Ice Breaker – Highlight of the Week

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Question:  What was one highlight from your week?

My Answer:  I’m going to expand my answer just a little bit by providing three highlights from my week.  This was really the first week that our family is back into the full back to school routine.  It’s been a great week!

Here’s my first highlight:  Hannah had her 2nd official cross-country meet of the season on Wednesday.  Wednesday was unseasonably warm here on the east coast, so there was some question about how everyone would do.  And last week, Hannah and I made a trip to the running store to pick up her first pair of racing flats, so this would be the first opportunity to try out the new shoes.  It was so fun to go to her meet.  She clearly had extra pep in her step.  At the beginning of the race, she found herself caught up with girls who were typically faster than her.  She stayed with them throughout the race, and she finished a couple of places better than her previous meet.  At the finish of the race, I enjoyed watching her as she realized her accomplishment.  This leaves me excited for tomorrow when she’ll be running in an invitational race at DeSales University.  Last year, she was not part of the group who was invited to this race, so she has definitely made a lot of progress since her freshman year.

My second highlight, Leanne started a new job last week.  She has always had a passion for teaching children.  She is working as a preschool teacher at a local preschool.  And the students arrived on Monday.  I loved hearing about her first day and seeing her enthusiasm for her new job.  I think this will be a fun year for her students and for Leanne.

My third highlight, Isaac has been in scouting since he was in third grade when he joined the Cub Scouts.  In fifth grade, he started with the Boy Scouts, and he’s been gradually working his way up the ranks.  On Wednesday, he finished up work on two merit badges that he needs for his rank advancement to Life.  This may not mean much to many of you, but that means he will soon be ready to work on his Eagle Scout Rank – which is a big deal.  When I drove him home from his scout meeting that night, we was so excited.  He started talking about the things he will do next to start moving towards Eagle.  I’m sure many of you have different thoughts and opinions on Boy Scouts, but it has been a great experience for Isaac and our family.  He has developed confidence, leadership skills, and character through his years as a scout.  I’m excited for him as he continues this journey.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Back To School

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

When I was a kid, I struggled to sleep the night before school started.  Don’t get me wrong.  I loved the summer, but there was something exhilarating about starting the new school year.  I was nervous about my classes.  I was probably a little concerned about what I would wear.  And I was excited about seeing my friends again after the summer break.  Our kids started back to school this week, so I thought it might be a good time for a back to school Ice Breaker question.

Question:  What was/is your favorite thing about going back to school?

My Answer:  When I was in school, I liked the opportunity to start fresh.  I especially liked the clean book covers that went on at the beginning of the year.  And I liked the new sneakers that typically came with the start of school.

Now, I appreciate the return to school for my kids as it signifies a return to routine.  While I love the summer times with my kids, our schedules tend to get out of whack when they are home all summer.  School means a tighter schedule.  It can sometimes mean a little more rushing around.  But the routine is great!

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Favorite High School Music Group

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Question:  What was your favorite music group when you were in high school?

My Answer:  I’m sure I had several favorite music groups at that time in my life.  My favorite was U2.  The Joshua Tree came out while I was in high school, and I remember several of my classmates going to the Joshua Tree Concert when it came through our area.  Sunday Bloody Sunday, 40, Where The Streets Have No Name, and Pride are just a few of the songs that were in my regular playlist back in the late 80s.

Here are a few music groups that would make my honorable mention list:  DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, REM, and Billy Joel (not a group, but still makes my list).

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Rise and Shine

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Question:  What time did you get up this morning?

My Answer:  4:30AM

Many people ask me what time I get up in the morning.  On a typical morning, I run, I blog, I spend time in God’s Word, I eat breakfast, and I get ready for work.  All this happens before I leave for the office at 7:00AM.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – 5 Songs On Your Playlist

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week, I revisit an Ice Breaker from the archives.  The cool thing about some of the ice breaker questions is that sometimes the answers will change based on your life experience.  My answers this time are a little different this time around.

Question:  Name 5 songs that you would put on your playlist right now.

My Answer: Check out this video below…

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

(And here are the links to my songs:  Oceans, 10,000 Reasons, Where The Streets Have No Name, Home, and All The Poor And Powerless)

Ice Breaker – Foreign Language

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week my head is filled with a foreign language.  Our family is in Guatemala, and it definitely seems like we’re in a foreign land.  Our trip to Guatemala is the inspiration for this week’s Ice Breaker question.

Question:  Do you speak any foreign languages?

My Answer:  I’m sure our family is getting many lessons this week in Spanish and some type of Mayan language.  I took Spanish in junior high and high school.  I wish I had stayed with it and studied more, but I’m thankful the amount of Spanish that I did learn.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this postto find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – What Do You Do For A Living

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week, I’m back to a video blog.

Question:  What do you do for a living?

My Answer:  See my response in the video below…

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Where Did You Live When You Were Young

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week, I’m back to a video blog.

Question:  Where did you live between the ages of 9 and 12?

My Answer:  Check out the video below…

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Prayer

Image by VerseVend (via Flickr – Creative Commons)

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

While we were on vacation, we had an opportunity to visit with my Grandpa who lives in Minneapolis.  He flew down to Milwaukee to spend a couple of days with my brother and I and our families.  My Grandpa has a huge heart for evangelism.  When he meets someone new, he almost always asks them two questions.  His first question is the inspiration for this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.

Question:  How can The Stretched Community pray for you?

My Answer:  I mentioned it in a post a couple of weeks ago.  Our family could use your prayers as we prepare for our trip to Guatemala.  Two weeks from tomorrow, we leave for Newark, NJ where we will depart for Guatemala.  There are several details that we need to finalize.  I need to finalize the financial end of things with GO! Ministries which I should take care of this weekend.  Isaac is finishing up his Typhoid medication this week.  We need to pack for the trip which includes packing up material for care packages that we will be giving to the ~200 widows who live in the village of Xenacoj.  On top of that, we would appreciate your prayers for safety and effectiveness as we travel and minister in Xenacoj.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

With this week’s question and answers, I would encourage you to pick at least one of the requests mentioned in the post or the comments and pray.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  James 5:16

Ice Breaker – Buyer’s Remorse

Image by VerseVend (via Flickr – Creative Commons)

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Here’s the question for this week!

Question:  Tell us about a purchase that you made sometime in your life that you regret.

My Answer:  I actually have one bad lease that led to a bad purchase.  I regret both of these decisions.  My first car was a 1974 Chevy Nova.  When I started working after college, it soon became obvious that I needed a more dependable car to take me from South Jersey to North Jersey and New York City.  (I also needed a dependable vehicle to take me to western Pennsylvania to visit my girlfriend – Leanne.)

In the rush to make a decision and with the desire to have an SUV, I leased a 1994 Ford Explorer Limited Edition.  What was I thinking?  I liked the vehicle, but the payments were truly out of my league, and I put so many miles on the vehicle that led to a lot of anxiety about end of lease payment.  Before the lease was over, I had the opportunity to go back to the dealer and plead my case.

Of course, they offered to “help” me out by putting me into a more affordable car.  They took me to a 1996 mint green Ford Taurus.  The color alone was enough to make anyone puke, but the mileage was right (only 4,800 miles), and it was the “easiest” way for me to get out of the ridiculous lease and payments of the Explorer.  A few months after purchasing the Taurus, I was involved in a pretty serious accident.  I thought for sure they would total the vehicle, but they didn’t.  And I was left with a car that never quite worked the same ever again.

And I regret the lease (or fleece as Dave Ramsey calls it) and the purchase.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!