What's wrong with this printer?

The smallest fish I've ever seen bite a hook.

Another boy caught a fish, too. He yelled and they all crowded around as he reeled it in. They ran up the hill as one unit, like something you'd see in a cartoon, to show the men.

I stood, quietly observing. "That's what I was supposed to do", I thought to myself. I chose not to participate in the celebration. My fish had been larger than his. But now, nobody would believe me. I didn't even say anything when I caught the bass just minutes before. I didn't know I was supposed to say, or do, anything.

It was summer camp. I was about ten years old and hadn't been fishing since my dad died five years earlier. I kept it to myself, only telling one friend that I had also caught a fish, "but", I added, "I know that no one will believe me since they didn't see it." He agreed.

That day stands out to me as one example of what it meant to have no father in my home. Whether it's fishing, hunting, working on the car, or whatever, our boys need us to spend time with them. This is how they learn what a real man looks like.

Yesterday, Tucker caught the smallest fish I've ever seen bite a hook. He insisted that I take his picture with it. He knew, somehow, that the size of the fish wasn't the point.

Men, be a father to your sons by spending time with them. Do MAN things together.

This is your legacy.

Who is it? Tell me who it is.

Daniel was at work when he heard there were cops at our house. He rushed home. When he got there, he knew someone had died. He simply said, "Who is it? Tell me who it is."

I said, "Georgia".

The next four kids, by age, had spent the night with my mother-in-law. When they got home, I had to tell them, too. "I have some very bad news about Georgia," I said. "She went to sleep and didn't wake up. I tried to wake her, but she's gone. Her little spirit is in Heaven with Jesus now."

This scene from March 10-11, 2006, replayed in my head while I was driving to work today. I didn't ask for it, expect it, or even want it. But there it was. Emotion and everything.

I have worried that I had become too numb to feel that anymore. But I am grateful to know that my heart is still tender enough.

It is sad, I know. But, the story doesn't end there. My life didn't end with Georgia's life. I survived. We survived. You will survive.

The Hope of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ, and my beautiful wife and eight remaining children kept me going. Time has allowed the wound to heal. I am scarred.

Life is full of change. Good and bad. Be encouraged. You will heal in time.

Water-flavored coolaid.

Looking into the cabinet where the coolaid mix is usually stored, one of my boys asked what flavor of coolaid we should have. But, there was none left. So, I said I would make “water-flavored” coolaid. Some of the older kids just grinned, but Asher wanted to know how I make it. I said “You have get the right mix of ice to liquid” while filling a glass with ice water. When I passed the glass to Asher, I asked him if it tasted like water.

He said, “Yes, it's good.”

He seems to be ready for a change.

When your 20 year old son calls and says he has no where to live, it can make you listen. The fact remains that he can't live here. There's too much at risk with seven minor children still at home. It was hard to say no, but having agreed with Jill many months back that this would be our answer helped.

"We could get him a motel for a couple days," Jill said. That would give him time to find somewhere to go.

So, tonight he's warm and cozy in a clean room not too far from here. He has some food and a McD's gift card for more eats. There's a phone and phone book there, too.

He says he's ready for a change. Tomorrow, he says he'll call Teen Challenge. I pray he does.

God Bless,
Dadofmykids

People giving up their kids.

Over the past week or two, parents have been giving their children over to the State of Tn. They say things like "We just can't deal with it anymore." Social workers beg the parents to at least retain contact with the kids. It's sad.

Then, the parents leave and the children remain with the workers. They don't have enough foster homes.

This is not some internet email from whoknowswhere. I personally spoke to a case worker whom I have known for years.

You can help. Consider opening your home to children in your town who are being discarded. It's not a hard thing to do.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me," said the Lord Jesus in Mark 9:37.

Let me know if there are any questions.

"If money is found,...

I noticed a handwritten sign posted in the hall in our house this morning. It said, "If money is found, the owner has two days to claim it."

Lately, one of our young ones keeps having the good fortune of "finding" money around the house. I guess she found some money that belongs to her older sister who decided to write the new policy and post it for all to see.

God Bless,
Dadofmykids

My son's a Dumpster Diver!!!

Tucker and Riley brought a bicycle they found in the garbage. It was such a nice looking bike that, at first, I was a little concerned that it might belong to someone. Then I saw the back wheel. It has appearantly been run over. They brought it home with much excitement and asked me if we could fix it.


It's funny how even Asher got involved. He said his scooter needed repair of some sort.

Notice the cammo painted faces.

God Bless,

Dadofmykids.

Mark 9.37




 

You hiccup twice and a month flies by.

I remember hearing Paul Harvey say that Nascar drivers try to avoid sneezing while driving in a race. Since closing your eyes is an involuntary part of a sneeze, a Nascar driver could easily go the distance of two football fields in the time his were closed in a sneeze. Whew!!!

Can you apply the same kind of thinking to blogging? It's like I hiccupped twice and a month flew by.

We went to DairyQueen last week. Everybody got chocolate ice cream with chocolate coating. Here's Kaymie after eating hers:


God Bless,

Dadofmykids

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