Pool Break
This morning Ella and Mommy went to the pool before lunch. As soon as they left, I realized I should join them. So I hopped into my car and surprised them at the pool.
At the Park
This evening we picnicked at Catholic Park. Afterwards, Ella and I had some fun on the playground while Mommy cheered us on.
Shh…Don’t Tell Beth, This is a Surprise
Tomorrow Beth and I will have been married for six years. Yea! We know it is a short amount of time, but considering the relational heartaches which run throughout the modern world, we both realize how blessed we are to have made it this far.
Perhaps one of the best ways I can share my love and fondness for Beth is to relate how much I’m looking forward to spending time with her over the next half day. We both have this afternoon off, and Grandmommy is keeping Ella overnight. Therefore, once Beth gets back, we’re going to head to the Gourmet’s Market for a late lunch. Then we’ll simply enjoy spending time together before we grab dinner and a movie this evening.
There’s no one else in the world I’d rather be spending my time with. She’s my best friend, and I love and appreciate her so much. Through the years, our friendship and love for one another has only grown stronger. We have God to thank for the shared commitment and loyalty He has molded and fashioned into our characters. He is the foundation of our relationship, and we know that makes all the difference in the world.
Now, regarding this blog post as a “surprise”: I don’t expect Beth to see this until the next time she’s able to sit down with her laptop and browse her favorite blogs. Therefore, I’m writing this as a virtual card to her. I love you, honey. I look forward to spending another year with you.
Love in Christ,
Michael
Michael
As I handed Ella…
As I handed Ella her milk this morning, she said, “There you go sweetheart.” My sentiments exactly. 
Feeling Like a Child on Father’s Day
Every so often I get the most tantalizing awareness of the life I’m living. Despite my thirty-five plus years, I feel as though I’m experiencing a moment as the me I was twenty-five or so years ago. For example, sometimes I stop and ponder the present life I live with my wife, Beth, and our daughter, Ella, and I think it so strange that a “twelve year-old” like myself should find himself in such circumstances. When will they “find me out” and tell me to pack up and go home because playtime is over?
Mind you, this isn’t a bad or frightening feeling. I’m not saying I feel like an imposter during these moments. Rather, these are times when I’m able to enjoy my present circumstances with the joy and whimsy of a child. What’s more, I know I’m not alone in these thoughts. I’m quite sure that whether or not you’ve ever felt this way, you’re capable of feeling this way given the right outlook.
What I’m describing here is one aspect of what I believe it means to be young at heart. It isn’t about not “acting your age”. Instead it’s about enjoying life’s moments as a gift. I count it as a gift when I’m able to reflect on my present roles and responsibilities with the delight of my younger self pretending to be all grown up. It’s a great stress reliever, and it helps me enter into the experiences of those around me.
These thoughts came to me as our house was winding down this evening. Mommy was brushing Ella’s teeth, and I was getting ready to read Ella a bedtime story. It had been a wonderful Father’s Day. It started with me getting Ella out of bed this morning. As I rubbed her back, she lifted her arm and said, “Hi, Daddy.” Then I brought her into the den, and we snuggled on the couch for a while before Mommy came in from getting dressed. We went to church, and then we drove over to my Father’s church to hear him preach. He exhorted all the fathers that their single most important job was to lead their children to Christ. I could attest to his integrity in saying this as he has done this for me.
Later this evening, I found myself thinking about God as my Dad. It’s such an astounding claim that Christians make: The God who created the Universe is the same God who is our Abba, Daddy, Father (Romans 8:15). Yet, this is what is attested to in the Scriptures. Therefore, considering my adoption as God’s son by virtue of my faith in Christ, in one sense, I’m justified in feeling like a child as I go through life. By virtue of His Holy Spirit, God imparts the vitality of the Christ-life upon His children. He makes all things new, redeeming our lives for His eternal purposes. Despite the fact that our bodies grow old, if we allow Him, His Spirit will infuse our everyday moments with the wonder, awe and even whimsy that comes from being children of the Great, High King.
Drinking Milk
Ella has started drinking her milk out of a cup with a straw. What a big girl!
Ella’s Super “Twos” Day
Ella is two years old today! We started the morning by giving her a Madeline doll. Then we brought her into the den where her Cozy Coupe was waiting for her. She proceeded to climb in and zoom around the house.
Our Beach Trip: Seven Questions Asked and Answered
Yesterday was a wonderful day to get back in the flow of home life. We started the morning at church. I was blessed with the opportunity to teach in our community group and got to lead an active group conversation on God’s role as Creator. When we got home, Ella went down for a nap. I cooked lunch and had some great conversation with Beth (she said the distractions of my cooking made the pacing perfect for processing her thoughts). After Ella’s nap, the three of us headed outside for some yard work. Finally, we finished off the evening with a “dinner” of frozen yogurt at Froyoz and a little grocery shopping.
This past week was a wonderful week of discovery for our little family. Given Beth and my predilection for details and planning, several questions were on our mind as we planned our beach trip. Now we’d like to share our questions and the answers we discovered:
1) Will the pool and ocean be warm enough?
LONG ANSWER: We got serious about our beach trip in late April. We saw that the week of Memorial Day offered accommodations at substantial savings to the following peak summer weeks. The only major question about doing this in Beth’s mind was, “Will the pool and ocean be warm enough?” With thoughts of global warming in mind, I assured her that it would.
My prediction held true. Air temps were in the mid to upper-eighties, and I’d estimate the ocean temp was in the mid to upper seventies. As I’m writing this, I ask Beth if she concurs, and she says, “I don’t know temps, honey. It felt great. Not even a shiver from Ella all week.” In addition, the pool started out warm, and got warmer. By Tuesday, it was warmer than the evening air temperature.
SHORT ANSWER: Yes, they were perfect!
2) How will Ella do during the car ride?
Ella far exceeded our expectations. She was so patient, and she took naps “on command”. I swear I’m not making that up. For example, yesterday we ate lunch at Wendy’s. Afterwards, we started down the interstate, and mommy gave Ella her milk. She finished, and mommy said, “Ella, it’s time to take a nap.”
Ella asked, “Take a nap at home?” and mommy smiled and said, “No, in the car.”
Ella thought about that for a minute. “Paci in the car?” she asked pensively. Mommy nodded, handing back the treasured nap time talisman. Ella stuck it in her mouth and said, “Sing?” Mommy sang her nap time song, and Ella proceeded to take a two hour nap.
3) Will Ella sleep in her playpen?
Yes, Ella loved sleeping in her playpen. With all of her blankies and “pink puppy”, it seemed as though she liked it as much as her regular bed.
4) Will we eat good food?
Yes, we loved dining out at Roastfish and Cornbread, and our dinners in were scrumptious as well.
I was just discussing this one with Beth, and she said it was never a question in her mind. “You know why?” she asked.
“No, why?”
“Because you were going on the trip I knew we would eat yummy food,” she said.
Gee, thanks honey!
5) What will we read?
Beth read Take Four by Karen Kingsbury and I read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand.
6) How will Ella do in the pool and the ocean?
Fantastic! Her progression throughout the week was fun to behold. Somewhat timid at first, by the end of the week, one of her favorite things to do was sit on the side of the pool, roll in with our help, and swim (with a helping hand) several feet underwater.
7) BONUS: What will we name our new baby?
Paige. We’ve got the middle name too, but we’re still working on the spelling.
Given that we’re getting back to our regular routine, my hunch is this will be the last extended post that I’ll write here for a while. In the meantime, I’ll continue to post pictures and shorter updates; however, I’ll save my longer writing for my personal/business blog.
Vacation Stamina
Yesterday morning I joined the friendly fraternity of fathers packing the family car as we prepared to drive home from the beach. There was Frank from Georgia, grey hair, early sixties, packing his nephews’ and nieces’ things on top of the mini van. Another guy reminded me of Wallace Shawn as Vizzini in The Princess Bride, he seemed sort of creepy. Then there was this other guy who I passed on several trips on the elevator. As we exchanged pleasantries during a trip down, he mentioned his family had been there for five weeks.
This bit of info left me slightly stupefied. How does one vacation for five weeks? While I understand the logistics of it (i.e. you pay your rent and spend a lot of time getting your R&R), I couldn’t summon the mental fortitude to actually do such a thing.
Beth couldn’t imagine it either. We both come from a long line of “one week per vacation” families. We prefer to get our kicks in the sun for seven or so days, and then we’re ready to return to our regular beds and normal lives. Anything longer seems as though it’s a violation of our basic constitutions. In order to do otherwise, I think you’d need to be raised that way. Hearing this story of one epic vacation made us that much ready to get home.
So here’s to being back. We enjoyed making memories at the beach last week, but now we’re equally glad to be back among the friends and family we love.
Biking on Hilton Head
Today’s “post from the beach” is coming late because we’ve been busy packing a full day into our last day. Among the many fun things we’ve done, we made sure to take one last bike ride after dinner this evening.
We were told that Hilton Head ranks in some top ten list for US biking communities, and it’s easy for us to see why. Everywhere you look there are tree lined bike trails.
On Wednesday, we rented two “cruising bikes” for the remainder of the week. We attached Ella’s Kid Kart to mine, and we’ve taken a bike ride every day since. Last night we biked to dinner at Carraba’s Italian Restaurant, and tonight we took our longest ride of the week as we went over to a secluded golf resort.
The ease of hoping onto our bikes for a ride has fit in perfectly with the pacing of our vacation. Beth and I both agree that Hilton Head is our kind of place. Its quiet beaches, miles of bike trails and family atmosphere have made a great week long home for our little family. We leave tomorrow with sweet memories which will last a lifetime.