20 Year Milepost

August 12, 1988.

It was 7 PM hundreds of our friends and family gathered at Christian Life Center in Santa Cruz, CA. I played the processional on the piano as the bridal party walked in. The music changed and I stepped to the front and that's when I saw her. Erica looked, well... radiant!

What a great day that was. One of the most significant of my life.

August 12, 2008

And now it's been 20 years. Three different posts of ministry. Four wonderful children. And one best friend for life.

To say that God has been faithful is only beginning to tell the story. Twenty years! Wow.

God is amazing.

More later.

VAN

P.S. Picture is the kids at the beach this summer.

New Training

Just finished a big day. Revolution Number 2. Great attendance. Amazing halftime. Fast clean-up. Good feeling.

It's always good to finish stuff. I'll never forget crossing the finish line at the half marathon back in May. Never ran that far before. I can remember at mile 6 thinking... "I want to do this for the rest of my life." I was feeling great, having fun and dreaming of actually doing a marathon someday.

Fast forward to last Friday, July 4th. The 2008 Butte to Butte 10K (6.2 miles). I'll never forget just before mile marker 5 ,thinking "O GOD, please change this race into a 5 mile race... please Lord! You are able, God. Nothing is too difficult for You!" I was feeling awful... tired, dehydrated, and unmotivated. Then a friend ran past me and said "you've run twice this far before... you can do it!" That kicked me over the edge and I finished. I had hoped to do it in under an hour. I missed it by a measly 7 seconds. 1:00:07. AAARRRGGHHH!

Here's the reason why I stunk so bad at the Butte to Butte. I had not trained for it. I was running on the "aftermath/residue" of the training from the half-marathon. Not a good plan.

So, here's my resolve. Set a goal. Get a training plan. And do it.

I want to have that "mile 6" feeling I had at the half-marathon and the only way... the only way... the ONLY WAY... is to train weekly. So, Monday morning I'll start a 6 week training plan for 5 mile race in August. I don't want to be asking God for any "distance decreasing miracles" anymore. I'll let you know how the training goes.

Well, the spiritual implication is clear. You do the application. :-)

More later.

VAN

13 years ago today

13 years ago today I was back at Sacred Heart Hospital after long night (or a short one, however you see it.) It began on a Sunday morning at 1:30 AM, July 9, 1995. We got our second born back to the room at about 3:30 AM. We were exhausted and she was ready to go, but not to sleep. I wrapped her up tight in a blanket and laid her on my chest... and she cried and cried and cried. We finally called the nurses in so that we could sleep just a little. She instantly became "wonder child". Smiled for the camera and won her way into the hearts of the midnight shift staff.

She has proceeded to do the same with me for the last 4744 days. I like her more everyday. She had cute little curly red hair back then, and people always commented. Her hair's still red but now she straightens it, and people still comment. She loved chocolate then... she still does. She felt strongly about things back then... and she still does today.

She's smart, funny, beautiful and talented. AND she is now officially ... a teenager!!! Does it scare me? YOU BET! But the main thing that I admire so much about her is how her care for other people continues to grow and grow; how she loves so deeply and laughs so easily... at herself and others (especially at me!).

I'm lucky to have such a wonderful young lady to love, to care for and learn from.
Happy Birthday Claire!
Dad Loves You!

More Later.
VAN



P.S. the picture is b-day number 12. She looks much older now!

Too Many Great Things

The last 45 days have been filled with many wonderful events. The best of which was the Olympic Trials. Amazing. We got to be there 5 days serving with the program sales team. On Monday night we even saw the 800 meter race where 3 Oregon guys finished 1, 2, 3. It was... well...amazing!

The highlight of the trials was actually being in a seat at Hayward for the final day of competition. Very much good!


It's summer and it's fun. But as I look back on this summer I know the most significant thing about the Summer of 2008 will be the simple purchase of a $89 A/C unit for our bedroom. Sleeping is so important. And its hard to sleep when your sweating. So, hands down, installing the little wonder A/C unit tops my list of the Great things of the Summer of 08.

More later.

VAN

Baseball season. Good times.

I remember vividly my little league days. Yep, it was 30 years ago, but I remember it. I loved baseball and I was pretty good. Pitcher, catcher, short-stop, third-base. I even made the all-stars. My team was Nob Hill.... wait for it... Foods. A grocery store was our sponsor. I always wanted to be Round Table Pizza, but everyone felt real sorry for the Hicks Lumber team. Good times.

Sammy's playing baseball. Good times.

We got a new glove, batting gloves, new balls, and even bat/gear bag. I think I had more fun than him. But he is getting it now. He looks pretty cool with his cleats, ball cap and his bat bag slung over his back. Good times.

The best part is watching Sam start to understand the game. Playing catch, batting practice, grounders, and pop flys. He is a "rules" kid. Before the first practice, his biggest concern was that he didn't understand how to steal bases. I explained it. He's got it... sort of. Though I just want him to have fun; in order to have fun he does need to understand the rules.

So here it is (sorry for the simplistic analogy, but I learn so much about how God sees me when I see things in my kids.) I think God enjoys watching me learning the ways of His kingdom. Loving others, worshipping Him in the midst of difficulty, and living with integrity are all His ways. I have more joy and freedom when I understand and walk in His ways. He does want me to have fun, but He knows how much more fun I'll have when I do things His way.

So today, I asked Him to teach me how to not steal tomorrow's worries. I got it... sort of. I think He'll have to explain it again. But I'll keep asking.

Your fellow question-asker,

VAN

P.S. Pictured above. (left) Sam's first MLB Game at RFK Stadium. (right) yours truly, circa 1978.

so-so days and life with friends

Time flies when your not blogging. :-)

April was a big month. Lots of activities with great people. I never want to stop enjoying the adventure of relationships. Sometimes friendships are bland like a bowl of cornflakes... bland but nourishing. Sometimes friendships are power packed with flavor like a gourmet meal. On any given day friendships can be great or just so-so.

I like so-so days and the great days. In fact, so many so-so days in good friendships add up to great friendships.

I would think the Lord would tire of the so-so days He has with me. Days where there is no great insight into the word, no powerful prayer prayed, no exciting spiritual mountain climbed. If I were Him, I'd be weary of the lack lustre devotion on my so-so days. But He takes my so-so days in stride.

The folks in Hebrews 11 had too many so-so days to count. Abraham, in particular, had some pretty non-eventful days... but he was labeled a "friend of God."

How about you? Is today a so-so day on your journey with God? That's okay. Just keep walking with Him, talking with Him, and enjoying your days with Him. All the while remembering you're building a friendship that is SO, SO very lifegiving and eternal.
More later.
VAN

The Shape of Me!

Here's a video we played this past Sunday. Hope was happy to help her Dad with his message. Dad was quite proud of her! Enjoy.

More later.

VAN