Statements By Keller: First Time Listening

Our son, Keller, is getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall. So while he is in pre-school we have been working with him on being a first time listener. Those of you who are parents know what I am talking about. But there are times that it feels like he as already developed selective hearing.
A few week ago, while eating dinner, Ashley and I decided to have a serious conversation with him about this issue. Though the chat was not terribly long, Keller did express a very honest answer. And when push comes to shove, we really do want our kids to be honest people...right? Here how the conversation went down.

Me: Keller, Mommy and I want to know how we can help you be a first time listener.
Keller: What?
Me: What can we do to help you listen to your teachers & Mommy & Daddy, the first time, instead of us calling your name several times?
Keller: Well, Daddy, I hear you when you say "Keller, Keller" but I just want to do what I want to do! That's all.

I was speechless! I had no response! So pray for us!

Worship With Us

I am looking forward to this week's worship sets! Hope to see you at Venice Church of the Nazarene.

TRADITIONAL SERVICE
Great is the Lord
I will Praise Him
Seek Ye First

BLENDED SERVICE
Everlasting God
Blessed Be Your Name
Mighty to Save
I Will Sing of My Redeemer/You Set me Free
He Knows my Name

MANNA SERVICE
Sing, Sing, Sing
God is Great
Amazing Grace...My Chains are Gone
I Give You My Heart

Parenthood 2.0 - The Importance of Family Restrooms

So I decided to bring back this series of stories about my journey in the world of parenthood. I hope that my experiences can be a learning experience for some new Dad's...or maybe they will just be good stories to laugh about! Here's what happened...

Before I start this story I should make this declaration. I have a fear of changing diapers in public places. Its not because I am a man and we sometimes look awkward changing diapers and doing other baby care things. For me, it would seem that any time I am required to change a child's diaper in public...it is never a simple process. Things always happen, like not having enough wipes, or no extra diapers. At this point, if a PDC (Public Diaper Change) goes smoothly, then I begin questioning what the day has in store. Anyway, back to the story. A few weeks ago, I was out shopping with Ashley and Kerrington. Our daughter has this love/hate relationship with her car seat. But every time we travel somewhere...without fail she feels the need to "make a stinky" as we would say in our household. So as we are pulling into the parking lot of the Sub-par Craft Store (it is sub-par because it is not Hobby Lobby), my wife quickly handed me the diaper bag and sent me on my way. The words exchanged between us went something like this:
Me: I don't the men's restroom has a changing table.
Ashley: Don't worry just put the changing pad on the floor and change her.
Me: Are you sure about that?

Of course I asked if this was okay (and men will agree with me) if this was my idea...I would have received "THE GLARE." I know ya'll know what I am talking about. I digress, so Kerrington and I make to the back of the store into the restroom waiting area. I walked into the men's restroom to have my fears confirmed...there was no changing table. Upon surveying the floor, it looked clean enough for me to use the changing pad and clean this baby up! Here is where the breakdown begins...
I start to set up shop, only to discover that the changing pad was NOT in the diaper bag. I was at a crossroads. There was no time to go all the way back to the car...the smell was to strong. Then it hit me...I could use the women's restroom.
It was as if there was this invisible shield around me. That no one would see what I was about to do!!! With my man card in place, baby on my hip, & Vera Bradley Diaper bag in hand, I quickly ran into the Women's restroom and straight to the last stall where the changing table was located.
At this point I would love to tell you that changing her diaper was real simple and quick...but that would miss the whole point of the story. Clearly, the only plan I had in place was to get in, change the stinky, and get out. So you can see that this was not going to go well. As I was moving quickly to make the change, it became clear that Kerrington was not finished going to the bathroom...and not only was the mess in the diaper, but it was moving to the wall and to the trash can. I scramble to grab more baby wipes, only to discover there were 4 wipes in the container, and I had already used 3 of them. The paper towels were a good arms length way...however not my arms length. So now the juggling act is in full swing! As I am moving back and forth, I was stopped in my tracks by the sound of the bathroom door swinging open.
In walks "The Golden Girls" needing to use the other 3 stalls. I knew I could not speak to the baby, and of course she was getting fussy because the mess was not getting better. Tapping into my inner black woman's voice, I did my best to comfort the child. It's moments like this that I am thankful that God made me a Tenor. As I was finishing up the stinky mess, I noticed that the golden girls were talking to each other. Side note, do women really talk to each other while in the rest room? Anyway, lady 1 was complaining about her stomach hurting and that she was regretting going to the local Mexican food restaurant. Little did I know that I do, would be regretting her lunch time choice.
To make a long short, Kerrington and I had to wait an additional 10 minutes before we could leave the bathroom. While waiting in that stall, attempting to hold my breath, I decided that I would forever appreciate the gift that is called "The Family Restroom". Especially the big one at the mall!

Worship With Us

So in a attempt to reach out to others, I am starting list our worship sets. If you are a worship pastor and you follow this blog, I would love to know what your church is singing...Let's talk!

SUNDAY MORNING-TRADITIONAL
It is Mine
The Love of God
Have Thine Own Way, Lord

SUNDAY MORNING-Blended
Rise Up and Praise Him
Come Thou Almighty King
You're worthy of my Praise
Worthy is the Lamb
Jesus, Your Name

SUNDAY EVENING-MANNA
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Stronger
Glorious One
Take my Life

Happy New Year

Once more we gather to celebrate the dawn of a New Year. The birth of a new day! As much as I enjoy the beginning of the New Year, as a Christian, I rejoice that we don't need a new year to start over, and start a new. Through salvation, redemption, and grace, our lives have been made new. Praise the Lord!!!!
I do not know what kind of year you had in 2010. I can assume that there were some milestones and some hardships. There were moments of joy and maybe some moments of sadness. But I hope you will take heart by the words from the book of Isaiah:
"Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19)
I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what God has in store for this coming year. On behalf of my family, May God richly bless you in 2011!

RG

Finding the words...and finding the time

So I could bore all my readers with the multiple reasons and excuses as to why I have not posted things in a while. The reality is that we are all busy, and the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season just adds to that craziness. But for me, there was something different. Back in the late summer, I decided I would go on a Twitter/Facebook/Blog fast. At that point in time, I felt like I was spending large amounts of my time with all the social networking world. So much so, that I sometimes found myself thinking that I had become really good friends with people Travis Cottrell because I follow him on Twitter! (yes that does sound a little creepy & no i do not twitter stalk him) So the fast came and went, and yet I felt like God was not finished with me. That He was still inviting me to go deeper. Did I listen? If I could answer that question as gray as possible I would say "Sometimes." If I had to answer it in Black and White form...I would have to say "No I did not listen". I found myself diving right back into the things that were consuming me. The good news was that I was spending less time with them, the bad news was that it was not because of my choosing, it was because my schedule was becoming busy enough that I had barely enough time to check email.
Then I noticed I had not paid much attention to my blog. I remembered thinking back to my reasons for doing this. I wanted to create a space where I could write freely, dream big, laugh loudly, and richly inspire. So the last few post have been different videos and collections of things that have happened (and yes I know the snake story provided great humor for many). But I still felt like a clanging cymbal. I felt like I was posting for the sake of posting...as if I have thousands of readers who cannot wait to read my latest adventure...and if I didn't post something, then they were going to be highly disappointed! The reality was that I was not turning to the One who richly inspires me; who gives me the change to dream big and who has given me the gift of song and laughter.
So here I am, reflecting upon the past year and wondering what the next year will bring! I am praying that God would give me the words to say to extend his grace. I am praying that God would give me peace of mind about timing in my life. I am praying that all roads that I travel down this coming year and beyond, will draw me closer to Him and others to Him.

RG

Baby Girl is Walking...where is all the time going?

I just had to post this video! We cannot believe that our baby girl is 10 months old...and walking!!!