Normal Rockstar

Liam's Dedication Ceremony

Thanks to Harry and the crack media team at Rolling Hills Community Church, we already have video of Liam's baby dedication ceremony today. Enjoy!

Big Sunday: Child Dedication, Wine & Chocolate...

(Click the picture for a slideshow of Liam at 5 mo)

This upcoming Sunday is going to be a busy one for us. First, we will be celebrating Liam's baby dedication with our home church - Rolling Hills Community Church. This is a neat ceremony in the life of a child and the church. Basically, Erin and I will stand before the church and commit to raising Liam in a godly home. Then our church will commit to helping us raise him in a godly fashion as he grows up in the church. Because our families live so far away (Canada and Montana) we won't have any family present for the dedication. But we would love for you to come and be our "Nashville family" if you are in the area. It will take place in the 10:30am service - please come and say hi if you choose to come!

Sunday EVENING we are honored to be the beneficiaries of a wine and chocolate tasting hosted by the good men of my mentoring group. It's open to anyone - it starts at 7pm and will take place at Sol on Main in downtown Franklin. We would love for you to join us there - Liam will be around to meet his public for the first 45 minutes, so you will get a chance to meet him. You can click here for more details.

So... by Sunday night Erin and I will be bone tired but I'm sure overwhelmed by the love and support from our church family and friends. We hope to see you at some point on Sunday!

First Triathlon in the Books

Yesterday I entered and completed hopefully the first of many triathlons. Team Magic runs a fantastic event on Memorial Day called the GJCC Memorial Day Triathlon. This is what's called a sprint distance triathlon, meaning all the distances are pretty short. This particular race included a 200m swim, an 8.5mi bike, and a 2mi run. My goal was to complete the race in under 60 minutes, and my official time ended up being 53:59. I'm thrilled with that! Here's how my times broke down (T1 and T2 are the different "transition times" - the time it takes for me to switch from 1 event to the other):

Swim - 3:27
T1 - 2;51
Bike - 30:39
T2 - 1:47
Run - 17:04

I actually ended up placing 4th in my age group (Beginners ages 30-34) and had I registered for the Clydesdale division (men over 200lbs) I would have placed 2nd.  So all in all, I was very happy with how the race turned out and spent a good amount of time yesterday online looking for the next one. My ultimate goal is to complete a full Ironman race (2.5mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run), but that's not going to happen this season. Although I'm eyeing a 1/2 Ironman the end of September... I'll keep you posted.

A big shout out to Randy, Ken, and Spence - they were my tri buddies for the day and all did fantastic as well. We're already planning on doing the race next year - want to join us?

Wine & Chocolate Tasting to Benefit Liam

Erin and I continue to be honored and blessed by the generosity of those around us. The guys in my mentoring group - Randy Elrod, Brock Gill, Randy Williams, and Chad Jarnagin in particular - have decided to host a wine and chocolate tasting in Franklin, TN to benefit my son Liam.

If you are new to my blog, Liam was born with Down syndrome this past December, so as first-time parents we have been learning about a different world of child rearing than most. We really have no idea what is in store for us as we raise a special needs child - but thanks to these fantastic guys, everyone who will come out to the wine and chocolate tasting, and the gifts and prayers of many of you, we are confident the Lord will provide whatever we need whenever we need it.

Here are the event details:

Date: Sunday, May 31st
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Sol on Main (downtown Franklin)
Price: no set price, but a suggested donation of $10/person

Facebook: Facebook event page

We would love to see you out. Brock will be bringing chocolate from all over the world (he does chocolate tastings for people all across the US - I was able to sit in on one and it was fantastic!), and Randy and Spence will provide the wine (there will be soft drinks there if you're not a wine person).

Please feel free to pass on this information to friends or people in the Nashville area who you think would be interested in coming. Being the proud father that I am, it would be my honor to introduce you to Liam.

Thanks - hope to see you May 31st!

Liam Shows Signs of Future Drumming Chops at 4 Months

Here is a video Erin captured a couple of weeks ago of Liam playing with his shaker. Look at that rhythm - he's got a gift! (Notice his bib...)

Mrs. Normal Rockstar Blogs

My wife started blogging a year or two ago, but without a reliable computer to call her own and a travel schedule that didn't allow much time for "extras", blogging was not a priority. Now things have changed - she has her own computer and is at home more often than not... The "time for extras" thing is still up for debate, but she has been able to carve out a little bit to get back into blogging. Take time today to stop by her blog - you'll be glad you did!

downhere Wins 3rd JUNO Award

If you missed all the Twitters from the JUNO Awards a couple of weeks ago, here's the official announcement: we won our third JUNO Award, this time for "Ending is Beginning". (For the uninitiated, the JUNO Awards are the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy Awards here in America.) The awards were held in Vancouver, BC this year, and we were able to go up and be a part of the weekend thanks to the Radio Starmaker Fund. Here is a press picture right after we won the award (unfortunately we were all looking at different cameras!).

Liam's Easter Pictures

I'm constantly learning how to be a dad and all that comes along with that. One of the things that is important in my wife's family is pictures - we take pictures at every opportunity and even more so now with Liam. (I'm am a horrible picture taker - I just never think about it. So I'm glad at least one of us remembers to capture the moments!)

I have learned that a very important picture opportunity for young children especially is Easter. Little girls get Easter dresses, little boys get Easter outfits, and pictures must be taken (of course). Well, over the years we have become good friends with the couple that took our wedding pictures, and they send us a note saying that they were offering portrait sessions with LIVE bunnies at for Easter... Need I say more?!?

So I give you a few pictures of Liam with a real bunny (thanks to Kevin and Suzette for giving us permission to use these pictures online!). Is he cute or what!!

Daniel Hannan Offers Up a Civilized Tongue-Lashing

I heard the audio of this clip the other day on the radio and thought it would be worth sharing. Daniel Hannan is a writer and journalist, and has been Conservative MEP for South East England since 1999. He delivered the speech below in the European Parliament, directly addressing the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Gordon Brown. Regardless of what your political beliefs are, you have to give this gentleman credit for clearly and precisely delivering such a confrontational speech.

I shudder to think what would happen should someone attempt to address the President of the United States with such candor and constrained passion - I highly doubt such an individual would be permitted to finish their remarks.

Obama, Leno, and the Special Olympics

Four months ago I don't know that I would have given this story a second thought. Today, as the proud new father of a son with Down syndrome, I am unable to overlook last night's "offhand comment" spoken by the most powerful man in the world on late-night TV.

President Obama made history last night by being the first ever sitting President to appear on a late-night television show as a guest of Jay Leno. I understand his attempt at self-depreciating humor (in case you didn't watch the video clip, go here for the transcript [HT: Huffington Post]) - generally that's always a safe bet for a good laugh. I'm sure it wasn't mean-spirited or meant in an offensive way. I know he called the president of the Special Olympics and apologized even before the show aired; I know he has now extended an invitation to Special Olympics athletes to the White House to bowl and play basketball (I'll keep my opinion on that to myself... you do the math). The fact of the matter is that "off-hand" or not, I expect more of the American President.

Being is a position of such visibility and responsibility is a tough task - people hold such people to a higher standard and rightly so. By accepting such a position one agrees to live by that higher standard. I am personally learning the power of words all over again - whereas just a few short months ago it would not have been uncommon to hear me call myself "retarded" when I make a silly mistake, now as the father of a son who's mental and physical development is technically "retarded" (i.e. slower than normal) I start to see red whenever I overhear someone make such an "offhand" comment even though I know the intent is most probably not harmful or derogatory.

I really don't have much more to say. There's plenty more that could be said and IS being said around the blogosphere - many are turning this into a political "look what we've gotten ourselves into!" thing - my intention is not that. If anything, may this simply serve as a reminder that it really doesn't matter who you are - the President of the United States, Joe the Plumber, a rockstar, a housewife, a blogger - think twice about the words you speak. They have the power to wound or to heal. And once they're spoken, there's no taking them back.

A New Business Model for the Music Industry

If you're in the music industry, take 15 minutes and watch this video presentation on Trent Reznor and how he make $1.6 million in the first week of sales on a record that he was giving away for free. [HT Brody Harper]

Rockstars Change Diapers Too

At a shower the downhere family threw for us before Liam was born, they took a bunch of diapers and wrote messages on them for our future entertainment when we changed Liam. This one showed up the other day - it was too good to pass up! And is very true... one of the first things I did when I got home yesterday (after kissing my wife and child) was change his diaper. Funny the things we look forward to, isn't it!

My Seattle Revelation

(Author's note: I'm typing this on my phone on the plane home from Seattle. The lady beside me is crowding my "space" so I can't get my computer out.)

Yesterday was a full day. My band downhere played 3 church services and then a concert - all of which went really great but we were definitely worn out by the end.

As we started playing the 3rd service I noticed a mother with 2 Down syndrome boys sitting in the front row (last night I mistakenly Twittered that it was a girl - I'm still healing up from my eye surgery, okay??). Well, one of them was sitting - the other was standing, rocking back and forth, singing along at the top of his lungs.

Correction: he was singing - just not along, and definitely not on key. When everyone else would pause to take a break in the middle of a phrase, he would keep on singing - you couldn't miss it. It was rather distracting, really - or at least, I could see how it would be distracting to those around him.

And that's when I began to weep - right at the end of one song and into the next (which I had to start - it was "Jesus Paid It All", so I kind of hoped if anyone noticed me crying they would think I was just super thankful that night for Jesus' having paid it all!). I was struck with this sudden realization:

One day that could/will be my son.

One day my son will be the one that annoys and distracts people as he worships the One who created him perfectly. One day my son will be the one who will stand in the front row and dance and sing unabashedly before an audience of One. One day my son will teach me what genuine worship is all about.

Last night I cried tears of sadness, joy, and envy all at the same time. Sad that there will be people who will not be able to appreciate the beauty of a scene like I saw last night (and sad that I caught myself being one of those people); joyful at the thought of seeing Liam worship with his whole being without giving a second thought to what anyone else thinks; envious of the special connection he will have with his Maker.

I had a revelation in Seattle, and I don't think I'm going to get over it.

Free Song for Valentine's Day

Hey all you lovers out there! AmazonMp3.com is offering a free song this Valentine's Day. Click on the banner above to download Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and add some music to your Valentine's Day celebration. This offer ends at 11:59:59 PST on Saturday, Feb. 14th, so move quickly!

Life Moves Faster Than My Blogging...

Do you ever have a hard time jump-starting your blogging juices after having not posted for a while (or, as is the case here, posting quite sporadically)? I'm in that place right now. Over the last two and a half months I have been home more than any other time in my career. And yet I have managed to write only 8 blog posts in that time. (If you're not following me on Twitter yet, I would strongly suggest you start there if you REALLY want to stay current with me!) What have I been doing with my time?? Well, in an effort to get caught back up with my readers and back on track, here's an attempt at a brief summary of what's been distracting me from blogging:

• If you don't know this one already you are just as guilty as I am, 'cause I've been posting about this new addition a lot: our son Liam was born on December 4th and he's been a BLAST!
• Erin's parents were here for about two weeks over Christmas to help out with Liam. Thank-you Grandma and Grandpa Robinson!

 

• We started casting Liam's left foot when he was just over 3 weeks old to correct a clubfoot. 5 weeks and 5 casts later things are looking great and he's in his brace now. He looks like a skater!
• 3 days after the first cast was put on Liam contracted RSV which put us in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital with him for 6 days.
• my parents came for 10 days the end of January to meet Liam for the first time and help out around the house (they cooked for us the whole time we were here... come back, mom!!).
• Thanks to the good people at Joffe MediCenter and the great work of Dr. Kenny Smith, I had corrective laser eye surgery the end of January. I am still recovering from the surgery but would do it again in a heartbeat.
• I have started writing my first book (other than this blog post). More to come on that in future posts...