My daily gratitude for:

1. Ryans independence to walk into class on his own. Awesome!
2. Chuck and Cora Miller, Oplin folk who always treated me as a son and with immense hospitality. I miss Cora, as she is with God now, but I also miss seeing Chuck and hearing his thoughtfulness on everything.
3. Kacie, Layla, and Mycayla Fry. I love these three and the energy and excitement and gentle love they share. I am so blessed by their family.
4. Dan Garrett. His is so kind and understanding, and is always faithful in encouraging others- and me! Thanks Dan!
5. Dr Daniel Penny. He is a good leader of the Heart Center and a really relaxed guy. I love that he is welcoming and supportive to us chaplains.
6. Taking Ryan to school every morning. I like providing this part of his routine.
7. The Screen Time limits I can set on my phone. I appreciate a tool that helps me be more present and disconnect at night.
8. Trader Joe’s. What a great grocery store.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Family time playing some games and eating a good dinner together as a birthday gift. That’s one good way to my heart. Also, Ryan chose a great pirate cookie cake!
2. Chermaine, my next desk neighbor in the office. She is a great mom and coworker, and such a fun personality to work with.
3. Christian, a very good friend who offices near me. He is so supportive and one of the people I most love laughing with.
4. Ryans prayer request for his teacher last night. It was too cute!
5. Ryans smiles after school.
6. Jim and Kathy Harrod, from Bering Drive. We don’t know them well but they have been welcoming, kind, and interactive with Ryan. We appreciate them!
7. My disc golf basket, which was a great bday idea from my parents. (In fact, all the gifts were awesome!)

My daily gratitude for:

1. Making shadows with Ryan on his bedroom wall and watching his imagination come to life.  These are powerful and sacred moments for me.
2. Ryans comfort walking into his classroom.  What a joy to see him continue to grow up!
3. Miss Richardson, Ryans new teacher.  She is newly minted as a K teacher and so peppy and yet calm at the same time.  I appreciate her and what she will mean to Ryan over the whole year.
4. Mike and Kim Reese, who have always been good friends to Ryan and I.  They got to meet Liz in a chaotic first morning at Kinder dropoff but they are the kinds of parents I want to share life with in my kids school.  Good, compassionate, playful, and genuine.
5. Our participation with a sendoff blessing and celebration of new life for a college student at Bering.  I’m grateful Liz was able to go and share our encouragement for her new journey and feeling comfortable being the gift from God she is.
6. Ryan sitting through his first full church service yesterday and relatively doing well.  Its growth for him.
7. Watching soccer with Liz and enjoying the El Trafico and all its good soccer.
8. Fruit snacks. I don’t why, but I love them.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Play dates with Ryan and his best friend.
2. Family time at Urban Air.
3. Pushing Ryan on the backyard swing. I love seeing that smile of his.
4. The birthday gifts from Stephen and Dawn, my parents, and Ryan and Liz. They all love me so much!! And know great things for me!
5. The Ashlock family in Oplin. Jeff and Kathy have been such good parents and done it with faithfulness and joy. I love their commitment to family, hard work, and laughter.
6. Tina Benavides and her welcoming spirit. She always loved Ryan when we lived in the neighborhood and getting to see her and see her glow over Ryan growing up was awesome.
7. All the leftovers in our fridge. Leftovers make me happy!

My daily gratitude for:

1. Watching Ryan zip line. Just simple things right?!?
2. A quality day at home with Ryan just cherishing being his dad and being a first hand observer of this little kindergartener.
3. The little things Liz does to make our family run. So many errands, grocery trips, getting cards for friends, gift giving, thoughtful notes, last minute runs for Gatorade, and so much. Amazing.
4. Antonio, a friend from my old church whose heart for family still is strong. His generosity and kindness to us is a blessing. Today he came and helped me put up a tree swing for Ryan. He’s just such a good guy and such a loving person.
5. The needed day off of work. I was grateful to not have to think about work at all today.
6. River Park Splashpad and Playground in Sugarland. Yes! That place is the bomb.
7. Catch up time with DeAndre and King. I love laughing with them! But I love learning from them most.
8. Urban gardens and the sharing and neighborliness they can create. So cool.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Grace Episcopal Day School. Yesterday was Ryan’s last day there before Kinder, and I was just floored with emotions of appreciation for Ms Edolia, Ms Julie, Ms Candace, Ms Clementine, and Ms Ruby. They were challenging and encouraging, hard yet gentle, thoughtful and joyful and brought Ryan out of his shell, helped him find confidence and competence in so many things. And in it all, Ryan also grew in his little boy faith and learned thankfulness for blessings and praying. So much gratitude for this great little school! (We also enjoyed the last day luau!)
2. Phil Rice. I’m not sure I can put into words how inspiring and genuine this man is. His gift of friendship and spiritual brotherhood have held me through ups and downs and his love and zest for life is contagious. But most of all, he makes me a better father out of his love for his daughter. Happy birthday Phil!
3. Chad Lukkason, for his friendship and passion for faith and Chile. But also, because I played disc golf with him first and he helped it go from odd sport to prime hobby! Happy birthday Chad! Much love to your family!
4. Joseph Austin, whose gifts for connecting people, generosity, and love for his fellow human being always show through. Happy birthday Joseph!

1. The hard work of spiritual transformation.
2. One weeks worth of success in Ryan waking up earlier than usual in prep for Kindergarten. What a relief!

1. Printers that work.
2. Ryan’s continued growth in swimming

My daily gratitude for:

1. Liz’s strength and flexibility in helping me out so much and being a partner in every way this weekend.
2. Ryan’s patience during the service yesterday. He was so good for Liz and so my son for asking lots of questions too.
3. My participation in a celebration of life yesterday. I was more than blessed to work with this family, to work with the staff, and to put together a slideshow to honor the family. I’m glad to have been one of the people helping to make it happen.
4. Gloria Kroeze, a friend through PCN and the Secretary before me. Her joyful spirit and cherishing of family are just breathtaking and a energizing gift every time I see her. She has a grandmothers heart and Gods joy while sharing life. Happy birthday Gloria!!
5. A stepfather at the hospital who I have gotten to know well. He’s a good father. His heart holds sorrow and joy so well.
6. The Maynes family from our days in the Mormon church. They were so good to my family and always so hospitable and loving. Happy birthday Heitonga!
7. Chris return to work. Caring for entirety of Legacy was quite an effort, albeit very fruitful and laden with great opportunities. But I’m glad to try to find some routine again.
8. Playing disc golf again for the first time in a month. So good to be out doing it.

My daily gratitude for:

1. A day at the beach with Liz, Aiden, and Ryan. I wasn’t as relaxed today as usual but it was still good.
2. The Kinder coloring book that kept Ryan occupied and playing for a solid hour today. It is so good to see Ryan playing on his own and being creative.
3. Kelli Bryant, who was one of the most brilliant people I know. And she added great compassion to her brilliance. It was a pleasure it go to seminary with her. Happy birthday Kelli!
4. All the connections I have to the Fry family- relationships with Virgil and Kyle and Kacie, with connections to Spencer and Novie and so many others.
5. The successful Kinder play date at Kolter today. Liz and I were so pleased and happy to see Ryan walk off with new people that would become his friends.
6. The jalapeño cheddar sausages from City Market Meats in Schulenburg. Damn good. Can’t wait to try the garlic and pork sausages too.
7. That feeling of cleanness after all the sand and sunscreen are washed off after a good shower.
8. Street art…or graffiti art. LA had lots of it. I love it wherever I see it.

My daily gratitude for:

1. Attending a memorial service for one of the best husband, dad, and friend I know, and sharing in that grief with a bunch of PICU friends. May you rest in God Chris.
2. The brother in law who delivered Chris’ eulogy. I have rarely been more amazed at someone’s life than after his message- he crafted a reflective, humorous, and honest picture that spoke volumes of this man and his family.
3. Hanging with Liz all day.
4. Liz’s endurance. She survived a memorial service that was heart wrenching and helping me put together a heart wrenching slideshow for a sweet kid who is now in hospice. That’s strength.
5. My sweet phone call with Ryan tonight.
6. That feeling after a long day and the completion of a major project. Relief.
7. The beautiful city of Avalon on Catalina Island. Gorgeous city that reminded me of Cinque Terra kinda.

My daily gratitude for:

1. My very best friends- Stephen, Tim, Cambry, Michael, Dave, Adam, and Jon. I am a better dad and husband because of them.
2. Penelope and Mark Goode. My family is blessed to share fellowship with them and share both passions and raising small kids.
3. Daniel Marolf, one of the most real and funny people I know. I love how he brings his humor to serious work and serious faith.
4. The joy Ryan has as he plays at school. I love that smile.
5. My coffee and the Chemex that Liz and I use. I am loving this delicious coffee and loving trying stuff from all over the world.
6. Daily emails I get from Grace DaynSchool, which helps me see what Ryan has eaten, read, and played. It is always a highly anticipated email!
7. The needed rain we got last night.
8. The time I get to disconnect from tech.