Winter Olympics!!!

Hello, friends!

My, it has been an eventful 2 weeks, hasn't it! Since I last posted, we had our RLT meetings (it was so good to be meeting in person!), we celebrated the Lunar New Year (happy year of the Tiger!), and JoJo has been dealing with a nasty case of a stomach virus (thankfully, the NP doesn't think it's anything related to COVID).

HOWEVER, there is one event that takes right now... IT'S WINTER OLYMPIC SEASON!!!

Friends, I LOVE me some Olympics, and I am probably in the minority of Americans who like the Winter Olympics as much, if not more, than the summer games. 

Short track speed skating? All day, everyday. Hockey, yes please. Biathlon? What's not to love? And, of course, y'all know how I feel about the great sport of curling! 

Added to that, the Winter Olympics isn't dominated by the US in the game way the Summer Games are. When we were watching the Summer Olympics last year, it was a shock to see the US not take the gold in any event. It was high stress. In the Winter Olympics, you end up with a situation like in 2018 when I exacerbate my pneumonia because I'm up late watching (and yelling) as the US Curling Team win an improbable Gold Medal. Don't get me wrong, I love the Summer Games too; I just wanted to share my love for the Winter Olympics.

So, if over the next few weeks you're in a meeting with me and I look a little sleep deprived, it's probably because I was up late watching something amazing happen on the ice or snow. We're having an Opening Ceremony party tonight, then it'll be 3 weeks of sweet sweet international competition. #TeamUSA

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

RLT Assemble!!!

Hello! 

First of all, thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. I had a great birthday. The only downside was that it was cold and snowy, with the potential for ice, so I didn't spend as much time outside as I would have liked. Still, we had a great dinner at home, Megan and the kids made a delicious cake, and we watched Kelly Clarkson's Ugly Dolls movie. (How she didn't get nominated for an Oscar, I'll never know...). =0). 

Next week will be another momentous occasion. Actually, there will be TWO special events. Not only will it be the 4 year anniversary of us moving to Omaha, but our Regional Leadership Team (RLT) will be in town for our first in-person RLT meetings since before the pandemic! Get pumped! 

Working with the RLT is one of my favorite things about my role. These are people who love Jesus, love the campus, and I am honored to call friends. We don't always agree on everything but we are all trying to follow Jesus together and lead the whole staff team well. The past 2+ years have been hard on a lot of different levels, college ministry certainly being one of those. Being able to celebrate, commiserate, and seek Jesus with these brothers and sisters has made the experience a little more bearable. 

Please be praying for us these next few days. Folk are traveling from Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, which always poses some risks. Also, we have some big decisions ahead of us for this semester. Also, please pray that we'll be able to enjoy one another's company freely, without the threat of COVID hanging over us. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

A Word for 37!

Hello, friends! 

On Friday, I turn the ripe old age of 37! I haven't decided yet if 37 is officially my late 30's or if I still have one more year in my mid-30's. Either way, I'm excited to have made it another year! 

Every year, somewhere around this time, I pick a word or theme for the year. Since the New Year, my birthday, and the Lunar New Year are all close together, my deadline is a little fluid. Some years, it takes all the way until early February for me to decide on a word for the next almost 12 months. 

This year, I actually had my word come in pretty early. I don't know if it was in November or December, but I knew that it was going to be my word for the next year. Drumroll please...

"Everything is Worship"

Why this word/phrase? There are a few good reasons. I think this phrase continues my theme of trying to be more intentional in my life. Last year the word was "balance" which was me trying to be more intentional in how I spend my time. "Everything is Worship" is a continuation of that theme. I want to make sure that I'm intentionally thinking about everything that I'm doing. How I treat my body is worship, which will hopefully include completing some more triathlons and getting better at curling. How I interact with my kids and my wife is worship. How I do my work with InterVarsity is worship. I want to be more intentional about seeing the things I'm doing as worship. 

Another reason is because I want to remember that the things I'm doing are worshipping SOMETHING, even if I don't think of it that way. The pandemic (and the Enneagram) has helped me realize that when I'm stressed, I turn to escapism like videogames and snacking. I want to see those things as they are; the worship of pleasure and comfort. When I see things that way, it's a little easier to put down the fries (even though they are so delicious!).

So, here's to another great year, hopefully one full of intentional worship. And, here's to (at least) 37 more years! =0). 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

A California Christmas!

Hello, friends! 

Here's hoping you are having a great start to the new year. I don't know about you but I'm ready to leave 2021 in the dust. =0). 

It's been a few weeks since we got back but I wanted to update you all on our trip to California for Christmas. In spite of all the omicron cases and the fact that we'd been to California twice already in 2021, we felt like it would be good to be there for a Christmas. Megan and I were doing the math and realized that we hadn't been to California for Christmas since 2017! 

2018 - Went for Thanksgiving and did SoDak for Christmas

2019 - Jojo was born so we didn't travel

2020 - COVID was in full swing

We figured that waiting 5 years between Christmas visits was a bit much, so we made the trip! Here are a few blessings and lessons from our trip: 

- Traveling at more convenient times is worth the extra cost. Instead of flying based solely on cost, we tried to take our schedule into account. This meant leaving a little bit later to Cali so we weren't stressed in the morning and leaving a little earlier on the way back to Omaha so we wouldn't get back so late. Friends, it was SO MUCH BETTER! The kids were in better moods, which meant that we were in better moods, and the flights weren't even all the way full, so Jojo (who now needs his own seat) could wiggle a bit. It was pretty great. 

- There might be TOO much good food in Cali. When I go back to Cali, I have a list of places where I need to eat. There are really only 5 or 6 places on the list that are absolutes. This trip, somehow, I only hit ONE of them. Granted, it was my absolute favorite, so I'm OK but it was weird running out of meals! Of course, I still ate really well. We cooked at home a lot more and some folk treated us to meals for various reasons. It was a different eating experience for sure but certainly still an enjoyable one. 

- It's ALWAYS beach weather, even when it isn't. My nephew turned 7 on December 31 so the Sunday before we left (26th) we had a surprise birthday party for him. His surprise? Playing flag football on the beach. Friends, apparently, you can still play flag football on the beach even when it's in the low-50's. Was it the most enjoyable experience? No. Did I have to keep Ezra from running into the ocean where he would almost certainly catch pneumonia? Yes. Was I pleasantly surprised at the fact that I didn't freeze my everything off at the beach? Also yes. =0). 

- Family time is good time. The last time we were in California was for my sister's wedding reception. We were just there for the weekend and the trip was very full, meaning we had some time to be together but there was also a lot of action. This time, there was no real agenda. We spent a LOT of time together. It was so good to see the cousins interact with each other. It's nice that they actually do like each other. It was good to see my siblings and my parents. It was also good that we were the only ones staying at my parents' place so there was some time when we weren't all together too. 

The next time we'll be out in Cali is probably November for Thanksgiving, which will be a while. But, that's OK. Cali will always be there and I'll always be happy to go back. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Hooray for Regionals!

Hello, friends!

Last weekend, Megan and I had the pleasure of joining the rest of our staff team from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska for our Regional Staff Conference (RSC). After a fully virtual Staff Conference last year, we were excited to get back together in person. Here are a few of my takeaways:

- I really do enjoy our team. One of the things that we missed the most about in person gatherings was the "in between" times. Training can be replicated pretty well virtually. What's impossible to replicate are the personal connections that happen outside of the formal times. There were meal times with story sharing. We had an epic White Elephant gift exchange. Megan dominated at Nerts and we even went on a hike to see a waterfall! It was such a joy to hang out with my coworkers as people and friends.

- Apparently, I've been doing ok at my job. The bulk of our time together was focused on an MPD initiative that we're doing with National. Some trainers from National came in to do the training and I was really encouraged by how our team appears to be a little ahead of the game when it comes to preparation for this program. It's nice to have the affirmation that I've been doing at least a passable job in my role.

- Family is always a thing. This conference was the first time that our kids were without at least one parent for an extended period of time. Meg's parents came into town to watch them, but there was still some drama. First there was the storm that was supposed to hit on Friday, so they had to come in on Thursday night. Then there was Jonah needed to go to the doctor for bronchiolitis, so us having to grab a rental car at the last minute since Megan was going to come after the appointment but I had to be there on time. Still, it was such a blessing to be able to be fully present at the conference and we're thankful for Meg's parents to watch the kids.

It looks like the next time we'll all be together again will be in the Summer. We used to have an MPD gathering in late May/early June but that will be virtual for now (and possible forever). I'll definitely be looking forward to the next time we get to see everyone in person again.

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Heading to Regionals!

Hello, friends!

Tomorrow, Megan and I will (hopefully) be heading down to Kansas City for our Regional Staff Conference (RSC). This will be the first time our entire 4-State staff team will all in the same room since 2019. I've been joking with staff that I'm excited to be reminded of how tall everyone actually is since I've only seen them from the shoulders up via Zoom these past 2 years. =0).

I have a few different roles during RSC this year. Part of our focus is going to training on a national Alumni initiative we'll be doing for the next 18 months, so I'll be helping lead that. The other part of our focus is to reconnect with one another, so I'll be leading a few informal "fun" times.

If you have the time this weekend, could you please be praying for us?

- Travel: It's only a 2.5 hour drive to the retreat site but there is a chance of snow. Added to that, if the snow stops my in-laws from coming down to watch the kids, Megan will have to stay home.

- Kids: Speaking of the kids, if my in-laws do make it down, this will be the longest that the kids have been without at least one parent with them. Pray they will handle that well.

- Connection: My favorite part of these Regional gatherings is the. "in between" times, when staff just get to connect with no real agenda or thing to accomplish. We've missed that over the past few years. Please pray for real connection between the staff.

- Health. We'll be masked during sessions and spending as much time as possible outside (or at least I will) but COVID is still a thing. Please pray for protection for the entire team.

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Honoring Uncle Stan...

Hello, friends!

I few weeks ago, one of our ministry partners, Uncle Stan Louie, passed away. Uncle Stan and Auntie Joyce were some of my first ever ministry partners, when I started with InterVarsity in 2007. As I was thinking about Uncle Stan and his life and legacy, there were a few things that jumped out to me. 

- Humility: Uncle Stan was one of the kindest, most unassuming men you would ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and was happy to serve in the background. I always appreciated the quiet dignity with which he carried himself. As someone who is more of a "big personality" seeing Uncle Stan live his life was foreign to me yet still inspiring. 

- Generosity: Fun thing about Uncle Stan. He and Auntie Joyce were some of my first ever ministry partners but I never formally asked them to partner with me. I just remember getting an email from InterVarsity saying that a new donation had been set up from them. Uncle Stan (and Auntie Joyce) were just generous people. In fact, my mom told me that as part of the funeral service, Uncle Stan asked that people contribute to our work with InterVarsity. That's so amazing. 

- Kind: Uncle Stan was one of those guys who always had a kind smile. You know that smile I mean, right? The one where when you see it, you know that you have a friend. Uncle Stan was kind enough to give Chinese names to each of my children. Uncle Stan was kind enough to always say hello at church and chat for a while after service. Uncle Stan was a kind man. 

So, here's to you, Uncle Stan. You will be greatly missed. Thank you for being a great man of God, a great ministry partner, and an inspiration. Enjoy Heaven...

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

https://www.legacy.com/funeral-homes/obituaries/name/stanley-louie-obituary?pid=200641358&v=batesville&view=guestbook