An Early Morning 29...

After rising at 5:45 this morning, Jordan & I rode 29 miles on our road bikes. For the most part we had the road to ourselves.... after all, it is a holiday weekend and it was 5:45 AM! Even though is was 97% humidity and 72 degrees, the weather was lovely and the ride was even better. This is the longest that either of us has ridden this year. We have been riding a bit during the week - about 14 miles each time, but this was a great spring board into the summer riding season. For me, at this stage, the 29 miles are impressive, but even more so, is the fact that a recently graduated collegian is getting out of a perfectly comfortable bed at 5:45 AM to ride with his Dad....

The farthest I rode last year was 54 miles. I hope to eclipse that this summer and this 29 is a good start. Jordan even had the gumption to suggest (or challenge) that we ride 100 miles before he departs for his married life. That gives us only about 3 weeks to achieve the three-digit milestone. I don't think I can do it, but we'll see how my progress matures. His challenge kind of gives me the feeling that he's been "holding back" on the Old Man.... I guess it's not surprising since he is almost 30 years younger than me.

So, here's to all you Dads out there trying to stay young, trying to burn more & more calories, trying to keep up with your kids, and trying not to look too terrible spent when your son keeps looking back and asking you, "Are you alright Dad..."? Maybe I'll let some air out of his tires next time....

Congrats to the Graduate!

The youngest Bolte has successfully acquired a BA degree from a prestigious institution of learning. I was there to witness it! It makes a parent proud to hear the name of your child called out to thousands attending the commencement ceremonies after 4 years of hard study and special experiences that can only be obtained from a college adventure. "Jordan Thomas Bolte"! Way to go dude!

Five hundred and sixty students graduated from Taylor University this past Saturday morning. Tami, Caitlin, and I joined my Mom & Dad, plus Bethany's family, as we sat amongst the masses. We had reserved seating - mainly because Jordan was this year's Student Body President. As we were seated and waiting for the proceedings to begin, three people stepped into the row in front of us and proceeded to take their seats. I kid you not - these people had to hail from the "land of the giants"! Midway through the commencement, I mustered up the nerve to ask the young man directly in front of me, "How tall are you?" Get this: 6' 10"!! Six feet, ten inches!! I can't see squat in front of me! His father, 6' 5", sat next to him! I'm guessing that his mom was about six feet! So much for the reserved seating... Luckily there were large screens available that allowed me to see over Goliath & Crew...

Future LA Lakers Star!

I heard a reputable news agency recently report that only 25% of this year's college grads will find jobs. It sounds like an uphill battle for Jordan & Bethany. They are actively looking across the country for appropriate employment - but it's not an easy task in this economy... millions of people can attest to this. Jordan majored in Biblical Literature and Bethany in Media Communications. Pray for jobs people... Pray!

Two Happy Graduates!

I really am proud of Jordan's accomplishments. He has demonstrated wonderful leadership and relational skills. I suspect that they will land jobs soon, and the next chapter in their lives will be off and running. Keep up the good work JB... you have much, much potential. But, next time you invite me to a big event, can you get me some better seats....

A Letter to Jordan

You will graduate from Taylor University this Saturday.... I'm so proud of you Jordan!

Not so much because you have persevered through 4 years of studies.... not because you were the Student Body President your senior year.... not because you've demonstrated leadership via multiple roles on campus.... not because you tend to make wise decisions and never hesitate to seek advice.... not because you've called home "almost" every week.... not because you obviously have great judgement in selecting your bride-to-be (you are clearly marrying up).... not because you have a personality that simply won't quit... But, I'm more proud of you Jordan because you are a man of God and you exude what we have tried to model for all of our kids: Love God & Love People. You do this.... and for that, I am so proud of you son!

Dancing through Life!

Without getting too mushy... let me just say that you are a load of fun to be around. You are a magnet, drawing people in with your infectious personality and humor. You're no slouch intellectually either - but still no match for your father... However, I always enjoy toying with you via verbal exchanges that only you & I can muster. Keep practicing...

Tami, Jordan, Bethany

Even as a little boy, you had the energy, charisma, and charm that would keep your parents, teachers, and babysitters on the edge of their chairs. You seemed to be unafraid to say or do anything that demonstrated a fullness of life that few seem to enjoy. You also weren't reluctant to step up and "do the right thing", even if it required taking risks. You would often defend your class mates if someone was bullying or making fun of them. I truly believe that your 22 years of life have touched and positively impacted more people than you may ever know, this side of heaven.

Be Afraid... Be Very Afraid!

Jordan, as I join you this weekend in Upland, IN, to watch you graduate with a Biblical Studies major, and as you prepare to begin the next new chapter of your life with Bethany on July 2, please know how much I love you and appreciate you. Thank you for being a great son... I'm so proud of you Jordan.... Dad.

Son & Daughter-in-law To Be...

Check out the creativity of this young couple.....

Jordan & Bethany's Save the Date! from Bethany Cleveland on Vimeo.

They look like they were made for each other!

Planning for the Future...

Arrived in Upland, IN, yesterday evening. Drove 7.5 hours from Huntsville to the land of Taylor University where our son, Jordan, and his fiance, Bethany, are completing their senior year. They both are on schedule to graduate in May, 2010. We will spend today with them, attend church together Sunday AM, and then head back to sweet home Alabama. The weather here is great. Even though Upland is about 1 hour NE of Indianapolis, it's warmer here than it is in Huntsville, Alabama! The sun is bright, the sky is blue, and the wind is brisk. But the most obvious difference is the flatness of the land. This contributes to the ever present breeze blowing through the many rows of corn stalks. Cell phone towers are not very tall here - there's no need to be.

Jordan & Bethany look great! We haven't seen Jordan since we helped him move into his on-campus apartment last August. He rooms with 3 other students. It's definitely a "guy's apartment". Amazingly, the abode looked quite clean and presentable. Maybe he knew Mom and Dad were coming to visit?? Perhaps a surprise weekend visit might me more appropriate and telling....? Then again, some things are better left alone...

I wouldn't call Upland, IN, a wild and crazy party town. It's more like they plopped a conservative liberal arts Christian college right in the middle of a big corn field. There's not much to do here unless you drive via I-69 to Muncie, Ft. Wayne, or Anderson, IN. And with gas costing $2.69 / gallon, college students don't go far. So, Taylor does a good job creating activities on-campus each night and weekend. In fact, last night all four of us visited a student photo exhibit in the exhibition hall. A young female student was displaying beautiful large color and B & W photos of the people of Uganda that she took during her last visit there. They were gorgeous! Tami bought one... surprised?

This was also the first time we've seen Jordan & Bethany since their engagement. They both seem very happy. Bethany's ring is beautiful. It looks much better on her in person than it does via the internet. She will make a beautiful bride! While they are still completing school assignments, building relationships, planning a wedding, and fulfilling leadership roles at school, they are obviously thinking about the details of "life after graduation". Things will be different, no doubt. They will no longer be two, but one. Yet they both will have their own goals, expectations, and desires. A strong union and partnership is one that considers and yields to the other for the benefit of the whole. It's exciting to watch and listen to them think and dream out loud!

They both have a set of loving parents & family firmly behind them. We will always be there for them... no strings attached! In today's world, the future is more uncertain than it has been in quite a while. But, family has your back... We are anxiously looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for J & B. I hope they will always remember how much we love them both.

Someone Said "YES"!

Sunday, September 27, 2009! A BIG day for the Boltes! Someone said "YES"! It happened in Upland, Indiana, at Payne's Restaurant. Bethany Cleveland agreed to become the wife of Jordan Bolte, our son. Jordan is a wonderful young man.... but I'd have to say that he certainly "traded up" - for sure!

Bethany is a delight and joy to be around. We have come to love her personality, her heart, and her love for God... and our son. We have prayed for many years for Jordan's wife-to-be. God has answered our prayers with an excellent young lady named Bethany.

She is from Michigan and has great family. I have been thrilled to see how they have welcomed Jordan into their family circle during the dating days. Jordan has put quite a few miles on the Scion Tc driving from Indiana to Michigan. He's made even longer hauls from Alabama to Michigan. It must be love...

Jordan searched for the perfect ring for many months. He actually picked up the ring while we were in Australia in July. I'm really impressed that he was able to hold on to the ring until now.... he was quite anxious to give it to her quickly. But, before he did, he was adamant about getting her parents' blessing. He spoke to her father and they agreed to meet face to face to have "The Discussion". I came to learn later that Mr. Cleveland asked Jordan some very appropriate, yet tough questions. Apparently, Jordan spoke from the heart and did very well. The Clevelands gave their blessing for the two to wed.

While her parents were visiting this weekend at school, Jordan decided it was time. He actually sent us a text message prior to the big event. It said "Game time! Ring time! Gimme 2 hours and I'll be a taken man...". Here's the play by play as I imagine it.... even though I, actually, wasn't even there....

Jordan, Bethany, and her parents decide to have lunch at Payne's Restaurant near Taylor University's campus. It's the favorite hang out for the two seniors. It's a sandwich and coffee shop of sorts.... a place where local artists often display their latest efforts. The location of their seating must be very strategic... not too far, not too close. They all order from the menu, but Jordan's heart is beating 90 miles/hour. His voice isn't quivering yet, but it's not too far away. Thank goodness he visited the Men's room earlier. He certainly doesn't have any appetite and Bethany thinks that's a bit strange. But, for all intent & purposes, she has no idea what's coming....

Also what she doesn't know is that Jordan pulled an all-nighter and drew a picture of the actual scene that was about to happen. Of course he is sleepy, but the adrenaline is racing! Jordan had actually worked it out with one of Payne's employees to call Bethany up to the current art work to show her the latest displays. There are several examples of wonderful paintings, drawings, and photographs. Bethany enjoys most, if not all, of them. Then the employee says, as she unveils the final drawing, "they are all good, but this one is the best!".



It is a drawing of Jordan on his knee proposing to Bethany in Payne's restaurant! She immediately recognizes it and spins around to see the love of her life on his knee, asking " Will you marry me Bethany?" I suppose she screamed "YES!" and parents, bride-to-be, and a couple of other unsuspecting customers shed a few tears. I did too, when I received an email with a picture of the ring on her hand...




No date set yet, but I'm guessing sometime after they both graduate next May. They really are a pretty cool couple. I'm honestly looking forward to seeing how God uses them on their journey ahead. Welcome to the family, Bethany! We look forward to getting to know your parents and sisters more also. Now.... it's time to give your cheeks a little rest.... stop smiling for a few minutes....

My Summer Vacation...

A whole summer is whittled down to the last 3 days in Alabama... Tuesday, my son Jordan returns to Upland, IN, for his Senior year at Taylor University. (Why the name Upland? It's the highest point in Indiana.) We have really enjoyed having Jordan spend his final summer with us. Unfortunately, he was unemployed for most of the break. He did yard work for us, neighbors, and church, but serious money was clearly not in his summer plans.

I was reflecting on the pros and cons of Jordan spending the summer with us.... check these out:

Pros:

1. We got some serious yard work accomplished that Tami has been asking me to do for a long time.
2. The main sign at our church got repainted - and I didn't have to do it...
3. There was someone here to keep Cody alive and house-sit while we were in Australia. It would have cost me big bucks to board the dog for 2 weeks.
4. I had someone to eat sushi with.
5. I had someone to ride bikes with.
6. I had someone to see "District 9" with... definitely not a chick flick. Be careful....
7. Tami had someone, besides Cody, with her each day while I was at work. I believe she enjoyed Jordan's company, but not his debate-style of conversation regarding The New Perspective on Paul. Cody just listens....
8. We got to see Bethany, Jordan's girlfriend, a couple of times this summer. It probably wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been living with us.
9. He sharpened my humor and hoisted my humility. Jordan is a very funny guy. The problem is... he thinks he's funnier than me... no way dude! (humble, right?)
10. He demonstrated that 21-year old college seniors can in fact have a solid and meaningful relationship with his parents.

Cons:

1. My utility bills increased by at least 33% over the summer. For some reason, he can't remember to turn off light switches.... he also struggles with placing items back in their original "home" location. Hmm, might be a DNA thing....
2. Chick flicks will now return to the Bolte family of entertainment choices.
3. I will be eating much less sushi at my favorite restaurant, Mikawa. Tami won't touch the stuff. Although, the last time she accompanied me to Japan, she actually tried eating sea urchin. I won't even eat that! Now I can't get her close to any of it....
4. Tami will have to return to "Cody conversations" during the day while I am at work.
5. Cycling will be a solo activity again.... I wonder if Tami would consider it? Yeah right....
6. We won't have anyone in the house sleeping 'till noon....
7. The heady, philosophically-rich spiritual debates will come to an end. Fundamentally, Tami and I are very simple people... often our heads would just about explode after an exchange with Jordan... check out his blog! You'll see a marked difference between his and mine...
8. Since Jordan was here with us, Tami felt compelled to go shopping - more than usual... yep, just looking for an excuse to buy something for someone... If any of our kids decided to come home and live with us.... well, I'm guessing it'd be Christmas everyday! Dude, get out of town!
9. No one to do "guy stuff" with.... you know: cussing, smoking, spitting on the floor, sitting around in our underwear, watching science fiction movies, eating junk food (butter pecan ice cream!), etc.
10. Realizing that this is the final time we will have Jordan living with us. All of our kids know that they are welcome to come home anytime... for as long or as short as they want to stay... anytime!

We have a 7-hour drive ahead of us as we move Jordan into his campus apartment. It's exciting that he is finishing his college experience and will spring board into his upcoming future next year. What will his future hold? Not sure.... but at least for now, I can say we certainly enjoyed our summer vacation with Mr. Jordan Bolte....

Do's & Don'ts for a Senior

In about 10 days, our son Jordan, will be headed off to begin his senior year at Taylor University, near Indianapolis. I've been thinking about what I would like to tell him before he leaves. You know, something wise and brilliant... something fatherly and discerning.... something that he will always remember and even share with others. After all, he was elected the school's Student Body President (SBP) for 2009/2010. So, he needs some practical & tactical advice from the person he admires the most in this world: Dad! (Maybe that last part was a bit over the top....)

So here are a few Do's and Don'ts that are chocked full of years of experience, value and usefullness for the new President:

• Don't participate in, let alone organize, any campus-wide pantie raids


• Don't let people bash the South - maybe you're one of only 2 students from Alabama


• Don't let your SBP duties negatively effect your grades - after all, we are still paying gobs of money for this final year of education.


• Don't stay up all night playing "Lord of the Ring" Risk, and then miss your first Board Meeting with the Taylor Administration.


• Don't forget to call home every once in a while to see how Mom & Dad are doing, and to recharge your confidence.


• Don't hesitate to begin looking for a new job - jobs are scarce - start networking now!
  

• Do remember to check your fly before you get up to give speeches or address an audience - you don't want to be remembered as the Taylor SBP that had the "wardrobe malfunction".


• Do things that will represent the majority of the students - you can't please everyone, but you can listen to many diverse opinions.


• Do put people ahead of projects. People will remember you - projects won't.


• Do strike the right balance between faculty, administration, and student relationships.


• Do have fun your last year of college - being SBP is a wonderful responsibility and honor, but fully experiencing the senior year of college is a treat in itself.
• Do keep in mind that there's always enough time to do the right thing!


• Do always remember how proud your parents are of you... really!!

There you go.... maybe not priceless, but certainly worth sharing with your room mates, at least. Don't forget to call.....

Would you be worried?

Our son, Jordan, has been home alone since July 10.... Do I sound worried? Would you be? Since we are still waiting on Savvy to arrive here in Australia, let me bring you in on what I know about the 21 year-old living alone in Madison, AL.

Of course before we departed via Delta, we gave Jordan several instructions regarding the dog, the flowers and plants, the security system, the sprinkler system, the mail, the vehicles, the potential visitors, the food, the money .... and a few others. He said not to worry - he would be fine.... Maybe it's not him I'm worried about..... (Did you see his name anywhere in the list of instructions?)

Now, the first night we were in Australia, Jordan sends me a text message saying the ceiling in the kitchen is leaking and there is water on the hardwood floors. Apparently there was a big storm in the area with strong blowing winds. He also took it upon himself to confirm that it was rain water, and not a puddle via the dog..... not sure how he did this, but nice work JB!

It wasn't long before he informs us that two of his buddies from Lexington, KY, were driving down to stay a few days with him. Hmmm, why didn't they ever visit while we were home??

Anyway, we actually have seen his face and his friends via Skype a couple of times. It "appears" everything is in good shape and the young man has full command of his surroundings. I think he has even cooked several of his own meals, cleaned the kitchen a few times, and done his own laundry. Wow, can't wait 'till we get home to see if this trend continues...

Maybe you expected a single, young American male, that's home alone for 2 weeks, to be doing "guy" stuff: cussing, spitting on the floor, smoking cigars, playing cards, running around half naked, foregoing sleep, watching Desperate Housewives....., OK, maybe that's too much. But honestly, I'm really not worried. Jordan is a very mature, stable, conscientious young adult. He has demonstrated many times how well he can perform in a crisis, and execute per given instructions. I'm not worried.... I'm sure everything is fine. I trust him completely!!

Besides.... I have about 5 people secretly checking in on JB.... you know, just in case something like a roof-leak occurs or a half naked 21 year-old is seen chasing a black flat-coated retriever around in our back yard.... you know, just in case. Love you Dude... See ya soon.... We'll text you when Savvy arrives!

A New Personal Best !!

46 miles last Saturday morning!

Oh yeah... that's right! The big four-six!! Now, to the more elite weekend warrior on the bicycle, 46 miles isn't worth bragging about. But, it's a personal best for me - uncharted territory for the legs and the behind. I wasn't sure if my 50 year old body was up for it. Being in the saddle for 2.75 hours seemed like quite an achievement for me. Right?

So.... I came to work the following Monday, ready to brag about my extraordinary feat, only to find out that one of my co-workers had ridden in a race (in the Smokie Mountains no less) that covered over 100 miles - he was on his bike more than 7 hours!! Did you hear me.... 7 hours!! (Remember me?: 2 hours 45 minutes....) Now, granted, he is a young, lean, mean bicycle fanatic. After all, he rides to and from work everyday. It takes everything I have in me to get up at 5 AM just to ride in the mornings before I get ready for work.

Needless to say, I didn't do much bragging about my mediocre accomplishment any more. I guess everything is relative. I used to think that a 10 mile ride was a long ride. Then, my son and I went 30! and, last Saturday, he & I traveled 46.... This weekend, we'll try to break 50.... maybe even get a bit lost and travel even further... we'll see.

Look for me on the roads in North Alabama..... I'll be the guy pedalling hard to keep up with my son - trying to set, yet another, new personal best.