Mr. Deity

I questioned whether or not to put this on my blog. It can certainly be taken as...well...offensive, but it is funny. I am not sure of the intent of the creators, but it has certainly caused a serious dialogue on YouTube, as most religious things will do. Dialogue can be a good thing, if people are willing to listen, as well as talk.

Dave

baseball and caterpillars

Last night we decided to take the kids to a Diamond Jaxx ballgame. It was the first game at the park this season; an exibition between the Memphis Redbirds (AAA Cardinals) and our hometown Jaxx (AA Mariners). As soon as we walked into the stadium I saw a look of amazement in Zach's eyes. He was soaking it all in. He headed straight down the stairs toward the field and plopped himself in the front row by the Redbirds dugout. I was so happy to see my boy excited about baseball.

After sitting there a few minutes I was finally able to get him to walk to our fifth row seats behind the Jaxx dugout (good seats aren't hard to come by). Then about 3 pitches into the game, Zach decided he had enough baseball. So Angie took him to buy a Chicago Dog (Angie highly recommends) and a pretzel. I kept watch over Sam, who also wanted to do nothing but walk. I think he covered every square inch of the park before the night was over...along with the rest of the family.

When Angie got back with Zach, he sat still long enough to take a couple of bites of the pretzel. Zach wanted to go for a walk. He and I walked all over the park and out into the berm, while Angie continued to make the rounds with Sam. While out in the berm, Zach discovered the caterpillars, which he took much more interest in than the ballgame. We followed the line of them until we had gone as far inside the walls of the park as we could go. Finally I convinced Zach we should head back toward our seats.

We we returned, Sam was tired and Zach still didn't have much interest in the game. We decided to hang it up in the fifth inning and head home. Although we didn't see more than a few pitches, we all had a good time.

How to make a donut from Cheerios...

One day this past week Zach decided he wanted to make chocolate donuts for breakfast. He sat down at the table and asked Angie for a pot and an egg. She didn't mind, and we have lots of eggs thanks to WIC. So she handed Zach the first egg. Apparently Zach's recipie called for more so he asked for another egg, and another, and another. I think there were a total of five in the end. Four in the bowl and one in the floor.

The next thing on the ingredient list was Cheerios. Zach was convinced that the Cheerios would some how grow exponentially and become donuts. So he added them to the bowl along with milk, chocolate powder, and a saltine cracker-yum. After vigiorously stirring for a couple minutes Zach was ready to cook the mixture on the stove. Zach was still sure that he would be having chocolate donuts for breakfast.

I talked Zach into putting the "donut mixture" into the oven and go play. While Angie occupied him, I ran to Highland Park and bought two chocolate covered donuts (one for Zach and one for me). Then I pulled the TV chef switcharoo and replaced the "mixture" with two chocolate donuts.

We called Zach back into the kitchen, telling him the donuts were ready. We opened the oven and showed him the chocolate donuts he "cooked". We expected him to be very surprised that there were acutally real donuts. But instead he said, "I did it. I made the right recepie.". He didn't seemed surprised at all. Instead there was a smile and look of accomplishment. He believed all along that he was making real donuts, so why be surprised.

Dave

I'm Back!

Sorry to all my loyal blogger fans. The three of you have been very patient. I have not been very diligent in my blogging effots over the past couple of weeks. I promise to try and do much better in the coming days, God willing.

I have been sidetracked with my efforts to complete my final clinical rotation (done!), find a job (still not done, but working on it) and prepare for my boards (doing, but will never be done-until the boards come May 14th). It seems God has allowed me to be under a great deal of stress during this time. More than I can remember being under in a long, long time. And the fun isn't over yet.

I have been challenged to trust God more over these weeks than I have in quite a while. To be honest, I have been failing miserably. There have been times that I have made myself sick with worry, nearly to the point of throwing up. So you may be wondering, "Dave, what is going on that has got you so upset." Well, I will sum it up in this-a lack of trust in God to provide for my family. I have allowed my circumstances beyond my control to master my emotions. Unlike Paul, I have not learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (or fear I may be).

I came across Philippians 4:4-20. It has been an encouragement today to trust in God who will supply my peace. I have even been challenged to thank God for these trials (still working on that, but getting there). I have also realized that it is not me who supplies the faith to trust God, but God Himself. All I need to do is ask.

Pray that I will trust God to meet our needs. Pray that He will indeed supply all our needs just as He promises. And pray that God will be glorified by these trials and produce in me the result He desires.

Dave