If you read this post, then you know how excited Josh and I were to have the kids I’ve been mentoring be our flower girl and ring bearers. I stated in that post, “If nothing goes according to plan on … Continue reading
I spent my 21st birthday at a Texas Roadhouse in Indiana (with friends I still love).
And my birthday this year (couldn’t get the whole table, but this post features Danae anyway).
The after-party when I was 21 was very Taylor University-like. I came home to a surprise party thrown by my dorm. Those Christian college kids even got special permission to have boys on the floor. Scandalous, I know. We drank sparkling cider straight out of the bottle!
In between, I’ve had some memorable birthdays. And after-parties.
But I think this year will stick with me for a long time. We threw a getaway at my dad’s lake house. And when the rest of the world got silent, I made my way to the hot tub with one of my best friends, co-workers and fellow child-champions. For hours, Danae and I sat under the winter stars and talked about how we can better define our purpose, our methodologies, and our contributions to help kids and families. It was the perfect way to ring in a new year of life.
This video captures some of the feeling behind what we want to do for children. It will change you.
You’re a little teary, right?
Every child, every prisoner, every coach needs to be cheered on.
Maybe you’ve been pondering what to do with your life. Or your year. Or your day. What if we all just lived out this video? What if we look for the people around us that don’t have fans? The children that need their names chanted the most?
And we’ll be their fans. We’ll cheer them on. We’ll show them that they’re worthy. And champions. And when they go to bed, they’ll have memories of people chanting their names. And those memories won’t go away when the hard times come again.
Cruising
>Most people in Michigan close up their cottages for the winter. Not the Gann’s. We like to do crazy things like run through the snow to the hot tub.
The past two weekends, work had me stationed down in southern MI and I got to enjoy winter at the lake. Since it will hopefully not be winter at the lake again for a VERY long time, I snapped this picture. Don’t you love the antique dinner bell? It comes in useful when everyone is out on the water and there’s a big BBQ about to be served!
As for the indoor entertainment, we used to have a SUPER TV. I really wanted it for my own house. It turns out some other people did, too. They broke in and stole it. The local police guessed that maybe they came across the lake in the dark of night on snow mobiles and up the 100 steps and carried the 55″ TV out that way… My philosophy is that we might need some new detective work in town… So, until we get a new TV, we put the baby one up on the mantle. My dad thought it would be a good idea to secure it with packing tape. I told him that idea was like the time he thought we should paint our basement “rose.” Proof that he doesn’t always listen to me-
My dear old dad redeemed himself when he introduced me to a new feature of nature last weekend- the sound of ice breaking. I almost wished that we could stay in that moment and that spring didn’t have to come.
It was one of the most peaceful sounds I’ve ever heard. The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Psalm 66:4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.
Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Psalm 97:1
