The Boss'

The other day, I took one of those “before” pictures. It’s my first one ever. You know, the ones you take when you’re excited to start a workout program? I’ve never stuck with any sort of exercise routine for any length of time, but I’m cautiously optimistic this time. The program that I’m sort of trying to follow are the daily workouts published on the Gymnastic Bodies site. Why gymnastics? Well, first of all, look at gymnasts. I’d say that as a group they have the sort of physique that most people would be happy with, and they get that way without lifting weights. Second, they have functional strength, meaning that the strength they have allows them to usefully move and manipulate their bodies through a wide range of motions. Third, I can do most of the movements without any expensive equipment or a gym membership. I’ve got a homemade pull up bar and set of rings ($65) That’s all I really need to get started.

That got me to thinking…how many people have “before” pictures lurking in their digital drawers, unpublished because the workout never had the intended effect? How many dusty DVD sets of P90X will be offered on Ebay and the corresponding “before” photos forever ignored or destroyed? Perhaps they come across the photos a year after they were taken, and they sadly realize that the year old “before” photo is now much better looking than any recent photo. Depressing indeed.

Obviously, my “before” pictures will never see the light of day on this, or any other, site. I’m not an optimist by nature, so my hopes are not high for any sort of dramatic transformation. Any visible change in my physique would have to involve gains in muscle mass, since I don’t have any fat to lose. It’s not like I could drop a hundred pounds and say, “look at me!” I’m hoping to make very small gains in weight via increases in muscle mass. I’m happy to report that I’ve already been making some progress in the number of pull-ups that I’m able to do. I’m also able to do a few shaky dips on the rings.

Wish me luck!

For Ben’s birthday, I surprised him by taking him to my cousin’s cabin in Ludington, MI. A number of things went in to pulling off this surprise. We really frustrated him in the days leading up to his birthday by dodging his questions about what we had planned for him. On Monday morning, the day before his birthday, his frustration boiled over and he exclaimed, “This is the most disorganized birthday ever!”

Another key to surprising my son, was the groundwork I laid by being a thoroughly boring and unsurprising father for the first 10 years of his life.

Monday night,the 28th, I suggested that we grab supper, just the two of us, at the spur of the moment. Of course, I had the car all packed the night before and we had everything we needed to spend the night away from home. After stopping in Grand Haven for burgers at Ray’s, I suggested we run up to Ludington to return a coffee cup that I had borrowed from the cabin the weekend before. Ben thought this sounded like a good idea. (I don’t think he realized exactly how far it was to Ludington from Grand Haven) Once we arrived at the cabin, I told him that I also had a bag in the back of the car that needed to be returned, and I asked him to go get it. The bag, or course, was our overnight stuff, and then he finally caught on.

His smile was priceless.

He got a fire going and we stayed up way too late. The next day, we walked down the beach to the lighthouse, went to the city beach in Ludington, and caught a movie on our way back home in Grand Haven.

Hopefully it will be a birthday that he’ll never forget. I know that I’ll remember that one-on-one time with him for many years to come. He’s my son, and he’s 10, and I love that guy.

Today, Lindy and I are celebrating 15 years of marriage. Woohoo! Who knew that she would posses such intestinal fortitude! Truly, I love her. I’m not one of these that says, “I married my best friend.” No. When I got married, I didn’t know my ass from a hole in the ground. I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I had found a great girl. I knew that I had somehow convinced her to marry me. And we both knew that this marriage thing was a lifetime commitment. We’d just make it up as we went along. Well, we’ve been at it for 15 years, and I’d say that we’re just starting to get this marriage business figured out.

Here’s a slideshow of my recent trip to Canada. This year, as opposed to my trip in 2008, the weather was perfect. Actually swam in the lake, which is almost unheard of in May. I feel lucky that I was asked to come along and help get the cabin ready for the season.

Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars We read Dandelion Fire aloud as a family, as we did with the first book in the series, The 100 Cupboards. The entire family thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. I would say that it is considerably "darker" than the first in the series, in the same way that "The Empire Strikes Back" is darker than "Star Wars". We love N.D.’s writing style, and we turn to the books quite often when trying to describe good storytelling to our own kids. Everyone is anxious to move on to the third book in the series, "The Chestnut King". View all my reviews >>

Happy Birthday little buddy.

Year one is in the books, and it’s been a great one.

So far, you’re completely awesome. You’re cute to an extreme degree. You make a habit of flashing an enormous smile at just about everyone you meet. That’s one habit that I hope you hang on to. You’ve got 4 teeth which just multiplies the cuteness. Of all the other kids, you look the most like Grace. That’s a good thing. Grace is beautiful. You’ll tell her that yourself some day. You’re one, so you have all the usual one year old parts…chubby little legs and fat little fingers. God made every little bit of you, and someday you’ll understand that that’s a really big deal. Your baby fat doesn’t stand a chance because you’ve recently started to crawl. There’s no stopping you now. You don’t mind the grass. Some kids, when you plop down them in the grass, don’t like the prickly feeling on their legs. You love it. Last night I set you in the yard and just laid in the grass next to you. Nothing escapes your notice. Every dead leaf, every twig, every little bug, must be picked up, examined, tasted. I think you’re more aware of your world than I am of mine. I miss things. I’m learning a lot from you. You are an excellent teacher.

You will learn a lot from your brothers. Jack is anxious for you to run and wrestle, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now you are old enough to take his toys, and he cries when you do that, but I can tell that he loves you. I’ve seen him pat you on the back, or nuzzle your chubby cheeks when he thought nobody was looking. You will make mischief together and we will take pictures. Every night we sing at supper, and Jack makes you laugh with his clapping and stomping. You clap your hands and smile and you wonder what all the fuss is about. You’ll know all about Jesus, right from the start.

When your big brother Ben picks you up, it softens his edges. There’s something about holding a baby. When he holds you I see the dad that he will be some day, and it makes me smile. He’ll be a good one. I would love to teach you to use all of my tools, but I fear that Ben will beat me to it. He’ll show you how to chop down trees and catch chickens. He’ll tell you which strawberries to pick and which ones need a little more time. He’ll teach you how to tease your sisters, and also how to protect them when they need protecting. He’ll show you all of that.

If you could love someone to death, you’d be a goner. Your sisters just can’t get enough of you. Grace and Anna make you laugh like no one else can. Your eyes follow them, earnest and hopeful. Hoping for a tickle or a kiss on the cheek. They are not like your brothers. They are soft and gentle and they smell nice. They will be moms some day, and they will be ready.

Sometimes Emma gives you a bath all by herself, just because she can. You love the tub, but you hate getting out. When your mom and I are really busy, she takes care of you. Someday she will make you an uncle, and you can return the favor. You will owe it to her. She’s the oldest, and you’re the youngest (till this fall at least;-), and so your relationship is special. She’s a huge fan of yours. She’s rooting for you, kiddo.

You’re not talking, but someday you will. What will you say? We’re doing the best we can, but we know we’ve made lots of mistakes, just in year number one. Sorry to say, that is bound to continue. This parenting stuff isn’t easy. It’s not easy but it is so very, very good. You are my sixth child, my third son. Some would say it’s silly to have six kids these days. Forgive them. They’ve obviously never met you. I’m so happy you’re here. A world without you would be a poorer world indeed. You will be big someday, and you will blush when I say I love you, but not today. Today is your birthday. Today I can pick you up and kiss you right on the face, and you’ll smile and bury your face  in my shoulder.

I love you Will, but my love is so imperfect and so broken. It’s so weak and wobbly compared to your heavenly father. I can’t love you like He can. My job is to reflect a tiny bit of that enormous love. Today, I’m going to pick you up and give you a big a squeeze because I’m bigger than you are. Life in this family won’t be easy, but you will be loved, and you’ll know it in your bones.

Happy Birthday, Will.

7

Seven is a good number. This fall, Lord willing, we will welcome our seventh child into our home. How awesome is that? And I don’t mean awesome in the sense that it is so often misused these days. I’m not saying, “Those pork chops were awesome.” I mean awesome in the Grand-freaking-Canyon sense of the word. Awesome in the, God-made-this-with-his-fingers sense of the word. The, “I’m going to throw together water vapor and light and sketch out a rainbow” sense of the word. The “take this seed and stuff it in the ground and, using nothing but dirt, water, light, and, um, air, I will make strawberries” sense of the word.

In other words, the truest sense of the word.

A PERSON is under construction here people. A whole brand new person!

Awesome.