Big Hair Preacher

Top 5 Summer Highlights - #1

 1.  Me & the kids caught our first fish together! 

(The smile on my boy's face says it all ;-)

Big Mouth Bass meet Big Hair Preacher.

Tan in San Fran

Whenever I tell stories at Liquid, a lot of people ask about my brother Ted-- What's he like?  Where's he live?  Who has taller hair?

Ted is 5 years older than me and is a hedge-fund manager in Fog City, San Francisco.

He's married to a beautiful-crazy-Kentucky Wildcat-redhead named Sara (jk, Sara-- you da bomb, sistah!) and Col & I have one wish: that they lived closer.  Whenever they visit us in Jersey, we go out for sushi & Penfolds and pick up right where we left off.

Ted & I are different in lots of ways-- he's a brilliant numbers guy, looks good in suits, and is perpetually tan.  But we both use a ridiculous amount of hair product & a lot of people think he looks like Kurt Russell. 

If I squint real hard, I can see that-- not Overboard Kurt, but maybe Executive Decision Kurt. ;-)

Anyway, they're kickin' it for Jesus in San Fran and heavily involved in gritty, real-time street ministry to the least, the last, and the lost.

I wanted to share their story so you get a glimpse of something more than their looks... their HUGE HEART for Jesus and their love for His children in need.  You can read their story here.

I am so inspired by you, bro.  And love you very much.

Happy 10th from Mexico!

Colleen and I just returned from 7 glorious days in the sun celebrating our 10th Anniversary on the beaches of Mexico!  No kids, no TV, no email... just white sand turquoise water... who could ask for anything more?  (If you wonder why I haven't been blogging or returning emails, this is why! ;-)

Colleen is truly God's gift to me-- more than my wife and mother of our kids, she is a soulmate who balances my intensity & brings much laughter & joy to my life!  That may sound cliche, but God's grown us together and it's difficult to tell at times where one of us ends and the other begins ;-)

I love you Collie!

Ten years is a long time (considering that we dated for 8 years prior!)... and we've done so much growing up together.  It was just the coolest thing to take a whole week to celebrate our marriage-- the ups and the downs (we had a major fight the second day), but it's all good as God helps us through.

Vacation is a funny thing, isn't it?  You bring all these expectations to it and usually it falls well short. This time, by God's grace, it didn't.  For once, a trip totally exceeded our expectations.  It usually takes us a day or two to truly unwind from our manic life in NJ, but once we do... look out.

Here's what we did in Mexico: 

Zip.

Nothing.

Nada.

We just slept and ate.  Ate and slept.

We also went swimming.

And then, let's see... we slept some more.

Good times were had by all ;-)

Sand, Surf, and Turf

So, check this out: on our third night in Mexico, I arranged for a surprise 10th anniversary dinner on the beach at sundown!  They lined the sand with little tealights and a table with white linens was set just feet from the crashing surf.

Col was totally surprised-- didn't see it coming-- and it was truly one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" memories. (Guys, here's a confession:  The whole thing was a little bit extravagant and we really couldn't afford it, but I figured that 10 years comes around... well, every 10 years.  So why not?  With hindsight, it was one of the best choices I've ever made ;-)

Thanks to all of you who pray for our family & support our marriage in ways large and small!  My parents are just the most incredible people-- they took care of Chase & Del for an entire week... what an investment in our marriage!

It also means the world to be part of a church that respects our boundaries & doesn't place unrealistic expectations on Col & the kids.  Thanks for letting them be who they are and giving our family much-needed space & time away.  It was totally re-energizing to just chill in a hammock-- my leaves are green again-- and we're thrilled to be back!

One, Two, Free, Four!

Have you heard?  Today my little boy Del turns 4 years old!  He's been counting down all week because, in his words, it's the day he goes from free to four.

It's also the day he gets a goldfish.  Which we expect to live for free or four days, tops.

Del is such a monkey at times-- turn your head for a second and he'll pour a jar of flour over his head (as you see here).

And yet, he is a total love.  He loves-- I mean loves!-- a lot of things in his little world: doggies, trees, puppets, his big sister (most of the time), his mommy (all of the time), and rough-housing with Daddy.

That's my boy.  Sometimes, when he's sleeping at night, I'll sneak into his room, sit by his bed, and just watch him.  Watch him breathe, his little chest going up and down.  Up and down. 

And I find myself thinking: This is my son, whom I love.  With him, I am well-pleased.

Not for anything he can do-- or "will do" for that matter-- but simply because he's my son and I'm his Abba.  And I love him more than he'll ever know. 

Happy Birthday, my boy.  You are special.  And you are loved, big time.

Ice Skating Lessons

This morning I took my little girl Chase for her first ice skating lesson.  It was absolutely incredible... a highlight of our life together.  With a lump in my throat, I watched as she skittered onto the ice-- all proud & wobbly.

And then she fell.  And fell again.

And again.  And again.

(I've taken her ice skating myself before, and it's much easier when I hold her hands... but this was a class on her own with other kids & a couple instructors.)

As I stood there against the glass watching her tumble & spill, I bit my lip. I wanted to run out onto the ice and scoop her up... that poor kid just kept wiping out.  Her knees would wobble.  And down she'd tumble.

She literally reminded me of a newborn deer that's just learning to walk.  A few tentative steps and then down she goes.

I was getting pretty miffed at her skating instructors-- why wasn't anyone rushing over to help her up?
And then I realized: because that's how you learn.

The 2 basic lessons are: 1) how to fall.  And 2) how to get up.

And then a thought occurred to me:
it's pretty much the same when it comes to following God.

As adults, we have 2 basic lessons: how to fall.  And how to get up.

Every few minutes, Chase's instructor would glide over and show her how to pull her legs in, put her hands on a knee, and push herself up.  (Each time she did, she'd look over at the glass, shoot me a thumbs up, and mouth "Okay, Dad!")

We pretty much spend a lifetime learning that dance-- stumbling and tripping as a loving Father watches and hopes against hope we'll get up once more.

As my little girl regained her balance & began inching her way around the rink (clinging to the side boards), I thanked God for how kind He is to his children.

After the lesson, over hot chocolate together, Chase gushed, "Dad, did you see how I hardly fell the whole time?"

I smiled.

Thank God for grace and love. 

And second chances.

Fireman Del

Our little boy Del is all boy.  And I mean... ALL boy.  He's only 3 years old but his favorite things are:
• Wrestling
• Dogs
• Wrestling with dogs

He also like chucking stuff.  Mainly balls.  At dogs.

And this: he loves his fireman raincoat and jumping in puddles.  The muddier, the better.  I am in love with this kid.

Every time I wrestle with him and he rubs up against my face, he shrieks, "Daddy, you got scratchy whiskers!"  And suddenly I'm transported back 30 years when I used to wrestle my dad (Big Del) on the carpet and feel his whiskers on my cheek.

He is both a time machine (reminds me of my dad) and a future dream (what will God do through this bundle of energy & will?)

Del, you don't know it yet... but I love all the stuff you love.  Wrestling.  Dogs.  Chucking stuff.  And, most importantly, I love you with every bone (& whisker) in my being.

A Summer of Firsts

This summer was a season of firsts for our dollie Chase.  Chasie, if you're reading this, I am SO PROUD of you, girl!  Look what you did:

• You lost your first tooth!  (and didn't even cry)
• You got your first hermit crab!
• You lost your first hermit crab (and DID cry)
• You started your first day of kindergarten!

You are the most incredible little girl in the whole world-- and you are the center of MY world!  You have brought me more joy and wonder than I dreamed possible!  Dancing with you on Monday mornings are the highlight of my week... God uses it to restore my soul every time.   I am so proud of you for being... a dancer.  A singer.  An artist (coloring & drawing!).  And the apple of my eye.

Keep smiling, kid... new teeth are on the way! ;-)

Hot Mamma

Take a guess why I posted this pic of me & my wife Colleen:

a) Because she's a hottie.

b) Because she's the love of my life.

c) Because she's the mother of my 2 kids (errr, make that 3 kids on my "off" days).

d) Because we've been married 10 years... and I can't wait for another 20.

If you guessed "All of the Above," you'd have a window into why I feel like the Luckiest Guy on Earth to be married to this incredible lady.

Col actually grew up in NYC (and still works in Manhattan from time to time).  She's definitely the sharpest crayon in our family's box.  We met in Chicago during our undergrad days at Wheaton & she has taught me more about Grace and being non-judgmental than anyone else in my life.

Here's a little something extra you don't know.  She pretty much BUSTS all traditional expectations of "a Pastor's wife" (whatever that is).  To wit: She's a killer dancer, loves to watch Grey's Anatomy, and makes the Song of Solomon come alive (just listen here).

Another cool thing about this pic?  Our son Del snapped it with a digital camera over lunch at the Hyatt. He's 3 years old.  Smart kid.  Guess who he takes after?  Momma! ;-)