Lord of the Flies Saturday mornings

It's becoming a Lance family tradition.
Sunday-Friday we're up at ridiculous times to run or take kids to school.
Seriously...who decided it makes sense to start pre-school at 7:30?
But Saturday's are a different story.

On Saturday its Lord of the Flies, anything goes, survival of the fittest.
Alyssa and I stay in bed as long as physically possible. Today it was 9!
Kids come in 38 times yelling about breakfast..."someone punched me"..."the play room is on fire"
Our response stays consistent..."work it out, go back to the playroom."

Promise we are good parents 6.5 days of the week.
As parents of three you need a morning that you can be a little selfish.
I should write a parenting book :)

When you finally get up you have to change your mindset.
You have to be ok with 4 things you value being broken and a healthy layer of milk and cheerios coating the floor.

The rest of the day consists of special breakfast, wii games, playing outside, reading, naps, friends, and general tomfollery! It's our Sabbath...it's what we do.

Do you have a day of rest?

Vacay

Next couple weeks:
Tomorrow- practice with worship team...enjoy time with fam
Sunday- Easter: 30-40 baptisms at the Stirring...unbelievable!
Monday- Sabbath...playin' some music that night...stoked
Tuesday- Work...all day staff stuff
Tuesday night- leave for Riverside
Wednesday - Wednesday- chill...hang with friends...family...hopefully see my nephew if he decides to be born while we're there...golf...chill...nap...turn 33...chill!
Wednesday - Friday: Catalyst conference with some Stirring homies
Friday night: Drive back to Redding...get home about 4am!
Saturday: Back at it!
It's gonna be a good couple weeks.
I'm might even blog a little more than I have been...don't count on it.
Shalom.

Busy weekend

Sorry for the blog silence.
Saturday was an amazing day.
Got up...helped Patrick and Bethany move...came home...dug out 5 stumps in my backyard...went to Sean's house...climbed a 75 foot tree in his front yard with a chainsaw and cut it down.
Not gonna lie...some of the most intense moments of my life...I captured some pics on my phone that I put up on Facebook.
Yesterday I led worship with an amazing team for all three gatherings...the Heaven series has been great!
We also finished up the caulking and painting of the pantry...Thanks Eric...it looks awesome!
More to come. I'm gonna enjoy a Sabbath with the fam today.
I preach this weekend at the Stirring...Salvation is the door...that's all you're gonna get...you gotta be there or grab the podcast :)
Shalom.

Sabbath

Got out of bed today after 11...unbelieveable.
Haven't done that since pre-Zeke.
There were a couple times I was up to help out but the sleep was much needed.
My wife is a superstar.

Today it's been a lot of baseball with Zeke.
That's been the routine lately.
Here's the interaction we just had...

Hey Dad
Yeah Zeke
I want to hit the ball at your face and crack your head open!

I don't know if I've ever been more proud

The silence

It's been almost a week.
I never do that.
I'm still trying to figure out facebook but I have to admit that it has stolen some of my social networking affection. It's quick and I can manage it on my phone in seconds...I'm lazy...sorry.
God is teaching me a ton right now.
Don't know if I could really articulate it in a blog so I wont.

This week...
Nate had his baby
My in-laws came to town
I spoke at the Stirring about Jonah.
God uses Jonahs...and Dan Lances...unbelievable!

I'm having a great Sabbath.
Life is good.
Shalom!

Sabbath

Slept in...thanks babe!
Omelet's
Genesis
Went to the gym
Played with the kids
Lunch with Jason (Yuet Bistro...amazing)
Hang with the fam
Madagascar...dinner...baths for kids...
Alyssa headed off to book club
Chillin'
Great day
How was your day of rest?

Sabbath

Chillin with my son strapped to my belly.
Did some readin' today
Did some sleepin' today
Alyssa's puttin' together a sweet dinner
Gonna get a movie on later
Nice relaxing day

Started a new book tonight

The Drama of Scripture by Craig G., Bartholomew and Michael W., Goheen
Good stuff so far.
There were 358 women in my house tonight for a Christmas card / craft thingy...I escaped.
Great Sabbath today.
Slept
Played with my kids
Got pulled over for speeding right in front of Zeke's school and got let off! Is it physically possible to go 35 mph on Churn Creek?
Took Zeke out for a video shoot for a Christmas film
Helped Alyssa get the house ready
Went to Sean's to avoid the estrogen party. Thanks for dinner dude!
Read
Blog
Bed

New series

We're starting a series called Simple at the Stirring.
I spoke yesterday to kick it off.
Matthew 13...the weeds...Worry and Wealth...God has a better way.
I really desire a simple, focused, single-minded life.
I want the life that is truly life!
Go check out the podcast. It should be up in a day or two.
I'd love to hear thoughts.
Had a great Sabbath today.
Slept in...time with fam...worked out...amazing food...time with friends...Heroes...amazing!

Sabbath

Sorry it's been a while.
Today we got up and got a chance to say goodbye to the Dunlaps.
They came in last night on their way to Oregon...so good to catch up...way to short...can't wait till Christmas.
I got a nap that was amazing.
Bank, Walgreens, and Winco with kids...not so restful.
The entire population of Redding was in Winco today...crazy.
Worked out.
Put the kids down for nap...let the wife nap.
We have friends that are coming up today to check out Simpson for their daughter.
They are going to take our kids tonight and let Alyssa and I go on a date...amazing!
We're gonna go to dinner...come back...feed Moses...go back out.
That's the most alone time with the wife since the baby...can't wait.
Hope you get a day of rest this week.
Shalom

Sabbath

Last night was the best night of sleep yet for Moses!
Alyssa let me sleep till 9:30...it was amazing.
Hung with Sofia and Mo in the morning.
Picked up Zeke.
Family grocery trip...always good times...picked up some soup in anticipation of fall
Put kids down for nap...got an episode of Heros in.
Played with kids after nap
Went to the Osborne's for Davey's 4th B-Day...pizza, pinata's, and bikes...good times.
Got home...kids in bed...finished season one of Heros.
It's been a great day of rest after a really crazy week.
How was your day of rest this week?

Great Sabbath

Dropped Zeke off at school.
Alyssa took Moses in for doctors appointment.
I put Sofia down for a nap.
I GOT A TWO HOUR NAP!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow...it was amazing.
Nate called me half way through my nap but I'll forgive him in 7 weeks...It's what Jesus would do!
Picked Zeke up from school.
Put Sofia down for a nap.
Put Alyssa down for a nap.
Threw Moses in the stroller and watched Zeke fly around the neighborhood on his bike for an hour.
He's seriously nuts...standing on the pedals to ride faster...jumping over speed bumps...cannot believe he learned how to ride his bike a couple days ago!
I hope this isn't the season of E.R. visits in our future.
Took the kids to the Osborne's went out to dinner with my wife...thanks guys...it was awesome!
Came home...kids in bed...watched some Hero's...don't even think about telling me what happened tonight on the season premiere...we're almost finished with the first season.
Great day!

Three kid Sabbath

Not as restful!
Moses didn't sleep at all last night.
Woke up...got kids ready...ran off to get Zeke to school a little late...he's been doin' great!
Got home...put Sofia down for a nap...joined her...awesome!
Cleaned house up
Made lunch...Sofia got a hold of some cherries...stained face, hands and carpet...opps.
Picked up Zeke from school
Went to help Derrick move for a little bit
Spent some time on Skype with the McIntyres.
Rebecca brought us a Calzone the size of my oven for dinner...it was amazing....thanks Rebecca.
Had the Osborne's over for some swimming.
Put kids down
Watched first two episodes of Heros...couldn't help it...we got caught up in the hype...we're hooked!
Bedtime.

Crazy Sabbath

Moses isn't sleepin' much at night.
Up in the mornin' to hand out backpacks and supplies to students and gift cards to teachers at Cypress Elementary...it was amazing...so excited about the ongoing relationship we have with them...the kids were freaking out!
Went from there to Zeke's orientation to Kindergarten...what the heck my kid is in kindergarten! He flipped out for 35 of the 40 minutes we stayed. Screaming and crying. All the other kids chill...hanging out with each other...I'm trying to shove donut holes in Zeke's mouth so he'll stop crying...hopefully tomorrow looks better.
Drove straight from there to have the end of Moses' wiener cut off at the doctors. (What point was God trying to make with circumcision?)
That was the crazy half of the day.
Got home...ate lunch...said goodbye to Alyssa's family...we all crash for nap.
Swim with Zeke.
Rosetta comes over with some pasta shells for dinner...out of this world...amazing Rosetta!
Kids in bed early.
Contemplate the severity of three kids...unbelievable!

I saw Shasta today!!!

I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last month but I was just glad that no one moved it when the smoke rolled into town. That would of been really weird. Great Sabbath today!
Rest
Family time
Operation Baby Preparation commenced! OBP as I like to call it.
Alyssa is 90% effaced...2 cm. dilated...whatever the heck that means.

Sabbath

Spoke last night at the Stirring
Slept in till 8
Went back to bed at 9 for a nap
Played outside with the fam...
it was nice out for the first time in forever...no smoke
Lunch
Grocery shopping
Nap
Swim
Chipotle
Skype with both parents
Movie
Great day of rest...slept more today than I have in forever

Sabbath plans

Sleeping in
Taking walks
Reading books
Swimming
Talking to family through a computer...thanks Skype!
Playing baseball (in the house...while moms out...ssshhhh...don't tell)
Naps
Good eats
Hangin' with friends
Can't wait!

Great Sabbath

Slept in
Family time
Good food
Read
Nap
Movie
Friends
More good food
Time with the wiffy
How was your day of rest?

Sabbath

Slept in
took Zeke to school...his last day is tomorrow...then kindergarten...what the heck!?!
watched a movie...Reservation Road...depressing
picked Zeke up
made lunch for the kiddos, Alyssa made us these veggie wraps...awesome
kids nap...I work out
take Zeke swimming
talked to my friend Trav
hang with kids
go shopping...always an adventure
pizza
had some family from Alyssa's side driving through come and visit
look at homes in Redding on the internet
blog
great day of rest...have you had a day lately to enjoy God and family?
side note...got on the scale this morning...186.8
started out 2.5 weeks ago at 194.6
stoked!
my goal is 175 by the end of summer
i think I'll be under that
i'll post where i'm at once a week for accountability!

I really like my week

Sunday's I hang with the fam all morning. Head to the Stirring around 2pm. Get home in time to talk to my wife and chill for about an hour.
Monday is my Sabbath. I think I took three naps today. Monday's are awesome.
Tuesday is staff day. Nate, Meg and I meet. Nate, Derrick and I meet. We have staff meeting. Tuesday night are my Life Group nights.
Wednesday I get up early. We pray with the advisory team. Nate and I go work out. Then it's off to downtown Starbucks. One of my favorite times of the week. We study, laugh, argue, talk vision and ask them to turn the music down for hours.
Thursday and Friday I spend a lot of time with my Life Group leaders and other peeps. Phone, email, coffee.
Saturday I chill. Hang with friends and family.
I've realized that showers are optional Monday and Saturday...I like it that way...these are the days I get refreshed with my family.
I really like my week. I feel like I've got a pretty good rhythm in Redding. There are weeks that are crazy but it's a good crazy. I don't feel overwhelmed.
I'm telling you...when I start eating right and exercising, everything in my life makes more sense.
BTW...I lost 3 pounds this week...WORD!!!