Piper and Ethan had there eight and six year old birthday party this weekend.  It was a busy day.  Our good friends the Young’s (Nate, Cam, Hannah & Eli) came in town to visit.  This visit was very special to Piper particularly.  She loves Hannah to death.  Most of Piper’s dolls have been named Hannah in her honor.

The day started out with a bang.  Ethan, while playing on his bunk-bed, fell and cut open his lip so wide that we had to rush to an emergency care center for him to get four stitches.  We made it back in time that he didn’t miss his party!  The boys went bowling and the girls went to the roller skating rink.  We met back after lunch at the house for cake and ice cream. 

Nanny & Gaga had all the festivities ready.  A cake, half Power Rangers and half Hannah Montana, dawned the table.  The kids had a great time.  We are still opening presents. 

Thanks for all your love and support.  It has been so cool to see these kids grow up over the last 16 months.  They are doing great.  Seeing them flourish is so gratifying.  They are making friends, learning about God, learning to read, playing sports, amongst many other things.  They are such a great blessing to Tarah and I.

Come on God, what are you thinking?  These were the words on my lips early last Sunday morning when I stepped out of my car on my way to the Tupelo shelter at Wannamaker Park for our Journey Out Day.  I came dressed ready to play volleyball, in shorts even though the wind chill was below 45 degrees.  I saw this as a step of faith; everyone else saw it as a sign of stupidity.

Ethan, my middle son, reminded me as we walked back to the car to get some final items, “Daddy, you said we were going to pray.”  “Oh yeah,” I replied.”  But I was thinking, “What good will it do?”  My prayer was one mixed with frustration and anger.  Considering the proceeding day’s weather was in the 70’s and the following day’s weather was forecasted to begin a warming trend, I just said to God, “I know you have the best in mind for us, but I don’t understand this one.”  All I could think about was the money that we spent on this event and now, do to weather, no one was going to show up.  Come on God, what are you thinking?

It was about an hour into the event that I saw what God was thinking.  Over one hundred people bared the cold, the wind, and the rain to hang out with us.  This pat Sunday was the most successful event our church has ever had. 

Later that evening, my family was eating supper together.  We were all talking about what we enjoyed most about the day and Ethan reminded me, “Daddy, we prayed that God would make this a great day, and he did!” 

Ethan, you are right buddy.  Ethan helped me understand what God meant when he said, “Have child-like faith.”

Will  <><