It scared my pants out

Said my 3 year old regarding some – obviously frightening – experience in his life.

Walk in the woods

I haven’t been there for years – but I again found the place in the woods that I had visited many times since my parents first brought me there as a child.  This time I brought my three youngest sons – their first time.

The roads are different, but the same, the trees older but still familiar.  The bends in the path, the lay of the land - the collection of all of my visits.  Like an old friend, farther and closer at the same time.  My course was precise but uncertain until I found them again – the pines.

An outdoor cathedral – the pines, we called them.  Still quieter than quiet - still other worldly. 

There’s undergrowth now.  Weakening at the top, light calling the next forrest, the vast openness and clarity were alas only temporary glories.  Complexity, transition, aging.

In my life too.

October

First professional job – 17th – 1980
First child born - 15th – 1985
First solo flight – 12th – 1997 
First Pastorate – 1st – 2004

What do you want to be for Halloween this year?

“A lollipop or gum”, answered my 3 year old.

We’re less than 10%!

Our church has grown large enough so that the number of people who live under my roof is finally less than 10% of our attenders.

Ah HAAH!!!

“PLEASE don’t do that any more, Daddy!”, cried my three year old.

I guess I can see that.  I don’t think I’d like it very much if someone yelled “Ah HAAH!” behind me when I was walking up the steps.

That’s spinach talk

…said my 3 year old. 

“Is that good or bad talk?”, I asked.

“It’s good talk.”

Naming their stuffed animals

1st daughter’s - “Beaufort”
2nd daughter’s – “Sparkle”
3rd daughter’s – “Old Mr. Stripes”

1st son’s – “Aunt Jodi”
2nd son’s – “Green Bear”  (it was a green bear)
3rd son’s – “Captain Miller”
4th son’s – “Thu Knox”

OTT, brother!

It stands for “Over the top…”, and it is what my 5 year old tends to do some times – in his reactions, play, etc. 

The other day, my wife heard my three year old say to his older brother, “OTT, brother, OTT!”

Stopping Traffic

My 5 year old thinks he’s in charge.  We were crossing the parking lot at the grocery store the other day, and he put up his hand to stop the cars as we passed.