Rick Nier...Woo!

Have you ever gone through a big change in your life and wondered how it would work out? Despite my history of working with teenagers, I’m not actually talking about puberty.  I think my biggest struggle with my current career transition is how I assume people will perceive my identity. ( Should my current colleagues read this, they should understand completely that this has nothing to do with them. They are an amazing team of people who are nothing but encouraging. ) This struggle is about moving from a church job to a non-church job. I imagine the struggle was going to come no matter what I found myself doing. After all, what surprised me most was not what I found myself doing, but I found myself not doing. I assumed I would be continuing as a youth pastor...somewhere.  When God opened up unexpected doors, it left me with gratitude...and questions.  Did I burn out? Did I become uncalled? Did I not have what it takes to be a lifer in ministry? Did I sell...

Jacie has many great characteristics, none the least of which is having me for a dad. But there is something which she picked up from her mother. Jennifer has this knack for wondering what could go wrong in a situation. In fact, she's working on a book called What to Suspect When You're Suspecting . I'm sure it'll be a best seller for psychiatrists and counselors around the world. Jacie would easily fit in the category of people who watch a report on a measles outbreak and then start to itch. Recently her sister was sick and dehydrated. We had to admit her in a hospital to get her back to form. Involved with that was an IV pumping fluids into her body. Then this conversation; Jacie: What's that in her arm? Mom: It's an IV, giving Jerica fluids to make her better. Jacie: Will I have to have an IV? Mom: Are you sick? Jacie: No, but what if I get sick some day and need an IV. (Tears) I don't want an IV. It's the sinking suspicion that someday, somewhere, so...

"You're the best builder in the world." That's what my daughter said. To me. Before you start laughing, allow me to acknowledge my deficiency in the area of building. But in this case, I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. Never mind that that I was only building a bunk bed...with pre-drilled holes...and easy-to-follow instructions...and that it took me 4 hours. Never minding all that, my accomplishment looked fairly impressive. After all, I only had to re-do a couple of steps, and that was due to the instructions being faulty...seriously. As my wife watched, she reminded me several times that our oldest daughter would be on the top bunk and that our baby would be underneath her. I guess she's seen some of the other things I've built. But my confidence would not be shaken. After all, I was using my drill. What could possibly go wrong? (The answer is nothing as my daughters have slept safely and soundly for 3 nights at the time of this writing.) My daug...