Legacy

I'm blogging today with a sentimental message. I received word that my grandmother on my dad's side past away last week. My parents were able to be in Vietnam during her final months on earth. Which was a great blessing to our family. I was able to observe this process via my dad's e-mails and have to say that I am more emotional than I thought I would be.

I've only met my Grandmother twice, both times for only a few short days. She was a strong women even in her old age she would be close to 100yrs old this year. Grandmother was known for her strength and love for her children. 

My dad has been on an emotional roller coaster this last month and I have grown a greater respect for him as I listen and observed how he has handled the passing of his mother. I pray that Kaden would love his mother and honor her as much as my dad has done for his mom. 

I am thankful for the legacy my Grandmother leaves behind. She has faithful sons and daughters who care greatly for their families. I pray her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would continue this legacy of loving and caring for family.

In a sense I have grown closer to my roots this last month. I received pictures today and just wished I could have been at the memorial service to be with my parents and the rest of the family. It would have been nice to have had Kaden meet his great-grandmother. He will just have to hear all the fun stories of her carrying wood into the house at age 90+. What an amazing women.

Many flowers were sent from the US. The one Lisa and I sent is on the left.

Vietnamese traditionally wear headbands and white clothing during times of mourning.

My dad between two of his brothers.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day:

Give your family hugs today and tell them you love them and you are proud of them.

Supralapsarianism vs. Infralapsarianism

I spent most of my yesterday evening trying to understand the 

differences between Supralapsarianism & Infralapsarianism. 

I even had nightmares about it last night. I couldn't get the 

words out of my head. Some of you are wondering what these 

two words even mean and some of you really do know 

(that's just wrong).

If you're wondering in it's simplest form:

Supralapsarianism – God predestined before the fall (where election begins before creation)

Infralapsarianism – God predestined after the fall (where election begins after creation)

So what??? Yeah I know... with a lot of this stuff I wonder why theologians through the years get so hung up? Why do we try and figure out God and put Him into our boxed in definitions? It just seems futile. 

I look at Kaden and I ask God what do you want my little boy to know about you? What is going to point him to an all loving God? How do I direct his path toward a heart that desires to follow the way of truth, mercy, and grace? I ask these questions of God and realize so many times my heart doesn't even desire these things of Christ. 

So I pray this prayer for myself and for my family:

Jesus, let my choices in life be about you and not about me. Let my heart want to honor you and glorify you. Let my actions bless others before myself. Let my trust be placed in the hope that you have given me. The hope of your Kingdom coming here now on earth as it is in heaven only because of your great sacrifice. ~AMEN~

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day:

Swinging baby in a sheet is a fun and inexpensive game... just make sure you are holding on to ALL four ends before you start swinging.

Blogging Ain't Easy...

So I got a few request recently to start blogging again. I was kind of surprised cause really I didn't think people where paying much attention. And really my life really isn't that interesting.

This blogging thing is not easy. I get so busy and life gets so crazy that it's the last thing on my mind. I look at friends of mine who have become so consistent with it even when they are busy or even when their lives are in crisis mode. 

My wife says that I am a great "Starter" meaning that I do a great job starting things, but have difficulty continuing and finishing things. Maybe I should just get in the mind set that I am always starting something new each day! (hmmm... not a bad thought.)

So life has not slowed down since the last entry. School is in full swing and Midterms are next week. Really this doesn't mean much to me this term since I only have one exam next week.  School has been very interesting this term with some great learning experiences. Maybe I'll go into more detail next entry.

Daddyhood? I don't even know where to start. Kaden is sooo BIG. He is 11 months today.

Staying at home has been challenging since he is mobile and loves to be active. We have fun crawling around on the floor and learning new tricks. He is a very quick learner. 

Over all Life has been a whirl wind and sometimes I feel like I am just tossed about. I'm praying that God would just anchor me down and keep me from running a ground. 

Once again I'll try and keep current and bring some excitement to the two people who read this blog. haa haa....

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

Teaching a baby to stick out his tongue may look cute at first, but not so much when they do it with a mouth full of prunes.

Almost a Month Later...

I was doing so well with some kind of constant blog entry and then all of a sudden it's been a month! Sorry to all my faithful readers (um... who reads this anyway?)

Ok so this daddy is back in school and well I am being "schooled." I am right now a student of real life. Life has gotta hold of my head and is shoving me under the water. I feel like I am drowning in a sea of craziness.

I am so excited to finish this program, yet am horrified of the possibility of having nothing to show for it, but a piece of paper... I lay in bed at night asking GOD, how he will use me and where he wants me to step. I am trying to be content with living in the moment and processing what is given to me daily, but I think it is human nature to want to know the future.

As for Daddyhood... Kaden had been struggling with a stomach thing for almost two weeks. I was cleaning up after blow outs at least once a day. One day we went through 5 outfits. So between bathing the boy, rinsing out dirty clothes, and doing a basket of laundry a day, Kaden and I have been spending a lot of fun time together.

This last week Kaden has gone the other way and has been constipated. His poor little bum is all read from the straining. But what has been fun is that he has been poopped in the potty a few times.

Finally I'll give you an update on the health commitment. I started P90X two weeks a go and have lost 6-7 lbs. I am feeling fit and stronger. Hoping to get under that 200lb mark soon.

I could ramble forever since it's been a month, but I'll spare you.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

When changing diapers move the dirty one away from arms reach, rolling reach, and below the head and shoulder region. 

Take A Deep Breath...

Here we go...!! Today is my last day to relax and get myself focused. I am embarking on a four month roller coaster ride of fierce proportions. That's right, it's back to school time for daddy. 

When Kaden was first born I took a few weeks off and then took a few summer courses. It was much easier at that time because Kaden was much smaller and just ate and slept. I took intensive courses where I was only in class a few times and did most of my work on-line. (Oh the beauty of the internet its changed the face of higher education...) 

Oddly I am looking forward to this challenge. Or maybe I am looking forward to finishing this program and earning this piece of paper that seem to hold value only to the holder of said paper. Either way I am excited. 

For the next 4 months I'll be knee deep in books and will be writing and writing. But I still plan to blog... I think it helps keep me sane or at least it lets me get the insanity out. 

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

Daddy is one of the sweetest sounds a father can hear, but train the little one to say Momma early and often, this will come in handy during sick days, and diaper changes.

Are You Kidding Me?

I was recently at a friends house and she had recorded the most disturbing 20/20 episode I have ever watched. I don't think I have cringed and contorted my body out of discomfort as much as I did tonight!!!

It was a series of stories about parenting and birth, but I left saying to my self what in the world did I just see?? 

The first story was about women who are having sexual pleasure and orgasms during childbirth. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6569030 

I don't know but from what I experienced with my wife in the delivery room, I can tell you it was the farthest thing from our minds!! I have no idea how you prepare for this kind of "pleasurable" experience during delivery, but it just made me cringe. The couples were making out and touching each other, I mean come on there are other people in the room and there is a person come out of the woman's Va Ja Ja!!  

The second story was about people who buy dolls that are life like and cary them around like they are real.  http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6557305 

It was beyond creepy!!

The Last story was about breast feeding. Which is perfectly normal and healthy, but not when the child is 9 years old!!! Common!! Are you Kidding me? Really? This lady was still breast feeding her 9 year old daughter... Seriously a few more years and that girls body will could be ready to make her own baby. I really don't mean to be crude, but it's true. 

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6569743

Take a viewing of all the videos if you dare.

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

When watching Football with baby, it is wise to put the little ones aside during intense moments. 

Happy New Year!! (Six Days Later...)

Has it already been about a week since the New Year?

The Holiday activity took a toll on this Daddy... After three weeks of amazing snowy weather and travel to Seattle and back to Portland, I found myself in bed fighting off two different kinds of bugs. First was the achy sick bug and second was a stomach bug. This would have been fine, but Kaden also had his first serious cold. Boy are we thankful for mommy. Lisa some how found the energy to take care of both her boys and I'm not sure who was more whiny... Daddy?? or Baby?? 

It's unfortunate that we ended and started our years fighting colds, but at the same time it made our family slow down and separate ourselves from the business that we tend to put on our calendar. One other good thing about being sick is that I actually lost 10 pounds in a week!! I am well on my way to my "2009 Muscle Body Goal"(see "To Your Health" blog entry)

2009 is going to be a crazy year in this house, but we are going to trust God to give us the energy and the strength to manage each day.

I head back to school taking 3 full classes in order to finish my Masters Program. Mommy will be working and keeping the finances flowing so we can attempt to survive. Kaden will keep growing and learning new things and will get to stay with Auntie Amy once a week until I'm done with school.

It sounds very daunting, but after a lot of prayer we feel this is our best option at this point. We are praying that our finances stay in check while we maneuver through this season of life, and again it will all be by the grace of our Lord and Savior.

I'm sure in the next four or five months there will be great blogging material as we take on this task, please keep us in your prayers. If you're journeying with us hold on cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

When suffering from a stomach bug be very careful the types of games you play with baby... "Horsey?" Uh not so fun.