Category Archives: Uncategorized

Cop Car Thursday Rundown

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Happy Saturday Eve Eve, my friends. It is Thursday and that means I am at liberty to quickly offer up five random topics. I hope tonight’s menu is to your liking…

Beau Cop – We attended the Unity in the Community event in downtown Spokane this past weekend. Beau couldn’t resist the opportunity to jump into a Spokane Police vehicle. I took a photo and sent it to family members. My dad responded in the “most dad” way he could: Remind Beau it is preferable to ride in the front seat of a police car as opposed to riding in the back!

Beau takes command in the driver’s seat of a Spokane Police vehicle during the 2026 Unity in the Community event.

Karaoke – I am not a karaoke performer myself but I do enjoy watching others, including loved ones, belt it out. After the Reser family anniversary dinner on Saturday night, Sidney and I went out with my sister and brother-in-law to a dive bar. Both Sid and Jay took turns with the microphone. My wife did a great rendition of “Alright” by Darius Rucker.

Sidney sings “Alight” by Darius Rucker at the Lariat Inn in Mead, WA. Karaoke can be a lot of fun (just as long as I am not singing).

Leavenworth Memories – Because we took other vacations this summer, we won’t return to Leavenworth after visiting the past two years. I can’t recommend this vacation more. If you want a wholesome family experience at a really affordable price, you probably still have time to book at the Enzian Inn before the summer disappears. I wrote summaries of both our 2024 trip and our 2025 trip.

This is a photo of my family in Leavenworth in 2025. I highly recommend this vacation.

Arthur the King – Last Friday was family movie night at our house and we watched “Arthur the King.” Released in 2024, it stars Mark Wahlberg (huge fan!) as a disgraced adventure racer who recruits three hesitant team members to join him for one final shot at glory. The twist is that a fourth “teammate,” a dog named Arthur, joins the squad once at the race site in the Dominican Republic. I am not a big dog person, but this movie hit the mark (no pun intended) while teaching me about adventure racing. Most important of all, it kept Sloan and Beau engaged. If you are looking for a film that the whole family can watch and that teaches a good lesson about humility, I recommend streaming “Arthur the King” on Netflix.

It will be worth your family’s time to watch “Arthur the King.”

Have Some Lemonade – I have worked in higher education for 17 years now. The best hands-on lesson I have ever witnessed during that time occurred during my stint with Coastal Carolina University. In 2015, a management professor divided his students into small teams and sent them out to Prince Lawn (the student gathering spot/green space on campus) to see who could make the most money selling lemonade. The tactics these students came up with were beyond creative. From blended lemonade to self-serve lemonade to teal lemonade to invitation-only lemonade, it was so fun visiting the different stands and chatting with them about their business plans. As I reflect on National Lemonade Day, this memory from CCU is what comes to mind first.

The lemonade competition took place back in 2015 and it was a lot of fun to see what the different teams did. This particular team offered incentives for those who purchased their lemonade. If you bought some, they placed it in a re-usable cup for you to keep.

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Try to take time this evening to remember the many families in Spokane who had their homes destroyed in the fires. With the event now a couple weeks in the rearview mirror it can be easy to forget those who lost everything. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend. Don’t Blink.

Shake It Up!

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A certain treat has emerged as our family’s dessert of the summer. The winner of the Reser clan sweet tooth?

The milkshake, of course.

It has been a summer full of milkshakes.

Perhaps I shouldn’t write “of course” like it is obvious. A milkshake can blend the line between a beverage served with burgers and fries or something to be enjoyed at night by itself. For us, it is the latter.

We have consumed our fair share of milkshakes this summer. When Sid and I went on our anniversary trip, ordering milkshakes at the end of the night to bring to our room was a joy. When I took the kids to an outdoor movie in July, we brought milkshakes with us.

Beau sits under the Riverfront Park Pavilion drinking his Zip’s milkshake while “Captain America” plays.

One of our fondest memories from our recent Myrtle Beach vacation was ordering milkshakes from Cook Out. When I took the kids to an ice cream shop during our weekend in Seattle, they didn’t care about a sundae or chocolate dipped cone…they just wanted milkshakes. Heck, I even made a special trip to Zip’s last night to pick up a tall, creamy vanilla shake just for my beloved wife.

When we visited Bainbridge Island during our Seattle trip, the kids ordered milkshakes at the ice cream parlor.

So you get the idea, right? But perhaps a few of the observations I made this summer amidst all of our milkshake sipping might not be so apparent…

1. Milkshakes are usually more expensive than other ice cream products on restaurant menus, including creations like Blizzards and the McFlurry that come with candy mix-ins. I think this is because shakes just take a lot more ice cream to make.

2. Thick or creamy? Do you prefer to wait it out until your shake thaws enough so you can suck up just the smallest of sips? Or do you want the goodness of ice cream through a straw right away? We have enjoyed both types over the summer and although I normally prefer to delay gratification, I like my milkshakes to be drinkable upon receiving them 😉.

3. Keep in mind that milkshakes take time to make. On at least two occasions this summer, I apologized to people behind me in line because our shake order took a long time to fulfill. My sympathy also extends to the poor teenagers who were on the receiving end of our order.

4. The most disappointing evening this summer was when I was craving a milkshake and Wendy’s was the only restaurant nearby. No, a Frosty does not count as a shake.

5. If whipped cream is offered, I am saying “yes” every time.

Do you have a favorite place for milkshakes? If so, please let my family know. After all, summer isn’t over just yet. Don’t Blink.

LinkedIn Sloppiness

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I think one of the best developments in our AI culture was recently rolled out by LinkedIn. Users can now tag posts they come across as “AI Slop.” All you have to do is tap the three dots on top of an uncreative and obviously AI-generated post and select the “seems like AI slop” option. The action will limit the reach of the robot-produced post and also better train LinkedIn to spot AI-made garbage.

I support the “Seems like AI slop” option recently rolled out by LinkedIn.

My opinion is that in order to allow a new technology to flourish, you must identify/eradicate the harmful ways it is being used. AI has genuinely helped those intimidated by writing become more comfortable with it. However, it has also proven to be a slop-producer that enables laziness.

After tweaks, evolution, and trial-and-error, LinkedIn emerged as a powerhouse social media channel over the course of this decade. It truly helped and engaged working professionals by opening the door for thought leadership, best practices, and workplace triumphs/challenges.

Unfortunately, AI slop has made it a dumpster fire over the last 18 months.

Scroll for a couple minutes and the amount of regurgitated, cliché-filled, emoji-packed trash is overwhelming. It has totally stripped LinkedIn of what made it unique and worthwhile.

I commend LinkedIn for introducing this feature, even if it means a hit in usership. Claude also recently took a similar step by inserting digital watermarks into text and graphics generated on its platform. Again, it is risky as it might alienate its client base, but it needs to be done in order to discourage thoughtless generation.

As I have said numerous times, AI needs to be used to help the brainstorming and/or refining process. Ordering it to create entire documents, plans, and (oh, yes) social media posts will continue to produce sloppiness. Don’t Blink.

Celebrating Reser Milestone Wedding Anniversaries

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Today it is an honor to wish my parents a happy 45th wedding anniversary. There is no marital relationship I admire more, and I feel so fortunate for the example they have set for Sidney and me.

Last night, my mom and dad continued a quinquennial tradition they started back in 2021. They took us three Reser siblings and our spouses out to dinner. The reason was not to just celebrate their own anniversary (I have such humble parents!) but to celebrate all our own coincidentally milestone anniversaries as well.

All eight of us around the table at Clinkerdagger for our first quinquennial anniversary dinner back in 2021. It was a little weird without our kids!

Admittedly, Sid and I celebrated our anniversary two months ago but since us four couples all have summer anniversaries (Miranda/Jay – June 4, Me/Sid – June 11, Glen/Carrie – July 4, Mom/Dad – August 16), my mom and dad deemed it worthy enough to include us all. What great parents, right?

My dad and mom at 1898 Room for a special milestone anniversary dinner with all the kids and spouses.

After celebrating the inaugural quinquennial anniversary dinner at Clinkerdagger in 2021, my parents made reservations for everyone at the 1898 Public House in north Spokane. We all gathered at a corner table that overlooked the golf course and after our server, Joyce, took the initial drink order, my dad presented her with a challenge…

My parents, siblings, and our spouses seated at a table at 1898 Public House for our quinquennial anniversary dinner.

Producing four cards with the different anniversaries we were celebrating (45th, 15th, 10th, 5th), my dad asked Joyce to use them to determine which card belonged to each couple. He passed the cards to our server and told her to take all the time she needed to make her guesses. Oh, dad!

Once we completed our appetizers, Joyce came to our table with some slight anxiety. She was ready to make her guesses! (watch here)

Joyce, our server at the 1898 Public House for our anniversary dinner, scrutinizes over who to give the numbered cards to. She was such a great sport!

She smartly started with my parents and correctly handed them the “45” card. After scanning our table under an obvious level of distress, she was ready to hand out the “5” card. She gave it to my older sister who celebrated her 15th anniversary with Jay this past June 🤦🏻‍♂️. I guess you just look young, Miranda? She then gave the “15” card to my younger brother, who celebrated his 5th anniversary with Carrie on Independence Day. But then Joyce redeemed herself by correctly giving Sid and me the “10” card.

Joyce didn’t mess up the milestone my parents were celebrating! She started off by giving them their “45” card.

We couldn’t help but convey our gratitude and support to Joyce for being such a good sport. We truly put her on the spot and she went along with it to make our anniversary special. The 1898 Public House is lucky to have her.

Jay and Miranda celebrated 15 years of marriage on June 4. This is them holding their “15” card last night at 1898 Public House.

As the dinner started to come to a close, I did the same thing I did at the 2021 dinner: I asked my parents for their best marital advice (you can watch it here). My dad answered with “Listen to your wife” while my mom replied “Be patient.” Take heed, everyone!

Joyce correctly guessed that we have been married 10 years!

Congratulations to my parents on their 45th anniversary. I don’t think it is a coincidence that all three children are happily married. Having that example that we have been provided is invaluable. In addition to the congratulatory note, I also want to thank my parents for the overflowing generosity they show all of us.

Glen and Carrie celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on July 4, 2026. This is them holding their “5” card at 1898 Public House.

When we convene for the quinquennial anniversary dinner in 2031, my parents will be celebrating their 50th and my sister/Jay will be celebrating their 20th! Stay tuned for the blessings from that evening. Happy anniversary, mom and dad. Don’t Blink.

Hart Thursday Rundown

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It just so happens that this mid-August Thursday Rundown is my first of the month. I used last week’s vacation as an excuse not to write one. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy at least one of the below five topics…

Waffle House – We took a red-eye flight to Atlanta. When we landed early in the morning after very little sleep we were hungry and perhaps a little cranky. How did we overcome the fatigue and grumps? WAFFLE HOUSE! Sid’s parents took us to the Waffle House close to our hotel and it reminded me how good and convenient that place truly is. I ordered a waffle topped with peanut butter chips plus a side of covered hash browns and it was chef’s kiss. I also got to chat with my father-in-law at our own booth while Sid, the kids, and my mother-in-law sat at the booth behind us. The experience brought me back to my first time ever eating at Waffle House over a dozen years ago (when I coincidentally ordered the exact same thing).

It was great to return to a Waffle House after several years. The Atlanta location we ate at really hit the spot.

Sneaking In Snacks – One of the latest “topics of the day” at our office made me immediately take a photo of it and send to my wife. We have been guilty of sneaking snacks into the theater before and my habit of doing it actually extends most of my life. I should stop doing it because it is probably a sin. But the funny thing is that even when we sneak snacks into the movies we usually still spend a whole bunch of money at the concessions as well. Go figure.

I found this latest “Topic of the Day” to be interesting. Do you sneak snacks into the movie theater?

International Lefthanders Day – Today is devoted to those of us (not me) who have a dominant left hand. In a post I wrote eight years ago, I confessed how I had overlooked hardships of lefties. I listed a lot of disadvantages and then highlighted what I thought was the most inconvenient: swiping a debit/credit card (think about it for a moment). I also wondered in the post what hand my daughter would favor. Sloan turned out to be right-handed. And guess what? Beau is a righty too…just like his sister, mom, and dad. Shout out to all my lefty readers!

No, I am not left handed. But I sympathize with those who are.

72 Hours – I admit it, I watched the Netflix comedy film “72 Hours” with Kevin Hart. The film centers on a 40-year-old man who joins a random bachelor party group as a way to secretly compile market research for the liquor company he works for. It was outrageous, raunchy, and crude. But I will admit this: Kevin Hart was pretty darn funny. Marcello Hernandez from SNL also stars in the movie. If you want some cheap laughs and have a strong stomach, you might want to give “72 Hours” a shot.

The movie “72 Hours” won’t be for everybody but if you are in the mood it will deliver some laughs.

Hawaii Trip – And to close out my five topics, I choose to reminisce on where my wife and I were four years ago at this time. On August 13, 2022, you could have found the two of us in Kauai, Hawaii. We had the honor of visiting the island because the first ever couple we mentored for marriage held their wedding there. What a nice time we had! If you are curious about what we did and saw, tap here.

It was such a pleasure to go to Hawaii to support Kailey and Corbin.

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At the opening of this Thursday Rundown, I mentioned that I hoped you would enjoy at least one of the topics I wrote about. Well, did you? If not, I will try to do better next time. Have a great weekend, everyone. Don’t Blink.

The Spokane Wildfires

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I wanted to briefly address the Spokane wildfires. Up until this point I haven’t said anything because I didn’t really find it appropriate to do so. Everything that could possibly be said during such a devastating time was already being said—and in a much more eloquent manner than I could ever do.

But with the fires reaching containment and many of those evacuated returning to their homes, I thought now would be the time to say that neither my family nor our home was ever remotely close to being threatened. Because we live in Spokane Valley, we were far away from the havoc that was wreaked in north Spokane.

This photo has stuck with me throughout the Spokane wildfire disaster. While pretty much everything burned, this statue of our Blessed Mother remained (photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane).

And it wasn’t just the geographic location of our house that removed us from such an awful event. When the fires started on Saturday, Aug. 1, we were all in Atlanta. The thousands of miles that separated us from the Spokane area meant we didn’t even as much breathe in any smoke. This physical detachment from home continued as we spent the following week in Myrtle Beach.

As we were vacationing, Spokane was burning.

So, yes, I did feel guilt. Here I was shielded from the worst disaster Spokane has ever seen while I enjoyed time in a place completely devoid of even a spark. At the same time, I could still rationalize that the vacation was pre-planned and if there was ever a time to be out of the region it was last week.

This was all compounded with the fact that even though I was on the other side of the country, Spokane was still top of mind and front of eyes. The wildfires led off national news broadcasts the entire week. It didn’t matter if I was in my in-laws’ living room or doing cardio in a Myrtle Beach gym, Spokane wildfire updates constantly flashed on television screens. It was a little surreal.

I write this all to convey once again: We weren’t impacted by the fires.

But so many others were. And many lost everything. My heart and my prayers go out to my fellow Spokanites who were dealt the absolute worst luck imaginable.

Besides that, I know anything else I have to write is inadequate.

Thanks to the firefighters and other first responders heroes who have come from all over to assist. Without them, my family surely would have seen the fire when we returned home this past Sunday night. Don’t Blink.

Summer 2026 Myrtle Beach Visit

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South Carolina in August? Some people might say we were crazy but we felt we would have been crazy not to. When you have family living in the state, there is never a bad time to visit…no matter how much rain or humidity we encountered.

After attending an Engaged Encounter national conference in Atlanta, the four of us drove the 360 miles with Sidney’s mom and dad from A-Town to Myrtle Beach for a week of vacation with Sid’s parents, siblings, and their families.

Sloan takes a photo with her grandparents (aka Gami and Dada). What a blessing it was to be around them this past week.

It was seven much-needed days that kept us busy but relaxed at the same time. The trip produced many memories and bonding experiences. I decided to summarize our Summer 2026 Myrtle Beach vacation by detailing 10 themes from the week we spent out on the east coast…

Sloan and Beau got to do a lot over the past week. One fun moment was taking them to the Marsh Walk on Murrells Inlet. This photo was taken at the exact spot where I proposed to Sidney.

Family – First and foremost, the absolute most important/best theme from our time in Myrtle Beach was family. In fact, most of the themes below will dovetail from it. While we welcomed Sidney’s parents to Spokane for a visit in October 2025, Sloan and Beau had not seen their aunts, uncles, and cousins since our Disney World trip in May 2025. It was so nice to see everyone again as we hung out together, ate meals as a group, and did activities throughout the week. The cousins keep growing at rapid speed so it was a blessing to at least slow things down for a bit with multiple days of continuous time together.

Most of us (minus a couple youngsters) visit in my sister-in-law’s kitchen during this most recent visit to Myrtle Beach. It was great to see everyone.

Outdoor Games – What a blast I had with the kids! During the day when most of the adults were working, I was running Camp Uncle B. I bought a cheap $5 plastic bat that allowed us to play lots of wiffle ball. Hacky sack was also an activity that kept us constantly active no matter where we found ourselves (indoors, outdoors, the mall, etc.). And then of course we couldn’t shy away from the nation’s hottest game as we sweated it out on the pickleball court.

My 14-year-old nephew, Harrison, plays pickleball with Sidney. We played a lot of outdoor games over this past week.

Laser Tag – On Thursday afternoon, a group of us went to Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center to play a game of laser tag. However, our intention of playing just a “game” was extended by a very nice employee who allowed us to play several different rounds. From multiple team challenges to a few free-for-alls, everyone from Sid/me to my 14-year-old nephew to all the kids under 10 had plenty of fun.

Our laser tag crew getting ready for another mission inside Myrtle Beach’s Stars and Strikes location.

Poooool – Let me hit you with a fact: a swimming pool is more refreshing in humid weather! In some instances I might be content to just read a book poolside but this entire week in South Carolina I found myself jumping in every chance I got. I took the kids to the pool in my mother-in-law’s neighborhood and we also hit up the pool in my sister-in-law’s neighborhood. It felt so good! A football water toy we bought at Buc-ee’s prior to arriving in Myrtle Beach ended up providing solid entertainment beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Sidney, Sloan, Beau, and cousins splash in the pool during a humid afternoon this past week.

Putt Putt – A “must-do” item on Sid’s list for the vacation was to take everyone mini golfing at one of the elaborate Myrtle Beach putt putt courses. On Tuesday night, eight of us—including Sid’s dad—went to Spy Glass, a pirate-themed course. Playing under the lights, we played as two groups of four and enjoyed a competitive/good time. My 14-year-old nephew beat me by one stroke in our foursome but my father-in-law recorded the lowest score of all as he played on a foursome with Sid and the two 9-year-olds.

Sloan and her cousin, Henry, pose for a photo between holes at Spy Glass.

The Best Dinner – A highlight of the trip was an outing we took with Sid’s parents. On Thursday night, we went to the Marsh Walk in Murrells Inlet. I showed Sloan and Beau the exact spot I proposed to Sid and then we ate at perhaps the best restaurant in Horry County—Drunken Jack’s. The restaurant has a very inviting and homey vibe and that doesn’t even begin to describe the food. Sid and her mom opted for fried shrimp while us men ordered prime rib (Sloan and Beau ordered burgers). Every bite was delicious but the hushpuppies were second to none. In fact, perhaps the only thing that beat the hushpuppies was the company of my in-laws.

A true highlight of the trip was a special dinner at Drunken Jack’s in Murrells Inlet.

Boating – Thanks to my brother-in-law, John Henry, we had the chance to go boating on Saturday afternoon. We cruised the Waccamaw River as the kids (and Sidney 😉) had the chance to go tubing. We also pulled off at a couple different sand bars for food and swimming.

Beau and his cousin, Jack, watch Sloan and other cousins ride the tube during our boating outing.

Gym – As I tried to compensate for the thousands of calories I was consuming with all the yummy food around me, I did attempt to keep up an exercise routine. I worked out at my first ever Crunch Fitness gym and I even hit up the local YMCA. However, I eventually returned to where I feel most at home. Iron Legacy Gym is where I worked out when I lived in Myrtle Beach and I have exercised there over the past several years when we visited the area. Walking into Iron Legacy on Thursday and Friday brought back a lot of really good memories and produced a couple of great workouts. I also had the pleasure of chatting with the selfless owners, Nancy and Ted Capp.

There isn’t a better gym in Myrtle Beach than Iron Legacy. I felt fortunate to exercise there this week.

Worshipping At A Special Church – On Sunday, we returned to the parish where Sid and I were married, Sloan and Beau were baptized, and Sid was welcomed into the Church. Needless to say, St. Andrew Catholic Church is very special. Making this time even more meaningful was the fact that it was my first time there since renovation was completed…it is beautiful! Fr. Roger Morgan presided and preached about distractions, a perfect message for me as I continue to navigate a very busy summer.

Sloan walks up the steps into St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach on Aug. 9, 2026.

Ice Cream For Dayssss – As we wrap up this reflection, it is time for dessert 😋. With it being August in South Carolina, there isn’t any excuse not to eat ice cream. Thus, you probably aren’t shocked to hear that we ate a lot of it. We raided the carton of vanilla ice cream my mother-in-law had in her freezer, we sampled custard from Freddie’s, and we tried treats from the new soft serve ice cream truck in the Myrtle Beach area called Sprinkles. But our favorite ice cream of the trip came in the form of milkshakes from Cook Out. They are thick, they are packed with goodies, and they are only $3.99. One night I had a cheesecake shake and another night I had a Snickers shake.

Sid, Sloan, Beau, and cousins purchase ice cream from Sprinkles, a new Myrtle Beach soft serve ice cream truck.

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We were sad to leave Sid’s family but we felt blessed for the opportunity at the same time. Sidney deserves every chance possible to visit her home and I found plenty of joy watching all the cousins play so nicely together.

Beau is pictured with his cousins, Patrick and Jack. All the kids got along with each other so well!

In addition to Sid’s family, I also took advantage of the opportunity to see some of my old friends. I had lunch with my former co-workers, Kim Harper and Judy Johns, and also stopped by the house of my mentors, the McCormicks.

Sloan and I pose for a selfie with Tim McCormick during our Summer 2026 visit to Myrtle Beach.

But at the end of the day, the chance I had to visit those who shaped my wife’s upbringing proved most meaningful to me. I feel very fortunate to be accepted by Sid’s family. While in Myrtle Beach, Sid and I were talking to my sister on the phone and she asked me, “Brent, are you as weird in front of the Mathis family as you are in front of ours?”

I am fortunate to have incredible in-laws who raised the best daughter.

Without skipping a beat, I responded with utmost confidence: 100%.

Thanks to my in-laws for being great grandparents to my kids and for accepting me for the weird dude that I am.

Thank you to my in-laws for having us. It was a truly wonderful trip. Don’t Blink.

Attending the 2026 Catholic Engaged Encounter National Convention

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It was four years ago this summer when we accepted an invitation. Our pastor at the time, Fr. Jeff Lewis, asked Sidney and me if we would join the Spokane chapter of Engaged Encounter. The Catholic organization is a ministry that prepares engaged couples for marriage via dynamic retreats. We said yes.

By saying “yes” to an invitation to join a special ministry four years ago, we found ourselves at the 2026 Engaged Encounter National Convention.

Thanks to Fr. Jeff and the people of the Spokane Engaged Encounter community, we were afforded opportunities. Within a year we delivered our first enrichment at a team meeting, within two years we were presenting at retreats, and in January 2025 we were discerned as the local coordinators/leaders for our Spokane community.

This past weekend we took our next step in becoming even more ingrained with this special organization as we attended the Catholic Engaged Encounter National Convention in Atlanta.

Sidney looks into the main ballroom as announcements are made at the 2026 Catholic Engaged Encounter National Convention.

The opportunity to travel to Georgia to attend the convention gave Sid and me the chance to experience the depth and richness of Engaged Encounter. It is an international organization that is doing God’s work by staging impactful retreats every weekend. It was inspiring to see so many couples just like us converge at the Hilton Atlanta Airport to discuss our ministry, share best practices, and celebrate our Catholic faith.

Our weekend was amazing. I have so much to express about our time in Atlanta but to keep this post manageable, I thought I would share five themes from the conference that I will truly never forget.

It was nice to attend an Engaged Encounter event where we didn’t have to speak at but it didn’t stop Sid from acting like she did 😉.

Meeting New People – As I briefly mentioned, the convention gave us the chance to network with others beyond our Spokane community who are deeply involved in Engaged Encounter. We met people from all over the country and beyond who pour their souls into presenting at retreats, navigate the same challenges we do, and desire to keep moving the ministry forward. From small groups to breakout sessions to sharing meals, we had countless chances to meet like-minded and passionate Catholics who want nothing more than to prepare engaged couples for the sacrament of holy matrimony.

Sid participates in a small group conversation about best practices for following up with Engaged Encounter couples who go on retreats with EE ministry members from all across the country.

Paul J. Kim – Let me say this: The trip to Atlanta was worth it just for the sole reason of listening to Paul J. Kim deliver two keynote addresses. The Catholic influencer captured my heart and had me reduced to tears for both talks. His first keynote on Friday night focused specifically on marriage and highlighted how our ministry equips couples for success—both in the short term and long term. He also reminded us that marriage prepares couples for the ultimate wedding feast in Heaven but to stay vigilant because Satan hates marriage (it produces children, among other things) and will do anything to sew discord and chaos.

We had the opportunity to meet Paul J. Kim and he was so kind and down to earth.

His second keynote on Saturday morning was about his son, Micah, who passed away on Dec. 31 at the age of 5. The courage and honesty he summoned to tell us about his son’s sudden and unexpected death followed by the incredible graces that have transpired since his passing had me in awe. If you aren’t following Paul J. Kim on Instagram do yourself a favor and tap here.

With a photo of his son up on the screen, Michael J. Kim mustered up the courage to tell the story of Micah.

Our Friends From Joilet – When everyone checked in at the convention on Friday, we were all given a card with the names of another couple. The charge was to seek that couple out, chat with them, and then write about their strengths. We were paired with Ruben and Veronica Manzanares from the Joilet (Illinois) Engaged Encounter community. Our paths crossed on Saturday morning and not only would we eat lunch with them but we also sat next to each other at the special evening dinner as well. Reuben and Veronica were so kind, humble, and courteous.

Sid and I pose for a photo with Ruben and Veronica Manzanares during lunch at the 2026 Engaged Encounter National Convention in Atlanta.

We might have seemed like opposites: they are Hispanic (we are white), have three adult children (we have two children under 10), and live in the Midwest (we live in the Northwest) but we also had much in common as well. Conversation flowed so effortlessly and we can’t wait to stay in touch with them. When we parted, Ruben told us we were welcome to visit them in Illinois by saying “Mi casa es tu casa.”

At the special dinner on Saturday night, Sid and I walked into the ballroom and sat down at a table. Two seats were saved to the left of me. About 10 minutes after we sat down, Reuben and Veronica Manzanares walked inside and sat down right next to us. They had saved the seats but we had no idea until that moment.

Watching Our Mentors Shine – Fr. Jeff Lewis brought us into the Engaged Encounter ministry but Ric and Cindy Gaunt took us under their wing. The Gaunts encouraged us to become presenters, workshopped our talks, advocated for us to become Spokane local coordinators, and have supported us so much over the past four years. We have even had the pleasure to present with them at two different retreats. Their encouragement has meant a lot for many reasons, including their standing at the national level of EE. For two people who are so well-respected at the top of the organization, it meant a lot that they would go to bat for us.

It was an honor to attend the 2026 Engaged Encounter National Convention with Ric and Cindy Gaunt. What incredible mentors they are.

Let me tell you, it was a joy to see them in their element at the convention. They led region meetings in their role as Northwest leaders, presented to the entire group on priest relations via their national board appointment, and worked behind the scenes to make sure things ran smoothly. Whenever Sid and I would introduce ourselves as the local coordinators of Spokane, the response would typically be an excited, “You must know Ric and Cindy!!” We might be the junior couple, but Sid and I will still unequivocally say that we are very proud of the Gaunts and were impressed by their performance at the convention.

Ric and CIndy Gaunt shined in their national and regional roles at the 2026 Engaged Encounter National Convention.

Time With Sidney – And last but definitely not least, what a blessing this weekend has been for Sid and me as a couple. To spend time together on such a spectacular and meaningful stage has not been lost on us. When we sat down at the beautiful dinner on Saturday night, I looked at my wife and said, “Did you ever think we would be sitting here five years ago?” The answer was a big “NO” as we didn’t even know about Engaged Encounter at the time. We have had so many special and profound moments at this convention that we are so appreciative of. However, nothing will surpass the moment we shared when we prayed together during Paul J. Kim’s Friday night keynote (a close second was slow dancing to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain at the convention party 😂). That was a moment I won’t soon forget.

Thanks be to God! What a blessing it was to spend time with Sidney at the 2026 Catholic Engaged Encounter National Convention.

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Sidney and I thank the Convention Planning Team for putting together such an enriching conference. We realize how blessed and lucky we were to attend and can only hope that one day we will return for another Catholic Engaged Encounter National Convention…hopefully in San Antonio in 2028! Until then, with God’s grace, Sid and I will do our best to live our vows everyday while encouraging others to do the same. Don’t Blink.

Happy 69th Birthday, Mom!

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The first birthday of my mom’s that I remember is when she turned 35. My dad put up this glitzy red sign on the front of the house that surprised her when she returned home from an errand. The things you remember, right?

My mom with Beau about 33.5 years after her 35th birthday.

I suppose around that time was when I started to truly comprehend how much my mom cared for me and wanted the best for me. Since then, I have not forgotten it. As my mom turns 69 today, I know for a fact that each day she thinks, prays, and worries constantly about my siblings and me.

My mom with me and my sister at a Mead High School football game. She has always cared about us with her entire heart.

I think the only people she stresses over more are her grandchildren. 😉

My mom loves no one more than all her grandchildren.

But the fact of the matter is that I am so lucky to have a mother who genuinely cares about me. From check-in texts to her 100% willingness to always watch the kids to her frequent dinner invites, my mom has always been there for me—even when I lived across the country.

My mom celebrates her birthday today. This is her and me at my wedding in June 2016.

One quick random thought: It’s kind of funny, but it took me 39 years of my own life to really comprehend how much I owe my mom before I was even born. She carried me for nine months and then went through the birthing process. Seriously, that is a major commitment and investment that I have overlooked for the longest time. For nearly 300 days, I depended on my mom for absolutely everything while anything she did was dependent on the baby she was lugging around. Definitely something I should appreciate more.

My mom with Sloan. I need to do a better job being grateful for all my mom has done for me, including carrying/birthing me.

Mom, you are worthy of much greater than this silly blog post but I sure love you. Please know I immensely value the great lengths you go to be an amazing mother and person. Happy Birthday! Don’t Blink.