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!

Fun with Fatherhood – Rockets

(FYI – I had intended on posting this about a year-and-a-half ago when it actually happened, but didn’t have the video link. Just found it in my Drafts folder and added the video, so here ya go!)

The other day, we put together the launching kit for the boys’ model rockets that they got for Christmas. From there, it was off to find the right launching spot.

After explaining to the boys the need for some space to make this happen, and an unsuccessful stop on a dirt road that we noticed was marked private after walking around to scope out the location, we landed on a perfect spot. Then it was time to get these birds in the air. Here’s a look at the big moment(s).

Yes, those were multiple camera angles. As someone who has always worked with video for a living it was a must to do this Hollywood style. We had five cameras rolling and man, it was awesome to see those things take off. The boys were totally stoked! Part of me was actually surprised they launched, but it was great that they did. Mission accomplished.

We’ll have to do this again sometime. Would highly recommend it as a fun family activity!

Fun with Fatherhood – Emoticons

So, my youngest son has learned how to use those wonderful little emoticon things in messages. His Dad only recently learned how to do this, thanks to a more iPhone savvy friend who was gracious enough to help.

I showed him how to set it up on his iPod last night.

Now I am getting messages like this one from my little guy…and apparently I’m going to have to procure plane fare to Antarctica as a result.

Gotta love technology 🙂

Fun with Fatherhood – First Concert

I remember it as a rite of passage of sorts when I was a kid…my first concert.

It’s been a long time but I can still recall how fun it was, and part of that fun was that I got to go with my Dad. Granted, I was a belligerent/trying to be independent teenager at the time and it was MC Hammer performing so I’m sure he wasn’t exactly thrilled about seeing the show – but it was a memorable experience regardless 🙂

Fast forward a few decades and that brought me to Winter Jam last night. This is  a collection of 10 artists and is billed as a high quality, ministry-focused concert experience that is the world’s most attended winter tour. Judging by the crowd last night, I believe it. It was packed!

I wasn’t actually expecting the boys to be joining me but another day of school being cancelled due to Antarctica-esque weather meant they were going to be staying with me during the day today and so they met me at the arena about halfway through the show before spending the night.

They were so excited. Both of the boys were mainly interested in seeing Lecrae. He’s awesome…they’d heard him before on my iPod and were fired up to see him in person.

Needless to say, he did not disappoint. What a great show and on top of that, a great message.

Lecrae spoke several times about how he’s made some mistakes in his life, how he used to live a life he wasn’t too proud of, and how he didn’t deserve to be standing on the stage performing…but how God’s love and mercy has made all the difference in his life and has gotten him to where he is now.

My oldest son noticed that. He was asking me about it today and I could tell during our conversation the message got through to him. Happy Dad here. I am really hoping my boys don’t take some of the wrong turns I’ve taken in life in the past, and positive experiences like last night are real blessings to me as a father.

Seeing people like Lecrae on stage in front of a packed house, taking no credit for his success and having absolutely no ego was very cool. He was genuinely humble, which is something you almost never see from ‘celebrities’ these days.

If you have a chance, check out Winter Jam. There are still plenty of concert dates left on the schedule and it is a diverse lineup of artists and music types. It’s a lot of fun and you might even get something extra out of the experience in addition to the great music.