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Top Five Tuesday: Tour “Moments”

Brian Aaby 2 Comments

The last eight weeks of my life have passed so quickly.  It feels like an eternity ago that Joe Poppino and I met up at SeaTac for our first leg of the Youthmark Mission Ventures Spring Retreat “Tour” as it affectionately became known.  Though the tour was only six of those eight weekends, I had one weekend in Montana for my sister-in-law’s wedding and last weekend I was speaking at a camp down in Oregon, so 8 weekends straight of being at least partially away.  Whew!

Today’s Top 5 gives you a glimpse at a few of my favorite moments during the six spring retreats.  The criteria is that it simply had to have taken place during the travel times for one of the retreats.

Without further ado, the list.

Honorable Mentions: Colorado–seeing/serving with so many friends (Alex, PK, Peter, Steve, etc.); Time with Jeramy, Jerusha and family in Escondido, the fantastic times with all my help @ the northwest retreats (Mike and Ricky need to especially be thanked for all that they did for these retreats!).  Shooting the videos with Frankie (and just time with Frankie in general) would be a highlight too, but the video shoot didn’t take place on the retreats.

Me with Mike and Mike in Canby

Five: The Leaders Lounge at Canby, Grove. On Friday night as the students head to their first family time after snack, Joe and a I carried on the tradition we started in Houston, we’d grab some time together and talk through the night and celebrate.  Well, this happened pretty much every weekend, and on Friday night in Canby the “Leader Lounge” took place in a room next to the dining room.  With about 10 of us, band members, sound and behind the scenes folk we stayed up too late eating, talking and LAUGHING way too much!  It was fantastic.

Joe and Neil leading into "the moment"

Four: The Original “Moment” in Spring, TX. On Friday night our theme was “Listen.”  We ended the worship time with an extended time of silence.  In Spring, TX (and every subsequent retreat) this went off really well.  I loved this moment each week, but especially loved it in Spring.

Joe "has an album"

Three: The many, many moments with Joe. I know, sounds cheesy; but can’t narrow it down to a single moment, but I can say it was very nice to journey the entire “moments” with someone.  We had many a meal along the way at some FANTASTIC places.  Joe is a great person to travel with as well, he wants/needs his own space, just as I do, so I can honestly say we did not get in each others ways!  A couple “moments” that I would mention: “He has an album,” “The Prius,” “The Escondido Waiter” and the many many times we made fun of each others routines (we got to the point where we knew exactly what the other would be saying from the platform).

Two: Escondido, CA, Commissioning. The Leaders of Emmanuel Faith and Pine Valley Community Church had no idea that they were setting up a wonderful moment, but their delay in going out to pray for students really set a tone that we wanted to see take place the rest of the weekends.  Overall, the students worship time at this weekend was one that stood out to me.

One: The Last Night, The Last Song. Youthmark has a tradition on how we end our retreats with our unique commissioning.  I won’t give it away here, but it involves a wonderful time of prayer followed by the crowd’s unified voice being lifted in praise.  On this last retreat at Lake Retreat we had nearly 220 strong sining so loudly.  The emotion of all six retreat was rolled in one for me!  I loved that time.

I am sure now that I am done with the list I’ll have several new ones pop into my mind.  I look forward to posting even more pics from the retreats soon. We had a professional photographer, Brooke Anderson, take pics the last two weekends (Canby and Lake Retreat), much thanks to Brooke, as soon as we get more pics back from her I’ll post and give out her contact information so that you can use her for your photo-shoot!

Anyone out there at a retreat and have a favorite “moment?”

Grace,
Brian

The 100five50 Challenge! You in?

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

Throwing down a challenge for anyone interested in getting into a different shape than round–or for those who just want to tone up a little bit too.

Last year I decided it was time to get a little more serious about my health, however, since about my college days I hadn’t been all that great about the ol’ eating habits or exercise disciplines.  There were seasons when I was great about one, but not the other.  I had tried Weight Watchers, and for those who don’t mind counting calories (points) it is a great one to do.  I found great success in losing pounds that way, but whenever I tried to add exercise to that discipline, I got too hungry for the points I was given. Then, whenever I have done really well on the biking or basketball (my two favorite ways of exercising) I found that I lacked discipline on the eating side of things.

Knowing that I have a little bit of the “buck the system” in me, I thought I’d create something that didn’t really have a lot of hard and fast rules.  Just some general standards with some nice flexibility.  So, I created my own “loose” plan last year.  And it is what I am going to do starting tomorrow again.

Here is what I did last year: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day (approximately 100 days) I was going to try to exercise at least five (5) times a week (for about 30 minutes).  I started by walking (not even 30 minutes to start), then graduated to faster walking (and gradually got to 3o minutes) then began riding my bike (at first fairly slow and short, then got longer and more aggressive). Besides this, on the food side of things I simply cut my carbs in half right from the start.  Whatever I would normally eat on the carb-side of things I just generally cut in half.

I loved this because I love carbs and I still get ’em!  For instance, instead of having a full bagel for breakfast, I would still have a bagel, but just half (thus the “50” in the number equation), and then I’d add a banana or something to help make me feel a little more full.  Same thing with lunch, instead of a Ham and Cheese Sandwich, I would do an open faced ham and cheese.  If eating out, I’d still get a burger, I would just take off the top bun and eat it with a fork.

It is an easy “diet” to follow.  You still get to eat what you want, you’ll just want to get more “full” on the protein side of things.  The key is to grab less.  I still even snacked on chips, but I just did approximately half of what I normally would do.  The first few days are really the only hard days, because your stomach needs to shrink a little and so you’ll want to load up a little more on the veggies to still feel more full.

So, here is the simple equation (100five50):

  • 100 days (start whenever, but I’m doing the day after Memorial Day to the Sunday before Labor Day)
  • Five Exercise days a week… not stringent, some weeks I can do every day, some weeks it is only three days.
  • 50, as in 50% of the carbs you normally would eat.

Before 100five50

Last year I started at about 245 pounds.  I got down to a consistent 210 and stayed around there until just recently.  I have crept up only over the last five or six weeks knowing that my schedule was going to be very hectic and knowing that I was going to do this 100five50 thing again.  So this year I start at about 220 and the goal this year is to get to and stay at about 200, but even this is just a loose goal, I just want to be in a good condition, regardless of the overall weight.

After 100five50

Anyone else in?

I’d love the accountability, no need to disclose weight or anything else, just let me know you’re in so we can pray for each other!  Let the challenge begin!  That is, right after I enjoy one last high-carb meal tonight!

Grace,
Brian

CONTEST: W.A.I.T. Headshot

Brian Aaby 10 Comments

In honor of a very busy season and giving myself a couple additional days of not generating content for the ol’ blog, I thought I’d throw this gem out there.  This is a picture of a friend (a volunteer youth leader) from a local church.  I thought it’d make for a great “What Am I Thinking.”

So, you come up with the caption for this… well, this face?

Submit by adding a comment.  If it doesn’t appear right away, no worries, it’ll show up when I see it.

If yours causes a great chuckle, I’ll add you to those “in the running.”  The winner, at the end of the weekend will receive a free Youthmark T-shirt.

Have fun.  Be creative and makes Chuck’s head have some good thoughts!

I’ll get back to my regular blogging after the weekend!

Grace,

Brian

**********In The Running***********

“Darn plastic surgeon!” (Face in picture being what’s left of poor Heidi Montag) ~Joe Poppino

“This is my ticket to Hollywood, American Idol cant resist this side of me” ~Rhino

Beauty is just a light switch away… ~Micah Englehart

You take your nose for granted until you don’t have it anymore.  You know how many times these stupid things fall off my face a day? ~Mike

Mom was right . . . it was all fun and games until someone poked his eyes out. ~the wifey

“Succeeding where so many have fallen short, Justin Bieber literally “rock’s fan’s face off!” ~Buck

********** The Winner ***********

Joe!  Had to Google this Heidi Montag girl, but the “Darn Plastic Surgery” got me right off the top!  Since Joe already has the shirts, I’ll wait to give him the new Mission Shirt when they are released.  Great job Joe!

Dear Audrey,

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

My little girl, Audrey, turned six today.

Audrey has a grip on my heart.  We love all three of our blessings the same, however, each one is uniquely loving and uniquely loved.  Audrey, is our middle and holds that special place in our hearts.  I am a middle child.  Elisabeth is a middle child.  Therefore, we have a special place in the middle of our hearts for Audrey.

Because Elisabeth and I both KNOW that is was the toughest being the middle child, we feel it is only fair that we treat Audrey the best.

I kid.

This little gift from God does hold a special place.  She is so uniquely gifted and has a sensitivity that is different than Halle and Will.  She has the desire to be alone at times, yet she clings tighter than our other two when she wants to be cuddled.

We all love you Audrey, thanks for the first six years of blessing your Mommy, Daddy, Sister and (and the two years of blessing your) Brother

I love you!

Daddy.

Grace,

Brian

Top Five Tuesday: Stuff that Must Get Done ASAP!

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Re-read that title and then you can understand why I haven’t posted much lately and why this blog-post is so short.

Today’s list is all about the projects I am working on RIGHT NOW and need to be done with As Soon As Possible.

Without further ado, the very un-lengthy list.

Five: Messages for Colorado.  I am preaching at two Colorado camps I am doing this summer.

Four: Messages for Oly. I am speaking at a Youth Retreat  for Westwood Baptist of Olympia soon.

Three: HomeBase. A devotional I write for the parents of participants who are out on YMV’s.

Two: RoadGrip.  The devotional for the summer mission trips.

One: Merge-Joshua.  The follow-up book given to all our missions participants.

The good-news is that all of these are in process and most are nearly completed!

Grace,

Brian

CONTEST: W.A.I.T.~ Will

Brian Aaby 7 Comments

Hola!  Last week we celebrated Cinco De Mayo.  Will decided to have his own celebration.  However, I’ve decided to let you decide what Will’s motivation was.  What Am I Thinking (W.A.I.T) is the contest in which you give the caption for the picture.  What do you think Will was thinking?  For those who would rather just title this picture, that is acceptable as well.

You post a comment with your best thought for Will and the ones I think are the funniest make it to the “In The Running” section.  From those I choose the best.  The winner of this contest will receive a copy of the new Merge (Joshua) book coming out in just a few weeks.

Have some fun!  If your comment doesn’t appear, no worries, I’ll approve them and get them on here ASAP.

Grace,
Brian

************ IN THE RUNNING ***********

“que paso mi chavo, yo no hablo ingles! Yi haw yipee yippee arriba arriba andale!” ~Calia

“daddy me cowboy” ~Moriah

“I wonder how old I have to be to get a real burro?” ~Brad

************ The Winner ***********

“que paso mi chavo, yo no hablo ingles! Yi haw yipee yippee arriba arriba andale!” ~Calia

This was a tough one to do, congrats to Calia!

YMV Spring Retreat @ Lake Retreat… in pictures

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Youthmark has hosted three spring retreats thus far at Lake Retreat, two last year and the first of two for 2010 this last weekend… All three of these retreats have had the exact weather! Sunny with highs in the upper 60’s.  It’s been ideal.  Thank you Jesus!

The Spring Retreat we just completed had so much energy.  From the time the doors opened until the commissioning at the end the teens and the youth staff were certainly Living and Loving LOUDLY!

I’ve provided you some snaps of our time together!  Enjoy!

Grace,
Brian

Top Five Tuesday: Elementary Recess

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

Another invite to yesteryear…

Had a hard time coming up with the subject for todays Top 5, however, when it finally came to mind, my brain was flooded with some great choices.  So here it is, the top 5 childhood activities for recess when I was in elementary!  The criteria:  The options that were available at my elementary school.

Without further ado, the list.

Honorable Mention: Boys Chase Girls (early elementary), “500,” and Bar Tag.

Five: Rainy Day Recess “Heads Up Seven Up.” Let me start by saying that Rainy Day recess stinks!  But, since we had a few growin up in Western WA I must say that hearing the teacher say, “Heads Down Thumbs Up” got us pretty excited.  The only problem with this game, everyone cheated!  C’mon, tell me you didn’t look at the shoes of the people walking by?

Four: Hoops. Because there weren’t enough good hoops at our elementary school this one is not as high on the list as it could be.  We especially enjoyed picking teams at first recess and keeping those teams for the two longer recesses.  The game started in the morning and ended at the whistle ending the afternoon recess!

Three: Wallball. Do you remember this classic?  “No bouncies, carries or bombs!”  Two people head to head, one bounce to the wall and one bounce after the wall, alternating hitters.  If you lose on serve, you are out and go to the back of the line.

Two: Buttball! A great game with a tennis ball and a wall.  First person serves by throwing the ball at the wall.  All participants try to catch it cleanly with one hand.  If the ball is dropped or touched anyone touching it must run and touch the wall before someone throws it at the wall.  Each time the ball reaches the wall before you do after touching/bobbling it, you get a letter.  If B-U-T-T is spelled you then have to stand against the wall and everyone playing gets to throw a fastball at your rear-end from about 30 feet away.  Bottoms beware!

One: Our grade vs. other Grade Football! I had a very athletic class.  Boone, Randolph, Evans, Joyner and Aaby.  We were the fearsome fivesome back in the day and even as fourth graders we could give the sixth grade bullies a run for their money!  I remember the grass-stained jeans and sweaty shirts coming back into the over-heated elementary school room and creating quite the wonderful smell for all to enjoy!

What were some of your favorites at recess?

Grace,
Brian

First Thoughts on Lake Retreat

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

What a great weekend we had at Lake Retreat this last weekend.  I am waiting on a large file of pics that were taken, however, I have been able to snag a few off Facebook to post here with my initial thoughts!

My overall thoughts about the weekend: FANTASTIC.  I was blown away by the energy.  Gathering about 160 people in a small room sure creates some energy.  We were so thankful to God for the wonderful weather He provided as well.  The Saturday afternoon Ministry-X and Free Time were certainly a larger blessing because of the great weather.

I am so thankful for the help that we had volunteering this weekend.  I praise God for the hearts of those who serve with Youthmark at these events!

I’ll post more specifics and the pics in the next day or two, here are a couple I found from the Lake Sawyer group.

Grace,

Brian