Tag Archives: St. Andrew Catholic Church Myrtle Beach

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.

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 Decade of Marriage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Past Anniversary Blog Post Entries

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

Our Ninth Wedding Anniversary

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It may have been the best memory from our latest year of marriage. At around 11 p.m. on a May night in Disney World, Sid and I found ourselves decked out in 3-D glasses. With the park closed down to the general public, we were in a sectioned-off corner of Epcot riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Energized by the savory kettle corn in our lap and emboldened by the open bar we had taken advantage of all night, we swayed together shoulder-to-shoulder as the attraction zipped us from scene to scene.

As we laughed out loud as we rode the attraction more than once, we realized that each time on the ride was different. Disney created Ratatouille Adventure to feature multiple perspectives and experiences based on what car you were assigned. Perhaps it was just the buzz I was nursing, but at that moment I realized the ride was like our marriage: fun, random, and a little crazy.

Sid and I pose for a photo before going on the Ratatouille ride.

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On this date nine years ago, Sidney and I entered into the sacrament of holy matrimony at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Although that is a neat fact, is it even worth it to celebrate a ninth anniversary? Perhaps married couples should just bypass it and gear up for the big 10th anniversary. Nah. As I said last year, an anniversary is an anniversary and should be recognized and celebrated as such.

What a blessing it is to celebrate our ninth anniversary! (📷: Nicole Lynn Photos).

And truth be told, I think recognizing today’s anniversary goes beyond just principle. Yes, I believe this past year of marriage deserves at least some celebration. After all, the professional moves we made in lockstep and the leadership opportunity we embraced did make it a unique year of marital bliss.

We said “I Do” on June 11, 2016, at St. Andrew Catholic Church

Don’t worry, I won’t dwell long on the “uniqueness” I just referenced. But with me accepting a director role at EWU and Sid ascending from a customer service position to an underwriter at Travelers, we got to climb the career ladder together and celebrate one another’s successes. We also had the pleasure of accompanying each other to our respective work banquets and parties, including Sid’s award recognition excursion to Orlando that provided the inspiration for the opening of this post.

Sid and me at the EWU Alumni Awards at the end of April 2025.

At the same time as our careers taking an upward trajectory, we were given additional responsibility outside of the office, too. In January, in a manner which was not unlike a conclave (😂), Sid and I were elected to serve as leaders of our Engaged Encounter community (Diocese of Spokane). Over the past six months, we have used our different talents and personalities to provide the best collaborative leadership we can.

In January 2025, Sid and I were selected co-leaders of the Diocese of Spokane chapter of Engaged Encounter. We were elected alongside our friends, Grace and Tim Trudnowski (seated next to us).

But besides those two developments, it has been another blessed year based on the tenets that have fueled our marriage for so long: A reliance on God’s grace, the solid examples of strong marriages from our own parents, and the special way our children enhance our relationship.

It has been another fruitful year of marriage and thankfully we had Swoop around to witness it first hand 😉

Give any couple those three things and let me know if they still aren’t happily married 50 years from now.

We are still smiling 9 years later.

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Sidney, I know our ride will remain twisty and curvy but I wouldn’t trade the thrill for anything. Buckle your seat belt because I can’t wait to see where it takes us this next year! Don’t Blink.

Thankful For Our Nov. 2023 Myrtle Beach Visit

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The Resers are back on the west coast after nine days in Myrtle Beach. It was such a blessing to return to South Carolina to visit Sidney’s family. Even though we are still fresh from the sadness of leaving family and have just started the battle of adjusting back to pacific time (and from rainy/cloudy days to crisp/cool days), I feel like I can still write about the many happy moments from our trip. So, in no particular order, here are ten themes from our Thanksgiving visit to Myrtle Beach.

Cousin Time – For the first time in two years, the six cousins derived from the Mathis family were together again. Russell, Harrison, Henry, and Jack were waiting for Sloan and Beau at the airport when we landed and the gang hung out with each other for the duration of our time on South Carolina soil. When you are dealing with kids and nearly 24 months pass, it is crazy how big everyone gets. But no matter how much you grow physically, you never “grow out” of family.

The six cousins started their time together from the get-go at the Myrtle Beach Airport.

Thanksgiving – I devoted a whole blog post to Thanksgiving 2023, but just to recap: We drove to Conway, South Carolina, to attend the Thanksgiving gathering of the Henry family. Our connection was my brother-and-law and husband to Sid’s sister, John Henry. Everyone welcomed us with supreme Southern hospitality as we ate fried turkey, chicken bog, mac and cheese, and barbecue pig. After cruising on tractors and ATVs through the family’s wooded property, we returned to Sid’s parents for an afternoon of football, books, and relaxation. It was awesome.

The four of us, Sidney’s sister, her husband, their son, and my in-laws pose for a photo outside the barn on Thanksgiving Day.

Feliz Navidad – After Thanksgiving was adequately celebrated, we had Christmas in November. On Black Friday, the cousins slipped on their new Christmas pajamas and were treated to a gift exchange. The following day we took them to the Christmas tree farm where they had their picture taken with Santa. After not doing any Christmas activities together last year, it was nice for them to have these moments this year.

The cousins had their picture taken with Santa.

Games – Creativity, humor, and brain power were all used at different times depending on the game we happened to be playing. Selections such as Stir the Pot, Chameleon, Banana, and Rummikub were all played during the days and nights we were in Myrtle Beach. But the undisputed favorite? That would be the kids’ version of Charades that the cousins loved to play! There is no doubt that we will have to get Beau his own Charades game when we make it back to Spokane because he loved it so much.

We played games such as Stir the Pot, Chameleon, Banana, and Charades.

Re-Connecting With Co-Workers – It was work that originally brought me to Myrtle Beach and paved the way for me meeting Sidney and the many blessings that followed. Because of this, Coastal Carolina University will always have a special place in my heart and I will always hold the people dear. During this recent trip, I had the pleasure of hanging out with a few of my “work besties.” On Thanksgiving Eve I sat down with Kim Harper and Martha Hunn for a long overdue catch-up session. Then, a couple days later, I shot the breeze with Geoff Insch. It was awesome to see these outstanding individuals again.

Thanks to Kim Harper (left) and Martha Hunn (right) for taking the time to hang with me on Thanksgiving Eve at Tavern in the Forest in Myrtle Beach.

Murder Mystery – On the Saturday evening of our trip, the opportunity arose for Sidney and me to take our eldest niece and eldest nephew on a night out. Russell, Harrison, Sid, and I went to the Christmas edition of the Riga Tony Murder Mystery Dinner Show. The venue was beautifully decorated and the acting top notch as we watched an entertaining mystery unfold before our eyes. We truly brought our detective hats with us as Sidney cracked the case and was declared the overall winner of the evening!

We had such a fun time with Russell and Harrison at the Riga Tony Murder Mystery Dinner Show.

Mass At St. Andrew – What a special Sunday morning it was when we attended mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church. It happened to be the very last mass in the parish gym before the congregation moves back into the newly renovated church this upcoming weekend but we weren’t disappointed. You see, gym or not, it was still the same beautiful and reverent form of worship that we grew accustomed to when we were parishioners there. After mass we had the blessing of chatting with Fr. Morgan, the priest who baptized Beau and welcomed Sid into the Catholic Church.

What a blessing it was to attend mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Fr. Roger Morgan presiding. We took advantage of the opportunity to chat with him afterwards.

Afternoon With the McCormicks – After mass on that Sunday, we went over to the home of Tim and Kathy McCormick. I have mentioned them many times throughout Don’t Blink but just as a refresher they were our marriage mentor couple, they babysat Sloan when Sid went through RCIA, and they are Beau’s godparents. Aside from Sid’s family, when we come to Myrtle Beach they are the two people we desperately want to see. Kathy made a delightful lunch and we had so much fun catching up and swapping stories about our involvement in our respective parishes.

Beau and Sloan sit with Kathy and Tim McCormick during our most recent visit to Myrtle Beach. Kathy and Tim mean so much to our family.

Time At The Gym – While in Myrtle Beach I tried to slightly balance all the wonderful food I was eating with a little bit of exercise. I was able to return to Iron Legacy Gym, the place where I trained for 3-4 years before moving to Washington. When it comes to Iron Legacy, all I can say is this: If you know, you know. It truly is a one-of-a-kind old school spot with fabulous owners. It was pretty sweet to get in a sweat just like the old times and see some great people.

I got six workout in at Iron Legacy Gym during our visit to Myrtle Beach.

Cherry On Top – The last night of a family visit is always tough as the reality of departure starts to set in. On this particular trip, we tried to make the “eve of return” a little sweeter than what it usually is. The four of us and most of Sid’s family went to the Crazy Mason, one of those fancy milkshake bars. Sid and I shared the “Dashing Through the Dough” shake and the kids shared a “Crazy Pop of Color” shake. The treats were delicious and it was really nice to do one final thing with the Mathis family.

It was a real treat to drink milkshakes at the Crazy Mason.

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Our family returned to Spokane filled with joy after having such a special time in Myrtle Beach. We are already missing Sid’s family but so thankful for the memories made. Don’t Blink.

Nitro Thursday Rundown

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I love March. Longer days, warmer weather, build-up to Easter, exciting basketball, and a certain little girl’s birthday. I also hear that my Thursday Rundowns are a little better this month too. Speaking of that, let’s get to tonight’s five topics…

Snow Dump – February couldn’t exit quietly. On the last day of the month, it snowed half a foot. I woke up on Tuesday to about three inches. By the time I left the gym a couple hours later, an additional three inches fell. Sidney and I teamed up to shovel our driveway. Although Beau’s daycare operated on normal hours, the greater than expected accumulation of snow caused a two-hour delay for Sloan’s school.

The snow was coming down at a rapid rate on Tuesday morning as Sid and I shoveled the driveway.

Holiest of Anniversaries – Earlier this week, on Feb. 27, we marked the third anniversary of when Sidney was welcomed into the Catholic Church and Beau was baptized. What a holy experience for two life-changing events to take place together in a single morning! As the sacraments were bestowed in the side chapel at St. Andrew Parish in Myrtle Beach, we had a lot of support in the pews. Sidney’s family and my mom and sister were there including many of my Knights of Columbus brothers and other people from the parish. What happened that day transformed our family for the better and continues to bear fruit every single day.

Thanks be to God for Feb. 27, 2020. This is our family at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach on the day Sidney was welcomed into the Church and Beau was baptized.

Dishwasher Diagram – I do a fair amount of dishes in our household, but I don’t always load them exactly as Sid would. I take more of a casual, cram-it-all-in approach. The other day, my wife sent me the below diagram for loading inspiration. This is the second major dishwasher intervention in our marriage. The first was just being able to communicate whether the dishwasher was clean or dirty (thank goodness for the clean/dirty magnet we bought). Do you and your spouse have the same dishwasher loading philosophy?

Sidney sent me this diagram of how she prefers the dishwasher to be loaded.

Pepsi Nitros – I saw these Pepsi beverages on the shelf the other day. Marketed as a “draft cola” I thought the shtick was that the drink was supposed to taste like it came from a tap. That was a major “pass” for me as the only time I would prefer a tap soda over a true canned soda is when it is a Coca-Cola from McDonald’s. But apparently the difference in Nitro Pepsi is more bougie. It is literally nitrogen-infused cola giving it a “softer” taste with smaller bubbles and a creamy taste. Not really my thing.

I ran into this grocery store shelf with Pepsi Nitros this past weekend.

Kai – At the suggestion of my brother, this week we watched “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker.” The Netflix documentary tells the story of a young hitchhiker named Kai. This dude saved a woman from a physical assault and was featured for his heroism on the local news. During that interview his charisma was evident and he said a certain phrase that made him go viral. The media built up what seemed like a lovable and courageous guy. However, Kai wasn’t who he was portrayed to be. The documentary chronicles his rise and fall along with high levels of ridiculousness mixed in. I recommend.

“The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker” is a pretty wild ride.

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Make this month spectacular, friends! Thank you for reading my blog and I look forward to connecting again next week. Don’t Blink.

Our Sixth Wedding Anniversary

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My mom is really good at remembering anniversary dates. The number of years the anniversary is commemorating? Perhaps not so much.

A couple weeks ago, she was chatting with me about Sidney’s and my upcoming wedding anniversary.

“How many years will it be?” she asked.
“Six years, mom,” I answered.
“Wow! Already?” she replied.

To use the cliché, time flies when you are having fun and I think that definitely applies to Sidney and I. On June 11, 2016, we tied the knot at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and since that moment it has been an exhilarating road paved with the joy of children, the adventure of a cross country move, and the countless blessings from God.

It was a beautiful feeling walking back up the aisle with Sidney after we were married.

As I personally look back on the past six years, what jumps out to me is progress. As the days turn to weeks, the weeks turn to months, and the months turn to years, the foundation of our marriage continues to grow stronger. To reference an analogy I used in our fourth anniversary reflection (and a Maren Morris song), we have good bones.

The reason for our strengthening bond and healthy bones is pretty simple: God. When we stood at the altar and received the sacrament of holy matrimony, we were blessed with God’s grace. That grace has been with us from Day #1 through Day #2,190—the only difference is that as time goes on we have become better at embracing humility and tapping into it.

Thanks Be To God, it has been a fruitful year of marriage (photo courtesy of Nicole Lynn Photography)

I will remember this past year of marriage for several reasons but for the sake of brevity I will offer just three: Sid and I took our first real vacation together since our honeymoon. We dealt with the loss of a loved one for the first time since saying “I do.” We had the incredible blessing of preparing another couple for holy matrimony.

As we journeyed through the above experiences—one really fun, one sad, one beautiful—we did it against a backdrop of inspiration. Sidney and I have no shortage of successful marriages to glean from, such as the rock solid 40+ year marriages of our parents. But we also admire the marriages of some of our closest peers, namely those couples who are part of our Young Adult Catholic Group. To walk with like-minded husbands and wives, who are also parents, is such a big advantage when it comes to cultivating a marriage that is fruitful.

Sidney and I at our first dinner while on vacation.

Although a faith-based marriage that centers on grace and draws from the experiences of others is bound to be successful, there is one other reason for our past six years of happiness: I have the best wife ever. Seriously. Sidney, thanks for all you do! I love you and feel so blessed to be your best friend. As you would say today, six years down, forever to go. Don’t Blink.

Our Christmas 2021 Trip to Myrtle Beach

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Sidney, Sloan, Beau, and I were blessed to visit my wife’s family (and our old home) this past month. Myrtle Beach treated us well as we celebrated the holidays and spent time with loved ones who hold special spots in our hearts. To summarize our trip, I thought it would be wise to briefly describe 10 happenings/themes from our time in South Carolina.

Staycation – Sid’s parents rented a condo right on the beach for our family and the families of Sid’s two sisters. We spent several days playing at the resort’s water park, creating Christmas crafts, eating family dinners, and enjoying the beautiful ocean scenery. It was a great opportunity to for everyone to come together, catch up, and get into the Christmas spirit.

Beau and Sloan look out at the ocean from one of our condo windows.

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day – Ah yes, the reason for the season! We attended the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve mass at St. Andrew. After that we went over to my sister-in-law’s house to hang out and eat baked ziti. We came back to my mother-in-law’s house and I stayed up until midnight until it was officially Christmas. On Christmas morning we all gathered to open gifts and later that day we went back over to my sister-in-law’s house for a prime rib Christmas dinner.

Sloan and I after Christmas Eve mass.

Gorgeous Weather – The previous two times we traveled back to Myrtle Beach we had no shortage of rain and cold. Not this time. We basked in numerous 75 degree and sunny days over the course of the two weeks we were there. The conditions allowed me to take Sloan to the park, play basketball outside with my nephew, and go for a run through my in-laws’ neighborhood. While Spokane was being pounded with snow, I made sure the savor the sunshine and warm temperatures.

The weather was beautiful and plenty of Otter Pops were consumed.

Old Friends – In addition to spending time with Sid’s family, we also got to re-connect with some of our dearest Myrtle Beach friends. One particular day Sloan got to visit the trampoline park and go out to lunch with Jacqueline, the BFF she was inseparable with when we lived in South Carolina. The day before we traveled back home, we went over to the home of our spiritual mentors, Tim and Kathy McCormick, for breakfast. I even got to see my former Knights of Columbus brothers when they invited me to drop by before one of their meetings.

Jacqueline and Sloan were re-united again and did lunch together.

Old Places – Over the course of our trip I worked out at the gym I used to exercise at on a daily basis, Iron Legacy. It is still old school and it still has the nicest owners. Best of all, we returned to St. Andrew a few different times for mass. So many good things happened to our family within those walls and it is always special to return to worship God.

A photo I took of Iron Legacy in Dec. 2021. This was taken from inside the class studio and it spans the main workout floor.

Baby Jack – We had plenty of time to see the newest addition to the Mathis family, Jack. When we visited Myrtle in June, he was only a couple weeks old. Now past the 7-month mark, he had grown considerably but was still as sweet as could be. It was fun and hilarious to watch Beau interact with his new cousin. Sid and I each made sure to get our snuggles with our handsome nephew over the time we were there.

Sidney holding Jack and Beau.

Sing 2 – The second week we were there a group of us went to see “Sing 2.” It was a super cute film that had us singing and dancing in our seats the whole time. Just having the opportunity to watch a movie in a theater was a special experience by itself.

Sloan and her cousins at the movie theater to watch “Sing 2.”

On the Small Screen – Going to the theater was really nice but watching programming on television wasn’t bad either. I had the pleasure of watching numerous college football games. Laying in bed at night, Sid and I would watch “Fear Factor” re-runs and after she fell asleep I watched poker. Probably best of all was watching “It’s A Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve. Believe it or not, I had never watched the movie until that point. I truly was missing out!

I watched “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the first time this Christmas season.

Good Food – We ate and we ate and we ate. The best part? It was all delicious. From the prime rib Christmas dinner to our takeout favorites to the baked ziti we didn’t obsess over calorie counting. All the baked goods available kept us munching the whole trip.

We baked Red Lobster cheddar biscuits to go with our baked ziti on Christmas Eve,

Bananagram – A game we played both at the condo and at Sud’s parents’ house was Bananagram. It is kind of like a more individualistic, faster-paced Scrabble. It was the perfect game to relax and enjoy a snack with. I had a nice time playing it and even won a few rounds.

What one of my rounds of Bananagram looked like.

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What a blessing it was to spend some solid time with Sid’s family. We were sad to leave everyone in South Carolina but thankful for the memories we were able to bring back. We can’t wait for our next visit. Don’t Blink.

Our Summer Vacation to Myrtle Beach

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Yesterday I returned from a nice trip to Myrtle Beach. In our second trip back after our move out west, our schedule wasn’t as packed as our holiday visit last December. This allowed us to both enjoy some more downtime while also connecting with people we had not seen in a year and a half. As I typically do with vacation recaps, I thought it would be best to identify five themes from my* June trip to Myrtle Beach.

We were all smiles as we flew to Myrtle Beach.

Meet the Newest Member of the Family – We were most excited to meet our new nephew/cousin. Sidney’s sister, Court, and her husband welcomed their first child into the world on May 17. FaceTime can only fill the geographic void to a certain extent and we couldn’t wait to hold Jack for the first time. He surely didn’t disappoint! I know Sidney fell in love with Jack the moment she laid her eyes on him and it was a pleasant reminder to me about how little newborns truly are (crazy how you forget so quickly). What joy it brought us to meet Jack!

Meet Baby Jack!

Family – Yes, we were ecstatic to see the newest member of the family but we couldn’t wait to see the non-newborn members as well! The four of us spent majority of our time visiting with Sid’s parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews, and niece. We ate meals, played volleyball, watched baseball, and spent precious time visiting. A couple of my personal highlights included Sidney and I having a sleepover with our niece (Russell, 12) and nephew (Harrison, 8) and also enjoying a birthday celebration for Russell and her youngest brother, Henry (4). I am so blessed to be part of Sid’s family!

Being with Sidney’s family was the reason for the vacation.

Summer Activities – Although we didn’t receive summer-like weather while we were in Myrtle Beach, it didn’t stop us from engaging in summer fun. It may have rained more days than not, but I still wanted Sloan to do things while on vacation. We hit up a Myrtle Beach Pelicans game and despite only getting to see a few innings due to rain, we still ate plenty of ballpark food and were treated to a fireworks show. One day I took Sloan to Myrtle Waves, a huge water park in Myrtle Beach. While it drizzled most of the time we were there and I secretly hoped that the sun would come out, Sloan didn’t know the difference. She loved the lazy river and the kiddie slides. My last full day we were there we headed to the beach. It was Beau’s first time seeing the ocean and Sloan spent the time with her cousin building sandcastles and collecting seashells. Throughout the trip we didn’t let a little rain dampen our fun!

Yes, it rained. However, it couldn’t keep us away from the beach, water park, and ball game.

Nice to See You Again – In addition to spending lots of time with Sid’s family, we also saw some of our closest friends. Sloan played multiple times with her Myrtle best friend, Jacqueline, and I got to visit with her mom, Susannah. We went over to the home of our spiritual mentors, the McCormicks, for pizza and conversation. I also stepped foot on the Coastal Carolina University campus for the first time since February 2020 and had a reunion with my University Marketing and Communication team. It was so nice to catch up with everyone and see how they successfully managed through the pandemic. After I left the offices I went across the street with my CCU bestie, Geoff, to our favorite burrito joint for lunch (Welcome to Moe’s!).

We joined the McCormicks for an evening (top photo), I got to have lunch with Geoff (bottom left), and Sloan and Jacqueline got to see each other a few times and I got to catch up with Susannah (bottom right photo).

Enjoying Our Favorites – Sid and I managed to do some of our favorite Myrtle Beach things. We attended mass at St. Andrew, got dessert at our favorite ice cream spot (Bruster’s), went through the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru countless times, and managed to find Mr. Softee. I also got in several workouts at Iron Legacy, the gym that holds a dedicated spot in my heart. We didn’t take for granted the opportunity to visit and enjoy these places that are so special to us.

From church to ice cream to the gym, we got to enjoy some of our favorite Myrtle Beach things/places.

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Myrtle Beach will always be part of who I am. I met my wife, had two kids, and spent some of the best years of my life there. To have the opportunity to go back and visit is something I am incredibly thankful for. I am happy that Sid, Sloan, and Beau still have several days left to enjoy. Don’t Blink.

* – I say “my” because Sid, Sloan, and Beau are still making memories in Myrtle Beach. They will be returning next Tuesday.

Sloan’s Baptism

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Exactly one week ago, Sloan was baptized. If you read my blog preceding last Sunday, you knew I was greatly anticipating this big day in Sloan’s life. I promised I would shed some light on this happy and holy occasion so today I will say a few words about the baptism.

One week ago today, Sloan was baptized at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach.

About a month and a half before Sloan was baptized, I went into the parish office of St. Andrew Catholic Church and met with the pastoral associate. He went over the meaning, significance, and logistics of baptism with me. I filled out some paperwork and we set a tentative date for Sloan to be baptized. That date, June 25, 2017, would be finalized once I had Sloan’s Godparents fill out some paperwork as well. The Godmother, Stephanie (Sidney’s sister), and the Godfather, Glen (my brother), wasted no time getting it done. Sidney brought the documents back to the parish office and the date was set!

This is the outside of St. Andrew Church in Myrtle Beach, the place where Sloan was baptized.

Two days before June 25, we went gown shopping. My mom, Sidney, Glen, Sloan, and myself went to a children’s store in Myrtle Beach and picked out a beautiful gown for our daughter to wear. Obviously I don’t get that excited going out to look at clothes but this was kind of fun.

My mom and Sidney looking at baptism gowns.

On the day of her baptism, Sloan’s ceremony took place at 1 p.m. The same crew that went dress shopping showed up at the church at 12:40 p.m. The celebrant, Deacon Robert Jones, was waiting for us when we walked through the doors. It was this man who would give Sloan the sacrament of baptism. Although I had listened to Deacon Jones at mass numerous times, I had never personally met him. We chatted and then he went to put on his vestment.

Deacon Robert Jones was the man who baptized Sloan.

Shortly thereafter, Steph and her family showed up. They were followed by Sid’s parents. Also attending the ceremony was Sidney’s teaching partner, Melissa, and our friends, Kathy and Tim McCormick. With 1 p.m. approaching, we had a nice little group ready to take part in the holy sacrament.

Deacon Jones took charge. With Sidney, Sloan, and I right next to him at the baptismal font, he spoke to the people gathered in a sort of semi-circle fashion. He welcomed everyone and went over what was about to take place. He used the expertise of our niece and nephew, Russell and Harrison, to explain the healing power of water. He described why it was important for Sloan to be baptized and then made it a point to let all gathered know that everyone was welcome to take photos. He then invited Steph and Glen to join us up front.*

Russell and Harrison attended the baptism and helped answer questions asked by Deacon Jones.

The ceremony then started. Deacon Jones asked Sidney and I the name of our child followed by what we were asking for her. He then asked Steph and Glen if they would be willing to help Sid and I with our duty as Christian parents. The deacon then welcomed Sloan into the church. Then, in a moving display, Deacon Jones welcomed everyone gathered to come up and trace the sign of the cross on Sloan’s forehead. As I held her in my arms, our family and friends came up and blessed Sloan.

Everyone was invited to come up to the baptismal font and trace the Sign of the Cross on Sloan’s forehead.

Deacon Jones then anointed Sloan with the Holy Oil of Catechumens. This is a good time to point out that Sloan, looking as beautiful as an angel, was peaceful the entire ceremony. She was half awake for the duration of it and was nothing but sweet from the start to the finish. I say this because the oil was the first time Sloan could have “objected.” You see, the oil was placed on her breast so Sidney had to pull up her long gown (I was holding Sloan in my arms) so Deacon Jones could apply it. She didn’t make a peep.

Deacon Jones blessing Sloan with the oil.

It was now time for the main event. Deacon Jones asked all of us gathered some basic tenets of the faith. After we accepted, he specifically asked the parents and godparents whether it was our will that Sloan be baptized in the faith of the church. Once we all answered to the affirmative, the water flowed.

The parents and Godparents played a big part in Sloan’s baptism.

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Deacon Jones proclaimed as he poured holy water on Sloan’s precious head three different times.

Deacon Robert Jones baptizing Sloan. After an initial wave of shock, Sloan calmed right down.

The first time the water touched Sloan’s head she tensed up right away and let out a little noise. However, right after the initial shock wore off, she was right back to being a peaceful little girl.

Her baptismal candle was lit and a blessing was said. Our small group started to clap and a couple of tears streamed down the cheek of Sloan’s proud daddy. Cleansed from original sin and baptized just the way Jesus commanded, it was a very joyful moment.

Deacon Jones lighting the baptism candle.

With the ceremony concluded, we all took photos. We thanked Deacon Jones for not just doing a good job with the structure of the ceremony itself but for more importantly administering the holy sacrament to Sloan. When the last photo was taken, we exited the church absolutely elated. Our girl is now baptized and salvation has been given to her. Alleluia, Alleluia. Don’t Blink.

* If you are Catholic, you have probably witnessed numerous baptisms during the course of an actual mass. I attended one parish where it seemed like there was a baptism at mass every week! Although this is the preferred method for many of the faith, I had always wanted a more intimate and personal ceremony away from the stresses and unpredictability of a regular service in front of the congregation. As a parishioner of St. Andrew, I never needed to worry about this because it is parish policy that all baptisms occur outside of mass.