Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and *ahem* a birthday..

It's been awhile, so I will throw a few things into one pile.

Thanksgiving was different this year. It was the first without Sam. I never knew a Thanksgiving without him, and to know that his place at the table was empty was depressing. But, to know that his place at the banquet table in Heaven was completely full gave me hope! I am so thankful for the gifts He's given me, both those in plain sight and those in disguise.

The day after Thanksgiving is usually my wife's time to shop with all the women in our two families. This year, Aaron and I tagged along. Actually, it was just the three of us. And not one item bought was bought for us. We have been thinking about this for quite some time now. So, we did go Christmas shopping on Friday; for a family we've never met. Single mother, three kids. One of the kids is Aaron's age, which tickled Aaron. He knew "exactly what the boy would love to have!" We bought each child a few clothes (what child doesn't love opening clothes on Christmas morning, right?). We bought a couple toys apiece. We bought the mother a few different items as well. Christmas is not about the presents, but when you have the ability to help those who are less fortunate than you, do it. It's our responsibility as Christians to look after our brothers. I'm really excited about meeting this family. We've invited them over to our house for Christmas, and I'm hoping they accept the invitation.

And I think it's someone's birthday today too. ;) 41 years already..

A future daughter-in-law??

Aaron came home from school today with one thing on his mind. Her name's Alexis.
"Aaron, do your homework."
"Hang on, can I call Alexis?"
"Who?"
"Alexis."
"Who's Alexis?"
"Um, my girlfriend."
"You're 8."
"And a half.."

Ah, he got me there. How foolish of me! Of course eight is too young for a girlfriend, but eight and a half is completely different! So I asked him about this "girlfriend". I asked him if they hold hands, and he said, "dad, that's just gross." Oh thank goodness! I breathed a nice, long sigh of relief on that one. He said they sit together at lunch and play kickball together at recess. I asked him how this meant that they were "dating," and he said, "we're not dating, dad, she's just my girlfriend." Ah, I hope God keeps that innocence in him. :)

Who God Is

I've really been trying to be quiet before the Lord the past few days. In trying to figure out this incredible God of the universe, I realized that I knew so little about the One who loves me unconditionally. God's still very much a mystery; though I think the good kind. As Aaron's said before, God's "like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve, but you can't 'cause you know the morning's coming!" I can't wrap my finger around who God really is, but I do know who He really wants me to be. I'm trying so hard to be the husband, father, and servant that He has planned, that He is molding. I fall, and I stumble, but I never turn away. There are days I don't understand God, a lot of days I don't understand God, and there are days that I wonder if He's just playing a mind game with me, but I know that His ways are perfect. I'm the sinner, not Him. Sometimes, I want to throw my hands up and say, "are You really there?" I've had a couple days like that this past week. Then, I look at a sunset. I feel the breeze on my face. I fall on my knees and humble myself in His amazing grace and love. I want so much of Him sometimes, but I don't stop to realize that He's already given me so much of Him. He's given me an amazing marriage to an amazing woman. He's given me an incredible son and daughter. He's given me breath. He's given me the ability to find love and compassion in this world. I spend so much time wondering if He's there, that I neglect the evidence sometimes. He's an awesome God, and I'm just a man. I can't make the sun rise. I can't make the stars twinkle. Only a perfect God can make beauty in this world of mess.

Crazy November

November 1st: Aaron got a cold (not H1N1 or the flu, praise God!)

November 2nd: helped one of my step-brother's sons move into an apartment, began teaching guitar at the church to a couple kids from the youth group

November 3rd: Kate got sick, Aaron was still sick, guitar lessons again, began writing piano music for our church's Christmas program, graded about 100 History tests, tended to sick wife and sick son, stayed with Aaron while Kate went to doctor (just a cold, no flu or H1N1!), I got sick at about 2:00 in the morning (which turned out to be food poisoning from the fish I ate earlier that day)

November 4th: Kate was still sick, Aaron was still sick, I called in sick but was finally able to keep food down around mid-afternoon, prepped for our trip to Nashville this weekend, continued to write music for Christmas program, created lesson plans for the substitute on Friday and Monday

November 5th (today): Kate and Aaron are feeling a bit better, more Christmas program music writing tonight

Aaron has missed school all week, and we're leaving tomorrow morning for Nashville anyways. Kate's gone into homeschooling a sick kid this week while being sick herself. I've learned not to eat fish that smells funny, although it looked perfectly fine at the time. Now I'm left wondering if the three of us are up to driving eight hours tomorrow. Busy week, and it's not even over yet. We head for Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow morning. We're staying with Dan and his family. Saturday night is my nephew's birthday party. Sunday is National Orphan Sunday, and we're going to church with him in the morning than to a special event at Christ Community Church later on that afternoon. Monday, it's back in the car to head home. Very busy November so far..