Watching life as a husband, father of 7, pastor, and software engineer.
20 years ago, I set up my office so that three different computers were accessed using the same screen. This week, I set it up so that one computer could have three screens.
There’s a sermon illustration in there somewhere, but I don’t know what it is yet.
laser???? is not a very good idea for a password – especially since I can no longer remember what the ???? characters were.
A software developer should not forget their own system password twice in the same day.
Today I learned that when taking a tech support call on my speaker phone - I should also make sure that the sound is turned off on my country gospel music pandora station.
Some versions of the intro to “swing low, sweet chariot” can be quite a distraction.
Last month’s entries include a down payment for a wedding reception, a lawn mower, a driver’s training road test, three different car repairs, and a payment to a psychologist for an ADHD Dx.
“I must have a real job…”, said my teen aged daughter, “I just bought a knick knack.”
My wife and I had the privilege – given to us by our wonderful children – to get away for 48 hours from – well – our wonderful children. It was long enough to miss them again. And, we got away from the rest of life a bit too.
We we’re both surprised by how much our daily life had been reduced from living to coping. And, it felt like we weren’t necessarily doing a great of a job of that.
It makes sense we we’re feeling wiped out. Most of our friends our age are already empty nesting – or close to it. We’re, um, not.
We have 7 children. Our oldest daughter got married last year and we love our son-in-law. Our next daughter is planning on following her example soon – (here’s hoping) – that’s two weddings in 12 months. Our 21 year son is in college – about to transfer to a bigger one, and our 18 year old daughter graduates from High School this year. Our fifth child will be 15 next week, a 9th grader. And, nearly 5 years ago we adopted two little boys – they’re 6 and 8 now – not so little anymore. Our family is demographically and ethnically diverse, to say the least. Except for the one who’s married, we still all share the same drive way. Well, she still knows where it is.
We have 3 jobs. I have two vocations – I’m a Pastor at a small, revitalized and growing church, and, I’m a computer programmer. Between the two I “work” around 65 hours a week – but I’d put in a lot of that church time even if I weren’t a pastor. It’s my wife who does most of the work around here, though. Every meal has at least 6 of us here, and often 11 – not to mention opportunities to entertain folks from church. We have a kanban system in the laundry room – but I’m the only one around here who knows that is what it is called. She’s a logistical genius and keeps herself beautiful too.
But, we’re refreshed and living again. “Thank you”, guys, for making that possible.
We love each other a ton – our life – and especially our children. We wouldn’t change a thing and we’re grateful to God for the abundance of life he is giving us.
It’s a blast – it’s always a party! And, we’re already scheduling the next get away… 
As one who already struggles more than I should with eating and drinking without choking, the last thing I should be doing is drinking tea when I’m deep in thought trying to solve a programming problem.
Last time I tried it, I spewed tea all over my work station and drooled all over my shirt.
I’m grateful I have a private office.
In a single half hour period, my wife and I had to deal with who bent the hula hoop, how someone broke the new pepper shaker, how much time someone should be on Facebook, and how to resolve a conflict over who got to use the ribbon to make a book mark.
“Hey Dad, do Engineers need instructions?”, breathlessly asked my 5 year old as he ran into my office. “We’re going to play engineers and we want to make instructions!”
I didn’t have the courage to tell him that while Engineers often make instructions, they rarely use them.
Said my 4-year-old. Here is his to do list:
Eat lunch
Clean my room
Play with toys
Go outside
Clean the house
Get exercise
So much to do, so little time.
