Mark and Parker filling up the eggs of cash!

Scout, Kelly, Evan, and Marcie

A daddy and his girl (Blane and Evan)

What up cuz?!

Granny and Parker

How low can you go?

Now where could those eggs be?

Mimi and Parker

Eggs are lots of work!

Eggs are interesting!

Eggs are fun!

Just Kiddin' Around

We love our friends and their kids! It's an amazing community of peeps and kids trying to figure out this community thing, this friendship thing, this journey thing, and this God thing. One of the by products is that our kids get to laugh, play, read, sing, fight (yes...our angels fight!), and grow up together. It's pretty stinkin' cool. So in tribute to our friends and their kids, here are a few pictures taken over the last few weeks to show how much Sarah and Parker love hangin' out with "the kids". Thanks, y'all, for sharing the road!

Sarah and Drew (the mini-me of Randy!)

Parker and Sarah reading Cifford the Big Red Dog to Evan so that he would be able to stop thinking about how much the Illini blew it in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments.

Parker, Sarah and Donna (and Ann's hand!).

My Funny Faced Girl

Can you pick out Sarah's new favorite funny face for the camera? I'll give you three guesses!

The Ultimate Autograph Ball!

Check this...

My amazing Uncle Jim has been on this amazing quest for Special Olympics (SO). He's a big time volunteer for them (among other organizations). To help them raise money, he has tracked down with his own network, money, ingenuity, and hard work every living Heisman trophy winner. They have all signed this ball and he is going to give it to SO for them to auction off at a major fund raiser. It is an amazing accomplishment. One that I am so proud of my uncle for undertaking. He truly is one of the most generous men I have every had the priviledge of knowing. You rock, Uncle Jim!

Here is the mother load of all autographed balls:

Where in the World is...

...Seth Freaking Rings!? I'm here...settling into the Costco thing...trying to figure out new rythms (sp?)...and trying to remember my badge every morning so I can clock in and get paid! Welcome to the real world, right? Sarah asks me every morning, "What's that place you work, Daddy?" And I say, "Costco." She replies, "Oh, yeah! I've been there once! Let's eat breakfast. OK, Daddy?" She is so great.

You know I was thinking today as I was making some business contacts (some serious cold calls) that here I am, the guy who can talk to anyone, who's never met a stranger or someone he didn't like and I'm terrified to introduce myself and sell people my company and it's experience. Wierd. I am literally dealing with some goofy/scary stuff inside me each and everyday I'm on the street working and selling.

I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I'm a wuss. Maybe a lack of passion for what I'm selling. Maybe it's simply not who I am. Whatever it is, I'm praying for God's power and grace to push me through the day to give my very best. Because as I said before, I am so thankful for the this job, this opportunity to learn, this chance to rub shoulders with new people, and this place to trust God fully.

But the more that I am away from vocational ministry, the more I miss it (even though I still wonder if I have what it takes to "get the job done"). I miss the heart of ministry, sharing your life and the life of Jesus with others regardless of whether they are spiritual or not. I miss the heart to heart connections that take place each and everyday with broken people. I miss not having to remember to take your badge to work. I miss the fun that goes with being around students and the adults that love them. I miss believing that the work I do really matters.

The corporate world isn't very fun either...it's challenging work with some really amazing people who are smart, talented and dedicated beyond belief (they really do amaze me and I'm learning from them all the time), but I wouldn't say that it has been fun for me. Who knows...it may get more fun as time goes on because I'll be more familiar and passionate about the company, it's products/services, and the overall experience.

But it's also been nice for this season to truly leave work at work. When I clock out...I'm out, baby! That's really a wild feeling. No more event's coming around the corner...no more mid-week programs that keep coming and coming and coming and coming...no more wondering when the next normal weekend I'll have with Kelly and the kids will be (though retail life has it's fair share of weekends). That's been pretty stinkin' cool. But at the end of the proverbial day...I miss the mission and hope of the church and drawing people into the flow.

That's my story today...Thanks for listening.

TAFK!
(a dollar to the first person who can guess what that stands for...ooooo - big spender!)

Ghost Like Swayze

OK, so I'm not the biggest rap music fan, but I do like and laugh at the parody stuff that SNL usually produces. Here is one of their all time greats - The Chronic of Narnia. I hope you laugh as hard as I do when you watch it. It's crazy delicious!

Life of a Salesman

Well, here I go again: new career path. It's wierd to think, write, and share with others. Sometimes I feel guilty, sometimes hopeful, but most of the time it just feels wierd. But man o' man, what a gracious gift by God, my friend, and Costco to give this man who has basically loved God and others professionally for the past 12 years a chance to sell and market their company to the greater NE Indy area. That just gave me the shivers. I hope they know what they are doing b/c I sure don't! AAAHHH!!! All in all though, it's going to be a crazy ride as I learn what it takes to push a product to people and draw people to join the Costco experience. I've got tons to learn, people to meet, roads to travel and doors to knock on in order to get the word out about this very cool company and store.

Besides the focus to do all for the glory of God in this marketplace experience, I continue to seek God and put the feelers out about ministry. I've just stated chatting with a church from the midwest about the opportunity they have for student ministry pastor for jr. high and high school. Here is the new struggle I have nowadays with this interviewing process. I may have shared this before, but I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride from hell emotionally and spiritually. One minute I'm thinking and feeling like the little engine going up the mountain: I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. Then somewhere on the climb I think and feel: No I can't. No I can't. No I can't. Nuts. So I'm trying to pray and process through this "manic" stage of healing, growth, and understanding.

The other thing I struggle with is putting on the "game face" for the church. I'm so tired of the dog and pony show I/we put on for each other to make ourselves look and sound better. Some of it comes from self-preservation, but much of it comes from insecurity and pride. And I'm tired of it...really tired. I know I could have this job in my own power if I just gave them the right song and dance to sell myself, but what the h-e-double hockey sticks for?

So I'm talking with this church and I lay it out there about me, why I left a pretty ideal ministry environment, and the struggles I have with myself right now. Probably too much, I know. But I just want to be honest. No games. No curve balls (halls! that one's for the Solin family). No surprise skeletons down the road. I may have to learn how to ease off the "authenticity"part and figure out how to ease into "full disclosure." That's alot like life and relationships.

But, in the midst of all that, I'm still surprised at how raw I feel on the inside. You learn in youth ministry that the messy games are some of the longest to play and clean up after and that's a litte bit (maybe alot) like life. I didn't think I would be feeling some of these deeper things and struggle with some of these issues this late into the game. I wonder when God is going to send the spiritual Goose Gossage to close out this game. Who knows. Maybe it's a little glimpse into the feelings and emotions that David share with me in Psalm 13 when he repeats the phrase "how long". But until then, I'll keep walking on, blogging away, and singing to the Lord for His love is unfailing and I know that He is good (all the time). Can't you hear it in my voice?

Am I Buggin' You?

I don't mean to bug ya, but whether you love his music or hate it...agree with his politics, faith, and/or message or not...I believe that you gotta respect a man like Bono and the message he is preaching to the Church, America, the U.N. and the world. He puts his money where his mouth is. His actions speak as loud if not louder than his words. He stands up for what he feels and knows is right. Passion and justice are fuels to his cause. I dig this guy. He truly is one of my heroes.

Click on the link and read the speech he gave at the National Day of Prayer breakfast on February 2, 2006.

Very cool. Very, very cool.

OK, Edge, play the blues!

p.s. Name the Song where the title of this post and it's last line come from? No cheating or wagering.

Farting Preacher

Does this ever get old? I don't think so! Click here for one of the funniest videos of all time!

Retail This

I'm diving into some deep water on Monday. I got the call today from Costco saying they want me to join their team in the marketing department. That is very cool and I am totally encouraged. But I'd be pretty inauthentic if I didn't share that I was a tad bit nervous, maybe even a little scared. Like I said this is some deep, uncharted water for me to be swimming in. The last time I thought about working in retail was when I was in high school and college and working my first job at, ironically, Pace Warehouse (owned by Kmart). So I go in as a total noob/newbie/rookie with a teachable spirit, humble and contagious attitude, and willingness to work hard. So with all that being said...I am excited about this. I pray that it is an amazing experience as long as God has me there, I choose to be there, and Costco employs me there.

But what the hey...I am totally thankful for another chance to get out there, learn something new, use my skillz/gifts/experiences to serve others and something bigger than myself, and along the way make some new friends and make a difference. And it goes without saying that it totally helps put Kelly at ease, puts food on the table, keeps a roof over our head, and pays some bills (does anybody else's gas bill suck?). You know me...something new always has the potential to be something meaningful and fun.

If you'd like to learn a little bit of the difference between Costo and Sam's Club read this article here. It's got some good mission, vision, and values stuff that will give you a glimpse into the Costco world.

So who's ready to sign up?!