A couple weeks ago, my wife and I joined her family for a trip to Hawaii. I say “trip” because anyone who has ever traveled with a 4-year-old and 20-month-old knows it’s definitely not a “vacation.” But our boys did great on the 7-hour flight, and between the pools, beach…
Category: Faith
The Best Comparison I Ever Made
For years I carried a gym membership (until I realized I could workout for cheaper in my own home). And while it was nice having a seemingly unlimited supply of dumbbells and access to hundreds of machines, I always found myself feeling self-conscious during my workouts. Sometimes it was because…
What a Garbage Man Taught Me About Joy
I have 2 boys: Kellen, who is 4, and Nolan, who is 18 months. Each week, both of these boys look forward to one thing. Sunday night football? Nope. Saturday morning yard work? I wish. Our weekly visit to Chick-fil-A? I probably get more excited about it than they do…
So This Is Christmas
I still remember my favorite Christmas as a kid. School was out for another ten days, and Christmas Eve had finally arrived. With cookies set out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, my brother and I headed for bed. A few hours later and the crack of dawn was…
5 Ways to Thrive This Holiday Season
Given the current climate of our country, the holidays couldn’t come at a better time. I’m certainly looking forward to them, but maybe that’s because I haven’t even dealt with the frustration of a good, old-fashioned political debate on Facebook. It’s been a challenging year. We’ve seen a heated presidential…
Now That the Election Is Over
This past weekend, my son Kellen and I went for a bike ride through our neighborhood on our way to the “blue playground” as he calls it. During our 20-minute journey, we passed by a few neighbors. Some were driving, and we waved. Some were outside doing yardwork…
What the Saints Taught Me about Leadership
I have a confession to make. Throughout most of my life, at least as far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a leader. With this passion on my heart, I sought opportunities to lead as I grew up. In high school, I began coaching Little League…
The Day I Lost My Son (and Almost Lost My Wife)
“Your baby doesn’t have any viability. It is only going to live while it is in you, and in the meantime, you are very sick and need to get to the hospital.” These were the words the doctor spoke as I sat beside my wife (Alissa) in his office one…
Our Letter to Gabriel Joseph Porteous
November 5, 2013 Dear Gabriel, It was just a few months ago that your mom and I learned about you and all those usual emotions came over us. We were excited, nervous, and filled with love as we anxiously awaited your full presence in our lives. We guessed whether you’d…
Gabriel Joseph – The Birth of a Saint
It was mid-July of 2013, and even though I doubted I was pregnant, I decided to take a test per the urging of a close friend. It was instantly positive! I called Eric who was at work, and he was shocked…