Cowboy Classic 2013

If you live anywhere near Dallas or Fort Worth, then you know about the spectacle known as AT&T Stadium. Also known as Cowboys Stadium. Or Jerry's World. Some even refer to it as the Death Star. No matter what you call it, there is not doubt this is one of the most amazing venues in the United States. Every detail is perfect and there is something for fans of every age. I have now attended to two TCU games here, and I am still amazed by this place.

So, when I heard that TCU was playing LSU in the Cowboy Classic 2013, I jumped at the chance to get tickets and see the game in person. Of course, I had to get my #1 football watching partner, my dad, in on the action too. So he flew down from Wyoming to spend the weekend with us and watch the game with me on Saturday night.

We had a great time hanging out and visiting some different sites around Fort Worth. Dad came to TCU with me on Friday and even managed to squeeze in a nap while I taught a class. We then picked up the boys from school and went to get ice cream. That night we went to Edohana Hibachi Grill for dinner, and it was just as good the second time as it was on Gina's birthday.

The game was not until Saturday night, so we relaxed and took the boys to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for the afternoon. Finally, Tommy and Carol arrived at the house and we drove to the game. I even managed to get free parking with my Six Flags Over Texas season pass, which saved us about $40. It was kind of a long, hot walk to the stadium, but thankfully Jerry closed the roof and turned on the AC in the stadium for us to cool down.

The game itself was pretty good, and TCU actually had a chance to win in the 4th quarter. But LSU proved to be just a little faster, bigger, and more capable of big plays. I was still very proud of the Horned Frogs for stepping up and competing with a team that played for a national title just two years ago.

On Sunday, we all went to church and then to lunch. Eating was a major theme for this weekend, and Sunday lunch did not disappoint. We went to Charleston's, and it was very good as usual. After a short rest at home, Dad, the boys and I headed to the airport to catch his flight. We were sad to see our fun weekend end so quickly, but we were grateful for the chance to spend some time with PawPaw and experience the wonder what is Jerry's World in person. I don't know when TCU will play there again, but you can bet I will be in line for tickets when they do. And I'm bringing Dad with me!

Ready, Set, Kindergarten!

At some point in the early days of Sam and Nate, I remember thinking, "We have so much time until they are in Kindergarten. They will be little and cute for 4 more years!" I can't remember when it was exactly that I had that thought, but I can tell you now 5 years was not enough. Before I knew what happened or figured out how to slow down time, my children were no longer babies WAY sooner than I was ready to not have babies in the house anymore. Yes, I do not miss the diapers and bottles and being woken up in the middle of the night, but there are so many other things I desperately want back. Like fat wrists and funny sayings such as, "lellow" for yellow and snuggling and being able to carry both of them at once. I wasn't ready to give those things up, but they have now been replaced with early morning walks to school, rushed breakfasts, brushing teeth and hair at the same time, and homework.

Sam and Nate entered the world of formal education two weeks ago when they started Kindergarten at the school up the street from our house. We knew they would do fine because they have been in preschool for three years. They know their letters, numbers, colors, seasons, shapes, and animal names. They even know that what most people call a buffalo is really a bison. They've been to Yellowstone, for crying out loud! Kindergarten should be a breeze.

And it probably is for them. It's Gina and I that struggled to walk from the room on the first day and leave them with their new teacher and classmates for the first of many days of school. We struggled to understand that their schooling just transformed from "preparation" to "education." We fought back thoughts of bullies and failure and fitting in and finding a friend who is a good influence.

Letting go is hard, but we know that Sam and Nate have an amazing future ahead of them. They will have good days and bad days. Probably some missed homework along the way, and they will learn they can't please everyone. I hope they come to appreciate the value of hard work and understand there are things more important than being first (or last, depending on their preference). We want them to learn how to be a friend. To listen when people tell their story. To learn from mistakes and put their hope in the One person who will never leave them hanging.

So, here's to a great start to Sam and Nate's academic career. Let's make this the first of many first-day-of-school blog posts!

Last drop of summer

A few weeks ago Gina and I decided to look at summer and see how much was left. Once we calculated how much of summer was already committed to activities, meetings, or work-related commitments, we saw there was only one drop left. Just enough to cook up one last batch of fun. So, we packed up out stuff and made one last trip.

Our first stop was Port Aransas, Texas. This was my first trip to a Texas beach, and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the town and beaches were. Sure, we had to deal with some of the standard hassles of a small beach town: one small grocery store, small overpriced room, busy restaurants and slow service. But there is something about the pulsing rhythm of the surf that makes a person not really care all that much about those details that normally drive city folks crazy.

We stayed at The Beach Lodge, and it was a great choice for us considering the short amount of time we were there. It was right on the beach, had a small restaurant, and was reasonably priced. The room was definitely small (probably smaller than our cabin on the cruise ship last January), but we didn't spend a lot of time in the room anyway. There as a pool that we didn't use, and they had a huge deck on the upper floor overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Sam and I hung out up there for quite a while one morning while Mommy and Nate slept. It was a great memory with Sam asking lots of questions and letting me peek into his little 5-year old perspective for a little while.

The only downside to our stop in Port A was that we all got sunburned. I guess when you know you only have two days at the beach, you want to spend as much time as possible actually ON the beach. That is exactly what we did, which meant we were in the sun most of the day. Even with several re-applications of sunscreen, it all got rubbed and washed off and we looked like a lobster family by that evening. Consequently, we didn't even swim in the ocean the next day because we were all sore from our sunburns. We have decided when we go back to the beach, we want to spend more time so we don't feel pressured to spend all day in the sun.

From Port A, we headed to San Antonio for a stroll on the Riverwalk and an early dinner. The Riverwalk was just as beautiful as I remembered it, and as usual it was buzzing with people. We didn't have a lot of time to walk around, but we did find time to squeeze in a ride on one of the boats. Even with the temps hovering over 100, the shade and coolness of the water made it bearable. From there, we headed to Market Square (El Mercado) on the edge of downtown for some authentic TexMex. Gina had read about La Margarita, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We could have easily eaten on the Riverwalk, but this place was worth the extra effort. There were musicians, waiters dressed in traditional clothes, and the food was amazing.

The last stop of our getaway was to see Max, Wes, John, Carrie, Jean and Poppy in Round Rock. After all we had done, this was by far the most anticipated part of the trip for the boys. This was everything four little preschoolers (almost Kindergartners!) could ask for: a camp out on the floor with sleeping bags, playing with toys, swimming, and a piñata filled with candy. The grownups had a nice time visiting and relaxing while the boys swam and played. We are already planning the next time we can all get together. As usual, the boys slept nearly all the way from Round Rock to Fort Worth, which is the sign of a good trip!

This was the perfect way to end the summer. We played, we relaxed, we laughed, we explored. We are now recharged and ready to start the busy school year, which I'm sure will bring even more adventures. You can see our photos and video from the trip in our family photo album.

Hello Win Column

This past week, Gina and I took the boys to their first Texas Rangers game. It brought back a lot of memories for me. Way back when I was still working as a school teacher, I would go to games on Tuesday nights, when they sold tickets for half price at Tom Thumb grocery stores. My friend and I would grab tickets and meet at the game, which was a pretty fun way to spend then evening. It was outdoors, cheaper than a movie, and the Rangers were actually pretty good back then. This was the team with Pudge Rodriquez, Will Clark, Juan Gonzalez, Rusty Greer, and Mark McLemore. Even though they never quite made a run in the post-season, it was a lot of fun watching them play. Weak pitching but LOTS of offense.

Gina and I knew the boys were not quite old enough to really follow a baseball game, but we wanted to take them to the ballpark for the experience anyway. We attend a lot of TCU baseball games, and Sam and Nate are more interested in the carmel popcorn and sweet tea than what it happening on the field. With that in mind, we knew there would be more than one trip to the snack stand. It happened to be $1 hot dog night, and we took advantage of that deal. Each boy had 2 hot dogs, and I ate 3!

The game ended very well, although we did not get to see it. It was tied 1-1 going into the 9th inning, and the boys were getting tired and whiney. Did I mention we spent the afternoon leading up to the game at Six Flags over Texas in 100 degree heat? Yeah, there was that little factor working against us, and the clock was clicking toward 9:30 at this point. I would have loved to see Adrian Beltre's walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning, but I was more eager to avoid a public spectacle with one, maybe two, five-year olds on the verge of a meltdown. Honestly, it worked out well because we didn't have to battle crowds or traffic, and the game ended as we were getting in our car.

The boys are already asking when we can go see another Rangers game, so I'm sure we will hit at least one more before this season is over. Now if they can just bring home that elusive World Series championship, Sam and Nate will probably be fans for life! You can see some more photos from the evening below.

Boys weekend in the country

 This weekend I took the boys to the farm for some boy time. This was somewhat of an impromptu trip, so I just packed a few things and we were off. After getting some staples for the kitchen, we left just in time to arrive around dinner. Our first task was to catch some grasshoppers so we could go fishing. Once the boys got the hang of trapping them with their nets, we were able to catch quite a few critters. The toughest part was keeping the captives in the box when putting a new catch in.

We feasted on frozen pizza the first night while we watched Wall-E. We hadn't seen this movie in awhile, and the boys really enjoyed it. We headed off to bed not too much later than normal, and the boys were asleep within minutes.

The next day we started the morning with some fishing. We gathered up our poles and tackle, and we tried our hand at fishing for the first time this summer. Of course, it didn't start off too well, and the only thing we really caught was some weeds and moss. After about an hour, we went back to the house to help Uncle Clay put a canopy on his new tractor.

The best part of attaching the canopy to the tractor was getting to go for a ride in the pasture. Both boys also decided it would be fun to race the tractor on foot when they weren't riding. Sam and Nate were both very happy that they were able to outrun the tractor, and I was pretty impressed myself.

After Uncle Clay left, it started raining so we played on the front porch and gazebo for about an hour. The boys stripped down to just their shorts and played in the rain while I relaxed in the easy chair.

After the rain stopped, we took another stab at fishing, and this time we had better luck. Nate caught a pretty good sized catfish, and Sam caught a brim. I had to do most of the reeling, but they definitely caught the fish. Our fishing was cut short because a turtle learned we were using grasshoppers as our bait, and he would go wherever we cast the line. It became a game of chase, where I would cast the line and try to reel it in before the turtle could get the bait. If you want the score, the turtle won 4 times, and I got skunked. And yes, I forgot my phone at the house when we left to go fishing, so no pictures. You will just have to believe my storytelling on this one.

After a bath (we were all VERY dirty and stinky), we went over to Uncle John's for dinner. The boys loved playing with Sissy, their rat terrier, and I had a nice time visiting with Uncle John and Aunt Nancy Jane. The dinner and fellowship was wonderful, the perfect end to a fantastic day.

We packed up and went back to the city that morning. We met Gina at Granny and Granddad's house, were we got to also see our cousin Max, Jean and Aunt Carol. I knew it was a good weekend because both boys asked me when we could go back to the farm before they fell asleep. It was the last thing on their minds when they drifted off into slumber, which is just about all you can ask for.

37 years ago today

One thing I look forward to each year is figuring out how I will honor Gina on her birthday. I got off to a pretty rough start in this particular aspect of our relationship, but I like to think I have redeemed myself somewhat in the past several years, and this is now one of my favorite events of the year.

This year the boys and I wanted to fill the day with as many of Gina's favorite things as we possibly could. We started the day with gluten-free waffles, scrambled eggs, and fresh blueberries and nectarines. This was the first time in awhile I had gotten my act together enough to fix breakfast before 9:00, and it felt awesome. Considering when the boys will have to be at school every morning when they start Kindergarten, we should get in the habit of moving a little more quickly in the morning.

We followed our breakfast with presents, which is always a lot of fun. I enjoy watching the boys get excited about the presents as much as I love seeing Gina open them. The main present this year was an art project I undertook in which I made a plaster cast of the boys' hands and put them in a fancy display box with their picture. Gina and I have always talked about how sad it will be when they no longer have "baby" hands, so I preserved them as a reminder of how incredibly blessed we are and how precious these days are.

After presents, we packed up the car for a bike ride on the Trinity River Trail. The weather could not have been more perfect on this day, and we took advantage of it by biking for nearly 5 miles. And yes, the boys hung with us the whole time. In fact, Sam led the way (Nate was the leader on our last expedition). The high temperature the day before Gina's birthday was an incredible 74 degrees, and it was below 80 on the day of our ride. Because this was in the middle of the week, there were very few people out, and we essentially had the entire trail to ourselves. At the end of the day, everyone agreed this was the best part of the day.

We relaxed and went to swimming lessons that afternoon (while I attended a meeting at work), then we cleaned up and took Gina to dinner that night. She had no idea where we were going, so we were able to surprise her by going to a Hibachi grill in our neighborhood. The boys went to a Hibachi when they were about 17 months old and didn't remember it, so this was a real treat for them as well as Gina. The chef was very entertaining and the food was fantastic. It was a great end to a perfect day!

We three guys are so very blessed to have Gina in our lives. Speaking for myself, she has been a wonderful friend, adventure partner, companion, and mother to my sons. She loves the Lord and lives out His purpose in her life. She also puts up with me, which is no easy task. It is a privilege for me to be able to honor Gina on her birthday, and every day, and we look forward to many more celebrations.

Another Fourth on the Farm

In what has become a yearly tradition, we made the trip up to the farm to celebrate our nation's independence with the Gooch's. Last year we gathered at the farm and had such a wonderful time, we decided to do it again. Don't get me wrong, watching a fireworks show is fun, but it is way cooler when you get to light your own fireworks. Thomas and Hal brought  a small arsenal out to the farm this year, and I have to say it was pretty remarkable. This was just about as good as a professional show, but a little shorter and more time between rockets. No one seemed to mind, and the bearable weather actually made the whole event perfect. Sam, Nate and Callie got in on the action with some sparklers, and I even lit a few Black Cats and bottle rockets. Yes, they were left over from last year, but they still worked pretty well. I can't think of a better place to celebrate freedom and liberty than in the countryside with family, wonderful food, and beautiful surroundings. There will be many events between now and the next Independence Day, but when it rolls around again, you will know where to find us.

Wyoming 2013

Each miracle writes for us in small letters something that God has already written, or will write, in letters almost too large to be noticed, across the whole canvas of Nature.

~ C.S. Lewis

This year our family embarked on what has become a summer tradition: a trip to Wyoming. Each summer, we all look forward to seeing GiGi, PaPa, and MaMa (my grandmother), spending time in nature, hanging out with old friends, and just basically relaxing. Besides, it's a great escape from the heat in Texas! This year was going to be extra special because we were spending a week in Jackson. We hyped this up for the boys for weeks, reading books about Yellowstone, the Tetons, bison, and other experiences you can only have in Jackson Hole. Our efforts paid off because Sam and Nate told just about everyone they encountered about their upcoming trip.

The day finally arrived for us to depart, and Gina dropped the 3 boys off at the airport. She was traveling to a conference in North Carolina, then planned on meeting us in Jackson a few days later. The boys were excellent travelers and our whole trip from DFW to Denver to Casper was without incident. We arrived in Casper just in time for dinner, and we were all pretty tired from the busy day. The boys also got to see their new bikes GiGi and PaPa got for them to ride while they were in Wyoming! Now that they are both skilled bike riders, they were very eager to test out their new wheels.

After a couple of days of biking, hiking, and getting ready for the drive to Jackson, we finally packed up all of our gear and started the next leg of the journey. The first part of the trip is pretty brutal, with a lot of flat land and dirt, but after Shoshoni it gets much better. The boys watched two movies and even slept a little, making this one of the easier road trips I have ever taken with them. As usual, the drive from Dubois into Jackson Hole is still one of the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen. We arrived in Jackson, checked into the condo, and got unpacked just in time for dinner.

 We picked up Gina the next morning and started out adventures. There is honestly too much to write about here. I mean, I could tell every detail, but the pictures do a pretty job of handling the narrative load for me. The link is at the end of the post.

The trip, of course, was not without some mishaps. There were a few bike crashes on the gravel parking lot, a couple of Pete Rose-style face plants on dirt roads, and Nate's glasses mysteriously vanished along the trail around the pools and geysers at Old Faithful. By the way, if you see this bison roaming around Yellowstone, kindly remove those glasses and mail them back to us.

After seven glorious days in Jackson spent canoeing, biking, hiking, and looking at God's wonderful creation, we headed back to Casper for a few days before flying back to Fort Worth. You can see the pictures from our trip in our photo album.

The boys are already asking if there is another trip to Jackson in our future. They loved everything about it, and I can attest that the mysteries surrounding this place never get old. You would think after a couple dozen trips to the same place, it would get old. But the opposite is actually true. I find myself yearning for those familiar vistas even more, and I passed this addiction on to Sam and Nate. Gina and I look forward to many trips to Jackson and the wonders that make it so special.

Australia

For some reason, my 5-year old boys have become obsessed with Australia. To be specific, they don't actually care about the country of Australia. They are more concerned with all the things one might do ON THE WAY to Australia. These conversations typically come out ... you guessed it ... in the car. And they never end up where they started. Here is a synopsis of typical conversations we have had for the past two weeks.

Boy 1: Daddy, which takes longer, Australia or Antarctica?

Me: What do you mean?

Boy 1: How long does it take to get to both places?

Me: Oh, well, Australia, I think.

Boy 2: How many movies could you watch on the way to Australia?

Me: Ummm, 10, I guess.

Boy 1: Is that 10 Phineas and Ferb or 10 The Hobbit?

Me: I was thinking more like 10 Wreck-It Ralph.

Boy 2: How many The Hobbit's could you watch to Australia?

Me: 7

Boy 2: How many Phineas and Ferb?

Me: Way too many.

Boy 1: No, Daddy, this is serious. How many?

Me: 50, I don't know.

Boy 2: Which is longer, The Hobbit or Wreck-It Ralph?

Me: Do the math.

Boy 2: What's math?

Me: Good point, The Hobbit is longer?

Boy 1: How old do we have to be to watch The Hobbit?

Me: Eleven?

Boy 2: How old do we have to be to see Wreck-It Ralph?

Me: You've already seen it, so 5, I guess.

Boy 1: What takes longer, going to Australia by boat or airplane?

Me: Boats take longer.

Boy 2: How long would it take to get to Australia in a boat?

Me: Probably 2 weeks, I don't really know. We need to ask Uncle Tommy about that one.

Boy 2: How many times did Uncle Tommy watch The Hobbit when he went to Australia by boat?

Me: None. It wasn't even made yet.

Boy 1: Then why did you say we need to ask Uncle Tommy?

Me: Because he was in the Navy and went to Australia on his ship.

Boy 2: But how many movies did it take to get there?

Me: I have absolutely no idea. I don't think they watched movies on his ship. It was the Navy, not a cruise.

Brief Pause

Boy 2: Who's better at cooking, you or Mommy?

Me: Mommy

Boy 1: Who's better at fixing stuff?

Me: I am, most of the time. But Mommy is better at fixing stuff that needs to be sewed, like buttons and holes in your clothes.

The gender stereotyping is getting deep up in huhrrrr. Please change topics, please change topics, please chan....

Boy 2: Who's faster, you or Mommy?

Me: Driving or running?

Boy 1: Running.

Me. I am.

Boy 2: Driving.

Me: Mommy.

Boy 1: Who's faster, me or him (nodding toward his brother)?

Me: You are both the same fast.

Boy 2: But who's just a little bit faster?

Me: I'm not going there. This conversation is over.

Boy 1: Why is it over? We're not even at school yet.

Me: Because it's driving me crazy.

Boy 2: But who is driving you just a little bit more crazy?

Bike Lessons

With every new step in the lives of Sam and Nate comes a new lesson. Sometimes the lessons are meant for them to learn, and some of them are for us, the grown-ups. One such event happened in our house over the weekend. The boys had been asking when they could take off their training wheels for quite some time. In their minds, they were ready the minute we got the bikes home, but Gina and I had other plans. After a few spills and near-misses, we knew this would have to wait. In fact, we both discussed using our time off over the summer to teach them how to ride without training wheels. I guess we both thought it would take long stretches of time to accomplish this new skill.

We were both wrong about that. We walked over to the church across the street from our neighborhood, and within 15 minutes they were both riding in circles. This was a pretty amazing moment in their lives, and a memory I will never forget. In the midst of all the excitement, I was struck with a few big ideas that have continued to resonate with me a few days after the thrill of bi-pedaling has subsided.

1. Have a goal. This is probably the best place to start. Everyone needs to have something to shoot for, whether it is riding a bike or writing a book. I have always assumed everyone has some big goal they hope to accomplish, but this may not be true. Everyone has something they can work on, so what's holding you back? Write it down, tape it to your mirror, tell someone, start blogging. Giving your goal a name is the first step in working toward it.
2. Don't quit. This is a cliché, I know, but this is a lesson I think we all need to be reminded of daily. When we fall, fail, hurt, forget, miss, drop, or miscalculate, don't use it as an excuse to revert to your comfort zone. The comfort zone, I have found, is a dangerous place. I have tried to settle here more than once, whether it was my teaching, exercise, or relationships, and every time I have been left with a lack of growth and emptiness. This affects not only me but everyone connected to what I'm doing. On more than one occasion, Sam and Nate lost their balance, or couldn't stop, and fell off their bikes. This got to be quite frustrating for them, and they would show signs of giving up. With some encouragement (and the promise of a snack from Sonic) they tried it again, and they did better the each time until they were riding around the parking lot with no help from anyone. Later that evening, when I asked Nate what he liked best about riding his bike, he told me, "I like that I didn't quit and never gave up!"
3. Keep pedaling. The first thing the boys noticed when they started pedaling without training wheels was the value of momentum. At first, they would just stop pedaling when they got tired. With training wheels, this is no big deal. The bike stays up and essentially becomes a chair. Without training wheels, you fall over. I was constantly telling the boys, "Don't stop pedaling, don't stop pedaling!" This may seem obvious, but the lesson is pretty important. Eventually, no matter what you are doing, moving forward and staying upright has to be the result of your effort, not someone else's. We all have moments when we want to coast and rely on others to prop us up, but once the training wheels come off this is no longer an option. We must keep our legs moving in a steady motion, one after the other, until it becomes part of our lifestyle. The good news is, when we ride without training wheels, the bike actually becomes easier to maneuver and we experience a completely new level of freedom.
4. Look where you want to go. I learned this lesson as a kid when I was learning to ski in the trees. My friend, who had a lot more experience skiing than I did, would tell me, "Look at the space between the trees, not the trees themselves. If you look at the tree, you will hit it." This lesson was reinforced in college when I took a mountain biking class. The instructor told us to always keep our eyes focused on where we wanted to go, not on what we were trying to avoid. Sam and Nate experienced this truth when they started riding their bikes. They would get close to a curb or the edge of grass and start staring at it. Eventually, they would drift into the very thing they were trying to avoid. I kept telling them, "Look ahead, look up, watch where you want to go!" The simple rule of biking and skiing applies to life as well. Keep your eyes on where you want to go and don't focus on the obstacles. They aren't going anywhere, trust me, and it's wise to know they are there, but don't make them the center of your attention. Whether your goal is to uphold a standard, maintain a healthy relationship, or be more like Jesus, don't focus on all the things impeding that goal. Look straight ahead and watch where you want to go.
5. Celebrate. The most memorable thing about this experience for me was Sam and Nate's reaction to riding independently. Rather than shrugging it off or asking what's next, they both had the same reaction. They yelled and squealed with joy! Nate kept yelling, "Daddy, look at me! I'm riding a bike! I'm riding a bike!" Sam's response was similar: "I can't believe I'm doing it! I'm not using training wheels!" There was no hint of coolness or inhibition. Just pure joy and getting lost in the moment. It's amazing how easily those of us who are supposed to know so much forget this. There is so much in life worth celebrating, worth cheering about. Don't act like something doesn't matter when it does. You never know when your next victory will come.

This experience has been good for everyone. Sam and Nate know how to ride a bike. Gina and I got to experience yet another milestone. I also was given a reminder that every day, every event, is a gift. The only thing we have to do is recognize its presence and take some time to unwrap it.

Get your motor runnin'

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Untethered

Sam and Nate got their new Spider-Man bikes last summer. We looked at a few different designs and models before we saw these bikes, and the boys were convinced from the first moment we saw them. The only real difficulty we encountered with buying these bikes was getting the boys to stop riding them in the aisles of Walmart long enough to pay for them. Since that day, Sam and Nate have ridden their bikes just about everywhere: to the park, around the neighborhood, on the river trail, in the garage. They have really enjoyed having bikes and being able to go fast.

Until yesterday, they were still riding with training wheels. While at a play date last week, they learned that two of their classmates had learned to ride their bikes sans training wheels, and from that moment the boys were on a mission. Of course, this mission could not be carried out without their parents, and yesterday we were finally able to go to the parking lot at the church across the street from our house and give two-wheel riding a whirl.

Like all new endeavors, the boys started off a little shaky. One disadvantage of using training wheels is that kids get in the bad habit of just sitting on their bikes without really balancing. Both boys learned pretty quickly that if the bike isn't moving, it will fall over. We took some time to practice putting a foot out and using the brakes. We also learned the concept of looking where you want to go, keeping hands on the handle bars, and keep pedaling (I may write more about his later).

After about 15 minutes, both boys were riding completely autonomously. Well, not exactly, but they were able to pedal themselves up and down the parking lot without falling over. In fact, the only real injury was to Gina, who got  her toe stepped on by an aspiring cyclist. Other than that, I would say this was a successful adventure. You can see photos of this first voyage in our photo album.

Always and Never

The following list was the result of a conversation I had with the boys on the way home from school today. This started because we were having dinner with some friends tonight, and I wanted to quiz them on what they should not say and what they should say when being hosted by another family.

Me: So boys, what happens if our hosts serve something you have never eaten?

Boys: We say "thank you" and try it anyway.

Me: Very good! And what should you never say?

Boy 1: You should never say, "I don't like this!"

Boy 2: Yeah, you should never say, "This tastes yucky!" That's rude.

Boy 1: And you should never say, "Will you cook me something else instead?"

Boy 2: And you can't ever tell the person you HATE their food!

Boy 1: You should always say you love it, and you should never go spit the food in the toilet!

Boy 2: And you should never tell someone their hiney smells like a toilet! They will probably punch you in the guts!

Boy 1: You should always tell people "I love you!"

Me: Well, I don't think you have to say that to everyone.

Boy 2: Yeah, you can tell some people, "I hate you!"

Me: No, that's not what I meant.

Boy 1: Telling people you hate them will hurt their feelings.

Boys 2: You know what else hurts people's feelings? Telling them you can see their stupid underwear.

Boy 1: Daddy, he just said stupid AND underwear!

Boy 2: And you should always use the word "hiney" instead of "butt."

Me: Wait, are you just telling me this stuff so you can use words you know you aren't supposed to say?

Silence.

Boys: Yes.

Scrunchies need not apply

Daddy, everybody thinks I don't like girls. That's not true! I do like girls! I just don't like ponytails!

~Nate Alexander, Age 5

Spring Soccer 2013

The weather is warming up and the world is turning green again in Texas, which could only mean one thing: spring soccer. This season has been quite a challenge for the boys as they moved up to the next level. This is their first season in the 5-6 year old league, and they are pretty young compared to many of their opponents. I have actually been very impressed with the skill level of many of the kids they've played against. Sam and Nate both went from being the biggest kids on their team to being among the shortest. It's amazing how much difference a year makes. Both boys have improved their skills quite a bit, and they are able to stay focused on the game a lot better. We have really enjoyed seeing them play hard and enjoy the competition. You can see several action shots in the March and April photo albums.

A Living Hope

This Easter, as we sat in church listening to the message, I was reminded of our dear friend Dawn from Charlottesville. We got to know Dawn through our bible study group at church. We met on Wednesday evenings, and it was a wonderful time each week of renewal and fellowship. Dawn was a special part of this group, and when I think of her I see her standing in our living room praising the Lord with her arms raised high. She loved to stand and sing and lift her voice to God in praise. When we met Dawn, she had already had cancer twice. She had fully recovered both times and seemed healthy in every way. During our final year in Charlottesville, she was diagnosed with cancer once again. In many ways, she did not seem to be affected by the cancer, though the effects of the chemo on her energy and body were evident. Her spirit never faltered based on what we saw each week as we met with her. She would give us weekly updates at bible study, and from what we could tell the cancer was not spreading or getting worse. She continued to be involved in church and work until we moved in July 2009.

The next couple of years were a whirlwind for us, with two major moves and job changes. We still kept in touch with our friends from Charlottesville, but it was sporadic and infrequent. In November 2010, we got the following message from a friend in our bible study:

Many of us from Dawn Whipple's homegroup got to spend a sweet time with Dawn & her family in their home tonight.  She looked so feeble and weak, but smiled the most heartfelt, warm smiles we'd ever seen.  What brought the most joy to her heart was hearing each one read Scripture and worship the Living King!

She treasures worshipping God and wants Him to be glorified, lifted high, exalted.  Through such physical pain and frailty, a huge grin spread across her face when we stood up in her home & worshipped God wholeheartedly. She adores the book of Romans, so we read from that to her, as well as some passages from Psalms.  What an honor to spend time with our sister, Dawn!

Pray that God will be exalted through this time in her life.  Pray for her as God leads you, for God to heal her, comfort her, strengthen her.  Please pray God will be merciful in His timing of bringing her home.  As Zach said, He is waiting like a groom to welcome His bride, Dawn, to Himself.  Join us in praying that she'd be comforted by God, who is her Sabbath Rest.  As she abides in Jesus, may she know His deep peace and have comfort.

That message was followed by this one, which was sent early the next morning:

We just received news that our sister Dawn fell asleep last night, finishing the race, and going to be with her Father.

I must have read these e-mails 10 times. I couldn't believe the picture I was seeing. The thought I kept having was that Dawn died as she lived. This has not been the case for too many people I have known, whose dying self is only a faint shadow of the person I hold in my memory. Lives slowly stolen by age or disease, so that all we are left with is a person we recognize but not the person we knew. This was not the case for Dawn. She lived with an eternal hope, a worshiper of a living King and devoted follower of a true Friend. She was ushered from this life as she lived every day. Standing, praising, encouraging, singing, letting the water of the Word wash over her and flood her innermost being. In her final hours, she left her friends and family with a picture that showed who she really was.

I think this is what Easter means to me. Many people thought this was the end of Jesus's story, when it really was the beginning. His life on earth ended so His life in us could begin. He was the fulfillment of hope, a reason for living, a purpose worthy of us giving everything. He takes our tired, misdirected, burned out, addicted lives and replaces them with hope for a lasting Kingdom. Dawn knew that, and more importantly, she lived it. Her future wasn't something she was storing up. It was every moment because she knew her eternity wasn't in the future; He was alive inside of her, and that was not changed by physical conditions or the daily ebb and flow of life. Easter represents God's invitation to live with this hope forever, starting on earth and stretching into eternity.

When I reread the e-mails from our friend yesterday, I was reminded about the life God has invited us into. I am thankful for friends like Dawn who lived with such boldness and courage. I am encouraged to let God be my hope and strength. Eternity does not start when we die. It starts when we make Jesus our source of life.

Snaggletooth

In July of 2008, Gina shrieked for me to come into the room. I thought the ceiling had fallen in, but actually Sam cut his first tooth.

What seems like a few days later, she shrieked again. This time it was the opposite news. The floor fell through. OK, not really ...

These little reminders show me how fast time flies. Sam was pretty excited and proud, and Nate can't wait until it's his turn.

Saying Good-bye

I knew when I came in from running on the treadmill that something was wrong. My sister called three times in a matter of a few minutes, which is not something she normally does. I called Katie back and learned that our grandfather, Big Daddy, had passed away early that morning. He had been in declining health for some time, and he had recently developed double pneumonia. Still, the news was a shock and I didn't even know what to say.

After a whirlwind of planning for the services, we gathered in Farmersville to say good-bye to Big Daddy. A lot of family and friends came to the viewing and funeral, which meant a lot to the family. In honor of the Bigs, we all stayed at the farm together. Katie, Joe and Ella had flown in from Washington, D.C., my parents flew back from Europe, and our crew drove in from Fort Worth. After the services were over and the dust settled, we got to spend some time hanging out on the farm together. Uncle Clay burned one of the tree piles in the pasture, and we just stood around and enjoyed being with each other. The boys got to ride the tractor and bull dozer with Uncle Clay, Joe and I shot skeet, and we hiked around exploring the land. You can see pictures of our day at the farm in our photo album.

When I think about Big Daddy, I think about how much he enjoyed the simple things in life. I think about him telling me "This is good, with 100 O's between the G and D." I remember his smile and how he was always happy to see us when we walked in for a visit. He would spend hours with us out in the shop. One summer, I got the idea that I wanted to refurbish a box for my dad to keep his gun supplies in, and Big Daddy helped me with every detail of the project. The next summer, I decided I wanted to make a bread box. Rather than slapping together pieces of wood, Big Daddy taught me how to measure out the parts and create patterns. We carefully put together each piece of the bread box, and he let me do most of the work. He didn't overlook any aspect of the project, and I will never forget seeing the bread box when it was finally finished. It was something I could really be proud of. In fact, we still have it at our cabin in Wyoming.

Big Daddy was someone I was really proud of. He was a veteran of World War II. He survived a major burn when he was in his 80's. He was not ashamed to show how much he loved Big Mama, and they were a model couple in their community. He never had anything bad to say about people, and he loved to sing. I can remember him walking outside first thing in the morning and singing, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with all his might. He loved the Lord and never wavered in his faith. We all miss Big Daddy very much, and I am comforted by knowing he is with Jesus and Big Mama. More than anything, I'm grateful to have known him and love him as my grandfather.

Cinco Años de Edad: Nuestros Mellizos

I say this every year, but I can hardly believe Sam and Nate are 5. It just seems like yesterday these two little jellybeans burst onto the scene in Charlottesville, VA on the 8th floor of UVA Hospital. At the time, 5 years seemed a lifetime away, and in some ways it has been. We've moved, and moved, and moved some more. We've had new jobs, changed schools, met new friends, visited new churches. The boys have grown in inches and pounds, expanded their vocabulary, and explored every inch of their world. To call this adventure almost seems to be an understatement.

This year we celebrated Sam and Nate's birthday by having a "Super Bowl"-ing Party. We met with many family and friends at the local bowling alley and had a great time on the lanes, eating cake and pizza, and laughing with each other. It was a lot of fun watching all of the kids trying to move those heavy balls up the lanes, and they seemed to get better as the day went on. Sam and Nate had a great time, and we were all happy so many people came out to celebrate with us.

You can see more pictures of the party in our our photo album. Gina and I are so very proud of Sam and Nate. They are a blessing and joy to our family, and they never cease to amaze us with all they are learning. We can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Come sail away

My dad spent two years in the Navy, and my childhood was filled with his stories from the sea. He would talk about standing on the side of the ship, watching and contemplating the vast expanse of the ocean. The exhilaration of sailing in to a new port. The adventure of exploring a new destination. These stories fascinated me and captured my imagination.

When Gina and I started talking about the possibility of going on a cruise, this was the first thing I thought of. Not the entertainment, or the food, or even the warm temps. I thought about life on the sea, just like my dad had experienced so many years ago. After several months of waiting and planning, the time finally came to board the ship, and I was not disappointed. For the better part of two days, all I wanted to do was go out on the deck of our room and watch the ocean. We breathed in the air, listened to the waves, looked for distant ships, and stood in awe of the vast expanse. In this regard, it was an experience not matched by any other in my entire life.

When it comes to taking a vacation, I have to say a cruise is a wonderful way to go. There are many activities to do on the ship. Sam and Nate were especially fond of miniature golf  and the endless supply of softserve ice cream. Gina liked the pools and the towel animals. Me? I liked the ocean. And the ice cream.

Our first two days were spent at sea. These two days went surprisingly fast, and there is so much to do on the ship to pass the time. Our first stop was in Montego Bay, Jamaica. We then went to Grand Cayman, and we spent our final day in Cozumel. I would write an entire volume on each day, but in the interest of time I will let the pictures do the explaining.

The cruise was a perfect way to spend the New Year, and I can't think of a better way to spend time with family and relax at the onset of a busy semester. We ate, we laughed, spent time in the sun and water, and most importantly, we shared memories that will last a lifetime. The boys are already asking when we will do it again, which is  a good sign.