Slate & Stroke

E M M Y ! Happy Birthday to my amazing, creative, talented, hilarious and smart friend @emilyjeanbenitez! '30' has never looked better! 😉 #happybirthday #30

B L E S S I N G S . It's a humbling gift to be given the trust of a parent to mentor and care for their 12 year olds. It's even more of a blessing to sit with those boys almost a decade later and know that they still trust you to be there for them. I am so grateful for Bill Cummings for sharing your family with me. For helping to shape such core parts of who I am and my connection with God. For raising 4 boys that have such a special place in my life. For trusting me to teach and guide your boys. For being the kind of man that makes me hope I can be wise, strong, generous, compassionate and gentle enough to be that good of a father some day.

I H A D A L O T O F R E D B U L L . A weekend filled with paintball, headlocks, jumping, exploring and waking up at daybreak with these guys...👌🏽 #riptide #riptidejrhigh #pinevalley #hashtagfratsquad2017 (at Pine Valley, California)

I D O N T A L W A Y S H I K E . . . But when I do, I make sure I'm as awkward as humanly possible and go with people who only want to go halfway up the mountain before deciding to go back home.

2 0 1 7 . There. I went outside this year. Is it brunch yet?

2 0 1 6 . It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair… #2016 #CharlesDickens #bestnine2016 #byefelicia

ANOTHA ONE . In case the first didn't do it for ya. And cus it ain't paradise without Adam. #ESS #Staffphoto #worklife #LMAACBeach

S P A C E L O R D . When your boss asks you to edit your staff picture and this is what you come up with... #ESS #Staffphoto #worklife #galaxy #spacelord (at La Mesa Arts Academy)

A N I M A L S T Y L E . I can't take these beasts anywhere. #savages #tinyhoodlums #fratsquad2016 #lifegroups #riptidejrhigh @riptidejhm (at ULTRAZONE San Diego)

N E R D . I can't get through one homework assignment without thinking of Harry Potter 👓⚡️#HarryPotter #homework #dementors #hogwarts #yerawizardharry #art #academyofartuniversity #aau #academyofart

C O S M I C . #flashbackfriday to when me and the ride-or-die were Space Cadets. #astroblasters #bestfriend #disneyland

S O B E I G E . When your 13 year olds make you brownies for your birthday and then eat them all. #lifegroups #riptide #birthday #8thgraders #fratsquad2016

B - D A Y B U D D Y . Can't wait to celebrate this guy making it to 3! Happy Birthday to my digger obsessed, dinosaur loving, train enthusiast godson! I'm glad I get to share a day with Rye! #happybirthday #ryeandunclesammy #samorrye #ryeebenezer

D ! $ N € ¥ . Monday: Princes & Princesses / Heroes & Villains. #Disneyland #OperationDisneyRedemption #adamsfirsttime (at Disneyland)

H O G W A R T S O R B U S T . Saturday: Trains, chocolate frogs, pumpkin juice & butterbeer. #hogwarts #wizardingworldofharrypotter #universalstudios #imawizardharry (at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood)

S Æ G L Ó P U R . Friday: Sigur Rós delivers my favorite lullabies. #sigurrós #sæglópur #copleysymphonyhall (at Copley Symphony Hall)

S I G U R R Ó S . There's a strong possibility I will be crying tonight. #sigurrós