God-Smacked!

I have recently been awe-struck, or "God-smacked", at the wisdom that I see reflected in our grown daughters as they walk out their responsibilities as godly mothers and wives. They both have very active preschool boys and newborn daughters to raise, houses to clean, attitudes to juggle, families to cook for, husbands to please, and their God to follow. I sit in genuine amazement often as I watch how they are handling all of these roles and wonder, "Where did they learn to handle all of this with the grace that I see???", as I can honestly look back and realize that unfortunately, it did not get passed down from me. They both are light years ahead of where I was at their age. Or even ten years older than they are now. Their mother did a fantastic job setting an example of a godly mother for them growing up, but even she is equally amazed at the fruit in our daughters. So what IS the source of their capabilities and wisdom? And naturally, the only appropriate and genuine response is found in the book of James, chapter 1, verse 17 :"Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." God's goodness smacks me in the face when I consider His amazing goodness to us, to our children and their husbands, and to our grandchildren. I never thought that being smacked could be such a wonderful thing!

Back Off!

I feel the need to electronically confess something that my wife, my daughters and their husbands know all too well: I meddle. Whether I guise it in what I think are discreet, gentle inquiries or just knock them over the head with blunt interference, meddling is meddling. My ego, springing only from the fact that I have lived longer than my grown children, falsely validates my "right" to "guide" them with my vast wisdom. Oops. After being rebuked for this over 15,000 times in the past six months (did I also mention that I struggle with hyperbole?), I am finally getting the message from God to SHUT UP and BACK OFF. Rachel, Michal, Christy, and Kenney: please forgive me. My intentions have always been honorable, but that is little to no consolation to you or excuse for me to intervene in your independence. God doesn't require my assistance to watch over you, and I am sure somehow you manage to get through your days without me there. I am painfully slow at times to learn lessons others never need learn. I think God must have an IEP for me in Heaven. For those unfamiliar with educational lingo, an IEP is an individualized education plan for students with learning issues. Filled with remorse and more than a little embarrassment, I will crawl off to my own little corner, lick some ego wounds, facing my learning issue and hopefully delete my meddling instinct and increase my prayer time for my family.

Who WAS that masked man???

Mr. Incredible paid a special visit to our house yesterday. Fighting crime among the stuffed animals and toddler toys in our house, "Mr. Incredible" (whose secret identity is my grandson, Braydon) works hard to keep the rooms in our house safe from the menacing threats of evil-doers! Between bouts of crime-fighting, Mr. Incredible took a break and posed with his mother and little sister for a photo op. I can sleep more peacefully knowing this eager crime-fighter is working overtime!

Friday Fun

Tonight, my daughter and son-in-law brought Braydon & Makenna over for supper. Braydon & I managed to play several rounds of SuperHeroes (a variation on the many sub-plots of THE INCREDIBLES), policeman catching the criminals, we watched "Jesus movies" (a slide show of Bible stories displayed on a kiddie projector), Cars stickers, and we also pretended to talk to several people on Braydon's "cell" phone, including his girlfriend Macy (whom he informed me tonight that he would marry, but I couldn't go until I get an "inbitation"). After reading the story where Jesus gets criticized by the Pharisees, Braydon started to pretend he was a Pharisee himself. Here is a picture of Pharisee Braydon (it's not my fault it came out looking like a wannabe rappa pose!)Of course, between adventures with Braydon, I snapped several shots of Makenna. Check out her response to the incessant flash of my camera:

"What???????!!!!!!!!!!"

We had a very nice evening, visiting with Christy & Kenney and the kids! And another reason I had fun Friday is because today was the last day of the first semseter at my school and I know that I will NEVER have to deal with the students I had first semester EVER AGAIN!! I'm free, I'm free!

Ouch!

My wife and I are attending a two-week seminar at church sponsored by a group called Life Action. The focus of this seminar is on brokenness and revival. Part of the experience of the seminar is completing a very painful and brutal private inventory about the sinfulness in your life. As I left church for the past two nights, I left with a very uncomfortable and nagging sense of just what a loser I still am. And that hurts! I don't want to think about the cumulative reality of my sin. I want to keep things on a very even, comfortable plane so that I can ease on down the road of life.
We are all in desperate need of the Savior. I am on the top of THAT list....

Every Family Needs a Jim and Laura

Today, I would like to brag about two very special people who have been instrumental in my life and the life of my family: my sister, Laura, and her husband, Jim. This couple has been an integral part of almost every significant family event in my own family since we got married. They have sown amazing amounts of love into my family for almost three decades now: we lived with them for a brief spell in the 1980s, they have showered us all with their presence and too many gifts to even begin to recall at birthdays, anniversaries, births, family reunions, get-togethers, church events, etc. They have been emotional and spiritual rocks for us when we walked through dark, dismal valleys. They have welcomed our grandchildren's arrival into this world with tears in their own eyes. They have fasted, prayed, supported, given, shared burdens, treated us to extravagant meals, laughed, cried, prayed, laughed, whispered, shouted, and lived their life before as genuine, authentic believers in Jesus. They have become such dear friends to us; there are no words to adequately describe the bond between our families. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR JIM AND LAURA. You are so good to have allowed them to be in our lives!

I end this blog with verses from the Bible that describe them. When I think of Jim, I think of Psalm 1:3- "He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water,that brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Jim is a like a strong, oak tree of compassion, friendship, and strength. Laura to me is a shining example of the Virtuous Woman described in Proverbs 31: 28. "Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 29 Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." Thank you, Jim and Laura, for your example, your love and your friendship. You two have made such a difference in our lives....

And, by the way, Happy Birthday, Jim!

WANTED!

Becky Sue Marie Burp, Junior Burp, Bubba Burp

Have you seen this family? They are WANTED in North Carolina for impersonation of P.W.T. (Poor White Trash). Contact 1-800-Countree if you spot them. Last seen in a 1973 Chevy Pickup with a bumper sticker that reads: "God, Guns, and Glory!"

My Ladybug

This morning, I discovered through my grandson that his new little sister Makenna has a nickname: "Ladybug". I was able to take the day off from work and spend it with Christy, Braydon, and Makenna, so I just HAD to take some pictures! The digital camera that Rachel & Michal gave us for Christmas is my new toy that I play with all of the time! Here are some shots of Ladybug and her Mommy. This morning, she had her very first bath and I was there to capture it on film. The first shot is one of Makenna and her Papa discussing the merits of bathing. Next is Makenna just fresh from her bath.

Isn't she a pretty Ladybug????

The Many Faces of Michal a.k.a. "The Scot"

If you know my son-in-law Michal, you know that he is always looking for ways to have fun. While scanning through old family photos this morning, I discovered some shots of him that you might find "interesting".....

What can I say? Draw your own conclusions!

Fork Drops of 2007

What in the world, you might ask if you are not a member of my immediate family, is a "fork drop"? A fork drop, as defined by our crazy family, is a shocking or unexpected event. You know, the kind of news that makes people at the dinner table drop their forks in shock and stare blankly into space. At the end of every year, my family develops the Fork Drop List for the year. Here is my official Fork Drop List for 2007:

1. It SNOWED on my daughter's wedding day! You have to understand, she got married in April, which is usually warm and bright in North Carolina. So my wife and I happily planted gerber daisies throughout our yard in preparation for Christy & Kenney's big day. The bizarre snow that morning wiped out the entire crop of gerbers! Grrrrrrrrr! (and Brrrrrr!)

2. BOTH of our daughters announced that they were going to give birth to baby girls! What are the odds that we would have two grandsons and then two granddaughters?

3. I actually learned how to BLOG! Who KNEW?????????????

4. I actually learned how to navigate my way around a digital camera. Again, who KNEW??????????

5. I actually beat my son-in-law at UNO. How in the WORLD did that happen???

6. My son-in-law Michal announced that he is going to become a professional deep sea diver and that Rachel and the kids would be staying with us for a bit. I am THRILLED to have the chance to spend so much time with Rachel and the kids, but we will miss Michal a LOT!

7. I actually lived long enough to see the Washington Redskins BEAT the Dallas Cowboys and make it to a playoff berth! WHO KNEW????

Well, there is this year's list. Who knows what will make the Fork Drops of 2008 list?????

A Day To Remember

Yes, it is New Year's Day. But this day has a different significance for me. Thirty-three years ago today, as a seventeen year old high school student, I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior and Lord. It is by far the most significant event of my life. God's goodness, mercy and grace have sustained me throughout the decades. May your New Year be filled with God's goodness, mercy and grace. And, by the way, Happy New Year!