Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down

It's just Lily and I today. Shauna is at a baby shower, and the boys are over at a friends house. So, Lily and I are hanging out today watching the remnants of Fay make their way through the Pine Belt. It will be three years ago this Friday that we saw Hurricane Katrina sweep through our area, leaving a 100ft. pine tree in the middle of our house and a county without the basic necessities (electricity, water, gas) for over a week. I wouldn't say that I would like another Katrina to come knocking at our door, but a small storm now and again isn't so bad.
When I was in high school I used to love to chase storms. We followed tornadoes before it became a reality t.v. phenomenon. My hero was a man named Don Woods, who was the meteorologist for Tulsa's ABC affiliate. At the end of his forecast he always drew a cartoon character named 'Gusty' to illustrate the next days weather. By the time I reached college I had decided to pursue a degree in Meteorology, but I always got the red arrows mixed up with the blue dots. I could just see myself pointing to Northern California, talking about the high ridge pressure system pressing down through the Smoky Mountains. It just wasn't meant to be. The truth is that I enjoy saying the words "El Nino."
So, a quick update on the Stockstill clan:
Dylan - 3rd Grade. Flag Football. Enjoys math and reading.
Micah - K-5. Soccer. Enjoys recess and is reading a bit.
Lily - 16 months. Enjoys her mom and is talking... a bit.
Shauna - staying busy with aerobics, teaching, drama ministry at church, crafting, cooking (wait... scratch that last one :)
Me - will finish my Masters of Divinity in December, staying really busy at church, and thinking about the possibility of kite surfing.

K5, 3rd Grade, and Soloing at the Homestead

The boys started school this week and life looks a little different. During the days it is just Shauna and Lily while the two boys are making their mark on a new elementary school. I recently had a friend make a comment on the behavior of our kids. Make no mistake, our kids have the ability to wreak havoc but for the most part I am extremely proud of my kids (as any parent would be). But, he asked me what guiding principles I use to parent. I thought about it for a minute and gave him a few thoughts:
1. Make sure your kids know they are loved. I tell them I love them at least once every day. When that is settled in their mind they are free to worry about other things. Like, how to clip lizards on their earlobes.
2. Limit the amount of t.v. and monitor what they watch. The world is filled with a lot of junk that I am sure they will face soon enough. My role as a parent is to guard them, not only physically but emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
3. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Yes Maam, No Maam, Yes Sir and No Sir. These are non-negotiables.
4. Challenge their comfort levels and stretch them to achieve certain goals. This builds a healthy self esteem. I think there are three major transitions in a boys life: little boy to adolescence (6-8), adolescence to teens (13-14), and teens to manhood (18). Swamp Camping in Louisiana. By the age of 5 both boys were skiing blue trails in Colorado. They've kayaked, hiked trails, camped in the Adirondak Mountains, chased geese around the Reflection Pool in Washington D.C. and touched rhinos.
5. Make them brush their teeth.
6. Responsibilities. Each kid is responsible for a set of duties where they are contributing to the ole homestead. Certain things are part of their contribution to the home (keep room clean, etc.) others are rewarded with money.
7. Stewardship. With their 'allowance' of $5 they give away $1, spend $2 and save $2.
8. Make sure they are in an environment where they can grow spiritually - church, night time prayers, we took them under a bridge in New Orleans known as "tent city" and let them pass out food and coats to the homeless.
9. They know that I think their mom is the hottest chica in the world.
10. Friday morning breakfasts. Every Friday I take the boys to breakfast and we just hang out and talk about stuff while eating Hotcakes and Sausage.
10. Did I mention that they know they are loved?

In the Company of Greatness

On July 24^th Shauna’s Grandmother, Sally Taylor “Nanaw” passed away. It was one year to the day that she lost her paternal grandmother and nearly two years to the day that we lost my grandmother. I don’t know who coined the statement “death is beautiful,” but I think they got it wrong. The Bible does say that death is precious, but it is a statement from God’s perspective… not ours. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Precious is also translated: splendid, weighty and costly, as in a precious jewel. So, how can something we struggle with so much here on earth be seen as precious in the eyes of God? Maybe it has something to do with perspective.

From our perspective: we lose a mother, grandmother, aunt or friend.
From God’s perspective: These are the one’s for whom He left His home to purchase with His PRECIOUS blood. Laying down his life for them. They are His children, members of His body, PRECIOUS in His sight. The Lord has so loved them that the very hairs on their heads are numbered, angels are sent to and fro to minister to them. In some sense it is like a long awaited home coming.

Maybe, just maybe death causes us (those left behind) to look more intently into our own frailty and take notice of His sufficiency. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2). And in that we find rest. A comfort that is nothing short of… precious.

This past week I had the opportunity to be in the company of greatness. I was surrounded by a handful of ladies who exemplified mercy, grace and strength at life’s most difficult juncture. After a long week of emotional, physical, and spiritual fatigue I packed my little family in the car and headed back to Mississippi. As I locked Lily into her five-point-harnessed car seat I thought of the legacy that is being passed down to her. the vibrancy and strength of her Nanaw… the beauty and calm compassion of her Nenaw… the selfless giving and nurturing of her Memaw… the passion and zeal for life of her Aunt Suzie… the heart and love of her Aunt M’Lee… the creativity and spark of her Aunt Steph… and everything that is her mother.

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
they are PRECIOUS in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

A Day in the Park