friends.  The people you surround yourself with say a lot about who you are and Caleb does a good job of surrounding himself with quality people.

7) He has a heart for service. Not necessarily around our house on a typical day, but really enjoys going out and doing good stuff for others. Maybe if we told him it was a stranger's pair of pants lying on his bedroom floor he would pick them up out of kindness to the stranger....

6) He's a great little cook!  His creativity shows itself in the kitchen and he seems to enjoy trying to create something new.

Fast Forward 12 more years....

5) He has a great sense of humor. He is the prankster of the family and never let's an opportunity pass when he can prank someone or crack a joke.

4) He's smart.  He does great in school and I'm not sure how much he really applies himself.  This may come back to bite him in a couple years when he hits high school, but the kid is really sharp.

3) He loves to read.  This was a trait I was never really able to develop as a kid, no matter how hard my mom tried to build it into me, but Caleb has it.

2) He has a love/hate relationship with surprises.  you can imagine how we like to prank him back now...

1) I see so much of myself in him, but thankfully he's absorbed many of his mom's great qualities to make up where I am lacking.

Bottom line, if all the 13 year olds in the whole world were lined up, I would pick Caleb every time!

Happy Birthday Caleb!


Christmas Song of the Day

I Pray on Christmas by David Barnes

Originally, I think I like Harry Connick Jr,'s version of this best until I hear David Barnes' recording when he released this a couple years ago.

12.11.12 - VERY cool experience

I had a really cool experience this morning as I was heading off to work.  I was missing my eye glasses case - ok, just typing that statement and then reading it aloud makes me sound and feel old. Anyways, I was missing my, uh..... headphones for my iPod..... and eventually found them in a backpack I haven't used in weeks.  As I pulled the case, errr...... headphones...... out of my bag, a folded and crumpled piece of paper was attached.  I didn't think much about it and shoved it all into my coat pocket and headed out to the car.  As I got settled in for my commute, I grabbed the piece of paper to see what it was.  As I unfolded it, I realized I didn't recognize the hand writing but began reading.  Very quickly I knew what I was reading....

Isaac's thoughts on Nehemiah 2:19-20

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of serving on a mission trip to Ghana, West Africa.  While there, I spent some time with a group of great guys who were studying to become pastors.  I helped lead some bible studies and mostly just learned a lot from them.  On the last day, before we left for the airport, several of the guys came to say good-bye and one student, Isaac, gave me this note.  Isaac, myself, and others had spent a few days looking at the story and book of Nehemiah in the bible as a lesson on leadership.  Isaac was inspired to continue the study and wanted to share with me some of his thoughts and ideas a little further into one of the chapters.  When he gave me the note he said to me (half joking), when you come back to Ghana we can continue this study!  I read through it quickly in the moment and put it in my backpack to review later.

As I sat in my car this morning reading Isaac's ideas about what he felt the scripture was saying to him, I realized that there was a specific message in this for me today.  I won't go into all the details of the situation, but it was so cool that on a day when I needed some clear direction and guidance - things I have been praying for - God answered with a note written 9 months ago, on a completely different continent, by a young man I may never see again.

Yes, VERY cool.

Christmas Song of the Day

 When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.

It's nearly 20 years old, but this is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.  It's classic old soul Harry, but to me it just sounds like Christmas.

12.10.12 - Blue Christmas

In a brief conversation today with a co-worker, we were discussing how cold Central Indiana has gotten recently.  He made comments about the weekend being sort of dreary though with 45 degrees and rain. "Who would want to spend an entire winter in that?!" he said.  I understood what he meant and we went on to talk about the cold and how we both agreed that if it's going to get below freezing, we'd like snow to go with it.

After he walked away, I sat pondering his question and immediately found myself depressed.  Truth is, I have a house full of people that would love to experience that, because as dreary as it sounds it is the perfect picture of home for us.  We've been in Indiana for six years now, but home is still Portland, OR and this holiday season marks the first since we've moved that we'll be staying in the mid-west for the holidays.

So I spent a few moments feeling bad for myself and my family - my own quick little pity party complete with Elvis crooning Blue Christmas in my head - but then I stopped and resolved to find the blessing in it.  Yes, we would love to be back home with all our family during the holidays but that's not the plan this year, for a variety of reasons.  I'm certain there must be more to it though, so I am going to work hard to find the blessing for us here in Indiana.  I'm sure it's there, I'm just going to pray that God will keep all of our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds open to whatever it may be.  His plan is always so much better than what we try to plan for ourselves anyways, so I'm certain Blue Christmas is not going to be our theme song this year - and it's definitely not going to make it as a Christmas Song of the Day!  

Christmas Song of the Day

Don't Save it All for Christmas Day by Avalon

This is from way back in 2000, but this is still my favorite version of this song with a great message.

12.9.12 - A Sick Tradition

Caeden crashed asleep on the couch

It's becoming a sad tradition but December isn't just about the holidays for us, it's also about battling off the cold and flu.  I suppose that's the case for most families, but I seem to enjoy taking pictures of my kids 'battling the cruds' and then sharing them with the world.  I'm sure payback will be sweet revenge for the kids someday.

This weekend, it's been Caeden who has been having a rough time.  He missed his basketball game on Saturday and may likely miss school and another game tomorrow as well.  He keeps trying to push through with a positive attitude.  Every time he thinks he's starting to feel better he tries to get up and do something active to convince himself that he's getting better, only to crash soon after and a fever return.

Truth be told, I hate seeing my kids sick and hope this doesn't last much longer.  I especially hope he doesn't share it either.

Christmas Song of the Day

Little Wood Guitar by Sugarland

12.8.12 - My Breakfast Buddy

I finally made good on a promise to Kyron this morning.  He loves eating out for breakfast and for the past few months, we have talked about a breakfast trip to Steak and Shake of all places.  We always seem to have a conflict and can't make it happen, but after his basketball game today, the two of us took a detour home.  We ordered all-you-can-eat pancakes just like we decided we would months ago, and waited with some anticipation and curiosity of just how good Steak and Shake pancakes would be.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised at how good they were!  We take our pancakes pretty seriously in our house so since we both agreed they were good, then I feel comfortable sharing the recommendation.  The best part of breakfast though was just hanging out with my youngest for a little while.  We're often so busy on the weekends it's difficult to get some one-on-one time with the kids, but I really need to work on making this more of a priority.

Kyron is always good for some funny quotes and memorable moments. He had a few funny one-liners as usual, but my favorite line during breakfast was when he looked up from his plate, mouth full, and said "These are REALLY good! But they are definitely not as good as yours, Dad!"

Christmas Song of the Day

Carol of the Bells by Pentatonix

This is a very cool arrangement of a holiday classic.  I never watched the show Sing-off when it was on, but after hearing this group, I think I would have liked it.