The pursuit of little girls

My oldest daughter is 11. She melted down today. Overtired we think, and maybe missing her daddy. This daddy thing is complex. Women, as least in my belief, are in many ways products of their fathers or most significant man in their young life. And they have a need to be pursued. It's kind of a romantic notion isn't it?! So, she stayed home while her sisters played this afternoon and took a nap. Then she started playing with her house. H is kind of an alone player, and she was enjoying her time without her sisters. I understand this. I asked her to to go desert with me at Zuzu's. It was a struggle for her...alone play time, or time with dad. She was struggling, but what I could clearly see was her desire to go with me, and her need to be pursued...and so I pursued my little girl. I went after her heart, made sure she knew her daddy loved her, valued her, thought she was worth something. She lit up, dropped everything, and scurried for her shoes. We had a great time at Avacolies. Zuzu's was closed - their loss!

Post Script - A great friend of mine warned me about my title...and I appreciate his concern. So let me say this in case anyone is wondering. Until you understand how God pursues us, until you understand the love of Jesus, this pursuing may not make sense. But I assure you, it is the purest of love - a love of a Father for his daughter...a love of a father for his daughter - and his pursuit of her heart.

Rats...it's what I do

A while back I threatened to take my blogsite off the general population list. I was concerned about my daughters and my job. I just took some of the photos down instead. But alas...or perhaps I should just say, OH RATS! Courtesy of Local 435 Laborers Union. It's a long story that makes my head hurt.

Anyway, these are the kind of guys that I really don't want to know a thing about who I am...or what I do. So a big thank you to Shane Deal for saving the day and taking my presence off the web after a frantic cell phone call! I'd love to stay and chat longer, but I gotta go. Rat patrol...It's what I do! I should be back in the Army!

A little spiritual golf humor...

(the inscription, Psalm 31:4, reads: "Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.")

Moses, Jesus and an old man went golfing one beautiful sunny day. On the ninth hole, the green was located at the top of a hill with a pond in front. Moses hit an amazing drive, but the ball was rolling hard toward the water. He quickly raised his arms, the waters parted, and the ball rolled through and onto the green. He was putting from 2' out, and smiling proudly.
Jesus followed suit with an equally unbelievable drive, it too headed for the water. Just as he planned, the ball stepped off the bank and rolled across the top of the water and settled just 6" from the cup. He was beaming with excitement. Finally, after a very long time setting up, the old man took his shot. He duffed it towards the water, but nowhere near the green. Just before the ball splashed in, a large fish jumped out and caught the ball, only to be snagged by an eagle who had been hungerly waiting for this moment. As the eagle was flying over the green, fish now securely in its tallons, a brilliant bolt of lightning streaked down and startled the bird. The eagle dropped the fish to the ground and the ball and the ball rolled from out of its mouth. Seeing the ball and mistaking it for a nut, a squirrel picked it up and ran straight to the cup, hiding it cleverly before scampering away. Nobody said a word for a long moment, as Jesus and Moses just looked at each other in disbelief. Finally it was was Jesus who spoke..."Nice shot Dad!"

"Gather up as many good experiences as possible. It increases your chances of being a pleasant old person."

-Quote on the wall in the Red Robin

Four...it's what I do

The pre-game banter really is what the game is all about. Two foursomes. A roudy bunch of architects, engineers, and project managers. We eye each other suspiciously dressed in our shirts and ties 364 days of the year, but not tomorrow. Tomorrow is the grudge match day! Tomorrow started more than a month ago...reminding each other who won and who lost, and predicting who will win and lose this year. There are threats, insults, just a little off color humor from time to time...and a whole lot of fun. In fact, the pre-game antics really are what it's all about - at least half of what it's all about!

We work hard, think hard and play the politics. We lead our teams toward common goals that usually end with something brick and concrete, or pipe and rising hot air at the end. The stress is often high. I think it's the venting of the stress that makes it all worth it...it's the reason it's so fun. Oh...there's the trophy too. I'd insert a photo, but since lost last year, it's our turn to "improve it," and I don't want to give away the upgrade. Tune in tomorrow late for that.

And unless you think we're uncultured, may I offer a poem written just for the game.

A Golf Haiku
Golf, summer wind blows
Air whiffs past Ron's missed ball
Pink skivies scream HELP

I have no life...

...or, I'd rather be building a lighthouse. The students return to college in 1 week. For the last month, it's been a mad dash to get the place ready for them. Building, renovating, coordinating, coercing, motivating, praying...lot's of praying! That is my life these days. But if you ask me where I'd rather be? See below : )

Prayer

I got a call last week. It took me three days to get to it. My loss. My friend picked up - he was struggling to deliver a message. I thought, 'he's changed jobs - he's off my project and he's just letting me know that I'm now hosed, but that I can still run my job however I want to' (the hosed part was a joke). And then the beans spilled, "It's my wife's mom. They found something. Do that thing you do..." We hung up and I prayed. Then I called my wife and girls and they prayed. We pray every night. I don't know what the Lord will do - but I know prayer always helps. Sometimes that's all we can do...and it makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes that's what I do.

42...

I'm up to 83 posts and 1824 visits. 61 parachute jumps. 3 Children. And my oldest turned 11 yesterday. I don't feel old. But I do feel nostalgic. I toured a Frank Lloyd Wright house last week. It was an amazing thing...it left an impression. But the impression was not him or his work - it was something much deeper. Though perhaps misguided, his life had purpose and clarity and direction. He created something that would live on beyond him. I know the legacy I will leave must have to do with my children, but sometimes there is a longing for more. It is not valid or legitimate, but still it is an emotion to be embraced and taken captive. I'm not a grand architect, an artist, a legend. But still I find that it's important to me to assign value to what I will contribute. To define the goal and strive to achieve it to the best of my ability. I am a father of daughters. A diplomat. A mentor and a leader of men. It's taken too long for me to come to terms with those things - but that makes them no less true. Though the Meyer May house taught me about compression and release, about horizontality, about muted prarie colors...what Frank Lloyd Wright really taught me last Monday was how to become who I am.

Le Chat (Eliana)

Eli is 6. She's gorgeous like all my girls, and I tell her often... I tell them all often. That's what daddies do. I was reading while they were picking up for bed, and then the two older girls scampered. "What way do you read?" I pointed left to right and she nodded in understanding. "What are you reading?" Point Man, I answered. "What's it about?" It's about being a man. "But you already know how to be a man," she replied - though perplexed, there was resolve in her tone. I know dolly, I said. But it will help me to be a better daddy and husband, and a better man. "Oh, OK," she replied, matter-of-factly. The she pushed the book out of the way, crawled on my lap and stretched out like a cat. "You're the best daddy in the world," and then she fell asleep. I finished the chapter (ironically about children), and put the book away. I touched her soft face, played with her angel hair and then just listened to her breathe. It was like she was an infant again...only better. Now it was my turn to be perplexed as a wonder filled question came softly - was my heart more warmed more at being "the best daddy in the world," or because she felt so safe laying on my leaned back body, that within minutes she was sound asleep... I think the later, but they're both pretty great.

HBTM

I couldn't think of a witty synonym to ROTFLOL...it stands for Happy Birthday to me. And don't be confused by the date. It's the 29th here - my blog is on Fiji time - a place I'd rather be!

I'm a dad. That means I get REALLY cool birthday gifts. It starts with sneaking up on me little girls who have this 'I'm up to something look' just before the sing Happy Birthday with smiles as big as China! And then the formal stuff. A cool rock...bigger than most years...but equally cool! A glow in the dark hand to put on my ceiling (I think I'll put it at my office). And a necklace of beads with a silvery cross that is still in the repair stage (at 6, the fine art of tying isn't quite perfected...especially with thread!).

It's gonna be a great birthday today - I can tell already !!!

"Time" is "Priceless"!

So, what do you think the liberal media is saying when a Russian MI-24 is pulling away with America? I suspect that it's a silly media blunder where a clipart guy really didn't know what he was looking at...but then, these days you never know. I think it's great, I think it's funny and for them, I hope it's embarassing!!!

See what a few others have to say. Personally, I love the "Priceless" one!

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/006697.html

and

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/07/time-magazine--.html

Paranoia...it's what I do!

For all of those of you out there who actually read my pages (...all 3 of you!), I'll be making a change in a day or three. I work in higher education - liberal arts; the problem is - I'm not a liberal ;-)

The Lord has also blessed us with three very charming and beautiful daughters. I want to post images of them, but we're concerned with all the internet predator stuff. So as much I hate to do it, I'll be making my pages invitation only. Sorry : (

The first round of invitations have gone out. If you didn't get one and you read, let me know and I'll see about putting you on the list.

c.

Testing

Testing

People and moments

Life is about people and moments, isn't it? When it really comes down to it, aren't those the two things that matter. "Life is not measured by how many breaths you take, but by how many moments leave you breathless." Relationships and brethless moments... A moment is a deceptive concept. There are moments that last a second and seem like a lifetime. And there are liftimes that seem to pass in a second. Or a lunch that touches you in a way you could have never imagined, and now are unlikely to ever forget. My middle daughter had such a lunch, and such a moment. Let me tell you about it.

We were standing in line at a great restaraunt called Jestine's in Charleston, SC. There was an older than us couple standing just behind us. The woman had silver earrings with a larger shiney stone in them. Gavi commented on how beautiful they were. But let me segway about Gav for a second. My bride often says that a strange to Gavi is simply a friend she's yet to meet. Something connected between these two and they became instant friends. All the girls were engaged, but this was Gavrielle's moment. They talked..."you look about 36 she said." The woman gushed with approval at a childs inexperience with age! Soon, we were called to sit. We ordered, and then Gav colored a picture. It had to be perfect. Brown skin, blue shirt, the hair. She did a great job for an 8 year old. We delivered the masterpiece and sat back down. I watched her look at the crayonwork for a full minute...putting it down, picking it back up. I found it wonderful to watch the moment unfold. Though I don't know what was going on in her heart, my daughter had somehow filled a need. Isn't God cool!

The meal was southern and wonderful. Peanut butter with bananna for the girls (yuck!). Fried chicken, okra and sweet tea for me - Wow! The chicken was about the size of a small turkey. Corn fritters for the ladies (my wife and my mom). A charming hostess, a playfully sarcastic other waitress so much fun to watch. And ours was the posterwoman for good southern hospitality.

The woman came back to have Gavrielle sign her portrait. And then we returned to request a photo op. Out came the cameras and the smiles and the hugs. We exchanged e-mails and promised to exchange photos. And then as quickly as it started, with a wave out the window, the moment ended. They didn't share age, or friends, or a city, or even a skin color. But they shared something at the heart...and a love for beatiful earrings (now Gavi's most prized possession - she hasn't yet taken them off!). As for the woman, she summed it up well also, "Of all the souveniers I've bought on this trip, I will treasure this picture the most."

Magic happens in moments...and in places like Jestines. I have the photos to prove it.