Today was a busy, tiring yet amazing day.  Our home church started having two services, and we opted for the latter one.  This meant some changes for our morning routine, and not all of it worked out perfectly. However, we were able to make it on time.  After an emotional and powerful reading of the St. Patrick’s Prayer by Justin Fox, we launched into a new teaching series, “Grow”.  Today’s sermon was about the one thing that I have struggled with most of my life… that elusive four letter word that seems to evade me at every turn, usually due to my own devices. Rest.

Our pastor, Brandon Samuel, did a fantastic job of making us see that there is a need for rest, a need for connection with family, and with God, to focus on His plans for us.  This message reached deep into my chest and grabbed the toes of my soul, and grounded me.

My beloved bride and I discussed this teaching, and what it was saying to us, searching for application, reason, and purpose.  So, we have made a decision.  The point of making this public declaration of what our decision was is for accountability and to allow others to see what we are trying to do in our home.

Starting next weekend, we are unplugging our Sundays.  This means no cell phones, social media, video gaming, computers, tablets, television, etc.  With the exception of things to do with family, or church, we will spend time as a family, focused on family and faith. We are in desperate need of trying to find time to refill ourselves.  Having two children under the age if two, one having gone through six surgeries already, moving into an apartment in a few weeks, and life in general has taken a toll on us.  We are not saying that we have it any harder than anyone else, just that we are listening to our hearts, remembering our focus, and looking to live better lives for our children. 

As in all things, there are some exceptions, our immediate families and dearest friends will have and can contact us on our house phone, and my cell will be on for the weekends that I am on call until I can get my at home set up taken care of.

This is not something that is going to be easy for our family, but it is something that will be good.  Here is to giving things a new shot!

I AM A CRANIO DAD, I am scared out of my mind, and hopefully we can recharge our family, our faith, and our souls.