Author: Wick

Yup, today is my birthday. One year ago I was celebrating my victory on Wheel of Fortune. The excitement has died down a bit, though I still get a “congrats” from someone I haven’t seen in a long time. Especially since they re-aired the episode last weekend, and many people who knew me seemed to have missed it a year ago (or that it happened a year ago).

5 Years ago I had just begun my first full-time youth pastor job in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was an incredible rush….met some phenomenal people…learned a TON….and grew a lot. God blessed our time there, just as He has blessed the transitions in between.

10 Years ago I was turning 17, just beginning my senior year of high school. It was a great year. Algebra 2 was my only real class, the rest were choirs, dramas, independent reading, etc. My little brother Darin was a freshman, and I’d like to think I was decent to him for the most part. I was jerkish at times, but had matured a least a little by then. Plus, being nice to my freshman brother in high school kinda played well with the females (like caring for a puppy). So I was down with that.

20 years ago I was 7. No idea what happened that year. I was in 2nd grade? I prided myself on not “getting my name on the board” that entire year, even when the teacher mistook me for my older brother, and thought it had happened once. Mrs. Strawkowski, or something like that. Fun year, and I think I was Bugs Bunny for Halloween.

Thanks to everyone who has played a part in each of my 27 years. And to those who will be involved in the next 27…..look out. 🙂

Addie still discovers new joys every day, like jumping in puddles…

Sophie is LIVING discovery every moment of her life.

There are definitely difficulties. Early mornings after a long day previously. Diapers that never stay clean. Nap schedules that never match up. Half hour car rides that seem to take hours. A wife that works all day, but doesn’t get a paycheck. (she rocks, by the way) 🙂

Towering at like 10 feet, Joe was the guy from the local company that I called to rescue me from our ant situation. He knew EVERYTHING. It was awesome. Although he didn’t seem to hear what I was saying some of the time, at least he nodded like he understood. Made a couple funny situations, like this one:

(as he’s spraying toxic poison all over our living room)

Me: So Joe, this stuff is safe to spray around where kids are right? I mean, like, should they be kept away from it? (stupid way to combine questions, I admit)

Joe: Mm-hmmm.

Me: (confused and silent)

Anyways, I was wrong. They weren’t carpenter ants. Joe laughed when I told him that. Remember I said we had termites before we ever lived here? Well, they sprayed, etc…and killed those things. But there were still termite tunnels in a lot of the wood outdoors surrounding our porch. Pavement ants crawled up in there, and decided to live in the vacant rooms. They do some damage too, tunneling through wood just like carpenter ants would.

So what’s the verdict? Joe says not to worry. Pointed out a couple pieces of wood to “replace” (which he talked about as if it’s as easy as pouring a bowl of Life for breakfast….I gotta work on my manly abilities apparently), said to make sure they’re sealed good after they’re replaced. But he wasn’t worried. Said things are fine.

Whew.

Thanks Joe. 🙂

ps. I fulfilled my short-term dream last week, of climbing to the top of the climbing structure in the middle of the Decatur Children’s Museum. We took Addie last Thursday, and since school is in session now…no 100 daycare kids to compete with…hehe. I know….you’re jealous. Addie was too scared to come with me….but my wife gave me permission to go ahead and fulfill my dream. I love them. 🙂