To My Fellow Parents

Just a note of encouragement to say…keep going, keep wanting the best for your kids, keep training them up, keep trying, keep loving them, keep believing the best, keep leading them, keep their perspective in mind, keep trusting He cares for them more than you ever can.

Don’t give up. Parenting is one of the most important roles ever created for us on Earth. If you’re a parent, you know it’s one of the most challenging, too. There is no manual and it may get stressful to the point it hurts, but it is worth it. Your kids are worth it.

So, take a deep breath and know you are making a difference in their lives when you do your best as a parent. Sure, you’re not perfect, but they don’t need perfection. They need you to show them how to live, as best as you – flawed, imperfect but caring, loving, dedicated you – possibly can.

Love on your children today. It is a deposit you will get back with interest. It’s perhaps the best investment you will ever make.

Have a great day.

Fun with Fatherhood – Getaway with the Guys

Here are a few photos from the recent camping/canoeing/fishing trip I took with my sons.

It was a great time. Had fun talking with them and hanging out, plus enjoying the beautiful scenery.

It’s become an annual event, a tradition of sorts – we go to the same place, get the same campsite. It’s a lot of fun.

What are some of your traditions with your kids? Or, ones you shared as a kid with your family? I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments section, below.

Have a great day!

In a Hurry?

Well, this one may be for you.

Read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-macy-stafford/the-day-i-stopped-saying-hurry-up_b_3624798.html

From the article:

When you’re living a distracted life, every minute must be accounted for. You feel like you must be checking something off the list, staring at a screen, or rushing off to the next destination. And no matter how many ways you divide your time and attention, no matter how many duties you try and multi-task, there’s never enough time in a day to ever catch up.

That was my life for two frantic years.

Then one fateful day, things changed. We’d just picked my older daughter up from kindergarten and were getting out of the car. Not going fast enough for her liking, my older daughter said to her little sister, “You are so slow.” And when she crossed her arms and let out an exasperated sigh, I saw myself — and it was a gut-wrenching sight.

I was a bully who pushed and pressured and hurried a small child who simply wanted to enjoy life.

My eyes were opened; I saw with clarity the damage my hurried existence was doing to both of my children.

Go ahead, click on the link above and read the rest of it. Take your time, no hurry 🙂

In all seriousness, the points the author brings up are fantastic and apply to so many of us. Parents for sure, but I think anyone could benefit from reading what she has to say. It’s a great reminder to stop hurrying through life and enjoy the little things.

Have a great day.

Parenting

That’s the title of the message from this past weekend’s service at my church.

http://www.bitsculptor-media.com/riversidepeoria.com/files/699-3751142752012.mp3

There is some great advice and insight for parents, anyone planning on becoming a parent…or anyone who has parents. (Does that cover everyone now? Yep, I think so!)

I found inspiration in the message and a renewed sense of purpose as a result. Perhaps something you hear when you listen to it may end up blessing you, too.

Have a great day.

Fun with Fatherhood

I had a great weekend with my kids.

It wasn’t anything ‘special’ in the sense that it didn’t involve grandiose plans or major events. We weren’t on vacation, we didn’t really have anywhere to be…but it was a lot of fun.

Simple weekends like this one remind me of how blessed I am to be a Dad and how much of a privilege it is to get to raise children.

We started off Friday evening with an exciting three-pronged shopping/errand run to the video store, the hardware store, and the grocery store. Not exactly riveting on the surface, but finding joy in the seemingly mundane routines of life is always nice.

I hadn’t been to a video store in a long time. I forgot how much fun it is to just browse around and see what’s there. I let the kids make one selection each, and I found a movie of my own. My oldest son picked Puss in Boots and my youngest son went with a video game.

We stopped at a playground near the grocery store and I chased them around for a while, before realizing 1) that I am out of shape and was out of breath and 2) that it was getting cold and dark outside.

The rest of the evening consisted of pizza and a movie. Logan was asleep within the first five minutes of it but my oldest son and I watched the whole thing. I enjoyed it. I think he did too.

Saturday started with a visit to a neighborhood garage sale. The boys walked away with a board game, a book, and two Halloween drink cups…with the total expenditure being less than three dollars. Can’t beat that. They like going to garage sales. The buying power for them is incredible at those things! 🙂

Swim lessons were next. After that, we headed to the library. An hour or so there led to us walking out with nine (mostly kids) books in our (see: my) arms. They raided the shelves!

From there it was off to our favorite spot in Peoria, thirty-thirty Coffee Co. We toasted to a good weekend together and took a look at our books for a bit. I think the boys feel sophisticated or something when they’re in there. Whatever it is, they always ask if we can go. I love the place anyway, so it’s a frequent stop for us.

The afternoon took us to a nearby park where we played an impromptu game of baseball using a grill as home plate, a picnic table as first base, and two trees as second and third bases. The boys beat me, courtesy of a big rally in the final inning. (I tried to help them out by making myself swing left-handed and only getting one out per inning.) Good times, and the dimensions of the ‘field’ were perfect! We’ll be back for sure.

I made them a healthier dinner that evening, which they devoured. (Swimming and playing baseball will burn a few calories.) Grilled chicken, vegetables, grapes, and whole wheat pasta.

The boys made forts to sleep in and after a second showing of Puss in Boots, which Logan again failed to come close to making it through, it was time to call it a night.

We got up early Sunday morning and went to the first service at church. It’s always hit or miss on making it to the 9 a.m. service, but we managed to pull it off this time. It was a great message this week and the kids enjoyed their youth service as well.

I treated the boys to lunch at a restaurant and we spent the rest of the afternoon at home relaxing and having fun.

Oh, I almost forgot our attempt to make brownies which failed miserably! The part in the middle as shown in the photo was the only part that was salvageable. I’m surprised the smoke alarm didn’t go off. Ah well. They didn’t seem to mind.

I’ll take them to school this morning and then the rest of the week will begin. It’s always bittersweet to see them go. As any parent can testify, it’s sad seeing them wave goodbye. But, it’s also wonderful to be able to see them off in the morning.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a father. I’m far from perfect at it but I really enjoy this part of my life. It’s not always glamorous and it can be hard work being a parent, but it’s so gratifying to be able to share in the lives of my children and to be able to watch them grow up.

Big smile here 🙂

Have a great day everyone.