All ears....

Our pediatrician has got to be wondering what we do to our kids. We've been the doctor's office this year more than I've been in my own living room.

Today it was Ashli and Beaux. Beaux is having his 3rd set of tubes put in his ears and his tonsils taken out in a couple of weeks. He's hearing at 30 decibels what he should hear at 5. Last night he complained for the first time that one of his ears was hurting. He also has this persisitent cough and congestion. Well....it's all related. He can't breathe, he's coughing, he's full of snot, and he can't hear. You gotta feel sorry for him. Our tv is so loud and everyone has to holler at him.

Ashli has been diggin' mud out of her ear since her softball team's big mud fight at their party last week. Needless to say.....ear infection. Well....she did not have a good afternoon. She had stuff sucked out of her ear (she actually had mud on her ear drum) that was completely gross. On top of that she had this plantar's wart on the bottom of her foot that the doctor went ahead and burned off since we were there. She hates needles and trying to convince her that the shot she was going to get in the bottom of her foot wouldn't hurt much was like convincing me that I need to eat more greens. Between the ear sucker and the shot, I think she broke my fingers, and she screamed so loud Beaux heard her.

73 Days till the Cowboys opener............

I'm out....

Ready to get started...

Summer has begun....

Friday we had a group of about 15 of our students come up to eat lunch. We took them over to The Butcher Shop in Plano for the best Buffalo Burgers around (they're really good). A couple of our high school girls thought that meant hamburgers with buffalo wing sauce on it. They were horrified when we told them it was buffalo meat.....but soon got over their disgust after the first bite. Highly recommend you try it out...

The weekend was great.....Bob did a great job on the sermon.

I am so ready for this summer. I remember a year ago walking in and looking at a blank calendar. Jay and I have planned a lot of stuff for this year, and I'm excited to get it started.

So I spent my Memorial Day cleaning out my garage. It was an all day undertaking, but it is done. So much stuff............I'm not even sure where half of it came from and when we got it. It is in order and everything has it's place. My back is screaming at me...NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!

Nothing to exciting today.....inlaws came over for dinner. I have a two year old niece that came with them. It's been a long time since we had one that small in our house. I think keeping up with her was harder than cleaning the garage. I'm stinkin' tired.....

I'm out...

One Year......

Last night was the one year anniversary of the first time I spoke to our junior high students at Springcreek. The week of June 5 will be my one year anniversary at Springcreek.

As I look back at the last year there are so many things for which I am thankful.

My family and I have a church family that we absolutely love. The people at Springcreek are incredible. One of the things that God showed us as we were going through the interview process was that Springcreek would be a place that we would go to church even if I wasn't working there.

The reason I stayed in teaching so long was the students. I love teaching students. There are no words to describe the blessing that the Springcreek students have been to us. The spiritual growth we've seen, the excitement the students have for the ministry of our church, the way they reach out to people and serve....it's unbelievable. They are an inspiration to me and have taught me a ton.

Jay.......I can't explain how much I appreciate you and what you do for our students. Our student ministry's adult leaders.....AWESOME!

All of this and God is allowing me to have a hand in leading the worship at SCC too. Our creative team is great. I've never worked with a better group of people than the staff at SCC. Add to that, working with Harper....I've said it before, I'm glad we're on the same team.

There is so much more to say about the last year, but not enough room. I feel so blessed to be included in this ministry. When I look back over the last 15 years or so, I can see the path that God has led me on, and how it has prepared me to be here today. There is no feeling like knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be......and for us it's Springcreek Community Church.

I'm out.....

soap box...

You know those times when you hear some little tidbit of info that just gets right up under your skin and just bugs the crap out of you? I'm dealing with some issues right now that are just bugging me. I understand that personal opinions differ and I do respect that, but there are some things I just don't see. It just seems that common sense, at times, escapes us. And believe me, I am not excluding myself from that phenomenon.

I remember as a kid sitting in church writing notes on the envelopes, talking, whatever and then looking up only to see that my mom had left the choir loft. My head was immediately on a swivel trying to find which direction she was coming from to put a stop to my non-sense. She did not depend on the youth pastor, or any other adult to take the initiative in teaching her son how to act in church. Now, if someone did take on that responsibility they would've had her full support, and things would have been much worse on me because someone else noticed what an idiot I was, and had to call me down. It only happened a couple of times. Oh well, that's a soap box I'll stay off of for now.

American Idol finals and the Academy of Country Music Awards all on the same night. I feel like singin' a little George Strait, how 'bout you Harper?

Here are a couple of pics from my daughters dance recital.....she's the one that's awesome!

I'm out..

The last Monday...

It was big weekend in the Schmidt house. Dance recital on Friday night (Brooke,of course she was awesome), softball scrimmage Saturday night after church (Ashli, more awesomeness), normal weekend services stuff, all leading into the last week of school.

The last Monday of the school year meant one thing in our house....3rd grade field trip to Ameriquest Field........yeah baby. We had a good time. Toured the Legends of the Game Museum (highly recommend it), clubhouse, dugout, lunch on homerun porch, back by 2:00. Good stuff.

Why does Fuddrucker's skimp you on fries so bad? My daughters had a student council dinner there tonight, so me and the boy ate there too.......they really rip you off on the fries.

My allergies are killin' me. It's one of those eye burnin', nose runnin', sneezin' my head off days. I've got a serious benadryl buzz.

Well, the Mavs are trying to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory right now, so I've got to go try and help pull them through. All I know is that we're only 82 short days away from the first Cowboys game of 2006. How 'bout them Cowboys?!!!!

Here's some pics from a day at the ballpark with my 3rd grade buddies....

I'm out....

A Real Beat Down.....

Have you ever felt like you just had the crap beat out of you? That's what the last couple of days have been. Allow me to vent...

Our plumbing problems continue to mount. They found two more leaks. That makes 5 so far. I know it's beating the plumber down.....he just wants to be finished with my house. He's a great guy and we are really lucky to have him working on the stuff, but I feel bad that he keeps having to come back to my house. I woke up at 2:15 a.m. Wed. morning and could not go back to sleep. It's just stressing me out big time. The insurance should cover it, but you know how that goes....we'll see. Our adjuster is a great guy and real easy to work with which makes it a little easier.

Then yesterday we take my son to the doctor because of some hearing issues he's been having again and get more news. He has to have a third set of tubes put in his ears and his tonsils taken out on June 14.

Yeah....lot's of fun right now. Vacations, anniversaries, and the home improvements we actually planned to do are looking pretty bleak right now.

On an up note....the merge was great last night. Our junior high kids are really growing and learning what worship and commitment to Christ looks like on a daily basis. Jay was out sick last night, so I got to teach the jr. high kids for the first time in a long time and loved it. They're great kids.

Well......I feel better. Thanks for letting me get that out. We'll see what happens today....if you have time in your schedule you can come over and kick my dog or something.

I'm out.....

Come Monday....

Grey's Anatomy......WOW!! What a great show....and what a great season finale.

The weekend was great.....DaVinci Code officially rebutted. I'm sure it's a great book, but it's not truth.

So I visited the Dallas Holocaust Museum today with my 8th grade daughter's English class. It was very interesting. We spoke with a holocaust survivor and heard his story. Absolutely incredible! He immigrated here with his mom in 1951 after losing his dad to the nazis in 1942 at Auschwitz. To hear his story of persecution and survival really put some things in perspective. He still plays in a stinkin' soccer league for people 40 and over.......he's 67!!! I highly recommend a visit to the place.

However I don't recommend coming home to a plumber in a 4' freakin' hole in your living room floor which is what I came home too this afternoon. Problem solved though.....for now. Another leak found, and another day needs to be scheduled to complete the job. This will actually be the third time in two months. Good thing is....my plumber is an great guy! Robby Genzel of Genzel Plumbing............yes that's a plug.

My 6th grade daughter had a voice recital tonight. She's great!

I'm out....

Mom's Day

I think last night was the first time everyone in the family has been home on a weekend night in about a month. It was cool. We all went to dinner together, came home and cleaned house a little, watched some Smallville that we had on the TIVO, and just enjoyed each other's company.

Mother's Day weekend.......guys, go buy your cards, candy, gifts, make reservations, or whatever you need to do to make Sunday special for mom.

I got to spend a little time with my mom earlier in the week. You know, as I get older, it's weird how much smarter she gets. There are just so many things that I face daily that cause me to think back to what my mom must have gone through at times with me and my brother.

Talking about the DaVinci Code this week in our services. I read another church's blog that was complaining about there being too many churches talking about this subject. Well, we are responsible for our communities and if we don't address things, people are probably not going to go seek out a church that is addressing their questions, they just won't go at all. This is a landmark book, and the movie will probably do just fine. I think it is wise for churches to address the issues with their people so that the book and movie are understood to be exactly what they are.......fiction. To understand truth, you must be able to recognize what is false.

Inlaws, daughter's softball practice, cleaning house, saturday service, and oh.....Mother's Day shopping. Got to get going....I'm out.

Feelin' old

So my oldest graduated from 8th grade Sat. night. You know, I remember leaving 8th grade and all we got was an 8th grade dance. This was a full blown graduation ceremony, minus the caps and gowns, followed up by the dance. It's killin' me when I think of her going to high school next year. I remember my freshman year of high school like the back of my hand and that was 24 years ago....she's making me feel really old.

Back in the office for the first time in about 10 days Wednesday. Serious catching up to do....e-mails, calls, cleaning, camp stuff, senior recognition stuff, you name it....it needed doing.

Speaking of the office.......big season finale tonight. Greatness! Looking forward to that...

Going to lunch today with my buddy Harp.....Rafains......meat overdose! I'm out.....

A man trip....

There's nothing like a quick, one day trip to Houston to start your week off with an oh crap. I grew up in the place, but was obviously immune to the stinch and gunk that covers everything down there, including your lungs. The redeeming side of this trip was that my son went with me (yes I let him skip two days of school)....he made a 100 on his TAKS so there.... and I went to help my mom move some stuff. She's getting re-married this summer and she's trying to get ready. Beaux and I had a good trip...a few stops here and there and good man stuff.

I haven't been in the office in 10 days so I'll be playing catch up tomorrow for sure. Lots of stuff to get ready for the summer and only a few weeks left of school. For now, I'm turning in.......

Here are some pictures of the man trip to Houston......I'm out...

WOW

wow...we've had a lot of good weekends at springcreek, but this had to rank right up there with the best of them. it was just a good time of worship together from start to finish. God is moving at springcreek in big ways and i'm just glad to be on for the ride.

not much to say tonight.....just kind of chillin' out, watching babe laufenberg and resting up after a great night at the net. i'm drained now, but i'm sure i'll have more to say tomorrow.

i'm out...

cinco de ses....

a great night's rest in my own bed. awesome! it was so nice to sleep at home last night. i went to dinner with my family, and just enjoyed their company after being gone for a while.

today was crazy.....8th grade graduation for one kid, cheerleader initiation for another, and our saturday night service. busy stuff....but then again i could be sitting in an airport somewhere.

8th grade graduation...now there's a ceremony that i just can't endorse. i understand the fact that it is a moment.....but a 2 and a half hour ceremony in which every kid gets an award and it's bookended by two heart wrenching choir performances of "I Will Be There For You" and something thematically along the lines of "water colored ponies".....c'mon. it's probably just the fact that i can't believe my baby girl will be in high school next year, but it was beyond anything i've been a part of at the junior high level.

well, "dumb and dumber" is on and loyd just drove a sixth of the way across the country the wrong way. hmmm...a movie about a colorado vacation.....

i'm out.

a re-emergence

Please don't hate me because I myspaced. I have decided to make my return to the blog world and to only use myspace to spy on people. Myspace can be a dangerous world and I will continue to monitor my own kids and my students. I ask your forgiveness and will be blogging consistently from here on out.

I'm writing this from the Colorado Springs airport. We've been on staff retreat and were supposed to head out of here yesterday at 11:00 a.m. Didn't happen. Hasn't happened yet. I think the bad luck started when we saw a fox running down the road with a rabbit in his mouth. That seems to be when our luck turned for the worse. It had been a great trip up to that point and the retreat was very productive. It does look like we're going to be heading out around 1:00 this afternoon. I hope that's the case. My senior pastor, Keith, was on a 6:10 a.m. flight this morning that didn't take off until 9:50....the real bad part of that is that they were on the runway with the engines off for an hour. I have no desire to sit on a hot plane, packed full of people, breathing butt-smellin' air for an hour. I am officially sick of airports.

I've made a few friends and had some decent airport soft tacos, but i'm ready to be home. Here are a few pictures from the Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak.....unbelievable. As Keith said...God was really showing off when he created Colorado.

I'm out