Lost among thoughts...

Great news!

2008-07-24T12:40:00.007-05:00

My good friend Tim Raad has just joined the blogging ring. He is a man that writes with passion, brilliance, and is captivating. Please check his blog, and find insight in this first post of his. I love this guy, and I am so excited to get to peer into his insights and wisdom he brings to this life.

Click here to visit Tim's Blog

Below is a picture of Tim and I racing an Audi around the track at the Autobahn country club near Joliet. It was a free event that was sponsored by Audi comparing its model to others in its class. It was also Tim's birthday, so we said why not, and went together, along with Joe Moberly. It was an exhilarating experience, and though I had the opportunity to drive several times, I actually enjoyed riding along with Tim at the wheel the most. Many of you will probably call me crazy, opting for riding in the Mercedes, Audi's, Lexus's and BMW's, however he is an incredible driver and can push cars far beyond what I am able to do. If you have ever ridden with someone who understands the dynamics of turns, acceleration, and can nail the apex then you know what I mean. Tim is a guy that see's the Apex's and attacks them with brilliance, and sometimes he even does it while driving...

Courage + Believe = Life

2008-06-23T23:20:00.001-05:00

My fantasy baseball team is pretty much unstoppable now.

2008-06-23T13:40:00.004-05:00

BATTING/FIELDERS:
Brian McCann, Atlanta, Catcher 14 HR, .310 AVG, 383 OBP

Kevin Youkilis, Boston, 1st Base, 13 HR, .305 AVG, 377 OBP

Dustin Pedroia, Boston, 2nd Base, 6 HR, .282 AVG, 329 OBP

Chone Figgins, LA Angels, 3rd Base, 13 SB, .315 AVG, .422 OBP

Edgar Renteria, Detroit ShortStop, 5 HR, .266 AVG, .318 OBP

J.D. Drew, Boston, Outfield, 14 HR, .318 AVG, .426 OBP

Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, Outfield, 32 SB, .288 AVG, .350 OBP

Josh Hamilton, Texas, Outfield, 19 HR, .312 AVG, .358 OBP

Chipper Jones, Atlanta, Utility, 16 HR, .393 AVG, .485 OBP

Sometimes...

2008-06-23T04:53:00.008-05:00

Sometimes as I drive home I get to see this...

Sometimes...

(Photo from my blackberry on rt.30 bridge over the fox river)

A CCC SCANDAL IS BREWING...

2008-06-17T01:25:00.004-05:00

If you are an avid blog reader, and Dave Ferguson's blog is a regular stop, you probably know what scandal I am talking about. Saturday evening I arrived at the Yellow Box for the 6:30 service. I pulled up behind Dave Ferguson's parked car, and noticed a new addition (as you can see below)

I laughed to myself, and made my way into the church to ask Dave about his new addition to his car. He proceeded to laugh at me, and ask me if I was kidding. I convinced him I wasn't and he made his way outside to view for himself. Dave took a picture and made is way back inside. I asked him after service if he had found out who did this, and he had the audacity to accuse me! Come ON DAVE! I certainly would be proud if I had thought of it first, but I sadly didn't, and now for you to accuse me of this!!! I am absolutely appalled. So here is what I am asking:

1. Whoever did this, please come forward and receive a high-five from me, and your rightful recognition.

2. Dave, stop accusing me or this will get ugly... The last sticker came off easily...

3. Anyone willing to join me in this cause, please visit Dave's blog daveferguson.org and let him know how ridiculous it is for him to accuse me of such an act. (atleast if I did it I would certainly take credit for it.)

High Quality Advertising

2008-05-22T23:38:00.002-05:00

Up the street I noticed a garage sale, and sadly I also noticed that hardly anyone was there. As I was leaving the neighborhood I noticed their sign at the entrance of our neighborhood where the speed limit is 50 mph... Any thoughts as to why the people may not have been flooding in? Its a mystery:

Touching them all...

2008-05-05T01:49:00.003-05:00

One of the most powerful sports stories I have every heard.

Did you feel the Central Plains tremble...

2008-04-18T17:00:00.003-05:00

So at 4:30ish Lisa wakes me up and tells me the bed is shaking. Here were my possible solutions in my groggy-4am-no one should ever be awake at this time-state:

1. Low flying airplane.
2. Lisa was dreaming.
3. I was dreaming.
4. Haunted bedroom.
5. Involuntary Extreme Shaking during sleep.
6. Large Vehicle of some sort coming dangerously close to our house.
7. Lisa is crazy. (I didn't actually think this though I don't know why)

When we did wake up a few hours later, lisa turned on the television to exclaim "SEE! I knew that felt the house shaking! We had an earthquake!"

-I slept through the first earthquake in years, and it never even crossed my mind as a potential solution.

No words needed...

2008-03-25T18:48:00.001-05:00

Whats worse than loosing an hour because of the time change?

2008-03-09T23:58:00.002-05:00

Waking up at 3 am to hear your child coughing and struggling to breath. Only to rush him to the emergency room and spend 2 1/2 hours as doctors give him steroids and prepare for epinephrin breathing treatment...

Oh child, why that night of all nights?

Well, needless to say, today has been exhausting, and with the little sleep we did get, we have made it through the day.

Elijah is better now, he has the Croup, which is nothing crazy, and very common in young children, though his attack at 3 am was quite a struggle for him. We have learned that cool air is a good treatment for the croup, and in a couple days this should pass. His breathing has improved greatly, the cough lingers, but it is showing signs of fading as well...

Often times the croup is described as a barking cough like a seal...

Good Night.

9 month stats...

2008-02-28T00:17:00.002-06:00

We took elijah in to the doctor for his 9 month check-up. Here are the stats:

Weight: 50th percentile (perfect)

Length: 90th percentile (so he's tall)

Head Size (Gord): above 95th percentile (um...genious?, or Five-head...)

If you don't understand Five-head, think about it for another second, if you still don't understand, take a nap.

Shot update: He still doesn't like them.

Now for my thought. I hate when he gets shots. If you know elijah, he is a pretty happy baby almost all of the time. He loves seeing new people, and almost always greets any person with a huge smile. Well when he needs a shot he is always so happy just before. Then the nurse always asks me to do the one thing I absolutely don't want to do "Could you please grab his arms and hold him?" Do I have permission to say no? Its horrible, because he smiles at the nurse, then he thinks that dad is playing because I'm holding his arms and am very close to him. That is until seconds later when that big smiley face changes instantly into mouth open, eyes shut, face red, and lack of breath because he is trying to scream. Then he has to open his eyes and see mine...

I'm sorry son, this really is to keep you safe, and healthy, I love you. I hope if anything you see that in my eyes...

A sick baby, a late night, a powerful prayer, and the dove...

2008-02-25T19:24:00.006-06:00

Last tuesday was a day that I won't soon forget. I had just gotten back from BLAST a weekend student ministry retreat with almost 700 in attendance, where I was helping lead the set-up and tear down of a monstrous set design. I was tired but glad to be home. Lisa and Elijah had returned the night before on the train from spending the weekend in macomb, and Tuesday morning sunlight had come earlier than I had hoped.

Lisa was getting ready earlier than normal because her school was up for final approval from DCFS, and it was my responsibility to give elijah a bath and take him to the sitters. Well lisa had left and I was just finishing Elijah's bath when something didn't seem right. I don't know how to explain it, but I knew that I needed to stay with him that day. I called lisa and told her, and she then let the sitter know.

Only a few hours later I was sitting with elijah in the living room when he started to get sick, and then again, and then again. He threw up everything that was in his stomach and began a horrible cycle of getting sick, crying, sleeping and then repeating. This went on all day. I was on the phone with the doctor, and lisa. I surrounded him with towels, and held him as he continued to get sick. I have to admit that this was absolutely horrifying. As an 8 month old he didn't know how to get sick, he kept looking at me as if asking whey this was happening to him. There were moments were I had to hold him face down to make sure he wouldn't choke and by the end of the day I was holding him on my lap, surrounded by towels, and praying as tear rolled down my face.

Lisa and I got some pedia lite (as instructed by the doctor) and every chance we got made him drink it(Which didn't last long).

I didn't know what do do except to pray, I knew that I could pray but I thought I might as well ask someone who I know is a powerful prayer warrior. Lupe Kalter. If you know Lupe you know there is something powerful about her prayers. Not that there isn't when others pray, but when Lupe prays...well, its powerful. At about 4pm I emailed Lupe this email:

"Lupe,
My son elijah (8 months) is very sick with the flu. He has been throwing up all day, and now we are scared that he is getting dehydrated. Please pray for God to heal him. We are very worried...
Thank you
-Nick Plassman"

Lupe responded shortly with this:

"Right now Father your healing hand is being summond. That you would bless Elijah. This baby is very sick with the flu and needs healing now. Father I believe in the power of prayer and in your love for us. Lord hear my words and know the deep consider for Elijah and be the blessing he needs right now.

Lupe. I will continue this pray silently."

So after I wiped the tears from my eyes from reading her email, I also prayed that God would give Lisa and I the wisdom to know what and how do continue caring for elijah. Also that we would have the energy to stay up with him all night if need be.

So the night continued just as the day had, Elijah was completely exhausted by night time, but he kept his cycle, get sick, scream and cry, then collapse into sleep, then about 10 minutes later repeat. As the night went on Lisa and I had the energy to care and be focused on him.

At about 3 am I went to the front window and looked outside. I knew there had been a light snow that night, and I wanted to seen how much had fallen. When I looked out front I noticed a dove sitting in the snow. No tracks around him, just sitting out front on the new fallen snow. At first I thought the bird must be frozen in the cold temperatures and considered going to rescue it... but I just watched. Then I thought about it for a moment. I couldn't remember seeing many birds in our neighborhood. We live in a newer development area and there are few trees, and the trees that do exist are very young and certainly not old enough to house a nest. So I wondered what the bird was doing at that moment, outside our house, on the new fallen snow. Well I needed to get back to elijah, and so a few hours passed by. Then at 5 am I went to look outside the window again. The dove was still there, sitting, calmly on the new fallen snow...

I'm not going to pretend that I know how exactly God works every time or what He always will or won't do. What I will say is that the dove I saw that night was real. The dove was gone when the sun came up, but it was there during the night. Whether or not God sent that dove doesn't make much of a difference to me, because the dove was a comfort, and a reminder...

Elijah is better now, he made it through the night and the next couple of days. They were very tough, and not easy to care for him. He has his smile back, and he has almost gained the weight he lost back and I haven't seen the dove since.

Thank you God for the Dove, and thank you Lupe for your prayer.

Blast 2008

2008-02-14T05:32:00.001-06:00

Last night we arrived at the kalahari, anxious to begin the long setup process. 37 1/2 hours until nearly 700 people arrive for the largest Student winter conference CCC has ever organized.

For now, it's 5:32 am... For me and a few others, Blast has begun...

Elijah Model

2008-02-07T10:26:00.000-06:00

Several people have asked us recently if we have considered letting elijah be a baby model. We usually laugh it off until now. We told the people who were inquiring about it if they thought it was something that we should do that they should get us the information. Well we were given the information, and asked to take recent pics of him. Here are the pics that we will be submitting for him. Who know? Look out Gerber, here comes Elijah!

Which one is your favorite?

Prepare to waste the next 2:15 of your life:

2008-01-25T23:30:00.001-06:00

Elijah words...

2007-12-09T22:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-20T10:32:00.001-06:00

Heads Up | 21 entries of John...

2007-11-07T20:36:00.000-06:00

This post will be followed by 21 postings as I have begun and will continue with my 21 journal entries. As a church we are reading the book of john for 21 days (One Chapter each day, there are 21 chapters). I am personally excited to see what God is going to reveal to the church as a whole. I am praying that Gods spirit will speak to the church as we all study the same scriptures over these 21 days...

I'm not necessarily looking for comments, just prayer, or support. Feel free to read John over the next several days, and if you do, please let me know your thoughts.

This really happened...

2007-11-05T14:07:00.000-06:00

One minute he was giggling, the next, he had crash landed into an instant nap...

I love naps, have you ever fallen asleep and then woke up suddenly not remembering falling asleep? In class, while driving(Brad), etc...?

Elijah Laughs

2007-11-02T08:19:00.000-05:00

Lately one of Elijah's favorite sounds is the zerbert sound. The best part is he has begun to laugh, I mean really laugh, not just a short sound, or squeal.

Enjoy this beautiful boy as we share his laugh with all of you!

Business Card no longer...

2007-10-31T14:35:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a contest through a friend at Go Media. I love the idea of a card that doesn't only lend itself to your profession, but also to your life. The card should allow others an opportunity to learn something about your life, and spark further discussion. This is the card I designed for myself and submitted to the contest.

Any thoughts?

Joseph...

2007-10-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

Saturday night I helped our children's ministry here at Community Christian Church. I was a sub for the preschool class. While subbing for the class I met a boy named Joseph. Joseph was an intriguing little boy who had large trusting eyes. He was the kid that pulled up a chair and sat next to me, even though he had never seen me before. He looked up at me after a couple of minutes and asked me a question, the following is the conversation that happened between me and Joseph.

Joseph: Do you have a mommy?
Nick: Yes, do you.
Joseph: Yeah. Where is your mommy?
Nick: She's not here.
Joseph: Why is she not here?
Nick: Well she would like to be here.
Joseph: Is she upstairs?
Nick: No she lives far away from here.
Joseph: Oh.....
Joseph: Is she sick?
Nick: No, she just lives far away, and she can't come every weekend.
Joseph: (Walking away before I finish...)

(Irony: During this conversation, my mom actually called me)

Later->

Joseph notices I was chewing gum.

Joseph: You have gum?
Nick: Yep.
Joseph: Do you swallow your gum?
Nick: Nope, I chew it.
Joseph: You chew it?
Nick: Yep, what do you do?
Joseph: (Walks away and puts on a fireman's costume)

Yip Yips...

2007-09-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, as in last week, I would watch Sesame Street. While watching and enjoying myself I always had a Love-Hate relationship with a pair of Characters. Well maybe Love-Fear relationship is more accurate. Those characters are the Yip Yips. I was always fascinated by them, and I loved laughing at them and mocking them, but I was always secretly afraid that they would show up in my house and attack me. Good thing that hasn't happened yet, but I still wonder if they will show up some day...

Here is a pleasant reminder that Shawn Harris shared with me.

Thanks Shawn!

Um... Perhaps the cutest baby ever...

2007-09-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

I don't have much to say except that he is beautiful, and I love him!

My son, the Gangsta...

2007-08-28T08:37:00.000-05:00

What can I say? Like father like son...