Tyler

Happy 30th Birthday Steve
I have compiled a list of your top 10 greatest accomplishments in the last 30 years.

10. Eating Double Jumbo at Andy's
9. Eating whole Pumkin Pie in one sitting
8. Killing a baker dozen Krispy Cremes
7. Not weighing 400lbs by now
6. Survived the world's scariest hotel/drive up liquor store
5. Able to drive 70 mph while peeing into a beef Jerky bad, that you turned into a bomb that you threw at my car and had a direct hit
4. Youth Pastored in Nebraska. Made it out alive, sane and without killing anyone.
3. Found a wife despite refusing to give up red fleece filled nastiness and possibly disease
2. Grew up home schooled and in bible quiz yet found some way to be socially acceptable. almost more unbelievable than Jesus walking on water
1. Still love and serve Jesus after having Tyler, Mike and Jesse as roomates


Happy Birthday Steve. Your greatest accomplishment is being You: a faithful husband, loving father, an honored son and a loyal friend. My life is enriched and blessed to have you as one of my closest allies and supports. I love you and wish I was in Ohio to celebrate your 30th with you. Keep being you cause its the best!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Steve, you are my best friend.  My days begin and end by your side.  Whether I'm shaking my head or laughing 'til it hurts, the truth is that nobody makes me smile like you do.    I love that.

When I think back to the beginning of our friendship and romance, it was that same ability to make me giggle that brought us together.  (Well, that, and your beautiful smile, kind eyes, strong frame...and ghetto booty!)  During those weary and exhausting days of dealing with that pituitary tumor, I found myself looking forward to the chance to sit next to you.  For that 50 minute block of time I felt great.  You would grin and tell me about your latest soccer humiliation and Coach Hardy story.  I knew you were genuinely concerned about my health, but you had a way of setting me at ease and taking my mind completely of the pain (as well as the Snavely class we were forced to endure.)

Flash forward 10 years, and your charm and genuine love are carrying me again.  Every step of Blake's journey you've been there, holding my hand and comforting him.  We love you.  You are the joy and fun at the center of this type A little family!  Let's keep praying that God gives you an adorable little easy-going, charmer of a child to balance out the scales!

I am glad I can say that I have been part of a full third of your first thirty years.  I am thrilled to know I get to come along for the next thirty.  You will always have my heart.  You will always make me smile.  You are a man of strength and godly character.  Here's to the next ten years being even better than the last!

I love you!

The Paytons

Hello and Happy Birthday, Steve!!

First off, you may be wondering why such an important message is coming from ME and not James. James, who has successfully avoided getting a Facebook page (thus not being reminded about your bday) is now working two jobs (one of them is actually at church!! WOAH!), leading our small group and a group of guys, pioneering arts and faith conversations in KC, and most recently helping pack our lives up to move away from Kansas City...and Missouri completely...for me. (See a note on that in the post script!)

I wanted to make sure that you knew that he hasn't forgotten you. Turning 30 is, really just turning another year older, but it is also such an important and unique milestone for everyone. We have enjoyed stalking you both on Facebook from time to time. Seeing evidence of God's work in your beautiful family is so encouraging. I love the posted photos and quotes from even the silliest of things. James often remembers (and of course tells colorfully) stories about Horton 2nd and strange outtings and playing soccer and all of the other ridiculous shenanigans that you guys got into...the foundation of wonderful ministerial careers. ;) He also mentions how smart he thinks you are, and how gifted you proved to be in memorizing scripture, understanding Greek and of course, public speaking.

I know James would have wanted to say something way more meaningful and probably a bazillion times funnier than I could imagine, but I hope this year brings new and unbelievably crazy stories of 30-year-old shenanigans. I hope this year brings amazing new opportunities to share the Gospel to people in your community who desperately need it...whether they realize it or not. Most importantly though, I hope this year presents you and Christina with new and refreshing views of God's faithful and gracious character. We serve a GOOD God who loves us despite knowing everything about us!

You are amazing people and I am so glad James had the chance to be in school with you...otherwise I wouldn't have had a chance to know who you are either! Steve, I trust your birthday will be absolutely wonderful! Have fun and again HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY!! (You are all getting soooo old! ;) )

--
Estrella (and James!)

PS. So, I applied to graduate schools to get my Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking. I received a full-tuition scholarship and teaching assistantship (which pays!) to study at Arizona State University (ASU) this fall. We are moving to Tempe at the end of the July, for at least three years. We have to be out of our current apartment in 9 days because our lease is up!! James is looking for jobs and we are also looking for apartments because we COULD move earlier if a job presents itself. <-- that is a super-abbreviated version of the story. :)

Lenora Novak

Steve, don't worry about turning 30. You are still plenty young. You are currently less then half my age and you know that I am "young " as the hills.
I still remember the first time I ever saw you. I was Quiz Master and still with Life Center. I thought "who is this young pipsqueak that is giving my son a run for his money?" I soon found out that you were not only a great quizzer but also about the nicest young man I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. (I admit that I kinda liked you better when we started going to Calvary Temple and you and Nathan were teammates and no longer adversaries.)
I have watched you grow from your early teens and my opinion of you has never changed. You are still one of the nicest young men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
I am so happy for you in your choices in life. You are doing well in the ministry, you married a very lovely young woman who is beautiful both inside and out. You have a darling son. I so admire your faith as you and Christina walk the difficult journey with Blake. You are an inspiration to so many.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I even hope it tops going to Tony Roma's for ribs with family friends. (I miss those times.)
My love you you. Lenora Novak

Dean Senff

Tell Steve greetings from his old CBC dean. It what is joy to have you in the dorm. I think Steve was one of only three Christians on Horton 2nd and the seeds of hope he planted are producing fruit today. God bless you and enjoy your youth while you have time B-)

Renee

Stevo-O,

Happy 30^th Birthday!  It’s crazy to think it’s been nearly 11 years since freshman year and the infamous red hoodie and flip flops :)  What a journey it has been!  I have so many good memories with you in it-Horton 2^nd boys being there fun loving selves, cheering at soccer games, being there when you started dating Christina, Floodgate...  Oh man I could write a page on Floodgate.  Driving from Montana to Texas and getting a flat tire during the final hour of the trip, cowboy human videos for chapel, weird Pat Schatzline, you and the boys drinking a gallon of lemonade from KFC and getting stomach aches….  I could go on for a really long time for sure.  On a serious note, there are few people like  you.  You are one of the most genuine and loyal people I know.  You truly have a servants heart and I have witnessed you putting others above yourself countless times.  You are committed to the calling of God on your life and your family.  You get that being leader doesn’t mean being able to hype up a crowd it means being able to plunge a toilet. Thank you for showing me what it means to follow God in good times and hard times.  Talking to you and Christina at the hospital literally made me weep afterwards.  The faith you both demonstrated to me really ignited an even deeper trust in my heart for God and his sovereignty over our lives.  Thank you for living out your faith throughout these past few months.  It may have been easier to just throw in the towel but you guys both really showed how much you trusted God.  That has been an invaluable lesson to me.  I can’t wait to get together in 50 years and laugh at all the good memories and share about the faithfulness of God in our lives.  I truly cherish your friendship and thank God that I have a friend like you in my life.  You are one in a million!

Boston!

Steve,

I’ve heard from numerous people that college creates friends for life. Speaking from
my own experience, I can say this is absolutely true. I mean, I don’t keep in touch with
people nearly as often as I’d like to, but many of the people that I view as good friends
were from CBC. You obviously fit in that category. Showing up at a school in Podunk,
Missouri with no clue who anyone is was an interesting experience for me. I had no
idea that I would quickly meet a number of friends who would remain my friends for a
lifetime. Of course, I also had no idea that I would be playing on a soccer team for an
NCCAA Div. II college either. I think that’s something we had in common. I’m not sure
that there were two less qualified people to be on that team. But you can take satisfaction
in knowing that I was less deserving than you. In fact, we learned soccer together. For
example, it was together that we learned proper etiquette for a flooded field. We learned
together that staying in the push-up position for long periods of time is not as easy as it
might seem. We learned together where not to swing your arm in a match…no, wait, that
one was just me. Anyway, you get the point. I also remember that I loved hanging out in
your room, listening to James’ take on history and crazy, wildly amusing stories. I loved
the numerous stupid fun things we would do to stay entertained. I was a much different
person back then. I loved going to Phazusa with you. You may not remember this (ahem)
but I was a bit of a short-tempered, unreasonable, immature young man back then. I was
also arrogant and annoying. Yet, you still hung with me through it all. Truth be told…you
may never know just how much you’ve meant to my life. If it weren’t for you and a few
of the other guys, I’m not sure where I’d be or what I’d be doing. You were one of the
few people that helped form me into the man I am today. You encouraged me to grow
in my walk with the Lord. For that, I will be forever grateful. I hope your birthday is the
best ever man. You really do deserve it. Love you bro. God bless you and your beautiful
family.

Mike “Boston” Brown