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In the middle of a GREAT weekend!

Got home late last night from an AWESOME concert at Northwestern!  I just love watching and hearing Jess sing.  She is so bright when she sings.  You can tell she is totally in her element when she is singing.

Today I'm doin' some odds & ends around the house, watching some great college football, and getting pumped for church at Meadow tomorrow.  I've got some friends coming which makes it even better!

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of "The Gift" and did I mention how awesome this is going to be?  Tim has a fantastic set of music planned for worship and I have been looking forward to this message on the family for a long time.  Best of all I get to hang out with some of the greatest people in the world - "Meadowites!"

After Pat's night DJ shift at KS95, he's headed to WVOE for a 4 hour shift on their 97.7 hours of Christmas.  Check it out and help the students out with Christmas with Dignity.

What else?  Oh...there's the Vikes game, grand finale of Amazing Race, and of course hangin' with my beautiful wife!

Whoa!

I had nothing to do with this

So I get home from a meeting and my wife says, "Do you want to see a cool music video?"

The Laeger Family at their Best

My Kids

One of the highlights of this week has been having both kids at home (I still call them kids even though they are 22 and 19!)

Being parents of Pat & Jess and watching them grow up has been absolutely amazing.  The times we had when they were babies, young kids, and teens were filled with some of the greatest joys and unforgettable memories.

However, today we have reached a new and very special level in our relationship.  I find it hard to describe but there is depth and joy and fun and seriousness - all wrapped up in one.

Pat is a senior at Northwestern and will complete his degree in radio broadcasting in May.  God has truly blessed him in his giftedness for radio and programming with variuos awards - both national and local.  Maybe the biggest blessing is that he was offered (and accepted) the executive producer position for the Moon and Staci afternoon show on KS95 - which is a major radio market in the US (one of the top adult contemporary stations).  He is the one who runs the board, cues up commercials and songs, answers the phone, sets up the interviews, and keeps Moon and Staci on task and on time.  It is so cool to listen to the radio and hear them refer to "Beaker" (that's his nickname).  He also is the nightime DJ from midnight Saturday to 6 AM Sunday.

Jess is a freshman at Northwestern majoring in vocal music education.  I just love to hear her sing.  In fact, tomorrow, she and Tim Armstrong will be singing Amazing Grace in church.  Jess literally lights up the room when she walks in (except for mornings when you learn to keep your distance!)  Her love for music and her love for people is second to none.  Her worst day is when she can't find time for singing and can't find time to hang with friends.  She was one of the few freshman who had a part in the fall musical at Northwestern - "Music Man".  Watching her on stage just brought smiles to my face - a joy that came from the heart.  She is planning on auditioning for the spring play - "Godspell".  Next week, we get to go hear her sing at Christmas at Northwestern which is huge.

God has no doubt blessed me with two awesome kids.  That blessing gives me even more reason to praise Him.  And if I understand scripture right - praise results in more blessing which results in more praise which results in more blessing, etc., etc., etc.  So that means, all of this will only get better!

Home!

Just got home.  Outstanding week away.  Here's a run down of the week...

• Weather was outstanding.
• Caught more fish than you could count.
• Won the fishing contest with a 3 lb, 12 oz bass.
• Snapped a pole (on a snag not a fish!)
• Lost 4 really nice spinner baits.
• Had my quiet time every morning on the lakeshore.
• Good 'Ol Days Resort was perfect.
• Couldn't send emails and I actually am living to tell about it. (Hmmm...maybe I can get along without sending emails!)
• Read some great leadership quotes by Rudy Guiliani and started his book called Leadership - so far I am very impressed.
• Ate at Rafferty's Pizza - possibly the best pizza in the world.
• Got a MAJOR sun burn on Wednesday & heat exhaustion from a 34 mile bike ride on Thursday.
• Ate mouth watering fudge from The Chocolote Ox
• Enjoyed worshipping at The Journey church - a new cafe-style church in Nisswa.

Now...I'm pumped about tomorrow at Meadow.  It's only been a week, but I feel like I have been gone forever.  Perry Noble will be challenging us tomorrow and the band has some crankin' music planned.

Could Be the Winner!

The contest isn't over until Friday, but this is the biggest fish so far!

Vacation - Day 1

It's raining right now - so I thought I would jot down a few thoughts about what has already been two awesome days away.

We are staying at Good Old Days Resort in Nisswa.  The initials are G.O.D., so it has to be almost heaven - right?  Last night, I went out to check the lake out and caught a 3.5 lb and 2 lb. bass (oh...and a small sunfish but that was just so my daughter didn't feel left out!).

Today started exactly as I was hoping - up early, cup of coffee, sitting by the lake, sun coming up, reading my Bible - just me, God, my Bible, and a couple of loons.  He is really doing some work in my life on the issue of pleasing people vs pleasing God.  This morning, reading in Romans, Galatians, and Psalms was awesome.

We went to a small church.  Totally cool to sit together as a family from start to finish - that never happens.  Super new church (about 5 yrs old) that acquired and old church building and have done some really cool things with creating an relaxed, unplugged atmosphere.

Pastor spoke on hell (no connection to Father's Day - I think!).  Going to another church and listening to another pastor speak is tough for me but today I actually did pretty good to NOT think about Meadow ... except the time at 9:30 I prayed for Meadow, oh - and at 9:40 when I prayed for the band at Meadow, and, oops again at 10:00 when I prayed for everyone to hear the words of Ed Young.  Other than that, I did pretty good - oh, wait, one more thing - as the pastor was speaking I did lay out a 4 week teaching series I will probably do early next year.

Well...looks like the rain is letting up, and the lake is calling me.

The Office

I know you are losing sleep wondering "Just what does John's office look like?"  Well, lose sleep no more.  I LOVE my office - it is VERY cool.

I LOVE my recliner

I am sitting here in my recliner.  My feet are killing me.  Both of the dogs are wiped out and sleeping.  The past few days have been packed, exhausting, but absolutely exhilerating - days I will never forget.

Friday we celebrated a milestone with Jessica graduating.  What a great day - I am so proud of her and her accomplishments.

Saturday started with a 5:30 AM breakfast with Jess after her all-night party.  This was followed by an awesome time with 50 people from Meadow going through 25 gallons of paint in 2.5 hours as we painted two park buildings, a hockey rink, and about 1,000 ft of wooden guard rail.  Went home and got the yard all ready for Jess' grad party then kicked back to prep for Sunday.

Today ... climax of climaxes!  Started the day with church and the first Sunday of OnePrayer.  Service went great.  Lots of energy.  Band was totally on.  I preached on "God, Make Us Eager".  No greater place to be on Sunday mornings than at Meadow with "Meadowites".

The afternoon was Jess' grad party.  Not sure, but estimate is over 100 people came to congratulate her, eat, play some football, eat, look at pictures, eat, listen to music - did I say "eat"?  I lost count of the cans of pop, bottles of water, cup cakes, ham sandwiches, sloppy joes, peanuts, chips, and fruit we went through.  I can honestly say we had over 100 of the greatest people alive today in our backyard!

So...here I sit, in my recliner, feet up and dog tired.

Here are a few videos of the last few days...days where memories were made that will never be forgotten.  Days spent with family whom I love with everything I have.  Days spent with people who really are changing the world by being the church in the community we are reaching.

• Jess Losing Her Hat
• Jess Graduating
• Park Makeover

Oh...don't forget to check my blog tomorrow.  I will be inviting you to help me with a very unique deal.  :)

Grand Finale

Tonight was the last one ... the last vocal concert/recital of my daughter's high school career (is attending high school a career?) - anyway...as usual, she stole the show and I am not one bit partial.  I am so proud of her.  She did two numbers.  Here's her solo.  She performed "Stormy Monday" and NAILED IT!  (And remember, this is from an absolutely objective stand point!)

Oh...and yes, she is barefoot.  (I wonder if my preaching would be this good if I preached barefoot?)

Livin' Her Dream - Pics

Just a few pics.  I am so proud of my kids.

Livin' Her Dream, Pt 2

Not only did she sing Movement #10, but she was the student director of Movement #7 "Domine Fili Unigente" which means "O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ."  Some don't think its a big deal - but she is facing 135 voices and a 7 piece wind ensemble who are depending on her for cues and leadership plus the house was packed with 800 people watching and listening.  Oh...and you might want to know that when she got up to direct, her music was not in the right order so she directed it entirely from memory.

Livin' Her Dream, Pt. 1

Last night was Jess' last senior choir concert.  Mass choir of 135 voices.  Plus a 7 piece wind ensemble.  The main event was a performance of Vivaldi's "Gloria".  That was the main event.  But - within the main event was the MAIN event, Part 1 - Jess sang movement #10 "Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram" which means "Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us."  She is living her dream and doing exactly what God made her to do.

Just Numbers

Interesting numbers from the day...

• 97 days until both my kids are off to college
• 20 fractal circles on my office whiteboard composed of 70 quadrants and they seem to be rapidly increasing in number
• At 6:51:30 this morning, visit number 20,000 came to my blog.  If I could trace IP addresses, I would find out who it is and give them some kind of big prize!  All I know is the IP address and it was from a Qwest service subscriber.
• Almost 50 people are already signed up for the Park Makeover on June 7.
• One Prayer series now has 771 churches with over 486,000 people planning on involvement.  This could reach 1,000 churches!
• 8 of the 771 churches are from Minnesota and 2 of the 8 are in Shakopee.
• 26 years, 4 months, and 12 days - the length of my honeymoon with my wife!  One of these days we will have to come down off the mountain top.
• 34 rings to the tree we cut down on Saturday.
• This past Saturday I weathered & survived my 5th prom as a dad.  (Or would that be my kids survived with their dad!)
• 33 more days until some R & R up north!

Now You See It - Now You Don't

First Bike Ride!

3 miles to the gym.  65 minutes sweatin' at the gym.  4.5 mile ride home.

Felt awesome!  (Best part was that it was all with Sandy!)

My son with Mae

For all you music lovers.  My son is second from the left.  The others are the band members of Mae.  He spent this afternoon with them.  Yes, he is very cool!  For more pics, go to www.wvoe.fm.

 

My awesome son

I am so proud of my son.  Not only is he on staff in the programming department at KS95 where he does voice overs for commercials.  But he also has his own radio show on WVOE, the Northwestern College campus radio station.  It airs every Wednesday from 5-7 PM.  You can listen to it online at www.wvoe.fm.

Two weeks ago, he invited Kutless to WVOE where he interviewed them and they recorded two songs.  The pic is of him sitting at the board and the guys from Kutless talking to him.  This week and next, he will be meeting with and interviewing Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, and Mae.

Is that awesome or what!!?  MY son!!!

As big as a football

Doc gave me some new pills.  They are as big as a football and he said should pretty much take care of anything attacking my body.  I just took one.  But I'm not feeling better yet.

At least they're red.  Red is cool.

I heard him!!!!

My son (Pat) is working at KS95 radio.  He is in the programming department and also does some of the jingles for commercials.  Yesterday as I was workin' in my garage, listening to KS95 - I heard my son's voice!!!  Not once - but twice!  This is one of the hottest radio stations in the Twin Cities and my son is on the radio!!!  I have no clue what the first advertisement was about because I was so caught off guard by hearing him.  The second was for Applebees.  I almost ran right out to eat there it was so cool!

I am so proud of him.  Not only does he have a cool radio voice, but now he has a larger audience than any preacher preaching in any church I know!  Is that cool or what?

Just a wierd kind of day

It's just been a wierd kind of day.

First, Sandy is in Washington with her mom.  She'll be back Wednesday night - but it is just so empty around the house without her.  Pat & Alicia, and Jess were here and I wouldn't trade time with them for anything.  But, Sandy is my bride and when she is gone, I am just - well, a bit lost.

Second, I took this past week off and today we went to Meadow.  I got there about 10 minutes before the service started.  Sat up in the theater where I never sit.  I had no part in the service.  Basically I sat there as a "normal" person.  It was just wierd.  The perspective was extremely interesting.  I learned a ton and saw things that I wouldn't see normally.  Things that rocked and things that we need to work on.

I think every Meadow leader should come to Meadow now and then with the eyes of a new person and watch things, feel things, etc.

Fodder for staff and leadership.