Monthly Archives: June 2026

Our Top 10 Favorite Fr. Jeff Lewis Moments

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Tap here to read my tribute to Fr. Jeff Lewis

How do you know if you were blessed with a one-of-a-kind priest? Aside from getting you closer to Heaven (😇), I would have to say the answer is obvious if you can easily recount 10 memorable moments from your time together.

Fr. Jeff Lewis fits that bill and then some. Because to be honest, it was almost impossible to choose just 10 moments from the past six years with Fr. Jeff. However, I did my best.

If you want my final tribute to Fr. Jeff go here, but if you just want the quick rundown of some really good times, please read on…

10. A Parting Gift – After the news of Fr. Jeff’s transfer was official, he reached out to as many parishioners as possible to schedule final get-togethers prior to his departure. Fr. Jeff paired our family’s last hurrah with our dear friends, the Perrys. During our dinner, Fr. Jeff presented each family with a piece of art. He gave us an Ascension-themed stained glass piece, noting that he thought of Sloan when deciding to pass it on to us. For him to give us a gift at all—let alone one that was filled with thought and from his own collection—was pretty special.

Fr. Jeff Lewis presents Sidney with a suncatcher depicting the Ascension during our dinner with him and the Perrys at Hops N Drops in June 2026.

9. Movie Star – Back in 2023, I was asked to create a surprise video for Sloan’s kindergarten teacher (Jordan Hoard) who was getting married. I decided to have Sloan and her classmates give advice to the then-Miss Roff on how to achieve a successful marriage. But for the video to have optimal impact and credibility, it needed star power. Fr. Jeff is always a good sport and down for anything, so he graciously agreed to appear in it.

A screenshot from the video that Fr. Jeff helped us make by appearing in it. I worked on a video that congratulated Mrs. Jordan Hoard on getting married and had her then-kindergarten class offering their marriage advice.

8. Softball Championship – Back in the summer of 2022, Fr. Jeff challenged our Young Adult group to establish a St. Mary softball program. One of our fellow charter couples of the Young Adult group, Brian and Hailey Eames, took lead. They organized a tournament with our brothers and sisters from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for that August. After a few weeks of practice, we played on the Mormon fields on a sunny Saturday morning. The tournament consisted of three LDS teams and our sole Catholic team. We easily won our first game to advance to the championship where we claimed the title with an 8-7 victory. After the game, we had a big cookout as both Catholics and Mormons came together for fellowship. Fr. Jeff’s vision would go beyond that debut weekend as St. Mary softball was “a thing” for a couple more summers.

A few photos from the day our St. Mary team won the softball championship. Sid and I got to play together on a sports team that was pretty cool. Fr. Jeff can be seen in the photo from the picnic that was held immediately after our victory.

7. House Blessings – Fr. Jeff cheerfully came to our home to bless our house on two different occasions. He first performed the rite when we moved into our rental shortly after we arrived in Spokane. He would then come again once we purchased our own home. Both evenings were lively and comforting as we would eat dinner and then Fr. Jeff would take his spray bottle filled with holy water and visit each room while also applying holy oils. We were grateful that Fr. Jeff never hesitated to do the blessings and always made them fun and educational for the kids.

Fr. Jeff Lewis with us after our first house blessing in 2021.

6. Sunrise Mass – I had the blessing of worshipping at a couple different sunrise masses that Fr. Jeff celebrated. My favorite was in June 2025 when we hiked Iller Creek in the Dishman Hills of Spokane Valley. Our group met at the trailhead at 4 a.m. and hiked to a spot that overlooked the Palouse. Fr. Jeff then said mass and timed it perfectly so that the sunrise was at its full glory during the consecration. What a moving and holy experience!

Fr. Jeff Lewis led a hike up the Iller Creek trail for a sunrise mass in June 2025.

5. Dinner With the Bishop – If you have ever tried to get on Bishop Thomas Daly’s calendar, you know how impossible it seems at times. So I don’t know how he managed it, but Fr. Jeff somehow got the Bishop to attend dinner with our Young Adult group. There was no agenda and no “ask” during the visit, Fr. Jeff just wanted us to enjoy the presence of Bishop Daly while showing the Bishop a thriving and strong community that developed during the pandemic when we were starving for Catholic fellowship.

Our Young Adult Catholic group surrounds Bishop Thomas Daly (center, with hands in pockets) in June 2022.

4. Marriage Prep Celebrations – Early on during our time at St. Mary, Fr. Jeff approached Sid and me about serving in a “mentor couple” role to engaged couples enrolled in marriage prep. We enthusiastically accepted and over the past handful of years we have worked with eight different engaged couples through a six-lesson program called “Beloved.” At the end of the sixth lesson, we would convene with the couple and Fr. Jeff at a restaurant (usually the De Leon location at Sullivan and Sprague) to debrief the engaged couple’s experience and to look forward to their wedding day. These dinners were always so positive, casual, and enjoyable. You wouldn’t believe how great Fr. Jeff does with these young couples!

Photos with us, Fr. Jeff, and some of the engaged couples we have been blessed to work with over the years.

3. WSU Football Game – One thing you should know about Fr. Jeff is that he is a huge WSU Fan—which makes sense because he earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the school. Back in November 2023, we tagged along with Fr. Jeff, Jeremy Cassidy, Amy Martin, and the Perrys to Pullman for a Friday night Washington State University football game. Prior to heading to the stadium, we all visited WSU’s Newman Center. Fr. Paul Heric gave us a tour and we tailgated in the parking lot. The Cougs crushed the University of Colorado that evening in Deion Sanders’ first season with the team.

Fr. Jeff Lewis and members of our Young Adult group went to a WSU football game in November 2023.

2. Presenting With Fr. Jeff at Engaged Encounter Retreats – As its chaplain, Fr. Jeff extended an offer to Sid and me to join a ministry called Engaged Encounter (totally separate from the “mentor couple” opportunity mentioned above). The main goal of the organization is to stage retreats for engaged couples getting married in the Catholic Church. During the retreats, two couples and a priest give a series of presentations throughout the weekend. Sid and I would ascend from newcomers to presenters to the leaders of the Spokane Engaged Encounter chapter. During our EE journey over the past four years, we have had the honor of teaming up with Fr. Jeff on two retreat weekends. I like to think we work together pretty well! It meant a lot that Fr. Jeff invited us into the ministry just to begin with but it has been a blessing for us to collaborate in our leadership roles together (when Fr. Jeff transfers to Walla Walla he will resign from his role as EE chaplain).

Sid and I stand with Natalie Schroeder, Joe Schroeder, and Fr. Jeff Lewis. We served as the ministry team at the May 2026 Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend that took place at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center. We feel so blessed that Fr. Jeff invited us to join the ministry.

1. 2023 Hoopfest Weekend – Out of all the special moments with Fr. Jeff, our Hoopfest run in 2023 is at the top of my list. St. Mary sponsored our team which included fellow parishioners/Young Adult group members Amy Martin, JJ Nazzaro, and Ryan Andrade. Fr. Jeff was with us the entire weekend from the initial bus ride downtown to our finalist photos on Sunday afternoon. Despite losing our first game, we would cruise through the loser’s bracket to make the championship. Fr. Jeff led us in prayer prior to each game, cheered us on, and served us admirably in his role as team chaplain. But the best part of all was just hanging out with him throughout the course of the weekend and watching him minister to the thousands of people downtown. You would not believe all the people who called out “FATHER” to him throughout the weekend. For me, it was an experience that encompassed both friendship and evangelization—something that I will never forget.

The weekend we spent with Fr. Jeff at Hoopfest 2023 is one I will never forget. People in this photo include (from l-r) JJ Nazzaro, Amy Martin, Fr. Jeff Lewis, me, and Ryan Andrade.

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Wow. That’s a lot for under six years. I think it goes without saying that when you have so many big moments with a priest, it by default makes them your favorite priest, right? What a blessing to have Fr. Jeff Lewis become such an important influence on our family and contribute so many memories that we will forever look back fondly on.

For those Walla Walla families who are parishioners at either Assumption or St. Patrick, I hope you enjoy similar moments with Fr. Jeff. You are getting an absolute treasure. Don’t Blink.

Our Priest: Fr. Jeff Lewis

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Our Guy

Let me get right to the point: Fr. Jeff Lewis was the exact person my family needed when he entered our lives.

Fr. Jeff Lewis was the exact person my family needed in 2020.

When we met him for the first time in the St. Mary vestibule, we—and the world—were in a period of transition. It was the summer of 2020 and the Diocese of Spokane had just resumed in-person masses as the pandemic lingered. Our family had recently moved across the country and we were trying to gather our bearings. I had started a new job at Washington State University, Sidney was becoming accustomed to her role as a stay-at-home mom, Sloan was adjusting to life without her South Carolina grandparents, and Beau was a newborn.

We were also in a faith transition as well. Shortly before leaving Myrtle Beach and just days prior to the pandemic rocking our nation, Sidney had converted to Catholicism in a beautiful ceremony in which Beau was baptized as well. The momentum was on our side that February day but COVID would try to seize any spiritual gains my family had made over the coming months.

Thanks be to God, Fr. Jeff wasn’t going to let us slip through the cracks.

Meeting Fr. Jeff Lewis was an absolute blessing when we moved to Spokane. This was one of our first photos with him. It was taken at our house blessing in 2021.

The Seeds of Friendship

It didn’t take long for us to become acquainted with Fr. Jeff’s outgoing and humorous personality. The first time we met him in that vestibule, he quizzed us about what side of Pines Rd. we lived on. When we told him our house was situated on the side of the road that should have placed us in the jurisdiction of another parish, he assured us that he would take us anyway…just as long as we didn’t tell the other pastor.

When we returned the following week, Fr. Jeff remembered us. He cracked a joke about Beau being a football player due to the helmet therapy he was undergoing at the time to correct his misshapen head. Yep, we quickly learned that Fr. Jeff was a priest who wouldn’t shy away from injecting humor into a potentially delicate situation…and we loved him for it.

Those first personable and lighthearted encounters with Fr. Jeff would set the stage for a six-year friendship that would catapult us into ministry life within the Spokane Diocese, introduce us to some of the best people we have ever met, and, most importantly, energize the Catholic faith of our family.

By meeting Fr. Lewis, we would become very involved at St. Mary and the diocese at large while meeting amazing people.

An Endearing Style

Once we got past the vestibule and into the sanctuary, we quickly learned the reverent—yet welcoming—way that Fr. Jeff celebrated mass. From the way he held his hands in prayerful posture to the thorough way he cleaned the sacred vessels to the St. Michael prayer he led prior to the recessional, Fr. Jeff was always dialed in and deeply devoted to the holiness of the mass.

Fr. Jeff receives the gifts from Sloan during a St. Mary School mass. It didn’t matter if he was saying mass at the Cathedral or mass for the students, Fr. Jeff always did it reverently.

When it came to his preaching style, we always appreciated how prepared he was. He wrote his homilies and preached them from behind the lectern. Although different from the more spontaneous approach of his St. Mary predecessor, Fr. Jeff packed plenty of relatability and humor into his weekly Sunday addresses to the congregation. His self-deprecating humor combined with his signature “HA!” he would exclaim after telling a joke made him endearing to many.

Outside of mass and in the public view, he could mostly be found wearing a collar, oftentimes paired with his cassock. With his tall frame, he stuck out like a sore (or holy?) thumb. I always felt privileged and inspired to be around him during these times because people would call out “FATHER!” and flock to him. It became so plainly obvious how much priests are needed and the beacon of hope they provide—to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

It was always fun to be with Fr. Jeff in public as people would flock to him. During Hoopfest 2023 we spent the entire weekend with him, including when we rode the STA bus downtown. You wouldn’t believe all the people who approached him over those two days,

Needless to say, Fr. Jeff was the perfect example of priestly humility and approachability for our family. Totally devout yet totally an everyday guy, he was a role model in every sense of the phrase.

Fr. Jeff Lewis would become a trusted friend to Sid & me and an incredible role model to Sloan and Beau.

A Game Changer

Because of Fr. Jeff’s friendly demeanor and non-holier-than-thou attitude, people gravitated to him—including our family. Within the first couple months of us attending St. Mary, something in the bulletin caught our eye. It was an invitation to join a new young adult group. A joint venture between Fr. Jeff and his good friend and fellow Spokane Valley priest, Fr. Kevin Oiland, I signed Sid and me up that night.

Our Young Adult Catholic group proved to be invaluable to our family. It grew pretty quickly and thanks to Fr. Jeff it wasn’t long before Bishop Thomas Daly joined all of us for a special dinner.

Our first meeting took place at Arbor Crest, a Spokane-area winery with beautiful grounds and spectacular views. I might have pinched myself thinking how blessed I was to be in the presence of two priests who took a genuine interest in me as we enjoyed nature and drank wine.

That initial meeting was only the beginning. Each ensuing bi-weekly encounter proved to be richer than the previous. Fr. Jeff would divide the time between socializing, discussing a specific topic, and prayer. Other young adult couples joined and it didn’t take long before our group transformed into family.

We were one of the three original couples of the Valley Young Adult group. This is us with Fr. Jeff and Brian & Hailey Eames (not pictured: Ryan and Allyson Andrade).

This young adult group would stick together for the remainder of Fr. Jeff’s time at St. Mary. The constant throughout the entire 5.5 years? Fr. Jeff. He constantly evolved the group, tweaked the schedule as necessary, and kept showing up even when it seemed like busy lives and growing families might dissolve it.

Our Young Adult group forged unbreakable bonds thanks to Fr. Jeff. The Andrades, the other charter couple part of “the original three,” became our dear friends. They asked us to be the godparents of their son, Noble. (l-r) Ryan Andrade, Allyson Andrade, Sidney Reser, Noble Andrade, Brent Reser, and Fr. Jeff Lewis.

Building Friendship

By joining the young adult group, we made best friends with like-minded couples. If that was all that came from our decision to answer that bulletin ad, I would say we were beyond blessed. But we actually received so much more.

Members of our Young Adult/Young Family group gather around Fr. Jeff Lewis during a going-away party for him. Even up to his last week at St. Mary, he still made time for our special Young Adult/Young Family community.

The group also gave us regular access to our rather tall parish priest 😉. Because we were around and I guess seemingly normal (debatable for me, I know), Fr. Jeff gave us opportunities in St. Mary and diocesan ministries. He asked us to become a marriage prep mentor couple and he also invited us to join the Spokane Engaged Encounter ministry. He commonly gave us the opportunity to bring down the gifts at mass, sought us out for our opinions on various matters, and asked us to make certain newcomers to the parish feel welcome.

Little did we know that by accepting Fr. Jeff Lewis’ invite to join the Engaged Encounter ministry that we would be discerned as the Spokane leaders just a few years later. Some of the best times with Fr. Jeff have been presenting with him at Engaged Encounter retreats. Sid and I stand with Natalie Schroeder, Joe Schroeder while Fr. Jeff stands in the middle. We served as the ministry team at the May 2026 Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend that took place at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center.

But for as much as we tried to answer “yes” to Fr. Jeff, he naturally did so much more for us. Aside from readily giving us the sacraments when needed, he always went above and beyond. Whether it was blessing our house (twice!), answering our text messages, unlocking parish meetings rooms for us, or appearing in videos, he always cheerfully helped us out. I don’t even know how many times I opened our mailbox to see a card from Fr. Jeff indicating an upcoming date when he would say a mass for our family. Or the special times he would invite me and other men in the parish to the rectory for cigars and discussion.

Fr. Jeff Lwwis takes a photo with our family after he blessed our house in 2023. He blessed the house we rented in 2021 as well.

We will never forget the way he treated our children. Never too busy to playfully banter with Sloan or hold out his hand for a high five from Beau, we couldn’t have asked for a better role model. When Fr. Jeff told us the Bishop was transferring him, we knew we would have to drop the news very delicately to the kids. That was a tough conversation.

Outside our family, Beau and Sloan could not have had a better person in their lives than Fr. Jeff Lewis.

The kids weren’t the only ones who took it hard. Even though I prepped Sidney for the past few years that Catholic priests don’t stay at a parish forever and that Fr. Jeff would probably leave St. Mary soon, his announcement still rattled my wife. She waited a few days before she could gather herself to tell Fr. Jeff how much she would miss him.

Sid and Fr. Jeff Lewis were tight.

It’s hard when friends leave.

A Priest on the Rise

As we became friends with Fr. Jeff on a personal level, it was gratifying to see him succeed on a professional level. St. Mary is a very large parish with very diverse parishioners. No matter what decision you make or how you celebrate mass, seemingly a segment of the congregation will take issue. Incredibly, Fr. Jeff effectively embraced an approach that attracted traditionalists to the parish while not alienating those with an affinity for Vatican II reform. He talked about this fine line often with our young adult group and was very cognizant of the ramifications of leaning too far one way—and he navigated it beautifully.

The way he lovingly and strategically ran the parish showed in the pews. Weekend mass attendance has soared and is back at pre-pandemic levels. But it just isn’t the church that is thriving. St. Mary Catholic School, which Fr. Jeff oversees, is also a beacon of health. Knowing the need for strong, Catholic-centered leadership, Fr. Jeff took what some might have perceived as a gamble and hired a teacher from a public school district to serve as principal. The hire of Stephen Hart might very well be one of the best decisions Fr. Jeff made during his tenure at St. Mary.

Stephen Hart stands by Fr. Jeff Lewis as he blesses a religious item for Beau. Hiring Stephen as principal of St. Mary Catholic School was one of the best things Fr. Jeff ever did.

With Fr. Jeff doing a stellar job with his localized parish assignment, he also garnered attention at the diocesan and even national levels as well. From a stint helping Bishop Daly with personnel assignments to appearing in Inland Catholic to making regular appearances on Tom Curran’s radio program, Fr. Jeff made himself known to the Catholic community of eastern Washington.

However, Fr. Jeff became known outside the state as well. In 2024 he gave a talk at our country’s most popular Catholic conference—SEEK. What pride many of us at St. Mary felt as our pastor spoke to an esteemed national audience about the evangelization program he introduced at our parish. His ambitious plan earned him attention from major Catholic personalities as he spent time at Edward Siri’s house and attended a private meet-and-greet with then-FOCUS CEO Curtis Martin when he visited Spokane in 2025.

Fr. Jeff Lewis speaks at SEEK in 2024.

No doubt about it, Fr. Jeff’s influence was felt far beyond the St. Mary campus over the past six years.

Fr. Jeff Lewis has lit the world on fire with his ministry (this photo was taken at a sunrise mass he took several of us on in June 2025).

Staying Humble

Although Fr. Jeff might joke about future titles (Cardinal Lewis) or assignments from Rome, don’t think for a second that his successful ministry has gone to his head. Because no matter how well-known his name becomes outside of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, he is still committed to his flock at the localized parish level.

Fr. Jeff Lewis would present at SEEK but still love to do nothing more than preside over a Mary Crowning ceremony (Sloan and Claire Hart help Fr. Jeff out).

We know this firsthand. Even though he is the pastor of a large parish and is known to the Catholic World outside the state of Washington, he has still made time for a very normal family like ours. Whether that has manifested itself in going to a football game together, coming over for dinner, or openly debating me about the merits of digital media to promote good, he has always made time for us.

Fr. Jeff Lewis and members of our Young Adult group went to a WSU football game in November 2023.

And we are hardly alone. Fr. Jeff has given this attention to countless other “very normal” St. Mary families. We often joke that he doesn’t need to cook at the rectory because he is always over at a parishioner’s house for dinner. If there is anyone who has a stereotypical idea of a priest being an aloof, egocentric hermit, they have never met Fr. Jeff.

It must also to be said that he shows up to everything. From Family Faith Nights to Knights of Columbus meetings to turkey bingo to school sporting events, Fr. Jeff prioritizes it all (now is definitely the time to enter a Padre Pio reference about bi-locating). There is no event too small or insignificant for this truly humble priest.  

Fr. Jeff plays some Bingo with us at a Knights of Columbus event. (photo courtesy of Carl Lockwood).

Legacy

Inside the St. Mary vestibule is a nursing room. The exterior wall of the nursing room displays the rich history of the parish as portraits of past St. Mary priests hang. Soon, Fr. Jeff’s picture will move from the spot designated for the current pastor to the space reserved for those whose vocations have taken them elsewhere. As the years pass and a new generation of St. Mary parishioners settle in our church, there is no doubt that their attention will settle upon the portrait of Fr. Jeff. If it isn’t me, I am sure someone else will be on-hand to educate our newcomers on the lasting impact made by the tall, bespectacled man in the photo.

This wall inside St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley) depicts the photos of all pastors of St. Mary. Fr. Jeff Lewis’ photo will glow for a long time.

Fr. Jeff will be remembered for a long and successful seven-year ministry at St. Mary. History will note that he ushered the parish through the pandemic and somehow made it even stronger in the ensuing post-virus years. While he enforced necessary safety protocols and took COVID seriously, he also didn’t allow it to cripple his vocation—he was one of the only priests within the diocese who made hospital visits during the pandemic. The way he handled such a turbulent time in our history will be commended.

Fr. Jeff Lewis led St. Mary with compassion and faith during a very uncertain time (photo courtesy of Allyson Andrade).

The way he approached envangelization will be remembered. Taking the FOCUS model and launching his 50,000-soul challenge by urging each St. Mary parishioner to reach out to two non-practicing people was bold. Speaking of FOCUS, the way he incorporated the ministry into the parish—to the point of adding two missionaries to our community—was innovative. Known for ministering on college campuses, Fr. Jeff saw that the FOCUS approach could be effective and scalable at the parish level as well.

No doubt his influence on young people will be remembered. The positive impact he had on St. Mary School can’t be overstated. He made a slam dunk principal hire with Stephen Hart and then actively partnered with him to provide a school that offered a challenging, empowering, and authentically Catholic education. Fr. Jeff had a profound impact on the youth group program as he put the right leaders in place and attended every gathering he could. The freedom he gave Marie Bricher to do “crazy things” (her words) to engage children at events such as Catholic Summer Camp and Family Faith Nights won’t be forgotten and hopefully carried on by the incoming pastor.

Fr. Jeff Lewis showed up to EVERYTHING…including any event that catered to the youth. This is a photo from a Family Faith night where he partnered with Sloan in a demonstration.

For years to come, the beautiful sanctuary we now have will also be part of Fr. Jeff’s legacy. Thanks to his leadership the worship space was completely transformed. Among other things, a new altar was brought in and a crucifix added. Additionally, although the execution phase and ribbon cutting will be past his time, Fr. Jeff will be credited with actually putting into place plans for a new parish hall and school.

The way Fr. Jeff led the charge the beautify the sanctuary space behind us in this picture will continue to be appreciated by many.

And I could go on and on. But let me summarize when it comes to Fr. Jeff’s legacy at St. Mary: he was a priest with BIG ideas who put them into practice while both shepherding and empowering his flock.

Perhaps this photo of Fr. Jeff Lewis throwing his head back and laughing is a better indicator of the legacy he will leave behind than anything I could put into words.

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Little did my family know the role that Fr. Jeff would play in our lives when we met him for that first time nearly six years ago. That initial conversation in the St. Mary vestibule would lead to our inclusion in a Catholic community that profoundly changed our lives for the better.

Sloan and Beau take a photo with Fr. Jeff Lewis after he concluded his last school mass on June 12, 2026.

It has been a blessing to not just watch Fr. Jeff thrive at his vocation but to personally benefit from it as well. His earthly legacy at St. Mary will shine brightly for years to come but eventually that light will dim as the decades go on and people forget. However, the fruit he has helped produce through the grace of God in the souls of himself and others will hopefully have eternal lasting power.

We will simply miss the times our group of friends would gather around a table with Fr. Jeff Lewis and talk about life, hot topics, and God.

Thank you, Fr. Jeff. You have been the best priest, an incredible influence on my children, and an inspiring leader. You have also been a dear friend. I look forward to following your ministry from afar as I know you will do special things in Walla Walla. My family is praying for you and we will miss you very much. Don’t Blink.

Tap here to read my family’s top 10 moments with Fr. Jeff Lewis

Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary At Sun Palace

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When Sid and I honeymooned in June 2016, it truly was a memorable trip. We visited the Sun Palace in Cancun and enjoyed every minute of it. Over the years, Sidney and I have reminisced about what a special time we had and how magical the resort was. We also dreamed about returning.

A professional photo taken during our honeymoon at Sun Palace in June 2016.

However, when you have kids and other obligations it is tough to reserve an entire week to splurge at an adults-only all-inclusive resort. It took our 10th anniversary to finally justify doing it. This past week, we made our triumphant return to the place where we kicked off our marriage.

Another honeymoon photo from our time at Sun Palace in June 2016..

As my wife and I now return to the States, I can unequivocally say this: Sun Palace has retained all the charm that captured our hearts 10 years ago and has in fact even gotten better.

Our second time at Sun Palace was filled with memories, romance, entertainment, and…as the name implies…sun. Here are the 10 themes from our honeymoon sequel…

Sid and I on the plane heading to Cancun on June 15. What a blessing it was to return to Sun Palace where we honeymooned 10 years ago.

Pool – When we went on our honeymoon, I mentioned that our stay was 70% relaxation and 30% doing things (excursions). This time around, it was 100% relaxation and most of it centered around Sun Palace’s beautiful infinity pools. We loved sitting poolside as we read our books, sipped drinks, and talked with other couples. With refreshing water, good music, and a beautiful view of the ocean, the vibe at the pools was always top-notch.

A photo I took of the Sun Palace pools with the ocean nearby.

Delicious Food – I always looked forward to finishing up a long day at the pool by heading up to the room, showering, and then heading to whatever restaurant we had reservations at that night. From the steakhouse (Fuego) to the Thai concept to the Italian restaurant (Trattoria), it was all delicious and flavorful. But aside from the dinners, we were also spoiled with hearty breakfasts, room service snacks that held us over, and all the milkshakes we could drink. But the highlight was the dinners and it wasn’t even because of the food. Rather, it was just the opportunity to be with Sid in a beautiful venue where we could recap not just the day we had but also the previous 10 years.

Sidney about to enjoy some spring rolls at the Thai restaurant. The food was so good!

Drinks – I think this time around at the Sun Palace, we were a little better at pacing ourselves when it came to the drinks…but we still got our money’s worth 😉. The bartenders were all complete professionals and perform their craft with pride. I kept it pretty basic with pina coladas and cold beer while Sid was impressed with the electric lemonades. When you are parenting, you usually don’t get too many chances to indulge in adult beverages and relax so we savored this opportunity.

At the pool, we had constant access to the refreshing water and fun drinks. This photo shows an electric lemonade and a Miami Vice.

World Cup – Something we will always remember about this visit to the Sun Palace was that it coincided with the 2026 World Cup. The resort actually went all out for it with World Cup displays around the hotel and all the games shown on the big screen in the main bar. Sid and I caught the Argentina match (to watch Messi), the Portugal match (to watch our son’s hero—Ronaldo), and to watch some of the Mexico game because it was so much fun to cheer for the team of the country that we were in.

We managed to watch the Portugal World Cup game and play ping pong at the same time.

Ping Pong – One of those special memories that Sid and I have brought up since our first visit to the Sun Palace were the epic ping pong games we played against each other. When we arrived in the early evening of our return trip, we were a tad disappointed to see that the ping pong table was no longer there. Our slight displeasure was unfounded though when we walked inside the bar the next day and saw the table waiting for us (we learned they remove it at night when more people frequent the bar and a more formal vibe takes over). We played many games over the next few days and truly had so much fun even if Sid could never gain the upper hand on me.

Sidney and I in-between games of ping pong. We loved playing as it brought back great memories from our honeymoon.

Bump! Set! Spike! – We played a ton of water volleyball in the pool as games were scheduled multiple times each day by the amazing entertainment staff (special shoutout to Daniel, Daniella, and Jesus for their superb organization and for making the games so much fun). But we also had the chance to play beach volleyball on a court just a few feet from the ocean that was a blast. Playing volleyball was a terrific social opportunity and it also was a welcome way to foster teamwork with our fellow guests.

Unfortunately I don’t have a photo from us playing volleyball but I promise we did! Instead, this photo is from dinner when the staff celebrated our anniversary at the end of the meal.

Meeting New People – Speaking of our fellow guests, one of the distinct highlights of this trip was meeting so many other awesome couples. From meeting a couple also celebrating their 10th anniversary to meeting numerous couples on their honeymoons (just like we were 10 years ago) and everybody else in between, we really enjoyed chatting with people from all different places. It is always enlightening to meet others who share the same goals, challenges, and parenting dynamics.

Although we got to spend a lot of time with one another while at Sun Palace, we also got to meet a lot of other really cool couples.

Entertainment – Aside from the fun in the pool, the Sun Palace entertainment staff was busy elsewhere, too. One such example was the evening shows. Sid’s favorite show was the mentalist and mine was the rock show the first night we arrived. A group of musicians played the top hits from each decade starting with the 1960s and running through the 2000s. It was a lot of fun to sing along knowing we were in a beautiful resort in Mexico without a care in the world.

A photo from the rock show we watched on our first night at Sun Palace. It was my favorite!

Friendly Staff – A part of our first Sun Palace experience that endeared us so much to the resort were the people on staff. Everyone from the servers to the front desk attendants to the bartenders to the bell people were so friendly, helpful, and eager. Their signature response of, “It is a pleasure, sir” was always said with genuineness.

The staff at Sun Palace are superb! The moment we walked in, they handed Sid a flower. That level of kindness and service was a constant throughout the entire vacation.

Cozy Confines – Late at night after the evening show had concluded or after we finished up in the bar, we would retreat to our room. Once there we would watch true crime and enjoy a dessert from the Sweet & Coffee stand. As we laid in bed while eating a cookie or drinking a milkshake, we would feel so satisfied not just with our stay at Sun Palace but with our decision to enter into holy matrimony with each other.

What a treat to stay in our Sun Palace suite!

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In conclusion, just a few notes of gratitude. First and foremost, THANKS to my parents for watching Sloan and Beau while we went on vacation. My mom and dad were excited for us and told us to go have fun while they watched the kids.

Next, thanks to the Sun Palace for such a special week. We were so lucky to celebrate our 10th anniversary at the place where the first several days of our marriage played out and like I said earlier—the resort hasn’t missed a beat. Many kudos to the staff for going out of their way to make our time on their property so special.

And last but not least, THANK YOU to my wife for marrying me. Sidney, spending time with you on this vacation was meaningful in so many ways. As they say at Sun Palace, thanks for the pleasure. Don’t Blink.

A Bold Statement in Downtown Spokane

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Much in the same way that playing professional sports can be over-romanticized, so can being a professional marketer. Similar to the life of a major leaguer not always being about grand slams and perfect games, my role as a marketing director isn’t always about placing giant billboards in Times Square or running commercials during the Super Bowl (although I have done that 😉). An average major leaguer is typically more focused on doing the little things right like not making an error or laying down a sacrifice bunt. As a marketer for a university, I also take the low key approach of mastering the fundamentals and doing my best to be strategic as our marketing efforts are pushed in less prominent but more targeted placements.

However, just like any average MLB player will have his day in the sun to show off, that opportunity is also afforded to your typical marketing director as well.

And let me tell you, I am pretty proud of what I get to currently show off in downtown Spokane…

Our marketing team recently worked hard to take over the south and north entrances at River Park Square. This photo shows the south side from across the street.

Last week our EWU brand showcase was installed on Spokane’s signature shopping center and entertainment complex. River Park Square is a gorgeous building that attracts people from across the region looking to shop at high end stores, catch a movie, dine at one of its many restaurants, or just hang out in a brightly-lit energetic space. Located smack-dab in downtown Spokane flanking the streets of Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main, it holds the same iconic notoriety and prestige as Riverfront Park.

Thanks to the talents of our EWU marketing team, we created an engaging design that incorporates our students, current branding, and recent honors.

It also has some very impactful and attractive advertising space.

I have said before that at EWU we have a digital-first mindset when it comes to our marketing strategy. However, we will always invest in powerful out-of-home opportunities that are impactful and help us reach key audiences. With this philosophy in mind, we took over River Park Square’s north and south main entrances with Eagle Red!

A look at the left side of the south entrance. We used one of our nursing students or this portion.

With a lot of real estate available via the building’s gorgeous glass windows, we designed a concept that utilized bold visuals of our students, key storytelling concepts of our region’s polytechnic brand positioning, and our most recent slate of honors/awards. With the brilliant photography of Chris Thompson combined with the thoughtful design work of Ryan Gaard, we created something that looked great on paper and even better when it was installed on River Park Square itself.

We used a biology student to fill the right hand side of the south entrance,

The combination of student photos, our brand promise, and recent awards packs a strong message in a high-traffic area. Our timing is strategic with June and July very busy months in downtown Spokane. Later this month, hundreds of thousands of people—many of them prospective students and their parents—will flock to the streets for Hoopfest. EWU will be ready for them.

We also took over the north entrance as well. Although we didn’t have as much real estate as the south side, we still made the space count. We used a dental hygiene student for this placement.

And we are ready for you, too. If you do live in the Inland Northwest region, you have about three weeks to see it. Our advertising will run through July 8.

A look from the right side of the EWU River Park Square north entrance placement.

This latest activation by my marketing team was met with pride from Eag Nation and admiration from counterparts and competitors at other higher ed institutions. Of course, none of it would be possible without the confidence and funding from President Shari McMahan. What an opportunity she has given us! As we continue to tell EWU’s story in the most effective way possible, we are committed and driven to prove that President McMahan’s investment in marketing is just what our institution needs. Don’t Blink.

St. Mary 2025-26: It Takes a Community

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I know I am a few years late using this phrase, but Sloan and Beau understood the assignment! Today they concluded the 2025-26 school year and are now on summer break.

The 2025-26 St. Mary Catholic School year came to a close this morning. Students, staff, and Fr. Jeff huddled together for this photo after mass (photo courtesy of Paolo Davila de Muela).

This recently completed school year, our sixth at St. Mary Catholic School, was a success. Not because our kids were perfect (they weren’t), not because Sloan was immune from drama (she wasn’t), and not because Beau was a perfect angel (don’t make me laugh), but because there was obvious growth—from both an academic, social, and spiritual standpoint.

Sloan and Beau pose for a photo inside St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley) during 2026 Catholic Schools Week. They weren’t perfect this school year but they did experience growth.

Sloan wrote book reports, learned multiplication and division, played basketball, joined the chess club, read her Catholic School Week essay at mass, and continued to forge close relationships with her very tight-knit class.

Sloan had a good third grade year.

Beau learned the basics of reading, tackled homework for the first time, endeared himself to his classmates, took a turn as star student of the week, and masterfully read the responsorial psalm at a recent school mass.

It was awesome to see Beau make strides in reading this year.

But the thing that makes St. Mary such a special school is that it is never about the individual performance of any one student—it is about the community as a whole.

And trust me, what I just wrote isn’t a hollow statement. I observed firsthand the pride and care that exists within the walls of St. Mary as I served on the 2025-26 School Advisory Council (SAC) with select school staff members and a handful of other parents. We discussed issues facing the school, opportunities for improvement, and proactive ideas to implement. The genuine desire to continually advance the school is inspiring and I was so impressed by the staff members who would stay long after the school day concluded to attend these meetings. Mrs. Kathy Olsen, Mrs. Devon Rapp, Mrs. Sharon Lonergan, and Mr. Kevin Schultz—you are all AMAZING!

I am heartened by how the St. Mary staff members support Sloan and Beau.

Don’t think I forgot about the individual who chairs SAC. Principal Stephen Hart did a fabulous job leaning into the expertise of each person on the committee—staff member and parent alike—to uncover the best ideas and guidance.

I snapped this photo of Mr. Stephen Hart when he opened the doors of St. Mary Catholic School (Spokane Valley) to begin the 2025-26 school year. Today he closed those doors on a successful year.

But let me make an overall assessment of Mr. Hart and his impact at St. Mary: It isn’t an accident that the school is devotedly Catholic, enrollment keeps climbing, test scores are superb, and that BIG plans are on the horizon. Stephen’s leadership has transformed the school community over the past three years and we couldn’t be in better hands.

And to think that Mr. Hart could still be in the public school system if a certain person didn’t make a somewhat unconventional hire at the end of the 2022-23 school year…

Today, Fr. Jeff Lewis said his last school mass at St. Mary (Spokane Valley). The kids got a photo with him afterwards.

As we say goodbye to Fr. Jeff Lewis as he leaves for his new assignment in Walla Walla, there is no doubt that his work with the school will be part of his outstanding and expansive legacy at St. Mary. Aside from his slam dunk principal hire, he made consistent/legendary visits to the classrooms, presided over beautiful school masses, and did whatever humanely possible to assist with fundraising. He worked great with Mr. Hart and always did what was in the best interest of the school. We will miss him dearly.

Fr. Jeff Lewis receives the gifts from Sloan during a St. Mary School mass. He always did an incredible job with the students.

Finally, my admiration for what we have going at St. Mary doesn’t just extend to the students, staff, principal, or even Fr. Jeff. I am also continually impressed with my fellow parents. Make no mistake about it, at any private school the moms, dads, and guardians can have an oversized influence—for better or worse. Of course, no matter where you go, any school will probably have a mix of both…St. Mary is no different. But I believe the positivity overwhelmingly outweighs the negativity and some of that evidence can be found in the parents of the third grade and kindergarten classes.

Beau poses with his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kristen Mead, this morning. Mrs. Mead is not only a St. Mary teacher but a St. Mary parent as well. In fact, she is one of the third grade parents in Sloan’s class.

Some of the moms and dads in Sloan’s class (and their kids) have been around since we started her in Pre-K3 six years ago. The students in the third grade class are extremely close and that bond extends to us parents as well. I am constantly amazed at how supportive they are not just of the school but of my kids (Beau, too). I watch as many of these parents invest heavily in both their time and money to bolster St. Mary Catholic School…it blows me away.

The third grade class is close and it extends from the students to the parents as well. It was extremely special that Sloan and her classmates made their First Communion/Confirmation together this year.

Then we have the parents in Beau’s class. Sid and I have had the chance to get to know many of them better over this school year (hello birthday party circuit! 😂) and I am really impressed by their energy and passion. There are parents in that class who are going to spearhead some major projects that will keep the school’s current momentum for years to come. But aside from the big picture, my heart is warmed by how quickly the parents in Beau’s class volunteer and lift each other up. Oh, and the way they showed up at this year’s school auction was the stuff of legends.

Beau’s kindergarten class has a lot of energy…both the students and the parents.

The summer is now upon us and I hope the entire school community is looking forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation. As Fr. Jeff said in his final St. Mary School homily this morning, it would serve us all well to enter into friendship with Jesus over the break. When the 2026-27 school year starts on Aug. 31, things will look a little different with Fr. Curtis Seidel overseeing the school and some new teachers roaming the halls. But as I have alluded to throughout this post, the foundation for saint-making has been set and the sky…I mean Heaven…is the limit 🙏🏻. Thanks be to God. Don’t Blink.

A Decade of Marriage

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And just like that it has been 10 years. With kids they say the days are long but the years are short. Perhaps for spouses it should be the years are long but the decades are short? Hmm…I don’t necessarily remember any of the past 10 years dragging on so maybe that’s a bad example. So let me just say this: the past 120 months have flown by.

It was a beautiful feeling walking back up the aisle with Sidney after we were married. Hard to believe that was 10 years ago!

I don’t think that could be anything but a good sign.

No joke, it does feel like yesterday that we said “I do” on a hot Myrtle Beach day inside St. Andrew Catholic Church. But even though the time has seemingly flown by, it hasn’t zipped by so fast that Sid and I couldn’t learn things along the way that have enriched our marriage.

In honor of our 10th anniversary, I wanted to share the 10 bedrocks of our marriage that have kept us happy, united, and in love…

Happy 10th anniversary, Sid! I have about 10 reasons for why our marriage has been rock solid. (photo courtesy of Nicole Lynn).

Sacramental Marriage – We got off to the best start possible by marrying inside the Church. By entering into the sacrament of holy matrimony we offered our union to God and have benefited from his abundant graces.

Strong Couples – By complete luck of the draw, we were born to parents who have inspiring, loving marriages. We admired the love our parents had for each other growing up and are even more inspired and touched by them today. The best examples we could ask for!

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work – Framing Sid and me as a team helps solidify our bond. We are truly teammates in marriage and in everything else we do. There is nothing that brings me more joy than when we work together to accomplish something, whether it be as partners in trivia or giving a retreat.

Have Kids They Said… – Anyone who is a parent could probably fill in the second half of the expression I started with. But all jokes aside (…it would be fun, they said), having Sloan and Beau solidified our marital bond even more and made life so much richer.

Just Between Us – Marriage is fun when you can be goofy and weird with your spouse. Sidney and I have inside jokes and quirks that no one else besides us would find funny or endearing. For example, very early on in our relationship, we went back-and-forth on whether we should buy a certain couch. We eventually made the purchase but not before we shook hands on it. Since then, whenever we have purchased something as big as a house or as small as the water filter we bought last week, we still shake hands like used car salesmen.

Traditions – Throughout our decade of marriage we have built so many traditions—both big and small. And while Sid might roll her eyes at some of the really small traditions I insist we do, it has been a joy to practice traditions our own families passed down while also establishing totally original ones.

Trust Above All – It is impossible to overstate the importance of trust in a marriage. Thankfully Sid and I have it. Going through some early health issues with Sloan and Beau battled really helped establish our trust with each other. In ensuing years, that bond of trust just strengthened even more.

Strong Support – Throughout the past 10 years, we have each gone through our own issues. But thankfully we always had each other squarely in our corners during those tough times. Especially during periods of loss, this support we have been able to give each other has powered us through and boosted our marriage even more.

Sacrifice – A marriage rooted in both small and large sacrifice is bound to succeed. From Sid sacrificing her sleep to iron my clothes or me re-arranging my work schedule so I can cover Sid’s shift to pick up the kids, these small sacrifices go a long way. But I don’t skirt the fact that my wife is the one who has made the real major sacrifices in our marriage. Her willingness to leave the only home she has ever known to move out west so I could advance my career will always define the true meaning of sacrifice.

Keeping It Fresh and Exciting – Get your minds out of the gutter, people! I am talking about our strategic asks of my parents to watch the kids so we can go on date nights, our Friday evenings of sharing dessert/watching true crime, and our effort to always have something on the calendar to look forward to. In fact, Sid and I have something pretty special planned to celebrate our milestone anniversary later this month.

Words don’t describe how lucky I am to be married to this woman. I love you, Sid!

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So now we turn our sights to the second decade of marriage. Here’s to the next 10 years of sacrificing for each other, working as an undefeated team, trusting each other like heck, building more traditions, and turning to God for his grace. I love you, Sid!! Don’t Blink.

 

Past Anniversary Blog Post Entries

Ninth Anniversary
Eighth Anniversary
Seventh Anniversary
Sixth Anniversary
Fifth Anniversary
Fourth Anniversary
Third Anniversary
Second Anniversary
First Anniversary

Life’s Tough, Get A Helmet

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One of the best Spokane events for families happened last Friday. Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA national initiative to improve the health of children. The initiative is celebrated locally at the Spokane Valley YMCA the first Friday of each June. We attended in 2023 and 2024 but missed out last year. However, the Resers returned for the 2026 event this past Friday. Continue reading →

AI Backlash

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I feel AI is at an interesting point right now. The technology continues to improve but its public perception can’t outpace a rising cascade of detractors.

Surprisingly, the demographic that usually champions emerging innovation is actually the group that is starting to lash out.

Young people aren’t happy.

Enthusiasm for AI is starting to wane.

Multiple times this graduation season, high profile leaders have been booed for mentioning AI advancements at commencement ceremonies. Of course, the jeers can be attributed to the obvious: AI is taking entry level jobs from the graduating students sitting in the seats at those ceremonies. I would be mad too.

But it seems like young and old people alike are starting to get more irritated instead of awed by AI’s capabilities. Even as AI learns more, those of us who are non-robots are being inundated with generative AI content that doesn’t even try to mask its origin.

It goes beyond em-dashes, buzz words, and formatting. AI-produced work is no longer the exception—it’s the rule—and perhaps that is why a lot of the stuff people are feeding to ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini/etc. is being immediately labeled as slop. It is all just so similar and at times too perfect.

I oversee a team that is split right down the middle. Some are AI experts and strategically use it in their work while others are very knowledgeable about it but prefer to use their own generative talents to complete work. But I think what I can say about my team is that they know a personal touch is still very much necessary to make work shine.

Relying on AI to write all emails, spit out 20-page plans, and write your LinkedIn posts is no longer the way to go. People see right through it and they are no longer saying, “Hey, that person is so innovative.”

Rather, their thinking is, “Hey, that person is so lazy.”

My philosophy with AI is still the same: We need to know it inside-and-out but we should utilize it more as an idea generator as opposed to a project-completer. The creativity of a human brain still trumps the learned knowledge of a robot brain. Don’t Blink.

A Happy Thursday Rundown

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Happy Friday Eve, my friends! I hope your June is off to a fabulous start and that life is good. Let’s jump right into my latest Thursday Rundown…

250th Anniversary Kickoff – I love a good patriotic event and I also find incredible significance in America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. So when I learned that the City of Spokane Valley was hosting “Celebrating America’s 250th: Picnic in the Park,” it took no arm twisting to get me there. Even though he had a soccer match right before it, I hauled Beau with me to Balfour Park where a military band played, Revolutionary-era groups convened, and the American flag flew. Make no mistake about it, I plan to celebrate all summer long.

Beau hanging with some colonial men at the “Celebrating America’s 250th: Picnic in the Park” event at Balfour Park in Spokane Valley,

Free Ice Cream – I have gone on record stating that the best perk about working for Eastern Washington University is the free bus pass. Well, I can now identify my second favorite perk. On Tuesday an ice cream truck pulled up near our building and distributed free ice cream to everyone—students and staff alike! It was a tough decision between the ice cream Oreo sandwich or the Reese’s ice cream bar but I went with the latter. Nothing like taking a random break at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday for a free sweet treat.

I pose with my colleagues in EWU University Relations on June 1, 2026. We were surprised when the ice cream truck pulled up near our office and started handing out free treats. Ryan Gaard is on the left and Emily Ausere is on the right. Both are very talented designers.

Happy First Birthday, Neteyam! – Over the weekend, we attended our godson’s 1st birthday party. Sid, the kids, and I were honored to be the only non-family members invited to Neteyam’s bash that took place at the delicious Outlaw BBQ. It is hard to describe how cute and good-natured Neteyam is. We told his mom and our good friend, Fidela, that this was one of our favorite ages for our own kids. Speaking of Fidela, she celebrated her third wedding anniversary with Dylan yesterday…congrats!

Fidela, Beau, Neteyam, and Sidney pose for a photo at our godson’s birthday party held at Outlaw BBQ.

Happy Anniversary, Miranda and Jay! – While we are on the subject of anniversaries, I want to give a very special shout out to my sister and brother-in-law. Today they celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. The ceremony took place in Hillyard on a hot day. It was nice to celebrate with so many of our extended family members and the pasta at the reception venue that day was on-point.

Miranda and Jay are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary today.

Top Cheeses – Today is National Cheese Day and 1.5 years ago I celebrated its cousin’s national day (National Cheese Lover’s Day) by counting down my top five favorite cheeses. Because I feel nice tonight, I am going to save you a click if you wish and just give you my list. In order from #5 to my all-time favorite cheese, here you go: parmesan cheese, queso, blue cheese, Cougar Gold, pepper jack.

Parmesan cheese is one of my top five favorite cheeses.

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Another Thursday Rundown in the books! Fair warning, there will be no rundown next week but there will be a blog post. Adding to the unusual blogging week is the fact that I hope to post an end-of-school-year entry on that Friday as well—but we shall see. Until then, have a fantastic weekend. Don’t Blink.

Staying Or Leaving?

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Our alumni director, Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, has started a fun tradition within our University Relations department. Upon walking into our suite of offices, a whiteboard presents a “topic of the day.” Each person is encouraged to use the dry erase marker to indicate a preference. Yesterday, the topic was a good one:

You’re at a gas station and the pump says “SEE CASHIER.” Are you staying or leaving?

This was the “Topic of the Day” I walked into yesterday. I was the second person to answer and my response is on the left 😉.

Now I realize some people might interpret the question differently so let me convey the way I approached it…

Imagine yourself driving to the gas station. You pull up to a pump, exit your car, and pull out your card. With card in-hand, you begin to insert it only to realize the message on the screen is flashing “SEE CASHIER”. Or you do make it to the point where you are able to insert your card only to receive the “SEE CASHIER” prompt once your card is read.

Basing my decision on the scenarios I just listed above, my course of action is a no-brainer…

I am staying.

And trust me, I have been tested a lot lately. I don’t know what it is about the gas stations I frequent, but it almost seems like I get a “SEE CASHIER” screen as often as the ice cream machine is out-of-order at McDonald’s.

If the gas pump says “SEE CASHIER” I am trying another pump at the same gas station.

My first reaction upon receiving this extremely inconvenient message is to begrudgingly get back into my car and drive the 10 feet to the next pump at the same station. This has worked in the past but other times the same infuriating message is flashing on that pump as well. Rather than following the adage of “the third time’s the charm” I usually—and never happily—walk inside to SEE CASHIER 😉.

From that point, I give the cashier a specific amount of money I want to fill my gas tank with. I know some stations will allow you to fill up by putting a hold on your account for some larger amount, but I am always skeptical. Instead, I just use my best experience and math skills to give an amount that will get me as close to “full” as possible without going over. Price Is Right at the gas station, everyone 😂.

I can provide my reasoning for “staying” with three straight-forward points…

1. I have no desire to pull into a second gas station and then re-enter traffic all over again

2. Usually I have already targeted the specific gas station I am at because it has the lowest prices and I don’t want to pay more

3. Often I pull into a gas station when I am literally beyond empty so I don’t want to take the chance of driving to another gas station and running completely out of fuel while on my way 😂

Are you staying or leaving? Don’t Blink.