Google Thyself

This is probably a silly habit of mine. But I've found myself mentions several places, including newspapers recently where I did not always realize that I was mentioned, but others that I remember seeing..

• When I took my first teaching job here in Oklahoma I was mentioned in this Nowata Star article.
• When Noah was born, Elisabeth and I were named in this birth announcement in Tulsa World.
• When I was ordained as a deacon last summer I got an alumni update in the Mid-America Messenger newsletter from my seminary.
• I have a small profile on our new church website.

There are a bunch of other places related to my blogs, of course, and my school website, but that doesn't count.

Christopher's Birthday

It was Christopher's birthday yesterday, February 13.
It is difficult to believe he is 4 years old already! Today we celebrated his birthday with family at Incredible Pizza, one of Christopher's favorite places to go. He loves to eat there, then go to the arcade and ride attractions. We thought that we would be able to ride the race cars, only to find out there was an hour and a half wait. Christopher just about had a huge melt down over it. He was so sad he couldn't race in the race cars. We will have to make it up to him on a less busy day! I've collected over 300 tickets on my card. I'm trying to collect  tickets over time so that I can get the boys a nice prize.

Here is Christopher today falling asleep in my arms. The poor little guy is getting over being sick. But I'm glad he took a nap today.

My Special Sons

My Special Sons


Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3


I know there is a reason that God gave us these two boys who have these delays. It is because God wanted us to have them to build in us the character, love, understanding, and patience that He wants us to have in our hearts.


God has used these boys in our lives to change us into the people that he wants us to be more than I could ever have imagined. Our God is one who cares for the helpless and oppressed. He wants us to care for the helpless and oppressed.


So if that person in my life who came to me a few months back telling me how much he feels sorry for us for the "situation" we are in with our delayed children ever brings that up again to me, I will have the right response. God has chosen us to be instruments of his love. God believed he could make us the people he wants us to be. God is working in us the grace not merely to handle a "situation", but to give unselfishly to these boys. And I will tell this person that obviously he doesn't have the character and strength that we have, and we don't need his pity, because God in on our side. God is our strength as we raise kids with special needs. We have been given a precious gift. We have the most loving little sons. They each other so much, and they love being together with the four of us. They love family hugs. My prayer is that they will grow up and develop strengthened in that love we have as a family and in love for God.