"Eight Wouldn't Wait"

She's a "turn-of-the-century, turn-of-the-new-millenium" girl. August 1999 (a Monday @ 1:28 p.m.) now seems in the distant past, indeed. Even though I tease the kids about "obeying" me and to "stop growing older," there are some things none of us can impede. Home made banana bread for her 2nd grade class, time with Dad (and "Kitty") right after school, birthday presents (click to watch "eTunes" video), an early evening family swim at the outdoor community pool, followed by a late supper and ice-cream—made our birthday celebration day yesterday!

Dad's "baby" is growing up . . . in every way! She has, and always will be "my girl," too.

Schooled by the "School of Life"

Yes, school is back in session again, even earlier this year . . . with an earlier start time for the 2nd and 5th grade girls. They have to get on a bus at 7:18 each school morning down at the next corner of our street; elementary school starts this year at 7:40 a.m.! The "young man" enters middle school as a 7th grader this year and is within walking distance of school. He gets to "sleep in" and doesn't have to depart until 7:40 a.m. for his 8 a.m. start. Today, Michael said "Goodbye" to his youngest sister, and then chuckled, remarking, "Imagine that, Dad, I'm saying goodbye to her in the mornings now."

A reminder that our children, from their earliest years, are indeed artisans of "watercolour ponies" — in Wayne Watson's words —

"There are watercolour ponies
On my refrigerator door
And the shape of something I don't really recognize,
Brushed with careful little fingers
And put proudly on display—
A reminded to us all of how time flies."

"Seems an endless mound of laundry
And a stairway laced with toys
Gives a blow by blow reminder of the war
That we fight for their well-being
For their greater understanding
To impart a holy reverence for the Lord."

"And the vision can get so narrow
As you view through your tiny world
And little victories can go by
With no applause
But in the greater evaluation
As they fly from your nest of love
May they mount up with wings
As eagles for His cause."

". . . what will we do
When it comes back to me and you?
They look a little less
Like little boys every day
Oh, the pleasure of watching
The children growing
Is mixed with a bitter cup
Of knowing the watercolour ponies
Will one day ride away."

How inadequate we can feel as parents to think how fast the years slip past, wondering how God could possibly use "me" to impact my children for their good and for His glory. Apart from reminding them who they are, and Whose they are, my more "earthly" annual advice to the kids as they go off to school is: "Work hard; play hard; don't mix the two." Hopefully we, who have been taught by the "school of Life," and by the Life-Giver, will be willing, enabled and led to serve our children well in these formative years . . . before they mount their "ponies" and "ride away."

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?"

2 Cor. 2:14-16 (ESV)

The "Tooth Fairy," "Santa Claus" & the "Easter Bunny"

Not too long ago Ellen, my youngest — who refuses to stop growing up — left another self-extracted child's tooth on my computer desk. This is the place the kids know to put things that need Dad's attention or for general "safe keeping." As I have in the past, I "stored" this new source of monetary compensation for Ellen in a plastic zip bag for safe-keeping until she decided to repeat that traditional child's ritual of leaving it under her pillow for the "Tooth Fairy." (Somebody please remind me sometime to look up on the internet the name and address [email or otherwise] of the person who conceived and brought this "guardian of souls" into existence.)

Annnywayyyy . . . I think at least maybe two weeks passed and the tooth had not yet been reassigned by Ellen (to its new function) as a potential "bank deposit" under Ellen's pillow. One day, though, she did notice it lying (not "laying," fellow mid-Westerners) right where she had left it on my desk, and promptly made the deposit under her pillow (which needed to be picked up off her bedroom floor and made up with her bed before lunchtime anyway). The next morning: no $$$$ under her pillow, which, of course, she mentions to me personally. (If they believe in the "Tooth Fairy," you'd think they'd take it up with her!) Annnywayyyy . . . I think I told her that maybe the "Tooth Fairy" had a "statute of limitations" on leaving $$$$ under pillows, or that maybe the tooth was "no good" anymore (haaaaa! That would be true to some extent, of course). I'm sure I had some good excuse (er . . . uh . . . reason) why Ellen's investments had not increased overnight (something we'd all like to regularly experience, huh?).

Nevertheless, Ellen decided to put the "Tooth Fairy" to the test by leaving the little plastic zip bag with tooth under her pillow for a second night in a row. This time, the "Tooth Fairy" (ahem) did not forget to show up. In the midst of what was supposedly Ellen's "deeeeep sleep," he . . . er . . . rather she not so carefully placed $$$$ under her pillow, simultaneously removing the little plastic bag with its contents. Ellen stirred; but . . . no big deal, right?

Well, the next morning the whole story came out: "I know it was you, Dad. I heard you in my room," Ellen calmly and grinningly proclaims. "I don't believe in the 'Tooth Fairy' anymore, anyway; or in Santa Claus. It's just you, Dad! You're giving us the money!" It turns out that there's no "Easter Bunny" either!! (No kidding!)

To make a long(er) story short(er), all of this gave me another opportunity to query all three children on their "world view" regarding such things. When I asked them where any of these good things come from, they said "They come from you, Dad!" (I silently attempted to humbly accept the compliment here, but my "world view" held me in check).

"Okay," I said. "But where do they come from before that?"
A. "From the store."
"Where did the store get the stuff?"
A. "From other people."
"And where'd they get that stuff?"
A. "Somebody made it."
"And where'd they get the stuff they used to make the stuff?"
A. " . . . "

Okay, I think you get the point so we can cut to the chase. All three of the kids ultimately (and nearly simultaneously) stuck index fingers into the air pointed toward God. It was a great opportunity for me to remind them again that the Scriptures speak to these things. You all know this, and now they do too, since:

"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights . . ." JAMES 1:17a