The moments all add up...

As I return to work this morning from a fun weekend (see Jill's Blog), I am reminded that everything we do adds up to become the sum total of our lives. Each individual moment may not seem very significant, but when added to all the other, what will be the outcome? All the moments have a common denominator: your character.

Now, here I go to sell toner and repair printers, to change diapers and referee sibling rivalries, to live for God while children observe.

God Bless,
Dadofmykids.

Mark 9.37

World Series - Community Park Style

I was so proud. It caught me by surprise. It was that feeling you get when one of your kids does something really special. As the kids were being announced to their positions, everyone clapped. When my kids, Tilley and Riley, were announced, I whistled, and almost cried.

It felt that way the night before Georgia died. We were laying in bed. Georgia was sitting on my tummy leaned back on my legs. I talked to her and she cooed back and blew spit bubbles. I knew that moment was special. A tear of joy escaped my eye. I am so thankful for that gift.

The feeling was the same last year when I was watching Riley play a game. He was in left field. The batter hit a couple of fowl balls down the left field line. I yelled "be ready, Riley. It's coming your way!" The next pitch was hit up in the air straight to left field. When Riley caught the ball, I was so proud - hollering, whistling and wiping my eyes.

One of my favorite childhood memories also has to do with baseball. I was in Teeny League, about eight years old. I had been in a batting slump, just watching the ball go by most of the time. I drew some walks and got on base. But mostly got called OUT on strikes. This time, though, I swung at one. I actually saw it hit the bat on the sweet spot, just like the coaches always say. When I looked up, the ball was flying over the scoreboard. Then the ump held up his finger and moved his arm in that circular motion that means "HOME RUN". My teammates met me at the plate and carried me into the dugout.

Thank God for moments like these. They come along in between some sorrowful or stressful times. It feels really good.

Here's Kaymie finishing off an order of nachoes at the ball park.

God Bless,
Dadofmykids

Mark 9.37

Old testament families...

You know Moses. What about his brother, Aaron?

Aaron had eleven sons. You know there must have been some daughters, too.

Joseph was one of twelve brothers and Lord-knows-how-many sisters.

All through the Bible, especially in the old testament, you can read about people who had ten, twelve, or more children.

Why, then, do people today shake their heads when they hear of large families like ours? It's like a dog that needs to be spayed or neutered. It's like there's something wrong with us.

There's a difference in the culture from the Old Testament to now. They lived mostly in large groups where families group up together and stayed together, even as adults. The young ladies would leave there families to join up with their grooms'. So they were around to help each other. In our culture, you leave your parents around the age of 20 (give or take a couple years). Then you're on your own. You get married and have kids while you go visit your parents. But you don't usually live with your parents, your brothers and their families all as your next door neighbors.

Then, there's perception. People today have the perception that having more-than-the-average-number of children will bring you down somehow. "How do afford them?" "How do you do it?" "You sure have your hands full." HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? Unless you've parented eight or nine kids or more you can only assume what it's like. Usually, it seems, the assumption is negative.

By the time you average parents get to child # 2 or 3, you're tired, stressed and running out of money before you run out of month.

Here's the key:
Quit being so selfish. If you continue trying to live for yourself you'll miss out on the happiest and most fulfilling life. Stop dreaming of going to the mall or to the lake with out the "hassle" of dragging the kids along. Stop wishing you could buy that big-screen TV or the dream-boat that you can't afford now because of the grocery and clothing expenses your kids caused. Don't look at the NY Times Best-sellers List and wish you had time to read.

Start hugging those little rascals when you feel the stress. Buy yourself a digital camera and take photos and videos of your kids. Slow down. Quit worrying. Fix a whole mess of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and have supper on the back porch. Smear sunscreen all over a little swimmer's back. See what it takes to make your child laugh.

Then, you'll start thinking, "I sure hope little Joey isn't our last one."

God Bless,
Dadofmykids

Mark 9.37

Unusual Morning.

It seemed kind of weird leaving for work this morning because I was alone. I usually have Asher and Kaymie with me, but they are taking the summer off from preschool.

Nobody to wake up and get dress. Nobody asking for food first thing. Just quiet.

Everybody was still in bed when I left.

I'll get used to it.

More later.

God Bless,
Dadofmykids.

Talk about changing your life!!!

Did you see that special last night on ABC? The one about foster children, by Diane Sawyer. Click here for a link about it.

My heart broke for those kids.

You know they showed the ones with the worst problems and most dramatic stories. One birth mother had laid a dead dear on the table for her kids to eat - uncleaned and uncooked. One girl had been severely sexually abused. One toddler had apparently spent more time with the family dog than with people. There are lots of kids in foster care with such issues.

Even though foster children usually come with baggage of one sort or another, they didn't ask to be abused, neglected and removed from their families. There are currently over 100,00 foster children waiting to be adopted. Most of them are like used car salesmen. They can rattle off what's good about them and why an adoptive family would be smart to choose them.

Now that you know this, what will you do? Will you let someone else handle it? Will you forget about these needy children?

Adoption is not as hard or as expensive (in may cases) as people think. Most of the time, when you hear of someone spending tens of thousands of dollars for an adoption, it's because they went out of the USA or adopted a healthy white newborn baby. When you adopt an older child or one with special needs (like all the kids on last night's TV special), the State will usually pay for the home study, the attorney fees, and provide insurance and monthly subsidy payments till the child turns 18 or finishes college.

In other words, if you think you can't adopt a child because it's too expensive, think again. Contact your local Dept of Human Services, or whatever they call it in your state. Ask them how you can become an adoptive family.

The children are getting older every day. So don't wait.

Here's an "instant" family for you.





God Bless,
Dadofmykids

PS. Happy birthday to my little brother, Jeff. 32 years old!!!

Enthusiasm

"Force yourself to act enthusiastic, and you'll become enthusiastic." Frank Bettger.

Think about the people you enjoy in your life. I mean people you work with, or do business with. How about the people at school, church, or the store? Which ones do you like the most? Are they enthusiastic?

Don't go crazy with it. "Enthusiastic" doesn't mean that you are so hyped up that no one can stand you. It means that you really show interest in what you are doing, especially in the people around you.

Read chapter one of Frank Bettger's book, "How I raised myself from Failure to Success in Selling." Then, start acting enthusiastic. It just might change your life.

God bless,
Dadofmykids