Last weekend we moved into our new house. Since there are boxes everywhere that need to be unpacked -- plus my bicycle is calling as spring has finally arrived -- I'll keep this short. First, we're grateful for the friends who helped, including Stephen W., John W., Brian D., and Jake A., as well as…
Eventually, I'm going to get to Part 2 of the post about how spin class is like a worship service. But we've been a tad busy around the Owens household, and it looks to continue. I posted a couple months ago about our house hunt. Well, we settled on a house closer to the town where our…
I'm writing here on Day 39 of Lent, so there's just one more day of fasting before the chocolate feast on Easter. Which reminds me, it was a terrible idea to send me to the store to play the Easter Bunny and buy all the treats for the baskets, not at the end of Lent…
No matter how busy I might be leading into vacation, I always try to ramp up my workout schedule, especially when we're heading home. I strive to take off a few pounds before our trip because I know I will add about five. We love seeing family, certainly we do, but there's no denying we…
The first time I went to Disneyland I was about nine years old. If I am remembering correctly, it was a gift from the doctor my mother worked for as a secretary. She and my dad were divorced by then, so she loaded us four kids up in her small sedan -- or was it…
It had been eleven years since the last time we were home at Christmas, and we made up for lost time in the two weeks we spent in the desert. I had a busy month or so before our trip, including my church's staging of A Christmas Carol the second week of December and all the…
I love surprises ... I think. I haven't been the recipient of too many, but I love giving them -- planning them, all that's involved. Over the weekend I revealed a surprise to our younger daughter Jacque that I couldn't wait to give her. Actually, I did receive a gift earlier this year that totally…
Despite having a firm grasp of the offsides rule, I'm not your typical soccer dad. I'm not too excitable on the sidelines. I don't cheer too loudly, if I can be heard at all. I don't yell out unsolicited advice, partly because I have none to offer. I feel bad when kids on the opposing…
A few weeks ago I was leading worship at our contemporary gathering and we were singing a new(er) song, one by Chris Tomlin called "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)," and I could hardly sing. I was fine with the intro and first verse, but as soon as I hit the second line…
This is the continuation of a series of posts:My Three DadsFirst Conversation in 30 YearsDay at the BeachI've been wanting to close this short series, but I've been working on a number of projects and my bike keeps beckoning me to enjoy the summer weather. I could always write in the winter months. This week…
