Much Too Fast . . .

Yesterday we dropped our little Laura off at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. . . .

Another incredible day in the life of parenting with many different emotions






It's difficult for the mind (and heart) to comprehend that this little bundle . . .






And this little toddler . . .







Is occupying this dorm room . . .



I guess it's really harder to swallow that another season of life has come and gone . . .


Here's a couple of cool links . . .
To that article about Laura being recruited to JBU . . .

And this year's JBU Women's Soccer Roster - #12!

The Life of a Dad . . .

Prom Tonight . . .


2 Beautiful Daughters . . .


Will be up LATE . . .


Nuff said . . . :)

Parenting and Teens

For some reason I've been holding onto this post for some time . . . I'm taking a little bit of a risk writing it because I know that my kids will read it, but at the same time I know that they know my heart.

Tim Stevens (whose a blogger and pastor I really like) blogged about parenting teens and how he perceives that our influence as parents decreases greatly when our kids go into their teen years, while their peers influence increases greatly. You can read the entire blog here . . . his ultimate point was that the environment that we put our kids in matters immensely.

But I kind of fixated on the whole idea of how and when our influence with our kids decreases . . . he even had a chart based on his on informal survey which I copied . . .

Now, below is my comment that I wrote on his blog. What do you think? Do you think I'm off base? What does your experience and heart tell you? What about some of you who are teens or recently were teens, who influences you the most? Why?

And how does all this help us to love those we love the most?

Here was my comment:

I'm jumping in late here -- but I only have time to read my blogs about once a week because I've got 4 stinkin' teenagers :) (18,16,16,14)

Without a doubt - for me - it's now the hardest season of parenting. (Changing diapers seems like playing with Lincoln Logs about right now!)
Probably because I'm normally not near broken enough and it requires more humility than ever before. Humility to not always be the top person in their life. Humility to let them make mistakes. Humility to not respond with jealously every time some punk :) comes chasing after one of my beautiful daughters (oldest 3 are girls). Humility to engage them where they are.

At the same time I must also - from my experience - disagree with your chart (and agree some with the person who said that much of this is perceived) because I do know that my kids still deeply desire my presence and loving leadership in their lives. I know that I still influence them as much as anyone. I just have to do it differently than I have before. I must engage them more and more on an adult level. I must be sensitive to where they are emotionally and appeal to their heart and the consequences of right and wrong decisions, while allowing them to choose at appropriate levels.

I like you Tim am not sure how all of this is going to turn out . . . but I do know that I'm going to keep fighting for my kids lives!

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!

Still Hard

About 2 hours ago I said 'goodbye' to my little Emily for another year of college at Hardin Simmons . . .

Dang it!!! I thought this was gonna be easier this year . . . I thought that since I had been through the trauma and angst that it would be like sending her to HEB for a gallon of milk.

And then as she and her Mom pulled out of the driveway that some flood of emotions spilled over again.

It's not easy being a parent, but it seems even harder to try not being the parent that you've been for so long . . . or at least letting go of so many of the parts of parenting that have become so much a part of your life. Not to mention physically letting go - as you must - of a child that you love so much.

I don't guess that it will never get easier . . . And this is only year 2 of college of the first of 4 kids!

Dang it!!

Seeds!

It's awesome to watch folks moving out into their mission for God!

Michelle Needham (yep, that's her!) had a vision for serving Mothers and Fathers who are trying to become pregnant, who are pregnant, who have recently had their babies, or who have lost a baby.

After seeking God's wisdom, and sharing her vision with the staff - SEED's has been born. Seeds has a vision to come alongside our Life Groups (and leaders) and help to care for these families . . . . as well as reaching out to those who are not yet in groups and showing them God's love and the power of community. Michelle also has a further vision to involve the community and impact our City!

Seeds stands for:

S Serving
E expecting mothers with
E encouragement
D dedicated prayer and
S support

I can't wait to watch the impact that Michelle and her mission will have on not just Creeker Moms & Dads - but on our community - as the Seeds of Jesus are planted in the lives of parents in this vulnerable season.

Way to go Michelle!

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?

Parents Tonight

I'm excited about tonight as I get to speak to the parents of the students who are at Against the Tide.

It's a great opportunity to speak to them bluntly about what our kids are facing and what we can do about it. What we must do about it if we want to bless a thousand generations!

All the Parts Are There

We all ask the question - probably daily - 'Are all the parts really there?'
Is it true what I've been saying the last two Sundays in the Family Circus messages that God has made all the parts available (i.e. Apollo 13 clip) so that our families can experience the hope and oneness that they are made for?

In a word, Yes. Is it easy, No. Is it worth it, Heck Yes!

I obviously don't have all the answers. I do know we have to fight.

There are many people who have influenced me (and Cindy) in our fight for our family, I wanted to share some of the advice of some of our mentors with you. Specifically these are folks who have mentored us - as parents - through print. These are books I would highly encourage you to read as you look for the parenting parts [After putting the books in below I realized how often I said 'awesome' or 'great' or 'powerful' . . . because these are the very best of what we read and they ALL ARE awesome!]:


- Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp - This was the genesis for Cindy and I in understanding that it's not about controlling, or even just guiding, our child's behavior - but it's all about seeing their heart's changed! If you don't 'get it' here - you won't get it.

- Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson - All I can say is 'Read it Dads!' And read it as soon as you can! And then read it again (I think I've read most of it 3 times)

- How to Really Love Your Child by Ross Campbell - Simple and powerful

- God's Design for Sex - by Stan & Brenna Jones - Series of 4 books that you read with your child and were awesome in helping us talk with our kids about sexuality. And parents if you ignore this area, somebody else won't! These are great - first start at age 3-5 and all are very appropriate for their age development.

- Ready for Responsibility by Bob Barnes - This book speaks so practically about helping our children to learn responsibility in critical areas. He's the first one who made me think about: 'Are we raising our children to be children, or to be adults?' Again, awesome stuff.

- Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis - A game plan for raising our sons. Do you have a plan Dad or are just gonna 'wing it'?

- The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman - Has (and is) really helped us in recent past . . . Awesome in helping to understand transition to adolescence and the different needs of teens. Has sections for single parents and blended families.

- Choices by Mary Farrar - For women wanting to make God's priorities her priorities, inlcuding but not limited to being a mom. [by Cindy and one of her all-time 'top of the list' books!]

- And Then I had Kids by Susan Alexander Yates - A great dose of encouragement for moms! Filled with honest, practical, Biblical wisdom for moms with young children. [by Cindy]