Singing With Micah...

One Year Old This Week...

Thats right, you read it right, Micah is one year old this week!

As Christians, we claim the belief that life begins at conception, yet we celebrate birth as the beginning of life. So while Micah was born 4 months ago, he has been in this world much longer! His precious little life began one year ago this week.

We've gone through a lot of change over the past year, preparing for your arrival, getting to know you, and now raising you...but it has been worth every second of sacrifice and we are still wholly committed to you little dude. We are probably going to screw up a lot, so be sure to cut us a little slack as you grow up, we are new to this deal.

We celebrate your first year of life, and look forward to many, many years to come!

Sweet Smiles...

Quote for the Day...

"I've always maintained that you can't just coast, if you do, you go backwards. It's just a slow way of liquidating... " Walt Disney

Everyday Woman...

I have spent a lot of time writing about Micah lately...but who I haven't spent enough time writing about is my "Everyday Woman".

"Everyday Woman" by Emerson Drive
You don't put on a lot of makeup
You like to wear your hair pulled back
When the kids'll call, you come a runnin'
You always put yourself last
Most people would say...

You're an everyday woman
But you're everything to me
You are so beautiful
You're an angel I can see
And I'm going to love you
I'm going to love you
Everyday, woman

How do you juggle this busy life
And still have something left for me
I've asked God why I'm the lucky man
Who gets to live in your love's strength
Maybe to this world...

You're an everyday woman
But you're everything to me
You are so beautiful
You're an angel I can see
And I'm going to love you
I'm going to love you
Everyday, woman

And I'm going to love you
I'm going to love you
Everyday, woman

From Daddy to Micah...

Sweet little Micah, what an amazing few months it has been dude.

You are starting to share your personality with us, to smile at us, and to interact. Before I know it you will be sitting and rolling and crawling and talking...and no doubt continuing to steal your daddy and mommy's heart. I know your life is overwhelming, new sights, new sounds, new smells, and no mobility. I know your life is frustrating, you grunt and push and whimper as you try to roll over and you just can't seem to get it yet. You will one day, keep trying, don't give up.

You have taught me to look at life a little differently now. I now understand the love of a parent, the love that wants to shield you from every hurt in this world. The love that wants to always roll you over so that you don't have to grunt and push and make it happen on your own. But I know I can't. I know that I have to stand behind you and let you forge forward yourself. Yeah, I get to stand behind you, through the good and through the bad, but I don't get to shield you from it.

And son, there is bad. You will do bad things and others will do bad things to you. That is a part of this world we live in. Scripture even tells us this will happen. Don't become discouraged. If you mess up and fall down, ask forgiveness from others and from God, and get up and try again. If others hurt you extend forgiveness openly, and then come to daddy for a love that will never change. It does not matter what you do, or what others do to you, nothing can change that love. NOTHING.

When I hold you I am able to get a glimpse for what your Grammy and Papa must have felt when they held me as a baby. I never understood the depth of their love and care for me until I was given you to love and to care for in the same fashion. I will make mistakes and I will mess up, but I will always love you. Just as your Grammy and Papa always loved me, despite the atrocious things I have done. And just as nothing could ever break my love for your Grammy and Papa, I hope you will always be able to love me the same. Just like your Mommy will always love you. And your Grammy and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa and Aunts and Uncles.

Life is not going to be easy. But stay focused and stay determined, and in whatever you do give it your best. If you become a mailman be the best mailman that there ever was, if you become a doctor, or a lawyer, or a sanitation work...be the best one that ever existed.

I am sure you will see a lot of change in your lifetime, just as I have. I am sure the world that my generation leaves for you won't be the best place to be, but remember that the one who is in control will never change. God is the author and the finisher of our faith, and He is constant, and He is real, and He is true. Your money, your possessions, your land, it can all be taken away from you in a moment, but no one can steal a relationship with God from you. No one can ever steal your eternal security.

But don't take my word for it Micah, test it yourself. Don't believe in God because daddy does, believe in God because you see that God is.

I love you little dude.

Little Racer

A Smile for Today...

Cafe Froman

And this, my friends, is a White Pizza made with love!

Car Shopping...

So while I was in NC last weekend I decided I would swing by a local car dealership and pick out a new car.

Don't get me wrong, the good ole HHR is doing great, but it seemed like it was time for a little change. So I headed straight for the neighborhood Ferrari/Maserati Dealership to pick out my new whips.

Lo and behold, they had one car that seemed to fit my fancy. With a cool 650 HP, 0-60 in 3.14 seconds and 0-100 in 6.6 seconds I figured that this car would be a suitable replacement for the HHR.

It seems, however, that $100.00 isn't a good enough down payment to secure a $1,000,000.00 Enzo Ferarri.

I guess the Italian Stallion will have to wait for another day, and the HHR gets to live to see another day!

Chick Magnet...

So, the other day Micah picked up his first chick.

Check out that grin on the little dude's face.

A Few Pics from Martinsville...

Baby, Baby, Baby...

Dreams...

Never laugh at any one's dreams. People who don't dreams don't have much.
Anonymous

Our Ministry Highlight Video...

Micah and the Mouse... Revisited.

Our friends, the McDoniel's just returned from their trip to Walt Disney World and sent Micah home his first set of Mickey Ears!

Micah doesn't have a chance but to follow in mommy and daddy's footsteps does he?

Little Snoozer

Mommy and Baby in Raleigh-Durham

Time to carry a little weight...

So Michelle was doing laundry and decided it was time for Micah and Nacho to carry a little weight around the house. She's been working long and hard to run a perfect house, and well, it was time for them to pitch in. Never to young to start, right?

Ehhhhh, maybe so. Overcome by the comfort of the plush comforter, they found it better to just lay and watch mommy work.



So its time to sit the little dude down for a little hear to heart. You know, explain to him that things don't just take care of themselves, share the facts of life, talk about the birds and the bees...oh wait, that is still MANY, MANY years away. What, 25 years or so?

From the look on his face I think he got it. Mommy and Daddy work so that baby and kitty can yuk it up and have a good ole time.

Oh well...

Having a Rough Day?

Maybe this will help you smile a little. It did me...

Only in Nashville...

Now that Michelle has had a change of employment (AKA Stay at Home Mommy), I have been left to fend for myself at lunch since we used to always eat together.

That being the case, a friend and I have been touring the vast culinary specialties of the ever diverse Nolensville Road area of SE Nashville. Greek, Indian, Thai, Mexican...its all been consumed. But amidst all of these fine dining experiences, we found a real winner.

Michelle and I have passed this building many times in the past, but have never had the nerve nor the stomach to actually give it a try.

Today my friend and I were daring...

...Only in South Nashville could you find such a fine restaurant as the White Trash Cafe.

In all seriousness, not only did we survive, it was surprisingly good!

Nap Time

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

If you do not read the following disclaimer, you are not allowed to look at the picture in this post. Really, seriously.

Before the bad parent police come and get me, we do know that it is not safe to sleep with Micah in the bed with us. This was a cat nap, without the cat, that was highly supervised by mommy, as you can tell from this picture (and the dozen other pictures on the camera!!).

Bath Time with Baby

Parental Advisory: The images in this post may not be suitable for younger viewers...or to those who experience queezyness due to extreme cuteness.

Micah and the Mouse

Waking the Dead

I was reading a story in the bible the other day that really spoke to me about how God chooses to work and intervene in the trials and situations in our lives. It is easy us to find ourselves in moments of desperation really wondering what God is up to, and why He hasn’t intervened to change our situation. Sometimes its sickness, sometimes its finances, and sometimes its relationships, or whatever the circumstances may be. We face things and cry out to God to act on our behalf and it appears nothing is changing. Why?

God really spoke to me as I was reading John 11 and the story of Lazarus. Lazarus became very ill, and his sisters sent for Jesus, asking that He would come and heal Lazarus. Lazarus and Jesus were friends, however when Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ illness he stayed where he was for several more days. Jesus had the power to heal, but he remained where he was while Lazarus remained sick.

When Jesus finally made the trip to Lazarus, upon arriving his sisters Mary and Martha told him that Lazarus was dead. The sisters cried out to Jesus saying “Lord, if you had be here, my brother would not have died.” They knew that Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus from his sickness; they knew that Jesus’ intervention would have meant healing.

Instead Jesus decided to wait. But the story did not end there. They story ended beautifully as Jesus shouted into the tomb, “Lazarus, come out!”. And out he came, certainly to the awe and amazement of the people around him. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

So why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t he save them of the heartache and pain that they felt? Jesus answered this question; it was this way so that they could “see the Glory of God.” Jesus’ miraculous intervention of raising Lazarus from the dead revealed God’s glory and power. The story ends in saying that many people who saw what Jesus did put their faith in Him

We may be in a situation right now that we are asking God where He is. We want to know why the situation isn’t changing, or why things are staying as they are. We should ask for God’s intervention in our situations, and pray for our deliverance. However we shouldn’t become discouraged when things don’t happen how or when we expect them to happen. We don’t always know what He is up to, but rest assured that His plan is always accomplished.

Remember the words of Christ today as he spoke, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

The Purpose of Micah

Came across this commentary about the purpose of the prophet Micah and wanted to post them.

Be purposed to make a difference little dude.

"Stemming from the poorer, working class, Micah was acutely aware of the injustices and avarice of the rich. While he was interested in the political affairs of his nation, it was only as they were connected with the religious and moral situation that Micah spoke to them" (Zondervan's Pictorial Encyclopedia). Micah wants the people to realize that true faith in God results in personal holiness and social justice! He "emphasizes the integral relationship between true spirituality and social ethics" (Expanded Open Bible). "Worship and morality cannot be divorced from each other. They are two sides of the same coin" (Jack P. Lewis).

"Keenly he realizes that no multitude of sacrifices can adequately be substituted for righteousness in practice" (Schultz, The Old Testament Speaks). "These people have been professing much and performing little. 'God has been observing the contradiction between creed and conduct,' says the prophet, 'and He will not tolerate it anymore'" (D. Stuart Briscoe).

What does the Lord require of you?! Micah 6:8 answers the question --- "To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." "How will the world know that I am walking humbly with my God? They will know by the way I treat people. Those who walk humbly with their God have a passionate concern for justice being done in society, and a deep concern to treat people lovingly and mercifully" (D. Stuart Briscoe).

Micah Locked Down and Ready to Go Racing!

Keep sucking on that binky buddy...it's going to be a wild ride!!

M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E

We knew it wouldn't be long...Micah is already trying to make the Mickey ears on his head. We'll get you there soon, dude, soon.

Pics from Bowman Gray Stadium

Think about it...

How we treat the creation reveals how we feel about the creator. - Rob Bell

Nacho, Meet Micah

After sizing up Micah and realizing that she still had a few pounds on him, Nacho decided that his boppy bed would be perfect for her.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

It's okay Nacho, it won't be long before he has a few pounds on you, and a strong grip on that little tail!

I'm sure you two will be best buds before long.

Adjusting at Home...

After spending quite a while in the hospital, we finally got to bring little Micah home on Thursday afternoon.

Michelle was relieved to be released, as was I, and she is recovering really well being in our own house. I can't begin to convey how proud I am of her, and how strong she has been.

Micah is doing great. His days really consist of eating, sleeping, and pooping...and I love every second of it. Neither of us realized how the love for this little boy could instantly be there from the moment he was born, and it is much greater than we could have ever anticipated.

I am not often a person to find himself at a loss for words, but the feelings and emotions we are receiving are indescribable. While we have always 'known' the love our parents have for us, we are now truly begining to comprehend the depth of that love, because we are experiencing it for out little boy.

No one in this world loves Micah like we love Micah.

Even more of Baby Micah...