First full day back from Iraq!  Many changes I want to put into place and am excited to get going.  It began this morning with waking up at 5AM and getting ready for the day.  I told Darcy that I want to get the kids ready for school and let her sleep in.  Why?  Not for the sake of being a “good” father or even a “good” husband but because I CAN!  A year in Iraq and the inability to do so was sorely missed.  I love my God and my family!

CHOBC – T minus 9 days

Friday: This morning, my son was honored with leading his school in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  He was loud and clear and did a great job as I knew he would.  There’s a future for drill sargeant there but mommy may have a different opinion.

Cosette is came home with lots of homework this weekend which is unsual.  I don’t remember this much homework when I was her age.  She is so much better at doing homework than I ever was.  I am proud of her.

I also started on Caleb’s AWANA’s (actually SPARKS) cardboard box project.  It’s a night of movie watching as they sit in their creation.  This year, I decided to build something with wheels so that he can can move it around himself so I started the framing so it could support wheels.  The framing then can take whatever shape we decided to build.  My son chose an airplane.

What started out as a “simple” project that should have lasted a couple of hours but ended up incomplete at 7 pm.  Chalk it up to inexperience…  The caveat is that next time, it should be much better.  Ha, ha.

P.S. I couln’t post this yesterday due to some problems so had to recreate this.

CHOBC – T minus 10 days

Finally, I took Caleb and my bikes when I went to pick him up from school so that we could practice while we waited to pick up sissy. What a joy it was to see his confidence soar as he was able to start and stop by himself! He cannot stop talking about it and told me that biking is his “new” favorite passtime activity. Ahh… great validation for Daddy!

As I was sitting there watching him ride all around, I could not help but think about the time I first rode the bike… I taught myself by watching my older brother and other kids. I don’t remember where my Dad was nor whether or not he felt any inclination to teach his children. My memories of my childhood are often like this: I remember the event but don’t know where Dad was. At least in the teaching-your-kid-how-to-ride-a-bike category, with Caleb and Cosette, my experience has me improving on the daddy’s role of the To family.

My feelings of elation from watching my children led me to think of how God feels when I finally “get it” in an area He has been trying to teach me. It humbles me to think of His never waning patience waiting for me to come around. I barely have enough patience when my children don’t get it the first time around and this convicts me thoroughly. How precious and necessary then that I should die to myself and let Him have it all. Unfortunately, God is still waiting for this to happen…

Only three more whole days of spending time with the family before I depart for Fort Jackson. The pain of misssing them is already present.