Monday, November 07, 2011
A happy girl
As much as I love Fall, there are a few reasons I dislike this time of year.
One reason I mentioned here.
Another reason I mentioned here.
Yet another reason is because Daylight Savings Time ends and it gets dark too blasted early.
By the time I got home with the kids and helped Karys finish her homework, Eliana was dying to go outside.
And I had a boatload of excuses not to go out with her.
It was getting dark.
It was getting cold.
I was tired after working all day.
I was grumpy after waiting 10 minutes for Karys to figure out that the number before 12 is 11.
I wanted to work on our blog redesign.
You know what Carmi did? She went outside to throw football with Eliana.
And that, my friends, was waaaaay out of Carmi’s comfort zone.
So I had a quick heart-to-heart with myself.
I could give Eliana every one of those perfectly valid excuses. But you know what she would hear?
She didn’t care that it was getting dark.
She didn’t care that it was getting cold.
She didn’t care that I was tired.
She didn’t care that I was grumpy.
She didn’t care what else I wanted to do.
If I gave her any of those excuses, all she would hear is that her daddy didn’t want to spend time with her.
So I relieved my wife and began throwing football with Eliana.
And Eliana was a happy girl.
And so was Carmi.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
What Karys got from me
It was my turn this morning to teach our 7th and 8th grade Sunday School class.
The last 3 weeks we’ve talked about some of God’s characteristics - His kindness, goodness and gentleness. Today I wrapped things up by teaching that we should exhibit those same characteristics because we are a reflection of God. Much like we inherit the characteristics of our parents when we are born.
So tonight, Zane comes into the room where I am and he’s laughing.
“Dad, I know what Karys got from you.”
I had no clue what the boy was talking about.
“Huh? What Karys got from me?”
“You know… you said at church how parents give things to their children… “
“Ohhhhh, yeah… yeah…”
I was impressed that he might actually have been listening.
“And what did I give her?”
“Your fartness,” he said.
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