The Hopper Kids

Humor In Hiding

1 Jan ’13 by Christopher Hopper 6 Comments

Jenny and I were looking at this family pic that made second cut from a shoot we did earlier this fall. It was just a test shot as Jenny was getting the timer settings right. But we kept it because the kids were so darn cute.

As we stared at it, little thought-bubble lines began jumping out at us. And the more we verbalized what we thought each kid might be saying, the funnier it got. And the more we laughed.

Then we opened Photoshop and couldn’t stop laughing. The end result is above.

Humor likes to hide. The deeper it lurks, the funnier it tends to be. Anyone can laugh at the superficial; but finding the truly ingenious, witty aspects of life not only brings us joy, but appreciation. Which enriches who we are as people.

Add value to the lives of those around you by discovering humor hidden in every day moments of life. It’s work, but it’s worth it.

ch:

Filed Under: perspective, the family, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: good medicine, humor, laughter

Merry Christmas!

25 Dec ’12 by Christopher Hopper 6 Comments

Here’s wishing you and your family the merriest of Christmases ever.

Blessings from the Hoppers,

ch:

Filed Under: culture, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: christmas, cookies, judah, milk, Santa, war chest

Time: Revisited

14 Nov ’12 by Christopher Hopper 4 Comments

I was moved by my wife’s post this morning on time. Felt it was certainly worth posting a link here.

Be inspired.

Time.

ch:

Filed Under: leadership, perspective, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: development, growth, jennifer hopper, kids, time

Pee Is Always Funny

29 Oct ’12 by Christopher Hopper 3 Comments

Sometimes a picture says it all.

ch:

Filed Under: perspective, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: Brett Peryer, clothing, judah, luik, pee, pics

The Conflict of Adventure

27 Oct ’12 by Christopher Hopper 7 Comments

Don’t confuse God sending you opportunity with the hardship of opposition.

Any adventure worth retelling was birthed out of conflict. So try and enjoy the fragrance of success no matter how far off it seems.

Into the wild blue,

ch:

Filed Under: culture, leadership, perspective, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: adventure, conflict, encouragement, help, perspective, sun

Smile. You’re About to Get Painted

11 Oct ’12 by Christopher Hopper 2 Comments

Judah sat still for almost 30 seconds.

Eyes closed, wide grin, chin up, he waited patently for master face-painting artist Rich Kilpatrick to turn him into Batman.

I couldn’t escape the message God was teaching me as I snapped this photo. And with the help of returning to this picture, I still can’t.

What are you looking forward to? And if you can’t summon the childlike joy required by faith, perhaps you need to trust the Master Artist, and give him the benefit of the doubt: he knows more about what he’s going to paint for you than you do.

Relax. Take a deep breath. And smile.

ch:

Filed Under: perspective, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: anticipation, CiCi's, face painting, judah, Rich Kilpatrick, trust

First World Problems

10 Oct ’12 by Christopher Hopper 23 Comments

This expression is Levi’s, “Oh my gosh, is that an iPhone in front of me? I want it right now. No – I need it right now. Give it to me or I’m going to have a baby-sized breakdown,” face.

He’s 1-year old.

One.

He doesn’t even know what Apple is yet, let alone the amazing technological developments that have been employed to enable what is a modern marvel of personal communication glory.

He knows his high chair, his bottle, pooping, and blankies. And apparently iPhones.

I can’t help feel a little guilty here, as he sees his Daddy and Mommy with one everyday.

(Okay, mostly his Mommy).

(Okay, okay. Sheesh. Mostly his Daddy).

And I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that the iPhone is a pretty amazing device (Levi’s 3-year old big-brother Judah can navigate an iPad better than many adults I know…a testament to iOS genius).

But as much as Levi is utterly convinced he needs to touch an iPhone, the reality is that it’s one of the last things he needs. (Heck, it’s probably the last thing I need! It’s 4:30am and I can’t sleep, so what am I doing? Thumb-typing this on my iPhone in bed).

No matter how bad our personal turmoil, no matter how badly we desire something, remember that you and I suffer from what I call “firstworlditis” – to play off the Greek suffix -itis, which means to suffer from a disease associated with, in my case, the First World. It’s a condition that affects, well, everyone I’ve met personally who lives in a First World nation.

The main symptom is an overt and seemingly nearsighted compulsion to voice disdain for what we don’t have in light of all that we already do have.

Essentially, we’re spoiled brats.

Forget that our toilet water is more drinkable that most human water supplies on the planet.

Forget that the average square footage of the First World home is palatial by comparison.

And forget that earning a mere $1,200 USD a year puts you in the top half of wage earners in the world.

Lost loved ones? My heart goes out to you. Yet welcome to the infinitesimal emotion shared by those who’ve endured genocide in Africa or Asia.

What really bends us out of shape is the hot water heater breaking, the clothing store not honoring the gift card, Starbucks messing up our drink, the fast food fries being cooked in old oil, having to pay for that unexpected vehicle repair, our spouse needing the car, a stain on our new cotton shirt, the lawn mower not starting, the kids scratching the flat screen TV, our sports team loosing by three, the store ran out of wings, and don’t I deserve to just come home for once and no one ask me any questions?

If you or I have any problems at all, I don’t doubt the very real emotions or frustrations we experience…

…just so long as we keep in mind that they are First World problems, because that’s exactly how God sees them too.

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

Genesis 12:2

Take your momentary affliction in stride today, and deliberately, intentionally look how you can bless someone around you with what you’ve been blessed with. You’ll honor The Lord as well as your position of privilege more than you can imagine…and take a giant step away from being a spoiled brat like me.

ch:

Filed Under: culture, leadership, perspective, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: First World Problems, gratefulness, iOS, iphone, joy, perspective, thankfulness, water

Happy 1st Birthday to Levi

22 Sep ’12 by Christopher Hopper 16 Comments

A man with many names is much loved.

-Ancient Arabic Proverb

That’s why we call him Baby Taco Meat, Meaticus, The Toc, Baby Man, Meats, Lunch Meat, or just Levi.

We adore you Levi Bowen. Thank you for bringing such joy into our lives. We wouldn’t be “us” without you.

Happy birthday.

Daddy

Filed Under: culture, news, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: birthdays, Levi, nick names, proverbs

Forest = Cereal

13 Aug ’12 by Christopher Hopper 13 Comments

Last night I had an amazing summer conversation with my daughter, Eva, outside under the pines.

Correction: it was a listening session. A single, unending stream of thought (less one addition from me) where I realized my baby girl is much less baby and far more girl.

But I’m sure in both our minds it will be remembered as a conversation, because we experienced it together.

We were playing a game my Daddy and I made up when I was little called It’s Like When, in which one person says a word and the second person has to give a real life application of that word without using the word specifically.

Her word was “forest.”

Apparently my answer of, “It’s like when you’re surrounded by trees,” wasn’t good enough.

“No, Dad,” she corrected.

“It’s like animals everywhere. Rabbits and deer. But we don’t shoot them. Only Popop shoots deer because he likes to eat them. We only eat animals when we eat Cheeseburgers.”

“Those are cows.” (My one addition).

“Ew. Gross. Yeah, and we don’t shoot cows too much. If there are no cows, then there’s no milk. And if there’s no milk, there’s no cereal. And can you imagine life without cereal? I can’t. I mean, what would we even eat?”

I have no idea.

So there you have it, a true Dwight Schrute-ism á la Evangeline Hopper:

Forest equals cereal.

You’re welcome.

ch:

Filed Under: culture, the family, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: cereal, cows, eva, fathers and daughters, forest, games, gun control, humor, It's Like When, logic, milk

Changing Types

17 Jul ’12 by Christopher Hopper 17 Comments

Eva is my Type A.

She was arranging her own schedule when she was three.

She even invented a way of measuring time leading up to major events by referring to sleep as “light naps” (afternoon naps), and “dark naps” (going to bed at night).

Q: “How many naps until we go to JoJo’s house?” (That’s Grandma Nesbitt).

A: “Three dark naps, two light naps.”

Eva has to know everything that’s going on, when it’s going to happen, who’s involved and where it’s going to take place. She’ll order the boys around, try and figure out the ride situation as well as seating, and even try to negotiate a change-of-course to include a stop for ice cream.

I celebrate my daughter. She’s incredible, and Jenny and I have always known that she’s going to shake the world up for the Kingdom.

But as a parent, working with her constant need-to-know can often be, well, fatiguing. And tedious.

At some point I have to ask her, “Do you trust me?”

Like yesterday when we were preparing to go out on the boat. A lot of questions were asked about details. Finally I leaned over the back seat and said, “Eva, just enjoy the ride.”

As her father, I’ve noticed that Eva enjoys the experiences of her life far more when she leaves the surprises up to me.

As I walked down the dock toward our boat I heard something in my own spirit.

“Christopher, enjoy the ride,” said my Heavenly Father.

It’s a phrase I picked up in Hawaii at my favorite surf shop. Jenny’s been reminding me of it. God’s been reminding me of it. And now I’m reminding me of it as I teach it to this little Type A that’s the female version of me.

It’s amazing how much like Eva we all are. Sure, there’s a healthy, natural curiosity to all of us. But then there’s the “if I don’t know how everything’s going to work out, I’m not sure I want in” angle.

And that comes down to trust.

As I was meditating on just how much I care for Eva and have her best interests in mind, I was reminded just how much our Father think of us fondly. Constantly. Perfectly.

He’s aware of every detail and nothing surprises him. Nothing’s going to catch him off guard concerning us, nothing has escaped his scope of view.

Funny how this parenting thing works.

We enjoy the experiences of our lives far more when we leave the surprises up to the Father.

My little Type A is slowly teaching me to become a Type E. Enjoy the ride.

ch:

Filed Under: leadership, the family, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: boating, confidence, details, enjoy the ride, eva, HIC, Kailua, sailing, surprises, time, trust, Type E, Type-A, waiting

Reallocating Energies

12 May ’12 by Christopher Hopper 23 Comments

I’ve decided to move my creative energies from daily blogging – a habit which began last July – toward a few more demanding projects that need my immediate attention.

I still plan on posting regularly, but the frequency will be determined by availability netted from progress made in other areas.

This daily-run, which has been the most consistent writing of my life, has been a tremendous benefit personally, helping me grow in my use of words and in articulating my thoughts. Likewise, I believe many of you, my faithful readers, have been encouraged in some way.

In staggering my posts, I hope to craft even better content, giving each piece the time it needs to be written. Likewise, I’m moving into some seasons of renewed productivity that will demand the best of my creative energies.

To name a few:

• Finishing and formatting The Berinfell Prophecies Book 3

• Pursuing 3 new possible restaurant openings

• Launching of Sprig Records studio and record company

• Recording Jennifer’s next full-length album

• Writing and producing for New Life’s first live worship album, as well as CHB’s next project

• Completion of book 1 of my new upcoming series, as well as development for books 2 and 3

I also plan on taking considerable time off in the next few months to enjoy summer in the 1000 Islands. This will include a lot of time sailing on the river with The Hopper Kids, and Jennifer and my first “kid-less vacation” in 8-years.

For those who faithfully read here, I’d appreciate your investment of prayer into everything listed above; your support and encouragement mean a great deal to me.

Here’s to seasons of rest, and renewed productivity.

The best is yet to come.

ch:

Filed Under: culture, leadership, sailing, the family, The Hopper Kids, travel Tagged With: creativity, energy, productivity, projects, rest, vacations

Just Play

29 Apr ’12 by Christopher Hopper 2 Comments

[Picture courtesy of @jacobmilea]

Anthony Hoisington asked me to sit in with Brothers McClurg on two songs for worship this morning at New Life.

What a treat.

I appreciated his kindness and desire to honor our house. But I also loved his desire to just play.

Sometimes we need to just play. Because while life’s certainly about responsibilities, stewardship, faithfulness and progression, God ultimately made our lives to be enjoyed by Him, with Him and for Him.

Notice the word enjoy there. It echoes what Jesus said in John 10:10 when he was talking about the reason he came to the earth:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (Amplified)

Sometimes in life, we just need to play. For the sake of playing.

I cherish my children for encouraging – and sometimes begrudgingly provoking – this behavior in me. Admittedly, I don’t always feel like playing. But there is tremendous value in doing so: responsibilities devoid of the inevitable pursuit of play are unsatisfying.

It’s also training for heaven. One day, your only responsibility will be to play with your Father. (Better start getting used to it).

ch:

Filed Under: culture, leadership, music, The Hopper Kids Tagged With: @jacobmilea, Anthony Hoisington, Brothers McClurg, conferences, Jacob Milea, music, perspective, playtime, redline conference