For a majority of my life, and for all of my adult years one musical act has always held a special place in my record, tape, CD and Itunes collection.
In 1984 a friend of mine introduced me to Stryper, the world's first long-haired, heavy metal, rock-n-roll, Christian glam-band! As a 14 year old trying to live for Christ, Stryper provided a powerful role model and social outlet for me and my friends. And from 1984-1989 we were not alone as Stryper literally rocked the world with number one hits on the radio and top videos on MTV. Stryper was a hit and for us in the Christian world, smiles of pride were permanent fixtures on our faces.
Yes, we were Soldiers Under Command and Stryper was our leading battalion.
Even though I'm not 40 I have to admit when I hop into my Z06 it only seems fitting to crank up the rock-n-roll and it has to be loud. Though nowadays I usually jam out to the likes of FooFighers, Nickleback or others, 80s heavy metal remains a mainstay and a Stryper CD is usually not far away.
In 2001 the band reunited for what we all thought would be their last concert as a group. Michael Sweet was off doing his own thing and having success and the rest of the band had moved on with wives and kids in tow. In the early 90s they made some bad choices and had some personal struggles as young men that had tarnished their reputation and it seemed it was all but over.
But God wasn't done with Stryper yet.
In 2003, the band released a compilation with a few new singles on it called Seven and in 2005 their first new complete album since 1990 was released called Reborn. It was crisp, bold, loud and modern. It was Stryper and it was good.
In 2009, the band released yet another album called Murder by Pride which is probably their best album since Soldiers Under Command in 1986.
Today, Stryper has a new base of young fans to go along with us grey-haired oldies. I recently took my 14 year old niece to see them live at the House of Blues in Dallas. The show was incredible and fittingly ended with a Stryperized heavy-metal rendition of "Winter Wonderland". We both banged our heads, shook our fists and sang our hearts out. For me it was like stepping back to the late 80s when as a youth Stryper was my musical drug.
A quarter of a century has gone by, but as I have told members of the band personally over the years in the few times I have had the chance to talk to them, God used Stryper in my young life as a source of identity and pride as a Believer. They played a large role in helping me realize Christians should stand up, be counted, and be bold. I only hope they can do the same for this new generation of Stryper fans because the Lord knows our worlds needs it!
For now, I think today would be a good day to hit the streets and crank it up just one more time!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Quinny Update
I am still blown away by our little Quinny. I got to spend some good one-on-one time with him last weekend as we had a few "daddy days" in a row since the girls were out of town and I truly enjoyed it.
Yes he is two in all sense of the word, and yes he is a boy which compounds his troubles. But, this little guy is a bundle full of joy too. He makes everyone around him smile (always has). Everywhere we went he was waving at people and saying all kinds of stuff. He is such a talker. He can say his ABCs, the pledge, his night time prayers, and tons of other stuff. Basically, at two, he can talk nearly as good as his sisters who are 4 and he says everything he hears too. He is one smart cookie though. Few things get past him and you can see his mind racing in his eyes when you try and fool him.
He is the only on in our famiyl who is a morning person. Most days I get him out of bed and the first thing he does is go in and wake up his sisters with a big happy "Good morning!". Then he quickly heads downstairs to climb into bed and bumps heads with mommy and pulls on her saying "time to get up!". Does it nearly every morning. LOL.
Soon it will almost be two years since we first saw his cute little smile and felt God's tug to add little Seong Wook to our family. I cannot even imagine had we not responded. Life just would not be the same - for all of us.
My favorite thing? The way he says "daddy". Nothing is cuter.
Yes he is two in all sense of the word, and yes he is a boy which compounds his troubles. But, this little guy is a bundle full of joy too. He makes everyone around him smile (always has). Everywhere we went he was waving at people and saying all kinds of stuff. He is such a talker. He can say his ABCs, the pledge, his night time prayers, and tons of other stuff. Basically, at two, he can talk nearly as good as his sisters who are 4 and he says everything he hears too. He is one smart cookie though. Few things get past him and you can see his mind racing in his eyes when you try and fool him.
He is the only on in our famiyl who is a morning person. Most days I get him out of bed and the first thing he does is go in and wake up his sisters with a big happy "Good morning!". Then he quickly heads downstairs to climb into bed and bumps heads with mommy and pulls on her saying "time to get up!". Does it nearly every morning. LOL.
Soon it will almost be two years since we first saw his cute little smile and felt God's tug to add little Seong Wook to our family. I cannot even imagine had we not responded. Life just would not be the same - for all of us.
My favorite thing? The way he says "daddy". Nothing is cuter.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Over the Years
I was thinking the other day about how our family has grown and changed over the years. Started with just me and Max back in 1999. Then Julie came along and rocked my world and soon Sam came into the mix. It was just us and "the boys" (http://maxandsam.blogspot.com).
A few years later that all changed with Chloe and Sidney. Then all things were completed when Quinn made us a family of...well 7 when you count the boys, and yes, we have to count them!
There really isn't anything greater in life than family! See photos on facebook!
A few years later that all changed with Chloe and Sidney. Then all things were completed when Quinn made us a family of...well 7 when you count the boys, and yes, we have to count them!
There really isn't anything greater in life than family! See photos on facebook!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Quinn Reunited with Foster Mom
Last weekend, Julie and Quinn flew to Phoenix for a Korean festival/reunion with Dillon parents and families. His foster mom was one of the Korean women that flew in to the States to visit. It was a rare opportunity to see her again and though we could not all go, it was important for us that Quinn get to see her again.
She was very emotional in seeing him and gave our family plenty of Korean gifts we will cherish forever. She is truly an angel of God and has fostered over 25 little babies over the years.
I am sure she was shocked to see how big and active the little Seong Wook has become!
She was very emotional in seeing him and gave our family plenty of Korean gifts we will cherish forever. She is truly an angel of God and has fostered over 25 little babies over the years.
I am sure she was shocked to see how big and active the little Seong Wook has become!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Weekend Full of Memories
This was one of "those weekends". One in which old memories were brought back to life and new ones were put into memory.
Julie took Quinn to Arizona to see his foster mom that had come to the States from Korea. I wanted all of us to go, but with today's travel expenses it was just not feasible right now for us.
So, I decided to take advantage of a weekend with the girls to myself and we headed out of town Friday afternoon to "stay at a hotel" and "see daddy's school" as they excitedly proclaimed. Yes, it was homecoming weekend in Brownwood, Texas, at good ol' HPU. It has been years since I have been and I really didn't want to miss another year. So glad I didn't too.
I decided we would stay just outside of Brownwood in Eastland at a new La Quinta. So we headed there Friday and boy were the girls psyched up. Along the way I made the decision to stop for dinner at the old "SmokeStack Cafe" just off I20 in Thurber - an old Ghost Town of sorts chopped full of big time Texas history. We admired the old smoke stack still standing but no longer in operation and enjoyed our dinner in the 100 year old building. All of these years driving down I20 I had seen this place but never stopped. Now the girls first memory of the smoke stack will also be mine. I love that.
A few miles later we pulled over to our hotel, headed to Walmart (sorry Clint) for some needed items and "surprises" and then back for a "stay up late fest" that included Disney Channel hits and more. Around 10 we hit that sack.
The next morning we arrived in Brownwood and promptly visited the fellas old friend "Achmed" and his donut shop. He was shocked to see me and nearly in tears to meet the girls too. His donuts were fresh and hot! AND GOOD. The fellas used to spend many a late night in his donut shop giving him a hard time and listening to him dish it right back to us.
The HPU parade followed that along with meet and greet with tons of old HPUers such as: Barry Carter, Shane Davidson, David Marsden, Brad Pletcher, Greg Bowman, David Curlee, Morgan Bush, and Steve Camfield - all with their respective wives and kiddos. Others were there as well, including a small, but vibrant group of current HPU DeltaPi members. After touring the campus and showing the girls the old hallways and classrooms, we headed over for lunch at Underwoods - which of course nearly made us all cry with joy (is anything better, really?). Then we toured the old Club J area and downtown (takes about 47 seconds) and headed over to Gordon Wood Stadium to watch the Yellow Jackets play.
The girls were fascinated with the band and "Buzzsaw" - the mascot - and had a smile on their face all day long. I did too. As we sat at lunch and talked about old times, shared funny stories and discussed old friends and current happenings, it just sank in that this was one of the times to relish and put away forever. Sure we talked about how we would all stay in touch via the wonder of Facebook, but nothing will ever replace the face-to-face experience of being together.
I love creating memories because they are there in tough times to recall for a little bit of joy. HPU still is a place I cherish and will always be blessed to have been a part of from 1990-1993.
And this weekend I think I planted that first HPU memory into the minds of the two things I love more than life itself.
If only Quinn and Julie had been there...
Julie took Quinn to Arizona to see his foster mom that had come to the States from Korea. I wanted all of us to go, but with today's travel expenses it was just not feasible right now for us.
So, I decided to take advantage of a weekend with the girls to myself and we headed out of town Friday afternoon to "stay at a hotel" and "see daddy's school" as they excitedly proclaimed. Yes, it was homecoming weekend in Brownwood, Texas, at good ol' HPU. It has been years since I have been and I really didn't want to miss another year. So glad I didn't too.
I decided we would stay just outside of Brownwood in Eastland at a new La Quinta. So we headed there Friday and boy were the girls psyched up. Along the way I made the decision to stop for dinner at the old "SmokeStack Cafe" just off I20 in Thurber - an old Ghost Town of sorts chopped full of big time Texas history. We admired the old smoke stack still standing but no longer in operation and enjoyed our dinner in the 100 year old building. All of these years driving down I20 I had seen this place but never stopped. Now the girls first memory of the smoke stack will also be mine. I love that.
A few miles later we pulled over to our hotel, headed to Walmart (sorry Clint) for some needed items and "surprises" and then back for a "stay up late fest" that included Disney Channel hits and more. Around 10 we hit that sack.
The next morning we arrived in Brownwood and promptly visited the fellas old friend "Achmed" and his donut shop. He was shocked to see me and nearly in tears to meet the girls too. His donuts were fresh and hot! AND GOOD. The fellas used to spend many a late night in his donut shop giving him a hard time and listening to him dish it right back to us.
The HPU parade followed that along with meet and greet with tons of old HPUers such as: Barry Carter, Shane Davidson, David Marsden, Brad Pletcher, Greg Bowman, David Curlee, Morgan Bush, and Steve Camfield - all with their respective wives and kiddos. Others were there as well, including a small, but vibrant group of current HPU DeltaPi members. After touring the campus and showing the girls the old hallways and classrooms, we headed over for lunch at Underwoods - which of course nearly made us all cry with joy (is anything better, really?). Then we toured the old Club J area and downtown (takes about 47 seconds) and headed over to Gordon Wood Stadium to watch the Yellow Jackets play.
The girls were fascinated with the band and "Buzzsaw" - the mascot - and had a smile on their face all day long. I did too. As we sat at lunch and talked about old times, shared funny stories and discussed old friends and current happenings, it just sank in that this was one of the times to relish and put away forever. Sure we talked about how we would all stay in touch via the wonder of Facebook, but nothing will ever replace the face-to-face experience of being together.
I love creating memories because they are there in tough times to recall for a little bit of joy. HPU still is a place I cherish and will always be blessed to have been a part of from 1990-1993.
And this weekend I think I planted that first HPU memory into the minds of the two things I love more than life itself.
If only Quinn and Julie had been there...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
40th Bday Extravaganza Kicked Off
My 40th bday extravaganza week kicked off yesterday with a family day to the State Fair and then rounded off with a huge birthday party hosted by my wife at Splitsville in Arlington. In attendance were the Curlees, Greg H, Franklins, Harris, Shermans, Ruzekas, Irmish, Jensens, Novingers, and the Devlins – about 20 or so. Scott and Jen could not make it, but he dropped off an Obama chia-pet for my enjoyment so he was there in spirit. It was exactly what I wanted for a party – Julie did a great job and our amazing friends did the rest! I am truly amazed and blessed by our friends. You learn as you get older how important true friendships are….
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