Why is it new?

So, I was having a conversation with this Japanese guy. He's a consultant for a VMWare installation. Somehow, the conversation came to kids. He has a beautiful little 2 yo girl. He was asking wise father type questions like, when do you potty train, etc. He was a pretty humble dude. One of the things he said was, "I had asked a lot of people what it was like to be a parent. Everyone always mentioned the bad stuff except my dad." Wow, what a dad he had. I wonder how special that made him feel to know his dad felt that way. Anyway, as the conversation turned from one topic to another I made some comment about a-bu-bah...that's how my Korean mom says, "put your baby on your back and secure him with a blanket then walk around and he'll fall asleep". How true it is. Babies love it and are typically fast asleep in minutes. We talked about the simplicity of it and how old the idea was....then we talked about how companies are selling these strap on things as the latest craze in baby comfort....I guess the consumer public is easily blinded and has very short memories.

I was thinking that I might market horses as alternatives to cars and call them "green animals" (for all the green freaks out there) since they don't really use non-replaceable fuels and make a fortune! The latest NEW thing, right?

My pride and joy!

Well, here she is in all her splendor. I am very impressed with how she constantly attempts to attain proverbs31ship. She is constantly researching ways to help our family learn of the Lord, gain wisdom, be good stewards...now SAVE MONEY!! She has become the coupon clippenest, rebate gatherin', Christian hottie this side of the Pecos. I am so proud of her.

Oh yea...all the stuff in this picture was FREE...great job Honey!

Diligence

What a word. How do you accomplish such a thing? It's one of those kinds of things that you just can't cross off a list. It's never "complete". I mean, you can't just say, "phew, that's done now I am diligent."

My soccer player extrordinaire has become rather lethargic on the field. We had a big discussion regarding what it means to be a man inside all the other issues that were being discussed. Diligence popped up a quite few times.

Any advice on training a young man to be diligent? In addition, how do you keep someone accountable to their diligence???

Thanks in advance!

Old Clothes

Hand me downs are an integral part of our family. Could you imagine throwing clothes away just because someone outgrew them for a family of 9? I guess if money wasn't a problem...even still it would seem like poor stewardship.

There is a part of hand me downs that I discovered I liked. For me it's a good gauge of my kids development. So, instead of making marks on door posts, I look at the clothes they wear and say stuff like, "remember when our oldest boy wore that??" That sends me spiraling down memory lane. It seemed when that shirt was new (or just given to us) that he was so big...so mature. Now that my younger boys are wearing it I can see so many differences. Differences in what "big" was then versus what it is with my little boys wearing it. How did I treat the oldest then? What were my expectations of him?

It really takes me back.... (sigh) and makes me re-evaluate things now.

Hero???

Well, the things that will please your kids just never seem to amaze me. In a day and age where the latest techno gadget is all the rave, out comes a hero. Yes, a hero. That hero is me. Lol...yeah, kind of a silly intro but that's almost how I feel. You see, a couple of weeks back JD asks me, "daddy, when we gonna build our fort?" Great, another thing to add to my to-do list is what I was thinking. Immediately, my mind starts racing about how I could possibly level some part of our back yard. It's basically a hill. Things pop in my head about renting a bobcat...nope, couldn't get it in the back yard...etc.

So, 2 weeks pass by. It's 30 minutes to date night time and I am puttering around the yard. I talk with my oldest son in an effort to try to "make it work". It appears fruitless. I resolve to simply put their swingset together and forego the fort for now. With help from my terrific children, we knock it out in about 25 minutes.

Here's the hero part....the little boys were elated. I was sung praises and practically worshipped as the swingset master. The next morning before breakfast...there are the little boys, "can we go out and swing" before breakfast is even served. They love swinging and singing. However, they only really know one song for swinging so they belt it out at the top of there lungs...

"Jesus, Jesus....Jesus, Jesus
Jesus teach me to understand"
Etc. Etc.

I can't recall all the words. If you want to know what they are, just drop by the house. The boys will be singing it in the back yard as they swing.

"deafing the ants"

At our old home in Arkansas we developed a relationship with ants. Let's just say every spring we'd wake up in the morning and find the little buggers all around our sink. The little boys would spy us breaking out the ant spray and mumbling unintelligible words under our breath. The ants became a part of our life. Kind of like neighbors that are real annoying...except you can kill them.

Well, apparently or somehow, my wife leaks out..."Urine kills ants". At this point it is quite clear to them that the only good ant is a dead ant. The questions arise from inquisitive young boys to find out where to get this magic urine. The boys have hunted out quite a few ant piles in the yard that need exterminating. Boy, were they excited when they found out where urine came from. They would whip out their tallywackers at a single ant in the parking lot of a busy mall much like a gunslinger of the old west.

Since that became a little "troublesome" to say the least...we had to somewhat curb that behavior. However, boys being boys...they couldn't let ants continue on. There must be another way to kill them.

It was a Monday afternoon, a beautiful spring day. The boys are playing in the back yard....suddenly...blllllooooonnnnnnnkkkk. A horn. The kind of horn you would hear going to an international soccer game...again, bbbbbbllllllloooooonnnnnnkkk. 4 boys are standing around one of our planter "coffins". We yell out..."Hey guys, whatcha doin?" With exuberance they report their findings. It was ANTS in the planter! "We think we can kill them with the horn! We are going to deaf the ants!"



It sure is better than the alternative. Aren't little boys great!

Ministry idea

Parental education ministry...

1. New parents group

2. Parent mentors

3. Parent studies on childrearing

- many biblical references

- many books authored on the subject

4. Parent support/accountability group.



Obviously, all parent child relationships are different. This would just help educate the biblical principles and parent responsibilty. We are living in a world where people have been convinced that it takes a village to raise a child. It may take one to educate a child or teach the child a trade. But, the most important influence in your childs life needs to be the parent. Is that backed by the bible??



More to come as I iron it out...

The Weekend

Let's see...

The wife and I painted our room during the babies naptime. When babies awoke, Laney and Laura were eager to jump in and help. We only have the trim left and it will be finished. It looks tons better already.



Played half court soccer with the boys in the street in front of our house. Man, I love playing with them. My oldest has some skills...he leaves me in the dust. I have to make my 7yo guard him. My 7yo displays great skill as well and is an exuberant player. He's a lot o fun to be around. My 5yo is also coming along quite nicely and loves to shoot. He often surprises me with an amazing stop or surprisingly accurate shot. My oldest gets frustrated with him because he doesn't pass...but, I still think he is proud of his younger brother's progress.



The other day my kids thought it would be fun to ride their bikes down the same hill they sled on. Thing is, when it's not covered in snow it's covered in thorns. This weekend I taught my oldest son to change the inner tube on a bike... 7 of them...He caught on quickly and did a great job! However, that's the last time they do that I bet!

What happened to Peter?

Well, the Lord has provided the strength to overcome my desire to sleep until the very latest possible moment before I have to get ready for work for 4 days in a row. I read Acts 2 - 4 this morning. I wonder what happened to Peter? How did this guy that denied Jesus 3 times, fell asleep while Jesus prayed, sank in the water after having walked on it, asked people to take away their children from the Master, asked all those (seemingly) obvious questions, did not understand prophecy as it related to Jesus death and resurrection suddenly start quoting prophecy and lead thousands to the Lord? There are 2 distinct actions that I notice.

1 He saw Jesus defeat death. - I guess that could give someone a boldness and assuredness that would throw Peter into persecution for his beliefs instead of running... but, I wonder if I would have behaved the same? I have had many very personal convictions that I know are from the Lord...but, does that mean that in 2 weeks I am still strong? I often forget the driving force of my convictions. It often turns into my own strength. Would actually seeing Jesus perform a miracle give me that strength? What about all the miracles he performed. He was still alone on the cross....where were all those people that he cured when he died?

2. Had received the Holy Spirit - Does this give us instant recall to old testament prophecy? I don't think so. I can't even remember children's verses.

So, I wonder what really happened to him. How did he suddenly acquire all this knowledge and boldness? I guess it can really only be a gift from the Lord. Should that help us see what our own calling and gifts are? I wonder because it seemed pretty painful for Peter to learn those things. Even when Jesus renamed him from Simon to Peter...do you think that gave him some indication of things to come?

I guess it'll be fun to learn this in heaven...what do you think?



I'll finish this in a little while

Godly happenings in the house

Well I have received strength from the Lord 2 days in a row and have been up and in the Word. It really feels exhilirating and refreshing. Today I read Ruth. I have a confession to make, even though I have read it before, the only real recollection of it was from the Veggietales cartoon. Actually, Veggietales wasn't too far off! ;-).



I was struck by a couple of things in Ruth. 1. After Ruth insisted on staying with her little speech, it stated Naomi "didn't talk to her anymore". To me it sounded like Naomi was put out. Like, "great, another mouth to feed." But, that's just what I read. The second was the custom of lying at a man's feet. Ruth was to uncover his feet and lie there and do what he stated to do. I know what I would say! "What the heck are you doing! My feet are cold." But, what honor he had in his actions.



Another occurrence of goodness happened yesterday. It seems my oldest boy is turning more and more into a man. He is taking responsibility and addressing me like a man when he apologizes, etc. I am proud of him.