The Audacity of Growth

While trimming the Mulberry Tree, which has the great audacity to grow into the overhanging power lines each and every year, I noticed the rope that we had looped around a branch last spring.  The kids have used it as a Tarzan Swinging Vine, a step up into the tree, a swing and the always popular "whip my sibling tool of death." 

It is a good rope that began its' life as a rope for toddlers at church to hold onto as they walk from the classroom to the playground.  The tree had grown around this wonderful rope and here I stood, chainsaw in hand. I had no choice.

So I began, small surgical cuts, holding my breath, as I began to free this valiant captive of uncontrolled growth and mischievous mulberryness.  Little by little, slowly, carefully until at the end I carefully peeled back the small pieces remaining and released the rope.  The rope is still there waiting for tomorrow, waiting for the kids to come back outside and play.

Hammers and Work

My son and I pounded nails today. Do you remember being seven years old and wanting to hit something with a hammer. Today was that day.

For three hours my son and I nailed siding and flooring for a Hands of Mercy house that will go to a hard working and very needy family outside of Ensenada, Mexico.

He said that hitting nails was like pushing worms back into their holes.

He then spent another hour cleaning up loose nails from the church parking lot where we worked. I am proud of that boy. He never once complained or gave up, even when those little nasty galvanized weaklings crumpled over and he had to pull them out and start over.

Wisdom, Portals and Abomination

Sometimes children pick up phrases and words
that you do not really want them using
at the neighbor's house or in Sunday School.

During our devotions tonight, my daughter was reading the beginning of Proverbs 8. When she finished she had some questions about some of the words.

"What are Portals?"
"What does Prudence mean?"
"What does Abomination mean?"

After hearing us explain the meanings she made this statement:
"I thought Abomination was the name of our government."
No, dear, that is Obama Nation.

The Blessings of Wisdom

Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
(Proverbs 8:1-8)

Whitewashed

Apparently, when you paint over the paint in a little boy's room you need to do extensive sanding and cleaning or the blue paint will not bond. It will then commence to peel off in interesting designs revealing the paint from eight and half years ago.

The above shows the almost finished room, awaiting the rental of a steam cleaner.

Little boys are somewhat hard on carpets, especially when they leave a half eaten banana under their bed for several weeks before the dad finds it and almost launches his cookies in disgust.

Chicks

My daughter is a mother hen. She sits patiently on the grass "herding" her little chicks. They are the neighbor's school project chickens, six weeks old and odoriferous. Technically daughter is only chick-sitting, but she has become quite attached.

In their search for food, these little chicks, roam the backyard, head down, pecking at specks. Unaware of what is going on around them, they hunt for food. When they hear a noise or take a break from their search, they look around and realize that the rest of the flock is on the other side of the yard. Flapping and chirping they run as fast as their three toed feet can carry them back to their fellows. They are then greeted by a chest bump from one the other fowls who just wants to make sure everyone knows who the boss is.

If we introduce a little grain, the wings beat, the toes claw, and the beaks peck to obtain as much grub as possible. Then one little chick will lie down in the sun, spread it's wings, stick out a leg, and relax in the sun. The rest of the flock will then huddle up and fight for the warm coveted spot under the others. If a scrub jay lands in the yard, four little chicks scurry for cover under their surrogate mother hen's legs. My little girl will make a good Momma some day.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23: 37-39)

Two Tubs and a Haircut, $4.96

My only son does not enjoy having his hair cut,

but when your sister asks if she can braid your hair,

that changes things.

With some of the money saved from cutting his hair,

we get to go buy a tub of ice cream.

Two tubs, if I cut his ear like last time.

"I am getting itchy dad. How much longer?"


Being so itchy he decided to remove his shirt.
"Dad I'm freezing! Hurry up,
but don't cut my ear!"


"Don't I look good!
How many tubs of ice cream do we get?"


It was worth the itchiness, the cold,
and the peril of the haircut,
for the tub of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream,
and the tub of Chocolate Chip.

Why We Homeschool, Part 2

The lovely daughter and I went to a Daddy/Daughter Dance with

our Church.

Here we are before leaving home.

She smiled and talked all night long.

On the way home we listened to the Christian Music Station.

The song was playing, "...there will be a day with no more fears,

no more tears...",

my daughter interrupted with, "Not for everyone, dad."

I asked her what she meant and she went on to explain that for many people they would not be with God in heaven, they would be in hell.

Then the conversation moved to the importance of spreading the

Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.

This is why we homeschool.

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ...that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them... loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, Deuteronomy 11:18-22

Ellery's Laws Circa 1993

Once upon a time, I was in college. In my sophomoric wisdom I wrote the following rules for life. Some still apply.

1. There are a lot of people in this world who are going to hell and I have to do something about it.

2. When thou knowest not what thou speakest of, thy mouth is best used for chewing. U.M.S.

3. Everything in life is a game. It is just that some games in life are more serious than others.

4. "Follow the money. When someone says, "It's not the money," it's always the money." R.L.

5. Life is too short to be suckin' lemons.

6. There are no guarantees in this life, only threats.

7. Life is tough, get over it.

8. Being single is not a curse. It just feels like one.

9. You only get to call it a date if the girl lets you hold her hand. You only get to have sex with her if she is your wife.

10. Love without action is nothing. Love is a choice, and is rarely easy.

Midnight Surprise

Dad! Why are you telling them this!!

The bathroom light turned on at 1:48 a.m.. I know because my wife told me so. One minute later, I jumped up to the sound of a deluge. I ran down the hallway and made a quick left hand turn into the bathroom (Not unlike our country's recent shift). There standing in front of a closed toilet was my six year old son, my pride and joy, eyes closed, releasing a torrent. The stream ricocheted off the lid onto the wall and back into the poor boy's face. At this point, he awoke and began complaining about being wet. I cleaned him up, returned the sleepy-head to bed, and wondered if my wife would notice if I left the mess until the morning. The paint is yellow after all.

What would you have done?

All part of the job!

I love this boy. My son was "good as gold and better", as Bob Cratchit in Christmas Carol said. This picture was taken after 3 hours waiting in the urgent care.

"And how did little Tim behave?" asked Mrs. Cratchit... "As good as gold," said Bob, "and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard."

My son asked me after the first hour and a half at the hospital what Urgent meant. "Well, Urgent means quickly or fast or needed right away", I said. "And what does Care mean"? "Uh, that means to help. To care for someone". After a few seconds he says to me, "So that sign means fast help. We have been here a long time dad. When can we go home?"

And three and half hours later we finally arrived home.

Hanging Out

The California Department of Education requires 100 minutes a week of Physical Education. We spent 90 minutes today walking through the county park, climbing trees, following deer and racoon tracks and looking at marvelous piles of scat (aka: animal poop).

No cost!

And a whole lot more fun than

walking the track at school!

Little Old Lady of Steel

We all need a helping hand to guide us into adulthood. Most of the time that helping hand is holding ours. Occasionally that hand is firmly applied to our reset button, located conveniently on our backsides. On one evening that hand was clutching my earlobe in a death grip.

My friend and I were racing through the church. Through the sanctuary, across the foyer, down the stairs, I glanced over my shoulder and I knew there was no way he would catch me. Then the brick wall. She was probably one hundred and ten years old and no taller than a nine year old. Formed entirely of steel, she calmly gripped my tender earlobe and applied pressure. The she spoke, "If you had run into my mother you would have killed her." My friend and I responded passionately, "I'm so sorry, I won't ever do it again, I'm so sorry"

Afterwards I realized how fortunate I was. First, I had not killed a little old lady. Secondly, She never did tell my father.

On cold mornings the ache in my earlobe reminds me to look ahead and slow down.