blaylockblog

Letter to Grant on Humility

2010-11-29T08:52:00.001-05:00

Grant,

I was thinking this morning about our ping-pong game last night. After you beat me three games in a row you got pretty confident that you could keep on winning. That’s when you started “trash-talking”. I wasn’t upset about the trash-talking, I know that you were just having fun.

But, when I came back and beat you the next 5 or 6 games in a row, you looked pretty upset. You were frustrated, and I would have been, too. But, in a way, I am glad it happened that way – because it gives us a chance to talk about a very important teaching in the Bible.

Boys your age loved to trash talk, brag on themselves, and try to make themselves look good in front of other people. It’s a normal thing – but it’s not a godly thing. God wants something better for you – he wants you to learn humility. And, if you can learn what it means to live as a humble person, God has promised to honor you – to show you his favor.

This was my experience in football. In 8^th and 9^th grade it was all about me and making myself look good. I ended up flat on my face both years, quitting the team in disgrace, and feeling like a loser. In 10^th grade I had a different attitude, because God was at work in my heart and I was learning how to walk before him in humility. And God honored that humble attitude. The trophy that sits in your bedroom is a reminder of that.

I want to spend some time this week talking with you about the following verses. What do you think?

If you are interested in doing this I will take you out for breakfast or lunch one day this week and we can talk about it.

I love you, Dad

Proverbs 16:18 ~ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23 ~Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

James 1:1 – 10

¹ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Back into the Blogging world...a somber return

2010-11-16T15:44:00.005-05:00

Well, after being kidnapped by FaceBook and held against my will for the past 2 years, I have made my way back to Blogspot (and the crowd goes wild!). My reasons? Although FB is cool and instant, it's a mile wide and an inch deep. It's like trying to say something meaningful by writing a thousand notes on index cards (if you are under 30 you will have to look up that strange term) and tossing them off John Hancock building. A few will make their way down to street level and get read - fewer yet will illicit some type of response - and fewer still will engender any meaningful conversation. I will keep my FB world alive for now, but I have to admit that I hardly ever snoop around my "friends" pages to see what's going on in their world. For me, it's mostly an online photo album that gives me a chance to talk about my faith and brag on our kids. (It's like hundreds of people all talking at the same time, all shouting out "Look at me! Look at me!" without anyone LISTENING.)

What it doesn't do is give me a moment to reflect. And today, I need to do a little reflecting for posterity - and for the good of my own soul. Yesterday was opening day of firearm season. Pictured above are my Dad and Grant in our fort that sits just inside the woods on our property. I won't bore all you non hunters with the tale of "the one who got away" (she didn't get far, I heard a gun blast 10 seconds after she crossed the river and ran into the field), but I do want to talk about what the day meant to me.

Two weeks ago my Dad was diagnosed with liver cancer. He is 70 years old and his health is not the greatest to begin with. To make a very long story short he and I got a second chance at the whole father-son deal when he quit drinking 8 years ago (thus the cirrhosis of the liver and now the cancer, so they tell us). We had an OK relationship before that, but I was one of the millions of young men out there with that empty place inside my soul that a father's love and affirmation was suppose to fill. God (my Heavenly Father) had already brought much healing into my life, but that ache remained.

Since the day I finally believed that the drinking and addiction were now truly things of the past (and it took A LOT of convincing before I would even get my hopes up again) a whole new reality set in, a door was opened for me to know - experientially - for the first time in my life - a father's love for his son. (I'm not saying my Dad didn't love me before - just that the addiction created so many walls I could never feel it.) How has my Dad said "I love you and I'm proud of you" without ever verbalizing the words "I love you and I'm proud of you"? He has shown his love by taking an active interest in my life, by helping me in anyway he could, anytime I asked him, and by doing things WITH me like building the fort that we hunted out of yesterday. He told me he loved me yesterday by driving 3 hours round trip to sit with Grant and me in that little fort staring at trees and squirrels for most of the day with a smile on his face. His body language said - I want to be here with you, there is no place I'd rather be. He told me he loved me in the driveway as he was climbing into his truck. I stuck my hand out to say goodbye and he ignored it and hugged me (I can count on one hand the hugs I remember getting as a kid - but these days they are not uncommon). Yep, my Dad drove out to my place on November 15, 2010 just because he wanted to spend the day with his son and grandson - the deer hunting was just the pretext. No, more than a pretext - it was a vehicle.

As I look out the window today at that fort, I must confess to getting choked up. I can't help but wonder if that was our last opening day together. All of a sudden I feel this desperation for more time with him. I feel this intense mixture of gratitude for him and panic that he is slipping away. I find myself pleading with God for more time - a few more years even. I so badly want him to be there for more opening days, to be there when Grant gets his first deer, for Megan's graduation from High School...

But, whether I have him for 10 more days or 10 more years, I did have him on November 15, 2010. And even though we didn't recover that deer (despite my fervent prayers) I will always treasure those memories.

Dad, if you ever get a chance to read this I want to say that I love you and I am so grateful to have you in my life - to call you Dad.

Florida Vacation 2009

2009-03-08T21:21:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since I've posted to this blog (Facebook is taking over, truth be told). But I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the vacation we took a couple of weeks ago in Orlando. This was a great vacation and the weather was very nice (70s and sunny everyday - the last day was in the 80s). Some highlights of this trip:

We spent the first day visiting my Uncle Joe and Aunt Deb in Vero Beach. We play on the beach and in the surf all afternoon and had a wonderful meal that Deb cooked that night. Joe has been very influential in my life - he was the one who first introduced me to Christ and gave the love and encouragement I needed to progress spiritually.
We spent a few days hanging out at the condo. We swam, sat in hot tubs (Dad), played putt putt, rode bikes, read books, watched movies, and played shuffle board. These down days at the condo are my favorite part of the vacation.
We did one day at Univeral Studios, Island of Adventure. This is a rollercoaster kind of park. The kids and Sandi love the coasters - I like to eat ice cream and read newspapers. They did get me to go on "The Hulk", and like David Bannester I ended up turning green...
We did one day at a water park called "Blizzard Beach". This was a perfect day for getting wet as it was in the low 80s. It was a bit crowded, but the kids had a wonderful time.
The real highlight of this trip was Cirque Du Soleil at Downtown Disney (please do not ask me to pronouce it!). This is something Sandi has wanted to do for a long time, and since she is turning 40 next week I decided this was the year. With some help from my Mom (we both took out Home Equity Loans) we bought tickets for the entire clan. It was truly an amazing experience. Sandi was thrilled and in the end it was worth every penny.

So, there is a little Blaylock vacation update. We are very thankful for the opportunity God has given us to enjoy these types of vacations - they are gifts to be cherished.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T13:02:00.002-05:00

The Blaylock family had a great Christmas celebration this past week. The gifts, of course, were wonderful. But we are most thankful for the gift of Christ and for our family. We wish you God's very best this Christmas and in 2009!

Gift to Grandpa - 8 point mount

2008-12-27T12:49:00.003-05:00

This past deer season, despite seeing fewer deer, I was blessed to harvest 3 (one spike, one 8 point, and a doe during the late season). After Grant and I decided to mount the 8 point we both thought it would be a great idea to give it as a Christmas present to my Dad (who hunts with us on opening day each year out back - but so far with nothing to show for it).

We glued two pictures on the back of the mount and then Grant wrote the following note:

"Dear Grandpa, Marry Christmas! I hope you like this present. Maby we can get one together next year.

Love, Tom and Grant"

Isn't that just too precious?

Happy Birthday Megan!

2008-12-20T20:55:00.002-05:00

Well, believe it or not, we celebrated Megan's 14th birthday the other night. Wow, 14 years old! (Don't tell Megan, but Sandi was 13 when we first called ourselves a "couple".) Thankfully, she is not boy crazy - in fact, I would have to say that she has a good head on her shoulders when it comes to boys. So far, she pretty much avoids them. This is a strategy that I will heartily support for at least the next 8 years...

So, Megan, this is what I want to say to you as you turn 14. (You most likely will not read this for months or years to come, and that's fine.) First, I want you to know that Mom and Dad love you very much. We not only love you (parents have to love their kids, right?) but we like you, we enjoy being around you. I look forward to coming home from work and having an hour or so to visit with you before the other kids get off the bus. One of the things I enjoy most about you is your sense of humor - you make me laugh just about everyday.

Another thing I appreciate about you is your desire to help people. Through TeamKid, the Impact Team, and helping out at Lighthouse you demonstrate this time and time again. We see God growing your heart for him and the people around you - and that makes us smile.

This will be a big year for you - no more Middle School come this September. Soon we will be talking about Drivers Education and college...My prayer is that we can slow down long enough this next year to experience all the blessings God has in store for you and our family. You are our first born and you will be the first child we send out into this world. I believe you will grow up into a godly, intelligent and beautiful woman. You are already well on your way.

Opening Day 2008

2008-11-16T17:17:00.002-05:00

Once again my Dad came out for opening day of gun season yesterday. He arrived by 6 a.m. and Grant sat with us out back most of the day. In all I hunted 13 hours yesterday, and we did not see a single deer!

Fortunately I took this spike on the final day of bow season (two days ago) and we at least got to see one deer, albeit already dead and hanging upside down...

I look forward to Dad coming out again next year, and maybe by then we will have a better story to tell.

Impact Team Service Project

2008-11-16T17:08:00.002-05:00

Last week we took our Impact Team (a group of students who have committed to serve, pray, and encourage one another's spiritual growth) to Spring Hill Camp in Evart, Michigan to do a service project.

As you can see, we raked leaves all day long. The weather was cold with a mix of rain and snow - mostly rain. I was very proud of these students as they hung in their for over 5 hours of raking in miserable conditions serving God and this ministry.

We also worked hard on memorizing Matthew 28:18 - 20 in which Jesus gives his followers the command to go and make disciples, baptize them, and then teach them to obey all he commanded. This is a great group of kids and my wife and I truly enjoy serving alongside of them.

Grant and the cheerleader!

2008-11-16T16:33:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures that will live on in infamy for our son Grant and his good buddy, Daniel.

Guys, sorry to say it, but you will be seeing these images at every important event for the rest of your lives. Graduation parties, weddings, and yes, even your retirement parties...

We just hope that when we show them at your wedding you are both marrying a girl!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-16T16:26:00.002-05:00

Well, here is a photo of our beautiful children! For Halloween this past year Emily was Cleopatra (she was beautiful), Grant was a punk rocker (is this is a vision of the future, may I please be excused?), and Megan was the "5 minute girl" (this means she threw a costume together in 5 minutes and called it good - it's all about the candy when you are 13!).

It was a beautiful night to be out banging doors and demanding free candy! This year Sandi and I sat around a camp fire talking with friends while the kids made the rounds with a few other parents - very nice.

Upland game at Nettie Bay Lodge

2008-10-18T21:56:00.001-04:00

Last weekend about 18 guys (several from our church - along with a bunch of friends) headed up to Northern Michgan for some waterfowl and upland game hunting. The weather was perfect and the hunting was pretty good. We hunted grouse, woodcock, duck and goose - and as a group shot a few of each (mostly woodcock and duck). I shot my first grouse - while grouse hunting anyway - and woodcock, and a friend, Ken, also shot his first woodcock and duck (his Dad shot the squirrel over his right shoulder - Ken is not claiming that!)
I always enjoy this trip and next year will most likely bring Grant along. There is something special about spending lots of time outdoors in God's creation - something that both cleanses and expands the soul. The camraderie and excitement of the hunt add elements that make this trip one that I wouldn't want to miss.

Family Bible Study

2008-10-18T21:29:00.002-04:00

Last night we drove down to Sandi's Mom's house near Detroit and held our first family Bible Study. This was a very big deal to me because my Mom (third from left, in the front row) came out and because this was a key way God reached out to me over 25 years ago. Back in 1981, when I was 13 years old, our family got together once a week for a very similar Bible Study. In fact, the same guy who lead the studies back then (my Uncle Tom - second from right) also lead this study. Uncle Tom was very influential in my life as a young Christian and has continued to study God's Word with a passion and teach with a lot of energy all these years. Thank God for people like Uncle Tom and Aunt Wanda who have been so solid for so long...

Sandi also had some family members come out - and we were especially happy to have her Aunt Connie join us along with her cousin. We will be inviting others from both sides of the family for our next gathering (November 14). For those of you who are Christians, please pray that God uses this study to bless our families with the good news of Christ and the new life he offers.

Good-bye to Summer!

2008-10-14T16:12:00.002-04:00

Wow, I can't believe we are already into mid-October! Our kids have been back in school over a month now, and it has been a whirlwind of activity. But, with the recent heat wave (80 degrees again today) I feel like it's still August and wanted to take one final look back at the summer of 2008.

This picture was taken on the shore of Lake Michigan near Saugatuck at a friend's birthday party. It was a chilly sunset, but very beautiful. Our kids ventured into the big lake for a few minutes that day, but came into the house blue-lipped and shivering in short order. It was one of our final adventures of the summer, and all-in-all last summer deserves a B+ or better.

We spent the first week of summer in Colorado on vacation - which turned out to be one of the best vacations we ever had. Then we did some camping all around the state and spent 5 days at Brown City Camp. Our kids also spent a week at Camp Barakel and we ended the summer with a weekend at Spring Hill Camp in Evart, Michigan.

Our biggest adjustment was Sandi's work schedule...We had less flexibility for travel and spent more time around the house than usual. But with the great weather we had this summer and my travel for work lessened, it all turned out just fine. The good news is that Sandi really likes this new job and that God is providing for us (as he always does) even in this tough Michigan economy.

I am now looking at the autumn colors in our back woods and am ready for fall. The weather should cool off in a few days and that means I will be doing some deer hunting soon...More on that later.

First Day of School

2008-09-02T09:52:00.002-04:00

Here is Grant and Emily, getting ready to load the bus for their first day of school. Grant is in 4th, and Emily in 5th. We met their teachers and saw their classrooms last week, and we feel very good about all of that. Sandi and my Mom took the kids clothes shopping and we have all the needed school supplies, so "it's all good"!

I am feeling a little sad to be honest - it's a bittersweet thing. This is Emily's final year of elementary, and after next year they will all be in Middle School and High School. As I stood waiting for the bus this morning I had this flashback of putting Megan on the bus for the first time. Sandi panicked after the bus left and jumped in the car to follow her to school - much to Megan's chagrin. There is no way that could have been 8 years ago!

Time seems like pebble that slowly begins rolling and picks up size and speed as it moves along. I am now at a place in life where I would like to see that pebble slow down just a bit...I am in no hurry to send these kids out into the world as adults, (eventhough I know that is our job as parents).

My prayer is that God helps me to live in the moment more consistently with our kids while they are still young. I tend to get so focused on the project at hand or on future planning that I often miss out on what is taking place all around me. "Help me God to see and appreciate the gifts you have given me today with our family."

Summer Camp

2008-08-09T10:55:00.002-04:00

A few weeks back we sent all 3 kids to Camp Barakel for a week of summer camp. Yes, you heard me correctly ALL 3 KIDS GONE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK! Pictured here is Grant's friend, Danny. The girls also brought a friend - so everyone had someone to hang out with.

Camp Barakel is the camp where Sandi and I first got to know each other way back in the winter 0f 1982 (gulp - that would be 26 years ago). It is also the place where I learned what it was to serve God and work hard - I spent several weeks up there working as an "engineer" during the summers. During the summer of 1985 I spent the entire summer at Barakel as a counselor - by far the most exhausting and rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.

You may be wondering how Sandi and I partied while the kids were gone? Well, we cleaned the basement, got ready for a garage sale, and went to a few open houses. It was not exactly a second honeymoon, but we did enjoy going out for dinner a few times and catching a movie. To be honest, I think we both really missed the kids and were glad to have them back home - strange, isn't it?

Colorado Highlights

2008-08-09T10:37:00.005-04:00

Here are the highlights from our Colorado vacation we took in early June. It was a great trip! We stayed in a really nice timeshare in Breckenridge and the weather was very nice for the most part (about 70 degrees during the day with sun - the last two days were windy and cooler).

The first picture is of a hike we took to "Hanging Lake". This was the toughest hike we took on this trip, but it was well worth it. The biggest problem was that we hadn't adjusted to the altitude yet, and we couldn't seem to get enough O2. Sandi and the girls struggled the most with this, but bounced back after a couple of days. Once we climbed up to the lake there were beautiful waterfalls and amazing views of the mountains.

The second picture was our horseback riding. This was on our final day and by far, this was the coldest day. Thankfully the wranglers were able to loan us coats, hats, and gloves. This was a lot of fun - we actually galloped the horses! The best part of the day was when they "helped" Emily's horse to gallop. She ended up almost getting bucked off as the horse reared up and took off at full speed. Emily hung on for dear life and now has a story to tell.

The last two pictures are from the white water rafting. The water was liquid ice, and we were the ice cubes floating on top! Thankfully we were all in wet suits - this kept the shivering to a minimum... We had a great guide who made the trip a lot of fun for us, and we all stayed in the boat (although the girls just about got ejected when we hit our first real white water). We really enjoyed doing this and would probably do it again if we get the chance.

Overall it was a great vacation. Another cool thing we did was read the book of 1 John together and memorize 1 John 4:4. All the kids got this verse down and we had some great discussions about what the message of 1 John means for our lives.

Too cute for words...

2008-05-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

Here is a shot of Grant and Emily we took on Easter. Is there some way we can keep them both exactly the way they are right now? I mean really, have you ever seen a more precious picture of a brother and sister?

A perfect day of Walleye fishing!

2008-05-21T09:07:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the generosity of a friend from church (Jim - the guy standing second from the right) I recently had an opportunity to "jig" for Walleye on Lake Erie. The dude to the far right is none other than "Mr. Michigan Out-of-Doors" in the flesh - Jimmy Gretzinger (another friend from church and the guy who single-handedly got me into hunting).

Jim had purchased a half-day charter and invited Jimmy and I along. We had a perfect day. The water was very calm, the sun was bright, and the temps made it into the 60s. I had never jigged before (gee, I thought that was some kind of dance?), but once I got the hang of it I started catching some very nice fish. It took us a few hours, but we managed to limit out before lunch time and head back in.

And I must say, pan-fried Walleye is probably the best fish I have ever eaten. I am not usually much of a seafood guy, but this Walleye was excellent. We cooked it up fresh the next day and I suddenly discovered that I had more friends than I had realized (and they were all willing to help me eat the fish!) We had enough to share and I can't wait to go back and catch some more.

Turkey hunting report...

2008-05-09T11:27:00.000-04:00

Well, a picture says a thousand words, and this picture says it all. My turkey hunting results for this season? Zip, nada, nunca, nothing!

Actually, that's not entirely true. I did call in a gobbler, and he was gobbling the entire way. He stopped at about 50 yards out and just looked over my decoy set up. (I made the mistake in this situation of including a jake decoy - this Tom didn't want to fight for love, he wanted it to come easy.) So, after strutting for a bit he started walking past. I went ahead and took the shot, but did not put the bird down. Bummer! (There was some brush between the bird and my position, but I still believe it was a good shot with this gun - just needed a bit more skill and a little more "luck".)

Oh well, as my friend Pat says, "that's why they call it hunting".

As every faithful Lions fan has learned to say, there's always next season.

Happy Birthday Sandi!

2008-05-07T16:31:00.000-04:00

Well, my beautiful bride turned 39 recently! (You must admit, she looks great doesn't she? Especially compared to that wrinkled dude in the blue shirt...)

We took Sandi out to dinner - we started at P.F. Changs, but after we were told that the wait was over an hour, we relocated to Outback. By the time we finally sat down and ordered some food, we were very hungry and a tad grumpy (yes, I'm talking about myself). Note to self - we must make a reservation next year!

The kids gave some nice gifts to Sandi, and we ended up having a very good day together. Sandi is closing in on the big 4 - 0, but as far as I'm concerned she truly becomes more beautiful every year...

Happy Birthday honey, I love you.

On the seventh day, you shall rest...

2008-03-17T21:52:00.001-04:00

Allow me to introduce you to one of my new best friends - Broomtree Ministries. You can find them at http://www.broomtreeministries.org. Why are they one of my new best friends? Well, let me give you three reasons:

1. Five days and five nights with no work, no kids, and very little by way of schedule
2. Three meals a day, a banana split every night, and a beautiful setting at The Shack Country Inn in Jugville, Michigan (located about an hour north of Grand Rapids)
3. The only person I am with this entire time is my wife (did I mention the no kids part?)

Oh, and let's throw in a forth reason just for kicks - this entire retreat was provided for us free of charge through the generosity of the Broomtree donors. Wow! What's the catch? No catch - no multi-level marketing - no snake handling... Just five days and five nights to reconnect with God and your spouse (provided free of charge for those in full time ministry).

Pictured above is the room Sandi and I stayed in (fireplace, hot tub, lots of space) and a box of materials they gave us the first day to go through at our own pace according to our interests and needs. We dug into some of the stuff on marriage mostly, and it was very encouraging to learn together in that setting. There were a few other couples that were at the same retreat, and we saw them at dinner and a few other times during the week. Other than that, we were on our own...(can anyone say "naps at least once a day"?)

So, here's the deal. If you are in full time Christian ministry - you need to do something like this about once a year, at least every other year. If you care about someone in full time Christian ministry, tell them about this opportunity. If you are looking for a way to invest in the health and well being of pastors, contact Broomtree and become a donor.

The Bible says that a man shall work for six days, and then rest. But when do pastors really get to rest? Shouldn't our leaders be setting this example for us? Let's all encourage them to make it happen!

My Pride and Joy

2008-02-10T16:31:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture I took last night of Grant sitting on his dresser in front of three antler mounts we had just finished working on. These are all bucks that I shot with a bow in our back woods. You will notice that we experimented with a European Mount on my most recent deer - which I was very happy with for our first attempt. (What I was very unhappy with was learning the hard way not to boil down the skull INSIDE the house - what a stench!)

Grant is proud of these mounts, probably more so than I am. There is something in every young boy that yearns to brag about his father. I remember well the "my Dad can beat up your Dad" arguments of my youth (in my case I was usually right about this one). Hunting has given Grant something to take pride in, and the proof hangs on his wall. Grant doesn't mind that these deer were hardly record setters, to him they are larger than life.

In this picture you see my pride and joy - and he happens to be sitting in front of three deer mounts.

My Big Brother

2008-02-03T00:10:00.000-05:00

I was looking through some pictures from last fall and ran across this one of my brother, Marv, and I. The occassion was a trip to Cabelas where I bought a really sweet, albeit too expensive Benelli shotgun. My entire family - Mom, Dad and Marv all made the trip and then we went out for some lunch. The next week my brother and Dad came out and hunted opening day of firearm season. We spent the entire day together (yes, we did have a buck and a doe come by, but didn't do any shooting). My brother has worked as a carpenter for over 20 years, and he is good at it. He lives near my parents with his wife, Rosie.

I love my brother and hope that as we both mellow with age we get to spend more time with one another.

Snowman Fun

2008-02-02T23:41:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday we all decided to go out and

build a snowman in our front yard. I had to leave that night for a business trip and we wanted to do something fun as a family before I headed out. So, we decided on a family snowman project.

And what a project it was! The snow didn't pack very well, so we couldn't roll three large snow balls and stack them on top of one another. But, we discovered that if we shoveled snow into a huge pile, we could pack it together and eventually shape it. This was not a job for the faint of heart...So, after Sandi and I threatened to ground all of our kids if they didn't stop complaining about the fun, family activity we chose for that day, we started making some good progress.

In the end, it was a sight to behold. However, if you look at his rear end you can tell that this snowman is big of butt and has been caught with his pants down! (Compliments of our 13 year old.) Our poor snowman has already started to melt, but he looked glorious for a few days.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-18T16:24:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken on January 1st in our front yard. We got over a foot of snow and it was really beautiful. We stayed with Sandi's family at a hotel in Saginaw on New Year's Eve and had a great time. We played board games, went swimming, sat in the hot tub and played "keep away". The next day we went to Frankenmuth for a good meal.

We hope that your 2008 is filled with laughter and God's blessing!

Megan, the great deer hunter!

2007-12-03T15:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of a doe I took on November 16. Notice something weird in this picture? Yes, that's right! There is a young lady standing with me (shaking hands with the deer for some reason) dressed in beautiful camo but wearing a pink hat. How does something like this happen! Where is the DNR when you need them?

Actually, I am including Megan in this deer hunting story because she was the only one that would help me field dress and drag this deer back to the house. My normal hunting partner (Grant) was sidelined with a sliver (he's only 8, he's only 8...) So, since he had been incapacitated I needed to find another child to hold the lantern and help heave the deer into the trusy ol' wheelbarrow. And who agreed? Megan! What a pleasant surprise.

Of course, I first had to promise her that she didn't have to watch or touch the deer - just hold the light. And how did she do? Other than being a little grossed out a few times, she did great. She even looked cute in camo.

My season ended with harvesting two does - one on our property and one up in Standish while hunting with my uncles. It has been a good season - would still love to see a mature buck during muzzle loader, but I am very happy with the three deer that are filling our freezer.

A vision of the future?

2007-12-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, these are pictures of our 10-year old daughter, Emily. This was her Halloween costume - sort of a Pat Benatar/Joan Jet/Pinky Tuscadero kind of thing going here. (Of course, Emily wouldn't recognize any of those names, all ancient history to her...)

What struck me when I first saw Emmy in this get up was the amazing transformation that can take place when a girl puts on some make-up, some funky clothes, and cops an attitude. As a father my prayer was something like this; "please Lord, I'm not ready for this!"

Thankfully, the night ended with her sitting on the floor in her PJs looking over all of the candy she collected. That night I tucked her into bed, gave her a kiss, and we thanked God for a good (albeit, scary) day.

Good Luck Buck?

2007-10-30T20:58:00.000-04:00

Well, you've heard the old saying, "sometimes it's better to be lucky than good". That pretty much could be the sub-title to this post. Here is the story...

Two mornings ago (Monday) I was in my stand near the river. It was a cold morning, perfect for hunting. The wind was out of the west and I was feeling good about the conditions. After about two hours on the stand I hear something from behind me (down wind), I look over and see this young buck heading straight toward me, nose to the ground. Within the next 10 seconds I had to stand up, get my bow, and get ready for a shot - he was coming that fast. Fortunately he slowed down by our drainage ditch and angled toward me for what looked like a perfect broadside shot at 20 yards. He paused at the base of the ditch behind some brush as I pulled back. I was waiting for him to take another step or two, and the next thing I know I squeezed off the shot. I'm really not sure what happened - I must have thought he was in position for a good shot and just took it instinctively. Well, my instincts proved to be suspect in this situation - I hit him way back, a gut shot. (I either pulled the shot left or he was still moving when I released, I'm not sure what happened...)

He wheels around and runs back the way he came. The arrow only penetrated about 10" (I thought it must have caught a rib). After about 100 yards he circles back to the west and then starts slowly walking off. My heart sank. I knew that I blew the shot. I was very frustrated with myself - disgusted would be a better word. I waited a few minutes and then checked for blood at the sight of the shot - nothing. I spent the next 90 minutes walking the first 150 yards of what should have been a blood trail, and never found a single drop of blood. Did I mention that my heart sank? Well, it was beyond that now, I was honestly ready to admit defeat and sell off the archery equipment and go back to playing golf, or something equally ridiculous.

And then I made what turned out to be a very good decision, I did not go after him. I came home and stewed for about 7 hours before resuming the pursuit. I had two friends join me, Jimmy and Dan. They are more experienced hunters and trackers than I am, and I was very grateful for their help. So, with two 8 year old boys and one dog in tow, we started looking for some blood. An hour later, more than 400 yards from the spot I hit this buck, Jimmy finds blood. Another 30 minutes and we are standing at the river bank looking at my buck floating amongst some dead fall - I was elated! I thought for sure I had screwed this whole thing up and lost this deer. I have never been more happy to wade into waist high, 40 degree water.

Another interesting thing happened while searching for this buck - I came across the remains of a different buck I had shot and lost last year (holding his skull in the picture). The kicker is that he died only 25 yards from my property, within 10 feet of the river. Jimmy and I had searched for that buck also, but I guess I gave up the search too quickly (a lesson I will never forget).

So, was finding this buck good luck? Some would say so, but I honestly believe God helped us. I prayed many times that day for God's grace in this situation. I knew I had messed up the shot, but I asked God to help in spite of my mistakes. And he did - and he does.

A Fall Turkey

2007-10-22T20:22:00.000-04:00

Well, I have some good news on the hunting front. After missing a pretty nice buck at 20 yards one evening last week (the buck ducked down when he heard the shot and the arrow flew right over his back - a first for me...) I heard several turkey flying up to the trees near the river to roost. So, the next morning I sat at the base of a nearby tree, set up a decoy, and did a little calling. Within about 30 minutes I see a group of hens making their way over toward me. Not sure if the decoy and calling made a difference or not, but they felt comfortable enough to wander in my direction. At about 15 yards the lead bird got spooked (pretty sure she saw me lining up the shot) and started walking away from me. But, since she was still only about 20 yards out it was an easy shot. It was a clean kill and I was back up into my stand deer hunting within the hour.

Another cool thing happened last week. It has been very warm here in Michigan, which is not good for hunting but very good for bringing out an 8-year old boy to sit in the stand for a couple of hours. Grant and I did an evening hunt last week - and it was a beautiful night. About an hour into the hunt I prayed "please Lord, at least let him see a deer". No lie, within 5 minutes I catch some movement down by the river. And sure enough, here comes a young buck heading right towards us. The buck stopped at about 50 yards and looked our way (did I mention that 8-year old boys have the wiggles?). At any rate, he veered off at about 40 yards and never presented a shot, which is a good thing - he was too young. But the point here is that Grant and I shared that experience, and it was pretty exciting. Can't wait to have him out with me for real.

Ready or not - here comes more soccer!

2007-10-11T18:27:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are again! It's the start of another soccer season for our three kids. This year they are all playing USSF soccer (that's code for expensive uniforms, higher registration fees, longer drives, and more practices...) Actually, it's all going very well. Each of our kids has improved so much from last season. The coaches are doing a really good job and the kids all love it.

Thankfully we have some neighbors with a boy Grant's age and a girl Emily's age that play also - so we share rides all the time. This has been a huge help. The biggest challenge lately has been the weather. A week ago we were suffering in 90 degree heat, and yesterday I watched Megan play in 50 degree weather with blowing winds and rain (my muscles were actually contracting involuntarily, I'm such a wimp!)

Sandi and I figure that by the time our children get done with their sport's careers we will be 30 pounds heavier (McDonalds drive-through on the way to the big game) with rear ends much flatter and wider (all that sitting - all of those french fries...). So, here's to elastic pants and comfy chairs!

Opening Day on Monday!

2007-09-29T21:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't like hunting stories, let me apologize in advance for much of what you will be reading on this blog over the next three months. Because this is the time of year that I obsess over hunting - deer hunting mostly. And on Monday, October 1 the pursuit begins again.

Here is a picture my spycam shot in our back woods from late July...I wonder what this buck looks like now that he has peeled his velvet and put on a few pounds? He may not be one for the record books, but I am sure hoping to meet up with him at some point during this season (in fact, Monday would do nicely).

My plans for opening day are to hunt my woods in the morning, and then move over to another property I have been given permission to hunt in the evening (thanks Keith). I head out of town first thing the next morning for work, so that will be all for a few days. Here are some other things I've got cooking for this season:

1. Nettie Bay is next weekend. We will hunt duck, goose, grouse, and woodcock - this is always a great trip with a fun bunch of guys.

2. Looks like I will be getting some limited access to 80 acres near Clare and over 100 acres in Standish. My uncle Chuck has invited me to do some hunting with him this fall and I am hoping to join him 2 or 3 times during the season. I think I will hunt the firearm opener at my own place with my Dad and Grant (I hear my brother may even join us this year, that would be great!) and then catch up with Chuck for a few days near Clare.

3. I have been invited for a pheasant hunt in South Dakota in early December. Not sure about this one yet, many details yet to be worked out.

4. I will hunt turkey again this fall, probably local (I have lots of birds on my property this time of year, just saw a few jakes the other day...)

Another blessing came my way this weekend as a good friend gave me some very nice binoculars, good rain gear, a Whisker Biscuit, and 6 top-of-the-line carbon arrows. Most of my hunting gear has come from this same friend, and all of it has been either free or at prices so low you would think I did all my shopping at the dollar store (OK, so I do most of my Christmas shopping at the dollar store, that is not the same thing). This is the same friend that got me into hunting in the first place - thanks Jimmy! (Eventhough you are younger than me you are the big brother I never had when it comes to introducing me to the joy of the hunting...you are the man!)

All I have left to do now is reset my sight to the new arrows, test out my new mechanical broad heads (I am trying out "Rage" mechanicals this year, switching over from fixed "Thunder Heads"). I should have plenty of time to do all of that on Sunday if I plan my day carefully.

Hopefully my next picture I share will be of a nice deer and a few smiling faces.

A few good men

2007-08-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

I don't talk about my job much on this blog. Usually I like to brag on my wife or my kids or talk about our vacations or hobbies. This is more of a personal blog for me, not really something I consider part of my work.

But I have to tell you about something I experienced the other day with this group of pastors. We have these groups that we call "LEAD Teams". The basic idea behind these teams is a group of pastors and local churches working together to plant new churches in their region. I don't lead any of these teams, they are all led by one of the pastors, but I do attend all the meetings and facilitate the team.

At any rate, here is what took place. This was the very first meeting of this particular group of pastors. We asked them to come and try this out one time, and if afterwards they decided to join the team they could do so. To join the team they have to commit to several things. First, they commit their time and energy (we meet 5 times per year for 24 hours per meeting). Second, they commit their leadership at the local church level (they must go back to their churches and help get other leaders on board with the idea of planting new churches). They must also commit to giving money to these new churches (most will give about $4 - $5k per year, which for some of our smaller churches is a big deal). And finally, they must commit to encouraging people to leave their churches and join the new church (this is the one that strikes fear into the heart of most pastors). What do they get in return for all of this investment? Nothing. Their reward is knowing that they and their churches have been used by God to give birth to a new church that will bless people that their own churches could never have touched.

As you can see, this is not an easy sell if you are working with a group of guys who are only interested in growing their own ministries and looking like big shots. What it takes are leaders who care more about the Good News of Christ and getting that message out to as many people as possible than they do about their own comfort and security. It takes leaders who understand that the Christian life is not about what you can accumulate, but what you can give away. It takes generous, open handed leaders who in many cases serve churches under 100 people that are continually strapped for cash and people resources that choose to give anyway.

These are such men. And they have pledged themselves to pour whatever resources God has placed in their hands to bless people in the Grand Ledge area that they will probably never meet through a church that is being planted by Gordon and Lori Kettel called "imagine this" (http://www.imaginethisllc.com/). I am proud to be associated with people of this character, and I pray that God will multiply these types of groups throughout our tribe.

Blue Gill Magic

2007-08-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

There is something magical about catching a fish when you are an eight year old boy. Some of my most vivid and cherish memories from childhood revolve around fishing. As a boy I went up to Indian River every summer and we fished just about every day. Sometimes just us kids would sit on the bridge and cast our lines into the channel, and at other times my father would take us out in the boat. Going in the boat was, of course, the most exciting. Not sure whether it was the boat or because Dad was taking us out - mostly because Dad was there I think. At any rate I recall two magical fishing trips with Dad in that little boat. One involved catching a couple of good sized pike. One bit Dad's hand and there was a lot of blood (this was both cool and dangerous, how awesome!). We put the fish on the stringer, and Dad started the engine and off we went. Unfortunately he forgot to move the stringer first (our pike became instant, bite-sized turtle food). The other time was fishing with Dad, my brother and my Grandmother's boyfriend, Bob (who was like a Grandpa to me). It was in the evening and we were bobber fishing for Rock Bass. No lie, we caught a fish on just about every cast. I still have that picture of me holding all of those fish looking like the conqueror of the known world.

Well, last week I took Grant fishing. We were up at Petoskey and I was determined to find a few Blue Gill for the kids to catch. As it turned out, only Grant was able to put some fish on the stringer. And it was a very interesting experience. The lake (more like big pond really) that we found had no boat launch to speak of. We just pulled the truck to the side of the road and slid the boat in the water (visions of grumpy DNR officers were dancing through my head as we climbed in the little boat). The water was so shallow that my oars hit bottom. We were literally in about 8" of water. Have you ever tried rowing a 12' boat in 8" of water? What a work out! Well, we finally get to some deeper water with good weed cover and Grant starts catching fish. First a very small bass (no kidding, smaller than the jitterbug crank bait I was using). We had a good laugh over that fish before tossing him back. And then Grant started catching Blue Gill - and one or two were decent sized ("huge" according to Grant). He caught 7 or 8 fish that night, while Dad caught all of 2! (Nothing a boy loves doing more than showing up his Dad...)

My guess is that Grant will always remember that night. The magic has nothing to do with the fish, of course, it's all about a boy and his Dad (who is still his hero) going on a grand adventure and coming home as victorious warriors carrying the spoils of battle. It's about a boy becoming a man, one Blue Gill at a time.

GO TIGERS

2007-08-01T16:25:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we gathered Sandi's Mom and two sisters together, along with their families, and headed to downtown Detroit to watch our beloved Tigers take on the Royals. It was a beautiful summer's night for a ballgame. Other than having to take out a home equity loan to cover the costs of tickets, parking, and cotton candy it was a perfect night. There were lots of home runs hit, and in the end our boys pulled it out in the bottom of the 10th inning with a 2-run blast in Inge! It was very exciting. And to top it off we stuck around for fireworks.

This was part family reunion, part birthday party for our daughter, Emily (who turned 10 last month, gasp...) and part send off for Sandi's nephew Chris and his family as the move to Chicago-land. Good times!

Petoskey Fun!

2007-08-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

Last week we spent three nights camping at Petoskey State Park. This is a great state park only a few minutes walk from Lake Michigan. We had a really good time on this trip! There were two long bike rides (I must find a more cushy bike seat...), fishing, camp fires, lots of swimming, and of course, searching for Petoskey stones. We had lots of good food to eat, the weather was perfect the last two days, and our camper did the job.

I also took my new fishing boat (12' aluminum row boat with a trolling motor) out for her maiden voyage. Well, that's not entirely true - the boat is about 20 years old, but it was the first time we used her! We did manage to catch several Blue Gill and one decent bass. I discovered that trolling motors aren't too good at getting you across big inland lakes like Crooked Lake (just imagine lots of rowing on the return trip). But overall the boat held up great and there is plenty of room for me and two of our kids. Next year we will find some smaller lakes or bring up a larger motor...

Camping has turned out to be one of those things that brings us together as a family. And we have three more trips yet this summer to look forward to.

Portland Trip

2007-07-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Just got home a few days ago from my first ever visit to Portland, Oregon. What a beautiful place! The occasion was the "General Conference of the Missionary Church" - my primary partner in ministry.

The first picture was taken at Multnomah Falls. What a great spot. We were able to walk up to the bridge you can see in the background, and for the more adventurous there were trails going all the way up to the top of the falls. Since I was still recovering from my "Honduras Weight-Loss Plan" (more on that later) I couldn't venture more than 89 feet from a bathroom - so I didn't make the hike.

The second shot shows our little tour group atop a peak that boasted an amazing view of Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood (among others). In the background you can see the mighty Columbia River. This was definitely one of the most beautiful sights I have visited in the US.

Thanks to Al and Kim for serving as great tour guides and for buying me a great steak dinner at a restaurant near the bottom of the falls. It was a great evening.

The Blaylock Clan

2007-07-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of the Blaylock family. This shot includes my parents, aunts and uncles, and several cousins. The occasion was my 40th birthday party which we hosted at our house on June 9th. We had a perfect day for the party, and lots of people came by to wish me a happy birthday (actually, most dropped by to give me insulting cards about getting old - especially those over 50...)

The older I get the more I learn to appreciate my family. The Blaylock clan heralds from the hills of Tennessee. Sure, a few of our members do their primary entertaining in the garage and pee in 5-gallon buckets, but once you get to know us you tend to overlook some of the rough edges. As some of our older warriors (like my Dad) begin to mellow with age, there is a kindness and depth of character that comes out. I can honestly say that I am proud to be a "Blaylock" - and I hope that our children can further enhance this name through the quality of their lives.

God has blessed my life through this bunch. They have loved me unconditionally. I have cousins that are like brothers to me, and aunts and uncles that have been people I can rely upon. Of course, we all deeply miss Granny (who died about 11 years ago). She was the one who brought us all together. Some day I will tell you about her.

Father's Day

2007-06-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

We had a great Father's Day yesterday. Mom and Dad drove out for the day and helped out with a lot of stuff and shared a great meal with us. The kids all made me some nice home-made Father's Day cards, and Sandi worked diligently behind-the-scenes to make it all happen.

I wrote a Father's Day card to my Dad and sent it off to him this morning. Wanted to share this with everyone who reads this blog (just want to brag on him a little bit).

Dad,

Just wanted to say “thank you” for coming out today to celebrate Father’s Day with us. Thank you for helping out with the lawn mower and the retaining wall (not to mention the vegetable garden). By the way, I cut the grass after you left and it looks great!

Today makes three times you have driven out to our house over the past month. Each time you came out you also helped me with some project or another. I just want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you care enough to make such an effort. The memories that we have made building the fort together or planting a garden will be something I will always treasure.

I didn’t want to buy you some card from a store for Father’s Day this year – I wanted to make my own. Although it’s not quite as cute as the ones the kids made for me – it is written with all the same love.

You are a good father – and a good grandfather. And in recent years I can honestly say that you have become a great friend – one of my very best.

Here’s to many more Father’s Days together – and many more projects.

I love you, Tom

The big 4 - 0

2007-06-01T10:46:00.000-04:00

Well, it has finally happened. On Monday, May 21st, 2007 I turned 40 years old. Wow! Here's how my day unfolded.

I hunted in the morning for turkeys (only made contact with mosquitoes), then I had lunch with Sandi, looked at some new exercise equipment that we are buying, and then played golf in my Monday night league. After golf I came home to a very nice steak dinner that my wife prepared. We ate on our deck and it was a beautiful night. The kids all made birthday cards for me - they really enjoyed calling me an old "geezard" (a cross between an "old geezer" and an "old gizzard" I guess"). Sandi also made my favorite dessert - chocolate pudding pie.

We are throwing a big birthday party to mark this momentous occasion on June 9th at our place. We have invited a lot of family and friends and I am looking forward to it.

So far turning 40 has not been nearly as traumatic as turning 30. I think I just might survive this...

Baby Foxes

2007-05-18T09:44:00.001-04:00

Here turkey, turkey...

2007-05-14T22:34:00.000-04:00

Well, it's spring again and that means spring turkey hunting. I have been out two times so far this year, but no gobblers in range yet. A friend from church, Mitch, has taken me out a couple of times. Our first outing was a complete bust - nothing but mosquitoes. Our second hunt was more promising. We called in a couple of hens and saw 4 toms in a field, but couldn't persuade any of the big boys to come to our calls.

The picture of this jake was taken by my spycam last fall. I have about 30 - 40 turkey in my back yard everyday in the fall and winter, but once spring comes around they all head for greener pastures. I hope to get out a few more times before my season comes to an end. So, we will see what happens.

Another interesting development, speaking of the back yard, is that we now have a den of foxes living under our neighbor's shed. We see them just about everyday from the house. They have two pups that have little fear of us walking by their den. I will try to get a picture.

The Great Smoky Mountains

2007-04-19T17:10:00.000-04:00

Over spring break we loaded up the kids in my truck (170,000 miles and still going strong, thank you very much!), hitched up the pop-up camper, and made the 12 hour drive down to Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains.

What a great trip! The weather was awesome and our kids all did great (no throwing up, no fevers - none of the typical vacation bugs). It was very warm the first few days (high 70s to low 80s) but did cool off by the last day (mid 50s). We had a couple of cold nights. In fact, I had so many clothes on the last night that I felt like Ralphie's little brother in "A Christmas Story" getting dressed for school...

This was a very active vacation for us with lots of bike trips and some very nice hikes. We saw some new areas this year and went to a couple of really beautiful waterfalls. The most exciting thing that happened this year was Megan (our oldest, 12) fell into the river fully clothed not once, but twice. (She seems to be having some coordination issues recently - maybe some kind of a growth spurt or something...)

If you've never been to the Smoky Mountains you should really consider it. But if you want to camp in Cades Cove remember one thing - no electricity and no showers. Yep, after 5 or 6 days it can get pretty dicey, which is one reason why we go in April instead of July.

Florida Fun!

2007-03-23T20:06:00.000-04:00

We just took the best vacation to Florida we have ever been on. The weather was perfect - high 70s and low 80s every day with lots of sunshine. The kids were at a great age (they are all good swimmers, are all toilet trained, and can pour their own cereal), and for the first time ever we were able to bring my mom, Judy, with us. It was a lot of fun to have my mom join us this year. In fact, my first time ever in Florida was with my mom and Grandma back in 1980 (that's right, 27 years ago!). I was the same age then as Megan is now and it kind of brought the whole thing full circle.

We ended up doing a day at the Magic Kingdom, a day at Sea World, and one day at Epcot Center. On the other days we hung out at the resort, swam in the pools, played a little volleyball, and just hung out. The only bummer about this trip was that Sandi got sick on about day 3 and spent one day laying in bed and on the couch with a fever. After we got home she was still sick and had to go on some anti-biotics.

Another cool thing about this vacation was that we flew. I am the guy who always says he would rather drive to save the money, but after this trip I have to say that flying is the way to go. The trick I have learned about flying is to always invite Grandma, because she helped out with so many of the expenses that we about broke even (thanks Mom!)

Our next big family vacation will be to the Smoky Mountains over Spring Break - one week from tomorrow. Looks like I had better unpack from the last trip, and we should probably do that laundry...

M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E

2007-02-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

Well, one week from today we fly down to Orlando to Mickey Mecca. Sandi, myself, our three kids, and my Mom will be making the trip this time around. It has been a few years since we have been to our time-share in Orlando, and we are all looking forward to the trip.

We plan on spending only one day at the "Magic Kingdom", maybe 2 days at SeaWorld, and one day at the ocean if the weather cooperates. And after the sub-zero temps we have endured over the past 2 weeks in Michigan the idea of a little Florida sunshine sounds really good!

We are very excited to have my Mom make the trip. The last time I was in Florida with her was about 20 years ago. (and about 20 lbs. ago, but who's counting?) This will be her first time ever on an airplane, so join us in praying for a smooth flight.

I hope to have a few nice pictures and some good stories to share with you after we get back home.

College Days

2007-02-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

One of Sandi's and my favorite movies of all time is "Raising Arizona". It came out in 1987 and starred Nicholas Cage. It was one of those quirky comedies that you either loved or hated, and we loved it.

There is a line in that movie that we still laugh about to this day. At one point in the movie Cage's character reflects back on a time when they were happily living in a run down trailer park and sighs, "yes, them were the salad days". That line still cracks me up.

Well, as I look back on this picture of our friends that we went to college with at Grand Valley State University, I must confess "them were the salad days". The year was 1988, Sandi and I got engaged in November, and I was finishing up my bachelor's in English Lit. at Grand Valley. Sandi was going to a college in Grand Rapids. I was living with my best friend, Greg, in an apartment not far from Sandi. That next spring Greg and I drove to San Diego to look at a Graduate School (that was the formal reason I gave my profs - we mostly just wanted an out-west adventure). And the following summer Sandi and I got married.

I was young, in love, living with my best friend, and becoming good friends with the 3 couples you see pictured here. These were my "Inter-Varsity" friends at Grand Valley. We all belonged to a group called "Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship" and as fellow Christians on a state campus we stuck close together. We were in small group Bible studies together, ate meals together, and by the end of my senior year started becoming good friends. That next year or two all of us got married, and within a couple more years all started having children. Between the four couples we now have 12 children (6 boys and 6 girls). We all still live in Michigan, are still married, have most of our hair (although some is growing in odd places) and for the past 17+ years have all gotten together about twice a year.

My favorite thing we do together these days is camp every Labor Day weekend at a great place called "Spring Hill" in Evart, Michigan. We pull our pop-up campers and bring our kids, the dogs, and enough food to feed a small army. We catch fish, shoot guns, do crafts, play catch, attend worship services together, and sit around the campfire.

I have a feeling we will one day look back on these camping trips when our children were young and say "yes, them were the salad days".

Back to the Future

2007-01-26T23:23:00.000-05:00

I graduated High School in 1985. For those of you who remember that far back you will recall that the big movie in 1985 was "Back to the Future" starring Michael J. Fox.

It was a really good movie (Huey Lewis, Christopher Lloyd, Calvin Kleins - what's not to like?). But the one thing that always bothered me about that movie was the whole time travel thing.

It was something that didn't bother you when you watched the movie, but later on when you were thinking about it. I mean, how does one go "back" to the "future"?

Well, as I look at this photo of our daughter, Megan, sitting with her Mom on Christmas night I find myself having a "back to the future" kind of moment. Megan is 12 years old, the same age Sandi was when I first met her back in 1982. Which means that Sandi and I are the same age our parents were when we first met (I think I need to go lie down...) Which also means that it's possible that one of the guys Megan is friends with right now - at church or at school - could one day become our son-in-law! (Now, if all of this doesn't put the fear of God into a person they should probably check their pulse!)

This photo takes me back over 20 years, but it also brings me to the launch pad of our daughter's future - our future. Megan, if you happen to read this post, I want you to remember something as you grow up so quickly into such a beautiful, intelligent woman. God has given you a great gift in your Mom. You can't really appreciate all of this right now, but trust me when I say that you have one of the greatest role models a young woman could hope for. Accept all of the good things your Mother has to offer you. And someday, when you look back at pictures of your own children, you will understand the legacy that Mom is leaving for you right now.

Christmas morning 2006

2007-01-26T23:04:00.000-05:00

Here's one quick look back at Christmas 2006. As always, our kids were slathered with gifts. Although we did note a change this past year - smaller gifts and fewer gifts. DVDs, I-Pods, and the like made for easier wrapping, less midnight hair-pulling with "some assembly required...and oh, by the way, we hope you can read Spanish" madness.

Notice that I said the gifts were smaller and fewer, but not less expensive... This is a whole other discussion that I wont breach at the moment (rumor has it my wife actually reads this thing!).

Other than a few of us feeling sick on Christmas it was a very good day. There were lots of family, lots of good food (for those who could eat, I got to watch mostly) and some genuine Christmas cheer.

I think the best example of the spirit of Christmas was when a group of about 5 Middle-School students gathered in our kitchen to bake cookies for a few elderly folks in a nearby nursing home. We delivered these cookies and the students spent about 40 minutes talking with the residents, taking pictures, listening to their stories, and patiently answering the same questions over and over again. "No, we don't speak German...Yes, these cookies are for you." Many gifts exchanged hands in our family this past year, but that was probably the best one.

We are all "losers"

2006-12-11T08:31:00.000-05:00

Last week we had an exciting night in our household. Our youngest, Grant, called me into his bedroom after we had put him to bed to tell me about a very loose tooth - one that he thought was ready to come out. Upon closer inspection I agreed, and brought him into our bathroom for the "extraction". This procedure entailed Grant grasping his loose tooth with a piece of tissue and tugging on it. After some coaching from Dad, "pull and twist, pull and twist...", and with some pain, a few whimpers, and loss of blood, the tooth finally came out. And to his credit, he did it all on his own.

As I thought about this in the ensuing days, it occurred to me that loss is just a part of life. In this way we are all losers. We all experience loss on various levels, and just like Grant we all must walk through somewhat of a process.

Oftentimes we sense that a loss is coming. Maybe a loved one is seriously ill, or our youngest child is heading off to college in the fall. At othertimes loss catches us by surprise, like when a devastating fire takes away our earthly possessions in just a few hours. Some losses are big, and some are small and very replaceable, such as a baby tooth.

Whether big or small, loss is always painful. To deal with loss in a healthy way, there is always a period of mourning. And loss always leaves a void - at least for a time - that aches to be filled. And most often there needs to be time given to recovery.

Like you I have experienced loss - most have been small, but in the moment they hurt just the same. There are a few big losses that stand out in my mind, the type that mark a person. But here's what I am learning in my spiritual journey - even those losses can be used by God in amazing and redemptive ways, both in my life and the lives of others. I believe that God has a way of taking the hurt, the pain, the damage... and like a master sculptor with chisel and hammer shape our lives IF we can trust him. The Bible speaks of God bringing "beauty from ashes", and as I look back on some of the scorched ground of my past I see green, budding sprouts pushing their way through the blackened soil.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

From our family - Megan, Grant, Emily and Casey - to yours, a very Merry Christmas!

~ Tom and Sandi

The Bible still speaks

2006-11-28T20:10:00.000-05:00

Well, in part to prove to my wife that my life consists of more than hunting (even in November!) I wanted to talk about something cool a few of us are doing. Two weeks ago Sandi and I invited 6 students, mostly Middle School age, to our house for some lunch. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about forming a Christian service group (called "Impact Team" that would have 3 goals:

1. To meet needs in our community with the resources that God has given us

2. To encourage one another in our spiritual growth

3. To pray for those we care about to be drawn closer to God

As part of #2 above we (I) decided that we would spend the next month or so reading the book of 1 John (a short letter written by the Apostle John located near the end of the New Testament - an artist's rendering of John is to the right). I asked the students to read the book several times through over the coming weeks and to even go so far as to re-tell the entire first chapter in their own words (this is due back to me by this coming Sunday).

At any rate, I also have been reading 1 John over the past couple of weeks. And while I was reading the other day in chapter 4 something really stood out to me - in fact, I would go so far as to say that God "spoke to me" through the text (how's that for all of you fellow cynics!)

Here is the passage that I am talking about:

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

What do I think God said to me through this passage? Well, I think he asked a question, and the question was, "Tom, what are you afraid of?"

This question caught me off guard. I mean, me man, me kill deer, me fear nothing (blah, blah, blah...). But after my initial denial, I started doing some reflecting on some of my earliest fears as a child. I won't go into all of the details of this, but suffice it to say that this prayerful reflection brought me to a new level of understanding and freedom (I hope) with some of the baggage that I have been carrying around with me for over 30 years - baggage that still affects my life, my marriage, and my work to this day.

I believe that God wanted me to finally speak this fear aloud, to name it, to see it for what it is. And once this fear is out in the open, confessed to those who know me and care about me, it can be "driven away" as the passage says - driven away by God's perfect love.

Yes, I believe that God still speaks today. The real question is, are any of us listening?

Howard's Buck

2006-11-25T21:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, a good friend of mine named Howard came by for the afternoon to do a little hunting with his son. After a couple of hours the boy got antsy and ended up in front of a television screen playing video games. Howard, on the other hand, persevered.

I sent Howard to the stand closest to the river where I have seen several bucks this season. Within 5 minutes I see a group of turkey running liked they've been spooked, and then I hear "bang". I radio Howard on the two-way and he says "I got me a buck!". Ignoring for the moment his grammatical error, I got very excited and soon joined him over this nice, little 4-point. This was Howard's 4th deer, but his first experience with field dressing an animal. He did really well and we were soon back to the ranch where Howard got to tell his son "the story".

The story, that's what it's really all about. Those little details, the suspense, the mistakes, and the eventual triumph. I love hearing these stories, and as you know by now, I love telling them.

The interesting parts of this story? The turkey, and this buck, were spooked by some kayakers on the river (it was a very warm day, about 60 degrees). The buck ran right in front of Howard, and then came to a stop only about 30 yards out. What a gift. (I wonder if the guys in the kayak ducked when they heard the shot?)

Pay Dirt!

2006-11-22T23:11:00.000-05:00

Well, after 54 days of hunting, after several missed opportunities, and after my wife started praying that I would finally get a deer so that we can get on with our lives, (and save all that money on counseling, lawyers, etc.) it finally happened. Here's the story.

I was in the stand (closest to the river) before sun up this morning. It was cold and calm. Didn't see a thing outside of squirrels and chipmunks for the first couple of hours. And then I glance back to the feeder (close to my other stand and the fort - which is a tree house for the kids that gets commandeered each fall) and I see about 5 deer milling around. So, I flip around in the stand to get ready for a shot and wait. After about 15 minutes a small doe walks past me at about 50 yards, but she is really little and I decide to hold off and see if a bigger deer might follow. Another 20 minutes goes by - nothing. I am now watching a lone deer still at the feeder, and she looks like the biggest one of the bunch.

After a few more minutes I see two toms (male turkey for the uninitiated) making their way to the feeder. They strut on over like they own the place and guess what? They chase the doe away from the feeder and towards me. She only comes as close as 75 yards or so, but she offers me a good shot and I take it. I can see right away that she's been hit, but to be sure I fire off another shell as she runs toward the river. At this moment I am cautiously optimistic.

I wait about 20 minutes or so and start tracking her. There is a good trail and I can see she is heading toward the river. As I come up to the bank I hear some noise and look across - and there she is standing on the other side. I position myself for another shot (my last shell) and she goes down. But now I've got a problem: how am I going to get to her? The river is high and the current moving pretty good. So, I decide to ask my neighbor for help and the use of his canoe. About 45 minutes later we come paddling down the river, me and our 14 year old neighbor. I have my shotgun with 2 more shells just in case. We go to where I last saw the deer - and she's gone. (This is when I started feeling like my entire hunting season has been secretly taped and being made into one of these reality TV shows. I can just hear the voice-over "and now let's see how Tom reacts when he can't find the deer. Will there be more tears? Will he throw his shotgun into the river? Will he forsake hunting for a calmer, gentler sport such as lawn bowling?"

Well, I get out of the canoe and follow the trail on the other side. And guess where it leads? Yep, you guessed it - right back into the river! Now I am in real trouble. The river is murky and deep and I can't see 6" below the surface. I didn't even know where to begin... So, we get back in the canoe and I am going to take my neighbor home when something catches my eye. There's a funny looking rock about 100' downstream, and we decide to check it out. But that's no rock, that's my deer! She crawled back into the river and floated downstream into a snag. I was so happy to shoot, and then actually locate a deer.

But now I've got another problem: how am I and my 14 year-old neighbor going to haul this deer (which we now see is a big deer) into our canoe? My first idea was to tie a rope around her and tow her upstream. Gong! Bad idea - we end up doing a weird version of the canoe-treadmill and get nowhere. My next idea is to take her to the bank and toss her into the canoe. And this we did with much difficulty and some very soggy socks, pants, underwear, cell phone and (well, you get the idea). Once we got her into the canoe she was sprawled out on top of the front seat (which in all of the excitement I thought was the back of the canoe). So, I climb in, and having nowhere else to sit I end up sitting on top of the deer. We then begin paddling upstream with the canoe oriented backwards, and end up going helter-skelter all over the place. What a sight we must have been! You talk about some red neck exploits! My ancestors would have been so proud. (There has to be a joke in here somewhere for Jeff Foxworthy, don't you think?)

Well, in the end we manage to get her back to the house, I manage to get dried off, and I can finally exhale. I tell you - nothing has come easy for me this hunting season, but I finally have something to show for it!

Close, but no cigar (so far)...

2006-11-21T22:04:00.000-05:00

Well, I got a new toy this hunting season - it's called a "spy cam". The basic idea is that you hang this digital camera on a tree and when a deer, turkey, or even raccoon waddles on by it snaps a picture. Here is a nice 8-point buck I got a few pictures of in late October. I share this with you because it is the closest I have come yet to actually producing a real deer.

And once again, it is not because I have lacked opportunity. In fact, opening day I shot at a buck quite a bit larger than this one - missed clean at about 100 yards through some brush. I see him again a few days later (long story...) and end up very close to him. I wont say exactly how close, but let's put it this way, if I had a good squirt gun I could have doused him. I take the shot - I miss again. (This is the part of the story where I get a little weepy and consider selling my hunting equipment and diving into scrap booking...) I take my muzzle loader to the range the next day - just like I had done a couple of months ago - and discovered that I am 10" high at 100 yards! I don't know what happened to my scope, but my best guess is that some of my under-achieving hunting buddies are at work behind the scenes.

So, here I am with only a week or so left of firearm season (plus 17 days of muzzle loader in December - thank you God!) with an empty freezer, and a stomach full of humble pie. The only good thing that has come out of this season so far is an idea for a new book - "101 Ways How Not to Kill a Deer". It would be sort of like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" except with guns, tree stands and some doe pee...

I wonder how many hunters out there have ever had such a dry spell? (I'm not talking about not seeing deer, I'm talking about having them walk right up to your stand, putting both hooves in the air, yelling out "I surrender!", and then somehow still blowing the shot.) This sort of thing makes me ponder some of the deeper things of life. Questions like, "Does God really hear the prayer of the deer hunter?" come to mind. Along with the follow up "do deer pray - and if so, which prayer is God more likely to answer?" I realize these are the types of questions philosophers and theologians have debated down through the ages and wont be resolved anytime soon, but I can't help but wonder.

But my most urgent question - will I get one last opportunity this season? And if I do, will my prayer get answered first? I guess we'll find out soon enough...

Too Cute to be Scary!

2006-11-11T22:36:00.000-05:00

A buck-toothed hillbilly, a green dragon, and an escaped convict - what a sight! It's like the cast of "O, Brother Where Art Thou?" paid a guest visit to Barney or something.

Well, we had a very nice Halloween. Sandi and the kids headed out into the black, cold night with some of our neighbors, and I hung back at the house and dished out candy. (I think this was my first time staying home in years - but definitely something I could get used to.) We only had a few groups of kids come by trick-or-treating this year. Not sure where all the neighborhood kids went to, but they probably went into town where the houses are closer together and the candy flows like a river.

I think next year I'll dress up as a 40 year old, out of shape, cranky old fart who can't keep up with the kids as they run from house to house. And as soon as I eat some potato chips and a pop tart or two I'm going to start working on that costume.

The World's Smallest Whitetail...

2006-11-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

Well, deer hunting season officially opened on October 1st in these parts. That means I have had 5 full weeks to fill my tags during our archery season. But the truth is that I have had a miserable hunting season so far. Oh, I've seen lots of deer. And yes, I've already seen a few decent bucks. In fact, I've let an arrow or two fly... but have nothing to show for it.

I would talk more about this, but my therapist has advised me against what he calls "obsessive-compulsive speech" when it comes to my hunting addiction. (You would like my therapist, he dresses in camo head to toe and answers all questions with a grunt call...three grunts for "yes", one grunt for "no", and two grunts for "I need to go potty".) We get along just great!

Where was I?...Oh yes, this is all leading up to my one great achievement of this bow season. I shot a turkey! Yep, as I was busy striking out with all of those bucks I kept noticing this group of turkeys coming to the same spot in our woods each morning. So, one morning I loaded my shotgun, waited in my blind, and squeezed off a "turkey load" at the first bird that stuck its head high into the air. This took all of 90 minutes, and we had some delicious turkey jerky in a few days. (Notice the peculiar look on my face in this picture - my facial muscles were a bit frozen and I couldn't quite eek out a decent smile... but I was happy on the inside!)

If only hunting Whitetail with bow and arrow were so simple...

Opening Day Impossibilities!

2006-10-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of the first buck I ever killed with a bow. And here's the story...

It was October 1, 2003. As all of you Michigan hunters know, that was opening day of archery season. I had just gotten interested in bow hunting a few months before. I bought an old Browning compound bow from a friend for $50 (I think the bow was vintage 1975ish, you know when bell bottomed jeans were in style...there first of many appearances!). Once I threw in another $50 or so for a sight and a release I was ready to head to the woods (and yes, I did practice with the bow first, I was actually quite good at 15 yards at that point).

I had never seen a deer up close in the wild, much less a buck. But a friend had given me a couple of deer stands which we leaned against two big maples in the woods behind our house. So, about 45 minutes before daylight on opening day I headed out to the stand nearest the river and dutifully sat still until sunrise. It was a beautiful morning, cold and crisp. And with my stand facing southeast I got a great view of the slowing emerging oranges and pinks as the sun made its way up to the horizon.

Another friend had also given me some camo to wear for this momentous occassion. He even threw in a camo face mask - you know the type the are supposed to cover everything up on your face except for your eyes. I say "supposed to" because I didn't quite know how this new fangled stuff worked. I wore the mask too low, so that it only covered my mouth and chin...I was in effect, the "great bearded hunter"! I must have looked ridiculous.

Well, about an hour after sunrise I hear this noise down on my left. It was the first sound I had heard all morning, so of course I looked down. And there he was - this pudgy 8-point buck just standing there, looking right up at me. He was probably thinking "hmmn, a white guy up in a tree with a camo beard, very interesting". I was thinking "oh man! Is that a deer? Why is he looking at me with that smirk on his face?"

For several minutes we just stood there looking right at each other. And then he turned to his left and began slowing walking away. For some reason he didn't feel too threatened by me - apparently he knew more about hunting than I did. I remember thinking as he walked away - still only about 15 yards off, "I guess this is when you are supposed to shoot". What comes next is a comedy of errors. Instead of standing up to take the shot, I continued sitting down and tried to turn my body in the stand, bumping my bow in the process. The deer turned around to look at me again, but soon lost interest and kept walking away from me ("quartering away" I would later discover). I brought my bow into position and pulled back. No luck, couldn't pull the 52 lbs. back, my arms were like rubber. I tried pulling back again...almost. A third time, yes - I managed to pull it back (this is a bit harder when seated and twisted to the left, especially when your heart is stuck in your throat and your muscles are quivering and not responding). With my bow pulled back I put the deer in my sights, but something didn't feel right. Oh, I forgot I am supposed to look through this little peep hole thingy in the string. OK, much better. So there it was, the moment of truth.

I don't even remember squeezing the release - it just sort of happened. The arrow flew down and hit the deer about half way back between his shoulder and hip. The deer ran off to the east and I lost sight of him. At first I panicked thinking that I had made a bad shot, the arrow looked like it hit the deer too far back. My stomach was in knots as I waited 20 minutes or so before climbing down the stand (I had read that somewhere in a magazine...). I walked over to where the buck had last been seen, and within about 90 yards found him laying on his side, dead as the Detroit Lions in January.

I was in utter shock. It was truly an out of body experience - like I was watching it all happen from some high flying blimp-cam. I called my wife and gushed out "I shot a buck!". She brought our 4 year old son out to the woods (we only own 3.3 acres) and we took this great picture. My next call was to my friend Jimmy, "now what do you do?" After convincing him that I had actually shot a deer in my back yard with an antique bow, and then found him within a 100 yrds. he graciously came over and showed me how to field dress a deer (an experience I will never forget and one that made me think twice about being a hunter - ugh!).

That day was the beginning of a passionate pursuit of the sometimes not-so-elusive white tail deer for me. It was also the day I entered a brotherhood of hunters that I never knew even existed. And it was the day that my son and I connected with one another in the woods and began our journey as outdoorsmen that will be ours to share for the rest of our lives.

First Day of School!

2006-09-27T17:32:00.000-04:00

Recently we celebrated (at least my wife and I celebrated with song and dance... "it's the most wonderful time of the year") the first day of school. Our kids all donned their new school duds, stuffed their back packs, and headed out bright and early.

And, as tradition has it, we always try to snap a picture with our neighbor in it - he is the one who looks a bit mentally challenged in the above picture - no, not the guy in shorts!)

The big news for us this year is that we now have a middle-schooler! If that is not enough to put the fear of God into you, I'm not sure what is. Actually Megan is off to a great start as a middler, and has even managed to get up at 6:30 a.m. every morning with no complaints - what a transformation...

Emily and Grant are both doing great also and we are very happy with their teachers (as usual) and appreciative of such a good school system.

It's been about 3 weeks since the kids have been back in school, and we are all just about adjusted. We are looking forward to a good year.

Anniversary - Part 2

2006-09-27T17:16:00.000-04:00

Here we are on "Day 2" of our anniversary celebration. As I mentioned before, we each planned out a day's activities with the other person in mind. So, what did Sandi plan? Shooting stuff with real guns! Is she cool or what?

After blowing stuff up with pistols at an indoor gun range we eventually ended up back home for dinner. Sandi cooked a truly delicious and creative meal - one I won't soon forget.

I can say this about my wife - she is God's most precious gift to me on this earth. And when she enters my world to express love to me in my native language it's as though God reaches deep within and touches, heals, and redeems yet another piece of my soul.

17 Years Ago Today...

2006-08-19T11:06:00.000-04:00

17 years ago today Sandi and I stood up in front of 350 family members and friends at Bethesda Baptist Church in Allen Park, Michigan and vowed to live the rest of our lives as husband and wife. She was only 20 years old. I was much more mature clocking in at 22 years and 3 months of age...

Like most young couples we had no idea what the promises we made to each other on that day truly implied. We were desperately in love and had a simple, child-like faith that as long as we kept on loving each other we would overcome anything that life had to throw at us. And you know what? So far, so good. In fact, so far, so better. (God has been so faithful to us and has truly supplied our every need.)

Today we are celebrating our anniversary. Actually, we began celebrating yesterday. Here is how it works. Yesterday I planned a day for us that I tailored to what I thought Sandi would enjoy (this was all kept secret from her). The day started with her getting a haircut and taking care of a few odds and ends that needed to be done. Then we had lunch together (which we cooked together and talked through the entire experience). Afterwards we loaded up the bikes and I took her to a State Park where we rode some trails for a couple of hours. That turned out to be a great outing. The trails were really beautiful and we got a great work out. (Of course there were the minor issues of taking a wrong turn onto the "horse trail" that put a few extra miles onto the ride, and swallowing a few bugs as we rode through swarms of flies - but we survived all of that just fine. Just added a bit of extra excitement to the day!)

After a shower and change of clothes things really got exciting - we went shopping! I took Sandi to a large mall and said "OK, time to pick out some new clothes." So we shopped, and talked, and shopped some more. We found a pair of jeans that looked great on her and a few other items and then went out to dinner. But instead of an intimate, candle-lit dinner for two I had called a few friends and had them meet us at the restaurant. We actually ended up with about 12 friends who met us for dinner and celebrated our anniversary with us. We ate, Sandi talked, and I got to catch my breath while all of the other women talked with Sandi about all the things that women talk about on such occasions (men only have so many words to spend a day, and I was already way over my quota!)

After dinner we went out for some ice cream, talked some more, and then drove home to watch a movie. It was a great day, and hopefully it communicated to Sandi how much I love and appreciate her in some pretty simple, yet meaningful ways.

Today she has a few things planned for me. For the past 2 hours I have sat in silence reading the paper and working on the lap top - the day is already off to a wonderful start!

Happy Campers!

2006-07-31T21:41:00.000-04:00

Well, we've finally done it! We took the leap, we threw caution into the wind, we've trod where others have feared to trod (or would that be "tread"?). Yes, we are now the proud owners of a brand new, 1997, slightly beat up - yet still very functional - pop-up camper!

I can only imagine how excited all of you are to read about this development...

Actually, we are pretty excited about this camper. It was inexpensive (thank you e-bay) and sleeps all 5 of us with room to spare. After some clean-up and fix-up we have gotten her in pretty good shape, and we really enjoyed it during a recent camping trip to Petoskey State Park.

We have a few more trips planned for this summer - our next one being to Brown City Camp next Friday.

Growing, growing, gone!

2006-07-30T22:56:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday our daughters competed in a swim meet at a nearby pool. They only recently joined this particular swim club, and I was out of town for their first meet, so hadn't seen them compete yet. So, last Saturday I pulled up a pool-side seat and got ready for the action. The kids did not disappoint.

Both girls competed in 4 events and they each did very well. What impressed me most wasn't what placed they finished, but their speed in the water. These girls can really move!

As I watched Megan compete in a backstroke event the thought occurred to me, "I don't think I can swim that fast". And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that undeniable truth that Megan has passed me up as a swimmer - she's a better swimmer at 11 than I will ever be.

And you know how this made me feel? Proud. (O.K. and a little bit old too...) But the thing that stuck with me was the question "how many other things will our kids do better than me?" As a father I hope the answer to that question is LOTS! I want to teach our kids everything I know, and then I hope that they take it a step further and surpass me in whatever they put their heart into doing.

For now it's swimming, and I look forward to whatever is next.

Here I go again!

2006-06-22T17:19:00.000-04:00

As most of you already know (if you've been paying attention!) I was in youth ministry for about 8 years during my 20s and into my early 30s. I remember the night (actually it was in the wee hours of the morning) that I decided it was time to make a change. We were doing yet another all-nighter and I was sitting in a movie theatre watching "Hoosiers" at about 3 a.m. Suddenly, I had an out of body experience. Hovering 30' in the air I looked down upon myself slouching in that seat and asked this question - "is this really what you want to do with the rest of your life?"

And my answer on that occasion was "no". That set things into motion and within a year or so I was planting a church about 30 miles away. (This is kind of like when the 17 year old gets sick and tired of living under his parents rules and goes out and joins the Marines...)

Well, here I am pushing 40 and I am back into youth ministry. The difference? This time I am a volunteer leader and our oldest daughter, Megan, is a part of our Middle School youth group. Talk about a new perspective on things! Now I am looking around for some 22 year old kid to get involved and help us in this ministry - someone a lot like I was when I first started out.

So, it comes full circle. We have launched a youth ministry at Lighthouse Church and I am excited to think about what God is going to do in the lives of these students. I am excited to see how God wants to work in the lives of those of us who are leading this effort. And, I am really excited to see how God wants to bless others though the students themselves.

But please, no more "Hoosiers" at 3 a.m. - I'm just too old.

Ever want to go climb a tree?

2006-06-09T17:31:00.000-04:00

Every spring our kids, especially Emily, start climbing trees. It's kind of like one of those signs of spring that you look for, right up there with birds chirping and insects buzzing.

Our kids all take after me when it comes to climbing - they are monkeys! I remember as a boy climbing so high into trees that the branches supporting my weight (all 95 lbs.) actually started to bend and sway. And it was there, at the very top of the tree, that I would settle in and enjoy the view. There was something very peaceful and enlightening about being up that high looking down at my surroundings. All of those things that looked so big and intimidating just a few minutes before (the cars, the houses, my big brother) now seemed so small, so manageable...

Well, I don't make a habit of climbing trees these days, but I do try to gain a fresh perspective every now and again. Lately the perspective that I have had on life has been one that's a little more relaxed, a little less demanding. I'm not entirely sure why, but my stress level has come down a bit and I have slowed down - it actually feels like things have slowed down around me, like everything is moving at a decreased pace.

Why the change? Not sure really. The Bible speaks about a Sabbath rest for God's people, and warns us not to miss out on it. Maybe I am experiencing a taste of this of late... Whatever the reason, I am praying that God continues to bless me with a slower pace. I pray that all of the time I have spent over the past month playing catch with the kids, watching ball games, and tinkering around the house (not accomplishing anything in particular) becomes part of who I am.

Some thoughts on mission...

2006-05-18T14:09:00.000-04:00

This past winter Sandi and I spent a few days in Washington D.C. While there we had a few hours to visit some of the historical sights near the Lincoln Memorial. After about 30 minutes we stumbled onto this, The Korean War Memorial.

I must admit, looking into the haggard faces of these exhausted and frightened soldiers left quite an impression on me. As these men walked through the fields in their platoon, what thoughts were going through their minds? Were they focused on their mission? Were they just trying to survive another day deep into enemy territory? Were they day-dreaming of home, a warm bed, and a hot, homemade meal? I wonder...

For the thousands that never made it home, did they breathe their last believing that their sacrifice was worth it?

I guess what I wonder most about is how much they believed in their mission. This is probably because those of us in church leadership talk a lot about mission these days and how important it is to be missional people living in missional communities as part of the Missio Dei, blah, blah, blah...

This all sounds so good, so inspiring. In fact, we often feel like we have really accomplished some important aspect of our "mission" simply because we talk so much about it and hurl so many complaints against the "established, institutionalized, modern church". Then we go out with our Christain friends and sip on some cappuccino, or maybe drink a couple of beers and smoke a cigar (if we are part of the "emergent" crowd) and congratulate ourselves for being the few who really "get it".

Well, I'm not here to heap anymore criticism on anybody, except maybe myself. I, for one, would like to go on record admitting that I am not a very good soldier. In fact, most days I forget that there really is a mission that I have been sent on that really does matter. Most days I am far too consumed with accomplishing the next task on the list to even begin thinking seriously about how I can live out my day as one of Jesus' "sent ones". The gravitational pull of my life is away from God, away from the world, away from other people, away from any meaningful engagement - and toward my own individual happiness. And it's nothing short of incredible how justifiable and dignified all of this can look in the religious culture that I operate in.

I'm sort of feeling like maybe it's time for a change. And maybe this change has something to do with embodying the love of God to those who can in no way repay me for it. What would life be like if us Christians were "good news" to the marginalized, the poor, and the powerless? Now that's a question that my Christian heritage never asked...

What does "sexy" look like at 39?

2006-05-13T15:40:00.000-04:00

Here's the scene. I am up really late the night before watching an old Burt Reynolds movie that will haunt me for the rest of my life. It's a Friday night and I am taking the next day off. Saturday morning rolls around and I sleep in (a rare but precious blessing from God that I have learned to in no way take for granted). I roll out of bed, and walk through a very quiet house (kids are still sleeping) and come into the kitchen. I look at the clock - it's about 8:30 a.m. The sun is streaming into the room on this absolutely beautiful spring morning.

I walk over to the window and notice some activity in the driveway. I look and see my wife, standing by my truck, with a rag in her hand, making this odd, circular motion. I'm dumbfounded...what is this strange sight? What could it mean?

As the realization dawns on me about what is taking place I start asking another set of more disturbing questions; what has she done? How much do we owe? How much did we "save" this time? Or worse yet; what's his name? Is he taller than 5'6"? Are these really my kids?!

What is a guy supposed to do who's been married to the same woman for 17 years and wakes up one morning to find her washing AND WAXING his pickup truck? It was terrifying...

But in the end I found out that she woke up early on a Saturday morning to wash and wax my truck just to say "I love you". Now I ask you men, have you ever looked out your kitchen window and seen anything more sexy than that? Didn't think so.

The Life of a Soccer Dad

2006-05-13T15:25:00.000-04:00

The 3 or 4 of you who pay really close attention to this world class blog I have put together have noticed an eerie silence from me over the past month or so. What could possibly keep me away from publishing my innermost thoughts and hoped-for daydreams from an awaiting world? Have I been ill? Has there been a crisis? Have I passed over to that yonder shore?

None of the above! We simply have had our first experience as a family with May math. For the uninitiated, May math is end of the school year activities + the end of soccer season + the beginning of baseball/softball season + the end of the scouting year = a lot of crankiness and a little indigestion.

Well, with all of that crankiness and indigestion, I just haven't got around to my real job - blogging! So, to offer some proof for this lame excuse, I offer this photo I snapped today of Megan and one of her friends after a hard fought soccer game. And yes, there will be more of these photos to follow...year after year...season after season...until my camping chair and rear end become permanently fused.

Have you seen one of these guys?

2006-04-22T11:06:00.000-04:00

Hey - I need some help here! Have any of you seen of of these birds strutting around in your back yard? If so, do you mind if I come over with my shotgun and...well, let's just say, take care of a little business?

I have been out twice and haven't seen a feather yet. Only one week left in the season, time's a'wastin.

Smoky Vacation

2006-04-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

Our family just got back last week from a great vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. We went with 4 other families (2 from our church) and stayed 6 nights in a borrowed pop-up camper (thanks to the generosity of Craig and Vicky). The weather was great almost everyday, and the spot we camped in was beautiful. Some of the highlights included living with 4 other people in a pop-up for a week with no hot water or electricity - and I mean none at all, not even in the camp ground. The phrase "for better or worse" took on whole new meaning for Sandi and I on this trip! We also did a lot of hiking and the kids did a lot of biking. I joined 6 other guys for a grueling 13 mile hike up to one of the highest points in the Smokies. I wasn't sure how my body would handle the hike, but I did fine (it was just the walking around the next few days I struggled with). At any rate, it was a great trip and we look forward to more camping adventures together as a family.

Cinderella Play

2006-03-25T10:33:00.000-05:00

Last week Megan took part in her school's Cinderella play. Here she is with one of her good friends, Rebecca who was also in the play. The quality of this play was really outstanding, and Megan did a great job as part of the chorus, along with singing a special number "step-sisters lament" with a smaller group of girls. Great job Megan!

Daddy-Daughter(s) Dance

2006-03-25T10:15:00.000-05:00

Here am I with Megan and Emily getting all gussied up for our annual Daddy-Daughter Dance! This is an elegant affair where we go out for a nice dinner (girls usually order a cheeseburger or chicken strips with barbeque sauce) with another Dad and his two girls, and then off to the ball. And the dancing? Who needs the waltz when you have the chicken dance and the hokey-pokey (which are probably the only two dances that I can stay on beat with). When it comes to dancing I am in the same league as Elaine on Seinfield (except I know how really bad I am at it) - but when it comes to dancing with my two sweeties at the Daddy-Daughter, there is no place I'd rather be.

Happy Birthday Sandi!

2006-03-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Sandi! We all went out for a nice dinner the other night to celebrate her 37th (you have to admit, she is looking pretty good...) After some good food at Clara's we went out for some ice cream at one of those places where they mix up your decadent delight right before your very eyes. The kids completed the birthday celebration with some hand-made cards and I pitched in with some flowers and then made the ultimate sacrifice - sat through the entire movie "Pride and Prejudice" without a single audible complaint. I think this fulfills my chick-flick quota until Sandi's 58th birthday...

New Piano

2006-03-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

Pictured here are Emily and Grant at our new piano. Here's the story.

A few months ago Sandi started saying that she really wanted the kids to take piano lessons. So, we started looking for used pianos. After a couple of months we hadn't come up with anything. Then Sandi mentioned our piano search to a friend (Kim), and she said, "I have a piano in storage, would you like it?" This was such a generous offer - thank you Kim! We moved it to our house a few days ago and the kids have been banging away at "Twinkle, Twinkle" ever since. Now, if we pay for lessons, they do learn how to play other songs, right?

Signs of life...

2006-03-09T22:48:00.000-05:00

Grant and I were in our back woods yesterday doing some guy stuff involving chainsaws and mud. As I bent over to pick up a piece of wood I noticed a very small, tightly compressed leaf trying to poke out from a plant of some sort. Right now our woods are all gray and brown, completely dormant. But underneath it all life is present, and that life is irresistible - it will emerge. As a Christian, this is my hope - that the life of Christ within me (beneath the layers of "dead wood" and decay) will emerge, must emerge into the sunlight of experience and relationship. After all, his is a life that even emerged after death.

Congratulations Jay and Nancy!

2006-03-05T21:16:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of my cousin Jay and his beautiful new bride, Nancy, at their reception last weekend. To Jay we say "good job, you have found yourself a wonderful woman". To Nancy we say "welcome to the family, we love you already!". And to both of them we say "may God bless you richly in every way as you begin your life together."

Mom and Dad

2006-03-05T20:53:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night we celebrated my cousin's wedding. At one point in the evening I overheard my Mom say to my Dad, "I really like this song, let's dance". (Now, keep in mind that I am 38 years old and have no vivid memory of my parents ever dancing together.) So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when my Dad grabbed her hand and they walked to the dance floor. I immediately found my wife and told her to take this picture. My parents have been married for about 45 years, and like all couples they have had their ups and downs. But as I watched them on the dance floor that night I was reminded of this old saying; "all's well that ends well". And after 45 years I believe they are more committed to one another than ever. I trust that the final chapter of their story will be a happy one.

Mom and Dad, here's to many more years of life together and to a few more good pictures of you on the dance floor.

Our Oldest - Megan

2006-03-01T13:17:00.000-05:00

Today is the day I introduce you to our oldest daughter, Megan. Megan turned 11 last December and this fall she is heading off to Middle School (if that thought is not enough to send a parent into a panic they probably lack a pulse...)! It's funny, I spent almost 8 years as a Youth Pastor watching dozens of kids transition from elementary to middle school, and it never seemed like such a big deal. But now that it's our fair-haired, green-eyed "little" girl it's a whole other matter. Yep, things will be changing in some big ways around our house over the next year. In a way, the time we have right now with all 3 kids is sort of "the calm before the storm". And by "storm" I don't mean havoc and destruction, I simply mean change. There will be a storm of change for our family starting this fall that will continue for about the next 10 years when we send our youngest off to college (remember Grant, college is good, you want to go to college, college is good...).

Allow me now to brag on our daughter for just a minutes. Megan is such a great kid! She is very smart (she especially excels in reading, writing - when properly motivated, anything artistic, and has done very well in science of late), she takes after her mother's good looks, and she is nothing if not determined. When Megan sets her mind on accomplishing something she will keep at it until it's done. She will overcome hurdles, recover from set backs, and work through discouragements. She is a tough-minded, strong person. In fact, she is a lot like me in regards to personality (which is why as a toddler she was such a handful - her first 4 words were "my do it myself!)

Megan is also a spiritually engaged person. She is part of an after school VBS type club, and active at church (looking forward to being part of a middle school youth group). Recently she and I have have some good talks about topics such as prayer, baptism, reaching out to other students, and her relationship with God. She is a wonderful person in so many ways, and we love her dearly.

It's fun to stay at the YMCA!

2006-02-27T11:23:00.000-05:00

During the long President's Day weekend we took the kids up to a YMCA camp for a few days of winter fun. We had some friends, Craig and Joanna and their two kids, join us which made it all the more fun. The camp was right on Torch Lake and the night before we arrived they got about 18" of snow (the first real snow they had received all season). The accomodations and food were OK, but the outdoor experience with the kids was great. It was the first time for our 3 to ever put on skis, and they all picked up it very quickly. We went on both semi-groomed and ungroomed trails, and the bright sunshine glittering off the fresh snow as we glided (ok, there wasn't much gliding going on...) through the woods was a sight I wont soon forget. I'm not certain, but I think we made a memory.

Classic Emily!

2006-02-26T20:04:00.000-05:00

Here is our daughter - Emily. She is the one that keeps us all laughing on a daily basis. She is full of energy, imagination, and has tons of personality. Not to mention that she happens to be extremely cute and smart. She loves animals (has about 500 stuffed animals that she sleeps with every night...) and is very tender hearted.

Emily turned 8 this past year and is blossoming before our eyes. She is an excellent student (already a better speller than Mom or Dad...) and is one of those students who really expects to get an "A" in every subject and probably will.

As mentioned earlier, Emily is our animal lover. I remember one time when a friend of mine, Greg, shot a big doe and I brought it home to hang in our garage for him. I was worried how all of this might affect Emily - I didn't want to upset her. After hanging the deer she and her siblings came into the garage to check it out. She walked over to the deer, began stroking the "fur", and with a very serene look on her face said "I just love animals". That apparently applies whether they are dead or alive!

Emily is probably the sweetest 8 year old on planet earth. And she is a precious gift of God to our family!

Wellspring in Winter

2006-02-26T19:53:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of Sandi and I at Wellspring - one of the ministries that grew out of The Church of Saviour in Washington D.C. The day before we flew out we got about 9" of snow - it was really beautiful! The fresh snow capped off what for us was a time of getting quiet enough for long enough to hear the voice of God.

Grant holding 8-point

2006-02-22T22:22:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to take a few minutes tonight to tell you about our son, Grant. Here he is at a wild game dinner our church sponsored last month holding a nice rack from a buck that was taken by a friend our ours, Rob Quigley (with a bow at 15 yards on Halloween of '05). By the way, did I mention that Rob is all of 17 years old! (Where do you go from there?)

Anyway, Grant is now 6 years old and is all boy. We shoot bows together in the summer and fall. He loves anything to do with weapons, danger, sports and any type of competition (especially competing against me - he wants to know how long until he will be bigger and stronger than me...). The testosterone is already flowing! Last year he sat for about 2 hours with me in a tree stand and amazingly kept his focus for most of the time. I look forward to the day he takes his first deer - I hope to be right there cheering him on.

He is a great kid and watching him grow up into a young man before my very eyes is quite a sight to behold. One of the things I love most about him is his tender heart. Often, when we are talking about someone who is in need of prayer, he will ask "do they know God?". He is genuinely concerned that the people we care about know God and have the grace and love of God in their lives. As he grows older and gets "tougher", I pray that his heart stays tender toward God and the people he has placed around us.

Son, you might find this entry in some archive a few years from now. And if you do, I just want you to know that I love you and that I am very proud of you.

Church of Our Saviour Visit

2006-02-13T23:36:00.000-05:00

Our Journey Group (7 of us that are part of a continuing ed experience at Western Theological Seminary) just wrapped up a 4 day trip to Wellspring - one of the ministries started through The Church of Our Saviour in Washington D.C. On this trip we were able to invite up to 3 people each from each of our faith communities (some house churches, and more typically structured local churches like the one I am a part of).

This was a great experience. I was able to bring my wife, Sandi, along.

The 3 things that this community tries to balance are the inward journey (spiritual formation through spiritual disciplines), the outward journey (missional work, especially among the poor and marginalized), and doing both of these in community.

Another take away was the idea of forming a small group around a call (outward journey), instead of around affinity or the like. It was said that if you develop a small group around some other purpose, and then try to develop a missional focus, it almost never works. And this was our experience with our house church experiment - so I resonated with this idea.

Sandi and I are following up by reading a couple of books by Elizabeth O'Conner that tell the story of The Church of Our Savior in greater detail.

We also got a chance to meet Gordon Cosby and hear some of his heart and vision - very cool.