The Case for Siblings

A funny and true to life post over at Faith and Family:

http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/features/the_case_for_siblings

Toy Story 3 Outing

I have three kids with birthdays within a month of each other in June and July. I wanted to take them to see Toy Story 3 as sort of a day with Dad thing. I took half a day off from work to take them. I decided to include Henry, my four year old son, too, since I thought he could sit without making it too difficult and he would enjoy the movie. I considered taking Sophia, my two year old daughter, who absolutely loves Toy Story 2... but really had some fears about her ability to sit still through the movie or maybe having one of those two year old freak-out fits that she has sometimes and that I would have to change a diaper away from home (which I really hate) and we were seeing it in 3D and I had doubts about her ability to deal with the glasses for the whole movie and how she could generally really make the whole experience a drag if things went badly.

Now, I really thought all those things and I talked myself into not taking her. My wife said she didn't want to be the one to tell her because she would be heart-broken. I just thought we wouldn't tell her and it would be all good. But Becca, my wife, brought up the fact that the other kids would be talking about it when they got home and Sophia is no stooge, she's gonna know she missed it. So I thought just turn on Toy Story 2 for her here at home while we are at the movies and she'll be happy as can be. Becca would not even consider that because she said if she was at home with Sophia and most of us were gone she would not sit Sophia in front of the TV. She just couldn't do it. That's my wife... always thinking of the kids.

In the end... If you go back and re-read the last two paragraphs with the perspective of how selfish they really are (i.e. how selfish I am), you will see why I ended up thinking about it and realizing that it's not about me. Yes, I took her with us. She did great. She sat still and quiet and watched the movie all the way through. She did not like the 3D glasses much, but who can blame her? They were HUGE on her. I did have to change a diaper, but look... I am still alive and didn't suffer any permanent damage. Apparently the cutoff age for having to pay for a movie ticket is ONE so her ticket cost the same $8 matinée price as all the rest of us. Ouch. Yes, a matinée with me and five kids was $48 and I didn't buy a single kernel of popcorn or a bottle of water. No wonder movies make millions.

So, we had a good time... all of us. We made memories and it was actually my initiative to put the outing together which is something I am historically bad at. I worried it from my selfish perspective thinking how miserable I could be if the little ones acted badly and almost made a decision that would have come back on me later like bad tacos. I would've regretted it and would not have been able to take it back. I thank God that He softened my heart for my daughter and allowed me to give up the worry and enjoy the time. Consider that if you start to worry yourself into something like that.

Pink

My daughter, Sophia (2), loves pink. Pink clothes, pink shoes, pink balloons, pink anything.

One evening at dinner everyone was talking about hair and Sophia said something about wanting pink hair. So I decided to pink her up using my mad Photoshop skills and this was the result. She was pretty excited to see pink hair and eyes.

She is now the pink princess. She's beautiful in any color and one of my blessings and I am thankful for her.

Proverbs 3 (New King James Version)

Guidance for the Young (and maybe the not so young)

¹ My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;
² For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴ And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
⁹ Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
¹² For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
¹⁴ For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
²⁰ By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
²¹ My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
²² So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
²³ Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
²⁶ For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,

“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
²⁹ Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
³⁰ Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
³¹ Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
³² For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
³³ The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
³⁴ Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Henry's Birthday

My son, Henry, turned four years old today. Last night it started to snow, again. This is a pretty strange thing for this part of Texas this time of year. We've had quite a bit of snow this year... again, for this part of Texas. I took the kids in the truck and we went on a "snow ride" so they could see it falling while we drove. Henry said, "It's like God gave me a birthday present." Amen, Henry... Amen.

Families Worshiping Together

This is a really good post over at Generation Cedar about children and children's church/sunday school

FAMILIES WORSHIPING TOGETHER - WHY NOT CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Here's a Great Message

The Centrality of the Home in the Evangelism and Discipleship of the Next Generation - Voddie Baucham

Take 30 minutes or so to listen to this and you will hear Voddie talk about this mission.

CLICK HERE