dearest mothers,

We are all heading tomorrow to the place that produced my favorite person- Lake Providence, Louisiana.  I am not sure that ole LP is ready for the circus that is us, but we are coming nonetheless.  Ginny & I are undecided as of yet on whether or not we are excited about this trip- as these feelings can only be sorted out in the 20/20 vision that is hindsight- once we know if those three rascals slept a wink or not in the pelican state.

If you came looking for evidence that there is a god and he is good, we will be flying.

To the faithful bloggy few:

• My grass is growing like Eden.  So much so, that I spent hours this weekend tilling up more of the yard and spreading seeds in other areas.
• No peppers.  Ginny’s garden looks great to me, but she is losing sleep over bugs, my invading grass seed and washout rains.  She wants that Doe’s steak so bad she has stuck with it, but her confidence is waning and I must say that the peppers are definitely the worst looking part of the whole garden.
• We have scheduled an eye surgery for Lena in July in St. Louis.  She is doing great, and kisses us now upon request.  Thus, this dad has all he needs for eternity.  She kisses me.  Not as much as she kisses Ginny.  But who can blame her?
• Anders’ words are picking up, but that doesn’t mean we can understand him any more than when he didn’t have them.  He & I talked for 7 minutes a couple nights ago about turkeys; however, upon further review by his only language peer (mom)- apparently we talked for 7 minutes about cookies.  He has the hair I always wanted, and is nice when he is not mean.
• Hazel is growing sweeter by the moment.  She puts up with so much crap from Anders, that I am pretty sure that my next lesson for her will center on fine tuning her left hook.  She loves well, and everything is exciting and fun.  She gets this from her mom, and I hope it never leaves….and if you’re gonna be that person that rolls their eyes and starts to talk about teenagers, then leave or shutup or both.  I am enjoying what I am getting and I am naive enough to want to stay.

To all you mothers. And I am well aware that such an address covers the vast majority of my otherwise very man-friendly blog.

Just a couple of reminders:

• Everything is a season.  Nothing is here to stay.  All is fleeting.  So, take it in and pray for the gift of seeing the good in all of it.  All- that without answered pleas- can be seen as anything but beautiful.

• You will not be perfect and your children will thank you for it, as they learn to fall back on the models of forgiveness and grace that you displayed through your own life.  Perfection is a lousy pursuit.  Above all, love well.  Doing so is a pursuit worthy of letting perfection tumble and fall.

And to the two mothers dearer to me than the rest.

Mom:: You are a servant.  Each passing year you find new ways to show me how love operates for its recipients.  So much of who I am is bound up in you.  And, these are the parts of me that I never apologize for.

Ginny:: I am humbled to watch you mother.  After 10 years of marriage and having walked through more than most in our decade chocked full of life together….you have amazed me anew this year with your pursuit, love and care for Lena.  Watching you balance those three, while missing that one, leaves me looking for the sidelines.  Who wants to play beside Jordan? I am certain to look foolish at your side.  God has gifted you uniquely for the days we are living.  Thank you for your grace as I stumble to catch up to your love and example to our children.