Just a quick note to let you all know I'm still alive. We're in the midst of potty training our 3 1/2 year old boy. If you've any experience with this you know this is an interesting experience. After a number of false starts, on Saturday, we decided to outlast him. We sat in the bathroom for 3 hours - Melissa and I knew that he would have no choice before too long. We were right. He kept getting up and wanting us to put a diaper on him and his little legs were crossed - so we knew the geyser was imminent. Finally he let er go - and we applauded, cheered, gave him a tootie-roll, woo hoo etc. etc. His reaction was comic - suddenly this wasn't so bad after all. He's been trying to get the cookie for just sitting on the pot but we've made it clear one cookie cost at least one ounce of something yellow or brown and we're not talking about crayons :)

This morning he went right in, sat down, filled up the little potty bowl with wee wee and wanted a cookie - which we happily provided. We THINK we're on our way to diaper freedom. Emily thinks this is a great game and is now wanting to sit on the pot too - she doesn't want to be left out of the fun. With luck we'll have them both trained - and Emily is not even 2 yet.

Just think - I could have all my kids out of diapers and sleeping all night long BEFORE I turn 41. That's a dream come true. Now - it's just off to college and I can think about eating ice cream in my skivies on the living room couch without fear.

Pray for us....

I've never experienced a surprise party before - but my wife pulled one off for me and I'm so excited. I was completely fooled. It was just SO cool. No one's ever done something like that for me and I can tolerate turning 40 all over again for the experience.

It happened on Sunday night. I had been out late with my buddy Loway to a drum corps show on Saturday night (more on that later) so we didn't get in till 1 a.m. I was up, at the church, gave the message and came home shredded. I was really propping my eyes open trying to engage in conversation with my in-laws when Melissa reminded me we were supposed to go to Jeremy and Katrina's for dinner to talk about Youth Venture. I took a quick nap (about 40 minutes) and she offered at least twice for us to cancel. "You're awful tired honey" etc. I was like "no, Jeremy just got back from Texas and he's tired too - besides, Youth Venture is really important and it'll get my blood kicking again." so we went.

Door opens "Surprise"....so cool. They had black baloons, black frosting on the cake, my friends were all there. It was just a lot of fun. Then my wife's gift - let me tell you, I was totally okay with not having gotten anything cuz I know the bank account balance and everything - but she had purchased not one but THREE DCI videos including the mid-season DVD. I am so thrilled.

Anyway - just thought you'all might want to know my wife is very special and a really good surprise party planner. I can't say thank you to her enough.

More later.....

Pat

On Aug. 1, 2007 I hit the big 4-0. Yep, 40 years and still twitchin'. I heard there were great and profound secrets to learn after 40 but I've yet to discover any. My birthday was a simple affaird - I got to sleep in until 7 a.m. (this is a very good thing), took my family to Eatza Pizza, watched a wonderful rainstorm from my front porch, had the in-laws over for dinner. Gifts included a plant from my sister Sharla, a Jamba Juice card from Kristen, lots of neat artwork from my kids (crayon drawing saying "I love you dad" are priceless, trust me) and some peace and quiet.

Now for the news - sorry I have not written in a long time. I've been very busy trying to get two boys registered for high school, finish taxes and other administrative issues and so on. My son Jimmy decided to join the marching band - this is very big news to me because I promised myself I would not force or insist my kids follow my footsteps into music. I exposed them to it but let them decide if it was something they wanted to do. Jimmy opted for Baritone and joined the band. He's very committed to it and I'm thrilled. I'm just as thrilled that Josiah didn't join the band and is on the swim team instead.

We've started a fund raising campaign to open a youth venture here in Surprise. We need to raised $100,000 at a minimum to get it started. I'm going to write a much more detailed post on that in the near future. Our first fund raiser has already started and, if we stay on track, we should raised at least $10,000 of our goal in this first step. We also have a golf tournament coming on April 5 among some other things.

Keep an eye out on the fourteensix website - it should have a major overhaul in the next few weeks. Much more updated.

I'll keep you all posted.

I've just completed uploading some pictures and one little video to a photobucket account. NOW - as soon as I can figure out how to put them up here - I'll do that. I figure if I have actual IMAGES on this little site, and IF I can make up something of interest to write about more regularly, and IF I can find the time - well maybe I can generate more than just one comment from my mom on a post. (Actually - she didn't comment on the last post - boo hoo.)

I'm a comment junky! I just like to hear from you and, if you ask a question on a post, I'll probably answer so make sure you read them.

Anyway - look for some pictures on here, hopefully by today.

Dear Devoted Reader, Yesterday I was exposed to the intricacies and intimacies of a colonoscopy. If you don't know what that is think: 6 foot long tube and laying our your left side while trying not to sing "moon river" too loudly. Even worse I had to endure an endoscopy as well - that's a 4 foot long tube sneaking down the entry end of the digestive tract. All in all, I was tubed. You might say I was fortunate because I was given a general anestetic (can't spell that) but I had a nasty reaction to that and barfed up all sorts of nasties. I don't remember that but I DO remember the recovery and it wasn't FUN.

Now that you're totally grossed out....

They say I've got a herniated something or other and an ulcer-like thingy that isn't really an ulcer and something called Diantishingy. Whatever! Short version: I gotta eat better, lower my stress and lose 20 pounds. I already knew that so what was the point of being scewered by a sadistic television camera and two nurses who should have been named "bubba"? Okay - well they didn't find the big scary "C" word and whatever biopsy they took is like 90% likely to be benign. Guess I can breathe easier.

So much for breathing easier. I had to drink a full GALLON of laxative and starve myself from Monday at 5 until yesterday 4 p.m. Gallons of fun. Buckets of laughs. It should make YOU feel better just knowing you don't have to endure this procedure. I'm contributing to the betterment of society by suffering this indignity on your behalf.

Don't you feel special now?

I've gotta go now - no pun intended. (Don't forget to click the "comment" button and type, unless you're too busy drinking laxatives in which case I UNDERSTAND!)

Dear devoted reader - I'm sorry I have not written in a while. We've had two weeks in a row of in town, then out of town etc. Things are back to normal, if normal is a word you can use to describe my existence, so I will try to be more consistent. Now it's your turn - you need to make comments so I know this exercise in ego management called a blog is worth your time and mine. It's easy - just click on the button that says "comment" and type.

First: the drum corps show in Glendale was excellent. I was dissapointed in my seat and I resolve to buy tickets in advance next year. Also, the stadium is made out of concrete - great for acoustics, not so great to sit on after it's been baking in the June Phoenix sun all day. I'm pleased to report that Vanguard's drill is fantastic.  Blue Devils have a great horn sound as usual but I wasn't all that impressed with their visual program. I will say I was hugely dissapointed in Pacific Crest - what happened! The Academy is going to do very well. Their visual program is first rate but needed a lot of work. The horn book was very challenging and you can hear the volume difference between this season and last. It wasn't as clean in articulations either - but I can tell they've bitten off a tough chew with triple tonguing sequences in the trumpets and several very exposed low brass parts. If they can clean it up, technically, it's a winner - but I still think last season was more crowd pleasing.

I was able to hang around with Impulse before and during the show. The drum line is very tight but horns and guard need some bodies to fill out the drill. I'm very pleased to report that Ken White as corps director is a great choice. Morale seemed very high. The only thing missing in Impulse is members - they've got a great direction, a great look, a great hype and a great visual program. They just need 70 horns instead of 20.

Second: Future Quest. Well, I went. About 1,700 kids. I was able to speak at three workshops, standing room only and I sold 10 books (a record). Music was first rate but I sensed a different vibe this year. Last year there seemed to be a different seriousness in the kids - I wonder if the new sanctuary was a distraction or something like that. I traveled with my wife and younger two kids on an airplane for the first time. Nathan was ecstatic - we're flying - really a lot of fun. Sooooo much easier to get to San Diego with little ones on a plane versus driving 6 hours through the desert.

Josiah and Jimmy flew out for the first two days of future quest. Very good to see them. Josiah is so tall it's hard to relate to him - I've always been bigger but suddenly he's looking me straight in the eye. Very intimidating but I can still wrestle him to a decisive "dad wins". Both boys were very moved at Future Quest and I'm hopeful what they learned there will stay with them many years. I spoke with Jillian on the phone - she wasn't too pleased not to be coming but the cut off is kids going into 6th grade so maybe next year.

Dennis and Andrew drove down from BC to be part of the conference. I felt VERY guilty about that because I'd asked Dennis to come - but I thought he would have a nice leisurely 2.5 hour plane ride. I also originally asked him to come because I thought I'd have 10 or so teenagers but only ended up with 3 - my two boys and a young lady who was accompanied by her mother. So I didn't need an extra chaperon. Anyway, Dennis can't get a flight so he drives 26 hours straight through. I felt terrible, awful - you name the adjective. Anyway, it turned out great because he had a fabulous time, got very motivated and was glad he came. Still, I'm sorry he had to suffer that drive.

It's very, very hot. 110 - 115 every day, lows in the 90's at night. The monsoon season is ramping up and that will be a blessing. If you don't know, we get these killer thunderstorms called monsoons every year in July and August. The heat draws in the moisture from the gulf of california and gulf of Mexico. It'll be 115 in the day, a huge storm will drop the temp 20 degress and dump floods of rain on us at night, then heat up again the next day. Lots of lightning, very cool.

Anyway - I'm very much behind with all I've got to do just now so I'd better get at it. Be nice and write.

Pat

Sorry to the one person who emailed wondering where my blog entry was for the week - I suppose if I heard from more of you I might be more inclined to write - but ONE comment on my last entry - and that was a good one. Maybe I'm just not funny enough.

I'm officially back in the tree business - baptized by deadwood trimming three pines and removing one up at my in-laws place in Williams. It was a challenge getting back into trees by having to climb over 60 feet (without hooks because you can't risk damaging the tree) at 7,100 foot elevation. Made from some hyperventaliting - but the job is done, the trees look great and it only took three days to recover from the aches and pains. Not bad.

Our friend at church, Richard Beck, passed away on Wednesday. He was 75. Richard had been attending our church for the last 6 months or so and really, really loved it. He told me so pretty much every week. He loved the Lord and I know where he is today. I was able to visit him 3 times in the hospital and the hospise - I prayed with him and talked with his family and his confidence in the Lord was overwhelming. He face what all of us must face eventually with a tremendous dignity, courage and faith. He will be missed.

Baby Emily has added "ets o" (translated "let's go") to her vocabulary. She will happily collect the shoes of every member of the family and bring them to you while saying "ets o" over and over again when she knows we're going somewhere. Very adorable. Mr. Nathan can sing the entire Bob the builder song - repeatedly....endlessly....Josiah, Jimmy and Jillian are doing well in Texas and we expect to see Josiah and Jimmy at Future Quest in San Diego next week.

The church is humming along fairly well. Our attendance seems to stay around 50. Our next BIG event is harvest fest - if we do everything right between 600 and 1000 people will come out and every one of them will hear about who we are and what we believe. This is the sort of outreach that changes lives so I hope you'll partner with us in one way or another.

Well - that's the basic update. I'm planning to go to the Glendale Arizona drum corps show on Sunday night - very much looking forward to that. My drum corps friend "disney" from the Velvet Knights 1985 is going to be there - have not seen or heard from him since....1985. Long time. Also - scores show Santa Clara Vanguard beating the Blue Devils. I've been a Vanguard fan for a long, long time and every year I hope and keep fingers crossed they'll sweep up and win it all. This year looks the most promising I"ve seen since 2001.

Well - Ta ta for now.

We are in need of a Children's Pastor at FourteenSix - so if you know someone who has a heart for kids and is interested in building something extraordinary - let me know. We're not interesting in Sunday morning daycare - we want someone who will seriously invest in teaching k - 5th graders how to be REAL disciples. You get to teach them the basics (since more than 80% of our culture is essentially biblically illiterate), how to worship, how to serve, how to get real with God. Great stuff, lots of fun.

Of course we're talking about a position here where someone has to have a job and then work with the church. We can offer a salary of "thanks,  you're great!" with a raise to a nickel a month in under a year. Benefits include an opportunity to speak into the lives of the most impressionable people on the planet with a chance to alter their eternal destiny, unpaid vacations, lots of fun, the adoration of kids, joy unspeakable and full of glory, water balloon fights, face painting, crafts with Elmer's glue (you can eat all you want), red light / green light games and occasional potlucks.

Qualifications: are you a real disciple? What's the fruit on your tree look like? Can you pass an FBI fingerprint background check? Can you speak Firstgradese? Do you have a heart of kids? If so - call me and we'll talk.

My older three kids left of Texas on Thursday. They'll be gone until July 26. It's an interesting transition - you'd be suprised how QUIET it seems around the house - and that's with a 3 year old and a 13 month old in residence. Makes you appreciate how much two teenagers and a ten year old contribute to "Casa Marks".

I'm looking to start back into the tree business out here. OBVIOUSLY I wouldn't do that in JUNE in PHOENIX if there wasn't a real need. But, you have to lose weight somehow - right? And besides, heat exhaustion is such a rush. I've got all my own gear and a trimming saw - just need 4 or 5 others saws, a truck, a chipper, a boom truck, insurance, contracter's license - yep, just a few things and I'll be back. Already started singing the "I'm a lumberjack and I'm Okay" song.

Well, nothing beats a bad case of the blues like cream puffs - I'll just whip up a few for breakfast and while I'm at it, why not swig some grapefruit juice? As you contemplate THAT, don't forget to vote for Fred (Imwithfred.com), keep on grinning and remember "bagpipes make terrible doorchimes".

Melissa, my three older kids and myself went to see Spider Man 3 on Saturday. I really like that movie and I recommend it. I also learned something about myself that day - I'm truly a nerd and I must be obvious!

I learned this because, without giving it a second thought, I took a pillow with me to the movie theater. I HATE uncomfortable seats so, forgive please, I figured since I'm paying for the comfort of oversexed and overspoiled Hollywood elitists I may as well be comfortable in the process. Anyhow, we got out of the van and I forgot the pillow, turned back to get it and hear later that my son was nearly mortally embarrased I was returning for it in the first place. Melissa, bless her heart, was inclined to AGREE (agree, did you read that) with Jimmy that I was being a nerd. Josiah thought I was fine and didn't think anybody ought to be worried and Jillian pleaded the fifth. I was unaware of this family mutiny unitl later.

It was still a good movie.

Jamie was out of town this weekend so I had to do music. Now, I've done this many, many times and, in fact, was the worship guy for the first two years of this church. Nevertheless, I found out very quickly that I've really come to depend on Jamie. I was also monumentally tired from a child trying to grow a molar all night for three nights in a row so I didn't pick the music until Saturday, rushed through practice Sunday morning and as a result nearly choked every song. We survived and I hear it wasn't altogther unpleasant but I forgot to make music copies for Jennifer. I'm REALLY happy that Jamie will be back this weekend.

Went to Loway's on Sunday - bbq'd dead cow and turkey dogs, splashed in the pool and generally got lazy. Lack of sleep made the weekend seem rather etherial.

I'm in the process of deciding who I want to support for the 2008 Presidential Campaign. I know THAT'S a devisive issue. So far I'm leaning toward Fred Thompson - yep, the guy from the Hunt for Red October. I used to think he was an actor that turned to politics but it's the other way round - he was an attorney, part of the watergate investigation committee and a DA that brought down a corrupt Governor. A filmmake asked him to play himself in a film about the case against the Governor and that was his step into being an actor. But he was elected to the Senate twice and then continued to play character roles here and there. So he's really a political person who turned to acting instead of an actor who turned to politics like Swarzenegger or Reagan. So far, what I've read, puts him in the middle of my thinking on a lot things. But he has not officially joined the race yet, we'll see.

In the meantime I wonder if I ought to run for city council - or even mayor? I've always avoided politics as a candidate because I'm too transparent - you can see my dirt. And I'm WAY conservative. Not only that - gasp and horror - I'm a Christian who actually believes in the Judeo-Christian ethic.

I should have been an actor.

Last Friday I flew out to San Diego with my buddy Jamie to attend a conference at Foothills Christian Church. We had a great time, especially so because we nearly froze to death upon landing at Lindberg Field. It was only 63 degrees and I was looking for snowmen on the side of the road. I guess after being here in Phoenix for 4 years you really do get acclamated to the weather. Someone told me it was 100 degrees the day before we left and I thought "really, didn't notice!" It's true, it doesn't get uncomfortable around here until it breaks 105. That's our famous "It's a dry heat" thing - there is some real truth to that. 90 degrees in San Diego is really nasty because of the humiidity but out here in May it's considered a cold snap.

The conference was cool. They have a little college age worship band called Cedar that I really enjoyed. A little rough around the edges, reminds me of punk, but great energy, good tunes, lots of joy and a great drummer. They've got a website where you can download some of their original tunes that you can link to from www.foothillschurch.org.

Also - future quest is coming June 27 - 29. This is a youth conference of epic proportions - last year about 1700 teens participated and this year it looks like 2000 or more. I've been able to do a workshop on Evolution there for the last 6 or so years. This year I'm hoping the bring some kids from our church with me, including, hopefully, my two teenage boys. We have to raise some money for my boys because they are in Texas that time of the year and I'll have to fly them out. They are out mowing lawns and selling discount cards so if you would like to help them financially let me know. My cousin Dennis is planning to fly down from Canada to be part of it - really excited about that too. You can check out future quest at www.futurequest.tv

My mom cooked Cream Puffs - my personal favorite - and lasagna, need I say more? Once again I stand in awe of my mother in terms of her obsession with knocking down perfectly good walls. This time she decided to expand the living room by taking out the wall to what was the guest bedroom. She also punched a hole in the exterior wall and put in glass doors that lead to a 6 foot drop. Eventually there will be a deck there but in the meantime, watch your step :)

Finally - this is a shameless plug for comments on the blog. I THINK people are reading this because of the counter (those hits are not ALL me) but take a moment and say "hi", you'll be glad you did.