Archives for February 2010

I could write for days about the deep need in me for real friendships with men my age in a similar life stage. I could write about hopes and dreams and hurt and regret as I have pursued this over the years.

Our agenda:

• eat well
• play
• talk about life, ministry, marriage, parenting, our souls
• deep, authentic, real, vulnerable, brutally honest, life on life friendships
• long term and tight knit group

It was all that and more. Not sure I’ve ever been on a ministry conference or retreat that was better for my inner peace than these few days.

And as a bonus, we stayed in a SWEET donated pad just blocks from the beach/main street pier downtown. But it wasn’t really even the location so much as it was the craftsmanship that I fell in love with. I really really LOVE a house with amazing woodwork. I would have just moved my family in and said, we’re not going anywhere. I wished I could have been on the design end of this house. It easily has $200,000 in cabinetry and finish work alone. The wainscoting up 3 stories of staircases was to die for and nearly every room had beautiful built in units… not to mention gorgeous hard wood floors throughout.

I know it was really all about the friendships, but dang I dug this house.

At journey last weekend we had a parenting seminar.  This was the fourth one we’ve had since I’ve been here and was the first time we:

• combined with children’s ministry to reach an audience of parents beyond just student ministry.
• had it on a Sunday afternoon/ evening instead of a Saturday morning/lunch.
• had Kara Powell from Fuller Seminary come and share her learnings from research and her own experience. 

Tonight we came home from church and Shannon worked with Becky to yank out her tooth.

My pretty little girl is toothless.  I told her I’d glue it back in.  She says that there’s a new one coming that I can’t see.  Mom and I clearly are telling different stories.

She is now lying in bed with one eye open waiting for some silent tinker bell lookin’ girl with money to kiss her and take her tooth for money.  I hope the tooth fairy doesn’t get caught.

I never woulda guessed it. But Italy exists in San Diego. And no, I’m not talking about “Little Italy”. I’m talkin’ about the real deal, Gondola boat opera singing thing.

About a year ago, I subscribed to some e-mail in San Diego called the groupon. It’s basically a “coupon” that is activated by group buy in. If “x” people want it, then you can have it for “x” bucks. Well I saw one back in September for a romantic private boat ride date for two for $40. Ok, so I’m cheap and a sucker and I clicked on it.

And it was for the Gondola company.

Who woulda known? … but down in San Diego Bay, just south Coronado and Silver Strand beach, there is a company that gives hour long gondola boat rides in the bay next to multi-million dollar estates from like 3pm to midnight, 7 days a week or something like that. So, last Saturday, Shannon and I spent my coupon and went at 5:30pm. Just in time to get to see the sunset and some stars too.

We drank champagne and ate chocolate covered strawberries while our boat guy sang italian opera. Seriously, dude asked us if we wanted him to sing about half way into our ride and he busted out some opera thing in Italian. I won’t lie to you, it was some crazy combo of romantic, silly, cheezy, and fun. But I didn’t tell Shannon and I surprised her and it wasn’t an anniversary or birthday or nothing, so I scored and looked like the man. 3 cheers for groupon and e-mail and Italian boat rower guys.

So if you’re looking for some crazy date night in San Diego, you should surprise your spouse and hit it up.

OH AND WORD TO THE WISE: If you’re going to propose to your girlfriend though, ask about the track record of the boat driver first. Ours had one right before we got on and she said, “yes.” He said he had a co-worker who has had the girl say “no” 7 times in a row. Don’t get on that guys boat…. or at least don’t suprise your girlfriend on that guys boat 🙂

A few weeks back, we started the berrytribe point jars.

Tonight was a classic night for them. Here’s a window into our world for all you reality TV junkies.

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After dinner, everyone wanted to “buy” desert. A big cookie was selling for 2 green chips.

• Jake assessed the situation and with 7 chips, he bought one. Usually he just says, “how much for an banana.” I say, “it’s free”, and he eats fruit instead, saving his chip for some kinda windfall.
• Tyler sizes up his loot and buys one too.
• Becky and Billy just straight up buy a cookie, ignoring how many chips are left after said purchase.
• TJ did something yesterday that landed him a black chip (I wasn’t here. I don’t even know what it was for, but it was there) and he was still 2 green chips away from redemption, so he didn’t get a cookie. Last time I saw him, he was reading stories to siblings, doing dishes, and working on homework trying to dig out of his hole. It worked. Still no cookie. But he’s free from debt 🙂