The Wedding is a Comin

My sister-n-law Stefanie is getting married in July and today was her shower. I am so GLAD men don't have to go to these things. Anyways, Bekah is in her wedding (Flower Girl) and I hope she does well. Bekah was in a wedding (Flower Girl) back in the fall and froze and didn't end up walking down the aisle. Well, you live and learn.

Bedtime with Zachary...Always interesting

Zachary is always pushing the limits at bedtime and we are racking our heads right now. We are because he is definately winning the bedtime game. Tonight he took it to an all new level, not only did he throw everything out of his crib, he wrapped himself in his sheet and tried to hide from us. Original we thought.

The last vote is in

Now my brother, God bless him on his birthday, has now questioned my mansculine alliances about my blog.

So, I get it. I will now begin the search to find a new template. Maybe I can find a picture of some grass or a dude surfing, nah, that's already been done.

Well it's Official

My mom said I need to change my blog template, so I guess I will change it, but this does not make me a momma's boy. I mean, for pete's sake, I am 30.

I will now begin the hunt to find a new blog template. Here I go. Super Duper.

What the Doctor Said

Ok, I went to the doctors and good timing it was. It's been hurting since last week, but I couldn't get to the doctors till today. Over the weekend I was in Albany, NY and then T & W of this week, I was in Chicago, so today I got to the doctors.

They immediately sent me to a Orthopedic Specialist. I thought that was weird, but my doctor was worried the infection on my knee spread to my joint, WHAT!$% I really didn't think it was that bad, but I guess I was wrong. Well, I spent all day in 2 different doctor offices to find out that it didn't spread, but it is a serious infection. I guess I should of noticed that my right leg swelled up to the size of a Georgia bell and my knee was leaking.

Well, they numbed up my knee and sliced of the tip part off, so that was fun. All this from some of kind of bug bite.

Sweet Mother of a Messed Up Knee

I know my blog isn't super deep like some out there, wait a minute, it's my blog though, oh yeah, so I can post what I want.

So, My knee is not BENDING! That doesn't work well with driving for 5 hours. Man, it burns, It's a Deep Burn and I am not talking about Ron Burgandy doing 1000 curls to work his guns. It's all swollen, it's leaking, and it feels like my flesh is tearing off of my limbs. What a baby I know, but it's crazy. Guess I should of gone to the doctors.

Oh My Un-Bending Knee

I know no one cares, but my knee is going flippin crazy. I can barely bend it and it stings like a mother. My wife thinks a wolf spider bit me, if it did, hope I don't find that little guy.

What a great Weekend

Well, I am home and on the way home from the airport, Tracie and I and the kids stopped at the new IKEA store, yeah! Wow, it was crazy busy, but very cool.

The retreat went awesome and it was great getting to know Patti and her team. Now, it's time to get ready for tomorrow night.

I met a miracle this weekend

His name was Sean and he is a walking miracle. Last year he had a stroke. Here's where it gets crazy, he was only 25 and newly married. He was home alone and he just fell over from the stroke. He was unable to move and had to wait 3 hours before his wife got home. They ran a ton of tests on him and finally found a growth on his heart. He got most of his movement back, but he needed open heart surgery to remove the growth, so they started getting ready for the surgery. Well, he had another sort of stroke moment and they rushed him back to the hospital.

Long story short, they ran a ton of tests again and he got better and better. Well, finally they ran a slew of tests again and they couldn't find the growth and he is totally back to normal. It was incredible to hear his story.

Either I am Wuss or...

Last week I get this bump looking thing on my right kneecap, no big deal. Well, 5 days later it is the size of a quarter and it's growing. It's a solid bump and it hurts like heck. Bending my knee and when anything touches it, is so much pain.

So, either I am a wuss or I am in pain. I want to stick a needle in it, but Tracie won't let me. She says something about going to the Doctor's and I was like, "babe, I ain't no wuss". And then she says, "babe, your lying on your back crying in pain like a baby, go to the doctor's".

So, we'll see.

Unexplainable Joy

It's amazing to me how much Joy our kids have brought to our life. I just don't understand folks who never want to have kids, I don't get it. Yes, it's forced selflessness and it's tiring, but it's so much Joy and Laughter and Love. It's incredible. I had a friend tell me that he didn't want kids because he didn't know if he wanted to do that to them because the world is so hard. I don't get that either. All I know is they are my life and I want to do everything I can to help them succeed and Love God and Love Others.

This should be fun

I found out when I got here that I would be addressing the entire convention on Sunday morning. Well, that sounds like fun. The convention room is this old school room that just packs people in and has a really old campy feel. So, tomorrow I am going to address around 1000 people and let them know what we have been talking about.

And that's Love, imagine that.

Report from Speculator, NY

I am in Speculator, NY, it almost sounds like the birth place of the Terminator, hah. I at a camp called Camp in the Woods and the place is friggin huge. There are over a 1000 people at this camp and it's crazy. I have experienced a lot and I had an awesome God moment last night. First a little about my experience:

1. This is my first trip speaking for Episcoplians. I am the youth speaker for the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, New York. The entire diocese gathers for a convention and the youth spend some time with the adults, but they also have their own rallies.

2. Men in robes. I haven't been a church where the pastors or (Priests/Bishops here) wear robes for a long time. I grew up Missouri, Syndod and our pastors wore robes, but not like these robes. These are hard core robes.

3. I haven't been in a Liturgical service for a long time. Again, growing up Lutheran I really got a bad taste for Liturgy in my mouth. I hated it, thought people where just spouting out words that they didn't care about it. But, it's weird, but I may have come full circle with Liturgy. What I use to hate, I now find inspiring and hear God the clearest in my life. Still flushing all this out, but I am just so tired of the happy, feely worship and I really connect with the reading of scripture, Liturgy and reverantial worship. So, still working on all this, but I very much enjoyed and connected with the service. It was also amazing to sing Stand up for Jesus with 1000 people, wow, that was awesome.

4. My God moment. I shouldn't have these right? I am the speaker, does it work in reverse? Well, it did for me. During the opening service of the convention, where everybody was gathered, I tell you what, I know God spoke to me. It wasn't audible, but I know the presence of God was surrounding me. It was almost like he said to me to just keep going. These last couple of months have been extremely tense, stressful, anxiety ridden and hard. We just feel tired as a family and we are longing for a fresh touch from the hand of God. So, I feel like God spoke to me and encouraged me and let me know He is here and I can rely on Him to help us get through all that is going on. Wow, what an awesome moment and it came it just the right time.

5. The election of an Bishop. I don't know much about the workings of the Episcopal church, but I sure have learned a lot this weekend. This weekend I met the almost new Bishop of Albany. That's not the right wording, but the title is entirely too long. His name is Father Bill Love and it will become Bishop Love. What a great name. "Hi, I am Bishop Love". As he was introduced, a group of nouns from Africa sang in their native tongue and danced in front of him as they walked him to the stage. It was absolutely amazing. To hear these 5 little ladies sing and to see the translation on the screen about, wow, another God moment.

I think so many times I have fallen into the trap that my church, my denomination, my worship style, my songs, my view of the gospel, my view of the church is the ONLY way, or the RIGHT way and the really exciting part in getting to partner with churches from all over is I get a much broader perspective. Now, I don't agree with or aline with all of the Episcopalian doctrine, but I sure know that I serve the same Lord and Savior and it's an honor to be here this weekend.

6. This is the first trip in a long time that I haven't memorized all the kids names. I am just mentally wasted and it takes a lot out of me. But, I have tried to stay available when kids have wanted to talk. I haven't had this many meaningful talks with students in a long time. So, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I always try to point kids to their small group leader or youth leader when they want to share deep things, but is that the right thing? I don't know.

7. Patti Gibbons. What a great person! I was hooked up with Patti by Adam Mclane, thanks Adam! And I am blessed to partner with her. She is an amazing example of Christ and she is great. Patti runs the youth portion for the Diocese and she does a great job.

So, one more talk, good-byes, a 2 hour drive to the airport, a flight home and then I get to hold my babies and kiss my wife! Yeah.

Things are Different...

They just are and I am glad. I can't even begin to explain all the things that are different in my life right now, but one that stands out is how much I miss Tracie when I am on trips. I know that probably sounds weird, because I should miss her on every trip and I think have, but nothing like these past couple of dozen.

It's hard to explain, and I think I am going to go Jerry McGuire here, but I just don't feel complete without her. There was a pretty good span of trips where I didn't feel like this, and I don't know why. Probably my stupidness, most likely. But, I just miss her. We have probably talked 3-4 times today and have been texting all day, it's like we're high school kids and I love it.

What's the hardest about traveling without her is that I don't feel like I get to experience it fully without her here. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I have been to some really cool places the past couple of years and as I think about them, I am just like, well, it would of been better with her. I wish she could travel with me, but I am really not mister big time speaker who can ask for a second airfare. Well, I have started asking, so hopefully people don't think I am a tool for asking. The other hitch is finding people to watch the kids if she comes, thats a whole other deal. I actually almost brought Bekah with me on this trip and I think that would of been great fun. Maybe the next.

Anyways, I think I have learned a lot these past 9 years of marriage and I am so blessed to have Tracie. She is the most faithful, consistent, loving person I know and I miss her.

Zach is 2!!!

Today is Zach's second birthday! We had fun singing to him this morning and he loved it as well. Tracie made him a special protein-less cupcake and I know he will love it.

We are having a big party for him on July 1, so we can have Bobby's party then as well. That way, it will be easier for family. So, consider this your invite.

And so it Begins...

Well, I think today is the official start of my busy...crazy...travel season. I won't lie to you, it's been nice having to not travel. Last summer was a killer, but here I am, ready? excited?, well, at least I am here. Just kidding. I get to partner with some great youth ministries and I have been looking forward to this. It's a huge honor and a blessing and I just pray that God would use me.

So, I am at Detroit Metro right now, getting ready to fly to Albany, NY for a weekend retreat.

Then, on Monday night I get to encourage the student ministry adult volunteers of Kensington Church, MI, that will be a BLAST!

Then, Tracie and I get ready to load up the kids for Camp Timber-Lee in East Troy, WI. We get to spend a week out there at the camps Jr. high summer camp and that should be a blast. I haven't ever been there, but I am told it's great. They are also talking to me right now about doing a winter retreat for them in 2007, so that will be a blast!

We get back from WI, have a day off and head up north (Michigan) to a three day summer retreat for Beth. Christian Church.

I get back from there, have a few days off and I am working out some details to head to Houston, TX to speak to the youth group at Lakewood Church. That should be a heck of a experience and a whole lot of fun. Plus, my buddy is the youth pastor and it will be great catching up with him.

I get back from there and then it's off on the Project311 "Summer of Love" tour. Summer Celebration (summer camp for jr. high kids), Matamoros, MX (mission trip for AIM) and then Camp Velocity.

The tour ends, and then I will head back over to Willow Creek to speak to Elevate, their Jr. high. And then one last camp, in the middle of August for a great church in Sterling Heights, MI.

I still can't believe that God has opened up these doors for us to partner with so many great ministries, what a blessing!

Alright, Neat-o, Super-duper. Here we go.

Tracie's vote is in

I asked my wonderful wife what she thought of the new blog look and she got quiet, not a good sign. Well, turns out, she was surprised I picked this template because she thought it was so girly looking. WHAT?! Don't call my blog girly. Any other thoughts?

I am so Proud

So, I get a call from my Buddy...Jason Shinn a couple of days ago. This is not abnormal, we talk very frequently, but not as much as girls, so don't call us girls.

Anyways, he tells me there is a new youth pastor in his town and he's trying to track him down for lunch. Then he calls me and says "you wanna come"? So, I am getting ready to leave to have lunch with those guys.

Well, this whole deal is cool to me. I think it is so valuable that youth pastors take care of each other and this really warmed my heart.

A new look for the blog.

I like it a lot. I really do. Hopefully you will as well.

The Recital is Tonight!

I can't believe that tonight will already be our third recital, Wow. Bekah is in a Ballet and a Tap number, that part will be great fun. Then comes the next 40 numbers that we have to sit through, that won't be great fun. Better charge my phone!

Wish I would of had a camera

There is a church in our area called Brighton Assembly of God. Last week Tracie and I were driving at night by the church and we noticed something that made us chuckle. Let's just say the maintenance team needs to change some light bulbs, because the church sign read:

Brighton Asse of God.

Oops. It's not a little sign, no, it's friggin huge and the church is right off the freeway.

It's a week later and to the best of my knowledge, it's still not fixed. Wish I would of had my camera!

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