I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by the teams around me.  Over the past few months we’ve had many changes, challenges, and successes, an in every single case my teams have risen to the occasion.  Earlier today we had our monthly Eau Claire territory meeting and it always starts with sharing our biggest successes.  When my turn came I shared that my biggest success over the past month was to be surrounded by amazing teammates who continue to exceed expectations my eyes got a little misty.  I can’t or don’t want to imagine a work life without them, they bring much joy to my life.

One of the other icebreakers we kicked off the meeting with was the following question:

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

Take a moment to let that one really sink in.  It really says a lot about us and what we value, doesn’t it?  Hearing the answers from my teammates was enlightening and helped me learn more about each of them.

While Becky was driving tonight I pulled up the website that I got that question from and  started asking Becky, Dominic, and Gavin that question as well as several others.  We turned off the radio and enjoyed thinking about some of the answers and sometimes went into slightly different topics of conversation.  It was an interesting way yo learn more about those that I love so dearly.

There are 36 questions, and odds are you’ve seen them before online.  If you have a coupe of minutes I’d recommend pausing and asking a loved one or friend a question or two.  You may be amazed at where the conversation takes you.  In my case it was so much more rewarding than staring blankly at a screen, it was an awesome way to connect.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-gently/201310/36-questions-bring-you-closer-together

Thanks!!!

Gavin was at a friend’s house tonight so I took the opportunity to fire up one of my favorite movies with Dominic, The Usual Suspects. I won’t fire up the details of the movie in this post, I wouldn’t want to give anything away.

It was pretty great sitting on the couch, eating popcorn, and pausing to help Dominic catch all the details of what was going on. He hasn’t watched many crime / suspense movies like that so I wanted to make sure he was picking it all up. By the time the movie reached its conclusion he just said, “Whoa… that was a good ending!”

Yes, yes it was. It was also a fun time hanging out on the couch chilling with you Bud!

Thanks!!!

Dominic had about 20 minutes at home last night after returning from Camp Grandpa. After quickly unpacking he was back in the car as we headed out to drop him off for his Order of the Arrow Ordeal. This event is his opportunity to earn his place in the Order of the Arrow.

Last night he camped outside without a tent or shelter. He also wasn’t allowed to speak last night and was finally able to speak again after the ceremony this evening. His day was filled with manual labor around Camp Decorah and he was only allowed a couple of very tiny meals. There’s also a lot more to this including time for reflection and introspection. After completing his Ordeal he’s now a full member of the Order of the Arrow.

I’m so proud of him I don’t even know where to start. When we first got here his old Cub Scout leader came up to Becky and I to share what a hard worker he was today and how he wasn’t afraid to throw around some of the biggest logs all day long.

Being elected is a huge accomplishment in of itself, and passing the Ordeal is another. I still remember that night on the woods and day of service so we’ll, even though it was 25+ years ago. For him to get through it and in as good of a mood as he was in is awesome!

This is an event that he’ll likely remember for the rest of his life. I’m so thankful that he’s had this opportunity!

Dominic, I’m am so proud of you!!! Great job for not only completing the Ordeal, but for showing off your incredible work ethic. Hold onto these memories and lessons for all your life, they’ll help you through tough times. Love you so much Bud!!!

Thanks!!!

When Becky and I went out for our run early this morning we were greeted by a sudden splash of rain. It hadn’t been raining moments before but it decided to start the moment we opened the door. The radar showed we should be clear in a moment so we chilled and then headed out once it was done.

The radar showed a large thunderstorm north of us, but it was heading away and we were good to go. One of the benefits of this was the thunder and lightning going on a long ways north providing some beautiful and natural entertainment.

After one strike of lightning that caused a low rolling echo of thunder through the Mississippi River Valley Becky started to hum…

Ah ah, ah ah ah… Thunder…

Ah ah, ah ah ah… Thunder…

The sound of AC/DC was rolling through my head and taking her lead I fired up Thunderstruck on my iPhone. While running in the dark and watching the sky far away light up with lightning it just felt right. We were both getting into it while we kept on running for the first sixty seconds…

FLASH!!! A huge shot of lightning lit up the sky much brighter than before. Without much conversational both turned on a dime and started heading back. At that moment the skies opened up and let loose a heavy rain.

I was caught in the middle of a railroad track

I looked around and there was no turning back…

As we hauled our soggy butts past the only open treeless area I couldn’t help but smile as Thunderstruck played on in my hand. It was AWESOME!!! That’s when I realized that we’d literally called down the thunder by listening to Thunderstruck. The irony made me smile as we slogged home through the thunderstorm.

Today’s going to be a busy day with much going on but I have a feeling that I’m not going to forget the feeling of jamming out in the rain while running to that song this morning.

Thanks!!!

Usually I should be taking action, right?  Isn’t that what I was taught at an early age?  Fail by trying, not fail by failing to try .  Always better to take action and have it not work out than to not take action at all.

If you know me well you know that it’s tough for me to not take action.  I’m usually in a perpetual state of motion and action.  If you’re not sure about that just ask some of our vacation buddies what I’m like when I’m “relaxed.”  I still remember being told while on vacation in one of my favorite places of the world, the Big Island, to “quit pacing, you’re making me nervous” while I was attempting to “relax.”  That’s just a part of who I am.

While it is a part of who I am, it is not always the appropriate thing to do.  Sometimes inaction is necessary.  Once in a while it is better to not take action and remain in a state of inaction.  Those moments are particularly difficult for me.  My mind starts racing and I want to start moving towards a solution, but I need to use every ounce of my will to pause and stay still.

Tonight at yoga I was reminded of this.  As we were wrapping up our practice we got to a point when our instructor told us to stay exactly where we were, to hold still, to not even twitch or squirm in the least.  They told us to stay still and hold.  My initial reflex was to want to move, but this instruction held me tight.  As much as every ounce of me wanted to move I stayed in that pose.  The more the seconds went by the more desperate I was to move, just a little, just for a fleeting moment, but I didn’t.  As the clock slowly ticked I focused with every ounce I had to keep my gaze locked onto the same tiny imperfection on the hardwood floor, to keep my legs perfectly still, and to not even let a single finger move.

After a long while it actually started feeling great!  It was reminding me that I am in control of my actions.  If I should take the path of inaction I was reminded that I can do that, regardless of how unnatural it feels to me.  Inaction is something that is within my control and I can harness it when I need to.  This was helping me practice for those moments, to keep the stillness of mind to not immediately react, to not fold to my reflexes.  It was quite liberating!

Inaction is an odd thing to be thankful for, but I really am tonight.  By not taking action I was able to remind myself of how my will can keep me on track when I am best served by the path of inaction.

Thanks!!!

Today on Facebook I had an old memory from 7 years ago pop up reminding me of the hiking excursion Becky and I did on a glacier in Canada.  It was one of our vacations in which we left the boys behind and went off adventuring with just the two of us.  That trip to the Canadian Rockies was AMAZING and will be remembered forever.  It wasn’t just the natural beauty, it was also a great time for just the two of us being a couple.  We chilled and watched Canadian TV in our hotel room before bed, experienced poutine for the first time, and started a tradition of having an excellent meal and a few drinks on our last night.  It is one of my favorite vacations to date.

Tonight Becky had the idea to head to Moon Tunes at Riverside Park with a friend to enjoy the Johnny Cash tribute.  With the boys at Camp Grandpa it’s a little taste of what life will probably be like when we are empty nesters in about nine years or so.  We headed out and just chilled without having to run boys around to various events.  When we were ready for food we went out for subs to eat at home.  Now at home we’re both chilling and slowly getting ready for work tomorrow and bed.  Totally chill, peaceful, relaxed, and without a schedule.

I already miss the boys and can’t wait to have them back home to get back into our normal chaos together, but for these few days it’s nice to get a taste of what’s on tap in the future.  If this is what the future looks like in a little less than a decade, sign me up!  I’m going to enjoy the time we have with the boys while remembering that life after they move out will be pretty cool too in its own way.

Thanks!!!

Today Gavin is 10!!!  The little red headed tornado isn’t so little anymore and has been around for a decade already!  How crazy to think that it was only a decade ago Gavin came into the world the same way he’s been living his life ever since, in a ball of energy that one can only hope to contain, and leaving a trail of smiles and joy in his wake.

When I’ve been thinking about what I am thankful for today the biggest thing that has kept running through mind is what an incredible year I’ve had with him.  To be here to experience so many incredible moments with him has me feeling like about the luckiest person in the world.  There are so many memories with him that come to mind from this past year that my jaw has pretty much dropped.

And then when I dug through the pictures I have of him from the past 365 days my jaw dropped even further…  what a year we’ve truly had with him!!!  From cooking to scouting to New Zealand to National Parks to soccer to our everyday craziness it’s been an epic year with Gavvers!  Take a look at the pics below and you’ll understand…

Another trip around the sun with Gavin, another year of adventures.  I am so thankful for this past year with him.  I am blessed and grateful to be his dad.

Gavin, I don’t know what we’re going to do for an encore this year, this past one has been AWESOME!!!  Thank you so much for keeping me running full speed ahead, smiling, and loving life.  You inspire me to be a better dad and person so often you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.  Love you tons, so proud of you, and I can’t wait to see what adventures this next year brings.  Love you Dude!!!

Thanks!!!