Monthly Archives: May 2026

Sacramentally Gifted

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Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:53-54)

Even though we had prepared for nine months, it was a sight that seemed a tad foreign. On Monday, May 11, 2026, Sloan waited her turn in the communion line at St. Mary Catholic Church. Once at the front, she approached Bishop Thomas Daly as he distributed Holy Eucharist. However, instead of crossing her arms across her chest and receiving a blessing, she received Jesus instead.

Sloan received the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist last night at St. Mary Catholic Church. This is her with Fr. Jeff Lewis and Bishop Thomas Daly (Photo Credit: Paola Muela).

It was a surreal but very proud moment to watch Sloan make her First Holy Communion. In classes since September to prepare for the sacrament but genuinely yearning to receive it for the past few years, it truly was a holy moment to witness her reach the source and summit of Christian life.

Sloan receives Holy Communion for the first time. This is her drinking from the Blessed Blood.

But it wasn’t just Holy Eucharist that our daughter received last night. She also received the Holy Spirit via the sacrament of Confirmation. Prior to partaking in the Lord’s Supper, Sloan stood in front of the congregation and publicly renewed her baptismal promises, affirming her Catholic faith.

Sloan stands in our yard before we drove to St. Mary Catholic Church for her First Eucharist/Confirmation mass.

With family friend Fidela Perry by Sloan’s side as her Confirmation sponsor, Bishop Daly anointed Sloan with sacred chrism oil, sealing her with the Holy Spirit. The sacrament instilled in Sloan the same grace and charge bestowed upon the apostles and other followers at Pentecost.

With Fidela by Sloan’s side, Bishop Thomas Daly confirms Sloan by sealing her with the Holy Spirit.

Not bad for a Monday night, right?

Sloan and some of her St. Mary (Spokane Valley) third grade classmates. The bond these kids have is truly special and it was a blessing that they were able to receive the sacraments together.

Sloan has now received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) plus the Sacrament of Reconciliation she received for the first time last year. These sacraments are truly gifts from God and I don’t know how to describe Sloan as anything else but sacramentally gifted 😉.

This is the banner Sloan made at the retreat held just a week prior to the First Eucharist/Confirmation mass. It was placed on the pew that our family sat in. I can’t thank Marie Bricher enough for all she does to prepare individuals to receive the sacraments.

But back to the two sacraments she received yesterday. On Monday morning, I crept into her bedroom for a few moments to gently wake her up (I was feeling nice 😂). As she started to slowly come to consciousness, I told her it was a big day and then I spoke from the heart as I started to become a little emotional. Stating what I wrote above, I told her I knew how much she was looking forward to tonight and how happy I was that she would finally receive Jesus. Luckily, she was still half asleep and couldn’t see my eyes watering up.

Sloan stands in the long line for her First Communion at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley). It was worth the wait.

For the Sacrament of Confirmation, Sloan chose Fidela as her confirmation sponsor because—make no mistake about it—9-year-old girls can recognize and appreciate authenticity from a mile away. Sloan is inspired by Fidela, a convert to Catholicism (just like her mommy), who is on fire for the faith and a tremendous positive influence. When Fidela introduced Sloan to Bishop Daly, she used Sloan’s Confirmation name, St. Lucy. A martyr who turned away from her family’s wealth, Sloan was attracted to St. Lucy’s devotion and bravery.

Sloan’s confirmation sponsor was Fidela Perry, a family friend who has always been an incredible influence on Sloan.

As Sloan continues to walk in her faith, I hope she maintains the same devotion to the Holy Eucharist that she so passionately and genuinely had on Monday night. I also pray that she shows bravery when it comes to practicing her now-confirmed faith, even when it might be difficult or unpopular to do. In those difficult times, Sloan has the Holy Spirit to draw strength from. As Bishop Daly told the children last night, the Holy Spirit is like a coach or teacher ready to help and direct. May my daughter never hesitate to invoke this sacred member of the trinity. 

Words can’t describe how special Sloan’s St. Mary (Spokane Valley) third grade class is and the strong bond they all share. It was a joy and a blessing to watch these children receive the sacraments alongside by daughter as well (Photo Credit: Paola Muela).

Thanks be to God for the sacramental gifts bestowed upon Sloan. Pray for me as her father to always put her in a position to maximize their graces. Sid and I send our heartfelt appreciation to Marie Bricher and her team for preparing Sloan (and us!!) for these blessed sacraments. Come Holy Spirit! Don’t Blink.

Cheep Thursday Rundown

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Wow, May is off to an absolute gorgeous start! With temperatures in the 70s and so many activities taking place, it truly feels like spring! Speaking of spring, let’s “spring” into my latest Thursday Rundown…

Cheep Chicken – Safeway has a wildly popular promotion called Cheep Chicken Monday. Every Monday, looooong lines form in front of the Safeway deli to purchase heavily discounted and very tasty chicken. When I saw the kid in the chicken suit on the side of the road, I knew it was a sign that our family needed to eat Safeway chicken this past Monday…I also knew it was a sign that Beau needed to get a picture with him. The kid in the suit was tickled that someone wanted to snap a photo with him and even did the chicken dance with Beau.

Beau took a photo with the Cheep Chicken from Safeway.

Homemade Pasta – Last night while I was doing chores in the kitchen, Sloan came downstairs and confidently asked if she could make pasta. However, she wasn’t just asking to boil noodles, she literally wanted to make the pasta herself. Inspired by a YouTube video she saw, Sloan thought she could pull it off. I asked her what she needed. She replied with eggs and flour. Uggh. What can go wrong, right? Well, I let her do it and she definitely made something that resembled pasta and didn’t taste too bad.

Some photos of Sloan making and posing with her homemade pasta.

Christy – Sidney and I watched “Christy” this week and I found it to be pretty captivating. The film stars Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin, the athlete who put women’s boxing on the map while facing plenty of obstacles. Sweeney—who is from Spokane—adopted a Southern accent for this film and delivered an amazing performance. But what I really appreciated was how authentic (and at times brutal) the boxing scenes were. Fun fact: Sweeney did all the boxing scenes herself! Your life won’t be changed if you watch “Christy” but I still think it is worth your time.

Sydney Sweeney gained 30 pounds to play Christy Martin. I enjoyed watching “Christy.”

Bloomsday 50th – Bloomsday started in 1977 and this year (2026) was the 50th running of the event. Don’t ask me if that meant it was the 50th anniversary or not but one way or the other the number “50” was a big part of this year’s race. Naturally, I had to get a picture of the kids marking the milestone at the Bloomsday trade show that we attended on Friday.

Sloan and Beau take a photo in front of the “Bloomsday 50 Years” photo backdrop at the Bloomsday trade show.

Mama’s Boy – Back in 2015, Sid and I found ourselves at a bar. As we sipped on our drinks she admitted that she is a complete daddy’s girl. But then she looked at me and without a doubt in her mind said, “But you are totally a momma’s boy!” On this date 12 years ago, I wrote about the type of mama’s boy I am to commemorate Mother’s Day. I think you will be entertained by it.

If the definition said that a mama’s boy is someone who both himself and his mom cry a little bit when they say goodbye as the son moves across the country, then I am one.

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Thanks for taking the time to read! Special shoutout to all the moms, we couldn’t function with you. Will catch up with everyone next week, I imagine with an extremely packed weekend on the horizon I might have some stories and photos to share. Don’t Blink.

My 3 Bloomsday Accessories

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This year for Bloomsday I made a few changes to my running attire compared to previous races. Perhaps these alterations were responsible for my less than spectacular finish time OR maybe they saved me from going even further south from my PR. Here is what I did…

I made some changes to what I wore this Bloomsday. This is me on the morning of the 2026 race.

Sweatband – Don’t get Sidney started, she HATED the sweatband I wore. However, I decided to sport it because many times in the past I have suffered from sweat dripping down into my eyes (the burn!!). I hate wearing hats while exercising, especially while running, so I wanted to go with the band. It worked absolute wonders! I didn’t combat sweat in my eyes once—a complete non-factor this Bloomsday. When I finished the race I touched my sweatband and it was absolutely soaked, a result that made me think Better the band than my eyes.

Hip Pack Pouch – When I run, I usually try to not carry anything at all. Sometimes that is not possible and I will stuff a key or some cards (debit card, driver’s license, etc.) into my pocket. Because I was running Bloomsday solo this year, I thought it best to take the essentials downtown with me, specifically my phone and cards. Not wanting a smart device weighing me down, I purchased a hip pack (aka fanny pack). Having never used one before, I didn’t know how it would feel or if it would slow me down. However, once I started running I forgot I was even wearing it. For the first time ever, I could take photos on the Bloomsday course and update my family once I finished. Perhaps the pack added a couple minutes onto my time without me consciously realizing it was weighing me down but I think that is just a sorry excuse for my slower time.

Foot Care – At both Bloomsday and Hoopfest in the past I have battled intense blisters. This year, I made sure my feet were protected. Even though I still wore old shoes I purchased from a discount store, I placed padding support along the sole. I also wore cushy socks that were a major step up from the very worn-in exercise socks I wear to the gym. My feet didn’t bother me in the slightest during the race or after it.

I always lay my clothes out the night before and with Bloomsday it is no different. You can see my extra padding in my shoes.

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Like I said, I wish the above improvements would have translated into a better time. But I guess things don’t always turn out the way you hope. Even though I ran a few minutes slower than desired at least I did it on comfortable feet with no sweat in my eyes or items in my pocket weighing me down. Don’t Blink.

Bloomsday 2026: So Spokane

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Call me overly sentimental, but I became just a bit teary-eyed as I stood at the 2026 Bloomsday starting line on Sunday. The combination of gorgeous weather, more registrants since 2016, beach balls flying through the crowd, and just the sheer uniqueness and passion of this one-of-a-kind Spokane event had me feeling some type of the way. Suffice to say, once Chariots of Fire echoed through the loud speakers as I crossed the starting line the emotion was real.

What more could I have wanted?

Well, a PR would have been nice.

Me crossing the finish line during the 2026 Bloomsday race. I finished a few minutes short of a PR.

I will give myself this: I am consistent. From 2022-24 and this year (I missed the 2025 race for Disney World), I have finished between 69 minutes – 72 minutes each race. The only problem is that this year’s time was at that slower end of the spectrum. Take a look…

2022: 1:11:27
2023: 1:09:34
2024: 1:11:27
2026: 1:12:42

People start to gather at the starting line prior to the 2026 Bloomsday run. I hung out for about 80 minutes before the gun sounded for us to start.

It was a tad disappointing because I thought this was the year for a personal record. Driving to the race I felt good and I believed the favorable weather conditions would be a fortunate omen. But severe cramping hit once I finished Doomsday Hill and I had to slow my pace considerably. Throw in my advancing age as a factor too—I am not getting any younger.

A photo I took right before the race started. I am not getting any younger.

However, missing the mark on my goal didn’t take away from another successful Bloomsday experience. From the trade show to the STA shuttle race transportation to the race itself to receiving this year’s t-shirt, I had a blast (minus the cramps).

I snapped this photo of Bloomsday volunteers passing out the 2026 t-shirt. If you turn the shirt upside down it will spell out “1977,” the first year Bloomsday was held.

This year I did Bloomsday solo as my brother walked in the stroller division with his wife and little girl. Despite my bro not by my side, I still did my usual. I enjoyed listening to the pre-race music, I received a blessing from Fr. David Gaines as I ran by Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, and I ducked underneath the vulture on Doomsday Hill.

A photo I took of my brother and sister-in-law prior to them starting Bloomsday 2026. I had already finished and received my shirt before they even crossed the starting line.

I also appreciated the unique aspects of Bloomsday 2026. The young man carrying the cross as he ran was incredibly inspiring, the bands seemed louder this year than ever, and the yellow t-shirt with the upside down twist was probably the most creative design since the 1996 shirt.

I would later find out that this young man’s name is Dalton Degroot but when I saw him carrying that cross up Doomsday Hill during the 2026 Bloomsday race, it gave me some major motivation.

Don’t worry, I will be back for Bloomsday 2027. Maybe I will take my wife’s advice and actually train for it (but probably not) to avoid the cramps that last far beyond the actual race. Thanks to the race organizers for another incredible Spokane experience. Don’t Blink.

A Special Homecoming

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Last week our family enjoyed a unique experience. On Wednesday evening, the four of us went to Spokane International Airport not to hop on a plane but to welcome a special group of people back.

Sloan, Sidney, and Beau at the Spokane International Airport to welcome back veterans who were on the most recent Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

We cheered as 90 veterans (89 Vietnam vets and 1 Korean War vet) returned home from a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials relevant to the wars they fought in.

This trip was made possible by Honor Flight, a national network that flies veterans free of charge to our nation’s capital for these very meaningful experiences. Honor Flight has chapters throughout the country and the Inland Northwest Honor Flight group was the local organization responsible for the crew we welcomed back on Wednesday.

Sloan, Sidney, and Beau pose for a photo in the middle of welcoming veterans home who went to Washington D.C. as part of an Inland Northwest Honor Flight experience.

Sidney spearheaded our journey out to the airport. Her employer, Traveler’s, is a major supporter of veterans and for many years has sent an employee presence to Honor Flight departures and returns. When we entered the airport and made it to the terminal ticketing area, Sidney immediately saw some of her colleagues and we went to stand with them.

Sidney welcomed back the veterans with Sloan/Beau and her Traveler’s colleagues as she

Prior to leaving, Sloan had made welcome home signs for her and Beau (so cute). When we arrived at the airport, we were equipped with additional signs and American flags. Although the flight was delayed more than 90 minutes, our children waited patiently for its arrival.

Beau holds his sign that Sloan made him as we drove to the airport.

When the veterans landed and deplaned, they found a large stanchion-formed walkway for them to stroll down. Each side of the walkway was lined with cheering people thrusting signs, waving flags, and clapping their hands. For many of the Vietnam veterans who either received no welcome or a very hostile rebuke when they originally returned to the U.S. from the war, this was finally the homecoming they had long deserved.

A look at how supporters lined both sides of stanchions to welcome home veterans aboard the Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

I appreciate Sidney’s enthusiasm and insistence for us to attend. I think it showed our children that veterans should always be treated with gratitude and respect. Sid is already talking about attending next year and how we need to get a little bit closer to the stanchions so we can give handshakes and high fives to our heroes 😊. Don’t Blink.