5-3

Cubs won their first spring training game against the Dodgers. Micah Hoffpauir hit a grand slam.

Spring training games dont count for much...but we (as if I had anything to do with it) are 1-0.

Joe

Aaron

Last week, Aaron broke his right pinky. At first, we thought he just jammed it. but when we went to the doctor and got an x-ray, it clearly showed a break right above the growth plate.
Thankfully, we have insurance to pay for it. Right now, he has a cast on his hand and on his pinky. he will get it off in two weeks.

Please pray for him.

Annie

Funny Picture

I asked Tia if this was a relative? She said possibly.


thanks Rob!

tooo funny!

joe
(who has never sold turdles or turtles!)

Parenting Doubts

Being a parent is the most challenging role in the world.

Persistant doubting questions:

"How much is too much discipline?"
"When do I show grace?"
"Boundaries are good, arent they?"
"God can use poor past choices for His glory right?"
"High expectations for achievement in school and extra-curricular is healthy, right?"
"Expected participation in a sport is good for the body, mind and spirit, correct?"
"How much money is too much money for those sport participation expectations?"
"I am just a steward of what I have, I mean, its not really mine anyway?"
"A lack of a healthy relationship with an earthly father will impact how I father?"
"Do I have what it takes to be a dad?"

I once started to read a book by John Eldridge where he stated that God wants those of us considered "fatherless" to run to Him with His arms wide open and jump into them and call Him "daddy". I couldnt finish that book.

When I try to picture this in my mind it grinds to a halt. I have trouble conceiving God as dad.

(Another post sometime about my Dads could be healing, but not now.)

I confess.

I have prayed the following more than once.

"Oh Lord, as a fatherless father I am clueless. I am a mess and have no idea what I am doing. Help. I need you."

All this as my Amy is away on a church winter retreat and I am repeatedly asking God to care for her and that I dont wanna mess up His work in her life. To be her Father in each and everyway in which I fall short. To meet the needs in her life of which I am not even remotely aware. Even the ones I am aware of, I feel inadequate.

Isnt this the essence of living by faith?

We were challenged this weekend at our church to live by faith like Gideon. To walk into battle against 135,000 midianites not with 32,000 fighting men but 300. To live like this is illogical and to some, foolish. Read it here for yourselves.

Being a parent is the most challenging role in the world.

It requires "Gideon-like" faith.


Joe

Quote

I found this quote today. I love Corrie Ten Boom, what an inspiration.

Every experience God gives us
Every person He puts in our lives
is the perfect preparation for a future
only He can see.
--Corrie Ten Boom

So long tree...

This is what we came home to after the swim meet on wednesday. The wind was just too much for this 30 year old white pine. Kind of sad, thirty years and its now fire wood. The kids were really sad, it was a great climbing tree. You could see the whole neighborhood from way up there, until mom would catch you.

It is really amazing how such a tall tree could have such shallow roots- there is a lesson for us. "Dig our roots in deep to withstand the winds of life." How profound, I sound like the guy on SNL.

Anyway, this is waht Joe gets to do today, use a chainsaw to cut up a pine tree and then figure out what to do with all that wood no one wants. Pray he has all 10 fingers when he is done!

Pictures.

Amy had her first 2 meets this week and she did great! She got to swim varsity and posted her best times. She has the most fun cheering on her friends, though.

Here is one picture of Andrew playing basketball, he is quite the player. I need to get better at my photography skills and the gym. I just can't quite get it together. He loves playing and we had to put a limit on his shooting this week, too many fast breaks. He could only shoot off the offensive rebound. Most of the kids on the team don't even know what an offensive rebound is yet, so he is a little ahead of the game. He will probably play up next year.