Author's note: I started writing this blog last November and never completed or posted it. Here it is.
I have siblings. Lots of people do. No matter how mature you are as an adult, when you get together with your siblings, you tend to act like you did back in the day. It is pretty disgusting to act your age minus 30 years.
When my wife and I were first married (a very long time ago) she would get very upset with my behavior at family functions when my sibs and I reverted to our adolescently determined patterns. Of course, when we visited her family, she and her brothers did the same thing. None of us have grown up too much since then. It is fun, though watching the next generation establish their behavior patterns and drive their parents (us) crazy.
My brother is Nationwide. Read through some of my old posts and you'll learn quite a bit about him, especially about the best wedding gift we ever received. We are twins. Growing up with him was a real adventure. He and I have been known to get up before dawn and ride our bicycles to a pond to fish as soon as the sun came up. He did all kinds of crazy stuff as a kid. He once fired a shotgun inside the house. I don't think he meant too, but... My brother is a great example of someone who has overcome bad circumstances and adversity in his life.
My sister is Cdot. She was much younger than her two brothers but thought she could do anything. She usually did. This sweet little girl flew under the radar avoiding getting in trouble most of the time. She's had a dichotomous life. All of her life (to me) she's either been a precocious 7 year-old or a 30 year-old mother of twins herself. She's done a great job. She recently stole our very young mother (recently retired from teaching) to come and help out with the kids and be close to them. My sister is a great example of someone who has overcome physical and medical setbacks in her life.
My respect for both of them is many times greater than it ever was when we were kids.
However, when we get together for the next family holiday, expect the return of 1983 and "you better take that back" and "Star Wars is way better than Superman" and "who is Debbie Gibson" and "Michael J. Fox is a hero" and slapfights and shoulder punches and "mom and dad didn't love you" and "the five minutes before you were born were the best five minutes of my life" and "mine, too" and "you two were the wonderful children" and...and three very disgusted spouses/in-laws.
They say you only hurt the ones you love. Watch out siblings, I love you.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
where was God?
It seems like we've had a lot of tragedies, maladies, etc. lately. And I bet you've heard someone ask something like "Where was God?"
Rhonda was terminally ill. The last few years, she was confined to a wheelchair. It was difficult for her to get around. Bodily debilitation continued to accelerate. Rhonda continued coming to church every chance she got, even when she had to completely rely on others to get her there.
Let's be clear, salvation has nothing to do with church attendance. Salvation has everything to do with your faith. It's who you trust, not what you do. If ever there was someone who could be excused from attending church, she was Rhonda. She kept coming.
One time, the preacher asked her why she kept coming. She felt closer to God where God was being praised. What an amazing response. What a spiritual response. What a scriptural response.
Yeah, that's a scriptural concept. God may have sat on the mercy seat in the temple, but His throne is where His people are praising Him. Psalm 22:3 says "yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." (NLT)
You want to be where God is? Want to know where God is? Praise Him. Don't neglect praising Him. Go to church where you can join with others in lifting up a throne of praise for Him to sit on.
Where was God when tragedy XYZ struck? Where was God when Rhonda died? Where was God...? He was there. In our fallen world tragedy strikes, but God is there. He's comforting. He's answering prayers. Do you continue to praise God when the tragedy comes?
Rhonda was 34 when she died. She was the mother of one of the girls in our youth ministry. When she couldn't speak, her very presence glorified God. Because of her drawing close to God, she will be close to him for all eternity. In tragedy, she drew closer to the God that she knew was there. I think she may have asked why, but she didn't ask where.
Rhonda was terminally ill. The last few years, she was confined to a wheelchair. It was difficult for her to get around. Bodily debilitation continued to accelerate. Rhonda continued coming to church every chance she got, even when she had to completely rely on others to get her there.
Let's be clear, salvation has nothing to do with church attendance. Salvation has everything to do with your faith. It's who you trust, not what you do. If ever there was someone who could be excused from attending church, she was Rhonda. She kept coming.
One time, the preacher asked her why she kept coming. She felt closer to God where God was being praised. What an amazing response. What a spiritual response. What a scriptural response.
Yeah, that's a scriptural concept. God may have sat on the mercy seat in the temple, but His throne is where His people are praising Him. Psalm 22:3 says "yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." (NLT)
You want to be where God is? Want to know where God is? Praise Him. Don't neglect praising Him. Go to church where you can join with others in lifting up a throne of praise for Him to sit on.
Where was God when tragedy XYZ struck? Where was God when Rhonda died? Where was God...? He was there. In our fallen world tragedy strikes, but God is there. He's comforting. He's answering prayers. Do you continue to praise God when the tragedy comes?
Rhonda was 34 when she died. She was the mother of one of the girls in our youth ministry. When she couldn't speak, her very presence glorified God. Because of her drawing close to God, she will be close to him for all eternity. In tragedy, she drew closer to the God that she knew was there. I think she may have asked why, but she didn't ask where.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
michael phelps, watch out
Kcrazorback daughter "practicing for the olympics." I'll be sure to show this video 16 years from now when she wins her medal.
first day k pictures
OK, so a good night's sleep makes the pictures upload the very first time. Well, it would've been a good night's sleep if kcrazorback daughter had not wakened him at 1:24 AM to show him what the tooth fairy brought. Here, 15 minutes before first bell, daughter is excited about first day:
School is about 1/2 mile uphill from home so we walked on first day. There is one street to cross without a crossing guard so the kids hold bright yellowish green flags:
After transferring the backpack to the student, Dad got to walk her up the school's front walk:
Once inside, the reification of full-day kindergarten brought a sad, pensive look to the face of the previously excited first day-er.
Five minutes later, however, she would be sitting front and center while teacher covered calendar issues for the day. All in all she had a great day and was actually observed hugging teachers before going home at the end of the day.
School is about 1/2 mile uphill from home so we walked on first day. There is one street to cross without a crossing guard so the kids hold bright yellowish green flags:
After transferring the backpack to the student, Dad got to walk her up the school's front walk:
Once inside, the reification of full-day kindergarten brought a sad, pensive look to the face of the previously excited first day-er.
Five minutes later, however, she would be sitting front and center while teacher covered calendar issues for the day. All in all she had a great day and was actually observed hugging teachers before going home at the end of the day.
Monday, August 18, 2008
can't upload pictures
Sorry, I've tried for 30 minutes and can't get the first day of kindergarten pictures to upload. I'm giving up, but only temporarily.
Meanwhile, check out the school here.
Meanwhile, check out the school here.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
first day of kindergarten
Those of you that know kcrazorback daughter well know that tomorrow (less than 12 hours from now) is her first day of kindergarten. I am certain the waterworks will flow after her mother and I drop her off at 8:10 in the morning. Her mother may even cry as well. Tomorrow I plan to post a first day picture and tell you more about her school, etc. in time.
There's something special about starting formal education. If she's like either parent, she'll be getting out of school in about 19 years. I'll be in my 60's when that happens so I hope I'll be able to remember these first five years. So, upon this important commencement, let me honor her first five years with this blog post.
Actually, you're five years old, but God made you almost exactly six years ago. During those almost-9 months before birthday, you were the life of the party. You danced if there was music, twirled if Mom had cake, loved the voices of friends and family and had a special bond with your mother. Even before you were born we got little peeks into your personality which is much like hers.
You were injured at birth during a traumatic delivery and fought for your life for about 30 minutes. You won that fight and have lived life more passionately since then than anyone I've ever known.
I remember so many things about you when you were a baby. You were such a good sleeper. You were a daddy's girl from the start. Your smile was contagious. You made a guttural click when I walked in the room and to say 'goodbye' and 'I love you.' When you could eat real food, you did. And you still eat with a passion. What's funny about that is you're still skinny.
You stole our hearts at the very beginning, but you kept them with your bouncy-seat bouncing, dancing, singing, 'running and reading,' Noggin, praying, talking (and talking and talking and talking), gymnastics, piano, ice skating and many other activities. There are so many other reasons as well: baseball, cotton candy--wait, those are the same activity. And, the big one, of course, swimming. You are the best swimmer for your age. We have a video of you in the swimming pool saying you're training for the Olympics (shot about an hour ago)--I plan on showing that video 16 years from now when you get your Olympic medal.
Of course, by then you'll still be in school. So, enjoy the next 11 hours because a super huge adventure is just about to begin. (I'm glad you're still a good sleeper.)
There's something special about starting formal education. If she's like either parent, she'll be getting out of school in about 19 years. I'll be in my 60's when that happens so I hope I'll be able to remember these first five years. So, upon this important commencement, let me honor her first five years with this blog post.
Actually, you're five years old, but God made you almost exactly six years ago. During those almost-9 months before birthday, you were the life of the party. You danced if there was music, twirled if Mom had cake, loved the voices of friends and family and had a special bond with your mother. Even before you were born we got little peeks into your personality which is much like hers.
You were injured at birth during a traumatic delivery and fought for your life for about 30 minutes. You won that fight and have lived life more passionately since then than anyone I've ever known.
I remember so many things about you when you were a baby. You were such a good sleeper. You were a daddy's girl from the start. Your smile was contagious. You made a guttural click when I walked in the room and to say 'goodbye' and 'I love you.' When you could eat real food, you did. And you still eat with a passion. What's funny about that is you're still skinny.
You stole our hearts at the very beginning, but you kept them with your bouncy-seat bouncing, dancing, singing, 'running and reading,' Noggin, praying, talking (and talking and talking and talking), gymnastics, piano, ice skating and many other activities. There are so many other reasons as well: baseball, cotton candy--wait, those are the same activity. And, the big one, of course, swimming. You are the best swimmer for your age. We have a video of you in the swimming pool saying you're training for the Olympics (shot about an hour ago)--I plan on showing that video 16 years from now when you get your Olympic medal.
Of course, by then you'll still be in school. So, enjoy the next 11 hours because a super huge adventure is just about to begin. (I'm glad you're still a good sleeper.)
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