BUH-BYE 2011...

And so another year out the window.  Thanks to this blog, (Daddy's diary), I can look back at this year and reflect on highlights, (and low lights).  I write this now in hopes that someday my kiddos will get something out of taking a glance at Daddy's rants, videos, etc.

2011 started off with me passing my first kidney stone.  Good Golly, does that hurt.  We were in Detroit when I was rushed to an E.R. for pain, and that ultimately led to a 'wild goose chase' to find out what else was wrong with me.

I got on an airplane in the spring and headed to Texas for Passion's Spring Gathering.  Debbie and I used to go together when the event was held in Nashville, (back in 2005, 2006), it was great to be a part of that gathering with some great radio friends.

Caleb tried baseball for the first time while Chloe was putting the wraps on a challenging volleyball season.  She is a great athlete, and it was great traveling with her all over the midwest.  She's been playing since 4th grade.  She has jumped into high school with a dance class, spanish, and she's very active with your youth group.  Not only attending, but participating in a leadership role with middle school students.

I took a trip to Nashville to hear Needtobreathe's album "The Reckoning".  One of my favorite bands.  Then off to San Diego for a little gathering with Switchfoot" as they unvelied "Vice Verses", (another personal favorite.)

I don't have near the stamina that I used to, and I found that out by traveling to Nashville to see U2, (thank you Chris!), come home, turn around and head to Chicago to see U2, (thank you Mike!).  I was wore out..but you know what they say?  "You only live once, right?"  (Advice: don't wear flipflops when you park 4 miles away from the stadium.)

Caleb became quite the swimmer this past summer, and his enthusiasm for trains still was strong as we ventured to Coldwater, Michigan or Heston, Indiana to ride trains. 

This was my 3rd year on staff at Pulse FM and the undertaking of the World Pulse Festival in August.  Chris Sligh, Dara MaClean, Hyland, Jars of Clay, Third Day, (Newsboys did not perform, a storm blew through...which ended up working its way right down to Indy and creating a tragedy at the Indiana State Fair.)

Debbie celebrated her birthday at Beaver Island up in Michigan.  I gathered some pals and went to a baseball game.  (Joel & Luke, thanks for coming by).

In September, I headed down to Orlando for a radio conference.  What a great time to catch up with radio friends from around the country, and the artists as well.  I came home with "Air Personality of the Year, (Small Market)"...an honor.

I love taking Chloe to concerts.  We saw Owl City in Chicago, Switchfoot / Anberlin at a college, I'm glad we can agree on some music.

Caleb dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween.  I loved watching him storm the neighborhood with his light saber.  I  joined a men's small group for the first time in a long while.  We worked our way though Romans. 

One of the ministries at LeSea is "Feed the Hungry".  LaMar invited me to visit Nicaragua and see for myself the ministry partners and what they are doing.  It was a whirlwind of a trip, but it made a huge impact on my life.

Caleb had an overnight change from a love of trains, to a love for Transformers and robots.  Easily some of the hardest toys to navigate, but he is currently digging robots.  Chloe is a full on teenager with her first year of high school behind her in the coming months.

Now, whats up for 2012?  When Caleb was born, I was in the best shape of my life, then it all went downhill.  My dream is to get back to that, also opening more books and reading.  DC Comics relaunched all of the 52 titles this past October and I jumped into comic collecting once again, (I tell people that I'm saving them for Caleb, but I have enjoyed reading them along the way.)  I also "gave up" Facebook.  Its an experiment...we'll see how that pans out.

I love that I'm surrounded by a great family, a tight group of friends, and a job to go to each day. 

So for 2012...Eat less, Move More, Love better.