Two almost two year olds can be an adventure when it comes to feedings, but I have to say, we have been really lucky. Our nanny has done a great job of introducing the use of forks and spoons when the boys eat.
So much so, that if they don’t have their forks on their trays when it is time to eat, they will actually fuss. Sure, feedings now take a little longer, but it is really neat to watch them feed themselves.
I sit and watch them eat in amazement. When did they grow up? It seems like yesterday, their feedings consisted of us spoon feeding them everything, now they are feeding themselves. Where have the last almost two years gone?
How do you live your life? Do you play it safe? Do you take each moment as they come? Do you live like you were dying?
This thought has been with me a lot lately and I don’t know why? I have been asking myself more and more, am I living in the moment of now and living like I were dying tomorrow? Enjoying today? Enjoying the moments with the boys? Enjoying what time I have here on this earth? Or am I playing it safe?
Take a moment and watch the Tim McGraw video: Live Like You Were Dying
As I played with my sons last night, one of them walked over and put his head on my knee. I was responding to an email and it hit me. I was taking time away from my sons, again, to respond to an email. I have tried to work on this and focus on the now, focus on playing with the boys when I get home. And even though I’ve done better, I caught myself not doing enough. I am not beating myself up here, I am human and do have to support my family. But the reality is, I am not Living like I were dying. I am playing it too safe.
This weekend, more fun things with the boys. Going out to the park, assuming that it isn’t snowing or below freezing. Tonight, play with each of them until they can’t keep their little eyes open. And tomorrow, hope that I get the chance again to do it all over.
Read the lyrics and it will make perfect sense:
He said: “I was in my early forties,
“With a lot of life before me,
“An’ a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
“I spent most of the next days,
“Looking at the x-rays,
“An’ talking ’bout the options an’ talkin’ ‘bout sweet time.”
I asked him when it sank in,
That this might really be the real end?
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?
An’ he said: “I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”
An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,
“To live like you were dyin’.”
He said “I was finally the husband,
“That most the time I wasn’t.
“An’ I became a friend a friend would like to have.
“And all of a sudden goin’ fishin’,
“Wasn’t such an imposition,
“And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
“Well, I finally read the Good Book,
“And I took a good long hard look,
“At what I’d do if I could do it all again,
“And then:
“I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”
An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,
“To live like you were dyin’.”
Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity,
To think about what you’d do with it.
An’ what did you do with it?
An’ what can I do with it?
An’ what would I do with it?
“Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
“And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
“And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin’.”
An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,
“To live like you were dyin’.”
“To live like you were dyin’.”
“To live like you were dyin’.”
“To live like you were dyin’.”
“To live like you were dyin’.”
A little tip for when traveling, use Gift Cards. I am a big fan of trying local restaurants when traveling, but if you have a lot of gift cards, why not save a little money?On our last trip, we were able to eat out 4 times using gift cards, which meant that we saved almost $120, if not more. So using the gift cards not only saves money, but it is a very thrifty way to travel and save money.
We have all had jobs that we have loved and we have all had jobs that we didn’t like so much. But the important thing is finding a positive Work Life Balance. A balance that will allow you the opportunity to love your job and more importantly, spend quality time with your family.
At a previous job, my hours were awful. I never knew 100% sure when I was leaving. I was always stressed out. My blood pressure was out of control. I knew that I needed a change, for a lot of reasons, but most importantly, I knew that if I was going to be a good father, I needed to be in a different job. I needed a work life balance.
I was one of the lucky ones that was able to switch jobs in the beginning of the downturn 3 years ago in our economy and not only switch jobs, but advance in my career. And one of the things that really attracted me to this new job was the work life balance and the emphasis that was placed on families coming first. I could not be the father that I am today, had I not switched jobs when I did. And for that, I will forever will be grateful for what I have and the job that I have.
Growing up as a child, I remember watching Mister Rogers on PBS. And I always felt as though he was talking to just me. He had such a calming effect and the life lessons that I learned then, still apply today.
I remember this one episode in particular, because it was the first time that I had ever seen a child in a wheelchair. And the thing that I took away from it, was that Jeffery was no different than anyone else. He was special just the way that he was. He would not be able to do the same things that other children could, but that he was still a good kid.
And then while do some searches on Youtube for Mister Rogers, I came across this video of Mister Rogers and Jeff being reunited. Please take a moment and watch this video.
I hate that my boys will not grow up watching Mister Rogers as I did as a child. But I hope that I can share with them and teach them some of the important life lessons that he taught me and the rest of his neighbors. Take a minute to visit his website and see how the legacy of Mister Rogers lives on today.
Being a Christian, the start of Lent is a time for reflection and remembrance before the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many Christians use this time of Lent, as a way to grow closer to God and in doing so, will often times give something up as a way to test themselves. I’m not a historian, so I’m providing some links that might be helpful to learn more about the season of Lent:
And here is a site that gives you some ideas of things that you can give up for Lent this year. But, you don’t have to just give something up. You can chose to take something on. But remember whatever you do, make it a challenge. Challenge yourself to either give something up or take something on that will cause a little suffering. For me, in the past I have given up Starbucks. This year, I am giving up my daily Coke Zero. I have gotten into the habit of drinking a Coke Zero every day and sometimes twice a day, so it has definitely become a habit. So for me, I’m really challenging myself to give up Coke Zero & I have asked my co-workers to really help me with this.
But, I’m not only going to give up my daily Coke Zero, but I am going to start working out more. It is hard to do with twins, but as my wife said to me this weekend, we both need to be healthier so that we are around for the boys for a long time. And that really hit me. So Lent is definitely coming at a good time for me, because not only will I lose weight from not drinking Coke Zero, but I am going to take the money that I was spending every day on Coke Zero and put it in a jar for the boys for their piggy banks. And the sad part, is that it will quickly add up, because they sold for $1.79 a piece so on a given work week, I could save at least $9.00, if not closer to $20.00. And, I would be saving calories too.
The choice to give something up for Lent is a very personal thing. It should be between you and God and really no one else. Meaning, you be the one to decide what to give up. Lent is a 40 day challenge, but can be a challenge that is life changing. Just like the life changing events of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.
So I challenge you to give something up this year for Lent.
To keep up with the 52 week challenge, I found this recipe for Chicken Wings and made a few minor modifications. But this will definitely be in the rotation for food, starting again this weekend for the Super Bowl.
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
Buffalo Sauce
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup hot pepper sauce (such as Frank’s)
Wings
5 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated NOTE: Instead of wings, I used chicken tenders
Some where along the way in the last 2 years, I have changed and changed in a good way. Things that I could once watch and listen to on the radio can spark an emotion in me that I have never experienced.
For years I have listened to the music of Christian artist Mark Schultz and he has three songs that just get me every time that I hear them. Tonight though, I want to focus on He’s My Son. Here is the story behind the song and I think that you’ll understand why it gets me:
Mark Schultz wrote this song about a family dealing with their son’s cancer when he was a youth minister at a church in Nashville, Tennessee. It was inspired by the grieving of a couple in his church, whose son had been diagnosed with leukemia. Shultz observed the struggles of the mother and father. He explained in CCM Top 100 Greatest Songs In Christian Music: “Louise often stayed up with (Martin) until he fell asleep. She would rub his back and try to comfort him, but she felt helpless. Some nights, John would wake up and walk down the hall to Martin’s room and watch him sleep. As he stood there, he would try to imagine what life would be like without his son.”
Schultz added that he “tried for several months to write a song for John and Louise, but nothing seemed to capture what they were going through. I couldn’t begin to understand the depth of pain John and Louise faced every day – but God did.” He then went on to explain that eventually “the only thing I had to do with this song is that I just happened to be there when God sat it in my lap.” – Source: Song Facts
You see, my wife and I have been blessed beyond belief. We have two very healthy and active boys. No matter how my day goes, I can walk into the room and they can change the course of my day. I can do something that not all parents can do, I can hug my sons and kiss them goodnight. I can lay in the floor and let them crawl all on me. I can chase them around the room or let them chase me. And I can do all of these things, every single day. And there are father’s that are out there that would give anything to do those things.
And as I watch Mark’s song, He’s My Son, it just hits me even harder how lucky we are, because I don’t know what I would do if I got the news that my son had Leukemia or some other disease? I cringe at the thought. I cry for those that do have to deal with this realness every day. And I hope that if I am every faced with something like this, that I can remember this song, because at the end of the day, He’s My Son and I would love my child and pray every day for them to be healed. I would pray that I could take their illness on instead of them. And I would remind myself, that as a Christian, I’m Still HIS Son and that
Please take a moment to watch He’s My Son by Mark Schultz, it is life changing for parents.
Opening Day for Major League Baseball is just around the corner and I can not wait. Last year, I was excited for the baseball season, but this year, I am really looking forward to the season. As a Houston Astros fan, I am looking forward to being able to see how the ‘Stros handle the move to the AL West.
Should be a great year for Major League Baseball. There is a new excitement, especially with teams that have not been as successful in the past. The Baltimore Orioles has a crop of young players that could really change their future for the next several years. The New York Yankees have finally taken the appropriate steps to rebuild, so I think that this is going to be a down year for them.
Baseball, a game that even as an adult, I can get excited about watching.
Kids need structure as much as the parents do and for the exact same reasons.
Kids need the routine, the routine of going to bed, naps, eating, etc. It builds structure in their lives and structure that will guide them throughout their lives.
But parents also need the structure as well, to ensure that their children are well rested, going to bed on time, etc.
I always have a problem when I go out and see a family with little kids eating at 9pm and the kids can barely hold their heads up from being tired. They need structure.
We have a set routine that we have found to work for us:
Wake up – 6am – 7am
1st changing and Milk – after they wake up
Breakfast – 8:45 – 9am
Juice/Water – 11:30am
Lunch – 12:30
Nap – 1 – 3pm
Milk/Juice – 5pmDinner – 7pm
Bed – 8pm
Structure. The kids know the pattern. They know that when they are finished eating, that they play for a few minutes, we change them and they goto bed. They sit in their cribs and play or chat or even flip through books, but they know that the lights are off and it is also time to goto sleep.
For the exact same reason that it is good for kids, it helps parents also to plan their nights as well. My wife and I know that we have 8 – 10pm each night as our time. Our time to talk, connect, watch tv, and eat dinner. That is our time. And we know that we can almost count on each night, having that time alone.
It is important to have structure for both the parents and kids, because in the end, it will make things run a lot smoother.
