Okay. So as a man blogger I had to see this one coming. I have been mistaken for being of the female persuasion in blog world (see comments from the last post). No big deal. Man blogging is unusual in these parts, and I am secure enough in my manhood that I can laugh about it. I don't know the girl who commented, although I am sure I have completely embarrassed her at this point. (Side note: It is not my intent to embarrass you. Please don't let this prevent you from commenting in the future. I just think that its a subject that needs to be addressed here. It is completely not your fault. I am blazing new trails here and this was bound to happen.....I'm just sorry it had to be you) I think I've learned two things from this:
1. Blogging is a girl's world. It's not for guys. Only girls (and some male closet readers) read my blogs. The only comments I get are from girls.
2. Be very careful about the assumptions and comments you make in the blog world. Things aren't always as they seem.
Kaine (aka male closet reader),
I know you have read this and are loving this but you are too manly to post a comment. Just send me an email as usual.............
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
T-Ball
Let me start by saying that the only thing more fun than playing baseball growing up is being a father and watching your son play. Last year was our first year with our oldest playing city league T-ball. I admit that there were times that I took it a little to seriously, but every father wants to prevent his child from making the same mistakes he did. Last year Tyler played in the 5 year old league. Scores and stats were put in the books, the league had a champion, and all-stars were picked. We got the email yesterday that things will be different this year. Apparently, our city has decided that playing a sport that has a winner and loser is not "teaching the kids". It has been decided that there will be no score keeping, that 5 and 6 year olds will play together (the 6 year olds were separated even during fall ball) and there will be no all-star team. I thought that's why we have soccer at the Y. I hate to rob vocabulary from R&B, but this is a prime example of the "puditization" of America.
Its no surprise to me, that 7 days after the inauguration of President Obama, we have taken the great American past time of little league and ruined it. What exactly are we teaching our kids with this more "civilized" approach? I see it every day. I see people who have no concept of initiative or ambition, who are working 8 to 5 to get a paycheck without any concept of self-initiative. People who are task oriented without any consideration of the results. I guess my point is, we don't sign our kids up for T-ball just to learn how to play baseball. 99% of the kids that play T-ball don't take it any further than city league. T-ball is an opportunity to teach kids about life, teamwork, being goal oriented, work ethic, and about personal responsibility. T-ball is a great opportunity to introduce our kids to the rewards of winning, and how to cope with a loss. All that being said, we'll be there for every game eating our apple slices and drinking our Capri-Suns playing a game with no purpose or goals to acheive. Just playing. Since we are creating a better environment for "teaching our kids", I wonder what exactly will they learn?
Its no surprise to me, that 7 days after the inauguration of President Obama, we have taken the great American past time of little league and ruined it. What exactly are we teaching our kids with this more "civilized" approach? I see it every day. I see people who have no concept of initiative or ambition, who are working 8 to 5 to get a paycheck without any concept of self-initiative. People who are task oriented without any consideration of the results. I guess my point is, we don't sign our kids up for T-ball just to learn how to play baseball. 99% of the kids that play T-ball don't take it any further than city league. T-ball is an opportunity to teach kids about life, teamwork, being goal oriented, work ethic, and about personal responsibility. T-ball is a great opportunity to introduce our kids to the rewards of winning, and how to cope with a loss. All that being said, we'll be there for every game eating our apple slices and drinking our Capri-Suns playing a game with no purpose or goals to acheive. Just playing. Since we are creating a better environment for "teaching our kids", I wonder what exactly will they learn?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
God Speaks in Creative Ways
It's funny that as my son gets older I see more and more how much he is like me. He is smart - which he obviously got from me, he is in a bad mood every morning when he wakes up (most definitely me), he is very particular about his own stuff, he has a SLIGHT problem with anger management, he's a little quirky, and he is completely unaware of the world around him and sometimes even unaware of the world in which he is in.
In a discussion with a small group of guys that I meet with once a week, I brought up an interesting point that seems to ring true for all of us who are raising children. There have been many times in the last 6 years that I have found myself saying things to my children that I feel certain God says to me. Things like "if you will just listen to me, and do what I tell you to do, life would be so much easier for you" or "every day I get on to you for the same things over and over again" or "how many times do we have to have this conversation" or "just stop talking because your words are what get you in trouble". And the list continues. Just like I know what's best for my son, how much more does our sovereign God know what's best for us. I firmly believe that God's word is just one of many ways that He speaks to us. The thing is, He's God. He can't be limited to a book, and I believe He speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes I wonder how many times He has spoken to me in ways that I was too self involved or too busy to hear. And then when I do hear, how many times do I ignore it or pretend like I don't hear, or reason my way out of it. The point is, we all have our vices, whether we are 6 or 30, and just like my 6 year old, overcoming these vices requires the ability to listen, and the fortitude to obey (there is a Calvinistic debate here that I will try to address one day, when I feel that I can convey it with clarity, but I don't want to muddy the point right now).
One thing I do know, is that my relationship with my children is a constant reminder of the relationship that I have with my Father in heaven. The frustrations that I experience with the upbringing of my son is just a little snippet (is that a word?) of the frustration that God must feel with me.
In the same way, the unconditional love, patience (ok, so the whole patience thing is a struggle for me, but it happens occasionally) , and unchanging forgiveness that I portray to my son is just a little snippet (again, not so sure that's a word, but I am using it anyway), of God's relationship with me. One thing that I do know is that I would sacrifice anything for my son, how much more has God sacrificed for me?
In a discussion with a small group of guys that I meet with once a week, I brought up an interesting point that seems to ring true for all of us who are raising children. There have been many times in the last 6 years that I have found myself saying things to my children that I feel certain God says to me. Things like "if you will just listen to me, and do what I tell you to do, life would be so much easier for you" or "every day I get on to you for the same things over and over again" or "how many times do we have to have this conversation" or "just stop talking because your words are what get you in trouble". And the list continues. Just like I know what's best for my son, how much more does our sovereign God know what's best for us. I firmly believe that God's word is just one of many ways that He speaks to us. The thing is, He's God. He can't be limited to a book, and I believe He speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes I wonder how many times He has spoken to me in ways that I was too self involved or too busy to hear. And then when I do hear, how many times do I ignore it or pretend like I don't hear, or reason my way out of it. The point is, we all have our vices, whether we are 6 or 30, and just like my 6 year old, overcoming these vices requires the ability to listen, and the fortitude to obey (there is a Calvinistic debate here that I will try to address one day, when I feel that I can convey it with clarity, but I don't want to muddy the point right now).
One thing I do know, is that my relationship with my children is a constant reminder of the relationship that I have with my Father in heaven. The frustrations that I experience with the upbringing of my son is just a little snippet (is that a word?) of the frustration that God must feel with me.
In the same way, the unconditional love, patience (ok, so the whole patience thing is a struggle for me, but it happens occasionally) , and unchanging forgiveness that I portray to my son is just a little snippet (again, not so sure that's a word, but I am using it anyway), of God's relationship with me. One thing that I do know is that I would sacrifice anything for my son, how much more has God sacrificed for me?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Highlights of the Christmas Holidays
Ok. So my wife hijacked my blog and posted a not so flattering picture of me on my own blog. That's me drying dishes at "Christmas at the Brakefield's". This is not an everyday event for me - drying dishes that is, but I was just walking by and the next thing I know, I have a towel in my hand and am taking orders from Mrs. Mable Herron. I love Mrs. Mable. You have to admire a woman who can have a grown man drying dishes without ever knowing he's doing it, and enjoying it. Mrs. Mable is Jen's mom, and Jen might as well be considered family ( I won't try to explain this one.....she's like an adopted sister), which would make Mrs. Mable like my long lost aunt - sort of. So, that about sums up my Christmas. I dried dishes at the Christmas get together.
As most of you know, we lost a family member over the Christmas holidays. Macee was a crude, foul smelling, dirty chocolate lab that we had for 9 years. She was at home waiting for us when we brought both Tyler and Marlee home from the hospital. She loved our kids as much as we did, she was always happy to see me, no matter what, and she could eat as much food as you could set in front of her. She ran in her sleep and it sounded like somebody was breaking into the house. She made loud groaning noises all the time. She could fire a shot that would clear the room....one that smelled so bad SHE would get up and move. She was the best dog I have ever had. She loved unconditionally. I swore I wouldn't cry when it was time for her to go, but after that first shot, when she turned to me to say goodbye, I couldn't hold it in. You are missed Macee Lou.
On a lighter note, my son thinks that the Hispanics that are at his school speak "English". We have tried to explain that it is "Spanish", but it just isn't sinking in. It's a real source of confusion for him and I have never really understood why. So we are riding in the car the other night, and Tyler asks "Who speaks English?". And my ever wise wife responds "we speak English". So he asks "Who speaks Francis?" - to which my wife responds "do you mean French?". And he says "yes". And my wife, (who's never been much on geography) responds "people in England". How could you not love a girl like that.
And to think, all this time I have wondered why Tyler is so confused about different languages..........
As most of you know, we lost a family member over the Christmas holidays. Macee was a crude, foul smelling, dirty chocolate lab that we had for 9 years. She was at home waiting for us when we brought both Tyler and Marlee home from the hospital. She loved our kids as much as we did, she was always happy to see me, no matter what, and she could eat as much food as you could set in front of her. She ran in her sleep and it sounded like somebody was breaking into the house. She made loud groaning noises all the time. She could fire a shot that would clear the room....one that smelled so bad SHE would get up and move. She was the best dog I have ever had. She loved unconditionally. I swore I wouldn't cry when it was time for her to go, but after that first shot, when she turned to me to say goodbye, I couldn't hold it in. You are missed Macee Lou.
On a lighter note, my son thinks that the Hispanics that are at his school speak "English". We have tried to explain that it is "Spanish", but it just isn't sinking in. It's a real source of confusion for him and I have never really understood why. So we are riding in the car the other night, and Tyler asks "Who speaks English?". And my ever wise wife responds "we speak English". So he asks "Who speaks Francis?" - to which my wife responds "do you mean French?". And he says "yes". And my wife, (who's never been much on geography) responds "people in England". How could you not love a girl like that.
And to think, all this time I have wondered why Tyler is so confused about different languages..........
Hijacked
I, who will remain a secret, have hijacked this blog. If you want to see the above Daddy Roach blogging again, please leave him a comment.
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