Sickness has been the "name of the game" around here.  It has effected kids, women, and men.  I have a question, "Why is it that many times women lack compassion over men when we are sick?"  Watch this video and you will see what I mean.  Comments welcome (and expected).

This story may seem a little out-of –season but nonetheless it is worth telling.  Some of you have already heard this story, but it bears repeating for the enjoyment of the rest of the world.  This fall, I got to live out one of my dreams: Take one of my sons to his first South Carolina Gamecocks football games.  If you know me at all, you know this moment is one that I have been dreaming of for a long time.  

Ethan and I set out for Williams Brice Stadium in full Gamecock gear.  It was an hour drive from my Mom’s house, who graciously bought us the tickets.  Typical of my middle son, he fell asleep during the car ride.  Honestly, if any car ride is over 15 minutes long he is a for sure a sleeper!  I saw his nap as a blessing because I no longer had to listen to Mickey Mouse kid’s songs any more and could turn on the pre-game show!

I knew exactly when I was going to wake-up Ethan.  I was yearning for this moment.  The moment of the trip when the Stadium comes into full view.  I was giddy, remembering my first trip with my dad.  Just a few minutes before we arrived at the point I woke Ethan up.  Just after he had wiped his eyes it happened . . .

The Stadium came into full-view and I said with an antagonizing tone, “Ethan, look at that!”  Ethan’s response filled his daddy’s heart with joy when he responded, “Oh my gosh dad, look at that!  Are we going to get to ride on that?”  Knowing the comments was a little off but I understood his confusion, I said, “Yeah buddy, that’s where we are going?"  My smile could not have been any bigger and my eyes were even welling up with tears.  

This is where the story takes a turn that I was not expecting.  Ethan said, “It’s so pretty and colorful.”  I was confused and perplexed by this statement.  There was nothing pretty or colorful about the stadium.  It was at this point that I noticed his eyes were not fixed on the stadium.  HE WAS LOOKING AT A HOT-AIR BALLOON in front of the stadium.

 The rest of the night went just about like that.  I tried to teach Ethan about 4-3 defenses and zone blitz schemes, while he played with his transformers and kept his back to the field.  He watched the band’s halftime show with twice the urgency as the football game.  My dream was finally and fully crushed when Ethan began to beg me to, in his word, “To go home.”

 Is there a life lesson here?  I’m sure there is but I am too dumb to figure it out.  Maybe just a good laugh is all there is.

I've been tracking this 'relationship' with great awareness over the last, almost two years.  The truth is my son, Jedidiah, is much more inthralled with Eliana than is receipricated in return.  Jedidiah is the prototypical boy.  He likes to climb large objects, babble at adult volumes, and explore the most dangerous things.  Elle, the prototypical girl likes to play quietly, enjoys seditary snuggle moments, and reading books.


I caught them in a good moment while the girls were doing ministry on a local college campus.  As they were enjoying their favorite past-time, watching Baby Einsten, Jed leaned over and put his hand on her shoulder.  I'm sure Elle's dad sees this in a different light but I thought, "Good job son, that is how you treat a woman."  It will be hard to teach my boys how to treat a woman but these are the starting points.  Make her feel valuable.  Put her comfort above your own.  Treat her as the precisous, crowning jewel of God's creation that she is.


The truth is, I could use a lesson in this myself.  It is so much easier to be a teacher than a learner.  I can say all the right things before my kids but what I model is the most important.

Remembering my gymnastic's days...

Tonight, Piper attended a trial seesion at a local gymansium.  She was so excited and a bit nervous as well.  I was excited for her, but caught up in my own memories of childhood.  For 6 or 7 years of my childhood I was a competitive gymnast.  It was a big investment of time and money on behalf of my family.  Part of me fears that Piper will have this immediate love for gymanstics, but it would be great to see her become passionate about something. 

We are so proud of our only daughter and thank God for the gift that she is to all of us.  I love to see her deep love for her brothers, especially her Jedders.  Hopefully soon we will see her begin to invest her young life into something she is excited about.  One day , her father and I yearn to see her passion become Christ.  All these learning experiences in her life will hopefully teach Piper about living a passionate life for Jesus.

Thank you Lord for my Piper/Pipes/Sissy!

SIncerely,

A Proud Mother   

You are looking at Jedidiah's new home, the corner.  From what I gather, this little boy is a spitting image of his Dad, in more than just looks.  As my Mom was over this weekend, I saw a definate grin on her face when Jed was being a little mischievous.  The grin on her face came with a chuckle and her saying, "You are getting in return what your Dad and I put up with from you." 

It is scary to see your sins in the lives of your children.  The Bible teaches us that we are all broken, bent, and sinful from birth.  I can't argue with that truth.  I see it in my life, my kids' life, and honestly in everyone's life I run into. Discipline is the name of this game.  God says that he disciplines those that He loves.  God desires that I become like Him but that doesn't come without some discomfort.  Jed, Piper, Ethan, and Mom & Dad are in for some discomfort.  Why?  Because we love these kids.  God disciplines us because he is the Father who knows what is best for his child.

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Daddy Daycare turned into daddy being sick!  If I am just honest, I am a hard person to take care of when I am sick.  What made it worse was the fact that Jedidiah just continued to slowly recover from his sickness.  His belly started to swell and he seemed to very uncomfortable throughout the day.  After another conversation with another doctor, Tarah took Jed into the Emergancy Care Doctor on Sunday. 

The doctor took some Xrays and ruled out a blockage of his digestive track but we are still trying to identify why his poop was white (like mash potatoes) for a few days.  We will get a culture back in a few days on that one.  Anyway, he was prescribe three types of medicine and looks to be gaining his old form back today.

Thanks for your prayers and concerns.

Will  <><

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Okay, I am still learning this blog thing.  Unfortunately, each time I have tried to make an entry I have had to re-write it because of my stupidy.  I wish I could learn everything about computers like computers learn everything we need them to know.  Just insert information and it is instantly downloaded into my memory banks.  Unfortunately, mine is all by trial and error.  I am confident that the first blog I wrote was much better than this one is going to be.

The story of today was that I (Will) tried to step into Tarah's shoes for a day.  To quote my dad after having our kids for a full week, "I don't know how Tarah does it everyday."  Last night Tarah became the third member of our family to contract a stomach virus (this is if you include Eliana to our family).  Mama - Out of Commission = Time for Daddy Daycare to come to the rescue.

Let me make sure you understand.  Tarah in bed sick.  Jedidiah and Eliana at the house, both getting over the same stomach virus.  I just put our kids to bed.  All of them were calling for their mother and all of them were now more sick of daddy and needing the only medicine that always heals, Mama.

The most gripping of all the cries was Jed's.  I put him in his crib and left his room but the piercing sound coming through the baby-monitor permeated the house -- MAMA, MAMA, MAMA.

Pray that Mama is all better by the morning.

Will  <><

Our first Christmas in Summerville was a thrill!  Most families that have three kids between the ages of one and seven usually have several traditions they have established but for the Browning family there were a lot of first. 

Our season started with a wonderful gift from a new friend Alice, who I worked with at LifeWay.  She offered to pay for our family to go to James Island State Park where each Christmas they have a incredible light show.  That night was amazing.  As we road through the park looking at the lights the backdoor of our van was filled with fog and fingerprints.  The kids heavy breathing and faces glued to the wintery window began our Christmas memories.

Tarah and the kids were able to visit her sudo-grandparents (the Busby's) in Gainsville, FL.  Unfortunately during this trip I saw Ethan's real commitment to the Gamecocks (and to his dad) when I viewed the video tape of him doing the Flordia Gator chop.  They also traveled to Syvania, GA to hang out with Aaron, Pam, Dawson, Landon, and Madson (Tarah's brother's family).  This trip was filled with chasing chickens, chaos, and swinging down a pulley.

The best memories where at home.  Being a dad is great.  Putting up our Christmas tree as a family for the first time, buying presents for mommy, and playing tic-tac-toe every day with reindeer and santa figures will be etched in my mind for years.

Another trip to Barnwell and a trip to Myrtle Beach brought the season to an end.  Back to school and taking down the Christmas decorations concluded our season.  What is coming up next?  Stay tuned to find out.