Learning to Leap

He never stopped. Never even slowed down.   Just kept on speeding through our quiet neighborhood as if nothing so tragic it would take our breath away had just happened.  We still haven't fully caught our breath from the shock and confusion and pain of it all.  Some of us never will.  We just learn to live with our lungs half full, damaged but still viable.   Monday, May 28, marks the one year anniversary of the day the world stopped on our little cul-de-sac. But today, May 25th, is Matt's seventh birthday. Today we remember.  Every mailbox in our neighborhood is wearing a blue ribbon, Matt's favorite color, in his honor.   We lost our neighbor, our friend, our buddy, and we still miss him every single day.  Still think about those laughing blue eyes of his, that winsome little smile he always wore, that little toy jeep he loved to zoom around the cul-de-sac in and the early talent he showed for sports of just about any kind.   Matthew Dahl,

We knew it would happen one day. After all, we'd done it ourselves when we were growing up.   It's just that we thought we had a little more time. We've hit the stage where our kids are now much too cool for us. This photo was taken this past Sunday after church when we went to Newk's for lunch. Just look at them!  Sitting at a table for two on the farthest wall away from their parents and baby sister as possible.  Look how happy they are!  It's as if they are saying, " Family?  What family?  We are free as birds out of the nest."   They even got their own drinks and spoke with the employee who brought their food.   Yes, they were pretty grown up.  Clearly able to take care of themselves and eat with good manners and behave as civilized human beings in public.  The only tiny detail that was missing was the fact that THEY DIDN'T PAY FOR THEIR OWN FOOD.   Of course this teeny little fact pretty much negates all other

The sad truth is that we all have things to confess in prayer.  Some of us more often than others, but at the end of the day, all of us have little indiscretions to discuss with the Lord. Now, we are not Catholic, but apparently my children are confused about this. You see, all three of them seem to be under the impression that they need to confess sins in prayer while in the presence of their little friends.  It's like they have to confess to a priest.  Oh, and one other little thing I forgot to mention: They think they are supposed to confess EACH OTHER'S sins, not their own.  They are taking the role of priest because they are quite happy to bring the sins of their sisters before the Throne and speak with Him on their behalf. It would be quite touching if I were not so acutely aware of their more sinister motivations.  They are not just concerned for the state of their sister's relationship with God.  Oh, no.  This is nothing less than an all out gam

On a scale of 1 to 10, how wrong is it to allow your child to cheat at a game? I suppose I should add that the game was also taking place IN A CHURCH. Okay, AND it was a game centered around a holiday which celebrates Jesus' defeat over sin.   You've probably heard of it...Easter.   The game of which I speak is none other than the beloved Easter Egg Hunt.  That age old competition between young children dressed to the nines in little pastel colored dresses and miniature suits and ties, while toting around adorable little Easter baskets with fake grass in them.   We've had some unfortunate experiences with egg hunts in the past.   A few years ago we took our kids to a humongous egg hunt (10,000 eggs!) and, after waiting for thirty minutes for the hunt to get a very late start, ended up with ONE lousy Easter egg (which cost us $15),  TWO very unhappy little girls, and one resolute vow to NEVER do that again.  It was a total madhouse.  Little bodie