Life with Three Boys

An exhausting labor of love :) This is the best way I can describe the events of the past four weeks. Today is Father's day. I am experiencing fatherhood like never before! Today I am grateful for:

1. The health of our family and simply being alive today
2. Thomas's infectious giggle
3. Wesley's inquisitive spirit
4. Nathan's quest for the nector of his life; boob milk (that is all I know about his character at this point - he is determined to meet his goal
   
5. My wife's determination to run our house and raise these boys to love God, be respectful and allow me to work. I had a meeting on Thursday that I was stressed about. She was so cute. She was absolutely exhausted yet trying to let me sleep. Finally, I looked over at 3am to see Thomas nursing and she crying our due to extreme sleep deprivation. Moved I said, "please, go to sleep, I'll take him." I was inspired by her heart to think about me and try to give me some sleep. Much stronger than I am she has the ability to go without sleep and maintain a positive attitude. I am much more like Nathan; I cry about every three hours letting everyone know how tired I am.
6. Having a home and a career I enjoy
7. Friends that we care about and that care about us. I feel very fortunate that we can build strong frienships with people in a similar life situation as us. It is fun to see so many of our friends, whom we have known since we were all students or single professional, get married, start families and progress together through life. I love the history involved and the comradery it produces.
8. Dinner with the Smiths, Andersons and Hollands last night at Su Hongs and the Hollands surprising us all by paying - very thoughtful
   
9. My brothers thoughtfullness - he sent me a "radiation" free headset for my cell - leave it to Tim to always come up with and find something very cool
10. The outcome of my meeting on Thursday - it went very, very good
11. Breakfast this morning with the boys
12. My friend Josh who I wrote about that got baptized a couple of months ago and who has truly become a best friend, brother and a joy to work with everyday in business - he inspires me
13. The spiritual revival that I feel is taking place in my heart and in many of the churches of which I have been a part. The past 5 years has been incredibley difficult and, at time, heartbreaking, yet I see so much healing taking place. I am glad to have friends that are going here, in Sacramento, Seattle, Portland and other places. Also the friends I have that are no longer going to the "same" church but still working on their journey and trying to find their way like the rest of us. Though we have a number of differences I am encouraged to see so many trying to become more understanding, patient, humble and work together organically - it's much more inspiring that ever
14. Anthony Miller, Jasmine, Todd and Veronica who have really given his heart to our boys and been willing to watch them on the fly on many occasions
15. Mike & Marian Livingston who have been an enourmous influence in our boys lives and have helped us to learn how to teach them and to expect more than we thought we should
16. The struggles of life - they make the good times all the better
    

The hightligh? Wesley's pre-school graduation.

Wesley had his graduation this week from pre-school. It was really amazing! Mike and Marian put together little hats that said, "class of 2006," diplomas, a prepared speech, shirts and food. I was amazed at how much thought they put into it. However, in light of how much heart and thought they have put into our kids over the past 5 years I guess I should not have been so surprised.