15 years ago...

15 years ago I was at Brian Piccolo Park playing soccer with my high school team (SHCS Sharks!) as a senior. Just last night I was at the same park playing soccer with my 2-year old son, Zachary. I laughed, and ran, and I can't believe that he went up and down the field dribbling the ball and scoring a goal at both ends!

What a great few moments, remembering where I was 15 years ago and enjoying an early evening with 76 degree weather, a nice breeze, and soccer with my son. Can't wait until Ryan joins us!

Now, where will we be 15 years from now? That's a crazy thought!

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I hate car trouble....

I hate car trouble. Got home from vacation, and both cars of mine had some issues. Didn't help that we had rented a new van that had 37 miles on it when I picked it up! One week and 1,640 miles later, that van was broken in!

Anyway, my Expedition wouldn't start & Papa's Cadillac won't start. I had to get a ride to work from my wife and kids! So, I just left Advance Auto with the battery. I hope it works.

(Few minutes later) Woohoo! Thank you Jesus...my car started!

I hate car trouble...but I love it when it works...go ahead, thank God for your running car right now! Don't take it for granted!

Wow, it has been a busy...

Wow, it has been a busy couple of days. We made it back from Thanksgiving vacation, the boys are doing good, and Jeanine is doing great. I am back at work getting ready for Christmas at the Oasis. Lot to do, we'll update more later. Bye.

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This is what vacation looks like...

We are spending Thanksgiving week with Jeanine's family at a beach house in Gulf Shores, Al. Right behind those houses, across the street, is the Gulf of Mexico (I know, we drove 7oo+ miles to go to the beach! And we live 20 minutes away from one...but, the bigger picture is FAMILY!).

Beautiful setting, great house, we made it and are looking forward to an amazing couple of days together... I might even get to where a long sleeve shirt or two!

Another advenure with Zach

We went to Homestead Motor Speedway on a Dad Day with Zachary to watch NASCAR practice for the race on Sunday...absolutely beautiful day as a cold front had come through the night before. Not a cloud in the sky and the temp was mid-60's to 70 degrees...awesome!

We got out of the car and saw 4 fighter jets fly by the track. Then we watched cars zoom by at about 180 mph (literally, we were about 15 feet from the fence!). Enjoyed some chicken tenders and fries (Zach loves chicken! Me too!). And, surprise, surprise, since it was called FORD Championship weekend, there was a big Ford exhibit. We saw our favorite cars (Mustangs), saw trucks and race cars up close, and yes, we saw a MONSTER truck, Blue Thunder (which, in case you are wondering, is a Ford!). Zachary loves trucks and cars but especially MONSTER trucks! I have created a red neck (which is ok because I am a country boy at heart myself...).

Got back in the car to go home and Zach watched the DVD "Cars" all the way home...I love being a dad! I can't wait until Ryan can go with us and we can send Jeanine to the spa for some Mommy time...she deserves it!

The best donuts...

Are Krispy Kreme! And the Hot and Now sign must be on...

Did mention Oasis Church North Miami? And that if I time my commute just right and avoid I-95, I go right by a Krispy Kreme Donut Shop? And they give you a fresh donut that requires no chewing at all...just literally melts in your mouth?

Did I mention that? Anyone want to join me in NOMI??

Giddy up!

Hmm... Zach is having fun and Ryan is not too sure... how often will that be the case in the future? I love being a dad and husband!

Yummy!

Had another mini-adventure and pleasant "Am I still in South Florida?" experience this past Saturday (this is building on the "I Have an IKEA" post). Took the fam to a stand alone Chick-fil-a restaurant for dinner (Hey, Zach loves "Chick-fil-a chicken" as he says in his deep voice!). The food was great (fresh, quick, and hot), the service was attentive to detail (like they actually cared about you), the place was clean, and there was country music playing! I am also convinced that when the customers are treated right and the experience of eating out is good, then that allows us to be more polite and engaging with others. It was no different here as we sat talking a few moments with a family across from us. Good experiences lead to more good experiences.

Sad to say, you do not get this alot here in South Florida. However, when you do find it, it stands out in your mind and you WILL return there in the future (unlike the Burger King on Pines and Hiatus!).

Afterward, we went to a new outdoor mall at Pines and I-75, which was awesome in 65 degree weather! Not all the shops were open (Starbucks is coming!) but you could tell it is going to be a nice place to be (especially at night or in the winter- not sure I want to be outdoors at a mall in August at 1pm!).

More good experiences to follow... what about you? Any good experiences/ places you want to share?

I have an IKEA!

Wow, what a great store and time we had on Friday am. Had to get up early for a Ryan doctor appointment, so we figured, since we're up, why not go on a new adventure?

First impressions, we had parking lot attenders directing traffic the attached parking garage at 10am on a Friday... are you kidding me? Loaded up the dual stroller and headed to the store. Once we got there, we were handed a map (you know it's a big store when you need a map!) and pointed to the elevator for the showroom. Once we got up to the top, since we were hungry, we went and had breakfast (for real!). The big breakfast was eggs, bacon, potatoe home fries, and french toast sticks for...$1.99. And it was great! We fed all but Ryan for under $7! Just for the record, how much money do you think they make/save just by keeping hungry people from leaving their building? What if every major store did that?

Moving through the store, we were blown away by the design, creativity, signage, selection, ideas, and potential solutions to problems that IKEA offered. The store was HUGE and it would take forever to take it all in...

All in all, IKEA was a great experience and I am looking forward to returning soon. Could IKEA change South Florida? Who knows...check back later and I will talk about the adventure of Saturday!

A sign of the times...

Here we go...thanks to Jenn (our director of all that is communications!) our banner that is readable is now up and visible as Oasis NoMi. This is important, especially since we spoke on the Oasis Church vision this past weekend.

You see, last week, we had a banner put up. But the words and letters were not to scale for the size sign we have (even though our sign company came and measured...but I digress...that is another conversation!). In fact, the words were not readable from the street, which is the whole point of a STREET SIGN!

You see, the old sign was not usable because it did not communicate effectively to it's intended audience nor was it relevant to the context it found itself in...and if that is important for a vinyl banner, what about the church and the Word of God? This takes constant attention and evaluation...yet, that is what we are called to do as our Great Commission.

Just a thought on a sign of the times...good night!

A Higdon Halloween

So, here is the deal... since TS Noel was churning a few hundred miles away we were forced to go to the mall with a few hundred thousand fellow South Floridian trick-or-treaters. We loaded up our big cowboy (who, as you notice, STILL has no guns even though dad went to three stores looking for pistols...are you kidding me?) and our little indian (Native American...is that a better wording?) and headed to Pembroke Lakes Mall.

Ran into some friends while we were there. Tried to get Zach to say "trick or treat". Discovered many stores had run out of candy by 5:45pm (the event was supposed to go to 7pm). Came home with about 6 pieces of candy in our basket (aww!). Remember I have a credit card and can get my own candy for my boys (yay!). Met Grandpa and Grandma Higdon who gave the kids free candy so I don't have to go get it (BIG YAY!). Remembered why I don't like the mall (people...by the way, the kids were great at the mall...can we do something about their parents cutting in line and being rude for 1 piece of candy? Seriously?). Saw one reason to go back to the mall (Starbucks is open!). Remembered that I will have to go to the mall again very soon (Santa Claus and Rudolf is already being set up...wow!).

Realized again how much I love my wife and my parents and my boys. God is good and every day is a day that He has made... let us rejoice and be glad... even on Halloween!