The Phoebus is Two

My beautiful daughter is two today. Here are some of my favorite things about her…

1. I love how approaching her birthday she had two wishes – 1) A bike, and 2) a car.

2. I love how her personality is just as wild as her hair.

3. I love how the only time I can get her to sit still is when she’s watching basketball with me. (She calls is ‘dada-ball.’)

4. I love how the only person she never directs anger toward is her bubby.

5. I love how she thinks elevator etiquette involves awkwardly standing in the corner facing the wall when others are present in the elevator. (I taught her that little bit of awesomeness)

5. I love how she loves to dress flamboyantly. Really flamboyantly.

6. I love how all the pain stops once daddy kisses the ‘wound.’

7. I love how she growls at people.

8. I love how she takes off down the long isle at church, leaving her mother in the dust with bubby in tow, screaming, ‘Dada…dada…dada’ as she tries to get on stage with me when I’m preaching.

9. I love how she loves books and already has a clear passion for learning.

10. I love how she loves praying and prays for me multiple times at lunch everyday.

I love you, my Goobies. I’m proud of you. Happy Birthday!

Events of Thanksgiving Day for which I’m Thankful

1. Teaching my crazy family to play Mafia (they were terrible and hilarious – instead of trying to figure out who the Mafia ACTUALLY was, the towns people kept accusing one another, citing personal vendetta reasons that were not at all game-related. Ridiculous!).
2. My daughter, who seems to be learning her social skills from Curious George. Lots of grunting. Lots of risk taking.
3. Noticing that my son’s face lights up with a great big smile when I’m in the room. His eyes follow me around the room wherever I go.
4. Chili Dip
5. Knowing that I’m living the dream because I’ve got the best job in the world: working at a church that loves me and prays for me. Not many people like their jobs; I feel very blessed to get to do what I love most in life.
6. A mother and father-in-law that love blessing other people. Every holiday season, they have people in and out of their house for weeks. I am grateful for their example of hospitality and celebration of life and family.
7. Good books. I’m reading 3 right now: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Against All Things Ending by Stephen Donaldson, Surprised by Hope by NT Wright, and Accompanying Them With Singing by Tom Long.
8. A wife who puts up with my constant insanity, instability, and infatuation with her. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
9. Talking archeology, theology, biblical studies, and American History with Michael Fosha.
10. Football

 

Things I could have done without:

1. student loans
2. mustaches
3. male pattern baldness
4. cholesterol
5. green beans
6. calvinism
7. baby poo
8. the cowboys and the lions
9. snuggies
10. making the bed

 

Reason #44 I Love Being a Dad: Diaper Dashboard

Do you REALLY believe this is redeemable?

I’m preparing for my sermon on Sunday where I’m going to posit that the most heinous of criminals can receive the grace of God. While studying for it and trying to take it out of the realm of logical abstractions and into the world of real life, I came across this famous photo from the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19th, 1995.

Maybe it’s because I have a daughter now about this girl’s age, but I have to tearfully admit that this question really forces me to consider whether I really believe the gospel can redeem such evil. That I know, logically, that it does and can redeem such evil, forces me to bask in the greatness of God’s grace. But my heart still doubts and fears, not only for Timothy McVeigh, but for myself. – Matthew 5:21-22

Sayings of a Daddy Sage #84

“Phoebe, if you’re going to hit someone in the face, make sure it’s yourself yourself…..ouch!!!!!”