The Ranch

So, we all go to Amarillo yesterday to pick up Andy at the airport and Melissa decides that we are going to buy some spraypaint and head out to the Cadillac ranch on old Route 66 ... wait, let me back up.

Since the movie Cars came out several years ago, Aric has been somewhat obsessed with Route 66. We keep saying that we are going to take a family vacation and drive the old highway. Not all of it, of course, but a pretty good portion of it. That hasn't happened yet, but we have gone to the old Tower Conoco in Shamrock which was used as the model for one of the buildings in the movie. Then, last year we drove out to the Cadillac Ranch while we were in Amarillo shopping or something and we decided that the next time we went we had to take some spraypaint with us.

Spraypainting the old cars is allowed and even encouraged and believe me our boys loved it. It was actually a little windier than we would have liked for spraypainting but when is there not at least a breeze in the Texas panhandle so we made the most of it and had quite a bit of fun. Here are some pictures of our spur-of-the-moment excursion.

The Who

I began this post on Thanksgiving day, but I am just now getting back to it. With Christmas so soon maybe it's a little to late to make this post, but I still feel strongly about the subject so here goes.

We begin teaching our children at a very early age that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings we have been given. The English settlers gave thanks for their deliverance by the Indians after a particularly brutal winter in the New World. In many countries, Thanksgiving began as a celebration for giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. I suppose we all have our own ideas and opinions of what Thanksgiving means and why we celebrate it, but by it's name and nature Thanksgiving is a time for "giving thanks." For me, the important thing about thanksgiving is not what we are giving thanks for but who we are giving thanks to.

In 2 Samuel 22:50, we read, "Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name." I wonder sometimes who exactly non-Christians give thanks to when celebrating Thanksgiving. I know each year as I remember all the blessings that I have to be thankful for that my father in heaven provides those blessings and that He is the one to whom I am thankful.

I will also strive this year to be thankful year round for all that He has done for me and my family. Not to take anything away for Thanksgiving (because I still love the turkey, pumpkin pie, etc.) but to help keep me from taking all that I have for granted (not granite, Creede). I want to always remember what He has done for me, is doing for me, and will do for me.

The Tackle

The boys are wrapping up their flag football seasons and we have really enjoyed watching them play every Saturday. They both improved tremendously as the season progressed and they continue to understand the game more and more. Aric's team lost last week thus ending their season. Thank you to Todd Cummins and Jeff Pleming for an outstanding job coaching the Sooners this year. Alex's team played this Saturday and earned a chance to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday and they won. His coach, Craig Darter, has done a fantastic job with the Red Raiders. I couldn't resist sharing this video of Aric tackling one of his opponents. Yes, this is supposed to be FLAG football, but sometimes the adrenaline takes over and you just can't help yourself. This is the first time I have posted a video, so I was pretty excited. Enjoy!

The Truth

You may have to be involved with education to really appreciate this but I had to post it for all to see!

The Scariest Costume Ever!

The Responsibility

When I started this blog my intention wasn't to keep people informed about things going on with our family. My wife does this on her blog and does a fantastic job. I also didn't plan on using it as a soap box to shove my beliefs and convictions down the throats of those reading it. What I wanted was an outlet for expressing the things that motive me, excite me, anger me, move me, please me, or frustrate me.

As a parent I am constantly second guessing myself. Was I too harsh? An I spending enough time with them? Should I have let them go with so-and-so? Am I pushing them too hard? Do I do enough? How much is too much? Will I ever feel good about the decisions I make regarding my children? I mean, they are my children after all. I want everything I do for them to be the right thing. I want every decision to be the right decision. I will not make any parenting mistakes...yeah, right!

I know that I will make mistakes, but I will relentlessly work to keep those mistakes to an absolute minimum. It's much too important for my children and myself. It amazes me how lightly some people take their role as a parent. What are some people thinking when they have kids?

I know some people don't plan their parenthood. However, this doesn't excuse them from the responsibility of it. Others plan to become a parent for all the wrong reasons. It amazes me how many unmarried teenage girls will have intentional pregnancies. Whether the purpose is to hold on to a boyfriend or maybe just a way to get some attention. Don't they realize the disadvantages that this child is going to experience. Sometimes they seem so proud of themselves and they fail to understand that the pride should come in how they raise the child, not the simple fact that they got pregnant and gave birth. They will tote the baby around flaunting their "accomplishment" then the new wears off and they are left with a child that they don't really want and won't properly nurture.

Maybe in my occupation I have too much of an insider's view of this and so many other issues in our society. Maybe I have become too cynical about the circumstances that today's youth must face. I just know that there are too many kids out there raising themselves, fending for themselves, and dependening on themselves with no one to encourage them, no one to comfort them, no one to admonish them, and no one to love them. And it breaks my heart everyday.

Let me know your thoughts on this subject.