Hey Cyberworld… I know it’s been like forever since I posted anything on here. I’m still alive and kicking. It has been a crazy bunch of weeks since my last post. The big dealio is that Christie and I now have a high school graduate. I’ll put pictures on after tomorrow. And after tomorrow night we’ll have a second high schooler. We are so proud of Tyler (just graduated from Plainfield Central High School- in the top 20 of his graduating class of 670 students If I can brag). He’s headed to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids in a few months. We are equally proud of Reid who graduates tomorrow PM from Indian Trail Middle School. He’s headed to Plainfield East High School in the fall.

We have been running with the boys, graduation parties and all that goes with this time of year. Baseball games are keeping us busy as well. The Dodgers are 5-8-1 after todays game. I missed becuase of spoke for Gente Unida today after preaching the morning three services…. Talk about being wiped. I kicked off our summer series entitled Missio Dei. The summer at Westbrook is all about the Sending of God. I mean who really cares how many people come to our church, if we don’t leave our church and serve the very people that He died for!

It has been a full and rich weekend. To the graduates in our family to the hundreds of people who came to help us celebrate to the worship time today…. Praise the Lord!

Tyler Bennett Mitchell was born 18 years ago. Man- how fast time has passed. I remember the day when our first born came into this world. You may just think that I’m a doting dad, but the world is a better place because of this kid. Happy Birthday son!

After making it through the Amazing Easter weekend, (Our Easter attendance topped 1,800.) Christie and I took the boys plus a friend on a college road trip. We thought about trying to see the movie with the same name but just couldn’t fit it in. So early Tuesday we took off to visit four colleges in four days. Along the way we saw some great (albeit very expensive) colleges, ate some great food (even Monicals Pizza – o yeah!) and had a chance to hang out with some old friends. All in all we drove 945 miles, had a great time with the boys and saw our financial lives flash before our eyes. If anyone is reading this and wants to bless some young men named Mitchell with great college gifts just let us know!

Today then, we continued our family week with “Family Bowling – Westbrook style” and will end it tomorrow with a Family Weekend at Westbrook. It’s been a lot of fun. There’s nothing like an intense road trip to bring the family together. We’re so keen on it, we’re planning another college visit to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. It’s spring break time… spend some time with your family!

Well I know that the big gist behind this blog is to perpetuate and encourage churches to become multi-cultural and for people to be encouraged to walk with Christ, but it’s still my blog and I like to dote on my family once in a while. After all, it’s because of their support and encouragement that I can do all of the ministry things that I do. So indulge me periodically. TODAY is our youngest son, Griffin’s birthday. Griffin is 8 today. I remember that Sunday he was born like it was just yesterday. We we’re just about 30 minutes from starting our first service at Oak View School. Christie called me and said… “It’s time.” In typical male fashion I replied… “Time for what?” “Time for this baby to be born you knucklehead!” was her response (or something like that). Pastor Amado took over and hours later God introduced us to a new dude. If you’ve met Grif, you know he is a great kid. He has a lot of my traits. Scarry!
Be sure to wish him a happy birthday the next time you see him. I love you Grif man!

In an earlier blog post I introduced you to Truett. Check him out now, he’s six and half months old and is really stealing the show this Christmas. Our boys can’t wait to teach him some soccer moves. Here is a picture with Reid holding him. What a great pair huh? A multi-cultural blog, a multi-cultural church and a multi-cultural family. God is GOOD!

The big day has arrived! In fact as I write this post it’s really almost half over. We’ve eaten heavy… ( I even salt brined a turkey for our big feast. Thanks to Paula Deans assistant, Orrin Sumatra for the recipe and help. BTW Orrin. It was awesome). A lot of us have already napped… and the movie “Christmas story” has played about 150 times already. Christie’s family is in from all over and we have had a great day so far…. Lot’s of hours left. Now we’re ready to open up presents.
As the Mitchell’s have had a great Christmas, we certainly hope and pray that the same is true for you. May God’s peace and grace shine upon you this season and in the new year.

The great American holiday is upon us and we certainly all have a great deal of stuff to be thankful for. I know I do:
~ I’m thankful for the Christ I serve. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to do… (sometimes working this closely with people can be a bit trying) but it does bring joy. In fact, Time magazine recently posted a list of occupations that bring people the most happiness and the Clergy ranked the highest with 67% saying that there are very happy each day. I think I would rank myself and my happiness much higher than that even!
~ I’m thankful for my family. I really do have the greatest wife on the planet. She’s quite patient with me and loves me even on those days when I’m a little less caring than I should be. I have three great boys. They are smart, kind, caring and fun. My extended family is a great blessing to me (most of the time). I’m blessed
~ I’m thankful for my Westbrook family. The staff that I serve with is second to none. Other Pastor friends think they have great staff… but deep down I know ours is the best. I love our church. Sure we’ve dealt with some challenges recently, but God’s grace has been sufficient for us to endure each little thing. By that same grace we will continue to march forward as we fulfill the dream that God has planted within us.
~ I’m thankful for my friends. I hang out with some great people outside of my church relationships. Some of them are very lost spiritually, but I love them just the same. What they don’t know is that I pray for them the whole time we are hanging out. I also have friends that are very spiritually in tune. My life is blessed with both groups of people!
I could go on and on… suffice it to say I will be mindful of all of my blessings today and the rest of this weekend.
What about you? What are you thankful for?