Hannah is 4th Grade Student of the Year

Hannah was named the Student of the Year for her school in the 4th grade. We're not sure of all of the requirements, but she has excellent grades, is amazingly responsible and helps others. All of the 4th grade teachers voted on it. Hannah didn't want to go to the award ceremony. It was with the school district and she would get her award from the mayor of San Marcos. Only after her teacher, Mrs McClymonds said she'd take her with another teacher, Mrs Holmes, did Hannah agree. She allowed her mother to go also (not Dad though). If you remember, Hannah's academic career didn't start so strong, but she has rallied and is organized, responsible and loves her school and her teachers. She did so well that I told Luke if he got the same grades as Hannah, he could have a televison in his room.

Hell, if his grades get this good, I'll get him a flat screen.........

Conquering Fear

Well, maybe I haven't conquered fear, but I have pushed it back a great deal. I actually swam my first triathlon at Glorietta Bay, off Coronado Island. Not a long race, but a 1/2 mile swim in open water. For those of you who have know my history of non-swimming, this was a personal accomplishment. I had been swimming in the pool at my gym since January. Struggling every week, but going to the pool 2 - 3 times. Making slow progress every week. I was not nervous the night before the race and was not nervous at the start of the race. I had been able to swim a mile in the pool in about 35 minutes so I knew I could do the distance, it was the open water part, swimming straight without lane lines and being able to swim a course marked only by orange buoys that was a challenge. I had a slight panic attack before the first buoy at 200 yards. I felt I was swimming in a zig-zag pattern and swimming too fast. Just then, a swimmer swam right over top of me. I was actually going straight and she was lost. She pushed me under the water with no warning. I had to stop and decide if I wanted to go on. Quitting thoughts did flicker in my head. But I didn't. I decided that I'd slow down, take longer strokes and ease up on my breathing.

I finished the swim and was in the transition area in about 21 minutes (in the back in this picture). Not fast, but not bad and my goal of finishing while not having to be rescued was accomplished. I was definitely at the back of the pack.

I then had a 12 mile bike ride on a flat road. No problem. I got passed a few times but passed them back so that was about even.

I had a 3 mile run that I finished in about 25 minutes so that was a pace I could live with and I had "speed" left at the end.
1 hour and 31 minutes after I started, I had finished my first triathlon.

Fear just moved back 1/2 mile.

I was tired but thrilled. It was the club race for the Triathlon Club of San Diego. They have it once a month. My next race is a shorter race, the Encinitas Super-Sprint on May 18th.

So proving that men can make anything a contest, I was waiting to meet a friend from Biola for coffee. We noticed a kite up in the tree and thought, "How hard can it be to just toss these traffic cones into the tree and get a free kite?" 45 minutes later we had 5 cones stuck in the tree and still no kite. We eventually got our cones down and I added the stupid picture of me (in the blue shirt) on one of my tosses (I did get the last two cones out though). If you click on the picture, you can also see a guy climbing out to try and get the kite while we throw cones at it! I thought that was the end of it. No kite, but a valient effort. Nope, that was not the end, Jonathan came back several hours later with a ladder, had his wife stabilize it, climbed up the tree and got the kite. Kind of like David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks - Stupid Tri Tricks.

Luke - "Don't look backward, just look at what's in front of you"

Luke and I had a great day. A father and son day. A day to skip school and see a baseball game day. A day to sign your son out of school because he has to see "Doctor Padre." Luke thought I should have signed him out with "baseball fever." We headed downtown to see the Padres game. It was a great game with Trevor Hoffman pitching the last inning and getting the save for another Padres win. The game ended at about 3:00 so we had time to go to Mount Soledad, which Luke saw on the way downtown and said he had never been there. Mount Soledad was awesome as it always is. Great views of the ocean and Luke got to see the plaque honoring my dad.

We then went to De Anza Cove in Mission Bay for my second week of open water swimming. Luke was going with me so he could swim with another 8-year old boy, Bobby, who is training for the same kid's triathlon. We were in our wetsuits ready to swim out 25 yards into the bay and float near a buoy for further instructions. We all got in the water to head out. But I couldn't find Luke. He wasn't with Bobby and his mom either. I couldn't see him. I then look out about 15 yards in the bay and Luke is with the leaders swimming out to the Buoy. OK, he doesn't have the fear his father has so I followed him out there. We floated in the water for 10 minutes discussing what the workout was going to be and I discussed a smaller workout that Luke and I might do. The group was going to swim 75 yards at a time, stop and then discuss triathlon techniques. I told Luke we'd swim a little less. Well the group started out and Luke started out right in the front of all theses adults. Swimming pretty good for the first 15 yards. I couldn't see him too much but I knew he was right by my side. After this he stopped and looked at me with those nervous eyes and said, "Dad let's swim closer to shore." No problem, and we headed in and swam with Bobby and his mom for the rest of the hour. Great day and we ended it at McDonald's on our way home. We try to always review our day and find our favorite part, what we should be thankful for or what we could have done better. I thought it would have been better to have seats in the sun at the game because we got pretty cold. I thought we should have practiced swimming in the bay before other people got there like Luke had suggested. I then asked Luke how it could have been better. He wanted to catch a baseball at the game. I agreed, that would be cool. We then discussed why he got nervous and wanted to head back to shore. He said he looked back as he was swimming and realized how far he was from shore. He said he'd never do that again because it distracted him. He said "Dad, that's the key, don't look backward, just look at what's in front of you."

I think I learn as much from Luke as he learns from me. He is braver. He has growing wisdom and I pray that we can keep him from any harm until he becomes a full-grown Christian man on his own.

Best Friends and "death bed" stories

Time with my children is always special and at this time of my life, Luke and I spend a lot of time together. Whether it's Monday Night Pizza with the other dads or going to a Padres game together as we will on Thursday, I never quite know what to expect. Out of the blue, he asked me,"Who's your best friend?" I had to stop for a second because I spend a lot of time with friends and I am blessed with close friends. I finally answered that Tyler Fitzgerald is probably my best friend. After explaining who Tyler is and that if I asked him, he would fly out immediatley if I needed him, we went on to another subject. As God organizes this, Tyler called last night. I spoke to him this morning and we have certain stories that are to be told on each other's "death bed" to keep us going. This is one of Tyler's:



Tyler works alot. Maybe not a workaholic, but he puts in the hours. When his son Ross was six or seven, he would come up and sit on Tyler's lap and watch him. Ross asked why Tyler had to work every night. Tyler responded, "Because I can't get all of my work done during the day."



Ross said, "Maybe you should have your teacher put you in a slower group."



That story should keep me laughing on my "death bed."

Luke tries BMX racing - Looking for sponsors!

After a few weeks of bargaining, starting with Luke wanting a motorcycle, we reduced the request down to a BMX bike so he could race. The unusual thing is that Luke only wants him and I to do this (he bikes, I drive hime there). So on Sunday we gathered up his newly acquired equipment and headed to the track to practice. As you may notice, Luke wanted a black bike and all black equipment. Luke is concerned about these things. Practice is one hour before the races and an hour afterward. Luke didn't want to race until he got used to what he had to do. Well of course he loves it. He's getting more comfortable with each lap. Each race is one lap only. It is also very clear that there is a level of equipment that far outweighs what we have invested so far. Carbon fiber bikes, multiple front cranks that are changeable based on lap times and thin, smooth wheels. These setups start at $6-700. That's where we'll need sponsors! He's got to show real investment in time and passion before we go to the next level. The new deal for Luke is that every four times he reads to Darcy or me (10 minutes silently and twenty minutes aloud) he gets a trip to the BMX park that is about 30 miles from our house. I will keep everyone updated as we proceed down this "non-motorized" path.

Easter Bunny

OK, I should probably stop these but here's Hannah's note to the Easter Bunny. We usually are at Darcy's parents so Hannah directs the Easter Bunny there.

Luke at the Doctor - The night before the battle starts?

I'm writing this after Luke's doctor's appointment on April 10th. Luke had a headache last week and I picked him up from School. Since we had gone BMX racing the night before, I surmised that his neck hurt because of using a heavier helmet than he ever had before. Luke is the only one in the family that gets headaches. Well that was last Tuesday and he was a little sick when we went camping. on Saturday. Again on Sunday he got a headache and then he had to get sick, but he felt getter after that. Wednesday he had a headache at school that turned into a large one after school. "My head feels like it's going to explode daddy!" After Motrin and a short nap, he was better. I was on the edge of taking him directly to the hospital, but the doctor said if it gets better bring him in to see us. On Thursday, the 10th, I brought him in. Unfortunately our doctor, Dr. Balch, was out so we saw Dr. Metsch. Normal check up except after they took his blood pressure, they left and then had the assistant come back in and check his pressure again. I knew that was a little strange. Dr. Metsch came in and explained that Luke's blood pressure was in the 95th percentile. High, but not high enough to to cause the headaches. He then asked Luke to urinate in a cup. Luke was pretty excited to do this and proud that he didn't spill! They did a quick analysis there and then the doctor came back. He said Luke's protein level as high in his urine and that there was blood in it. There was a look in the doctor's eyes that showed his concern. I saw it. He said he'd call me Friday and wanted my cell phone number. We went to another laboratory to have blood drawn. Luke wanted to watch her take the blood and was brave. A little boy, Brock, went first and said it didn't hurt much and that he only said one "ouch".

I've always had a fear, maybe a foreboding, that Luke was to be in a major battle in his life. I pray that he won't be and this post will not be published. If not, and we are to be in battle with Luke, I have prayed that we would be faithful to the Lord's teachings and His plan. These battles are here for a reason. I sat at Mission Bay last night before my swim and cried. For no known reason yet. Is the Lord preparing me? Is this the night before the battle? Will we be brave?

But Luke is fine.  Is there a battle in Luke's future?  Yes.  Do I know where or when that is? No.

Will we be Brave?  I hope so.

Will we be obedient to the Lord?

Yes.