Proud of this Guy . . .

Luke just finished his Freshman HS baseball season last night and got to play with the varsity the last month of the season.

I'm proud of how he is growing into a young man and the decisions he is making. What a blessing to have an awesome son!

"The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." Prov 23:24

Thankful

We all desire God's best for our children. First for them to walk with Him . . . and to do so with integrity in every area of their life . . .

Thankful for the acknowledgment the girls received this weekend of their diligence and perseverance in soccer . . .

The Caller Times article is here . . . Laura was named All-South Texas Defensive MVP and District 27-5A Defensive MVP. Sarah was named District 27-5A All-District.

Also proud of Luke who is a Freshman and after the Freshman baseball season was over last week was one of a few guys that was brought up to Varsity for the rest of the season and the playoffs.


I pray that they walk in His power with the same dilegence and perseverance.

Lonely

Saturday night is the HS girls group, so my buddy Luke and I usually hang out.

Not tonight. He ditched me for the homecoming dance.

Wow, it's amazing - just the other day we were playing knee football in the living room.

And here he is tonight with his beautiful sisters.

Their last HS homecoming dance, his first.


"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven." Eccl 3:1

A Last Day One and a First Day One . . .

Time runs quickly. . . .

Incredible that today Sarah & Laura begin their Senior year at King and Luke his Freshman year at King . . . and Emily is at Hardin-Simmons beginning here Junior year of college!!

They change quickly, checking out the post from last years first day of school (click here to see it) Luke has grown about a foot.

I know that God tells us that there is a 'time for everything' - it's just hard to believe that this time next year we will possibly only have one of our awesome kids at home . . .

Rites of Passage

We don't have many healthy rites of passage in our culture.

Luke enters high school next week . . . a big deal.

These guys who are my friends, and Luke's friends, helped me last night as we had a ceremony of sorts on the beach.

Each of them has had significant spiritual influence on Luke and they individually walked Luke down the beach about half a mile (and he didn't know about this prior to me dropping him off) and talked too him about a godly value/attribute and how they were expecting God to do great things in his life.

Then they handed him off to the next guy.

I was last and we talked about his unlimited future for the Kingdom and fulfilling the meaning of his name ('Bringer of Light').

Afterwards we all had some 'man food' at Rudy's . . . and talked about how we are all there for him.

My hope is that my son not only hears the wise counsel of his mentors, but also the affirmation of him as a man of God. We all need that blessing to move confidently into God's future.


"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

15

Celebrated Luke's Birthday today. . . . actually still celebrating as we've got a bunch of young teenagers over here taking testosterone out on ping pong paddles, wi paddles, each other, and anything else that moves . . .

Wow, where did 15 years go . . . but I'm blessed!

"My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways." Prov 23:26

Thanksgiving & Football (& Futbol)

Yesterday Luke and I drove down to Austin (we're in Sherman w/Cindy's family) and compliments of my Dad went to the UT / A&M game . . .

It was fun and huge --it was the largest crowd EVER at a football game in the State of Texas - 98,621 stinkin' people!
(That's my Dad and Kai, my step-brother's son, with Luke & I)


Then we got up early this morning to get back to Dallas to watch Sarah & Laura's soccer games --- and they got rained out today :(
More futbol games tomorrow . . .

SURGE!

This is the logo of our new select baseball team . . .
We're hoping to SURGE through a tourney that we're playing in this weekend!

Blessed Saturday

It was a beautiful day Saturday as I got to watch Laura run in a cross country meet and Luke play in a couple of baseball games . . . .

I'm trying to do better at not taking these moments for granted . . . Each second is such a blessing. . .

fiRsT dey of skool

Yesterday was the first day of 8th grade for Luke (big man on campus!) , 11th grade for Sarah & Laura (UPPER classmen!) & Sophomore year at Hardin-Simmons for Emily. (This is Sarah, Luke, Laura and the girls great friend Elle . . . sorry you couldn't be in the pic Mimi)

And the twins drove off to school on their own for the first time . . .

Wow parents it's ABSOLUTELY amazing how fast it goes! Draw on every day . . . it's only 18 or so short years, make every moment count!

Birthday Party Hangover

This is the morning remnants of Luke's birthday party last night.

Parents, this is what happens if you spend 2 hours at Gattitown (which I'm convinced will have a mental illness named after it someday as a result of the stimulation overload that occurs after being there for about 4 minutes!) - then play Wii for about 3 hours, followed by a 2 hour movie and have numerous uncontrolled wrestling matches in between.*
All of this activity is then exacerbated by approximately 6 cokes and 2 pounds of sugar each.

*[Disclaimer: Please don't allow your children to try this at home. This was performed with professional children in a closed living room.]

Luke's 14th

Today this little guy is 14.

We blink and our children's lives pass by like a lonely plane in the blue sky and suddenly we're just left with a vapor trail of memories that remind us of how things once were.

And I'm reluctantly - yet thankfully - drawn back into the psalmist's sobering words:

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. . . Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 39:4, 90:12

As I get older I get more emotional about these things. I so want to love him well through these slippery and steep teenage years . . . I will not get a second chance.

And yet many times I let little things get in the way.

Will you pray for Luke today . . . and pray for me?

And where is it that you need to be reminded today to number your days with wisdom? Who - or what - is passing by quickly?

4 Kids!

Emily got home last night and it's awesome to have all 4 of our kids back home again!

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands.
How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! Psalm 127:3-5


(Not the greatest pic as I'm experimenting with my camera phone . . . just figured out that I could text pics to my email . . .)

a thumpin'

Our baseball team got thrashed tonight . . . made all the worse by the other team squeezing when they were up by 10 (if you're not sure what I'm talking about ask a baseball fan and if they have any savvy they'll go -- 'Oooooh, that ain't cool!').

You could say that I'm a baseball purist - you don't show up the game, or the other team.
Now I've just got to get my heart back to a pure place and not wanting revenge! Ah, humility is such a painful thing . . .

Taco Villa!

OK, I talked about Taco Villa in a past post being my favorite TexMex fastfood joint . . . and here it is!
And yes, I've had a Taco Villa Combination Burrito!

It was a beautiful day in Lubbock . . . 60 degrees this morning and blue (not red) skies! Played golf with my father-in-law and Luke this morning and had a great time!

YCA Sports Banquet

Last night was the YCA sports banquet. I had the privilege of bringing my basketball guys up one at a time and blessing them.

With my teams I don't give the traditional MVP, Most Improved, etc awards. I choose a character trait/gifting that each of them has and lift that up and encourage them to continuing developing it and using it.

This is me honoring Luke. I gave him the (Brave) Heart Award because he always played and practiced with tons of heart and passion.

As I worked through these God showed me how I need to be doing this more with everyone around me. Especially with those nearest to me. Too much of the time I find what is wrong.
What if we all continually encouraged those around us in how we see God developing them and using them?

My Son

I love my son more than I can explain. This is Luke at his game tonight (Mom took some great pics!)

He's quickly growing into a young man.

And it's my responsibility to show him the way. No one else's, mine. That's huge. And it's not always easy.

Dad's, our sons need us. We must show them what it means to follow God. Or who will?

More than almost anything I've ever done, I want to get this one right.

New Season!

Baseball season finally began tonight for the Tigers! That's Luke at shortstop.

We opened with a doubleheader -- lost the first game and won the night cap. Luke had a good night - pitched 2 innings and had 5 strikeouts.

2 more games in the next 2 days . . .

Saturday . . .

Luke & I (w/Beau Hufstetler) started our Saturday early by running in a 5k down on the bay. It was a beautiful morning with uncharacteristic 55-degree weather. And it was most awesome to do it with my son!

We have pretty quiet day . . . and then this afternoon I'm heading to San Antonio to watch a potential worship pastor lead worship and then take him out to eat. I'll get back late . . . but I'm excited about week 2 of Family Circus tomorrow!

Learning . . . Slowly

I've been asking God to help make me more of an encourager, to help me lead from a perspective of serving and building up. I struggle.

And it's always exciting (but not always fun!) to see how God answers us.

Yesterday we had our first baseball practice. Every year for the past 50 years or so I've been the HEAD Coach of Luke's team. Because of circumstances with kids, etc - myself and another coach decided to merge our teams. He had more kids, so in effect we joined his team. He's the head coach.

I've NEVER been an assistant coach in baseball. Did I mention that I've ALWAYS been the HEAD coach.

I'm used to running practice the way I want to. Giving the speeches. Making the decisions. I watched yesterday as he ran practice and I helped.

As we were going to practice I was thinking of the very best assistants I've had. They were servants and encouragers. They did the dirty work and did it with grace and pleasure. That's what I want to be. So . . . God's giving me a chance.

Yesterday I did my best to keep my mouth shut . . . and shag balls and gather equipment . . . and encourage the boys and Shane (he's the head coach and a GREAT guy which makes it so much easier).

Actually, to be honest, I excited! I'm already looking at the whole opportunity differently, and I'm going to learn awesome new things this Spring!

I'm praying that God will make me a servant.