Tag Archive - anniversary

13 Years on the 13th

June 13, 2011 in Personal with 2 Comments

Today we celebrate 13 years together. There is so much that I’ve learned in the past 13 years as it relates to living with and loving this woman that is my wife. Here are 13 Things I’ve learned over the past 13 years with my wife.

  1. Wouldn’t want to share a bathroom with anyone else. Even if I only get 10% of the counter space for myself.
  2. Laundry will just not ever be caught up with. Ain’t gonna happen, but I don’t mind at all.
  3. Being right is overrated. Being civil isn’t.
  4. It’s always more fun with her there, and always more lonely when she’s gone.
  5. A surprise Diet Coke in a big cup will always make her day better.
  6. Sitting quietly through girl movies is always better than making fun of them loudly.
  7. A small gesture means a lot with 3 (and sometimes 4) kids in the house.
  8. Funny things are more funny when she’s laughing with me.
  9. She will always laugh first when I’ve hurt myself in an accident. I’m learning to accept this unique way of dealing with bodily harm.
  10. Asking forgiveness is the greatest marital tool in the marriage toolbox.
  11. Holding hands is always worth the inconvenience of a sweaty palm.
  12. Having her to talk with me through life’s changes and ups and downs; is one of my favorite things about her.
  13. The ability to count years and years that we’ve been together is something I’ll always treasure!

June 13 = 11 Years

June 14, 2009 in Personal with 0 Comments

Yesterday was a big day for me.  I returned from an overnight pastoral retreat, played Mario Cart with the boys, showered, took the kids to MacKenzie Park where we ate PB&J’s for lunch, then let the kids ride their bikes, fed some ducks with the leftover bread, stopped by the Hub City Cruzers Annual Car show, visited the Buddy Holly glasses statue, got home in time to read some of my John Adams book, fell asleep on the chair in the living room, woke up and hurried to Saturday Night services, hung out with 20 or so Elementary kids for an hour, took my family to Rosa’s Cafe for dinner, returned home to put the kids in bed, watched Pushing Daisies with my wife while she slowly fell asleep on the couch, then read some more of my John Adams book before I fell asleep at 11:00 pm.  And all this on my 11th Wedding Anniversary.

My daughter summed it up best while talking at dinner about Daddy and Mommy’s wedding, when she asked,

“Who watched us when you were there?”

While I often remember the days before my children (eating out late, long vacations, road trips, sleeping in on Saturdays, etc…); I cannot remember much of what happened before I met Starr.  I do know I was 17 years old, and that life sure was more fun with her around.  So much fun that I asked her to marry me, and she did on June 13, 1998.

wedding-picture-photo-wedding-rings-Jeff-Belmonte

And don’t worry you romantics out there, later this week we’ll be taking a short 11 year Anniversary trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  No kids!

Healthy Years

May 1, 2009 in Ministry, Personal with 1 Comment

I started at Trinity Church in Lubbock, TX exactly two years ago today.  What a change that was for my family and I!  We’ve adjusted moderately well to not having trees in our yard, and the dust storms are beginning to grown on us.  The growth we’ve seen in the Children’s ministry here at Trinity has been phenomenal over the past two years, and the future is sure to be exciting.  As I was reflecting over my 2 year anniversary, I pulled out my answers to some questions that Trinity asked me to answer during the arduous interview process.  One of the questions was, “In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a healthy children’s ministry?”

What a great question, and one that I struggle with often.  Health is such an evolving word, with health meaning different things to different kids at different stages of life.  Here is how I answered it back then, and with maybe a few minor variations it’s still true for me today.

The characteristics of a healthy children’s ministry include (in no particular order):

  • Children that have learned the responsibility to serve those around them. Helping children see themselves as a one very important part in a much larger story than they can see with their own eyes.  This is a challenge, because it’ challenges the Adam within all of us.  Thinking of others first isn’t a natural thing, and must be reinforced.
  • An environment that is accepting of everyone, and makes everyone feel welcome. Much easier to accept kids than to accept their entire families.  True acceptance of children can only happen when entire families are welcomed and involved in the process of Spiritual growth.
  • Leaders who are inspired to teach and lead. Leaders that know they are God’s vessels of service.  Ministry to children will inevitably become ministry to leaders.  It is my desire to see growth in everyone involved in Children’s Ministry, and this growth will be deliberately pursued.
  • Children who have an understanding of their important place in God’s kingdom. Children looking for ways to actively demonstrate their place in God’s Kingdome before everyone. (Parents, teachers, friends, etc…)
  • Changed lives and families in the overall church population. Change lives are the currency that we measure success by!  If lives aren’t being changed, then changes must be made.  More specifically I desire to see children be the catalyst to change for entire families to come to Christ.

The Moment

November 20, 2006 in Personal with 3 Comments

We all have those moments that forever alter our existence. For some it’s the time they discovered that mixing hot water with cold water creates warm water, while for others it might be that winning lottery ticket. I have a moment that would change EVERYTHING about my life from that moment forward.

On November 20, 1993 I was a 17-year old Senior in high school, and I had a very important date with an interesting 15-year old Sophomore girl I had met weeks earlier. This date was like many dates kids have in high school; it consisted of a terrible movie, a lame dinner, and holding hands in the mall. But unlike most other high school dates, I still wake up next to my date these 13 years later. I know, I know, many of my readers cringe at the thought of being married to a girl you dated in High School, but I can guarantee you that this high school girl was very different.

To summarize my first date in as few words as possible let me throw out some facts from this date:

  1. I commented to this girl that I was surprised how much food she ate at dinner. (Honestly I wasn’t even thinking that this is a taboo subject around girls, I just was shocked that she devoured that taco salad like she did. And I really thought it was cool that she didn’t pick at her food.)
  2. When getting out of my car to go to the movies, I slammed her hand in the car door. (For first daters I can recommend this move if you want to hold your dates hand for a while.)
  3. I went to the mall thinking that the movie theatre was within, only to find out that it was across the street. (Again, this provided a nice place to walk while holding my dates swollen hand.)
  4. After arriving at the correct movie theatre and waiting in line in the freezing cold… I got sick! I mean run to the bathroom at-this-very-moment sick. (So in my wisdom I handed some cash to my date, and said “I’ll meet you inside.”)
  5. Let me summarize the movie in only Three Little Words: Addams Family Values. (I might have been the only person in the world to have a second date after taking a girl to see this movie.)

Let’s just state the obvious. My first date with the future Mrs. LittlePastor was a colossal failure. However, I learned something very valuable about this girl when I returned to school the next day. She hadn’t told anyone about all the dumb things I did. This is priceless! I actually met a girl that didn’t get kicks out of making me look stupid. I could do this perfectly on my own, with no assistance necessary.

So on the 13th year anniversary of that terrible, yet most wonderful of dates I say to my wife of 8 years. I love you Starr. Thanks for the second date, and the third, and the fourth, and the……

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