1) The Chicago Cubs
After nearly two years of not seeing the Cubbies play, I have been to two games in the first two months of the season. The first was a sweet game (win) against the Mets at Wrigley. The second was a loss to the Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincy. The highlights of that game were Felix Pie stealing home run number 598 from Junior, and my good friend, Nate, getting into a screaming match with some other (drunk) Cubs fans.
In the 100th anniversary of the last Cubs World Championship, I’m holding on to hope that this is OUR YEAR.
2) Fish pond
My son, Theo’s, favorite thing in the world right now is FISH. He will get up from a nap, search for a book or toy with a fish on it, and bring it to you shouting “GISH, GISH, GISH!” at the top of his lungs. He will do this until you acknowledge him and say, “Yeah bud, it’s a fish.” Then he will yell, “WAHWAH, WAHDAH” repeatedly until you reply, “Fish live in water.” It was fun for the first week.
So, because I love my son, yet have a firm “no pet” policy for our home and budget, I compromised in my heart that it would be nice to clean up the garden pond in the front yard so we could get some fish to put in it. It took all day last Saturday, but we now have seven 10-cent goldfish living in a clean garden pond complete with a fountain.
3) Fed-Ex Diploma
It’s official. I received my masters degree. It’s a Master of Arts in Global Leadership (I know, sounds like a recruiting program to find the antichrist) from Fuller Seminary’s School of Intercultural Studies. Unlike most grads who receive their diploma from an University president wearing a choir robe, mine came in the mail 0n May 10th. Nonetheless, I am done.
4) Summer at Grace
We survived a crazy school year. It would easily take a thousand words to adequately summarize the 07-08 school year and all its challenges, lessons learned, and my own failures. So, I won’t try to encapsulate this year here. Suffice it to say it was up and down, a tremendous learning experience professionally and personally, and God taught me a ton about leadership and higher education. My Res Life team was nothing short of amazing - and most of them were in their position for the first year. Grace College went through a number of growing pains this year and, while I’m privledged to be a part of this institution, today I’m just glad the school year is over. Grateful to God for getting us through, thankful for my boss and teammates for their patience with me.
This summer will be spent reflecting, planning, taking time off, going to conferences, and preparing for the fall.
5) Gardening
We dug a garden a few weeks ago. No, nothing has “sprouted” yet, (too cold? too much shade? seeds too deep?) but it sure was fun being outside with the kids and having them help me dig in the dirt. We planted tomatos, zucinni, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, and green peppers. I finally FEEL like a homeowner, for most of the past 10 months it’s just felt like an act. Thank you, Karen, for the seeds and plants. I hope I don’t kill them.
6) Dieting
Because of some changes in our department for next year (more on this here and below) I was welcoming Carlos Tellez to our team last week. The first thing Carlos says to me is that I need to start working out with him. Not the first time that someone has commented on my weight, but that’s a different story for a different posting. One thing led to another (social office) and the next thing I know six of us in Student Affairs are agreeing to diet. The goal - a combined total weight loss of 120 pounds by September 1. Personally, I am hoping to lose 24 pounds to get down to 180.
I’m learning that most people have a specific strategy or approach to dieting - e. g. weight watchers or atkins, or exercising. Basically my approach has been to eat significantly less. Not sure if it’s working, but it’s definately succeeding in making me hungry and miserable. I think about food all the time. Like even a bloody raw side of beef looks delicious to me.
Dieting pretty much sucks.
7) Expecting (not me, of course)
Not sure why I didn’t post something about this months ago, but Sarah and I are expecting our third child this fall. I guess that’s the way it goes for the third child. When a couple is pregnant for the first time they take an ad out in the paper, bake a cake, and build a monument to mark the occassion… with the third child they worry about money, start discussing more “permanent” birth control options, and forget to mention it on their blog. 
The photo here is of Sarah when she was pregnant with our first. I don’t think we’ve taken a photo of her yet with this one.
Seriously, we are pretty excited about this baby. I love being a daddy. This time, it’s been fun to share the anticipation with our other two children. I love the thought of another baby in our home. We believe this will complete our family.
We are very open to suggestions for boy names… we don’t know the gender yet (anticipate finding out in July). We have a sweet girls name but are struggling to find the right boy one. Also, pray for Sarah as it turns out that pregnancy isn’t a walk in the park - especially when you are pregnant and the full time mother of two preschoolers.
8. Learning
The best thing about summer and being done with your master’s degree is that I am able to read (whatever I want). I’ve mentioned that before, but I really am enjoying the chance to learn through books lately and thought that learning warrented a space in this lame top ten list. Some topics that I’ve been interested in include spiritual formation, first generation college students, leadership, systems, and world religions (don’t worry, I’m still pretty committed to orthodox Christianity).
9) Return to uncertainty
Without saying too much, there has been a small development at work that has me a bit distracted and unsure about some future stuff. Grace is hiring a dean of students, which comes as no surprise, but over the past year, I have slowly come to realize I might want that job myself someday. Beyond that, my position (which was originally hired as a one year position) will answer to the person hired as Dean. On the positive side, I have loved my job and have been told I will have it again next year (with some minor adjustments). In the midst of all the changes at our school this year, I am so grateful for a position and the opportunities I get to share life with some amazing college students in that job.
On the not-so-positive side, I don’t know who my supervisor will be this fall and exactly what I will be doing. It feels a bit like I am returning to the uncertainty I felt just over a year ago. I just need to remember: my personal desires and ambitions are secondary to what is best for others, I trust my boss to do what’s best for Grace students and our team, and in the past I’m almost always pleased by the way God works in these times of uncertainty.
Why is it always a battle between my comfort and trusting God with me and my dreams? I find myself wavering between times of panic and times of deep peace about this. I’m pretty sure God is most honored in these times of peace. With a proper perspective and my pride in check, this probably isn’t as big a deal as I can sometimes make it out to be.
10) Did I mention I spent the day cutting up a steer?
Quite the change of pace from my normal life. Maybe that’s what was needed… not only to afford me the time to post to my blog, but also to reflect on life.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, May 26th, 2008
(Despite deep temptation to do so, this post has nothing to do with my disdain for the Ohio State Buckeyes)
The wedding was great. It was SO good to reconnect with friends Chad Dutka (who was the one getting married) and Ben Bays (who is getting married on October 4.) We got to meet Ben’s finacee, Renee, and get updated on the last two years of his life. It was encouraging to see that these friends we’ve mostly lost track of in the last 9 years are largely unchanged, still pursuing their divinely inspired dreams and living the life. Ben and Chad continue to make films as Room 101 Productions (Ben, Jeremy Bear, and I began Room 101 in college, Chad came on board during the second Jack Spade movie). In a way, the relationships pick up where we left off, laugh together, ask a billion questions, celebrate a major life event, and hug farewell… until the next time our paths cross.
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