Happy New Year from Halogen TV

The Name

Many of asked about the origin of the name. Both Daniel and Noble are family names.

Daniel is named after my father-in-law: Daniel Keith Kitchell. He’s known by most folks at Keith, but Daniel is his first name and we couldn’t be more thrilled to use it. Daniel “Keith” is a man of valor, integrity and strong convictions. He’s taught me a lot about life in the short amount of time that I’ve called him my father-in-law. To give my son his name is both an honor and high bar.

Noble was the name of both my grandfather and my great-grandfather. The name is rich in legacy.

My dad’s dad, Noble Jr., died in a plane crash when my dad was 16, while looking for a friend of his who went down in a plane just days before. He died doing a noble deed, thus living up to his name.

My great-grandfather was Noble Sr. I was fortunate to have had a relationship with before he died in 1997. He was a business owner, entrepreneur, visionary and a man who was dedicated to his family, faith and life. A little fun fact: In 1991 I purchased my first car from him: a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback that Noble Jr. originally purchased. I still own it and plan on passing it down to my boys someday.

And that’s my boy. He’s growing like a weed and full of life. I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to be his dad.

It’s official. I’m a Charlottean.

This past Saturday, I arrived in the Queen City after a beautiful drive over the Smokey Mountains from Nashville. As you can see, I had my first car in tow. It’s a 1968 Mustang Fastback that I’m proud to say has been a family car since it came off the lot. My grandfather bought it (I have the original sales invoice for it still), my parents dated in it and I’ve had it since 1991. But I digress.

The plan was to arrive in Charlotte and unload our new house while Kristy and the kids drove over from Nashville to arrive to a half-way unpacked house.

As of today, Monday, I’m staying in a hotel in Charlotte and my wife and kids are in Nashville waiting for me to call with good news.

We’re in limbo…

To be honest, I am not genetically created to like out-of-my-control situations (just being honest).

Since arriving, I’ve looked at exactly 10 more rental houses, on top of the 20 or so that I’ve seen on previous trips. I’ve pursued four homes, only to have them be too expensive, rented or mysteriously unavailable. Also, it turns out that 90lb labs are an issue too.

We’re in limbo…and I’m still not really liking it.

Yet, strangely, I am.

There’s something about this process that is frustrating, yet fulfilling all at the same time. While I’m very much in the middle of my transition, here are three things that I’m holding onto for dear life right now:

1. Change, really is fun!
   Think about it, you can either get mad, worry, be full of anxiety, or, do your best and trust that it will work out—because it will.
2. It’s not what you think it should be
   This can be the most frustrating because we spend a lot of time crafting the perfect change, only to realize that what we think change will look like, and what it will really be, is two different things. It’s best to plan really well, and be faithful to walk with one foot in front of the other—no matter what comes your way.
3. Don’t get distracted
   This is the most dangerous of them all because it can come in many, unexpected forms: self-pity, lingering in the frustrations and doubt, just to name a few. Here, you begin to second guess a lot. If you’re here, do what you can to find the off-ramp and fast.

Nobody is perfect at change and embracing it looks different for everybody. Personally, I claim to really like it, which is me believing #1. I “really like it” because of the unpredictability of #2, which is ultimately supposed to be about #1. But right now, I’m looking for off ramps.

The reality is, in the next few days, or even in the next couple of weeks (#2), my family will be settled (#1) in our new home here in Charlotte and the difficulties of this change will begin to subside. I only hope that next time, I’ll remember these days and strive to fully embrace change. After all, it really is fun.

Over the past 18 months, I have been working closely with a very talented group of people to dream, craft, strategize and launch Halogen TV. It’s been a lot of fun, a huge learning curve and a tremendous challenge. During this time, repeated conversations came up about my involvement and I was asked to consider taking the open slot as the Vice President of Marketing.

As of January 1, I have stepped into that position.

There’s a lot that needs to happen before we actually move. In the next week or two we’ll put our house on the market (want to buy it?), I am beginning to transition out of being a full-time consultant, and we’ll start looking for a new home in Charlotte.

Don’t worry, there are Chipotle’s in Charlotte too. (haha)

In all seriousness…did I mention that they have an IKEA?

Okay, really serious now. Leaving Nashville is going to suck on so many fronts, but we are going confident that there is a story that God has for us there that is waiting to be written, and we can’t wait to see what it’s all about.

So, thank you to our friends for strapping into the roller coaster of “do we move to Charlotte, or not?” for the past year. We can’t thank you enough for the counsel, advice, insight and wisdom you’ve shown. You’re welcome to come with us! Thank you to our parents for being so supportive. Jacob & Tara, wanna move with us? Come on, it’ll be fun. To the Halogen crew, this is going to be a fun ride—I can’t wait.

To the friends we’ve yet to meet, the church we’ve yet to find, the paths we’ve yet to cross and the worlds that have yet to collide…we’re coming and we can’t wait to meet you.

To my wife, who had no idea what she was signing up for when she married me, you give me the strength to live this story with enthusiasm, anticipation, boldness and the dare to believe that we really can change the world. I can’t wait to live out this new story with you. And to Savannah and Caleb, I love it that you’ll be with us no matter where we go…well, until you decide that mom and dad are fuddy duds and want to write your own story. Until then…

Leave it up to a 1-year old to show us how it’s done. Listen to this and see if you don’t find yourself laughing too. It’s contagious.

Savannah Laughing

If that doesn’t work, try hanging your head and smiling; it works every time.

Have a great Saturday!

Thanks to Cameron & Maya Strang for the Oregon Ducks outfit.

Here’s what my night usually looks like with my almost-two year-old:

• Dinner
• Playtime
• PJ’s
• Brush the teeth
• Wave in the mirror while I help her brush her teeth
• Play with some toys
• Read two books, okay three, okay maybe five
• Put her in her crib
• Situate her seven stuffed animals (I counted them tonight), two blankets and pillow
• Sing Jesus Loves You to her, maybe two times
• Blow kisses anywhere from two to 11 times
• Say I love you and see you in the morning
• Lights Out
• PS. “I love you” one more time

Then I walk down the stairs and 9 times out of 10, I have to tell my wife how sweet that girl is.

What’s your bedtime ritual?

“I can’t parent. I can’t even get my daughter to eat a piece of chicken.”

“I don’t know how to stop that.” (staring at my two-month old son screaming so hard that his face is beet red and his cry has turned into a rhymthymic chant.)

It would be really easy to play victim here, but I think I have a bigger lesson to learn than my kids do.

Control.

In the moments when everything feels completely out of control (like tonight), it’s then that I realize how much I’ve created an environment and dependence upon control. When it’s not there, I confess that I can get really agitated. The problem with my control-dependence is that it creates a false sense of security and the real me stays hidden because it’s rarely challenged.

While I didn’t do anything I regret tonight, I can’t say that about my attitude. When I have a 20-month old that is watching and mimicking my every move, the last thing I need to model is a bad attitude because I didn’t get my way. Come to think of it, that is exactly the reason why I disciplined her tonight.

Consider this a spiritual smack on the ass—ouch.

Tonight my dad got a call from his doctor to let him know that the pathology reports came back clear on his lymph nodes, which was the greatest concern. So we praise God that we don’t have to consider the consequences of cancer intruding his lymph node system.

However, he also said that there were “some cells” of cancer on dad’s bladder and urethra. While we aren’t thrilled about that news, the doctor is recommending that my dad undergo radiation to kill the remaining cells and perhaps, be completely clear of this diagnosis.

For that, we say YES, and AMEN.