No Off Season...for dads

Dads, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to have real relationships.  It's great to have 'my boy' or hangout buddies, but there is no replacement for having someone that you can confide in, completely trust, and generally love.  Someone you feel safe leaving your most precious possessions with- your heart, your family, your emotions. This is usually not the case with most men, at least with me.  I was and still am very much an introvert.  But I know that I need my friends.  And guess what, I know my friends need me.   Picture taken from article in Art of Manliness  I know I have written about this already, but I feel this needs to be a reminder and a spur into our hearts, even mine as I write this.  Whether you want to believe it or not, you cannot do this life on your own.  You cannot raise your children on your own.  You cannot be the best husband on your own laurels; you cannot be a successful employee or employer without a mentor.  YOU CAN'

Image by © Simon Jarratt/Corbis My boys are growing up!  They are starting school again and they are more than elated.  They are putting on the final touches of gathering all of their school materials.  We are putting them (or at least trying) in the bed a little earlier to get them accustomed to the schedule.  Homerooms have been assigned and ALL 7, 263 school events  have been planned.  I've only put in about 3 in my calendar; I've got some work to do, huh?  Back to school night(s), PTA's, play dates and hangouts, meetings, etc.  It could be overwhelming if you think too hard.  Let's not forget that one is starting middle school -- that's a whole other blog. Mothers are usually involved in their child's life, especially when it comes to their education.  I often times see  fathers very much in tuned with their work and careers.  That is extremely admirable and necessary.  It is important for our children to see us working and providing for our famil

I love the fact that I have some really good friends who give sound advice. In a quick conversation, I received so much wisdom. I have a friend who told me he was studying the book of Job. In the first chapter, Job prayed for each of his children by name and was very specific.  He prayed for each one specifically each day.  My friend, (let's give him a name -- Big Frank) started the same routine as Job.  He began praying for his kids and family according to their specific needs and desires.  As he prays, he thinks about where they are and what they are possibly doing at that time. Big Frank said these in-depth prayers have brought him so much closer to his family. This was so elementary and yet very profound. I pray for my boys often times superficially: “God, protect my boys.”, or “God, give my boys wisdom and keep them safe.” I am now striving to pray specific prayers. I now pray about my oldest son’s schooling, developing friendships, his ‘tween’ years and his walk with God. F

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties. My youngest son and I traveled about 90 minutes to Antietam for a camping trip with his Cub Scout troop.  I walked the grounds and felt an eerie peace.  The grounds were hollowed, respected, and sacred.  Evidence of the war was still scattered across the huge battlefield.  My son walked with me over the grounds asking a variety of questions, seemingly relevant to the aura of the area.  We later reached the campgrounds the other scouts were running around having a blast, learning and experiencing the joys of camping.  The campfire was started, games were played, and some even went deer hunting (no guns, of coarse!).  It rained heavily that night and into the morning.  Sun up...sun down on the same hollowed grounds.

I had to have a serious talk with my boys tonight.  I had been noticing some facets of their character that I did not think was necessarily wrong, but it was not what I think was the best.  So just before they went to bed, we had a Five Minute Blitz (our version of a devotional). As many of you know, I am really working hard to build our famliy on the standards of the Bible.  Well, the backdrop for this conversation stemmed from an abbreviated Deuteronomy 10:12-13: "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God...to love Him...and to observe the Lord's commands that I am giving you today for your own good?" I have been noticing that they were not giving their full potential in their everyday lives.  Yes, they are boys...young boys at that.  Yet, I know what they are capable of.  I now understand why my dad pushed me so hard.  He encouraged me (made me) to do chores, to wake up early (6am...ish as a teenager-who does that?)

My car needed antifreeze!  It only needed antifreeze!   I feel somewhat silly and very much blessed that this was all it was.  Let me explain. Thursday.   I was racing out the door to get to work.  I hopped in the Acura, turned the ignition, and got nothing.  I tried it again and again, and I got nothing.  Frustration.  Friday.  I get it jumped and it seemingly runs.  I was advised to let it run for about thirty minutes to let the engine recharge.  After about five minutes the car's RPM meter began jumping from 2 to 1, up and down, up and down.  Then,  it began to overheat.  I 'm began to freak out because I don't know what to do.  Saturday.   I get the car towed to my mechanic in DC.  I am chatting with the tow...truck...man (???) about everything from his cars to his children; he has eleven.  We got to the mechanic and he looked at the car.  He told me to crank it up. Once again, the engine began revving up and down.  I was almost sure that I had to do some major rep