Yesterday the weather was awesome here in Texas. It was a little too windy for a bike ride so we took a walk and pulled the boys in a wagon. It was a good time and they both actually did really well sitting together for the adventure. Fun Times!

Today, I joined my 3 year old (for only one more week) Josiah at his school for dad and donuts. It was fun seeing his excitement. As we ate the donuts there were two things that he had made for me. It was a fact sheet about me form his perspective, and then a poem “Daddy’s Footprints” with his footprints on it! Here is how Josiah answered these questions/statements:

My Daddy’s name is: DANNY
He is 2 MONTHS old.
My Daddy’s favorite sport is: FOOTBALL
He likes to eat: SANDWICHES
My dad spends most of his time WORKING ON THE COMPUTER
When we are together, I like to PLAY TRAINS

It is interesting to hear his point of view, obviously some of them are way off but others hit close to home. Kid’s are kids for only a short period of time. One-day he will grow up to be a teenager then an adult. I want to learn how to enjoy each phase of life with him so he know that his Dad and Mom ALWAYS cared more about him and our family before anything else!

Daddy’s Footprints

“Walk a little slower, Daddy,”
said a little child so small.
“I’m following your footsteps,
and I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they’re hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up;
You’re what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you!”

There is a great responsibility in being a Dad. Sometimes easily overlooked, but every second we are modeling what it means to be a Man, Father, Husband, Friend, and most importantly a Christian. When we do these things we develop and model character, trust, integrity, love, patients, a humble spirit . . . and the list goes on and on and on. I want to take advantage of every second, don’t you?

Father help me be more like you, because he wants to be more like me!

Its been a long, but fun day with the family. It all started with one of my sons friends b-day party. Hayden turned three today and had a party at Going Bonkers. What a fun place!!! Josiah and I played in all the ropes/nets and slides together. It’s a lot easier on the knees than the tubes and tunnel stuff typically at a fast food places play place. It was so much fun! However, after watching the staff rush the party through I don’t know if I would pay to have a birthday party there. It seemed like we would just get done with one thing and we had to move on to the next. But this was just the beginning of out long day!

Next we went to one of my favorite places Steak N Shake. It was the usual good food. But the best part came when Josiah (3) asked if he could go pay. So I gave him some money and the ticket and he went to the counter and paid. You could tell he felt so grown up!!! As he sat on the stool he told the manager that he was ready, then he looked to my wife and I who were watching him from our table and winked at us. Where he gets this stuff is beyond me, but it was so awesome to see him be so proud of himself!

After Lunch we went to the Lewisville Mall (also known as the vista ridge mall). Not that we needed anything, we simply went to hang out and walk of all the good Steak N Shake we ate. Walked the whole mall, bought one pair of shoes that would send my wife on a hunt for shoes that would fill the rest of our day. After we left the mall we had to go to DSW, Famous Footwear, Payless Shoesource and the Shoe Pavilion, all to find out that non of these places had her size in the shoes that she wanted. After Josiah cried through the whole last store we took him to Toys’R’Us. He loved it. AND we actually walked out of there with two boys not crying and no toys. Suprise.

We ended the night at Ihop for dinner, all to remind ourselves that the time changes tonight. Fun day, alot of memories, tiered boys and feet! We are so blessed!!!!

Yesterday, 65 . . . Today, 30 and snow. Some of the biggest snowflakes I have ever seen . . . and I have seen a lot of snow!

Well I thought Missouri weather was crazy! In the last five days Texas weather has been in the high 70 low 80, to Snow last night, to mid 50’s today. Here is a picture of the snow that was here for most of the morning!

Our Friends gave us a set of Bunk Beds tonight!! They even gave us a night stand also!!! Josiah is so excited and Stephanie and I are so grateful and appreciative. They look brand new even though they say they are 10 years old. Right now I am laying on the bottom so Josiah (3) will be brave enough to sleep on the top bunk. He is so excited and scared at the same time. We’ll see how he does! Pray that he makes it through the night . . . it means we will somewhat have our room back! SWEET!

Last night was our 1st Guys Night. Josiah (3) and I blew up an air mattress, watched a movie, ate puppy chow, and slept in the office/gameroom. Heres a pic from this morning!

It was exciting for me just to share in his excitement. It doesn’t matter what we do it just the simple fact that we do it together. This will be something he remembers for ever. Creating Memories together is so important and something we need to be mindful of. Can’t wait till Jackson can join us!!!

Air mattress – Donated by Pa Pa
Movie Rental – $3.50
Memories – Priceless

We spent the first part of our week at Grandma’s house. While there, my sister and her 5 kids, and my Aunt joined us for a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. Here are some pics after the meal!!Jackson, Tanner, and Gavin! They are only 5 days apart!
This is what 7 grandkids will do to ya!

We spent the day with some very good friends and great youth workers from Warrensburg. Jim and Belinda thanks for hanging out with us, we had so much fun and enjoyed the conversation. We spent the day at a train/Indian exhibit, fun but we expected artifacts not art. Joe still had fun he loves trains and doesn’t see many in Texas. From there we went to Bass Pro. We looked at turtles, fish, and then more turtles. Here are some pics from the day!

Jim and Bebe, thanks so much for your friendship! We have fond memories of serving with great people like you! God’s not done yet!!

The family and I arrived in Missouri for a week with family and Friends. Here are some pics from the trip up here.

Josiah only slept 1 hour out of the 10 hour trip!
Jackson travels very well.