I’m going to find a way to put up with the view from my office for this week. We’re blessed to be spending the week with my inlaws in a sprawling beach house over on the California coast.

I didn’t really have time for a vacation, what with the Adami Tulu Project trip coming up in August. So I’m working from here Tuesday through Friday, and I’ll hang out with the family in the evenings.

I’m hoping to catch up on a lot of big projects and do some blogging. Somehow I’ll manage to deal with such a beautiful view.

Today is my last day.

My last day working with a team that I’ve had the privilege to lead for four years.

My last day working for a boss who has challenged, coached and supported me for four years.

My last report for the weekly management team e-mail we all read on Monday. (I won’t be reading this one next week.)

That’s a lot of "lasts" for one day.

At 5:00 today, I technically don’t have any job responsibilities until Tuesday. That feels just a little bit strange, to be honest.

Cacey, the kids and I are taking a long weekend on the coast…to rest up, recharge and get ready for the exciting challenges ahead of us.

No blogging, probably not much tweeting. A lot of reading.

We get back on Monday evening.

I predict that Tuesday will be a day of firsts.

I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus through Christmas and New Year’s. It’s been a hectic few weeks working on some exciting things that I hope to be able to announce soon.

We had a great Christmas and really enjoyed our two kids at such great ages (Spencer is three and a half, and Emma is one and a half). We had our traditional "three Christmases" this year – Christmas Eve with Nana and Papa (Cacey’s parents), Christmas morning at our place, and Christmas Day with Grammie and Pops (my folks).

New Year’s Day marked a year since we landed back on US soil with Emma. It’s just amazing to think she’s already been a part of our family for the majority of her short life. We just can’t imagine life without both of these two adorable kids.

I have some really exciting things to share with you about the Adami Tulu project, and next week’s Sierra College board meeting. I’ll try to write that over the weekend!

Last year we were in Africa,
so we were not on the ball…
this year you get a picture and letter,
Merry Christmas to you all!

We wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Aaron, Cacey, Spencer and Emma Klein

A little over a week ago was the 55 year anniversary of a moment.

The establishment said that the value of a human being depended on the color of their skin.

The establishment said that if a white person got on a bus, a black person should stand up and move to the back.

The establishment said that was the way things were, and compliance would promote peace and tolerance.

The establishment was wrong.

And a tired woman named Rosa Parks – who decided enough was enough – changed the world.

As the dad of an African-American daughter, I’m so grateful that she had the courage to do something radical for her time.

So now the question lies with the rest of us.

Will we comply with the way things are because it’s the “reasonable thing to do?”

Or will we see our own opportunities to change the world…and take action?

I’ve been a fan of Chris Rice for a while. Cacey and I went to a wedding on Saturday and they played his song “Here Come Those Eyes.”

It’s been going through my head all weekend.

And this morning, thinking about all that she’s doing to change the world, I was reminded what a lucky guy I am to be married to such an incredible woman as Cacey Nichole Steward Klein.

As the song says, “I’m the luckiest boy in this town.”

Here come those eyes / There goes my ability to breathe

Those legs are walking her to me / Oh, tell me I ain’t dreamin’

Here comes that smile / I can’t even move, can’t even blink

Cause I don’t want to miss a thing

And I ain’t even foolin / when I say the boys are drooling

And the girls are all staring her down

My knees go weak and my heart starts to pound…

Here come those eyes / Can she see what I’m thinking now?

If this is what they call love

I can’t believe I’m in it / Thinking living every minute

I’m the luckiest boy in this town…

My knees go weak / and my heart starts to pound.

You can buy the song here.

More importantly, you can RSVP for changing the world yourself here.

Photo Credit: Blue Castle Photography

I loved these pictures that Cacey posted while I was gone in Africa, so I had to share them with you.

I love being a dad.

Right now, I’m on an airplane over the Atlantic Ocean headed for Africa. But while I may be the person in the airplane, I’m just half of the team on this mission.

Sweetheart, I love you so much. I’m so thankful for the passion we share for justice, the commitment we share to seeing the global orphan crisis end during our lifetime, and the clarity of vision you always have about the “next step we need to take.” I love that you’re turning your 30th birthday party into a fundraiser for this cause we both care so much about.

None of this would be happening without you.

“Smile” is the hit song that sums it up nicely.

You make me smile like the sun

fall out of bed

sing like a bird

dizzy in my head

spin like a record

crazy on a Sunday night…

You make me dance like a fool

forget how to breathe

shine like gold

buzz like a bee

just the thought of you can drive me wild

Oh, you make me smile!

Don’t know how I lived without you

Because every time I get around you

I see the best of me inside your eyes…

You make me smile.

I love you. Here’s to a lifetime of fighting for all the right things together, seeing the best of me inside your eyes, and just the thought of you driving me wild.

I apologize for the lack of posts! Given the nature of life, work and public service right now, I’m going to dial back a bit and shoot for three posts a week instead of five. I might have a shot at actually achieving a little more consistency!

I’m looking forward to talking more about the emerging solutions I’ve been learning about in the “Change the World” series of posts. Hoping to get back to that topic very soon next week.

I leave you with two pictures of some of my favorite little people having a blast over the Independence Day holiday – Emma just being her happy, cute self, and Spencer fishing with my dad at Trinity Lake.

Have a great weekend!

TWO family posts today, but this was just too cute. Emma is really good at saying the names of each of her immediate family members (and herself). She’s growing up so fast!

(Mobile, feed and e-mail readers: the embedded video is above.)