Many of you might not know that my family has a dog - a five year old shetzu named Dash. We picked him up off of Craig’s List from a single lady who was given him as a graduation present from high school. From his previous owner he apparently learned to love car rides. Whether it is our car or any, he is jumping up at the door trying to claw his way in. The interesting part is that he is just as happy after the ride around the block. He can’t wait to run back up the steps to the house and is clawing his way back home.
Each time I see this, and believe me it happens often, I think about us. Do we long to leave yet love to come home? I know I do. I inherited from my mother a love to ‘get away.’ And like Dash I enjoy coming home.
This last weekend we left Dash in the kennel and headed to Seattle for our final road trip of the summer. Sunday evening when Cami brought him home he came running in the house excited to be home and to see everyone. Later that day I found him sound asleep in front of the t.v. He was asleep as if he hadn’t slept well on the days we were apart. In fact I’m pretty sure he didn’t. You see, he missed the comforts of home and family just as we do. Once he was home he could enjoy his ’safe haven’ and his refuge and retreat into a deep, sound sleep.
I hope we never forget the importance of home and family. We all need this place to find cover and these people to find comfort. Once we feel the safety of our close connections we can finally relax and even sleep!

For our family, July 4th represents the best of summer. We alternate between two traditions - camping at Priest Lake or heading to Idaho Falls. This year we are here in I.F. celebrating with a morning parade, family bbq and fireworks. Here are some of reasons our family loves the 4th of July:                                                                   
*there is nothing better than fireworks set to music (fireworks over the lake at the Hills or dancing to a live DJ at the marina at Priest or being along the river in Idaho Falls).
*parades - our family loves to attend parades (the Lilac parade in Spokane or the parade in Idaho Falls for the 4th).

                                         
*being with family - when we go camping it is so fun to be up at the lake for any lenght of time. This year we get to see extended family and attend a bbq at my Grandma Pratt’s place which she has hosted for years. Its a mini-family reunion.
*all day celebrations - it seems like so many holidays are celebrated after work. We love any type that begin in the morning and last all day and even into the night. There is nothing like an all day party!
*finding outfits in red, white and blue. Hey its fun to dress up!

We hope you have a great 4th of July!

I know many of you have been celebrating summer for a month now, but for us it has finally arrived. The kids had their first full week of vacation and the weather finally turned warm and sunny. Summer is such a great time of year to change our pace and to change our focus. For some of us we spend more time outside, more time recreating, and more time with friends and family. Summer, and the warmer weather and longer nights, creates the perfect excuse to try something new. Invite people over for smores and night games in the back yard or head to the park for a family picnic. Today our family found a fun park along the Spokane River by Post Falls, ID. We carted our lunch with us and ate underneath tall pines. The kids played in the water and Preslie fell in and then decided just to enjoy a quick swim. We played on the big toy and then everyone took their turn swinging the bat while we practiced some baseball. Just a fun afternoon with little prep. It was just a step a way from the house, the routine, and all the many projects that call to us the rest of the week.
Summer creates the natural backdrop to do small activities that build lasting memories. A fun bike ride, a nice casual walk, or just sitting on the porch. As summer heats up, some of us will find ways to head out on a family adventure. We will hit the woods, lakes, and water parks. We will attend family reunions and reconnect with cousins and siblings. We will strenghten relationships that keep us going the rest of the year. Some of these activities will be true adventures with risks, wild rides, and even roller coasters. Others will enjoy long talks, small talk, and even laughter. When you are with the ones you love, it really doesn’t matter what you do.
Let this be a summer where you build relationships and focus on what matters most.

You know the saying, “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Well from an attachment theory perpective we like to say, “it’s not whether you win or lose the game, it’s who you play with that matters.” This stresses the importance of companionship and connections along the path of life. Our biggest wins are always better when we have someone to celebrate with. Our biggest losses are never as difficult when we have someone to pick us up. Either way, win or lose, we want to play the game with someone…and hopefully someone special.
All of Cami’s training was finally put to the test on Saturday as she ran the Windermere marathon here in Spokane. 26+ miles from Post Falls, ID to downtown Spokane, running along the Centennial Trail. Cami’s first marathon and she did it. What made it memorable was knowing she wasn’t running alone.

I joined several friends and caravanned from one stop on the trail to another. We would get out, cheer on the runners, and then head to the next spot. We did this from mile 7 to the finish line. Cami ran with some great friends who also served as her training partners all spring. At some point along the race (I think mile 17) Cami’s body started to not feel well. Her partners tried to encourage her, her cheering section rallied around her at each stop along the trail. In the end she found the strength to continue and finished the race. What was amazing was that two of her partners who had finished ahead of her, headed back out on the course to find her. Together, they supported her as she crossed the finish line as the rest of the support crew cheered. She was able to finish and she finished in full support of her friends and family.

This entire experience has taught me so much about determination, discipline, and connection. Running for 5 hours, plus the many training runs during the months before were all about training the body as much as they were about training the mind. Can you image how many times one’s mind must try to say, “let’s be done.” The marathon also taught me about the power of support and connection. When we are connected we borrow strength from those around us. When we are down, they lift us up. When we are tired, they say ‘keep on going.’ When we finish, they say ‘you did it.’ When we are dead tired for two days after the race, they say ‘you deserve it.’

To all those who see life as a marathon instead of a sprint, I suggest you grab your support team and develop a plan to make it through the next few miles together. Good luck!

I really can’t believe that it was on this date back in 1989 that I asked me wife to ‘go with me’ while at a video party in the 7th grade. If anyone would have told me that the question I was asking that Friday night would later result in all that I have now, I would not have believed them. I knew then that Cami was a dream to have and I even had to work to make that first invitation happen. We were in Mrs. Theobald’s reading class that year. Our friends were friends and we spent a lot of time around one another. I don’t remember all the reasons why I didn’t ask her earlier, but April 28th presented itself as the right time. I do remember that it was after a track meet, not that it really adds any significance. I can still remember the house and could probably name most of the people at that party.
Our dating years were like most teenage relationships… a roller coaster. I would like her more than she liked me, then she would like me more than I liked her. I say that, but I really think I always liked her more than she liked me. Back then I would have said that the problem was getting her to settle down and only focusing on me. Now I would say part of our problem was me not showing her how much she meant to me. I probably still have the problem, but I sure hope I’m doing better.

Today we celebrate 21 years since that night. Since then we both moved on from junior high, graduated high school together, went to college and earned 5 degrees, have 5 kids (two sets of twins plus one special Preslie), moved 4 times, and many, many more monumental accomplishments. Above all I would say that what sticks out is that we are still together, still in love, and still working to be connected. Sometimes I love her more than she loves me, and sometimes she loves me more than I love her. Sometimes she struggles settling down (not with other boys, but with tasks of being a mom and running a home) and I still struggle to show her how much she means to me. But it is all fun and worth it.

Maci is like me in many, many ways. Take this morning for example. I’m usually the first one up, but if someone beats me, it is her. She helped make breakfast for the crew and then something special for me and mom, which she ate as well. This represents her love for good food - me too. She looks out the window in anticipation of who might be coming (like she did tonight when I came home from work) - I do that too. She can be found holding a baby in any place and at any time - I’m a dreamer too (not about babies).

So we decided we would blog together about what makes us happy. Here we go:
Maci - To be happy, I think sometimes we go out with each other on dates. We like to go shopping, go to lunch, go play, and sometimes we watch sports together. We also love to make food together.
Dad - I think happiness is about having fun in the moment.

Maci - Some of my most fun times are when I am playing with my friends. I love to jump rope, play soccer, and tether ball.
Dad - Having fun is doing something that changes your pace and changes your focus.

Maci - When I am not feeling happy, I tend to get mad. (Yes she does. She is a little feisty like her mother).
Dad - When our reality doesn’t meet our expectations we can get discouraged. For some people and special women I know, this often comes out as being feisty.

Maci - If I could tell people the secret to being happy, I would tell them “be around more people and become friends. Then you will feel happiness in your heart.”
Dad - My secret to happiness is to enjoy the moment, look for the positive, and focus on relationships more than work.

Well, there is just a little bit of a father - daughter perspective. I hope it helps. It was fun to have Maci blog with me, now something else we can add to our list that we do together.

I was recently interviewed for an online magazine. Check out the article, I think it turned out nice.

http://spokane.latterdaysentinel.com/archiveStory.asp?theArticle=173

So what’s on your Christmas list this year? New clothes, a trip, some tech toy? I loved reading the lists my kids made this year as they ranged from a single item (Preslie wants a pink doctor kit), to the double digits, to the suggestions. Yes, Beaudry and Braunson didn’t want to burden Santa this year so they only gave suggestions. I’ve been so busy with finals, grades, and Christmas parties that I’m finally sitting down to write my list.
Well I already know some of my gifts because I bought them. There will be one that is big and red and goes really fast. I can’t wait to use it in the spring and will have to wait with anticipation for a few more months. There are a couple of small things that I even wrapped for myself that will be more of a surprise to Cami because I have them coming from her (don’t worry they are small and practical gifts). Usually I don’t buy my own gifts so we will see how I like it this year.
So if I know some of what I’m getting, what else could I want for Christmas? All I want for Christmas is time with my family and time at home. Sounds silly, but I’m coming off a busy couple of months and being home and being a dad and husband sound pretty good right now. The best part is this is a gift I know I can get.
Whatever you ask for this year, I hope you’ll find the gift of quality time waiting under your tree. We live in a busy world and quality time with those we love can be hard to find. I’ll miss being with extended family and some friends, but I’ll cherish the time at home with my special ones. Merry Christmas to each of you. I hope this has been a great year and that you will look back at 2009 and see steps towards connection, stronger bonds, and a sense of security in your life.

As we move from having gratitude we begin to think about giving. This year, as you prepare for the holiday season, what gift will you give? At church yesterday, Beaudry and Braunson read a story about a family who gave away their Christmas to help another family. They both were very touched by the story and were honest when they added, “I’m not sure I could do that.” Me neither. I think it would be really hard to focus all our time, efforts, and gifts to others. I think a lot of us enjoy the season because it is nice to receive (more on this in another post).
I ask you not to give away all that you have or all that you plan to have under the tree. what I’m asking is for you to begin to think about a gift you can give your spouse that is different. Here are some examples:
One issue that couples face each December is a loss of time devoted to their relationship. Even if they are at holiday gatherings together, rarely do they have the quality time that is needed to nurture the relationship so it is strong when Valentine’s arrives. Think about giving the gift of time this season.
Hopefully you all know about the 5 Love Languages (if not google it and you’ll find it fast). Gary Chapman believes we each have a primary way we feel loved and we all favor one of five love languages: Gifts, Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch. A great gift this year would be to love your spouse (and kids) in a language they understand.
How about a simple gift that you know your spouse would love: mine starts each wish list with a massage.
Finally, think about a gift that will keep on giving. Find ways to be thoughtful, thankful, and playful in your gift giving.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time that begins a month long celebration. It is a time of gratitude, appreciation, and honoring those you love. It is a time to renew old traditions, create new ones, and enjoy a change of pace. Here are a few of the things I am most thankful for:

I’m most thankful for my family. I have been blessed with an amazing wife and 5 great kids. I appreciate most the times we spend together, whether on a short day ‘adventure’ or an extended summer trip. The above pictures are from Red Fish, ID and Coeur d’Alene, ID. I’m grateful for the great place we live and the chance we have to get out and enjoy life. I feel blessed to have family and friends who we can visit and who add quality to our world. Happy Thanksgiving!