Posts with the tag “kids”

This past weekend I was out of town for a wedding, and after the rehearsal dinner in the historic Stockyards, some friends and I were driving back to our hotel. Now, the Stockyards are all charm and c...  Read More

Do you remember the COVID days when we all suddenly became experts in things we had never cared about before? Many of us tried gardening only to discover it's much easier to go to the city market. We ...  Read More

 This past week, I had the chance to watch our daughter play soccer, and I found myself smiling more than I expected. Not just because of the goals or the hustle, but because of the team itself. A few...  Read More

Most days after being at church, I begin what I like to call my weekly sanctification test…also known as the drive home through downtown Kansas City.By early evening, things are already hopping. Peopl...  Read More

As we find ourselves in the quiet weight of Good Friday, there is an invitation before us, not to rush ahead, but to linger…to slow down…to reflect.This week has already been a sacred journey for many...  Read More

Every year, as Holy Week approaches, there are a few behind-the-scenes traditions that quietly take place around the church. Prayer guides get printed. Communion elements get ordered. Stations are set...  Read More

Last Friday night at our house, Leigh-Ann and I finally settled in for the evening with two of the boys. We had popcorn popped, and the recliners leaned back in their fully committed “we are not getti...  Read More

Growing up, my family was firmly in the “outdoor pets only” camp. We never had a dog, never had a cat, but for some reason, we had rabbits. Multiple rabbits. And of all the bunnies that cycled in and ...  Read More

Early one morning a few weeks ago, we made our way to the Taj Mahal. I had imagined a quiet, majestic approach. Maybe a gentle sunrise. Maybe soft music in the background. Instead, we climbed into a t...  Read More

I hope your week is going well and you are fully prepared for the impending blizzard. Our staff, elders, and deacons just returned from our leadership retreat, which began with a three-hour drive that...  Read More

This week’s sermon is going to be a good one. Pastor Dave will be preaching from Luke 1:26–33 about Jesus, our Invincible King. Jesus is more than able to see us through every step of the journey He l...  Read More

I hope your week is going well. While preparing for Sunday, I was reminded of a story in our church’s history that captures the strange and wonderful way faith and doubt fight for space inside our min...  Read More

 Our staff Christmas lunch this week was another reminder of how much joy God gives His people. Leigh-Ann delivered her famous sliders and soup, comfort food that could probably calm international con...  Read More

This past week, I had the chance to take our oldest son, Dallas, to a soccer tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. The weather was absolutely perfect, and there were a few days when I even hurt a bit from s...  Read More

Several years ago, on our annual men’s float trip, my boys and I, along with a small army of other men and their sons, found ourselves in a situation that felt straight out of a Discovery Channel spec...  Read More

I hope your Thanksgiving was full of good food, good company, and good-natured repentance for that third piece of pie. We enjoyed an amazing meal, ate far more than any doctor would recommend, and sha...  Read More

This past week has been a full one for our family, the kind where you’re grateful for God’s goodness, good coffee, and the fact that seven people can actually fit in a car for a few hours. With Alexa ...  Read More

Some weeks feel like a sitcom… and other weeks feel like a sitcom that forgot to hire writers ?. Our recent adventure with the Health Department definitely lands in that second category.As many of you...  Read More

 Happy Friday! After fixing a car recently, my mind went back to 1986, when I bought my very first car: a 1986 Mazda 323 Sedan. I paid $600 cash, and when I drove it home, it felt like a dream…a wobbl...  Read More

 It seems a small army of flies has declared squatter's rights in my office. They’re fast, sneaky, and apparently on some kind of top-secret mission to test my patience. Every time I think I’ve caught...  Read More

 Last Friday, Leigh-Ann and I hit the road for a wedding in Wisconsin. We had the whole plan figured out, watch Sophia’s soccer game in Warrensburg, stop overnight in Springfield, IL, and make it to P...  Read More

Recently, our middle child and oldest son, Dallas, reached a major milestone. He officially got his driver’s license. After riding scooters all over downtown, golf carts, six months of driving on a le...  Read More

This past Saturday, my three boys and I grabbed a close friend and headed out for a round of golf. We decided to play a scramble on a par-nine course, and honestly, it was a blast!Not because we’re gr...  Read More

It’s been a fun (and slightly humbling) week at our house with my mom in town for a visit!She’s been spending time with the boys, playing Mille Bornes and Skip-Bo (and let’s just say, she’s still got ...  Read More

This past week, Leigh-Ann and I were invited to a Sporting KC game with a close friend who was in from out of town.We had a blast!The atmosphere, the energy, the chants, the fact that our seats were i...  Read More

This week, as I was moving some books around into my new office, I found something that made me stop and smile, a tiny sticky note from our oldest daughter, Alexa.It says: “I love you, Daddy! ? I hope...  Read More

We just returned from a great week of family vacation at Table Rock Lake near Branson. It was one of those trips where the days felt full, in the best kind of way. We spent our days boating, swimming,...  Read More

A few months ago, we had some surprise guests move into our front door Easter wreath. Somehow, they decided our front porch would be a great place to raise a family. And honestly, I don’t blame them, ...  Read More

After 22 weeks of setting up in borrowed spaces (or as we affectionately call them, Church Airbnb's), we finally had our first Sunday back in our newly remodeled home…and it felt GREAT.Over the past s...  Read More

Our dog Gratzi is, without a doubt, my favorite family pet so far. She’s well-behaved, loyal, and, best of all, she loves just being with us. Most mornings, the moment she hears the front door open, s...  Read More

  I’ll never forget the day my college roommate walked into our dorm room. Technically, I knew him since he was my cousin, but we’d only met a handful of times growing up. So when he showed up with a ...  Read More

Earlier this week, I was feeling like my margins were pretty thin… another week of juggling building inspections, navigating temporary meeting locations, and doing my best to wear all my God-given hat...  Read More

When I first met Leigh-Ann, I knew she had a heart for children. What I didn’t realize was that she had been dreaming of running an orphanage since she was a little girl. (I thought she meant, like, i...  Read More

Easter weekend is here, and our house is officially full…and loud. Leigh-Ann and I are soaking it up. Our oldest daughter flew in from Florida, our second came home from college, and our three boys (h...  Read More

This week, Pastor Jeff and I were back on set filming another episode of Church Improvement, our little behind-the-scenes show giving you updates and laughs from the auditorium remodel. Things have be...  Read More

This afternoon, I had the privilege of attending a graduation…not for high school, college, or even a seminary. No, this was a graduation for Fatherhood Foundations. A ministry designed to help men un...  Read More

If there’s one thing Pastor Jeff is passionate about (besides Jesus and a good cup of coffee, and the Royals, and books?)…it’s community.He’s the kind of guy who never drinks coffee alone, partly beca...  Read More

Monday’s warm weather meant one thing…driveway basketball. Our 2v2 games can get intense. Two hours straight, no breaks, just pure grit (and occasional wheezing). By the end, I was sore…but the good k...  Read More

On Wednesday, Leigh-Ann and I took the boys to watch the Mizzou vs. Alabama basketball game, and let me tell you…it was an experience. Thanks to a really good coach, we had some really good seats. And...  Read More

Well, here we go—on Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to do what no team has ever done: win three Super Bowls in a row. And, of course, if they do, some will say, "It’s all because of...  Read More