Watching John Henry work on his A-game.
And this.
(Wardrobe courtesy of Ga-Ga)
What’s one of your million reasons?
Category Archives: parenting
2 of the million reasons I love being a mom.
Filed under Motherhood, parenting, Randomness
Wanna make a memory?
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Georgia, and I hear Miss Anna yelling down the hallway, “Ga-Ga!” “Ga-Ga!” “Ga-Ga!” “It’s time to get up!” (Ga-Ga is my children’s name of choice for my dad.) Dad was already up and moving. After all, it is Sunday, and it probably wouldn’t go over well if he slept in…since he is the pastor. For real.
Hearing her call for Ga-Ga to wake up made my mind instantly rewind back to being a little girl anxiously waiting for the “okay” from my Grandmother to go wake up my Granddaddy for the morning grub. I love that memory.
I just love remembering. Don’t you? Sometimes we do things with our children with the sole purpose of “making a memory.” But, I have found that it is the small, unintentional events that really leave a mark. Like Paw-Paw’s cornbread. Paw-Paw is John Henry’s grandfather (Bryan’s dad). And by default, Anna calls him Paw-Paw, too. As a matter of fact, she refers to Bryan as “Daddy Bryan.” Remember, this is our normal. And, we like our normal.
Kris, the kids and I ate lunch with Bryan’s family yesterday. I enjoyed Paw-Paw’s cornbread while Anna enjoyed his super cool chair that with a simple push of a button can send her up to the sky. She was making a memory while I enjoyed reliving one with my cornbread.
It’s my belief that the events in themselves don’t make for a good memory. It’s the love behind it. Paw-Paw loved Anna enough to let her go for joy rides in his chair. And, Bryan’s family loves me enough to still want to share some mighty fine cornbread.
How do you spell memory? L-O-V-E. I know, corny. I’m allowed from time to time – or from blog to blog.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3
Filed under Motherhood, parenting, Randomness, Relationships
The greatest gift I never received.
It’s 1983ish, and all I want is the coveted Cabbage Patch Kid. Remember those outlandish dolls with each one signed by Xavier Roberts….on their hineys no less? Such a doll was considered a luxury in our house, and on a pastor’s salary, we didn’t buy luxuries. I’ll never forget the Christmas I asked for the Cabbage Patch Kid. I woke up in the middle of the night to get a head’s up on what awaited me that morning. (My mom still displayed my gifts as if from Santa….even after I discovered his non-existence.) The doll I found was an imposter – a less expensive version of the ridiculously priced doll. I remember the feeling of disappointment. However, I also remember going back to bed and mustering up the gusto to still put on a happy and grateful face the next morning. And, I did.
You see, even at a young age I had an understanding of gratitude. And, not receiving this gift made me appreciate my parents even more. They could not provide the Cabbage Patch, but they still made sure I didn’t lack.
I can’t help but wonder if I am instilling that same sense of gratitude and appreciation in my own children for not only things, but for those who give them. It’s a hard line. While Kris and I have the capabilities to provide such luxuries to our children, should we? Well, sure. But, how much is too much? It’s very tough as parents to draw that line.
I am thankful for the opportunities to give to John Henry and Anna. However, I hope that the gifts they receive go beyond material possessions. I hope they receive the gift of gratitude, the gift of compassion, the gift of mercy, the gift of faith, the gift of hope, and the gift of love….above all else.
And, to my parents who never knew (until now) of that brief disappointment, thank you. That Christmas, you gave me more than you know. For that, I am truly grateful.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matthew 7:11
Filed under gratitude, Motherhood, parenting
I have two daddies.
Once upon a time at a wedding of my dear friend, Brittany, my son served as a ring bearer. Dressed to perfection, another overheard him say, “I have two daddies.” Brittany’s friend who heard this rather common phenomenon asked another, “Are his daddies gay?” I still laugh about this even today. As for Kris and Bryan (the daddies), well, they find it less comical.
John Henry has a daddy. And, before he turned one year, he was blessed with another daddy. We make it work. We really do. You see, we had this novel idea: John Henry comes first. We have dinners together, and we have even vacationed together. I realize how strange my life may seem to some, but for us, it is our “normal”. Of course, a situation like ours would never work without Kris. He has never been “territorial”, nor has he ever felt threatened. He loves John Henry. Period. And, because of John Henry, he loves Bryan.
Here are his two daddies. (Left: Bryan, Right: Kris, Center: A blessed boy) They are patient and kind. They are not jealous. They endure through every circumstance.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Filed under divorce, parenting, Relationships
DustyTakle.com 