Independence Day Weekend 2026

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The 2026 Independence Day weekend is now in the books. This year’s holiday brought beautiful weather and a semiquincetennial (happy 250th birthday, America!). With the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday, it meant that many people were given Friday (July 3) off. Sid and I both were afforded this luxury. Here is how we spent our three-day holiday weekend…

Blurry Fourth of July photos are the best photos, right? Let’s take a look at how we spent the Independence Day weekend.

Friday, July 3

We started the Fourth of July weekend off by visiting the Southside Aquatic Center. One of Spokane County’s swimming facilities, it comes complete with water slides, a lazy river, and water structures to climb on. We spent every minute of the three-hour session enjoying the water and sun. With Beau considerably taller this summer than last, he was able to go down the slides for the first time.

Beau excited after going down one of the Southside Aquatic Center water slides. This is the first year he can actually use them.

Later that night, we headed north to a community called Colbert where one of my childhood best friends (John Toguchi) owns some beautiful property. On this particular evening, he offered some Fourth of July magic by hauling out one of those large outdoor screens and showing the 1996 blockbuster “Independence Day.” A popcorn machine was on-site along with soda and candy. Because I had Sloan and Beau, I thought we would catch maybe 45-60 minutes of the movie and then go home. Boy, was I wrong. Sloan was so engaged and mesmerized by the movie that we stayed for the entire 2.5-hour runtime. We didn’t arrive home until 12:30 a.m.

My friend John plays with Sloan and Beau as we await for the sun to go down. You can see the move screen in the distance. Sloan absolutely loved “Independence Day.”

Saturday, July 4

As per our relatively new tradition (three years strong, baby!), we started Independence Day 2026 by driving out to Coeur d’Alene, ID, for the city’s American Heroes Parade. I must say, I think this year’s parade was the most enjoyable one yet as the kids sat relatively still and the patriotism was in abundant supply.

Beau and Sloan pose for a photo at the 2026 Coeur d’Alene American Heroes Parade. It was the third straight year we attended the parade.

Later that day we went over to my parents’ house for their traditional Fourth of July cookout. We played sports, ate steaks, sipped beverages, and celebrated America.

Of course we had to pose for a family photo at my parents’ house. Happy 250th birthday, America!

We then made a return visit out to John’s property for his private fireworks show. He had a setup that would earn him the immediate respect of any professional pyrotechnic. The show was incredible as it was choreographed to music and the fireworks were literally exploding just above our heads. After going to a park the past three years for a public show, this year’s experience just packed more intimacy and a bigger BOOM. As we made the 40-minute drive back home, we watched fireworks light up the sky around us.

Sid and the kids enjoy the fireworks. Sidney would eventually have to take Beau about 10 feet back because the close proximity of the fireworks scared him just a little.

Sunday, July 5

The last day of our Independence Day weekend started with 9 a.m. mass. It was the debut of Fr. Curtis Seidel at St. Mary. The gospel was Jesus’ invitation to follow him and receive rest (Matthew 11:25-30). Fr. Seidel used the passage to reflect on his 12-year priesthood and relate that things have always worked out better when he trusted in the Lord as opposed to tackling projects and assignments by himself.

Not a church photo but it does foreshadow the rest of the day (Sloan would help bake a cake…this is her topping it).

Back at home, I took Beau down to the pickleball court and rallied back-and-forth. It is nice to see Beau’s skills continue to improve. After I finished some yard work, Beau joined me back outside for some front porch sitting as he received some screen time and I read my book.

Beau plays pickleball with me on Sunday. He is becoming a decent player.

Later that evening, the kids helped me bake a pound cake. We then capped the weekend with an outdoor cookout…have I mentioned that the weather was beautiful? 😉

We had a back yard cookout on Sunday night.

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Thank God for this country and a wonderful weekend. I am excited to continue this month of sun and relaxation. Don’t Blink.

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

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I love Independence Day. The sun, fireworks, cookouts, parades, and cold adult beverages are all things I appreciate about this holiday that epitomizes summer.

Over the years, I have enjoyed getting in the patriotic spirit every Independence Day.

But above all else, I love the Fourth of July because I love my country.

And on America’s 250th birthday, I don’t think there is a better time to truly reflect on the privilege we have been afforded to live in the United States. As I wrote last month, this anniversary/birthday is a BIG deal. It is the semiquincentennial and since I was 10 years late for the bicentennial and odds are against me that I will live for the tricentennial (can you imagine me as an 89-year-old man?), I guess I have to get all my celebrating in today.

What an honor and milestone it is to mark the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

Hold on, I am getting ahead of myself. I think the word I used at the start of the above paragraph—reflect—is probably more important for me to do than what I used at the end (celebrate). Don’t get me wrong, there will definitely be some celebrating but I do feel taking the time to reflect is a little more appropriate.

And here is what we all should reflect on: Regardless of what party is in power, we have the right to speak, worship, and organize how we want. We can vote, we can travel, and we can petition. We can peacefully live in a country that is defended by the most powerful military that the world has ever seen.

All of this is given to us because of pure luck of the draw. Most days I pray to God thanking him for being born in America but then I follow it up by admitting that for those who were given much (like living in this country), much is expected. A lot of times I fear that I haven’t done my share for the blessing I have received.

Although I have fallen short in giving back the way I should, there are countless American citizens who have “given much” in numerous ways. Perhaps the most obvious way is through military service. I think today we should all do whatever we can to honor those who have served and defended our country over the past 250 years to ensure that we could/can continue to be “one nation, under God.”

As I have grown older, my gratitude for this country has increased with each passing year. This is mainly due to the fact that a day doesn’t pass when I don’t hear about an atrocity occurring in some other country. When it comes to this soil, we are spared from major natural disaster, brutal war, devastatingly poor conditions, crazed dictators, and mass oppression. The fact that I can go to bed each night in peace and comfort is a luxury that many people in this world don’t have.

Remember, political ideology can’t overshadow this fact.

Happy Birthday, America! And thank you, God, for allowing me to be born here. May there be plenty of reflecting and celebrating today but with a heavy dose of prayer, too. Don’t Blink.

Volcano Thursday Rundown

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Happy Independence Day Eve Eve! As you prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I hope you read the latest Don’t Blink entry from a blog that has been around for 6% of those years.

Outdoor Movie – We did something last night for the first time this summer: We went to an outdoor movie. I took the kids to the Pavilion in Riverfront Park to watch “Captain America.” Doing these things is quickly becoming a tradition for my family. After years of skepticism and lukewarmness toward outdoor movies, I took Sloan and Beau to a whole bunch of them last year and even wrote this blog post about my new attitude toward them. We ushered in the outdoor movie season by drinking Zip’s milkshakes while we (more like “me” as all the kids wanted to do was run around 😂) watched the film.

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

Volcano of Fries – In my Hoopfest post, I mentioned that since my bracket only had 10 teams in it, we had some time to enjoy the event away from our court. One thing we did was get food in Riverfront Park. On Sunday, our entire family was fed by what was called a “Volcano of Fries.” The idea was that in the middle of the “volcano” you could fill it with lava (ketchup, nacho cheese, etc.)…but we stuck with just plain potatoes. Lava or no lava, it was so good!

Sidney holds the plate of volcano fries at Hoopfest before we dug in.

Can’t Take Him Home – On a recent evening walk around the neighborhood, we encountered three cats at different points during our stroll. By the time we stopped to pet the third one, Beau had a question: Can we take this kitty home to be our pet? The photo below is Sidney actually explaining to Beau that the car actually belongs to someone else and it wouldn’t be right for us to keep him at our home. Ah, the innocence.

The exact moment when Sidney had to educate Beau on why we couldn’t just take the cat home as our own.

One of My Favorites – This photo was taken in a grocery store parking lot of all places but it is one of my favorites. Even though it was snapped in a sea of asphalt, the gorgeous sunset accented by my beautiful wife and kids never fails to make me smile. It was taken on this date (July 2) four years ago.

This photo was taken in the Yoke’s parking lot on Argonne and Montgomery in Spokane Valley on July 2, 2022.

EWU University Relations Student-Workers – One of the early things I was allowed to do when I arrived at EWU was to build our University Relations student intern program. I oversaw the hiring of three student-workers in 2025 and five student-workers in 2026. These EWU students bring a lot to our department via their talent but what I appreciate most is the energy they radiate on a daily basis. At the end of the spring quarter we had a small “thank you” gathering for our awesome and motivated young people.

A handful of our EWU University Relations student-workers. In addition to the five students I hired, we also had an Alumni Relations student-worker and a graduate assistant communications write (photo courtesy of Linn Parish).

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Thank you for taking the time to read! I am officially on the Fourth of July holiday weekend and I can’t wait for what is in store. I hope you get tomorrow off as well. God bless America. Don’t Blink.

Bridging The Vacation Miles With Our Daughter

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To put it mildly, Sloan was a little disappointed that she couldn’t come with Sid and me to Cancun. We tried to explain to our daughter that it was an anniversary trip and that we were staying at an adults-only resort.

However, although kids weren’t permitted at the Sun Palace, toy ducks were.

A couple months ago I mentioned that Sloan has an eccentric personality. One such eccentricity is her love for tiny toy ducks. Trust me, my sister didn’t get Sloan an “Just A Girl Who Loves Ducks” sign for nothing.

Sloan is a girl who loves ducks,

So as a way to kind of bridge both the physical gap (3,000+ miles between Spokane and Cancun) and the emotional gap, we brought one of Sloan’s favorite “friends” with us.

My dear readers, please meet Banana Pudding.

Let me introduce you to Banana Pudding. She truly was a “lucky duck” as she joined us in Cancun for our anniversary vacation.

Banana Pudding is one of Sloan’s approximately 60 miniature ducks she keeps on her night stand (yeah, she has names for them all). This lucky duck was randomly chosen by yours truly and placed in my wallet to accompany my wife and me to Cancun. Once at our destination, I included Banana Pudding in a variety of our activities and documented it. I would then send Sloan the photos at the end of each day. I thought I would share some of Banana Pudding’s adventures with you…

Playing ping pong was one of our favorite activities on our vacation and it was one of Banana Pudding’s too.

Ducks love to swim so we let Banana Pudding take a dip…

Banana Pudding in the refreshing pool at Sun Palace.

She caught some rays with Sid…

Sid invited Banana Pudding to sun bathe with her.

In the interest of public safety, she assumed the role of life guard…

Making sure that Sidney doesn’t drown, Banana Pudding was a great life guard.

Banana Pudding admired the view from our balcony…

What duck doesn’t love a view?

She took a mandatory selfie with me…

I think Banana Pudding liked Sidney more, but she still tolerated a selfie with me.

Cheers! The duck tried to get a drink at the bar…

It was tough for Banana Pudding to get the bartender’s attention at the Sun Palace bar.

A dip in our jacuzzi was too hard to pass up…

Just like with the pool, ducks tend to gravitate toward water so our jacuzzi was a natural spot.

And some people-watching in the hotel lobby was a must…

Banana Pudding loved the energy of the hotel lobby.

Finally, she even comforted us on the plane when we had to depart Cancun…

We gave Banana Pudding a window seat on the plane.

Needless to say, Banana Pudding had a tan when we released her back to Sloan. Better yet, the duck had a faint smell of our resort’s signature scent. Thanks to good behavior and the patience displayed for all the photos we took, Banana Pudding now has a seat of honor in our daughter’s room. Don’t Blink.

Halftime of 2026

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I always feel it is important to recognize the halfway mark of the year. Today we conclude the first half of 2026 and then the final six months begin tomorrow with July 1.

For me, I do look at July 1 as a beginning in a couple different ways. Even though it is the halfway mark in a calendar-sense, I think it is totally appropriate to frame the second half as an entirely separate unit of time to be used to your advantage. If the first half of 2026 was tough, regroup for the second half and make those ensuing six months so good that they erase the sting from the previous six months. If the first half of the year was positive, keep the momentum going for the second half to build the best year ever.

July 1 also conveys a new beginning for me and many others with the start of a new fiscal year. Many of us who close the books on June 30 know the stresses and processes that go into concluding a fiscal year. For FY26 to be in the rearview mirror and for FY27 to finally be here (at least come tomorrow) is a major relief and breath of fresh air.

But please forgive me, I don’t want to cloud this post with work-speak. Whether July 1 matters to you from a professional standpoint or not, make sure to put more focus on the personal ramifications of July 1.

And when it comes to my own personal ramifications of July 1, I am blessed to be in the camp of people who will try to do whatever possible to at least match the positivity of the previous six months. Thanks be to God, 2026 has been a blessing thus far. However, I will wait to recap 2026 when the time comes in late December. But I will say this right now…

Out of the first six months of 2026, we definitely went out with a bang. The month of June was even better than what I projected and might go down as one of the best months of my life. From celebrating our 10th anniversary to going on a special trip to Hoopfest with the family to many other things, this month has rocked.

June 2026 was epic for us.

In fact, this month has treated me so well that I am going to try and savor the last few hours of it before we turn the page to July. Yes, it has been that good.

To those of you not happy with 2026 thus far, I wish you six upcoming months that bring the same satisfaction that this June has brought to me. Stick in there, good things are in store! Bring on the final 183 days of 2026. Don’t Blink.

Hoopfest 2026: My 10th Time

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This past weekend marked the 10th time (non-consecutive) that I served as a court monitor at Hoopfest, the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. As an ode to the milestone, I used the coin I was supplied at the first Hoopfest I volunteered at in 2008 to conduct the pre-game coin tosses for this past weekend’s games.

At Hoopfest 2026, I used the coin I was given when I first served as a court monitor in 2008 to conduct the coin tosses during our pre-game meetings.

What a contrast between then and now. Back in 2008 it was the 19th Hoopfest and I was a bachelor in college. Fast forward 18 years and I found myself volunteering at the 36th Hoopfest with a wife and two kids in tow.

A photo of me at Hoopfest 2008. This was my first year as a court monitor. I would do it for six consecutive years before moving across the country. Since then, I have done it four other times, including for the past three years.

And let me tell you, I definitely prefer the latter arrangement. Not only is life richer when you have loved ones to experience it with but extra bodies can also help immensely with court monitoring. 😉

Beau helped keep score as it was a major thrill for him. It sure makes court monitoring easier when you have people, especially loved ones, supporting you.

For the third year in a row, the four of us worked together at a Hoopfest court as our family’s small way of giving back to the community. I handled the court monitoring duties, Sidney maintained the paperwork/administrative upkeep, and the kids handled keeping score.

For the third straight year, my family worked together to volunteer at one of the 425 Hoopfest courts. The scorecard depicts the year (2026).

This year we were kept on our toes as we oversaw a competitive male bracket…and competitive might have been an understatement. The teams on our court played hard, expected to win, and demanded competence from the volunteers running the games.

Just how I like it.

At Hoopfest, sections of courts fall under the jurisdiction of a court marshal. The court marshal oversees the court monitors within that section. This photo is of the court marshal and my fellow court monitors who volunteered on our section located on Spokane Falls Blvd (I am on the far left). Daniel Greer served as our court marshal and did an outstanding job (photo courtesy of Daniel Greer).

Although court monitoring for talented and ultra-competitive people can be a little intimidating, I couldn’t think of a better assignment. It’s an honor to court monitor for people who take the game very seriously and it is also very entertaining as well. Over the course of two days, we saw some excellent basketball.

Sid and Sloan keep score at one of the games during Hoopfest 2026.

That exciting basketball came from a relatively small bracket. Comprised of just 10 teams, we finished our volunteer duties a bit earlier than many of the other courts. This allowed the four of us to enjoy Hoopfest in a multitude of non-court monitor ways from watching games to enjoying vendor food to visiting center court.

Because our bracket had just 10 teams, we had a little time at the end of each day to enjoy Hoopfest beyond just our assigned court. This photo is of Sloan watching the center court action from the top of the Riverfront Park Pavilion.

We did this in weather that was a little atypical for Hoopfest. Late June in Spokane usually brings hot, sunny, and dry conditions. This past weekend, temperatures maxed out in the mid-60s, securing legendary status as one of the coldest Hoopfest on record. Even though I wouldn’t have minded a little warmer weather, the overcast and cool elements proved perfect for the players.

With a scowl like that, I am actually surprised the players tolerated me. 😂

And speaking of those players, we sure met some nice ones on our court. One of the absolute best parts of serving as a court monitor is the relationships and rapport you develop with the participants over the weekend. A mutual respect develops and I feel it is a great learning experience for Sloan and Beau to observe and appreciate.

Sidney assists one of the players by applying a band-aid during Hoopfest 2026. Developing relationships with the participants and fans is probably the best part about volunteering at Hoopfest.

The most rewarding interaction I had all weekend came from a team that wasn’t very happy with me on Saturday. They thought a flagrant foul should have been called on a specific play but I didn’t think the infraction reached that level. One player in particular—along with his dad—let me know their displeasure in uncertain terms. When that team was eliminated late on Sunday, every player on the team shook my hand and thanked me—including the young man and his dad. The player then proceeded to apologize for the day before (which he didn’t need to do). It is that type of respect, humility, and graciousness that makes Hoopfest so awesome.

I stand with Daniel Greer, my court marshal, during Saturday of Hoopfest 2026. This was the second time I served under Dan. I sure appreciate his support and encouragement.

Our bracket ended in exciting fashion. The team that came through the loser’s bracket beat the winner’s bracket team in the championship game. This of course set up a second and final title game. In front of a large and enthusiastic crowd that included NBA hall-of-famer John Stockton, the team that originally came through the winner’s bracket held on to win the game and a Hoopfest championship.

As my family made sure the games on Xfinity #10 went on without a hitch, former NBA star John Stockton (ball cap and glassed behind the “10” on the score card) watched the action as his nephews captured the Hoopfest championship in our bracket.

What an honor it was to once again volunteer for Hoopfest. I owe a lot of gratitude to my court marshal, Daniel Greer, for providing me with support and encouragement throughout the tournament. I also am thankful to the players on our court this year who brought passion, talent, and humanity to Xfinity #10. And of course, most importantly, THANK YOU to Sidney, Sloan, and Beau. Hoopfest has become the perfect service project for us and over the past three years it has given us so many incredible memories.

I sure am thankful that I had my family’s support at Hoopfest 2026. What a special opportunity it was to work together as a team for a good cause. Hoopfest is very special to Sidney and me.

One last thing: Spokane is awesome! The spirit in this town is special and without it, Hoopfest wouldn’t be possible. I am lucky to live here and am constantly blown away at the cool things this community is able to pull off. Already looking forward to Hoopfest 2027! Don’t Blink.

Peanut Thursday Rundown

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It has been three weeks since my last Thursday Rundown. Our anniversary blog post bumped the rundown on June 11 and then last week we were in Mexico, and…yeah…I wasn’t going to write one then. So after 21 days, here we go with my latest Thursday Rundown…

Father’s Day 2026 – I told Sid I wanted to attend a baseball game for Father’s Day and my wife delivered. On technically the same day we arrived home from our Mexican vacation, we went to Avista Stadium that evening to watch the Spokane Indians host the Vancouver Canadians. It was Bluey Night and Fireworks Night but the most excitement came when the Indians smacked a walk-off home run in extra innings to secure a thrilling victory.

My family took me to the ballgame for Father’s Day. We watched the Spokane Indians defeat the Vancouver Canadians.

Sunrise Mass – Even though Fr. Jeff Lewis is about to move to Walla Walla, he is still doing lots for his current flock at St. Mary. Last Saturday he held a sunrise mass on the parish campus. He started the mass at 4:45 a.m. so the consecration could coincide with the actual specific moment of sunrise. Please pray for Fr. Jeff as he departs for his new assignment at St. Francis of Assisi and Assumption (both in Walla Walla). Earlier this week I published my tribute to Fr. Jeff as well as my family’s top 10 moments with him.

Fr. Jeff Lewis offered a sunrise mass on the St. Mary (Spokane Valley) campus this past Saturday. My bud JJ Nazzaro is shown in this photo with Fr. Jeff.

Peanuts – I love peanuts in all forms and I couldn’t help but laugh when I realized the contents of the lunch I packed on Tuesday. It contained a peanut butter sandwich, salted peanuts, and peanut butter M&Ms. It was a very good thing that no one with a peanut allergy walked into my office at noon that day.

My lunch was high in peanuts/protein earlier this week.

Habitat for Humanity – I want to give a shout out to my wife for serving the community earlier this month. She joined a group of her Traveler’s Insurance co-workers as they went to a worksite to help Habitat for Humanity build a house. If you know my wife, she is spectacular with a hammer and tools, so this work was right down her alley. She enjoyed the experience and wants to do it again. Kudos to Traveler’s for encouraging their employees to take a break from the office to help with a very worthy community project.

Sidney hanging out on a Habitat for Humanity job site with her Traveler’s co-workers.

June 25 – A lot of really great things happened on this date. Most importantly, Sloan was baptized nine years ago at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach. Hard to believe she has already received the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. On this date four years ago, I played with my siblings and sister-in-law on a Hoopfest team. Rewind three years ago and that was when my St. Mary Hoopfest team cruised through the loser’s bracket to the championship game where we would fall just a little short. And then on June 25, 2024, I interviewed at Eastern Washington University. Needless to say, that last memory turned out well.

Sloan was baptized at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach on June 25, 2017.

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I could have kept going with five additional topics since it has been 21 days but I have to stay true to the Thursday Rundown format. Let’s hope that the rain stays away this weekend…I will provide more information next week. Don’t Blink.

A Cool Kingdom Party

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Hear ye, hear ye!

The 2026 St. Mary (Spokane Valley) Catholic Summer Camp theme is “A Cool Kingdom Party.” It is all about how Mary gets us closer to Jesus.

It is the last full week in June and that means one thing in our little corner of Spokane Valley: Catholic Summer Camp.

This year the theme at St. Mary’s (Spokane Valley) Catholic Summer Camp is “Cool Kingdom Party: Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus.” I promise Beau is more excited for camp than how he looks in this photo 😂.

Yes, that glorious time of the summer has arrived where after an ever so brief respite from their friends, Sloan and Beau return to St. Mary and are re-united with their classmates (and others) for five days of camp filled with crafts, snacks, music, and faith. It just doesn’t get much better.

Marie Bricher once again is delivering incredible instruction to the campers. This year the theme is about how our Blessed Mother gets us closer to Jesus. I took this photo at the kickoff event on Sunday night.

Or perhaps it does. Because this year, the campers cross a moat each day to enter the Catello della Madonna. Who doesn’t love a medieval theme?

This year, Catholic Summer Camp is taking place in Catello della Madonna (aka the St. Mary gym)>

As per usual, Marie Bricher has taken a fun theme and leveraged it to the max with peak creativity and imagination. Aside from camp taking place in the Castle of the Madonna (aka the school gym), my kids are also creating art in the Crafters Hall, listening to stories in the Castle Garden, and trading in their “kingdom cash” at the Medieval Store. But the execution of the theme goes way beyond clever names because once again the gym is beautifully decorated in a way that would make any 1400s château blush.

A medieval bell tower, constructed by St. Mary teacher Kevin Schultz, stands in the center of the gym.

However, even though Marie aced the theme (again), the absolute best part of this year’s St. Mary Catholic Summer Camp is the content. This summer, it is all about helping the campers understand the importance of Mary and how she leads us closer to Jesus.

This year’s camp is focused on teaching the kids how Mary gets us closer to Jesus.

Sloan and Beau are learning how our Blessed Mother said “yes” to God, how she is pure and holy, how she is Queen (there is a throne for her in the castle), and how Jesus is King.

Inside the castle/gym is a worship area for the campers. Marie always thinks of it all!

Basically, the entire lesson of the camp can be summarized on what is written on the back of this year’s camp t-shirt. It is taken right from our Blessed Mother’s final words in the bible and should be used to guide us every day: Do whatever Jesus tells you (John 2:5).

The back of the t-shirts sum it all up at this year’s St. Mary (Spokane Valley) Summer Catholic Camp.

So as Catholic Summer Camp continues at St. Mary this week, let’s pray for the children and volunteers. May they follow Mary’s example of saying “yes” to God and follow her command of doing whatever Jesus tells us to do. Don’t Blink.

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