Married up. Likes to read stories: biographies, history, fairy tales... When active, enjoys learning how to golf, playing with anything that flies (planes, kites, etc…), hiking, riding bike, snowboarding, playing soccer, softball, Frisbee, and whenever possible, doing these things with his boys. Digs dates with Jenny, the late in the day smell of fresh cut lawn evenings in July, long road-trips cross-country, late-night chats with close friends, watching movies, sunsets, and seeing lives changed (gradually or otherwise) by the power of God.

Married to the love of her life. Loves being a mom to two boys. Enjoys a good book. Enjoys having time to read a good book. Has her favorite books and reads them repeatedly. Gets into hammocks and late night stargazing with her hubby. Gets away with quick drives to and around lakes Nokomis and Harriet. Digs the smell of spring, the taste of triple-berry frozen yogurt, and anything that hints at Irish, Scottish, Welch, or old country English. Has a gut feeling we may be missionaries some day. Causes deep considerations for Jeremy in light of how right she’s been about so much else so far. (This girl has the kind of grace and discernment that a melancholy poet like me needs to keep my feet moving and my head out of hot places… and has proven again and again to be exactly the companion I needed to survive this journey.)

Couldn’t say enough good about this little dude. Jen and I have needed him as much as we’ve needed each other these years he’s been here. Introspective and observant from day one, he’s got a generally delightful disposition able to bring happiness to just about any situation. Turned two, while still pleasant, he just got more complicated. Attribute that of course to his expanding role as a big brother. Aedan digs Veggie Tales and airplanes, baseball and snowmen, and has more sweet teeth in his little head than his dad. Something else he’s got in common with his earthly father – if there’s anything worth doing, there’s no teaching him. He can figure out how to do it on his own, thank you!

Eli’s kind of our little miracle baby. His existence was made known to us at a time in which we weren’t supposed to conceive. I was on a mild chemo drug for Crohn’s disease known to potentially cause birth defects, and we had been doing everything right for ten months. While we were a bit fearful at first, all lingering concerns were dismissed when, weeks later, I was diagnosed with cancer and we were told the likelihood of us ever having children after treatment was slim. It was a persistent, hopeful reminder during the eight months of brutal cancer treatment to have this little life growing inside of Jenny all along. Eli arrived healthy and strong early December 2005. He looks just like I did in my baby pictures. My folks say I was a good sleeper. We’re still waiting to see that virtue unfold in little Eli.