06/09: I was working 60-70 hours per week on a massive project @ work. I prayed that God put me in a position where I could spend more time with my family, "regardless of the cost".
07/09 - 09/09: Sales @ work drop like a rock for one reason or another. My boss graciously gives me 30 days notice that my position is being terminated. I still respect him for the soft landing he provided for me. Being cut to only part time forced me to use IRAs to make ends meet. Financial penalties paid for early withdrawal.
09/20/09: Drove from Maryville TN to Columbus OH and back on the same day for an interview with my present employer.
09/23/09: Position offered and accepted.
10/04/09: First weekly commute to Columbus.
10/05/09: First day of work.
Over the next 8 months I would make weekly commutes between my home life and work life. My beautiful wife showed her strength and determination as she kept our home in top working order, managing 3 little girls, housework, and finding time here and there for "me time."
Along the way, God kept reminding me how lucky I was to have a job in this economy. He kept putting people in front of me, in need of money or food. As recently as last Friday, I was able to help a young lady stranded at a gas station in Knoxville get home to her family in Chattanooga with $20 to cover gas.
The pain of leaving to go to Columbus every Sunday over the past eight months has been brutal - a very painful cost physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Every time I walked the dogs on the weekend, I'd turn around and look at our little house and thank Him for the job He gave to us, and also prayed that the house would sell or I would be offered a job here at home. I was offered a job closer to home a few months ago but turned it down due to religious beliefs. Being closer to home and having more money sounded good, but I couldn't sell myself out and prey on the poor working for a payday advance company.
This past Monday I was formally offered a position in Nashville. It was with a great company and closer to home. Moving to Nashville would be better for our family in every way compared to Columbus. I accepted the offer and tendered my 2 week notice at my present employer. I prepared to continue hotel life during the week until the house sold.
My resignation this week came as a shock. It was very hard for me to do. I love my job. I did cry in front of the CEO as I handed her my resignation. I don't count that as a sign of weakness by the way. The people I work with have truly become my extended family and I was going to miss them dearly. Sadly, she accepted my resignation and said she would talk to my direct boss and explain the situation.
I sat in the office working on my current project and my boss walks in and said "would you stay on if you could just work from home?" Silence. No crickets, no cars passing outside, no hum from the computer. The words were totally deafening to me. "For how long?" I asked. "There is no reason you can't work from home – we're programmers and can work from anywhere. You have proven yourself with your knowledge, rapid learning, good programming, and your dedication to drive up here week after week. We don't want to lose you at all."
Needless to say, I accepted that offer. I start working from home the week after next. I will still have to drive up there probably once a quarter for planning meetings, but the working arrangement is permanent with the same pay and benefits. The working conditions are mine alone to mess up.
Compared to my friends who have been through tougher times of sickness, joblessness, or losing a family member, the price I have paid is just a shadow of their pain. However, not being able to hold your spouse and not being able to tuck your children into bed at night, or not being able to live in your own home wears on you in all aspects and is quite painful in its own right.
My faith in God has grown 10 fold during this time. My love for my friends and family by the same measure. I hope that God continues to put me in a position where I can help strangers out. I hope that my family will begin to go to Church so that they have the same peace of mind that I have as I rest each night in the loving hands of my God. I have no doubt that He is the great creator and master of all. I hope that God blesses my friends and family richly just as He has blessed my family. There are no coincidences in life. I firmly believe that now more than ever.
Children, Daddy will be tucking you in each night again. Happy and grateful, I have once again started to blog about our adventures. For now, I'm going outside to remove the for-sale sign from the yard.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
From Columbus - To my wife and daughters
I miss you and love you more than I can express. The pain in my heart of being separated from you during this transition in our lives is quite heavy. It is lonely up here without you and I'm pretty much on the verge of tears during the hours in which I am awake. In my dreams I get to see you and hug you and tell you to your faces how much I cherish and love you. I am happy and content in my dreams.
When the alarm goes off in the morning, happiness is quickly replaced by anxiety and uncertainty and a sadness which cannot be described even though the laughter from my dreams still echos in my ears. My heart literally aches due to these circumstances. My faith in God, however, is unshakable even as the sun sets in this big and lonely city. I fully trust He is working for good in our lives even though I don't see His plan for our family.
I want you to have that same belief as well. Sweet daughters - always know that God does not want to hurt us. He is there to lift us up and to comfort us. He is my friend in this big town and He is great. He has provided me with a wonderful job so I can keep you clothed, fed, and sheltered. We are so very blessed even in this time of separation. Never forget that. There are others which are not as lucky as our family and we need to be compassionate to them and help them however we can. We have been given a wonderful gift in this economy and we need not forget it. Rather, we should figure out a way to help those less fortunate and thank God in any way we can by helping people out. I'm not sure how we can help them yet when our own finances are so tight. He will reveal how we can help on His time-line.
As I write this to you, I look out my office window through the tall buildings at the interstate heading South which leads me to you all. I can feel the rush of the tires as they curve through Cincinnatti and race through Lexington along beside the horses running in the white fenced fields. I feel the steepness of the mountains and the racing of my heart as I enter our little town. I drive home to you every night in my mind. I know each curve and each mile which leads me home. It would be so easy to just do that after work... and it would be the wrong thing to do.
We are blessed. Keep telling yourselves that and believe it with all of your heart. In time, God will reveal His wonderful plan for our family. On that point, I have the greatest of faith. Until He reveals His plan for our family, I count the days until I can hold you in my arms and hear your laughter and to just enjoy our precious time together. I would love to come home every weekend and would gladly make the drive. However, finances are uncertain so there will be times where I can't come home every weekend. It could be 2-3 weeks before I could come home. I do not know if we can afford my trips home as often as I would like to make them. And perhaps that alone is the heaviest weight on my heart.
I love you all. Girls, obey your mother - she has a LOT on her plate.
Your loving daddy and husband
When the alarm goes off in the morning, happiness is quickly replaced by anxiety and uncertainty and a sadness which cannot be described even though the laughter from my dreams still echos in my ears. My heart literally aches due to these circumstances. My faith in God, however, is unshakable even as the sun sets in this big and lonely city. I fully trust He is working for good in our lives even though I don't see His plan for our family.
I want you to have that same belief as well. Sweet daughters - always know that God does not want to hurt us. He is there to lift us up and to comfort us. He is my friend in this big town and He is great. He has provided me with a wonderful job so I can keep you clothed, fed, and sheltered. We are so very blessed even in this time of separation. Never forget that. There are others which are not as lucky as our family and we need to be compassionate to them and help them however we can. We have been given a wonderful gift in this economy and we need not forget it. Rather, we should figure out a way to help those less fortunate and thank God in any way we can by helping people out. I'm not sure how we can help them yet when our own finances are so tight. He will reveal how we can help on His time-line.
As I write this to you, I look out my office window through the tall buildings at the interstate heading South which leads me to you all. I can feel the rush of the tires as they curve through Cincinnatti and race through Lexington along beside the horses running in the white fenced fields. I feel the steepness of the mountains and the racing of my heart as I enter our little town. I drive home to you every night in my mind. I know each curve and each mile which leads me home. It would be so easy to just do that after work... and it would be the wrong thing to do.
We are blessed. Keep telling yourselves that and believe it with all of your heart. In time, God will reveal His wonderful plan for our family. On that point, I have the greatest of faith. Until He reveals His plan for our family, I count the days until I can hold you in my arms and hear your laughter and to just enjoy our precious time together. I would love to come home every weekend and would gladly make the drive. However, finances are uncertain so there will be times where I can't come home every weekend. It could be 2-3 weeks before I could come home. I do not know if we can afford my trips home as often as I would like to make them. And perhaps that alone is the heaviest weight on my heart.
I love you all. Girls, obey your mother - she has a LOT on her plate.
Your loving daddy and husband
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
On Working and Faith
Dearest Daughters,
I love you three with the most unexplained love. I cannot describe it to you, but just as Mammie and Pop-pop told me when I was younger "you will understand one day when you have kids of your own." I'm writing this to you all tonight with a heavy heart. Soon I will be leaving for another town to start a new job. Daddy didn't get fired from his work - he was let go because someone at the place he loved to work at every day didn't do their own job with all of his heart and there wasn't enough money to pay daddy to do his job.
I hope that you all learn a lot from me. I hope that I can live as an example for you, just as Pop-pop has lived as an example for me. I hope that you learn love, kindness, patience, happiness, trust, independence, and that your tender hearts never harden in this old world in which we live. I also want you to learn that no matter what you do in life, do it the best you can.
If you do something in life and don't try hard, someone else will have to pay the consequences. It is not my choice that we are going to go through some tough times in the coming days. Please know that although I may not be there at night to tuck you in, I will be looking at your smiling faces in the pictures which I will have with me and I will still whisper "Good Night Sweet Princesses" as I kiss each of you before going to bed each night. I hope as you sleep, you can still feel daddy giving you a big hug.
I also want you to learn about Faith. Daddy has it. I have unshakable faith in God. Faith is something that you can't see, but you believe in it. For example, when you walk over the bridge at the park, you don't know that the bridge will hold you up. However, you walk over it anyway, believing that it is safe and will protect you from the water below. That, in a nutshell, is faith. Daddy had faith that God would provide a new job so that we can have clothes, food, and shelter. He provided two offers for me to choose from and in this tough tough economic time, it has been a true blessing. We are very very fortunate.
I just wanted you to know these things, my beautiful daughters. Whatever you do in life, do so with a happy heart to the best of your abilities, and have faith in God and yourself. The rest of life's problems just seem to work themselves out over the long run.
Daddy loves you babies. May you have the sweetest of dreams as you sleep.
I love you three with the most unexplained love. I cannot describe it to you, but just as Mammie and Pop-pop told me when I was younger "you will understand one day when you have kids of your own." I'm writing this to you all tonight with a heavy heart. Soon I will be leaving for another town to start a new job. Daddy didn't get fired from his work - he was let go because someone at the place he loved to work at every day didn't do their own job with all of his heart and there wasn't enough money to pay daddy to do his job.
I hope that you all learn a lot from me. I hope that I can live as an example for you, just as Pop-pop has lived as an example for me. I hope that you learn love, kindness, patience, happiness, trust, independence, and that your tender hearts never harden in this old world in which we live. I also want you to learn that no matter what you do in life, do it the best you can.
If you do something in life and don't try hard, someone else will have to pay the consequences. It is not my choice that we are going to go through some tough times in the coming days. Please know that although I may not be there at night to tuck you in, I will be looking at your smiling faces in the pictures which I will have with me and I will still whisper "Good Night Sweet Princesses" as I kiss each of you before going to bed each night. I hope as you sleep, you can still feel daddy giving you a big hug.
I also want you to learn about Faith. Daddy has it. I have unshakable faith in God. Faith is something that you can't see, but you believe in it. For example, when you walk over the bridge at the park, you don't know that the bridge will hold you up. However, you walk over it anyway, believing that it is safe and will protect you from the water below. That, in a nutshell, is faith. Daddy had faith that God would provide a new job so that we can have clothes, food, and shelter. He provided two offers for me to choose from and in this tough tough economic time, it has been a true blessing. We are very very fortunate.
I just wanted you to know these things, my beautiful daughters. Whatever you do in life, do so with a happy heart to the best of your abilities, and have faith in God and yourself. The rest of life's problems just seem to work themselves out over the long run.
Daddy loves you babies. May you have the sweetest of dreams as you sleep.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Midnight Giggles
It's 12:36am early on Wednesday morning.
The house is still and quiet except for the clicking of the keyboard as I program, the slight buzz of the ceiling fans, restful breathing of loved ones dreaming, and the hum of the sole compact fluorescent light bulb which illuminates the room in which I work.
Occasionally the ice in my drink shifts and clinks against the tumbler's wall almost as if cheering me on, saying "hang in there just another hour before you call it a night..." in its sleepy voice. My glass of Diet Dr. Pepper sweats onto my notepad which holds the shadows of my workday.
The screen is blurry - yet I forge ahead only to take a short break to write this humble blog post. I am thankful for everything in life which God allows me to experience for it is through experience that we knock another rough edge off of this human vessel in which we temporarily reside.
The dog moves in the light shadows beside me, hearing the unheard. She walks a few steps before stretching out on the floor facing the nursery where our youngest slumbers in fanny-raised comfort. I stop typing for a moment and strain to hear what momentarily peeked the interest of our beloved dog.
Softly at first she cries "Dahhhhhhhhhh" from the nursery. I pause and listen and there it is louder and a little quicker - "Daaaaaaaah Daaaaaaaah". My heart races to hear my baby call for me.
"Daaaaaaahhhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaa" She sighs.
The light buzzes loudly and I blink a few times. It is not for her father that the young toddler cries. I realize that she she is calling for her best friend, Dora The Explorer. Deflated, I slump in my chair, defeated by a cartoon character in my daughter's eyes.
When we are down, if we are perceptive, God talks to us. I wait for a few seconds, listening for His words of wisdom faintly carried to my ears on angel's breath. It arrives through the laughter of my youngest child as she sleeps in her crib.
Nothing much in life's experience can top the midnight giggles of a sleeping baby.
I now have enough energy to make it another hour into the night, programming key stroke by key stroke.
Giggle on, baby princess. Daddy loves you.
The house is still and quiet except for the clicking of the keyboard as I program, the slight buzz of the ceiling fans, restful breathing of loved ones dreaming, and the hum of the sole compact fluorescent light bulb which illuminates the room in which I work.
Occasionally the ice in my drink shifts and clinks against the tumbler's wall almost as if cheering me on, saying "hang in there just another hour before you call it a night..." in its sleepy voice. My glass of Diet Dr. Pepper sweats onto my notepad which holds the shadows of my workday.
The screen is blurry - yet I forge ahead only to take a short break to write this humble blog post. I am thankful for everything in life which God allows me to experience for it is through experience that we knock another rough edge off of this human vessel in which we temporarily reside.
The dog moves in the light shadows beside me, hearing the unheard. She walks a few steps before stretching out on the floor facing the nursery where our youngest slumbers in fanny-raised comfort. I stop typing for a moment and strain to hear what momentarily peeked the interest of our beloved dog.
Softly at first she cries "Dahhhhhhhhhh" from the nursery. I pause and listen and there it is louder and a little quicker - "Daaaaaaaah Daaaaaaaah". My heart races to hear my baby call for me.
"Daaaaaaahhhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaa" She sighs.
The light buzzes loudly and I blink a few times. It is not for her father that the young toddler cries. I realize that she she is calling for her best friend, Dora The Explorer. Deflated, I slump in my chair, defeated by a cartoon character in my daughter's eyes.
When we are down, if we are perceptive, God talks to us. I wait for a few seconds, listening for His words of wisdom faintly carried to my ears on angel's breath. It arrives through the laughter of my youngest child as she sleeps in her crib.
Nothing much in life's experience can top the midnight giggles of a sleeping baby.
I now have enough energy to make it another hour into the night, programming key stroke by key stroke.
Giggle on, baby princess. Daddy loves you.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Out Of My Shell
Last night I shaved my goatee off. I had worn this badge of hipness since the late 90s. My wife and kids have never seen me without either that or a full beard during the winter. I asked all of them if I should do it and everyone agreed that if they didn't like me sans facial hair, that I would grow it back and never do it again. Emma and Chloe really didn't know what "shaving it off" meant and Lydia was out out of the room turning circles and giggling to herself.
So I took out the dog clippers (yeah that's how I roll) and asked everyone if they were sure and then proceeded to give my face a good garage sale type cleaning. The looks on my daughters' faces was absolutely priceless. Half in amazement at what I was doing, and the other half in great curiosity at this funny looking creature emerging from behind the goatee.
"Daddy why you erasing your face?" Asked Chloe.
I just laughed and said "Daddy's just giving his face a hair cut."
That seemed to make it clear that I wasn't hurting myself and she climbed up on the garden tub next to the sink and just looked on in wonder. When I was through with the clippers she smiled at me in the mirror and said "you look funny." Emma agreed by shaking her head and giggling in her cute bubbly chuckle. Lydia was still spinning and babbling outside the door of the bathroom.
I lathered up and started shaving as the girls told me about their day. When I finished, Chloe touched my face and said "smooooooooooooooooooooooooooothe Dah Dah" and then jumped down and ran off.
We'll see if it stays off for good or comes back this Fall when the leaves begin to drop and this old Earth starts to hibernate for the winter.
So I took out the dog clippers (yeah that's how I roll) and asked everyone if they were sure and then proceeded to give my face a good garage sale type cleaning. The looks on my daughters' faces was absolutely priceless. Half in amazement at what I was doing, and the other half in great curiosity at this funny looking creature emerging from behind the goatee.
"Daddy why you erasing your face?" Asked Chloe.
I just laughed and said "Daddy's just giving his face a hair cut."
That seemed to make it clear that I wasn't hurting myself and she climbed up on the garden tub next to the sink and just looked on in wonder. When I was through with the clippers she smiled at me in the mirror and said "you look funny." Emma agreed by shaking her head and giggling in her cute bubbly chuckle. Lydia was still spinning and babbling outside the door of the bathroom.
I lathered up and started shaving as the girls told me about their day. When I finished, Chloe touched my face and said "smooooooooooooooooooooooooooothe Dah Dah" and then jumped down and ran off.
We'll see if it stays off for good or comes back this Fall when the leaves begin to drop and this old Earth starts to hibernate for the winter.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Star Wars - Episode 4
This morning Emma and I were exchanging typical father and daughter banter. There were lots of "you look pretty"'s and "you're a sweet girl"'s from my side of the conversation and a lot of precious "I know Daddy"'s from her side.
"Now remember you can't go crawling around in the gravel at school today." I said.
"I know Daddy." She replied. "But it's ok when we play Star Wars..."
"Well didn't mommy say for you to not play so rough since your killing your shoes about every 2 weeks it seems?" I asked.
"Yeah.... But remember Star Wars?" She asked.
"Yes I do - I saw it in the theater. " I said "However, what does Star Wars have to do with gravel on the playground at School?"
"Wellllllllllllllllll. You See. There was Julia and myself and we play Star Wars -" She said.
"Do you even know what Star Wars is?" I interrupted.
"Duh." she smiled. "It's a movie silly Daddy. Julia plays like she's Princess Leia and I'm a kitty cat and kitty cats crawl on the ground."
I stood there totally speechless as she pirouetted across the floor. Dance little girl. Dance!
"Now remember you can't go crawling around in the gravel at school today." I said.
"I know Daddy." She replied. "But it's ok when we play Star Wars..."
"Well didn't mommy say for you to not play so rough since your killing your shoes about every 2 weeks it seems?" I asked.
"Yeah.... But remember Star Wars?" She asked.
"Yes I do - I saw it in the theater. " I said "However, what does Star Wars have to do with gravel on the playground at School?"
"Wellllllllllllllllll. You See. There was Julia and myself and we play Star Wars -" She said.
"Do you even know what Star Wars is?" I interrupted.
"Duh." she smiled. "It's a movie silly Daddy. Julia plays like she's Princess Leia and I'm a kitty cat and kitty cats crawl on the ground."
I stood there totally speechless as she pirouetted across the floor. Dance little girl. Dance!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Not Available In Stores
Tonight was taco night - complete with tater tots. For some reason that is a long-standing tradition in our family. I can't remember when it started, but if you cook tacos, there better be tater tots in the oven.
As I stood there browing the meat, the girls and their momma were talking about Mother's Day and what Mommy wanted for her special day.
Somehow the conversation swung in my direction.
"Daddy, what do you want for Mother's Day?" They asked.
"Well I guess just for you all to be on your best behavior all day long on that day!" I said with enthusiasm.
[[ crickets ]]
"Uh Daddy they don't have that in the store." Chloe said.
I have been pwned by a not yet four year old.
As I stood there browing the meat, the girls and their momma were talking about Mother's Day and what Mommy wanted for her special day.
Somehow the conversation swung in my direction.
"Daddy, what do you want for Mother's Day?" They asked.
"Well I guess just for you all to be on your best behavior all day long on that day!" I said with enthusiasm.
[[ crickets ]]
"Uh Daddy they don't have that in the store." Chloe said.
I have been pwned by a not yet four year old.
Rainy Sunday
Quiet.
Not for Long!
All women but one asleep.
Smallest one on her tummy -
chin resting on big Dora
doll, holding smaller Dora
doll, wearing Backpack on
her head - watching Dora on TV
twisting her single red pony tail.
Rainy Sundays are great for relaxing.
Daddy works on, watching the rain gather
in muddy puddles.
Not for Long!
All women but one asleep.
Smallest one on her tummy -
chin resting on big Dora
doll, holding smaller Dora
doll, wearing Backpack on
her head - watching Dora on TV
twisting her single red pony tail.
Rainy Sundays are great for relaxing.
Daddy works on, watching the rain gather
in muddy puddles.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Attitude
Attitude is your perception of the world around you or how others perceive that to be. You can realize that you have a bad attitude on your own or others can help you see that in a kind manner. Kids are impervious to the idea of how their attitude affects others around them. I'm not sure at what point in life "ME ME ME" turns to "YOU YOU YOU". Anyway, we are teaching our oldest how to determine if her attitude is well - less than desirable - and needs correcting. This morning she was pouting around the house. I just don't "do" pouting. I never have at least that I can remember. As a result, I don't like pouting people around me. So I told her to go to her room until she found her happy attitude. After about 10 minutes in her room of being quiet, I hear her yell from across the house:
"DADDY I FOUND IT!" She exclaimed.
"What's that?" I asked.
"MY ATTITUDE! CAN I COME OUT NOW?" she asked.
She came out as happy as a lark and we all went to the Easter egg hunt at "Sandybricks" park.
"DADDY I FOUND IT!" She exclaimed.
"What's that?" I asked.
"MY ATTITUDE! CAN I COME OUT NOW?" she asked.
She came out as happy as a lark and we all went to the Easter egg hunt at "Sandybricks" park.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Doo Doo Hat
"Honey will you change Lydia?" the Mrs. hollered from across the house.
"Sure babe." I replied
As any good father would do, I tried to entertain the baby while changing her. Being silly makes her lay still and just laugh while I can do what needs to be done.
I was getting her ready for the changing of the diaper and put her pants on my head.
"Look Lydia - Daddy has on a silly hat!" I said as she preciously giggled.
I took the wipes and a clean diaper out of the dresser and began the task nobody enjoys. That's when I noticed that she had a massive diaper blowout and really needed a good cleaning.
That's when I remembered I still had her pants on my head. It is also when I realized I was wearing a doo doo hat rather than a silly hat.
Any man can continue to change a diaper in such a situation.
A REAL man can blog about it while laughing hysterically. I shall now go take a shower.
"Sure babe." I replied
As any good father would do, I tried to entertain the baby while changing her. Being silly makes her lay still and just laugh while I can do what needs to be done.
I was getting her ready for the changing of the diaper and put her pants on my head.
"Look Lydia - Daddy has on a silly hat!" I said as she preciously giggled.
I took the wipes and a clean diaper out of the dresser and began the task nobody enjoys. That's when I noticed that she had a massive diaper blowout and really needed a good cleaning.
That's when I remembered I still had her pants on my head. It is also when I realized I was wearing a doo doo hat rather than a silly hat.
Any man can continue to change a diaper in such a situation.
A REAL man can blog about it while laughing hysterically. I shall now go take a shower.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
homonym
Hi everyone! It's been a while since I posted. I've been working like a mad man but I'm taking a much needed night off. In fact, I'll be in bed before 1130pm which is a rarity. The Mrs. and I are trying to shake off a cold, just in time for our little ones to catch it. At least we will be better so we can comfort our sweet girls. Needless to say, neither of us felt like cooking tonight. With the economy in a downward trend, we're really watching the money situation quite proactively; however, we still decided to just pack the entire crew up and head out to O'Charlies. We hadn't been there in months and we would love just to kick back and get waited on and relax with the kids. We were loading the kids into the van when little Chloe laughed and said "Daddy look at my cute little pursey" as she held up a pink and blue denim purse. That is one homonym I would really like to never hear again from any of my sweet little daughters.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Dash Between the Dates
I really have to get back into blogging about my wonderful family and the crazy life which I know. Projects at home, at the day job as well as independent projects keep me busy from day to day to day. Sometimes you feel like you're just living life rather than experiencing it. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't change a thing at all in my life. I'm perfectly happy. Sometimes you just feel like you're the dash between two dates. The girls are growing so quickly, with the eldest starting kindergarten this year. I can't talk about it. "The kids really do grow up fast" so cherish each and every moment.
Last night we were picking up the house as we do every night after a daylong torrent of midget tornadoes which seem to use their little whirlwinds to toss anything and everything to the far corners of the house. I split the older two up to make the best use of the remaining hours in the day. Emma cleaned upstairs and Chloe cleaned downstairs and Lydia toddled around with a baby brush brushing her hair.
Chloe, now with her area clean, looked for her best friend - Baby Sarah (one of her many dolls). Baby Sarah had been cast under one of the tables in the den most likely during the mad rush to the dinner table.
"Daddy have you seen baby Sawah?" Asked Chloe.
"I think I saw her laying down under the table over there." I said with a quick point of the finger.
"NO DADAH - Baby Sawah with the chocolate hair." She replied.
Have I been too busy to notice that there is now a brown headed baby Sarah which my middle daughter so loves? I need to correct that by working smarter - not longer. I'm going to blog more as well.
I learn so much from my girls.
Last night we were picking up the house as we do every night after a daylong torrent of midget tornadoes which seem to use their little whirlwinds to toss anything and everything to the far corners of the house. I split the older two up to make the best use of the remaining hours in the day. Emma cleaned upstairs and Chloe cleaned downstairs and Lydia toddled around with a baby brush brushing her hair.
Chloe, now with her area clean, looked for her best friend - Baby Sarah (one of her many dolls). Baby Sarah had been cast under one of the tables in the den most likely during the mad rush to the dinner table.
"Daddy have you seen baby Sawah?" Asked Chloe.
"I think I saw her laying down under the table over there." I said with a quick point of the finger.
"NO DADAH - Baby Sawah with the chocolate hair." She replied.
Have I been too busy to notice that there is now a brown headed baby Sarah which my middle daughter so loves? I need to correct that by working smarter - not longer. I'm going to blog more as well.
I learn so much from my girls.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Snow Floaties
Yesterday was an awesome day. The girls and I got up (Momma got to sleep in a bit) and we snuggled and watched cartoons. When momma got up we all got dressed and went to have breakfast at IHOPs. We hadn't been there in months so it was fun to go. As we were leaving to go get our Christmas tree, it began to snow and Emma pointed it out by saying "LOOK AT THE SNOW FLOATIES!!!" It was just flurries but they were really coming down. I never have figured out where the line is drawn between flurries and a snow shower. Oh well. It was beautiful and really cool that it was doing it while we were getting our tree. We, for some strange reason, name Christmas tree every year. Last year it was Cinderella. This year, the girls settled on "Holly". She is 8.5 feet of pure pine-family beauty. After getting the tree situated and the lights on, I got to cook dinner. I actually love cooking for my family. I made a garlic herb crusted pork loin, green bean casserole and new potatoes. It was a great dinner. As I cleaned up in the kitchen, Momma and the girls put the ornaments on the tree. We capped off the night by having our (now traditional) Hendrix Saturday Night Red Carpet Popcorn and Fruit Juice Movie Extravaganza Gala. We snuggled on the couch with all three girls and watched The Blue Elephant. It was a great day.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Baby Sarah's Pee Towel
Hi all...
Chloe has changed so much in just the last month it's amazing. It's little changes often over looked. The willingness to pick up her toys without throwing too big of a fit, her big sister attitude toward "Wydia" and now she is becoming quite the little mommy figure around the house. Her dolls are her livelyhood. She lines them up on the stairs, each doll with its own step to use as a bed. When it's time for them to go to sleep, she'll stand at the doorway and say sweet things like "I love you babies. You have sweet dreamies" and other things she hears her daddy whisper to her before he goes to bed at night. Her best (doll) friend is named Sarah and she goes everywhere with Chloe. In fact, Chloe has even arranged the chairs at the table so that the doll's highchair can fit in and she can feed her while the rest of us eat. She burps the baby after eating. In fact, when it's time for the baby's bottle, she'll go to her own little rocking chair and just rock her as she plays mommy to her baby giving her a fake bottle which of course she has to "warm" in her microwave in her play kitchen. Chloe you are precious and I hope you feel just as loved as your sisters. Being a middle kid can be tough sometimes but your mommy and myself are both middle kids so we know what you are going through and will go through and we are trying our best to make this a very happy experience for you. I think you're doing a great job as the middle child and I'm proud of you.
Last night I cleaned the kitchen and bathed our youngest while the older girls were getting ready for bed. After getting the baby situated with her nightly bottle, I went to tuck the big girls into bed for the night. There she was on the floor, her head resting on a pillow. Baby Sarah was right by Chloe's bed. Chloe had made a bed of pillows for her baby and covered her with blankets. I looked down and noticed that baby Sarah was sleeping on a burp cloth neatly stretched out without a wrinkle to be found.
"Oh is that Baby's Sarah's blanket?" I asked.
"No silly Daddy.... that's her pee blanket in case she has an accident." Chloe responded.
That's my girl. Since you have conquered the bed wetting and are a big girl now you look out for you babies.
Chloe has changed so much in just the last month it's amazing. It's little changes often over looked. The willingness to pick up her toys without throwing too big of a fit, her big sister attitude toward "Wydia" and now she is becoming quite the little mommy figure around the house. Her dolls are her livelyhood. She lines them up on the stairs, each doll with its own step to use as a bed. When it's time for them to go to sleep, she'll stand at the doorway and say sweet things like "I love you babies. You have sweet dreamies" and other things she hears her daddy whisper to her before he goes to bed at night. Her best (doll) friend is named Sarah and she goes everywhere with Chloe. In fact, Chloe has even arranged the chairs at the table so that the doll's highchair can fit in and she can feed her while the rest of us eat. She burps the baby after eating. In fact, when it's time for the baby's bottle, she'll go to her own little rocking chair and just rock her as she plays mommy to her baby giving her a fake bottle which of course she has to "warm" in her microwave in her play kitchen. Chloe you are precious and I hope you feel just as loved as your sisters. Being a middle kid can be tough sometimes but your mommy and myself are both middle kids so we know what you are going through and will go through and we are trying our best to make this a very happy experience for you. I think you're doing a great job as the middle child and I'm proud of you.
Last night I cleaned the kitchen and bathed our youngest while the older girls were getting ready for bed. After getting the baby situated with her nightly bottle, I went to tuck the big girls into bed for the night. There she was on the floor, her head resting on a pillow. Baby Sarah was right by Chloe's bed. Chloe had made a bed of pillows for her baby and covered her with blankets. I looked down and noticed that baby Sarah was sleeping on a burp cloth neatly stretched out without a wrinkle to be found.
"Oh is that Baby's Sarah's blanket?" I asked.
"No silly Daddy.... that's her pee blanket in case she has an accident." Chloe responded.
That's my girl. Since you have conquered the bed wetting and are a big girl now you look out for you babies.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Specific
This morning I wanted to "sleep in". These days that means until 7am. I usually get up around 5:45am or 6:00am to get ready for work. This morning at around 6:30, our youngest began to cry and I went to check on her. She had wet herself in the crib and was cold so I cleaned her and changed her into some dry PJs and laid her back down. I turn around and my older two girls were staring at me.
"Morning, Daddy" they said in unison.
"Morning, babies." I replied. "I want you to get back into your bed until your nightlight shuts off." (It is one that turns itself off when there is enough light). I said this with the belief that I might actually get to sleep in later than 7am since it is now that time of the year where the sun rises later in the morning hours.
I was really tired and the warm comforter on the bed was still calling my name. I slid back under the covers and soon drifted off to sleep.
I awoke to the sound of laughter. Glancing at the clock it was 7:15am.
"Well I did get to sleep in" I thought to myself. I got up and went to check on all of the children. As I went down the hall, past the older two who were running around the couch in the den, I couldn't help but laugh. The blinds were wide open on both of their bedroom windows and letting in just enough light to turn their nightlight off for the day.
I shall in the future be more specific on my requests to my children.
"Morning, Daddy" they said in unison.
"Morning, babies." I replied. "I want you to get back into your bed until your nightlight shuts off." (It is one that turns itself off when there is enough light). I said this with the belief that I might actually get to sleep in later than 7am since it is now that time of the year where the sun rises later in the morning hours.
I was really tired and the warm comforter on the bed was still calling my name. I slid back under the covers and soon drifted off to sleep.
I awoke to the sound of laughter. Glancing at the clock it was 7:15am.
"Well I did get to sleep in" I thought to myself. I got up and went to check on all of the children. As I went down the hall, past the older two who were running around the couch in the den, I couldn't help but laugh. The blinds were wide open on both of their bedroom windows and letting in just enough light to turn their nightlight off for the day.
I shall in the future be more specific on my requests to my children.
Friday, October 3, 2008
shepherd man
Hi everyone out there. I'm sorry for not posting lately. I've been slammed at work and with side projects at SkuFlow. Free time has been very scarce for about 2 months straight but I think I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I will start to post again on a regular basis. Just to get back in the swing of posting i wanted to tell you about a very funny scene. As I said, work has just been insane. We moved into a new state-of-the-art design studio and redefined our company as a sleek efficient web studio. You can check out our new website at www.mediapulse.com. If you know of anyone needing a killer website, feel free to point them our direction. So last night I got home and after a long week of work I really didn't feel like cooking and neither did the Mrs. It was an IHOP night. With the economy getting tight we haven't eaten out as much so it was a real treat to go have some good pancakes and just relax and take a deep breath. While we were eating, this group of bikers showed up in full riding gear. They were really rough looking but really warm people having fun and laughing among themselves. One gentleman had a do-rag on his head which our eldest daughter noticed right off the bat.
"LOOK DADDY - A SHEPHERD! She said.
I have never seen a group of people laugh so hard. We also laughed pretty good.
"LOOK DADDY - A SHEPHERD! She said.
I have never seen a group of people laugh so hard. We also laughed pretty good.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hi Babies!
Hi Babies! It's your Daddy here. I have been working so hard that I just realized I haven't had time to post any blogs. Time sure has passed by. Where did summer go? I'm probably going to have to work again this weekend to get some projects finished. But I want you to know that when you come up to show me something new, ask a question, ask for a kiss or need a hug, I will be there and you will have my full attention. You always come first. Work is something that I have to do - being with you and learning together and watching you grow is something I WANT to do. There is a big difference between have and want. You will learn that soon enough.
Since I last wrote here you have grown so much. Emma you are becoming a wonderful big sister to Chloe and Lydia. Chloe you are finding your place as the middle child and making your own light under which you can glow. You too are a great big sissy. I can't believe you are a big girl now. I hope you enjoyed your 3rd birthday last month. Lydia you are so cute and funny and make us all laugh. Your head bobbing mouth popping teeter-walking "momma da-da sissssssy" calling always smiling big blue eyed personality just melts my heart after a long day at the office.
My sweet babies, you are asleep now and hopefully pleasantly lost in your dreams. I'm going to tuck you in one more time in a few minutes. Will you hear me as I kiss you and tell you how special you are to me? Will the words "I love you, my sweet princess" find it's way to you in Dreamland? I'll pull your blanket up and put that favorite doll of yours under your arm and make sure to spray the shadows with the "monster spray" (air freshener for you adults reading) to keep you safe all night long.
Be good girls tomorrow. That sweet mommy of yours has a lot on her hands juggling all three of you during the day while daddy is at work. Let's not cut our hair again, Emma. Chloe, let's not draw on the walls either. Make your beds in the morning and drink your milk. Lydia, take a nap with your sisters so that mommy can lay down and rest for a few minutes too! Clean your room when mommy says and take a nap after lunch. Play sweetly with each other and tell your mommy how much you love her and how special she is.
Precious girls we love you very much. Just as soon as Daddy is finished with these projects, we'll pack a picnic lunch and go to the mountains. Emma - I haven't forgotten about this and we'll make sure to get you some marshmallows to roast on the fire at the park.
I love you ladies. Sleep well.
Since I last wrote here you have grown so much. Emma you are becoming a wonderful big sister to Chloe and Lydia. Chloe you are finding your place as the middle child and making your own light under which you can glow. You too are a great big sissy. I can't believe you are a big girl now. I hope you enjoyed your 3rd birthday last month. Lydia you are so cute and funny and make us all laugh. Your head bobbing mouth popping teeter-walking "momma da-da sissssssy" calling always smiling big blue eyed personality just melts my heart after a long day at the office.
My sweet babies, you are asleep now and hopefully pleasantly lost in your dreams. I'm going to tuck you in one more time in a few minutes. Will you hear me as I kiss you and tell you how special you are to me? Will the words "I love you, my sweet princess" find it's way to you in Dreamland? I'll pull your blanket up and put that favorite doll of yours under your arm and make sure to spray the shadows with the "monster spray" (air freshener for you adults reading) to keep you safe all night long.
Be good girls tomorrow. That sweet mommy of yours has a lot on her hands juggling all three of you during the day while daddy is at work. Let's not cut our hair again, Emma. Chloe, let's not draw on the walls either. Make your beds in the morning and drink your milk. Lydia, take a nap with your sisters so that mommy can lay down and rest for a few minutes too! Clean your room when mommy says and take a nap after lunch. Play sweetly with each other and tell your mommy how much you love her and how special she is.
Precious girls we love you very much. Just as soon as Daddy is finished with these projects, we'll pack a picnic lunch and go to the mountains. Emma - I haven't forgotten about this and we'll make sure to get you some marshmallows to roast on the fire at the park.
I love you ladies. Sleep well.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
How Great Thou Art
So we are in a stage where our youngest is teething and our older two have decided not to really do a thing that mommy and daddy say. Patience is indeed a virtue. When you do not have kids you laugh at parents in the mall saying "Jimmy I'm going to count to three and you better - Jimmy I'm serious! Let go of the - JIMMY -- FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY GET DOWN FROM.....Jimmy I'm going to count to three. One, Twoooooooo - JIMMY GET YOUR FINGER OUT OF YOUR SISTER'S NOSE THIS INSTANT...."
Well you get the picture. I swore early on as a childless father that I would never be "that guy" at the mall. "Kids should just obey you when you tell them to do something" was my belief and mantra.
Enter the kids - toss the mantra out the window. I now understand that the parents were not counting for the benefit of the children. The parents were counting so that they wouldn't unwind like a spring on an overwound clock.
Timeout is a joke, spanking doesn't work. Parents are forced to become "that guy" at the mall.
Therefore I am in the process of writing a song to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". This is probably the most beautiful gospel song ever written. It has been a part of my life as long as I can remember which is back to the age of about 3 or 4 when I sang it in church. To this day I find myself singing it or whistling it as I work through a stressful moment in life. If you don't know that song, listen to the great Elvis singing here >> LINK.
This song is initially titled "Then Screams My Child..."
THEN SCREAMS MY CHILD
By: The Dude
When I lay down
at 1:30 in the morning,
my bones weary from
working all day long.
You start to cry
and scream and shout
real loudly, my ears
begin to bleed real
badly from deep within.
So I get up and
stumble to your bedroom,
I pick you up and
hold you close and
start to sway.
--CHORUS--
Then screams my child
My God you are so loud.
The neighbors wake and
our pets run around.
It never stops -
from 6 am to
7 or 8pm I pray that
you will stop and
give my ears a rest.
I'm going to count
to one and two and three-
and maybe four or five
if I am really tense.
It's not for you
that I count so clearly -
It is for me and
myself all alone...
That's all I got so far but hopefully I can get the lyrics cleaned up and get Josh Groban to sing it...
Well you get the picture. I swore early on as a childless father that I would never be "that guy" at the mall. "Kids should just obey you when you tell them to do something" was my belief and mantra.
Enter the kids - toss the mantra out the window. I now understand that the parents were not counting for the benefit of the children. The parents were counting so that they wouldn't unwind like a spring on an overwound clock.
Timeout is a joke, spanking doesn't work. Parents are forced to become "that guy" at the mall.
Therefore I am in the process of writing a song to the tune of "How Great Thou Art". This is probably the most beautiful gospel song ever written. It has been a part of my life as long as I can remember which is back to the age of about 3 or 4 when I sang it in church. To this day I find myself singing it or whistling it as I work through a stressful moment in life. If you don't know that song, listen to the great Elvis singing here >> LINK.
This song is initially titled "Then Screams My Child..."
THEN SCREAMS MY CHILD
By: The Dude
When I lay down
at 1:30 in the morning,
my bones weary from
working all day long.
You start to cry
and scream and shout
real loudly, my ears
begin to bleed real
badly from deep within.
So I get up and
stumble to your bedroom,
I pick you up and
hold you close and
start to sway.
--CHORUS--
Then screams my child
My God you are so loud.
The neighbors wake and
our pets run around.
It never stops -
from 6 am to
7 or 8pm I pray that
you will stop and
give my ears a rest.
I'm going to count
to one and two and three-
and maybe four or five
if I am really tense.
It's not for you
that I count so clearly -
It is for me and
myself all alone...
That's all I got so far but hopefully I can get the lyrics cleaned up and get Josh Groban to sing it...
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bye
Mondays always seem to last forever. A long day of work leads into a long night of work on projects and programming. The few short hours in between are scattered with screaming, crying, hugging, and laughter with the kids. My little princesses continue their surge toward "independence." As I tucked them into bed tonight I had to try really hard but gave in and giggled like a little girl with my daughters.
As I leaned over my middle girl, she motioned for me to come near and she quietly whispered "Daddy yo a butt-head."
Her giggle is infectious and I tried not to laugh as the elder child succumbed to the giggles.
"That's right Daddy, you're a booty head!" She exclaimed.
I giggled quietly then had to be the mature one.
"Now girls, that's not very nice to say. You have hurt my feelings" I said.
Now at this time, I was expecting to get at least one "I'm sorry". I figured with one older daughter and young daughter I had a 50/50 shot. Yeah right. With a long night of work ahead of me I kissed the girls again and said "Ok you girls need to settle down and go to bed. Daddy's gotta get back to work and I can't keep coming in here to tell you to go to sleep. I love you and you all have sweet dreams."
"Bye Daddy!" said the oldest child.
"I'm not leaving... I'll be in the den." I replied.
"I Know, Daddy... " She said. "That is 'goodnight' in Spanish".
Te quiero a nenas.
Daddy loves you.
As I leaned over my middle girl, she motioned for me to come near and she quietly whispered "Daddy yo a butt-head."
Her giggle is infectious and I tried not to laugh as the elder child succumbed to the giggles.
"That's right Daddy, you're a booty head!" She exclaimed.
I giggled quietly then had to be the mature one.
"Now girls, that's not very nice to say. You have hurt my feelings" I said.
Now at this time, I was expecting to get at least one "I'm sorry". I figured with one older daughter and young daughter I had a 50/50 shot. Yeah right. With a long night of work ahead of me I kissed the girls again and said "Ok you girls need to settle down and go to bed. Daddy's gotta get back to work and I can't keep coming in here to tell you to go to sleep. I love you and you all have sweet dreams."
"Bye Daddy!" said the oldest child.
"I'm not leaving... I'll be in the den." I replied.
"I Know, Daddy... " She said. "That is 'goodnight' in Spanish".
Te quiero a nenas.
Daddy loves you.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Collection
This morning on the way to school, we had to drop Izzy off at the vet for her shots and to get fixed. Part of the adoption agreement was that we would do both within 30 days of taking her from the Humane Society facility. As a result of taking an early trip to the vet, we missed breakfast at school this morning so I stopped at Burger King to get the girls something to fill their loudly growling stomachs. We settled on milk and French toast sticks... they could have worse. As we were sitting there in the drive-thru, Emma looked up into the (car) window and saw Chloe's reflection.
"Chloe, sweety, look in the window - " she began, "do you see yourself? That's called your collection."
"Ooooooooooooooooohhhh!" Chloe exclaimed.
As I giggled I asked Emma "What is that called again?"
[Insert brief pause here]
"Oh did I say collection?" she asked. "I used the wrong word. It's your fuhflection, Chloe"
Satisfied with herself, we drove off to go eat breakfast at school.
"Chloe, sweety, look in the window - " she began, "do you see yourself? That's called your collection."
"Ooooooooooooooooohhhh!" Chloe exclaimed.
As I giggled I asked Emma "What is that called again?"
[Insert brief pause here]
"Oh did I say collection?" she asked. "I used the wrong word. It's your fuhflection, Chloe"
Satisfied with herself, we drove off to go eat breakfast at school.
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