I Hate Wasps

I've only been stung once in my life by a wasp but it made enough of an impression to create a hatred of the little beasts. That and they are just creepy and evil looking anyway. But I am still the resident defender against bugs here at our house and have killed many a wasp.

Just as a side note here, I have learned that a solution of soapy water sprayed on a wasp or bee will kill it almost instantly without any nasty, toxic chemicals. Something to do with the little creep not being able to breathe through the soapy water since they breathe through pores. I believe that is right.

Anyway, we've had this little wasp's nest sitting on a shelf for months. I don't even remember where it came from but it was knocked down from somewhere and put aside as something to dissect and see what's inside. We are always on the lookout for examples of what they learn in good old science. Well, it has sat and sat and been forgotten for literally months. Finally, my wife was studying natural science with my 8 year old son. When I got home from Lowes after a trip to get some drywall supplies and some mulch for new landscaping stuff, she told me now would be a great time to cut that thing open and see what's inside. She and I had debated a little over if we waited long enough if wasps might hatch out of it. I said "no" and she was thinking it was possible.

None ever did, but upon cutting into it, there were five baby wasps in it that never hatched out. They were very dead and dry but intact. They were fully formed and not in the larval stage but looked like they were ready to hatch. There was also one "tube" of the nest that had no wasp (I am guessing the larva never made it or something like that) but there was a dried up and dead baby caterpillar, which is what the paper wasp puts in for the larva to feed on.

We got the magnifying glass out and took close looks at the eyes and stingers and compared them to pictures in the books. I saw my son applying what he just learned to what he was seeing. It was fun for him to see it up close and it was fun for me to see him having fun with it. I wish we would've had a microscope to really look close. We used to have a little, cheesy one but it has gone the way of broken and forsaken toys.

Anyway, we enjoyed the adventure of it together. Something so simple and I was thinking that the kids will probably remember that little chunk of time for the rest of their lives. They might tell their kids about the time they cut open a wasp's nest with dad to see what was inside and saw dead, baby wasps in there. That's how easy it is to create good times and memories with them, I guess. Sometimes I forget that.

The Nest

Opening the nest

Caterpillar

Wasp

Emerging wasp (nice photo from external unknown source)

Love Brings Discipline

We have a friend and neighbor who was being baptized this past weekend and invited us to come and celebrate that occasion with her. We had not been to the church she attends before (The Village Church) but I know a few people who attend there and I have a friend that knows their pastor (Matt Chandler) very well and has nothing but good things to say about him. So we loaded up all the kids Saturday night and headed up there.

There were four people being baptized that night and each gave their testimonies, which was really nice to hear, and then Pastor Matt spoke for a bit. He basically ran through some of their core values that they started the church with about four years ago. He ran through them pretty quickly as his time was limited by the baptisms and they were having communion that night, also. But he said something that caught my attention and the more I've thought about it, the more I realize that this one comment may change my entire being forever. He said, "Love brings discipline, but discipline never brings love."

I have come to realize that everything about me that I do not really like, besides all that corruption from a fallen world, can be summed up in that sentence. I focus on doing the right things because I am supposed to instead of doing the right things because I love Jesus. I discipline my children to "force" righteousness on them, so to speak. Do it my way whether you want to or not because I said to do it that way. But I believe that is the wrong approach and will end in failure of a kind. I need to discipline them in a way that is correction in love so that they will WANT to be obedient because they love me and want to please me, and they love God and want to please Him. I have not completely hashed this all out in my head but it has made an impact on me and is working on me.

When I mentioned this to my friend who knows Pastor Matt, he said that Matt would be there in the office (we work in a ministry) the next day and I should tell him this story.

Well, Pastor Matt came and my friend brought him to me and introduced us and told Matt that I had a story. I told it by stating that one sentence he said that night changed the foundation of who I am. He responded with, "Since Saturday?" Well, it's a work in progress. He was very gracious and accessible as far as standing there talking to me, someone he doesn't know at all who happened to attend his church one time to see a friend get baptized. He talked and listened and I appreciated him and his willingness to do so. I've known (and know) pastors of larger congregations that are not accessible at all. I understand that somewhat as they would be suffocated by their (fans) flock if they didn't put the cushion between them and the (fans) flock that they do. But I appreciate a pastor who is accessible and Pastor Matt was. Have I beat that horse enough?

Anyway, it is a work in progress but I am praying for it to be a permanent change in my character and a new direction in thinking for me. I like the idea and want to repeat my thanks to Pastor Matt for sharing it with me. I will try to share my progress/struggles/experiences of this attempted life-change as it goes.

Trip to the Zoo, My Darling

The kids (oldest four) and I took a trip to the Ft. Worth zoo recently. We left mom and the baby at home to have a much needed restful (and quiet) day. I love the zoo. This was Henry's (21 months) first trip to the zoo so that was fun to watch.

The kids and I enjoyed the orangutans, who always seem to steal the show. They were begging for grapes that someone was throwing to them. They even offered a trade of some little bit of stick or something to the holder of the grapes.


I think Ben (12) enjoyed the big cats as much as anything. The jaguar was up and pacing and he enjoyed see that.

We got to the otter exhibit just in time for feeding and that was a big attraction for them.

The lions could be heard roaring pretty much all throughout the day, except for when we were actually at the lion exhibit at which time they seemed to be sleeping heavily.

Our timing was perfect at the elephant exhibit, too. This was, by far, one of the best pictures I took all day. :) They were eating so they weren't too concerned about showing us that side of themselves.

The gibbons were very playful, as is usual, and the kids stayed there a long time to watch them wrestle and swing and climb.

Last time we went to this particular zoo, which was several years ago, Lydia (now 9) lost me in the reptile house. I totally panic when that happens in a crowd and I was in a praying frenzy as I looked for her that day. This trip we made it two for two when Jack (7) lost me in that same reptile house. I just about wanted to shake the boogers right out of him when I did find him because that praying frenzy takes a year or two off my life every time. He had found this little cave you could climb into near the bat exhibit to show the habitat of bats. I guess he should've told me first, huh? That's what I told him anyway.

When I tried to get a straw for my not quite two year old for his milk at lunch, I was informed by the zoo staff member running the cash register in the lunch stop of our choice that they do not allow straws for the safety of the animals. I am not exactly sure what threat a straw is to the animals but we had to find an alternative. They actually had those little stir-sticks for coffee that are sort of little straws and we just used one of those. Is that not the same threat as a regular straw? Again, I am apparently ignorant of the reasoning there but I am sure there was good reason in there somewhere. I just didn't weather the challenge well at that point in my day as I was trying to wrangle everyone (who all wanted different things for lunch and changed their minds frequently and wanted to go everywhere and touch everything while in line and hang on the rope things that separate the lines like the monkeys we'd just seen recently). I probably didn't have the kind and smooth tones of someone in total control of his situation as I questioned what I would use in place of a straw for my ~2 year old since they would not give me one. Another failed opportunity to show Christ-like character in a tough spot. I wish I could go back and try that one again.

What trip to the zoo would be complete without the stinky garbage can with the bees circling around it?

I am a little disappointed that the Ft. Worth Zoo doesn't have the aquarium with all the big fish in it. Fish are my favorite attraction so I miss them there. I think our next trip will be to the aquarium.

The weather was very nice for it being January, and we all really enjoyed the day. I hope we are building some happy memories for all the kids because I know I am for me.

Another Picture

My beautiful new baby girl.

Our Newest Blessing

After a very quick labor and even quicker delivery, our 5th (and 2nd daughter) has arrived at 10:47am December 7th. She weighs in at 8lbs. 14oz. and is not overly happy to be removed from her previous locale. Mom and baby are healthy and things went so very well. We just thank God for the newest blessing and for the perfect delivery for both mom and her.

Baby Day

I am a total blog slacker. Too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it all.

Case in point... Friday, December 7th, 2007, we are going to the hospital at 5am to deliver our 5th baby and 2nd daughter. As I type this it is 11:20pm the night before that. I have to get up in about 4 hours and I am getting a cold. But we are, right now, making sure we have everything ready to go because at 0-dark-30 we won't be in any mental shape to remember all those little things. I am only popping out this quick little entry because I wanted to make sure the laptop was ready and the brand new digital camera I bought my wife for Christmas (early for the birth) was setup and ready to upload pictures to post and email around to all interested.

Singing Dad

I enjoyed this video and thought I'd share.