June 17, 2008
Strep Throat Really Sucks.
I've been laid out with Strep Throat for almost a week now. I gave it to my wife also. She and I share a lot of germs; it's one of those things about marriage. We finally went to a health clinic yesterday and got a test. Apparently, we've both got a gigantic case of it. Our tests came back, really positive. So, now we're on antibiotics. Cool.
Supposedly, our 2 month old son is not at risk of getting strep. Hopefully Joanna will stay healthy. She has been asking all week long to share our food, or drink and we've had to keep turning her down.
I have one more day of staying out of the office, then it's back into the saddle. Today, I'll be trying to work from home (in between diaper changes and whatnot.)
So please pray for our recovery...and wash your hands.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 8:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 22, 2008
A rough night
The house is completely quiet except for the clicking sound of the computer keyboard. My 2 year old daughter is learning about the power she possesses through having a "big girl bed." Last night she excersized that power by waking up a 1:00 AM and walking into our bedroom. We spent the next couple of hours putting her back in bed and then waiting 5 minutes before she came back into our bedroom. She does seem to have a little bit of a temperature, so we were cutting her a lot of slack, but it was a little frustrating. My solution was to put her in bed and then sit in her room for half an hour until she drifted off. I felt like a prison guard.
In classic Murphy's law fashion, just when my daughter was asleep, my newborn son woke up ready for a feeding.
Now thanks to a low cloud cover that has made it a dark sunrise, the whole family except me are sleeping in.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 8:01 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
April 22, 2008
Week with my parents
My parents came up to hang out with us for almost a week. My favorite day was when I skipped work and we went to the Botanical Gardens. You might think that plants would be pretty boring, but it was probably the most beautiful weather in St Louis ever, my daughter is fascinated with everything (look, a rock!) and everyone was in excellent spirits.
I also enjoyed having my dad there for church. I wish I had streaming video or audio to share of the excellent worship time we had, but I'm not that geeked out yet.Also, I took some vows this weekend as my son was baptized. Pics would be nice at this point, but I would rather go home and hang with my family.
This week's upcoming highlights: trying to get Cakewalk Home Studio 2 to work, a trip to the rumetologist tomorrow, my 4 year anniversary on Thursday, Indian food at my buddy Joseph's fund raiser on Saturday, and worshiping at our South City location on Sunday. Does anyone in South City want to invite me and my family to lunch? Otherwise we are hitting the Bread Co.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 4:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 21, 2008
Good Friday
I'm hanging out at home on Good Friday enjoying a day off. You might wonder why a church musician would be free on Good Friday and not running around like crazy trying to tie up last minute details. Well, I have been blessed with an extreme distaste for last minute detailery. As much as I'm able, I try to get things wrapped up and good to go in advance. Then I can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Did I mention that today is my wife's due date as well? Not only did I have to get things ready, but I had to get things ready to the point that my wonderful volunteer team could relax and enjoy the weekend even without their captain. Fortunately for me, the Holy Spirit is the true captain of worship through the atoning blood of Christ, so if the Holy Spirit shows up, then we're good to go for Easter.
Some highlights to look forward to this weekend:
Good Friday Service- the music is all focused on the cross, full of encouragement, drenched in grace and mercy. I'm especially looking forward to the excellent resetting of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross that Chris Tomlin did (The Wonderful Cross). Isaac Watts is my hero.
Rehearsals galore tomorrow. Music Team at 1:00 and choir at 5:00. Let the good times role!
Easter- There are a few moments that I look forward to every Easter Sunday. The extended "Death" toward the end of Death Is Ended. The trumpet trill on Christ The Lord Is Risen Today. The drum fill into to New Resurrection Life immortalized by Rick Dickerson. Not to mention greeting people with "He is risen", the resurrection of nature during springtime, the cute little kids in their new Easter outfits, etc. All of this just gives me a deep longing for the ultimate resurrection celebration at the end of time. Come Lord Jesus!
The possible highlight of the weekend is the birth of my son. He could decide to come any minute now, so everything we do this weekend will have a little bit of a sense of anticipation and excitement. Come little son!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 2:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 14, 2008
T minus one week until the due date and still no baby
We are on pins and needles waiting.
In the mean time, I am loving the spring-ish weather and the new freedom I feel with the glorious act of delegation. It's not just dumping my responsibilities on someone else; it's the feeling of giving a job a way to someone who is obviously going to figure out better ways of doing it. Then the realization that without that job to do, I am free to be more of the man God designed me to be. Word!
Sarah's doing pretty well considering how expanded her body is at this point. I have been impressed with how well she has handled the past few weeks. She's the best!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 7:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 4, 2008
A Trip to the Doctor
Today I went to the doctor for the first time in probably a decade. I've been having issues with my stomach. The doctor thinks that I probably have a bit of an ulcer and some reflux issues. So, I'm going to take some acid reducing meds for a few weeks and see if it helps.
All of this is a little embarrassing, and humbling. It was really hard to get up the nerve to go the doctor for help. It feels like I'm being a weeny. Bruce Willis didn't pause while battling a skilled team of terrorists to complain that his tummy hurt.
It's also a little taste of mortality. I'm no longer 18. I suffer from the effects of aging even in my 20s. It's no big deal, but it just makes me a little melancholy.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 4:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 30, 2008
New City Fellowship Music Team Ministry Report for 2007
New City Fellowship Choirs
2007 was the year that we saw the dream of a choir program realized. In the spring, the choirs were organized around the Black History Program and Resurrection Sunday. When the fall came around, there were enough singers to make the choir a more established team including a group of committed leaders.
Black History Program
In February, we had an amazing experience when we came together to worship Jesus through the voice and experience of African-Americans. This was a challenge to organize, but it was incredibly encouraging to all who came as well as a wonderful offering of worship.
Growth in South City
God answered many of my prayers when the South City service was blessed with two committed and visionary pastors and with being able to meet in a better facility. The musicians in South City are very thankful to be done with all of the frustrating circumstances surrounding our former location. We are also thankful for how the passionate and focused leadership of Kevin VandenBrink and Macklann Basse has given the entire worship service a boost.
London
I had the pleasure of taking a team of Music Team members to the London Evangelism and Prayer Conference in July. We were given the responsibility of leading the other conferees in worship sessions, and in addition to what we learned and experienced in evangelism, we all came back with a more confident approach to worship leading and greater appreciation for the fellowship of musicians who lead worship together.
Music Team Leadership
This year, I was finally able to get a better taste for team ministry by forming the Music Team Leadership. The Music Team is made up of over 50 volunteers including worship leaders, singers, instrumentalists, sound techs, and text operators. The Music Team Leadership is a small group of people from the Music Team who feel a more committed calling to serve the whole Music Team through leadership.
What to expect in 2008
• South City will develop a more localized music administration and worship planning.
• The choirs will continue to cast a vision for how they can be used for the Kingdom.
• More intentional and relational development of musically gifted leadership.
• Encouraging songwriters, artists, and musicians in our congregation to develop unique expressions of worship that reflect the kaleidoscope of sounds and images that represent New City Fellowship.
• Ward baby #2!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 9:19 AM | TrackBack
November 19, 2007
Pregnancy Brain
Here's some fuel for the "pregnancy brain" myth.
My wife who is 22 weeks pregnant came home from the grocery store with a large bottle of rum. The rum is for the egg nog (yes, we are giving in to the incontrollable urge to act like it's Christmastime even though there's still two more weeks of November left.) Egg nog is really best with a little splash of rum; otherwise it's kind of like drinking melted ice cream. Anyway, I was making lunch for the fam (boxed Kraft 3 Cheese Macaroni, hot dog, with celery and peanut butter on the side.) Sarah was putting away the groceries and one of the bags was only placed about half-way on the table. We watched in horror as the large bottle of rum slipped out of the bag and smashed onto the kitchen floor. I was reminded of the scene from "A Tale of Two Cities" where a cask of wine is accidentally dropped in front of the DeFarge's wine shop and all the peasants are lapping up the wine off the road. I fought the urge to lap up any rum due to the tiny shards of glass.
That's not all.
With the rum mopped up and the kitchen smelling a bit like a frat house. We were getting all set for a typical Monday lunch watching the Simpsons. Standing over the coffee table where our 3 bowls of mac and cheese were waiting to be eaten, my wife was attempting to open the large jar of peanut butter. Suddenly, the jar of peanut butter allegedly bit my wife on the pinky finger. I watched as in slow motion my delicious bowl of 3 cheese macaroni with sliced hot dog was launched into the air by the naughty peanut butter jar.
"What happ'n, Mommy" said Joanna.
I picked it up off the ground and ate as fast as I could in order to preserve the 30 second rule. Most of my meal was salvaged (though I had to pick out a few hairs) and my wife who felt rather guilty offered some of Joanna's 3 cheese macaroni to make up for my loss.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 2:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack