An Important Debate

The next few months will find Americans have important, passionate conversations as we head towards choosing a president in November. Today Jen and I revived an ongoing discussion about a topic that impacts many Americans: Pop-Tarts.

It's been forever since we've had them in the house, but Jen picked up a box the last time she was at the store. "Did you get the frosted kind?", I asked. No, she replied, "Those are gross." "Gross?", I retorted, "Without the frosting they're barely worth eating!"

You see, like McCain and Obama, there are clear differences of opinion that differentiate my wife and me. I believe in frosted pop-tarts. She puts her faith in the naked variety.

Maybe you all can help us settle this:

Are you a frosted or un-frosted kind of person?

Which flavor of Pop-Tarts are your favorite?

Use the comments feature and bring peace to our household.

The Girl's First Lunchbox

As a kid the best part of getting ready to go back to school was the trip to buy a new lunchbox. I can't remember ever caring what I wore to school before the 5th grade- but I sure did care about the fashion statement my lunchbox made. I remember rocking "Hong Kong Phoey", "The Incredible Hulk" and "Star Wars" themes just to name a few.

Apparently the genetic trend has been passed down the family tree. Here's Addy's first:


Kind of fitting since she'd in the "Fabulous Frogs" class huh?

How about you? Do you remember any of your childhood lunchboxes? Were you a metal or plastic person?

Addy's First Day of Preschool (Sniff)...

Since she's just a year away from Kindergarten we thought Addy might need to get used to the classroom setting. So we set her up to do preschool twice a week.

Today was her first day.

She was excited.

Mom was a little teary- which is ENTIRELY understandable. This is the first time we've dropped her off with someone other than family or very close friends and then left for hours at a time.

Addy is in the "Fabulous Frogs" class- which given her love for all things green- fits her like a glove.

I'm sure we'll have more updates and stories from preschool in the future.

It's true, they grow up too fast.

How We Spent Our Saturday

As you've probably heard, we've still got a bit of work to do on our home. Jen's stated goal is to have all renovations completed is Christmas '08. While that sounds far off, we're aware that the year has sped by already. So, we decided to tackle a project or two on this holiday weekend.

For the past 4 months our dining room has been a paint and flooring storage area w/blockades set up to keep the small people in our house out of it. We bought a new dining room table (surprise- on Criagslist) two weeks ago and thought we could put it to use if we actually had a usable space to put it in.

So we got up this morning determined not to sleep again until we had laid about 140 sq feet of cork flooring. 9 hours later- with some help from God on the weather and child watching by Howard & Judy- we're finished.

Here's the dining room as of this am:
(And that's after about an hour of cleaning!)

Here's what it looks like tonight:


We're feeling handy and ready for some sleep!

Friday Lunch

Not sure what I like best about this picture- Colston's use of black beans as a facial treatment, his resemblance to a piranha, or his imitation of a spoon rest.

I love my boy.

A Chance Encounter??

Today I went to see a family in our church who had a new baby last night. The hospital they chose is HUGE and has been added on to about 37 times in the last 100 years. The result is not only tons of square footage for first quality medical care, but a seemingly endless labyrinth which doubles as a test of mental and physical endurance for visitors. On the way in I made a complete loop of the facility before I finally found the maternity ward. After checking in on the recently expanded family, I hopped in the elevator to begin my long trek back to my car.

One other guy rode along with me as we spend downward to the first floor. I noticed the wristbands on his arm and remembering that we were leaving the maternity ward, I queried, "Just have a new baby?" He looked at me and said, "Actually we had twins." Seeing my congratulatory smile forming, he added, "And I usually don't tell strangers this. No need to burden them with it- but one of our babies died after four days. The other is alive and strong." "I'm so sorry" were the only words I was able to generate. "That's ok. I don't know why I told you that," he replied. Then the door opened. "I'm so sorry" I offered again. He smiled sadly and then disappeared down the hall.

A flood of thoughts and emotions swam through me as retraced the halls and sidewalks back to my parking place. I thought about my friend's joy as they showed me their new baby, and imagined how conflicted this other couple must be with one baby cooing and the other silenced. Most of all I wondered why this man had apologized. Should someone with such a loss be forced to bear it in secret?

Then his words, "I don't know why I'm telling you this" came back to me. He didn't know me from Adam. He didn't know that I'm a guy who prays from time to time. Or that I've got lots of friends who do the same. But God knew. Maybe God set things up this afternoon so that we'd end up together for those couple of moments. Perhaps the Spirit of God prompted him to open up and share his darkest truth with a complete stranger. Maybe not, but maybe so.

I decided not to take any chances. As I merged my car back onto the Beltline I started praying for this family who are strangers to me, but not to the God who cries with them. And now I'm asking you to join me. Would you offer some words to God on behalf of the man I met today who wears two newborn bracelets, but will only take one baby home? Would you ask God to give this family comfort, peace and healing as only He can?

Thanks. I knew you would.

The Tormentor

No, not me. I'm talking about the innocent looking girl next to me. Yes, I'm serious. Although she often looks like an angel, as an older sister, she has the innate ability to torment her younger brother.

Example: Today I met the family at Chick-Fil-A at lunch. Usually I avoid that joint like the plague at lunchtime because there are about 1000 people crammed into a building made for 100. However, since today was the first day of school, the restaurant was only half full. Hooray for education!

Anyway, as we're finishing our food, Addy exercises her option to trade the toy from her meal for an ice cream cone. Knowing full well that Colston will want some, Jen had the foresight to ask for an empty bowl and gave him some of Addy's soft serve.

For the first few minutes Addy and Colston ate at about the same rate. But as Addy noticed Colston's ice cream disappearing, she went into slow motion- averaging one lick about every 30 seconds. Why? To torment her brother and flaunt her frozen bliss right in front of his eyes.

Finally we'd had enough of him fussing, packed up and declared that Addy had to finish her cone by the time we got to the car. When we fastened her into her car seat she still had about 4 normal sized bites left. Not wanting her mom to finish or throw away her dessert, Addy put the whole thing in her mouth and somehow got it down.

In some strange way, I was kind of proud.