Happy Birthday Ben

6 years ago today we welcomed Benjamin Wayne Isom into our lives.  And oh how they've changed!

What we couldn't have known then:

-That Ben would be such an awesome big brother

-That despite being a reluctant nurser, he'd turn into the boy that eats enough to earn dessert, finishes dessert and then asks for more of the main dish (especially if it's pizza)

-That he would love eating sardines with me even though no one else in the house will touch them

-That he would love to draw so much.  And often as a gift for someone

And now he's grown into such a little man.  Lots of big ideas an boundless energy and enthusiasm.  I can't wait to see what the next few years will bring.

So my Cousin's wife (Cousin-in-law?) linked to me on this, so I guess I'll give it a shot.  Better late than never.  And seeing how I don't know any other bloggers that haven't already been linked, I guess I'll just make my happy list, but if you feel so inspired please make you own happy list and put it on your own blog or in the comments below.

The rules: List six things that make you happy. Pass the award along to six more bloggers.  Do not give the typical answers and go for the less obvious, as you all know that family, friends, God, etc would be on the list :) 

1. A good book

2. A good puzzle

3. Finishing a project

4. Doing something techy (computer stuff, sound board at church, etc.)

5. A good backrub

6. Playing games

Time: Where does it go?

That's how I feel lately. Everyone says that it seems like just yesterday that their kids were little and to cherish every moment and I've experienced that first hand for the past 6 years, but it just doesn't seem possible sometimes to spend the time you want with all your loved ones.

Sometimes I look at pictures from when Ben or Kyle were Owen's age and wish that I could remember those times better. I know I was there, I'm in pictures, Mindy claims I was great, but I just can't help wondering if I could have done better. 

Is it our lot in life as parents to worry about these things? I don't know. Maybe I'm a worrier by nature. I hear I got that from my dad.  

But back to the topic of time.  I have this quote posted in my cube at work from Chuck Swindoll's book Come before Winter: "Listen-- God has given you (as He gave His son) sufficient time in each day for you to fulfill His perfect plan--including the interruptions!  If you're fudging on your sleep or becoming a frantic, nail-biting, hurried Christian, then you are adding to your day too many things that simply are not His will for you."

That's pretty blunt about our time and I'm convicted again that I should be more intentional about mine.  And maybe give myself a break sometimes for not being the "Perfect Dad."  

So in the interest of this not being a complete downer of a post, here are a couple pictures from adventures that I've had with my boys lately.  

Ben's reaction upon hearing that my frozen yogurt

was White Chocolate Mousse:  "Moose!!??  In ice cream?"

In the park a couple of weekends ago: 

"Daddy, here are some more rotten apples.  

Smash them against that tree again!"

I've recently started having adventures with them one-on-one (it just doesn't seem right to call them dates).  I try to do it at least once a month and I hope it can become a great ritual for us to share in the years to come as it evolves from roller skating and the pet store to hunting or fishing or just hanging out talking about our lives.  Just need to keep making time for these kind of things to happen.

Time.

It's a precious resource.  How do you spend yours?  And in what ways do you wish you could change that?

Crazy Kyle

Kyle got croup on Saturday night and so Sunday was an interesting day to say the least.  At one point, he woke up from sleeping on my chest while I was watching TV.  It was time to give him some medicine so we needed to get some food in his stomach.  He was eating some cheerios out of a little bowl while still sitting on my lap, then he just randomly sets one on his nose, tips his head back and balances it there.  He looks over at me and we laugh about it and it drops into my lap.  I pick it up and give it back to him and he puts another one on his nose.  This time when it fell, it rolled down the blanket that he was covered up with and went onto the floor.
"Boy, that was a fast one, Dad!"

I just cracked up.   Then a little bit later, out of nowhere, he turns to me and says:"Dad, if a superhero knocks on the door, I'll answer it."

And then not 30 seconds later:"Ben, just like I told Daddy, if a super hero knocks on the door, I'll answer it."

What a goofball!

Thankfulness (a little late)

I'm thankful for:
~ a wife that loves me so well
~ Ben and his tender heart
~ Kyle and his adventurous spirit
~ Owen and his patience
~ great parents and parent-in-laws
~ a wonderful church that I love being a part of
~ awesome extended family
~ a warm dry house
~ 2 cars that get us where we need to go
~ a job that I love most of the time
~ good friends

I suppose I could go on, but I won't. It's humbling to count my blessings and realize that all my whining and complaining is really pretty pathetic. Why should I have a scowl on my face when I have all these things going for me?

They say a man is wealthy when he is content with what he has, not when he gets all that he wants. I'm working to be more thankful for what I've been given and it sure puts the things I want into perspective.

What are you thankful for?