October 2, 1999

A ‘Thank You’ is in order to get things rolling.

Since I posted yesterday, I have gained 4 new followers! Click here to read that post.

It humbles me and honors me to realize that people follow this blog. So thanks!

50968019 - businessman hands holding thank you sign vector


If my title has piqued your interest, good. That was the intent.

Where were you on October 2, 1999?

What were you doing? Who were you with that day?

For me, I remember it like it was yesterday. In fact, even better than yesterday because I don’t even remember what I ate for breakfast!

It was a brisk Saturday morning, The sun was bright and clear but a fall breeze was forecasting winter temperatures.

My girlfriend and I were planning on heading to the Minneapolis area to spend time with my family. This was to be the first time my parents were meeting this wonderful woman I had spoken about so many times.

On the way, we stopped in the Waupaca (central Wisconsin) area, specifically, Spencer Lake Bible Camp.

Earlier in July, we had both been counselors at the camp for a teenager bible camp. Sorry, I don’t have enough time to recall the details but needless to say, I got a pretty girl’s phone number before the week was out. =-)

We had been calling and emailing ever since.

Now the time had come to get on my knee, pull out the ring, and ask a question.

She said YES!!!

The following April, we were married.

So, babe, happy anniversary on getting engaged.

getting-engaged-profile

And if you ever see me in person, you may ask this question:

“Do you regret proposing to your girlfriend?”

My answer will always and forever be: “No. Not even for a second.”


I started with a ‘Thank You’ so I will end with one as well.

To my Lord, my life is incredible. You have blessed me beyond what I could dream. Thank you for my wife.

To my wife, thank you for being awesome and sticking with me for the last 20 years.

How about another 20?

Lent, pt. 21

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,” NIV I Peter 1:3-4

These verses were on my mind today.

I am going to put Lent aside for a while.

Day-to-day living can be so many things.

Today was pretty good. My students were lively and entertaining today. We seemed to accomplish much in the way of learning.

I went to Smart Cow with my wife and daughter after dinner.

smart cow

Some days, life is good. This reminds me of the inheritance that is spoken of by Peter in those verses above.

Heaven will be completely fantastic. Nothing on earth can compare.

But it is days like these that I get a small glimpse of what it will be like.

Thank you Lord for making a place for me.

More?

God is working. But I don’t always see it. I feel like there is more. Not that I am unhappy or discontent. I am blessed beyond measure. Here is what I mean by blessed.

  • My wife is about to enter another decade on her birthday next week. She is all things amazing. God has given me a tremendous (understatement!) gift in my wife.
  • My son is incredible. Between the legos and video games he still has time to excel in school and volunteer at church. At eleven, he is awkward and awesome at the same time!
  • My daughter is fantastic! It is fun to snuggle in the morning. She still lets me snuggle at 8. Her smile brightens my day like no other. She also knows more Spanish than I do. Wow.
  • Our church is wonderful. A healthy church is so encouraging. And we get to help in various way! The people are incredible. We can grow at our church.
  • We live debt free mainly due to the choice we have made to tithe.
  • I can still play hard on the softball field even though I am one of the oldest persons out on the field!
  • We are surrounded by friends and family that love us.

But I feel like there is more to God. I want more of Him.

Psalm 42:1, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”

Psalm 84:2, “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

The great thing is that God wants to be found by us. He will satisfy our longings. His character is one of generosity. 

So today, I am asking for more. What are you asking for?