Cry Baby

If there's one type of movie that inevitably makes me emotional, it's got to be sports movies. I know-cheesy, bad acting, bad scripts, etc. But for some reason, the memories I have of my own athletic history (and my dad being a coach) get at me when I watch sports movies. It doesn't really matter what sports movies...Remember the Titans, Hardball, Glory Road, the Gridiron Gang, Hoosiers...

...if the movie has some lead actor that is trying his hand at comedic atheltics (aka Waterboy)-only tears of frustration and pain exit my eyes. One movie that gets me every time is Coach Carter. I know that it's extremely cheesy, but for some reason, I get so inspired by these flicks. Here's a speech given by one of the inner city players on Coach Carter, right after he's had an ephiphany about the direction of his life, and when he can turn to no one else-he turns to his coach.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Thank you Sir, you saved my life.”

Proud Brotha

I'm so proud of my sister. Kayleigh Sye is amazing on many different levels. I can't believe she's graduated college, and even a semester early! She's engaged and now has a three year old daughter. Basically, she's passed me up really quickly. The unfortunate thing is that she is back in Pomeroy for the duration of the summer. What a buzz killer. I'm praying that she doesn't get trapped there! I love her so much, and can't wait for the future.

Highschool Kayleigh.

Collegiate Kayleigh.

Little Kayleigh.

To infinity, and beyond...
















Kayleigh Sye, love you.

What was I thinking?

How could I forget the Francey's! Mark and Rachelle have been such amazing examples of devotion to me. They truly challenge young people to better themselves. It takes special people to encourage someone to care. That's a gift that is straight from God. Mark and Rachelle lobby people to care. Although I haven't spent much time with Kenzie, I'm sure that she will be such a strong pillar. This family I admire greatly. If I had to sum them up in a nutshell, it'd be "adventurously caring".

Your Secret Admirer

As dumb as it sounds, after I got one of those cheesy conversation hearts at work, mine said, "Your Secret Admirer", I started thinking about how much I loathe Valentine's Day. It's a day of extremes. We're set to promote extreme affection and love, or extreme loneliness. How fun. What a great day to celebrate. For me, more times than not, it has been a holiday that I choose to pass through. But this year, I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and pay tribute to the candy heart; to whom I admire. Please enjoy.

Krist and Kelly Wilde have shown me such great support. Not only just the amazing impartations of teaching, but their wisdom and constant faith in me is something that I have never experienced before. I admire both Krist and Kelly's desire to further the Kingdom. They are such strong pillars of faith.

In a similar way, Tracy Wilde has such a fervor for faith. But what I admire most about Trace is her vintage desire to disciple. Much like traditional rabbitical teachers, I believe Tracy has an innate ability to possess spiritual attraction. People seek her out. Her spirit is stretched in so many directions, and the giftings that God has given her are so diverse. The platform that God has built for her is grander than any I've personally seen. I admire her perseverance greatly.

Jolleen Quimba is the single greatest example of genuine empathy. Although my understanding of this is frequently ignorant, the ability she possesses to feel and genuinely care about people is magnanamous. People that she knows, she hears about, or sometimes even just sees can experience what I call "only's" solely because of her. "Only's" are those specific times, when in retrospect, you can look at your life and remember that one and only event. I really believe that Jojo is a minister of love. She'll talk to people with such a kind word, I believe her impact is far greater than we can ever imagine. She will change the world.


Another friend that I admire is Tom Foisy. I have this admiration of Tom because of his love for people as well. His love for God is so apparent when you're around him. Instantly, you know that he is a man of great faith; a man that believes there's nothing too big for God; a man of God.

On the flipside, Stephanie Rooks is one example of what God has asked women to be. She is a giver. Stephanie is so selfless. You will never meet someone that is so willing to give themselves to the "cause". The determination Stephanie has deserves great admiration.


My boy Adrian Gomez has such a desire to be better. To achieve. I can't believe how determined he is to get to the next level, whatever that is. I am amazed with him.

Meagan Murphy is a true worshipper of Christ. There's nothing more beautiful than someone opperating in their gifting that God has given to them. It's so amazing to see someone do what they love to do...what they were made to do. Meagan I admire you for your joy...for your Davidic worship...for your reckless abandon.


Of course my HLP, Marc Herring is someone that I can't express how much I admire. I know that if you know Marc, you know that he has a constant willingness to show grace to people. We talk about the grace of God so much as Christians, and I know that Marc has this down pact. Marc shows this grace and mercy.

Lastly, I have to include Shane and Kirsten Grove. Not only are they admirable as parents and husband and wife. But they are also examples of never-ceasing prayer. Prayer is something I've grown to love, desire, and cherish. This is greatly because of Shane and Kirsten. Without them and their direction, who knows where I'd be. Thank you to all of you.

Looking at all of these things I admire, they are mostly because of the way people interact with others. Their love for people. This is what I admire most.

Love Without Reason

I know that this is a delayed post, but last weekend was easily the best weekend since the big move. I drove up to Seattle, and stayed with the hospitable 613...also known as Steve McMahan, Travis Gingrich, and some other dude named Wes. Anywho...I had the best Greek food I've probably ever had. It was phenomenal. I think I loved it more than words can express. Plus, any weekend is great when you get to spend time on the Ave.

But the greatest part of last weekend was my boy Adrian. I can't even express how amazing he truly is. It is a sad defecit for most of you readers because you haven't had the chance to meet him. Perhaps I should catch you up.

When I was a freshman in high school, I had the chance to go and play on a men's volleyball team in Lewiston, Idaho. A coach asked me if I would join the team, so I went to a practice with little to no expectations. I admit, I was a little cocky. But skepticism was trumped. My life was going to be changed. There I met a guy named Andrew, also playing volleyball. He took me under his wing. He was a senior at Lewiston High School (Go Bengals!). Andrew's entire family is the first family that I can easily recollect that took me in...and I could literally describe as a home away from home. Although my time in hours was not abundant at the Gomez house, it to this day remains invaluable to me. The things that Mike and Barbara taught me and opened me up to span from peppercinis, cold pasta salad, and Grapefruit Sobe to the importance of honesty, transparency, and faith. Adrian at that time was only 12. His viraciousness for life remains unprecedented. I can't describe his sincerity. So often, I remember thinking about the effects that Mike (Adrian's dad) has had on my life even to this day. The way that I practice my life has been influenced tremendously by this family.

So now you're caught up. Adrian is amazing. When I went up to Seattle, I got to see Adrian for the first time in about two and a half years. After his fantastic rookie year on the UW baseball team, he chose to go on his mission. He just got back from Guadalajara. Needless to say, he got back, re-started school, re-started baseball, and got engaged. There has been so much to talk about! We went to sushi, then B&N, then UW Bookstore, then his place on Capitol Hill. It was awesome to reconnect. He is the perfect example of love without reason. He genuinely loves people without any rhyme or reason. I have never witnessed a more charismatic guy. People are drawn to him...and he genuinely wants to seek people out...with thanks. I have greatly missed him. It's strange, but I feel a greater sense of stability with him. Its fantastic to be around someone that I can truly express myself with. Its been a long time since I had that person. All you need to know is that Adrian is joy and ambition rolled into charisma. You should know him.

Seriously?

Hit Me Baby One More Time

Today features the final member of the immediate family of friends. If you have been keeping up with my blog lately, you will have had a few different clues as to who the baby of the family is...she has just started dating this foreign guy from 2C, she is the "heart" of the family, and...she is Asian/Pacific Islander. It is our little sister, Jolleen! Ms. Quimba has this innate way of relating to people. Jolleen can walk down the street, see someone, and suddenly develop a heart for them. I don't think that I've ever met someone so full of blessings. Often times in church, we hear about this metaphor of being "over-flowing". I sometimes wonder if Jojo will ever run out of encouragement. When you see her, you are greeted with one of two faces--a big smile and a little giggle, or what I affectionately call her Filipino face (which is when she scrunches up her lips and turns her eyebrows down). Regardless, she is always full of emotion. Jojo is the baby of our family for many reasons. For instance, Jolleen always has to go to bed early (because of her job), she is sometimes unconsciously ignored when she makes comments, and she lives with Mom still. Plus she's mom's favorite, so clearly she is the baby.



Joey is an elementary school teacher, so she has many art supplies and is more crafty than she gives herself credit for. Just two Christmases ago, I got Jojo a Magnadoodle, and perhaps I'm biased, but I think it was an amazing gift! Growing up in this family (with a bunch of talkers) Jolleen has learned to be a great listener. If you have any concerns or stresses, our little sister is the remedy. I'm sure our tiny, little sister would be a huge blessing in anyone's life. Unfortunately, Uncle Marc is headin' to L.A. to try and make it as a musician, I'm moving for a job, Auntie Moof is traveling again, Dad has left mom and is pursuing other dreams, so we will be missing out on our blessing-refueling sibling. But good news for all of you--Joey will have more to go around. So look her up...and be encouraged.

Gibler's got nothin' on Zandaddy!

In our great family of friends, we have discovered that every family needs a neighbor boy. There's Rudy's chubby friend, Peter on the Cosby Show; Urkel need I say more; and Roger from Sister, Sister. Without a doubt, we all need a neighbor boy. Unfortunately, they are often portrayed as the annoying nuissance. Zandaddy is not this person in our lives. He was dubbed the "neighbor boy" because he didn't live with anyone from the family. But Austin is far from annoying. Zander approaches life from an angle of excitement and eagerness. It was quite a surprise when Kristen started dating the neighbor boy. Granted, I have like Austin for quite some time, so I didn't feel the need to be too protective of my little sister Kristen. Plus, she's a handful on her own. Kristen sometimes has a tendency to get bored quickly...and this is a perfect fit because Austin is one of the most talented people I've ever known. He's the type of guy that can try and anything once and be a pro at it. Kristen and Austin have this in common, which makes them a great fit. The neighbor boy has a natural ability to sense the mood of things. And if its too heavy, Austin can always be the comic relief. Zandaddy is incredibly sincere and thoughtful. He has always been more than understanding--and seeks out ways to think of other people and show it. His insight is also pretty impecable. It almost makes you feel like he's spying on you, because he seems to always know what's going on. Even when our little sister (she will be revealed tomorrow) started dating this foreign guy (from the land of 2C) Austin knew before Kristen. The neighbor boy may have aqua pony tendencies and cold ankles, but he is well informed, and thoughful beyond compare. We all just kind of ignore the ankles (similar to DJ ignoring Kimmi's stinky feet) and deal, because we wouldn't trade Zandaddy.

O-L-S-E-N...what does that spell?

The Twins! Today's post is dedicated to the family's twins. Kyle Rooks and Kristen Brewer may not be biologically related, but they sure act like they are. They don't act just like brother and sister, but they act like twins. Their interactions with each other are hilarious.


Kyle is so easy going.



Kristen is the twin that looks for adventure and isn't satisfied until she finds it.



Between the two of them, mischief is always at hand. Kristen is the idea girl; and Kyle is the persuasive one. They claim many of the same traits. For instance, they both claim to be the "bringer together of friends". Which I just realized isn't even a word..."bringer". Ha. They also both get a litte offended when you suggest that their idea(s) aren't good ones. And usually, they are good ideas...just not plausible ones. I'll never forget the time when the twins were just kids...and it was their birthday (and by birthday I mean, it was Kristen's birthday). There was a beautiful cake that mom made for Kristen, naturally...and we're all singing "Happy Birthday" as mom walks the cake to the table. Kristen is anxiously waiting. Right before she blows out the candles, she takes a deep breath (not to be out-done)...Kyle beats her to the task at hand and extinguishes the candles before Kristen can exhale. What a brother. The slight uproar that followed characterizes their relationship so well. These two are the two people that bring joy into our lives. Kyle and Kristen liven things up in the family. Sometimes, things can get to be a little too serious, but with the twins, there's always something to keep us on our toes. The twins represent the vigor of the family. Mom is the hands, Dad is the brains, little sister (who will rename nameless at this time) is the heart, and the Twins are the eyes. They're the creative ones of the family. The see and do without conviction. If Daniel and Ruth were twins...we'd have a great match. Kyle and Kristen might be a little upset that I posted just once for the two of them as opposed to two seperate posts, but c'mon now, they're twins, they should be used to it by now.

In a Van, Down by the River

How many of you remember that infamous, comedy sketch from SNL with the tag line, "...in a van down by the river"? Granted, Chris Farley is nothing like today's family member. Unlike Farley's character in this particular sketch, uncle Marc (Herring) is an optimist. He has taken this tagline, that was supposed to increase fear in the hearts of delinquent children, and transformed it into a lifelong dream. Uncle Marc (that guy from Covenant) truly does want to live in a van down by the river...preferably a VW bus. This in an odd way represents Marc to a "T". He is so uncoventional. Granted, his sisters growing up were Auntie Moof and Mom (Sarah Walker)...so its no surprise he marches to a beat of a different drum.
No matter how abnormal Marc is he excels in areas that need abnormality to be special. For instance, Marc remembers statistics from when he was in third grade; he has an incredible nack for remembering numbers. This comes in handy when you need to remember phone numbers, statistics, etc. He also listens extremely well. Which is why I get along with my uncle so well, he listens to me jabber on and on...I get my communication fervor from mom. I'm not sure why, but Uncle Marc is still single. He seems like such great marriage material, but I suppose since his music is such a high priority, it must make things pretty tough. His music is so close to his heart; it expresses him in a dimension that his words don't ever say. Aside from everything, Marc is a very loyal friend as well...just like dad. When I went away for college, I stayed with Uncle Marc. He really is not your typical bachelor. He always keeps a clean house, cooks regularly, and maintains a tip-top lifestyle, except for his shower habits of course. If you don't know my Uncle Marc, you need to. His humor is beyond abnormal...and that's what makes him so funny. His uniqueness makes him a person that you need to have in your life...otherwise, you're just missing out.

Root Juice, Sequence, and Almonds

I know that it has been a few days since I last posted, but the Olympics have been consuming most of my time. Today, I am posting about the infamous Moof. This is our affectionate name for our aunt, Stephanie Rooks. She is fantastic. Granted, Stephanie is our aunt because she's the girl that lives her life to the beat of a different drum. Auntie Moof (short for Mufasa) has many quirks that maker her who she is. Some of these things are: the constant insatiable desire to consume almonds, her bottle of root juice (a natural sweetner) that she constantly carries in her purse...speaking of purses, she also has a sequenced purse that leaves behind beads and sequence everywhere she goes. One of the things that I appreciate about Aunt Stephanie is her desire to be used. She lives a true servant's life. I am guessing that only true television fanatics will remember this, but on Home Improvement, Jill's sister comes to visit a few different episodes. Jill's sister travels the world, brings back crazy artifacts for the kids and Tim and is an adventure seeker. Moof is a dose of this concept, with a heavy ingredient of humanitarianism. In Acts, we see that we are called to go into all the world telling them about the Good News of God. This sums up Stephanie. She has this desire, and lives it out daily. Soon, our aunt will be leaving us again to go to Korea and serve. It'll be a sad day; our family is disbanning. Perhaps, Moof will bring us back tea, chopsticks, and other crazy things from her un-ending travels.

Who's Your Daddy?

Today is dedicated to DAD. Calvin (Vinny) Nicholas Arthur Mann. The voice of reason can generally be attributed to the father figure. However, in times of stress, at least in my family, the dad is the first to jump to conclusions. Vinny on the other hand is our father figure in our family of friends because of what he does in his maneurisms and anectdotes. Vinny is never short on information. We can all be sitting around talking about work or something...then Vinny chimes in with statistics from CNN or something he read in the NY Times. It is frequently mind boggling. Vinny has a specific stanse that includes a coffee mug as well. There's just something about his actions that make him "dad-like". I would venture to say that many of the girls in the family also would agree that Vinny is extremely protective. He's a guy that defends his friends, and in this case, family to the furthest extent. He is amazingly committed to his friends/family. You'll have a hard time finding a guy that is more loyal than Vinny. Our friend Cara called Vinny to have her come pick her up when her car broke down. Vinny is that type of dad. The one that bails you out. He's the dad that is on your side...and you know it. He's not the Danny Tanner dad that just lectures you with "dad talks", nor is he Tim Taylor who just doesn't get it. He's more like Tony Danza from "Who's the Boss" or the dad's from "My Two Dads". He's the good friend, dad-type. He's always got your back. Unfortunately, Vinny will soon be in Scotland. Hopefully we won't need bailed out from jail, or break down on the side of the road...farewell Vinny. Can't wait to see dad in a kilt.

A Tribute to the Family

I think that no matter what situation you're in; it is completely natural to create a family-type unit. From birth, most of us experience some sort of family atmosphere, and become accustomed to it. When you leave that traditional home, you surround yourself with a similar unit and take on roles whether you mean to or not. Post college, some of us have realized that we have all began to form this sort of family. We are known as the "Leftovers" because many of us didn't hang out while in college, but since we're out of college, live in the area, and have mutual friends--we are now "family". In honor of this family unit, I have decided to dedicate one person to each day, that way you can get to know them as well.


Today, I have decided to start with our mom. Because I am truly a mama's boy (I love my mom)...I thought it only appropriate to start with the mother figure in our new family unit. Sarah Walker. She is such a fantastic person. She is the type of person that bakes cookies for guests...or picks you up from work/school...and when you tell a sketchy joke, you look to see her reaction (you know, see how much you can get away with). Haha. Sarah is a woman that lives a life you can't help but respect. She has such charisma and is directed by an empathetic pull. When you're little, typically, you want to go to your mom for compassion and understanding. Many dads struggle with this concept a little. Which is exactly why Sarah is our mom. She deserves a day off...is there such thing as "Fake Mother's Day"? We should have one in her honor. She works her tail off. Hats off Sarah...we look up to you in more ways than you'll ever know.

Friends are Friends Forever

Although it has only been a couple of years since I graduated college, I have realized that much of the memories are dimming. I however am fortunate, because I still live in the general vicinity of my school. Friends from college remain all over this area. Boe and Charla live just South of us...Kristen, Austin, and Stephanie live across the street from us...Josh, Hillary, and Taylor represent for Caldwell...and then there are copious amounts of friends that remain Nampons. Why is it so different from college still? Well, for one, we're all tired and in bed before midnight these days, whereas, in college we didn't even start homework till 1am or later. We also have to worry about jobs, money, and for many, spouses. College brings us all together.

Last night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the eclectic group of friends that gathered together at nothing less than the Canyon County Fair. First of all, Canyon County's fair is not the same as the Ada County fair, or the Hyde Park Street Fair. Secondly, like it or not, Kelly Pickler may be attractive (to say the least), but she can't write...all of her songs she had to say were "co-written". Nonetheless, as we were sitting there listening to Kelly Pickler, I saw friends...with friends...with friends...with spouses. It was a blast. After the highly anticipated fair, we went to Applebee's for 1/2 price appetizers. It was fantastic. All of those in attendance were:

Teri and Tony
Trista (Vote for Me-e-e)
Karen (welcome back from Seattle)
Marc Herring (the NNU Covenant legend)
Josh and Hil (the newlyweds)(http://joshandhil.blogspot.com)
Boe and Charla
Kristen and Austin
Me (token minority)
Taylor Lobb
Travis Green (the turtle)
...and the Moof.

No matter what...people may say it over and over again, but you must cherish those friends and memories. You never get it back.

Discipleship is awesome...

My boy Jared...being who God made him to be...