Spring Resolutions

I have established something of a tradition on this blog by announcing sets of resolutions at the outset of each season, rather than at the beginning of the year as most people do.

I'm a little late in announcing the resolutions for this spring, but summer doesn't officially start until June 21, so there's still quite a bit of time to accomplish the following goals.

1. Spend as much time investing in and leading these people (and dog) as possible.

2. Capture many memories from the lake where we live because this is going to be our last summer there.

3. Learn to surf during our vacation to California. My wife is heavily against this one because of the recent shark attack near San Diego - but I think I'll probably figure out a way around that.

4. Get fishing again!

5. Run! I really want to make a habit of running because I know it's great for my health. I miss the time when I could enjoy physical activity without wondering when the next timeout was so I could catch my breath and get a drink. I need to get myself back into good shape.

6. Grow a mustache that looks something like this!

7. Win the Mountain Dew Challenge - Part Deux. Or, at least still be in the running to win it.

What could you accomplish this spring?

Looking Forward to May

I can't believe it is almost May and yet I'm so excited for May because there's a lot of awesome stuff happening in May. Then, in June, we're going on vacation and I'm thrilled about that too!

I've already told you about the Mountain Dew Challenge - Part Deux and Mustache May, but here's a list of some of the other great stuff coming up in May, by date:

1 - First Softball game of the season.
1 - Mustache growing begins
3 - First Serve Saturday at Prairie Camp. I'll be taking pictures of this event (hopefully on the new camera I ordered for the church!)
3 - Tyrus Graverson's birthday party
4 - Volunteer Appreciation Night (another event I'll be photographing)
6 - Derry and Janelle's 8th anniversary
11- Mother's Day (and I've got a great surprise for my wife)
25 - Derry preaches with a mustache
27 - My 8th anniversary
30 - Hanah's birthday
31 - Last day of mustache growing

Experience Beats Energy

Saturday was a fun day because the kids and I got to watch my wife play volleyball. Her women's team, which normally only plays in Chicago, played a pair of matches against the Bethel College team Saturday in Mishawaka.

I am so proud of my wife and her teammates. They swept the first match 3-0 and then beat Bethel 3-2 in the second match.

Katie's team is made up of former Bethel players ranging in age from about 26-34. Two of them are pregnant. Two others have 5 children between them.

So, it's pretty impressive for that team to not just compete with, but beat a team of current college players - a team that won a national tournament last season.

To be fair, some of the players on my wife's team are some of the best players Bethel ever had. Julia Reininga, who is now the coach at Bethel, was an NCCAA and NAIA All-American. Katie, Lisa (Davis) DeJesus and April (Allison) Russell were all part of the first team in Bethel history to make the NAIA National Tournament. Lisa and Katie were also Indiana All-Stars in High School.

Yes, I am bragging. I'm incredibly proud of my wife and the fact that she's still playing volleyball at a high level.