This Sunday, February 23rd, is a very special day for our family. 13 years ago, Daniel Grady Schmidt, our second child, was born not breathing. It's just "one of those things" that can happen that you never think will happen to you. We were blessed that he survived. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which … Continue reading Meet Our Son, Daniel
One of the tricky parts of having a public presence on the web is figuring out how much personal information to share, especially regarding your children. But my kids are also a huge part of who I am, and their stories obviously intersect with mine. That said, I want to introduce you to my oldest … Continue reading Our Christmas Miracle
Thanksgiving is a little weird, right? It's the one day a year we are required to be thankful, as if we shouldn't be thankful every day... But it’s also a really great day. A day filled with family, fun, football… and food! Thanksgiving is, after all, one of the High Holy Days of the Food … Continue reading The Perfect Recipe
It has been quite a while since I posted here, but the Blog is still active, believe it or not! Today, I am updating you on some big news for our family: I have received a Call to serve as the Lead Pastor for Peace Lutheran Ministries of Saginaw, Michigan. To find out what that means, continue … Continue reading A Big (and Prayerful) Decision for Us
Getting very personal today…
Five years ago today, my heart was broken and bruised.
Five years ago, my son died.
Five years ago, he was six years old.
Five years ago, I was lost.
Today, I am still lost.
I continue to stumble my way through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, trying all the while to pretend like I am a normal human being, capable of life.
I know the Lord is with me, and I am not alone.
Still, I feel alone.
Because life goes on. Time moves on. You adjust. You change. You become. Just like you did when he was born. Just like you did when every new challenge presented itself. You just do. You have responsibilities. You’re still a husband. Still a father. Still a pastor. Still alive. No matter how much you want to run and hide, life just doesn’t allow it, because life goes on…
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As my incredible wife Heidi and I celebrate 21 years of marriage (!), I thought I would pass on some advice - the thoughts that I share in my wedding sermons, actually. If you have been or will one day be called into marriage, I hope you find some truth in it. And if it … Continue reading How to Stay Married
There is something else you should know about me: I struggle with depression that stems from the grief of losing my son. Daniel was six years old when he died on September 11, 2013. He was a special needs child: stemming from an overarching diagnosis of cerebral palsy, he struggled with many things, including quadriplegia … Continue reading Grief
Honest Musings from a Regular Guy... Who Also Happens to Be a Lutheran Pastor 