Happy Birthday Lil Bro

Well, Happy Birthday lil, bro! Wishing you a day filled with lots of love, a cherished vocal performance by Macin, hugs, kisses, and a Houston win on Friday.

I love your quiet, but strong nature, your humbleness, and your great hugs. You are a great dad, whose love for his daughters shines through everything you do. A father to a daughter is a VERY important role. I know that you will continue to make them feel like a princess every day. That you will continually tell them they are beautiful and that they will always know just how special and loved they are. It is through a fathers love for his daughter that her self-esteem and confidence starts, grows, and stays with her through life.

This is such a challenging time of your life, raising young children, pursuing your masters degree, coaching, teaching, and being a husband. Always remember that THE most important THINGS in life are not things, but are your relationships. When it all comes down to it, it will be those you love that you will treasure most at the end of the road. Continue to work hard, enjoy all of the little moments in life, and remember it is a good thing to play hooky every once in awhile.

I appreciate how you have instilled the values of leadership, honesty, and integrity in those young men that you mentor daily. No matter what the score board reflects next Friday it is THOSE characteristics that will carry those young men into the future, as they reflect on an experience of a lifetime that YOU have led them through.

When you walk into the Metrodome on Friday, stop for a moment and take a long deep breath. Breathe in that moment, for that moment in time you will never get back again. Take a visual picture, remember the smell, the sights, and the sounds. Look up to your right and then to your left, where you will see signs waving, fans cheering, and people proud to wear Houston red. For in that MOMENT, YOU are making history. History that started years, months, and weeks ago in the daily planning and practice.

It is that moment in time that many try to achieve but only few actually do. Many fall short of the finish line, because they gave up when it got hard. Little did they know that only a few more steps and they would have found victory.

One of my favorite quotes is... 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented, and successful? Actually, who are you not to be? We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

You are letting your light shine and through that light, you are giving others hope to shine too.

Happy Birthday!
yo, yo, lil, bro....I love Jason Freed

And here is a bit more about the birthday boy, himself!

1. Favorite color? Red or Blue – Depends on the day or if I am in Decorah or Houston.

2. Favorite food? Right now I would have to say Buffalo Wild Wings Chicken Wings

3. When you are alone at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot? Barefoot

4. How many days could you last in solitary confinement? How would you do it? - As many as I would need to. I am a quiet place person who likes alone time, so I would be alright for quite awhile I think.

5. When you travel, so you pack too much or too little? Usually pack too much.

6. In what situations are you most likely to procrastinate? No, I do not procrastinate, I am to anal to let that happen! Just ask Emilee and my close friends.

7. What is your idea of 'cute'? I don’t’ like the word! If I have to answer, when my two daughters are all dressed up in their dresses or doing something funny when no one is looking.

8. What are you 3 favorite TV shows? Deadliest Catch, Sports Center, Survivor

9. What are the top three qualities that first draw you to someone new? Personality, Honesty, and Fun

10. How has your birth order affected you? It works out great for me. I am the baby of the family so that is always good, and I am the only brother, so I am really the Big Brother of the family to all of my loving sisters.

11. What is the most adventurous or daring thing you have ever done? Canoed in the Boundary Waters in late May when the ice just went off the lakes a week before we got there.

12. If you could visit with any person in history, who would it be and why? Robert E. Lee, because I love the Civil War and the man was an exceptional leader.

13. If you were going to a costume party next week, what costume would you wear? Civil War Soldier

14. What is one thing you know for sure? The Hurricanes are going to be ready to roll for Prep Bowl 27.

15. What character trait are you currently trying to improve or change? Trying not to be so anal, but that is the “Deano” in me. :)

16. What do you do to get 'centered'? Too be honest, I feel like I am pretty centered all of the time. I asked one of the coaches on my staff to tell me one word that describes me, and they said FOCUSED!

17. What color describes your life right now and why? Red – Hurricanes Pride

18. What brings a tear to your eye? Seeing my wife tear up after the Verndale game, knowing that she knows how hard I have worked to get to this point in my coaching career.

19. What is your favorite picnic memory? Not sure, can’t remember the last time I had a real picnic.

20. Who is your favorite sister? They are all awesome...I guess who ever gives me the best Birthday or Xmas present. Just kidding...or maybe whomever comes with the most Hurricane Pride and garb for the Championship game. They are all awesome.