It's been a month since I've posted anything new, and it's not because they're nothing to write about! I've been so busy, so overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of life, that taking time to write in a blog seems somehow wasteful.

Anyway, here I am for a quick update.

I'm writing from Mishawaka, Indiana. I lived much of my life in and around Mishawaka, so it's good to be back. I haven't had my whole family here since October of 2000, so it's about time we got back. This is the first visit to Indiana for the twins, and it's also our first chance to meet my seven-month-old niece, Lydia.

We're staying at my mom and dad's house (they are staying at my uncle's for the week - giving us a whole house to occupy). My sister, Sarah, and her family live here as well. You can read her thoughts about our family reunion here. My brother, Micah, and his wife drove up from Nashville, too... so it was great to all be together for the first time in six years. Here are all the kids in order from oldest to youngest: Joshua, Jacob, Alex, Emily, Zachary, Maddy and Lydia.

We're grateful to have the chance to see my grandpa and several aunts and uncles, and we're getting together with our dear friends from college, Dave & Emily Stoll and Carissa (Dollaske) Woodwyk. I even get to see an old high school pal, Andy Sommers, and his family.

What else has been happening in the last month? Our oldest, Josh, went to his first dance last week. He's in middle school now, so I guess this is where it all starts! He and a bunch of his buddies got together for dinner at a friend's house and then went to the dance together. The good news? He didn't dance with any girls. In fact, he had an answer prepared for any girl who asked him to dance: "Let me think about for a couple of hours."

One of the coolest things for me and my band was opening for the Lost Dogs on October 3. I'm such a fan of these guys. It was just amazing having them at my church and hanging out with them. Here's Terry, Steve, Mike, me and Derri after the show:

It was a crazy day. My good friend and guitarist, Ugur, and his wife were expecting a baby any moment. Liesl was in labor, with regular contractions and everything. We didn't know what we'd do if she went into hard labor, because we really needed our lead guitarist for the show, AND Ugur was also scheduled to run sound for the Lost Dogs.

In God's gracious timing, the baby waited until the NEXT day. Little Vaughn Joseph was born on October 4. Welcome to the world, little VJ, and congrats to Ugur & Liesl!

Tony is gonna be a daddy... Read about it here. All my love and prayers to this little one and his amazing parents. I love Tony like a brother, and he's been an awesome friend and example to my kids. I pray that I can love and serve his family like he has mine.

On August 14, 1993, I married my best friend. Thirteen years later, Luanne and I are older and wiser. We've lived through amazing joy and deep pain. We've been blessed with four awesome kids. We've experienced the grace of God in ways neither of us thought possible.

I'm grateful today for my loving, gracious, forgiving, funny, warm, accepting, hospitable, adventurous, brave, talented, organized, willing, godly wife. If I had it to do all over, I'd do it again. I do, I do, I do...

Somehow I'm not surprised that it's Zach...

Update (7/31): Zach saw an orthopedic specialist on Friday. He has a plaster cast now... Soccer balls! He'll wear it for three weeks. Not too bad. He's got a great attitude, and at least he doesn't have to keep it bent and wear a sling! 

My oldest son is ELEVEN today. Once he's out of school for the day, the fun begins with a party at LaserQuest for him and a bunch of friends, followed by gifts at home with the family. I am especially excited to give him a pocketknife I bought him in Texas last week. He's been asking for a pocketknife for probably two years.

I remember well the day we drove to the hospital in Warsaw, Indiana, eleven years ago. After only four hours of labor, Joshua Matthew was born to us. Looking back, I can't believe how little Luanne and I knew about life or marriage, let alone parenting! But God has been so gracious and has led us every step of the way. Josh, you are teching us what it means to be parents! I love you so much. (I'm sitting in Starbucks typing this quick before a meeting... and getting all choked up in the process...).

Amazing how a kid can go from this

to this...

A few weeks ago, and unbeknownst to me, Luanne entered a contest co-sponsored by Bethany University and KFAX Radio. The winner would receive two free semesters out of a three-semester degree completion program. The total prize value is approximately $14,000. She wrote an essay about why she deserved the prize, emailed it to the radio station, and only told me about it after it was all said and done, .

On Thursday she got a call saying she was a finalist and asking whether she’d be home Friday night for the announcement of the winner “just in case” she were to win.

Friday night came and we were listening to the radio down in our bedroom. They spent a lot of time talking about the program and hyping up the announcement. Then, about three minutes before they made the announcement, our phone rang. Sure enough, it was for Luanne. Pretty soon they were reading the following essay on the air:

“I expected to graduate in 1995 with my husband. Instead I have been blessed with four amazing kids. I’ve been a partner with my husband in full time ministry, and I continue to see how God is using all the circumstances of my life to continue to grow me into the woman He intended for me to be.

God’s plan and purpose for my life is still being fulfilled, and I believe that completing my degree is part of the process. I have seen first hand the brokenness that consumes our lives. I have seen addictions tear marriages and families apart. I have seen guilt and shame leave people without hope. There is a great need in our communities for trained counselors to help individuals, couples and families walk through the process of recovery and restoration. Completing my degree now is even more important to me then it was ten years ago. It’s not about getting a job or a diploma that demands a higher salary. For me, it’s about being equipped with the necessary education to give hope to those who feel like they are in hopeless situations. People need to know that there is a way out.”

Luanne was so excited! She got to talk on the radio for a little while, and then they wanted to talk to me too… It’s just a great gift, an affirmation from God. I’m grateful and excited for her. I always knew I married a winner. Now everybody else does too.

Cousin Daniel had a birthday party yesterday, so we thought it would be a good opportunity to do something we've talked about for a while... send the big boys on a plane by themselves. They're in Simi Valley with their grandparents until Tuesday. It was a little strange, but Southwest made it really easy for us. We were able to take them all the way to the gate and then they pre-boarded them, so it was really smooth. Grandma and Grandpa were able to meet them at the gate on the other side. So far, so good. The flight was great, the party was fun, they watched Harry Potter IV today with Uncle Dominic and Aunt Lisa... Good times.

On our end, it's just so easy. Something about having only two kids... Yesterday we actually went on a bike ride to Key Market and bought butter. Tonight we went out to Max's after Sunday At 6. It's just calm and simple. One kid per adult. Maybe that's the winning ratio. Zach and Emmy certainly are enjoying the extra attention. We kept them up super late tonight. I'm hoping that they'll sleep in a little bit tomorrow.

Welcome to the world, my newest little niece! It's really a wonderful place, full of ice cream and mountains and butterflies and sunshine and puppies and kisses and all kinds of great things. Sure, sometimes things are rough, but you have a great mommy and daddy, an awesome big brother, and a sweet big sister. Most important, you have a God who is crazy about you and will walk with you every day of your life. Follow Him, Sweetie, and you got it made.

February 14 is a special day for me. Not only is it my amazing Grandpa's birthday (He turns 87 today), and not only is it Valentine's Day... but since Luanne and I got married on August 14, 1993, it's been our half-year anniversary every year. I think it took us a few years to figure that one out, but how romantic is that? Every Valentine's Day we can celebrate another six months of God's faithfulness in our marriage.

Today is 12-1/2 years. Has it always been bliss? Hardly. Being the broken man that I am, I have managed to bring a lifetime's worth of pain into this relationship. Notice that I said we celebrate God's faithfulness, not mine. I have stepped outside God's design for my marriage in many ways, but I am amazed and grateful for His grace... and for hers.

My wife is the strongest, most beautiful woman I know. Her love is fierce and proud and stubborn... and amazingly tender and sensitive.

One of my favorite love songs is by Vienna Teng... I'm listening to a great live version of it right now. It's called "Harbor," and it goes like this:

Sail your seas, meet your storms; all I want is to be your harbor... The light in me will guide you home; all I want is to be your harbor.

That's what Luanne is to me: a safe place to lay down my defenses. In the craziness of life, in the wind and the rain, when all hell breaks loose... she is my harbor. I'm a blessed man.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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