Competing uncles

My wife’s brother in law (one of my kids’ uncles) got my daughter this very nice clock/necklace this weekend. I hate it when other men get stuff for my daughter – I always think that it makes me look cheap. However, my kids know that I’m the one who’s around in the night and the…

Haircut boy blowing balloon

A fine head of hair adds beauty to a good face, and terror to an ugly one.  ~ Lycurgus Kids look much cuter right after a haircut, and you realize how tidying up can make a difference. My boy loves to blow up balloons now that he can generate the required pressure.

Boy asleep in truck

We traveled to Costco to get some big items in an old work truck – I mean, no radio, no A/C, and lots of horses under the hood pulling the dual wheeled flatbed. Good time for a nap. Kids are so cute when they are asleep, and so adorably quiet! No “I want that, I…

What a girl sees

One of the interesting things about having young children with access to technology is to see what they take pictures of. My 2.5 year old took this picture of her Barbie. She LOVES the Barbie videos, which are actually much better than I would have thought – good music, decent animation. Check out her favorite…

Boy at the beach

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.” ~ Albert Schweitzer I love giving my kids an appreciation for nature – be it…

Church kids

“The perfect church service,would be one we were almost unaware of.Our attention would have been on God.” Bideingmytime C.S. Lewis My kids acting up in church. I have strong opinions about what Sunday services should and should not be, and how I wish we could make them better – more engaging, more life changing, less BORING. My…

Determination

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always…

Miscommunication

“The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” ~ Anthony Robbins My youngest child has a funny, big personality. This is us pretending to be irritated with one another. She’s a crackup.

Driving with windows open

A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache. ~ Catherine the Great For a few moments, having your hair blow around can be fun.

Boy with mountain

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” ~ Jesus (Mark 11:23) Mount Hood in the background (I think) on our…

Climbing the train

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. ~ Nelson Mandela

Girl at the well

“Few men during their lifetime come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.” ~ Richard Byrd Zoos can be so educational.  My kids love them, but my mom is not much of a fan because she is a lifelong animal rights advocate. Thankfully, most…

July 4th child

I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich. ~ Dan Wilcox This is not my kid, but this photo, unretouched, came out nicely.  

Family Fun

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~ Joyce Brothers No, that’s not a flame thrower, that’s three sparklers.  My kids are getting bigger before my eyes. We saw Toy Story 3 this weekend – if you are a parent, you will surely shed a few tears thinking of how…

Kids snacking after church

“Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” ~  Lenny Bruce Although Lenny Bruce was known as a comedian, this tidbit has a lot of truth in it.  Many churches are just meaningless social clubs, self-righteous hallelujah clubs, or something worse. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the…

Faceplant on cement

Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.  ~ Harold Hulbert No, this is not child abuse, this is my daughter running and doing a face plant on the cement.  At least she did not chip a tooth like my oldest did when she was that age.  Sigh.  I hate when their little…

Family Portrait

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.  ~ Psalm 127:4-5a Here's me in the evening after work, walking with the kids – Daniel, Alina, Sofia (L to R) – Daniel is up top running ahead, the girls are…

Bigger than a breadbasket

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.  Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s…