I kid you not.

This dude brought his girlfriend or wife or something to Dad’s and Donuts in just her shirt. I cut off their heads to preserve what innocence is still left. This ladies “dress” was so short and her legs so long, that I swear, especially if you saw how much it goes up in the front, that there were some kindergarten kids that saw more than just dads and donuts today. Good thing there was no wind.

Oh, and I hate to pay for the parking at my favorite coffee shop. It doubles the price of my coffee if I do. So instead of paying the meter gods, I hoof it 3 blocks. Well today I parked on a different street than I usually do and on the way, I saw this sign:

I thought about blurring the number, but decided not too just in case you were thinking what I was thinking. Perfect! This is just what I’ve been waiting for. I can’t wait to get my tan painted on this year. I’m seriously thinking about getting a design added to my left buttock as well. Then if I get a shirt dress, I can show it off. Or maybe I’ll get one of those cool Sports Illustrated nothing but paint swimsuits put on this year. Then I go to the beach all sly and au natural.

The next few days marks the end of an era in the berry family, or the beginning of a new one, depending on your emotional state at the time.

• This was the first and only year in our school career where all 3 of our boys went to the same school- all day. I’m gonna miss that.

• TJ graduates from 5th grade and enters middle school next year. My first child is now officially under my job description at church too. Now I’ll really learn how much I don’t really know about parenting a tween.

• Today was the last day of their elementary school’s annual Dads and Donuts event for me with my 3 boys. Unless I sneak TJ in for next year… 🙂

• Which- side note: I’ve been praying. I know. Shocking isn’t it. Anyway, Middle school starts an hour later than the elementary school. So next year, 1 day a week, after I drop off Tyler and Jake at school, I’ll go have breakfast with TJ before his school starts. I already do this with Shannon on mondays, but I think my one-on-one times with TJ and “the brothers” will become a part of the fabric of my life in the coming years. I’m stoked about that.

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of writing. I have 2 bible studies I’ve been working on till the wee hours of the morning this week and a seminary project that is due.

Two other writings have recently posted to Simply’s site. The first is a series of Bible Studies I’ve taught twice in my own youth ministry. It’s really about developing a mentoring mindset- both in you and in your relationships around you. I think this study is the one that I’ve written so far that I’m most excited about.

It’s called “Coach Me”

I’m also in the process of planning our 08/09 school year and in the midst of that, I wrote a little article that posted here. If you’re a youth pastor, you might find a idea or two worth stealing. Which by the way, if you have an idea or two I can steal, hook a brother up!

(Side note, the editor made a correction on this one that kinda bugs me. I have these two types of messages series I think through when planning my teaching calendar. One I call a “Felt Need” and the other I call a “Spirit Lead”. There’s a play on words there that is a memory tool- among other things. Anyway, the editor changed it to “Spirit Led” which did two things. #1. It took away the parallel language rhyme. #2. It makes it sound like the “felt need” stuff I did on my own, the “Spirit Led” stuff is what God wanted me to do. It’s the first time that I’ve re-read the article after it was edited and then posted and went, “Ugh…. I don’t like that change.”)

I either have not had enough sleep (ok, I’ve definitely not had enough sleep) or these two stories legitimately touched a chord in me. The first made me full on cry. The second really got me choked up.

Check out this softball story. But be warned, you might need kleenex unless you have more sleep than me.

Check out this kid who plays baseball with one leg. Be sure to watch the video.

You can at least thank the adult producers/performers of these precious pop culture moments:

Thank you ABC.

Thank you CBS.

Thank you MTV.

3 solid reasons sexuality and sexual identity/image is a confusing mess with teens I work with and at least 3 solid reasons to change the channel.