A Son! ... and the Father's Love

Papa and Caleb

I am a proud Papa again. Tonight I held Caleb and looked into his eyes. Just five days old and I have yet another vein of pure love to share with another child. It is funny, now, to consider the questions that came to mind before parenthood like "How can I find enough love for each new child?" Laughable from this position.

Children teach you much about love. They teach you that love is the strongest purest of emotions. You find that love motivates all manner of action and behavior. Love reveals its nature even in the most intense of anger; love is often at the heart of it. The love of a father is like this.

As a believer and father, love teaches me even more deeply about my Heavenly Father - God the Father, the origin and sustainer of creation, the origin and sustainer of love. When I realized with the birth of my second child the boundless nature of love, I saw God. I knew the moment I held Julia, our 2nd, and now again with Caleb that I could love a hundred more children equally. Love as God authored it is not a commodity, not a volume that is ever expended. It is not even like a muscle that can be worn out. It is a position and a decision.

We can see this more easily in the love of a new-born because they offer little in return. They come to us totally dependent without even the faintest concern for what they may reciprocate with. When we choose to love them, we take our position in relationship to them. From that oint forward, we approach them from that position of love regardless of what we bring. Grace, discipline, reward - whatever it is, it comes from love.

To consider the love of God in this light is humbling. He has chosen to approach us with His love - His easily boundless love. His grace comes from his love. His discipline and reward come from His love. While we are weak and imperfect and prone to failures - even the failure to love, God is perfect. His love never fails. It rather serves to drive out fear and founds our position in him.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear...
- (1Jo 4:18a NASB)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
- (Rom 8:15 NASB)

The Women in my Life

I was not the guy in HS that all the girls wanted to date. In fact, I distinctly remember that my brother, Matt, had more success with the girls in my class! (Love ya brother - I'm not bitter!) When I met Cheryl and began falling in love and began realizing that she was the first one that 'got me' (and didn't run), I began the most amazing relationship of my life - the one with my wife. I never could have imagined what this would be like. I knew early on that I was a family man, and really struggled in my mid-20's giving that part of my life to God when all my friends were marrying. But he knew what he was doing and blessed me with Cheryl just as soon as he had done what he needed to get both of us ready for it.

If that blessing wasn't enough, he brought yet another beautiful lady into my life - our daughter, Julia. She is the most beautiful baby girl and as the 'baby' fade and the 'girl' shows, I'm blessed to be witness to her life.

Both of these women have shaped who I am today. They challenge me in different ways to look outside myself. They expose me to their world and invite me to learn to love another for who they are - to love like Christ loves his bride. I can only hope that they know how special they are to me.

M: Going Nuts

Julia and Isaac had a ball this AM playing with nuts. Scads of toys in their room, a dog waiting in the yard and sun shining outside and what do they get the biggest time out of? Nuts! That's it! Birthdays are a cinch from here on out! We're getting the kids PRODUCE!

Dog Park Peek-a-boo

Julia is a nut! She is a ball of energy and is so much fun to be around! We took the kids (Oliver is included in that phrase now!) to the park the other day and let Oliver run around a section just for dogs. The kids had a blast and Oliver did too (despite). Julia had every bit as much fun as the dogs there climbing in and around the apparatus set up for the dogs! One item was a plastic pipe for the dogs to run through with holes on the sides for peeking in ... and out! We had a great time playing peek-a-boo with those holes! She would move from one to the other peeking out and saying "BOO, Papa!" and then giggling in that way that just melts your heart!

Overheard at the Landes House...

Tonight during dinner, we were enjoying each other, laughing, having a very enjoyable meal. Julia, being the little lady in training that she is, began to toot. This did stop the conversation a bit as she puttered along. Cheryl and I, always on the look out for a teachable moment, tried not to giggle. Cheryl prompted Julia, "What do we say?"

Julia, remembered her training and replied, "AMEN!"

Julia Time by the Tree

I've blogged in the past about my times with Julia on Wednesday nights when Cheryl and Isaac are away. This past Wednesday was special. After our normal play and mischief we spent some time in the chair by the Christmas Tree. She was enthralled by the lights and kept going back to the chair next to the tree. She wanted to play with the ornaments and touch the lights. Her curiosity was as apparent as her awe at the spectacle of the whole thing. I tried to get some pictures, but the lighting wasn't good enough and she certainly wasn't going to suffer any long exposures. I did manage to get these two, though. They're good enough! What a great girl.

Round and Round They Go

Do you remember spinning as a child? Ya know - the time that you figured out that it made you feel dizzy and that was fun! Well it is almost as much fun as a spectators sport! Isaac and Julia got going in the kitchen the other night and it was a hoot! The was a decidely higher risk of head injury than the kitchen normally presents, but if we keep them near the center of the room, this can be fun for the whole family! ... until they puke.

The Amazing Bed-Head

Wow - Julia's hair is getting long! She's got enough now for pig-tails and especially enough for some amazing bed hair! When she gets up in the morning after pig-tails the day before and her on style of sleeping (borderline gymnastic) the effect is wild. The look defies gravity and gives the distinct impression that she has been frozen in time mid-air while jumping on the bed ... or papa. Cute!

Ice Cream Cuteness

We had a quick meal at Freddy's Frozen Custards the other day, and, of course, we had to have a custard to finish our meal with! Julia dove in with no concept of how much ice cream belongs on a spoon at one time. We all got a laugh, but man she was cute! You have to see this picture - click it for the full effect!

Just Me and My Daughter

Sadly, besides being off to work, even when I'm home, there are bills to pay, side jobs to finish and house work to be done. I often enjoy my children in snatches of time. A tussle here. A hug and kiss there. But, I don't often get to totally devote myself to my children and give them the most tangible symbol of love that there is ... time. Tonight was not like that, though.

I had the best time with Julia tonight. Cheryl and I have a new arrangement for Wednesdays. She takes Isaac to Awanas at 6:15 and then meets one of the young women in our college/career ministry friend for some girl time and fellowship. I get one-on-one time with my daughter.

Tonight, I had 2 hours and, to be honest, wasn't quite sure what we'd do with it. But she did. She wanted to sit on my knees while I ate. Then she wanted a piggy back ride. Then we played on the couch. Then we played piano. Our evening ended brushing our teeth together and reading stories. No fits, no fussing. Just a great evening with my daughter.

Special Delivery

Julia is a consummate explorer – always into something! This box was sitting in the garage empty the other day. I got a big laugh when I looked up from what I was doing at my work bench to see her sitting in the box, clapping her hands and having the biggest time with nothing but an empty box.

Knowing this, I suggested that for Christmas we just get stuff for ourselves and give the boxes to the kids as their gifts! I bet that Julia and Isaac would really love a big box from a band saw or a new tool cabinet. Cheryl didn’t seem to go for that though!

A Big Weekend at "Ankle" Matt and At. April's

We've hit the road this weekend! Off to Houston we are - we're staying with Matt and (the very pregnant) April this weekend. April has a baby shower that Cheryl is going to on Sunday, so we made a whole weekend of it. It has been great fun.

Julia is getting old enough to to really enjoy her extended family. Ma is here as well and has enjoyed being with her grand-daughter. And her uncle Matt got some good practice time in on life with a little girl! He's already pretty great with the kids but she gave him some extra special lovin' today. She's normally bouncing off the walls and rarely slows down enough to sit, much less to sit in your lap. But after her nap today, she agreed to sit in his lap and watch football!


Isaac has also had a big day. Not only has he had the extra attention of Ma, Matt and April, but we had a big first today, too - Isaac got to hold a snake for the first time. Uncle Matt found a snake (non-poisonous, of course) in the yard while mowing and gave it to Isaac to "play with." He was enthralled to say the least. Mama even enjoyed the event (if not the snake!) After a little while we had a first of our own - "Can I keep it?" Uhhhh ... no, sorry. We did let the snake go soon after. I'm sure it was almost as happy about that as Cheryl!

Julia's Promotion

Julia moved up this Sunday to the next class ... for bigger kiddos! Our little girl is growing up. True to form we were ready with the camera phone to document this momentous occasion. Julia was pretty ambivalent about the whole thing. As is often the case, this was probably much more of a big deal to her parents than it was to her. In fact I know it is the case.

I'm constantly amazed at every milestone. I'm caught off-guard at how fast they are growing up. They on the other hand take it all in stride, no doubt their overall demeanor buoyed by the constant air of achievement and sometimes frustrated when achievement tarries. In thinking about this odd dichotomy, it strikes me that this has likely been a part of life for all of history. Its an odd connection to thinking of my parents ogling my every change. It's even more awesome to think of Mary and Joseph watching Jesus grow like this.

Julia handled the promotion well, though. She was a happy camper most of the morning and topped it off by falling asleep on the changing table! The nursury workers placed her on a bean bag, and she snoozed the rest of her big event away right there.

Shes a Hat Girl

Julia has really taken a liking to hats. In Target yesterday she passed the hat aisle and went nuts for a hat. Last Sunday after Mama got her all cleaned up, ready for church, in a nice frilly dress and a cute pink bow, Julia made some fashion choices of her own. She abanoned the pink bow and opted for Isaac's red Jelly Belly cap! My vote was to let her wear it. :-)

Julia is One Year Old

Julia is 1 year old today! Our little girl is growing up! Cheryl is busy getting the house ready for the big event this weekend but today was the actual event. It is amazing how fast the year has gone by. Cheryl pointed out something today that was very true - at this age birthdays are really as much for the parents to celebrate and remember the year as anything. Julia doesn't know any difference in the day, but WE have had a blast remembering all the things that came with our daughters birth. I hope that she enjoys it anyway!

Who Says You Can't Find Good Help

I love it when my kiddos want to help! The other day, we had to replace some safety locks on the cabinets in the kids' bathroom and help was more than abundant! Isaac really wants to use my drill but the darn thing is just about to big for him to even hold yet. Julia couldn't stand not being in the action so she climbed right in there, too.


I have some pretty awesome memories with my dad from times when he let me help. We changed a lot of oil together - even a waterpump once on one of his old trucks. Few things made me feel more important than those times.

Isaac has now started joining me under the car for oil changes and around the house for odd jobs. I have to be honest; the jobs go a bit slower. But, the look on his face when he tells Mama "I was under the car" or "I drilled with Papa's Drill!".... I wouldn't trade it for anything!