Author: Jason Zerbey

Posted on

Feeling It

Young guys always underestimate me on the soccer pitch.

Today they must have been half my age and seemed to target me early in the game. Nothing got down my line and I put them on their asses a few times. Once their attacks dried up on my side, I had to roam for trouble.

It was a blast. Our team is older, more cohesive, and loads better at having fun.

Every time I get to step onto a field I feel the blessings deeper. Even hard moments carry happiness and gratitude with them. But today wasn’t hard. It was light and fun and full of smiles.

I’m grateful to God for all the invitations I get to play; the joy I find in the game; and the mind, body, and spirit that fuel my success.

Posted on

Time for Exodus

I just watched a video of Canadian police arresting a pastor for holding church service.

Those who choose to serve the government betray themselves, their fellow man, and God.

Our governors have behaved like little pharaohs for over a year. They, and those who enforce their dictates, are our enemies. We must turn our backs on their authority. We don’t have to physically leave their jurisdiction to be free. We can choose freedom right here.

God bless you and your freedom.

Posted on

Time to Build: We Don’t Always Get Messy

Time to Build has been our Lego club for the last few months. Through the most oppressive restrictions, we have not been deterred. Our children need hands on learning (aka “play”), smiles, hugs, laughter, and a sense that their worlds are made larger when other people are welcomed into them.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

My favorite things about Lego are very adult. They aren’t sticky or loud or leave glitter all over the floor. Lego is arts and crafts for parents who don’t like to clean up.

Children are naturally inclined to disrupt the comfort zones of guardians. Last week they requested paints, nails, hammers, screws, and…a power drill. I acquiesced on all but the power drill, and really that was because I didn’t want the hassle of running an extension cord.

Once I saw the magic of five boys from ages four to twelve all working diligently and safely (and *almost* quietly!), I knew I had to feed this new passion to create.

As conditions permit, Time to Build will become bigger than simply Lego.

We’re going to get all the tools and paints and glues (okay, maybe not all the glues) out and see what these creators come up with. Our life might just become as colorful as our Lego collection.

Posted on

Allschool Fun

That’s my boy looking triumphant. He’s always conquering or mastering something. Today it was Nerf battles, backstop climbing, and any number of games he and his friends came up with.

This group was created to facilitate the social needs of our children. All of our previous groups, activities, and locations for feeding these social creatures was shut down by the Lockdowns. There are still few places where children can congregate without nonsensical restrictions. So our group is growing. Fewer people are allowing the absurdity of the mainstream narrative to dictate how they raise their children.

Posted on

The Ambush Hits Differently in the Fourth Year

I saw it coming.

I was putting the clean dishes away and remarked how there were fewer matching coffee mugs than ever. That several of the mugs Mary and I shared had been broken or given away. I remembered how difficult some of those breaks had been.

The widowed attach things to their former life as a husband or wife. A broken coffee mug is one more piece of that loved one that is gone. At times, the well of grief seems endlessly deep.

“I’m through that,” I thought.

I grabbed the last gift Mary had given me at Christmas six weeks before she died, a beautiful red and white Jesus mug with Isaiah 9:6 on it.

For to us a child is born…and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I spun toward the boiling kettle and brought the top of the cup down hard on a glass container waiting to be washed. A white chip flew across the counter. The crack was fully through the ceramic.

I smiled. A test. A challenge. A thing. Nothing but a thing in my hand. Mary wasn’t trapped inside, nor my memory of her. She is untouchable, safe in Heaven.

After recording the damage for the inevitable blog post, I thought I would toss the lifeless object. But the spring green and pink of the garden that Mary left told me I could bring life to this cup. I don’t know what little plant will find its home here, but I do know it will be happy and blessed.

Posted on

Unschool Outside

Tuesdays are set aside for Lego building with our friends, but the nice weather is too much draw to get out of doors.

The kids asked for paints, nails, hammers, a saw, and more. They went to work on our ever-evolving “pirate ship.” I don’t think there was much of a plan, but I was impressed with how well they did with very little supervision.

We closed our time together with homemade cake and cupcakes for my younger son’s 10th birthday.

Posted on

Not The Answer I Wanted

After 14 hours of hiking over five mountains, we had one more summit on our list. Out of nine in our original party, three or four were considering the final mountain. The others had resigned to end their day.

The crossroads was at the only waterfall we had seen all day. I was of two minds about continuing, so I decided to climb down to get a good look at the falls and ask God for guidance.

The day had been full of grueling rock scrambles and this small descent to the river seemed extravagant and unnecessary. This beautiful moment gave me clarity. I charged back up to the path and announced that I was in to finish the trek.

My fellow travelers didn’t expect that. We were looking at a long seven miles of ascent and descent that would have to be completed in the dark. I realized that I was acting in bravado. God was speaking to me through my companions.

To avoid injury and the pitfalls of climbing off the mountain in the dark, we decided to end our journey.

We all got back to our accomdations happy and healthy. It was the longest and hardest hike most of us had undertaken. We slept soundly and started making plans for a return to Devil’s Path in the morning.

God often answers my prayers in unexpected ways. He counters my desires with a better course. He reminds me to pay attention to all the signs around me.

Tonight I thank Him and pray to always keep my eyes sharp for His signs.

Posted on

Revelation

Once I realized that a college drop out could educate his children I said to myself, “What else can we do without government?” I’m ready to explore that question as far as it will go.