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.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:53-54)
Even though we had prepared for nine months, it was a sight that seemed a tad foreign. On Monday, May 11, 2026, Sloan waited her turn in the communion line at St. Mary Catholic Church. Once at the front, she approached Bishop Thomas Daly as he distributed Holy Eucharist. However, instead of crossing her arms across her chest and receiving a blessing, she received Jesus instead.
Sloan received the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist last night at St. Mary Catholic Church. This is her with Fr. Jeff Lewis and Bishop Thomas Daly (Photo Credit: Paola Muela).
It was a surreal but very proud moment to watch Sloan make her First Holy Communion. In classes since September to prepare for the sacrament but genuinely yearning to receive it for the past few years, it truly was a holy moment to witness her reach the source and summit of Christian life.
Sloan receives Holy Communion for the first time. This is her drinking from the Blessed Blood.
But it wasn’t just Holy Eucharist that our daughter received last night. She also received the Holy Spirit via the sacrament of Confirmation. Prior to partaking in the Lord’s Supper, Sloan stood in front of the congregation and publicly renewed her baptismal promises, affirming her Catholic faith.
Sloan stands in our yard before we drove to St. Mary Catholic Church for her First Eucharist/Confirmation mass.
With family friend Fidela Perry by Sloan’s side as her Confirmation sponsor, Bishop Daly anointed Sloan with sacred chrism oil, sealing her with the Holy Spirit. The sacrament instilled in Sloan the same grace and charge bestowed upon the apostles and other followers at Pentecost.
With Fidela by Sloan’s side, Bishop Thomas Daly confirms Sloan by sealing her with the Holy Spirit.
Not bad for a Monday night, right?
Sloan and some of her St. Mary (Spokane Valley) third grade classmates. The bond these kids have is truly special and it was a blessing that they were able to receive the sacraments together.
Sloan has now received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) plus the Sacrament of Reconciliation she received for the first time last year. These sacraments are truly gifts from God and I don’t know how to describe Sloan as anything else but sacramentally gifted 😉.
This is the banner Sloan made at the retreat held just a week prior to the First Eucharist/Confirmation mass. It was placed on the pew that our family sat in. I can’t thank Marie Bricher enough for all she does to prepare individuals to receive the sacraments.
But back to the two sacraments she received yesterday. On Monday morning, I crept into her bedroom for a few moments to gently wake her up (I was feeling nice 😂). As she started to slowly come to consciousness, I told her it was a big day and then I spoke from the heart as I started to become a little emotional. Stating what I wrote above, I told her I knew how much she was looking forward to tonight and how happy I was that she would finally receive Jesus. Luckily, she was still half asleep and couldn’t see my eyes watering up.
Sloan stands in the long line for her First Communion at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley). It was worth the wait.
For the Sacrament of Confirmation, Sloan chose Fidela as her confirmation sponsor because—make no mistake about it—9-year-old girls can recognize and appreciate authenticity from a mile away. Sloan is inspired by Fidela, a convert to Catholicism (just like her mommy), who is on fire for the faith and a tremendous positive influence. When Fidela introduced Sloan to Bishop Daly, she used Sloan’s Confirmation name, St. Lucy. A martyr who turned away from her family’s wealth, Sloan was attracted to St. Lucy’s devotion and bravery.
Sloan’s confirmation sponsor was Fidela Perry, a family friend who has always been an incredible influence on Sloan.
As Sloan continues to walk in her faith, I hope she maintains the same devotion to the Holy Eucharist that she so passionately and genuinely had on Monday night. I also pray that she shows bravery when it comes to practicing her now-confirmed faith, even when it might be difficult or unpopular to do. In those difficult times, Sloan has the Holy Spirit to draw strength from. As Bishop Daly told the children last night, the Holy Spirit is like a coach or teacher ready to help and direct. May my daughter never hesitate to invoke this sacred member of the trinity.
Words can’t describe how special Sloan’s St. Mary (Spokane Valley) third grade class is and the strong bond they all share. It was a joy and a blessing to watch these children receive the sacraments alongside by daughter as well (Photo Credit: Paola Muela).
Thanks be to God for the sacramental gifts bestowed upon Sloan. Pray for me as her father to always put her in a position to maximize their graces. Sid and I send our heartfelt appreciation to Marie Bricher and her team for preparing Sloan (and us!!) for these blessed sacraments. Come Holy Spirit!Don’t Blink.
The beginning of Holy Week is here. Can you believe that Ash Wednesday was all the way back on Feb. 17? Now we enter the home stretch to Easter Sunday.
Perhaps I should be more careful with my words. By describing the next several days as the home stretch, it might convey that the road from today through Easter will be easy or quick. Hardly.
The holiest week of the year culminates in the joyful resurrection of Jesus Christ but to get there we must encounter denials, betrayals, injustice, violence, and murder.
Palm Sunday leads off the grind and is pretty much a microcosm of Holy Week itself. This morning the opening gospel reading depicted Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as crowds paved his way with palms and shouted “Hosana!” However, the heroic sentiment quickly turned to shouts of “Crucify Him”. Christ’s Passion is not for the faint of heart.
Sloan and Beau stand outside St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley) after Palm Sunday mass this morning. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week and a great reminder how we can profess to love Jesus Christ but then quickly betray him.
During his homily today at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley), Deacon Dan Glatt likened the change of heart from the crowd to our own sins. There is no doubt that some of the same people who laid palms for Jesus would later demand his crucifixion, swaying Pilate to put him to death. However, Christ didn’t die simply because of cruel public opinion. He also died for our sins—the minor and major misgivings we commit each day. In the same way that the crowd pledged allegiance to Jesus but then turned on him, we do the exact same thing by calling ourselves Christians and then sinning. We need to own our culpability in the death of Jesus.
One way we can do this during Holy Week is to carry the cross. During his Passion, Christ painstakingly carried the barbaric mechanism of his death until he received assistance from an onlooker who carried some of the load. We need to always do our part to carry the load, too. However, as Fr. Leonard Mary explained in a homily I watched before my family headed to church this morning, Holy Week provides an opportunity to perhaps carry more weight than we usually do.
So what does it mean to carry the cross? Well, we can start by denying our own desires and embracing suffering. We can be especially cognizant of our sinfulness and do whatever we can to choose holiness instead. When we feel like the load is too heavy to carry, we can summon the strength to go a little further.
Thus, instead of treating Holy Week as the home stretch of Lent, let’s consider it the pinnacle. That way, when we arrive at Easter Sunday, instead of finding ourselves at the end of a road, we will instead find ourselves reinvigorated and inspired by Christ’s resurrection to continue on the path to salvation. Don’t Blink.
And just like that, the first month of 2026 is almost in the books. But before Sunday (Feb. 1) arrives, allow me to introduce these five random topics…
Girls Vegas Trip – Last Thursday, my wife, mom, sister, and niece boarded a plane for Las Vegas. They would spend the weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of the Strip. The main catalyst for their journey? They wanted to see “The Wizard of Oz” show in the Sphere. The women gave the show—wait, it is actually more of an experience—rave reviews. But it didn’t take Dorothy and Toto to make their trip special. Rather, it was the opportunity they had to bond together away from us dudes and children. I was really happy they had a great time and I truly admire the relationship Sidney has with my mom, sister, and niece!
My niece, Sid, my sister, and mom prior to watching “The Wizard of Oz” inside the Sphere.
Catholic Schools Week – This week is Catholic Schools Week and Sloan had the honor of kicking it off for St. Mary this past weekend. Not only did Sloan deliver one of the readings at mass but she also read an essay she wrote about the prioritization of Jesus. If you want to watch it, tap here. Sid and I feel so fortunate that Sloan and Beau receive a Christ-centered education. If you have any questions about St. Mary Catholic School please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sloan and Beau pose for a photo inside St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley) after Sloan read her essay to conclude mass on Jan. 24.
TBT Newspaper – I have read the newspaper since I was in grade school. A common sight growing up in our household was of me sitting at the head of the table reading the Spokesman-Review and eating cereal before going to school. This particular photo was taken in March 2025 when I was a senior.
What do you say we rewind nearly 21 years? This is me at the kitchen table reading the Spokesman-Review in March 2005.
Sid’s Birthday – We celebrated Sidney’s 34th birthday last night in a quiet but nice fashion. I brought home takeout from Olive Garden that we all ate around the kitchen table. We then opened gifts as Sloan and Beau couldn’t contain the excitement of their mom opening the presents they got her. Finally, we had cake. As I have mentioned numerous times on this blog, we purchase most of our cakes from Rosauers because the quality is just so good. Last night, the chocolate-everything cake I got Sid may have been the best ever as the freshness and taste was so on-point.
Sid, Beau, and Sloan pose for a photo right before we sang “Happy Birthday.”
Bizarre Cupcakes – Tomorrow will mark the 11-year anniversary of when I ate two very bizarre cupcakes. I visited a wildly popular shop in Myrtle Beach called Coccadotts and purchased a couple of their special Super Bowl-themed cupcakes. The flavors? One was chicken wing and the other was Bud Light. Let’s just say that since trying them 11 years ago, I haven’t had a craving to order them again. I wrote a blog post that described what they tasted like.
Here is a look at the famous Coccadotts cupcakes I purchased 11 years ago…chicken wing on the left and Bud Light on the right.
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For those of you across the country who continue to face the cold, snow, and ice please hang in there. Funny enough, here in Spokane we have enjoyed rather mild temperatures for late January combined with a healthy dose of sunshine. Just about five months until summer! Don’t Blink.
About three weeks ago, I sat down on the couch with the kids prior to school. Usually things are hectic in the morning and I don’t get the chance to hang with them before loading up the car.
I asked Sloan and Beau a question: What is a leader?
“The person who stands at the front of the line,” my son responded.
Hmmm. Not exactly what I was going for.
“Someone who sets an example and shows people how to do things,” Sloan said, before adding, “And brings others closer to God.”
In 2025, the themes of leadership and prioritization emerged (photo taken by Nicole Lynn Photography).
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It has been a good year. As I write in every one of these annual entries, even-numbered years always bring change and disruption to our family while odd-numbered years usually bring more consistency. This pattern once again held true as 2025—although busy and adventurous—didn’t pack life changes or any “rug pulled from under us” moments.
Our 2025 didn’t pack too many surprises…which isn’t a bad thing.
It was a busy 12 months for our family. Compared to last year, we boarded more planes, embarked on more trips, played more sports, and even lost more teeth. Let’s see if I can summarize 2025 in two paragraphs…
During the second half of the year, Sid’s parents came and visited. We had the pleasure of taking them to Montana for a portion of that visit. This photo was at a Griz football game.
Dang, did you catch all that? If you didn’t, perhaps what I am about to discuss next will be easier to digest. As all the fun mentioned above transpired, a couple themes that defined the year developed…
The first theme of 2025 for us was leadership. In January, Sid and I were elected leaders of our Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter chapter. We didn’t seek the position nor expect it, but it has been a blessing (and a lot of work) to oversee such an important ministry. Teaming up with Sid makes it even sweeter. 2025 also marked the first full year in my marketing director role at EWU. As I continue to manage more people than I have ever before, I seized the chance to sharpen my leadership chops. Additionally, Sid volunteered for a 24-hour work innovation challenge and ran point of her squad. Despite all that, Sid and I realized where our leadership is needed most of all: in our family. I feel like we have relished the role God has given us to be the best guiders and examples for/to our children.
Sid and I were elected leaders of the Spokane Catholic Engaged Encounter chapter in January 2025. In this photo we pose with Ric and Cindy Gaunt (former leaders) plus Fr. Ken Krall during an October 2025 retreat.
Speaking of Sid and I, the other theme that manifested itself in 2025 was prioritization. And what I mean by this is placing my relationship with my wife above all earthly things—including our children. The necessity of this became apparent during one of the Engaged Encounter weekends we gave in May. The couple we presented with conveyed the importance of this prioritization and it really hit home. Sid and I have enjoyed a fruitful marriage but I thought forever that I was “doing it right” by embracing a “kids are always first” attitude. We tweaked things after that retreat and things have never been better.
I am lucky to have such an awesome wife; we had a wonderful 2025. #Prioritization
With those two unique themes defining 2025, the big three values I pinpoint each year continued to be critical in our lives…
Let’s start with family. The prioritization theme I just finished explaining contributed to the positive dynamic in the Reser household this year. The truth is that when the husband/wife bond is placed before all earthly relationships, everything else—children, extended families, friends, in-laws—will seamlessly and orderly fall right in line behind it. With Sid and I taking more time for each other—even hiring a babysitter at times—we set the necessary foundation for solid family life. It was a blessing to spend time with Sloan and Beau in fun spots like the Caribbean, Orlando, and Leavenworth but we continued to make memories inside our own home. Perhaps some of the best bonding time occurred when we had movie nights centered on “classic” films that Sid and I watched as children. My parents’ home continued to be a haven for my siblings and our respective families to gather for birthdays, holidays, Sunday dinners, and special events. We were blessed to see Sid’s parents three times this year—South Carolina in January, Florida in May, and Washington in October. Perhaps I should add “Montana” to the October meeting because a true highlight of that trip was taking “Gami and Dada” to Big Sky Country for their first time when we spent a weekend in Missoula. The Florida excursion was especially meaningful because in addition to my in-laws, Sid’s siblings and their families joined us as well.
Welcome to the Reser family Thanksgiving table! We had a lot of good times around my parents’ dining room table in 2025.
Our faith was in action in 2025. Thanks to our election as Engaged Encounter leaders, we spent lots of time nurturing the ministry through planning retreats, running meetings, hosting social events, and doing the behind-the-scenes work to keep our chapter healthy. Sloan and Beau finished and started school years at St. Mary Catholic School, attended Catholic Summer Camp, and showed up for as many Family Faith Nights as possible. It was a big year for Sloan and the sacraments. She made her first confession and started prep for the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Sid and I mentored two couples for marriage, gave two Engaged Encounter retreats, and became Godparents again. Other highlights included hiking to a sunrise mass, attending the Easter vigil, joining a Catholic young family group, continuing my membership with the Knights of Columbus, and worshipping as guests at some beautiful Catholic churches across the country. For the second year, I made it through the entire bible. We mourned the death of Pope Francis and cheered the election of Pope Leo. We celebrated the ordination anniversaries of Fr. Ken Krall (54th), Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski (47th), Fr. Pat Kerst (35th), and Fr. Jeff Lewis (14th). It was a faithful year that can best be described in four words: Thanks be to God!
Me, Sidney, Fr. Jeff Lewis, Fidela, Neteyam, and Dylan pose for a photo in the St. Mary sanctuary after the baptism on July 6, 2025. Thanks be to God! (Photo courtesy of Dylan/Fidela/Family).
Our careers continued to progress thanks to the supportive family and strong faith I just highlighted. Sid earned her company’s national In-Synch Award, traveled to Orlando for special recognition, and was promoted to underwriter. I enjoyed my first full year at Eastern Washington University as I grew our team, marketed our academic programs, generated community pride for the return of commencement to Cheney, and produced the 2025 EWU holiday video. But my proudest accomplishment in 2025 was writing a successful proposal that funded our marketing program and enabled the launch of a major brand awareness campaign. The key to our professional success in 2025 was the support we gave each other. Whether it was visiting each other at our respective offices, attending one another’s work events, or just being a cheerleader/open ear, there was never a doubt that we valued the workplace growth of each other in the same way that we value our own.
It was a good professional year for both Sid and me. This photo shows me with my colleagues in November 2025 with communications director Linn Parish on the left and digital marketing supervisor Ginny Baxter on the right.
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My apologies, these year-end blog posts always run long. As I prepare to sign off, I want to mention those our family knew who passed away this year: Ed Galloway, James Gibson, Rob Heacock, and Susan Yarborough. May perpetual light shine on them all.
Although it has been a good year for our family, we did lose some really good people. This photo was taken on Christmas Day at my parents’ house.
Thanks to everyone who entered/remained in our orbit over the past 365 days. We thank God for his many blessings and hope to use the lessons learned and the experiences gained throughout 2025 in the years to come. Don’t Blink.
Happy Thursday to everyone! It is commencement week at Eastern Washington University so I would like to congratulate all of the Eagles who will be graduating this weekend. Soar!!…
No Cavity Club – Sloan and Beau visited the dentist this week…but it wasn’t to get their teeth cleaned! Rather, they walked through the doors of Children’s Choice Dental to pick up their prize for being the No Cavity Club winners for June. They received t-shirts, free ice cream, and Target gift cards. When I was a kid, the only thing our family dentist gifted to the winner of the “No Cavity Club” monthly equivalent was a stuffed animal.
Beau and Sloan were the big winners of The Children’s Dental “No Cavity Club” promotion for June.
Beau is a Preschool Graduate – On Wednesday morning, Beau walked across the front of the sanctuary at St. Mary Catholic Church and officially graduated from preschool. Although I didn’t attend the ceremony, my wife and mom sent several photos/videos and said it was very touching. It has been a tremendous school year for Beau and I hope to elaborate on it in the near future. But until then, we now have a kindergartener in our house!
Beau walks across the sanctuary and shakes Mrs. Jordan Hoard’s hand as he graduates the St. Mary Catholic School preschool program.
Ninth Anniversary Dinner – For our anniversary dinner last night, we wanted to go somewhere the kids would never allow us to eat at if they were with us. We settled upon Vieux Carre and what a choice it was! Marketed as a “Nola kitchen,” Vieux Carre specializes in Cajun food and DANG was it good. Sid ordered shrimp and grits while I opted for jambalaya. We also ordered hush puppies as an appetizer. But for as good as the food was, the atmosphere may have been better. Nestled in a beautiful 1903 building, it is infused with New Orleans-style décor. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching the employees sling fancy cocktail after fancy cocktail. We highly recommend.
Vieux Carré in downtown Spokane was delicious as well as an overall nice experience. Sid and I recommend!
Chalk Project – As I mentioned above, it is commencement week at EWU. For the first time in several years, the ceremonies have moved back to campus after being held in Spokane. One thing our marketing team has highlighted leading up to this weekend is the special bond that exists between EWU and the Cheney community. My team was able to implement numerous strategies to reflect this, but my favorite might have been the chalk art activity we did yesterday. Multiple downtown Cheney businesses granted my request to allow EWU-themed commencement chalk art to be drawn on the sidewalks in front of their shops. All morning on Thursday, design student and intern Alyssa Almond drew her beautiful chalk art drawings on the streets of Cheney. For me, it was a pleasure to chat with Cheney business owners, spread Eagle pride, and watch Alyssa work. Communication specialist Melodie Little wrote this story that covered some of our efforts.
Our intern, Alyssa Almond, works on her chalk art masterpiece in front of the Mason Jar. My marketing team did a lot to showcase the close bond that exists between EWU and Cheney.
Ananda Lewis – Growing up, my family did have cable but my parents did something very intentional: they blocked MTV from the channel lineup. They felt strongly that it wasn’t appropriate for children so they told the cable company to make it unavailable in our household. However, that didn’t mean I didn’t watch MTV over at my friends’ houses. During those early days, I remember watching Ananda Lewis vividly. She was young, hip, and fun—the perfect combination for an MTV VJ. Sadly, I learned last night that she passed away from cancer. Speaking of “young”, she was only 52. Please pray for the repose of Ananda’s soul.
I was saddened to hear of Ananda Lewis’ death.
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That will wrap things up for tonight. As always, thanks for reading, my appreciation for my loyal Don’t Blink readers is deep. Make sure to treat your dads well this weekend!
My apologies for last week’s lack of a Thursday Rundown. Disney World kind of got in the way. But don’t feel too sad because I am back tonight with five random topics…
Five Amazing Years – On this date five years ago, with COVID turning the world upside down, Sid and the kids landed in Spokane to begin a new chapter with me (watch Sloan and I re-unite). I had moved to Washington a couple months before everyone else so I could start my new job at WSU while giving Beau more time to acclimate/grow post-NICU. I am so proud of how everyone adjusted—especially my wife. She took a chance, showed courage, and ultimately thrived by allowing us to move out here. I know others look at her as a role model in terms of what can happen when you move outside of your comfort zone. Thanks be to God for the grace he bestowed on us.
Sidney holds her sign moments after landing in Spokane on May 8, 2020.
Crowning 2025 – It is the Month of Mary and one way to honor our Blessed Mother is by crownings. Sloan and Beau had their Mary crowning at school earlier this week. Every student was invited to bring flowers to lay at the feet of the school’s Marian statue. When I brought them to school on Tuesday, we spent some prayerful time with Mary in the courtyard…a truly great way to start the day. St. Mary, pray for us!
Sloan and Beau hold the flowers they presented at St. Mary Catholic School’s (Spokane Valley) crowning of Mary.
Sword in the Stone – I didn’t share this photo in my Disney recaps so I figured I would place it here. If you have ever watched the Full House episode where the Tanners go to Disneyland, you are probably familiar with the Sword in the Stone. Park attendees can try to lift the sword out of the stone (just like King Arthur). If they are successful, a contingent of dignitaries come out of the woodwork to recognize the noble person. Unfortunately, Beau’s muscles weren’t enough to make the sword budge.
Beau tried his hardest, but he couldn’t remove the sword from the stone.
Squirrel and Bacon – Like pretty much every other place in the United States, Disney World is also home to lots of squirrels. As our group assembled outside of our resort to head to another park, we watched this squirrel chow down on some bacon. I bet it tasted so good.
I took this photo of a Disney World squirrel eating bacon. That is all.
Dum Dums Surprise – The lighthearted story I enjoyed the most from this week was the Dum Dums ordering spree an 8-year-old boy went on. He wanted to host a carnival and give suckers to those who attended so he made the “quick” order while playing on his mom’s phone. He evidently thought that 70,000 Dum Dums would be enough. Despite his mom’s best efforts to cancel the order, the large shipment arrived at her house and she was on the hook for $4,000. Luckily, everything got sorted out as the candy was eventually returned and the mom received a refund. If you are a longtime reader, you might remember a blog post I wrote 11 years ago that addressed why Dum Dums are special to me.
Me with some Dum Dums.
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Thanks be to God that we have a pope! Please pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his new ministry. Thanks for reading and I wish you a magnificent spring weekend. Don’t Blink.
This Easter 2025 post is dedicated to Pope Francis. What a witness he was during this past Lent. He suffered greatly but was rewarded with one final Easter. Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Easter was late this year so perhaps that made yesterday even a little sweeter. After a challenging but much-needed Lent, we used this past Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As always, Easter Sunday is a very special day for my family so I make it a point to document it. Here is a look at how the Resers celebrated Easter 2025…
Easter Sunday started at our house with Sloan and Beau in hot pursuit of possible Easter treats. They arose at 6:30 a.m. and navigated their way downstairs where they found what they were looking for. There might have even been a smaller Easter treat arrangement for yours truly from the Sid Bunny.
Beau and Sloan hold their Easter baskets.
The most significant part of our day came at 9 a.m. when we attended Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church. The sanctuary was packed as Fr. Jeff Lewis presided and proclaimed that the empty tomb was the most welcome and triumphant site that Christians could have hoped for. After attending all the rich masses and services of Holy Week, including last night’s powerful Easter Vigil, the Easter Sunday mass was so fulfilling and encompassing.
Sloan and Beau pose for a photo inside the vestibule of St. Mary Catholic Church in Spokane Valley prior to Easter Sunday mass.
After mass we headed to the reception in the church gym. We sat with our good friends, the Andrades, and savored Jesus’ victory over death. Everything about the beautiful reception—including an elaborate photo backdrop—screamed the handiwork of Marie Bricher.
Our family posed for a photo in front of the backdrop in the St. Mary gym after mass.
We then came home to enjoy the late morning/early afternoon of Easter. While the kids hung out downstairs with their Easter candy and new games, Sid and I retreated upstairs to watch “The Chosen.” With the significance of Easter, the season 4 episodes we watched just seemed to hit even harder than usual.
Walking through the St. Mary parking lot on Easter morning.
Next, we headed over to my parents’ house for our Easter celebration. My siblings and their families also joined us as we rejoiced in the resurrection of our Lord. We shared a delicious ham meal and had some pretty entertaining dinner table conversation.
Delicious food and great conversation at the Reser Easter dinner table.
With our bellies full, we tried to burn some of those calories by staging the annual Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt (watch video here). It was once again a competitive affair that saw a new participant this year—11-month-old cousin Olivia.
The Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt participants after all the eggs were found.
Any calories that were burned from the hunt were promptly added back on with dessert. We gathered in the living room and kitchen to eat a brownie whipped pie and lemon blueberry cake. Conversation and bonding continued to take place during dessert and well beyond it.
Conversations in my parents’ living room lasted long beyond the dessert was consumed.
At a little before 8 p.m., we started the 34-minute drive home. Once we arrived at the house, we started to prepare for the week ahead while still feeling extremely thankful for the greatest gift ever given.
Rejoice! He is risen.
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On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, Fr. Mike Kwiatkowski challenged us to look in the spiritual mirror. If we didn’t like what we saw, he questioned, could we improve that reflection by Easter? Much in the same way that you can take measures to improve your physical reflection, the same idea holds true for the spiritual reflection. Taking the Lenten season to pray, fast, and give alms results in spiritual reflection growth. Do I see any positive changes in my own spiritual reflection after Lent 2025? Sure, some. Is it enough? Hardly! Thanks be to God that the Easter season lasts for 50 days and provides plenty more time to improve that reflection. Rejoice my friends, He is risen! Don’t Blink.
It was a questionable start. On January 1, I attended mass at St. Paschal Catholic Church. As Fr. Kevin Oiland chanted the Eucharistic prayer, a point in the mass that requires the faithful to be dialed in and reverent, I couldn’t take it anymore. Asking God for his forgiveness, I did the unthinkable and dashed out of the service.
I was sick.
The rest of my New Year’s Day was spent in bed or at the toilet throwing up. It was quite the miserable way to begin 2024 and I couldn’t shake what it might mean for the remaining 365 days (leap year) to follow. I wondered aloud to Sidney: Hopefully this isn’t an omen for the rest of the year…
Thankfully, it wasn’t.
2024 has been a blessed year for our family.
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I always say that even-numbered years bring about more change and surprises for my family than odd-numbered years. In 2024, this observation held true once again, at least from a professional standpoint. Duties, habits, commutes, and school drop-off routines were dramatically altered when I accepted the director of marketing position with Eastern Washington University.
But aside from that somewhat major development, the rest of our year was pretty low key. How low key? Consider that our family, at least up through yesterday, didn’t get on an airplane once nor did we visit any other state besides neighboring Idaho. Despite the lack of travel, we still managed to stay busy…
So that is the quick two-paragraph rundown of the events of 2024 but what about the themes? I am glad you asked. I can pinpoint two…
The first theme is emergence. Sid and I “put ourselves out there” by leading retreats and honing our public speaking skills. From a work perspective, taking a higher level job and overseeing more people also took a leap of faith. Sloan’s bravery increased as she became more comfortable in the water and fearless when it came to thrill rides. Beau shook off nerves and competed on his first sports team.
Sidney presenting at the March 1-3 Engaged Encounter weekend while Fr. Pat Kerst and Joe Schroeder look on.
We also faced disruption in 2024. As I mentioned earlier, our solid routines were turned upside down when I changed jobs. Sidney and I pretty much flip-flopped the household/kid duties we championed for the past couple years. It was tough at times but we managed and are now relatively comfortable with our roles. While we faced our own personal disruption, the nation was simultaneously facing its own. The presidential election was bitter and it polarized Americans. I followed the race extremely closely and was shocked when President-Elect Trump cruised to an 86-point Electoral College landslide victory over Kamala Harris.
Taking a job at Eastern Washington University caused some major adjustments to our daily routines and how we care for the kids.
In addition to those two unique themes of 2024, the same three values I highlight every year continued to be key for the Resers…
It all starts with family. With the four of us pretty much staying put this year, we had lots of time to spend together. Our house was a refuge as we spent lots of time reading, baking, and praying inside it. We cheered each other on at sporting events, volunteered together, and explored our Spokane community. A couple road trips resulted in precious bonding and our vacation to Leavenworth provided us with memories we will always hold dear. The Summer Olympics captivated our household and gave us hours of entertainment in which we learned about competition, the world, and pride for our country. Holidays, family dinners, and watch parties for my extended family became a tad more crowded this year. My niece, Olivia, was born in May but don’t worry—my parents had no issue finding extra room to accommodate the Reser family’s newest addition 😂. Sidney’s family also added a new face with nephew Patrick! I couldn’t be happier that Sid and the kids are spending time with him and everyone else in Myrtle Beach as this year comes to a close.
My brother and I receive a blessing from Fr. David Gaines right outside of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral during Bloomsday 2024.
Because of my supportive family and a strong faith, it allows Sid and me to pursue our careers with zeal. I couldn’t be prouder of the year my wife had with Traveler’s Insurance. She led multiple teams of international customer service employees, helped launch brand new software, participated in the company’s 24-hour Innovation Jam, and added so much to the daily workplace culture. I split my year between two great public Washington higher ed institutions. At WSU, my strategy to revamp our YouTube presence and the effort I led to recognize our system’s top graduating seniors earned award recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). I was also proud of the #CougCounties social media campaign I introduced that spanned the state of Washington. At EWU I played a role in our brand evolution, assisted with the launch of our comprehensive fundraising campaign, and produced our holiday video. Over the past 12 months, the accomplishments at both universities were made possible by empowering bosses and talented team members.
Just like at WSU, when I started at EWU, I was connected with some awesome colleagues. This photo is of our film crew for the holiday video (L-R: Luke Kenneally, Sean Nelms, Me, Ginny Baxter).
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Wow, have I gone on long enough? I think so. But what do you expect? Like I said in my first blog post of the year, 2024 was an “every four years type of year.” As we lived our busy lives, a slate of 12 months highlighted by an extra day, the Summer Olympics, and a Presidential Election transpired in the background. It was a lot.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year a great one for my family.
As 2024 comes to a close, I am thankful for the many fruits yielded over the past 365 days (with the 366th day coming tomorrow). I am also mindful of the sorrows. Sidney lost her Uncle Tony and although he was mostly out of my family’s picture for the past 23 years, my Uncle Cliff passed away earlier this month. With 2025 almost here, let’s pray for health and peace. Thank you to my readers for an awesome year and I will see you all on the other side of the ball dropping. Don’t Blink.
After a fruitful Lent that culminated in full liturgical participation in Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the sacred Easter Vigil, our family was ready for Easter Sunday 2024! What a beautiful day it was…
Sloan holds a candle during the Easter Vigil at St. Mary Catholic Church in the Spokane Valley on March 30, 2024.
The early morning started with Beau and Sloan racing downstairs to find their Easter baskets. I am pretty sure both kids ran as fast as the “other” disciple when he dashed to the tomb. Anyway, the Easter Bunny definitely visited the Reser household.
Sloan and Beau pose with their Easter baskets.
The most important part of our day took place at St. Mary Catholic Church as we attended 9 a.m. Easter Sunday mass. The four of us were joined by my brother and sister-in-law as we worshiped in a full house surrounded by our dearest friends. During a mass with enthusiastic singing and powerful optimism, Fr. Jeff Lewis delivered a homily about the 8 effects of the Resurrection.
Beau and Sloan hang in the vestibule at St. Mary Catholic Church in the Spokane Valley prior to Easter Sunday mass.
We returned home and ate some brunch and relaxed. The kids took the opportunity to take a closer look at their Easter baskets and probably eat a little more candy than they should have. Sidney and I? We continued to watch “Jonathan and Jesus,” a documentary on The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie. It is an incredibly inspirational doc and Roumie, a devout Catholic, proves again and again that there is no Jesus actor better than him. It was the perfect Easter Sunday show to watch.
Taking a moment post-church to take a photo with the kids.
The four of us then piled into the car and headed north to my parents’ house for our Easter celebration. My parents, my siblings, their spouses, and our nieces/nephew were all in a joyous mood. After we all caught up and the kids expelled some energy, we staged the annual “Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt” in the front yard. So much fun!
Glen and the kids after the “Aunt Carrie and Uncle Glen Easter Egg Hunt.”
After the egg hunt concluded, it was time for the Easter meal. Now don’t be too surprised but we ate something a little exotic…it was called ham 😂. Everything tasted delicious but as always, the conversation around the table was even better than the food.
Easter meal at the Reser household.
Once dinner concluded, the kids went outside to enjoy the gorgeous weather and the adults gathered in the living room to play a rousing game of Chameleon. I honestly don’t know who had more fun—the young people or the old people.
The adults playing “Chameleon.”
We then gathered back around the dinner table for dessert. But before we dug into the pies, puddings, and cookies, we sang “Happy Birthday” to my sister who celebrated her 40th birthday earlier in the week! After we stuffed ourselves even more, we continued to talk with each other and enjoy the day. Eventually, it was time for everyone to head one. When my family returned to the house, we were all ready for the bed. The preceding Holy Week masses/activities and the busy Easter Sunday had us humbly exhausted.
Miranda prepares to blow out the candles while holding her son, John.
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Although Easter Sunday was yesterday, it is important to know that the Easter season extends for the next 50 days. And, although Lent is now over, I must revert back to Fr. Jeff’s homily from Ash Wednesday. Lent should not be viewed as a 40-day sprint to Easter Sunday whereupon we throw out all the holy practices we developed. Rather, we must treat Lent as a boot camp that whips us into shape for the long haul—well past Easter. Rejoice my friends, He is risen! Don’t Blink.
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