Boys will be boys. We've made so many wonderful memories in our backyard.
One thing the boys do from time to time is build a space ship out of our patio furniture. This is one of my favorite creations from our boys yet.
They built a space ship with two cockpits for each of them. They must have spent 3 hours playing in that thing one afternoon.
Here are some pics of Alex and Kaden as they participated in this year's annual "Crazy Hair" day at school. Kaden did his usual "all spike". Alex, did his more conservative black streaks. The hair fits their personalities! I love 'em!
One of the joys I have had since I started working for myself is working with a wonderful Englishman named Bill Williams (Sir William Williams as I like to call him). He's always been a source of wisdom, reason and laughter since I started my business. Mr. Bill, as the boys call him, has been a true friend. He's taught me a great deal about loyalty and honor in business and personal life. Not only is he my business partner in Europe, but he's also a good friend.
Mr. Bill has started a blog. I encourage you to check it out once in a while. It's chock full of info on books and music and the Christian walk. One blog he's recently written is an inspirational one titled "Succeeding Through Self-Discipline". 
It talks about Rick Warren's book called God's Power To Change Your Life and 6 keys to living successfully in God's eyes through self-discipline. The six things are:
Successful people master their moods
Successful people watch their words
Successful people restrain their reactions
Successful people stick to their schedule
Successful people manage their money
Successful people manage their health
For the rest of the blog, check out, my dear friend, Bill Williams', iconnectdirect blog. If you're in England, Bill runs a fine online Christian shop called IconnectDirect.co.uk.
I just received my weekly Familyman Weekly email. This one stirred me and woke me up to the fact that my time with boys and together as a family is so precious. I'm going to take the next few weekends and make the most of the family time we have together! Dad's, read and enjoy and pass it on...
It’s a chilly morning here in Northern, IN. Just the way Hoosiers like it. The tractors are in the field, the leaves are just beginning to change, sweatshirts are out of storage, and the apple cider is flowing. Ahhh---there’s nothing better than autumn in Indiana.
There’s just something about fall that feels ‘familyish.’ Fathers pile up leaves and kids jump in them, marshmallows are roasted over campfires, and tractors pull giggling children on hayrides.
Maybe it’s the change in temperature or the fact that it gets darker earlier that drives families inside to light candles and snuggle under blankets. Whatever it is, autumn is one of God’s greatest gifts to dads and their families.
BUT it goes fast.
A couple of weekends and it’s gone.
So, Dad, if you’re planning to have a campfire, get it done. If you’re planning to pick pumpkins at a pumpkin patch, get it done. If you see your children raking leaves into a pile, show them how a pro does it. If your wife wants to go to a fall festival, go. If you’re thinking it would be fun to take a hike in a park, do it.
Autumn is here, but it won’t last long.
Get ‘R done!
I thought this portion of Max Lucado's devotional message called "He is Waiting in the Midst of the Storm" was profound and worth printing here...particularly as we encounter this financial storm we are currently weathering.
As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you
can carry your burdens alone, you don’t need a burden bearer. As long as
your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as
long as you can take him or leave him, you might as well leave him, because
he won’t be taken half-heartedly.But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when
you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on him,
and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your
cares on him, for he is waiting in the midst of the storm.
Max Lucado
from The Applause of Heaven
Every day for the last week Kaden has been asking me to play tennis on the street. Since we've gotten the Wii and played tennis together on it, Kaden's become very skilled at the game. Last week, we started to play on our street together. We've been playing every day this week. Not only every day, but for atleast 30-60 minutes each time. Kaden's become very skilled, very quickly at tennis - both forehand and backhand over the course of just a week. Kaden just likes to play. He gets into a rhythm and just loves it. He loves it so much that he got his first blister on his thumb!
In the past, I tried taking Kaden and Alex on the tennis court. That was fun, but it is so much more effort to get out there. Why not just play on the street. It's fun and you can still hit back and forth. I can imagine that it will be fun to play on a real court again when he's ready. He'll be surprised how good he's become.
I'm enjoying it while it lasts. Kaden, if you read this one day, your dad has really loved playing tennis with you.
