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The last couple years I have experienced an overwhelming feeling of responsibility to be a good model for my boys.  Humbly, I have had the extraordinary honor of having a father who has lead and lived an integral life. Who, in gist, has been a great model for me.

Currently I have been re-reading several books on raising boys, specifically a book called, Raising a Modern-Day Knight.

Here are some hard hitting thoughts by the author:

“Many sons have a premonition that they were created for something significant, if only someone [father’s] would notice them. “

The most disturbing quote…

“The most urgent domestic challenge facing the United States at the close of the twentieth century is the re-creation of the fatherhood as a vital social role for men.”

I can’t etch into words the importance of a father’s role in their sons lives.

Dad’s, how are you doing with leading your boys these days?  Make it count!

Recently I finished another leg of my journey toward my MBA.  This past weekend I finished a beta class called, Servant Leadership.  The class consisted of people from both George William University and Aurora University.  The group comprised of 6 MBA, 6 Masters of Social Work, and 6 Doctoral of Education students.  What an eclectic group of individuals who contributed a great amount throughout the course.

Below are some pictures of our last class from Lake Geneva, where George William University is located.

Former CEO of Service Masters, Bill Pollard…and me

Bill Pollard and a few MBA students from both Universities

Last class photo…taken on the porch overlooking Lake Geneva

March Madness 2009!

Okay, I know this isn’t basketball, but I have a maddening amount of pictures of my family.

The fam taking it easy in Naperville.

Three generation of studs.

GQ George

Looks like George is scratching his stomach while we are trying to take a nice family photo.

Chics dig the car!

Why are you laughing?  That is my normal smile.

Waassssuuuppppp!

Thank you Heather for taking such great shots!

I would like to start a Father and Son tradition.  It would have to be something my son and I could do routinely, all the way into his high school years and maybe beyond.  Whether it be weekly, monthly or even something annually.

What are your suggestions?

Yesterday marked our 7 year wedding anniversary!

We went to the Melting Pot for dinner and enjoyed a couple hours together celebrating, laughing, and enjoying each other’s presence.

Kathryn knows that I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to gifts, that is to say, “keep it simple.”  Don’t get me wrong, I like nice things and a surprising gift here or there is okay…but all-in-all I enjoy “meaningful” gifts…I REALLY like cards!

My wife made me a card from scratch, which was nicely done, and she received an A+ for creativity and surprise!

One of the things she had in the card was, “14 Reasons Why I Love You.” (2 reasons for every year we have been married…for those of you math challenged, that is 7 x 2 =14.)

Very creative!

I thought I would post my “14 Reasons Why I Love You” so every can see for themselves:

1.)  Your selfless acts of kindness to others

2.) The little things that you remember about others that make them feel special

3.)  The confidence you exude in a myriad of circumstances

4.) Your love for good food and creative passion to cook tantalizing dishes!

5.) Your love for God (BTW: if some of you get all tangled up in God being number 5…they aren’t ranked, so get over it :-))

6.) The time, love, and focus on being the BEST mom in the world

7.) Being an inspiration to me and a role model for other wives

8.) Your desire and effort to help grow in our relationship

9.) Patience

10.) Not only a mom, but a women who is a measuring stick for our son to identify a great wife and loving mom

11.) Your drive to “get things done” and not make excuses

12.) Your humor…even if it does take someone to get hurt in the process to get you to laugh (btw: inside joke)

13.) You have such an indescribable beauty that words can’t fully express

14.) Fourteen reasons aren’t enough…volumes of novels that would fill time and space could not be etched to depict how much I love you!

Today the whole (all three of us) family went to Lake Geneva to relax…

get away…

decompress…

let the stress go…

divorce busy-ness…

and ENJOY life!

What are the things you are doing to STOP and enjoy those with whom you love?  Where do you like to go to relax?  What is your favorite vacation spot?

Maybe it’s time for you to divorce busy-ness and choose to live!