Orlando - Day 1

The flight down to Orlando was relatively uneventful. Left on time and actually arrived 15 minutes early. We could not get all 11 seats together so the kids played musical chairs between the adults for about 2 hours of the flight. The next task was to get the rental vans. While at the rental counter, the guy made a deal for a large 12 seater passenger van that ultimately would save us half the renal cost...so what would you do? So there we were, all crawled into the 'people' hauler driving around central Florida.

Day 1 was Animal Kingdom.

We took an African Safari around and saw a bunch of wild animals and did a few rides. The kids did great and the weather hung around 75 degrees...probably 70 degrees warmer than home. The best ride of the day was the Everest Expedition. A roller coaster that stops in mid trek and goes backward for about 10-15 seconds and then starts forward making it way down the 'Mt. Everest' mountain. Jacob, who seems to have no fear of these things, went on it twice. I rode it once as did Vicky and it was a very fun ride.

The ride that could have used a little more thought was the Kali River Rapids. Yeah...I said 'river rapids'. Looked like a great ride for the whole family to go on. Getting closer to the ride we saw people coming off with some wearing ponchos, some appearing to be dry, and others a little wet. Their was a guy selling ponchos for $8 each..."ah..how bad can it be" I thought. Again our party was too big to all fit in the circular raft so we split up. Abbie and I together, and Mom and Julia with Jon and Sydney in one and Jacob in the other with Grandpa and Grandma, Aaron, Sheila, and Ann and Owen in the other..behind us. Oh the ride starts out nice and 'flowing like' but soon you are dropped off in the Utah Green River and if you are sitting in the ultimate wrong spot....you are soon drenched and the $8 ponchos look pre-tty cheap! Just ask my Dad. I mean, I had my share of water down my backside trying to shield Abbie, but my Dad?...well, he just plain got a full drenching shower in less than a second. He was not too pleased either. Let's just say the contents of his wallet are now laying out on the kitchen counter..drying. Jacob got pretty wet too...but he loved it.

Crocodiles at African Safari

Everest Expedition

Kali River Rapids -before-

Kali River Rapids -After-

On to day 2....

Orlando Here We Come

Leaving the COLD for 6 days for Orlando! Our plane leaves in about 2 hours and the kids can hardly wait..neither can we. We'll post updates..hopefully daily.

Gett'n Bigger

Growing up with 2 brothers and no sisters, I often wondered what it would be like to be a father to a daughter, let alone two of them. Well, they are the sweetest things and just melt my heart everyday. It's an interesting feeling to be rough and tough wrestling with my son and then to switch gears to have to help a daughter feed one of her 'babies'. Some mornings I don't need an alarm as Julia comes in and crawls into bed by me to whisper, "Daddy, get up....Daddy, I like you". It's like a cub crawling all over her papa bear.

I always tease them to "Don't get bigger" and to "Stay little". Julia replies in a playful way, "I' gett'n bigger."

Julia's birthday is coming up in April and she'll be turning 4. She's been planning her party already with a big cake and a lot of friends to play games. She tells me that at her party she'll be getting bigger.

So tonight, we went out for dinner and a conversation went like this.

Vicky: "Julia has been eating alot lately and now she has been sleeping alot, she must be going through a growth spurt"

Me: "Julia, are you getting bigger?" "Can you feel yourself getting bigger?"

Julia: "Yes, I'm getting bigger"

Me: "No...stay little for Daddy"

Julia: "Don't you want to eat cake?"

Me: "Yes, why?"

Julia: "Then I have to get bigger"

Did You Know?

This video was presented at conference of Sony BMG executives last fall. I don't know if ALL the facts are accurate BUT it is a reality that our kids are growing up in.

SO...let me hear you....what do you think it all means?!

New Year Resolution

Goodbye 2008 and hello 2009. It is always interesting to tell what season it is by watching QVC. For the last two months, of course, they have been on 'all things' Christmas. Now, for the last week, they have been on all things 'new and improved 'you'. After all the holiday food we have been sitting around and eating for two weeks it is time to improve ourselves.

Right now they are selling the 'Angel Wings Super-Light Hairspray'. The designer is actually on the show spraying his 'super-light' hairspray on 3 different models. I don't know who he is but the models sure act like they do. He is wearing a red velvet jacket with a huge cowboy style belt buckle. What is up with that? Looks like he is ready to ride a bull and smoke a cigar at the same time. And this stuff isn't just 'light'..it's 'super-light'. He's fluffing the model's hair up like it's 1986 and when he is done, they look like they have been riding with their heads out the car window at 65 mph...and still smiling.

Anyway, the time for new year's resolutions is here. A time to reflect on the past year and ahead to what's in store with the new year. A time to look forward to redoing all of the seasons, holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.

Two resolutions I have made for 2009 are:

1. Read the entire Bible through in a year.
2. Pray more for my kids.

The first one I have tried in the past with reading it straight through but usually hit a wall in Leviticus. This year I will read a plan that splits the Bible up and will read from 4 different sections each day. We'll see how it goes.

The second one was just enhanced when I received a recent Desiring God blog email update. John Piper put up a link to one of their past blogs on 'Texts to Pray for Our Children' The text is below and a link to the blog site is here. All Grandparents are welcome to join in as well. This will come in very handy to carry out my resolution and I'm quite certain it will do more good then the 'super-light' hairspray.


Texts to Pray for Our Children

That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15)

That they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

That their thoughts will be pure.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord's work.
All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

That when the time is right, they will GO!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)