Colby’s Thoughts

Today, the coolest thing happened.  I smashed my finger into the door!  Now, I know you are probably scratching your head on this one, but hang in there with me.  To add insult to injury (literally), someone is probably thinking “into” the door, what does he mean by that?

To explain, as I was walking up to the door of the house, something slipped out of my grasp.  I went to catch it with my other hand and in the process, went a little overboard and jammed the tip of my finger into the door.  Not the most insidious of afflictions, I’ll admit, but it made the end of my finger go numb and it felt like the nerve was affected.

My wife and son were in the house waiting for my return.  So, I thought I’d ask him to pray for my finger.  In my experience, the faith of a child is powerful.  However, in the past, when we have asked him to pray for something or to say grace at the dinner table, he always bowed his head and closed his eyes and then began to move his mouth but there was nothing audible.

Today, however, he spoke this simple prayer:

Please heal daddy’s finger, in Jesus name, amen.

That was, to me, a wondrous thing.  That day, my finger was healed.  God is good!  And I am blessed by my own son!

Life

Who needs a comedy channel when you have children?

A while ago, someone was asking my son his age.

Curious Person:  ”How old are you?”

Son:  ”Two and a half.  Almost three.”

C.P.:  ”And what happens when you turn three?”

Son:  ”I’ll be older.”

Then, yesterday, I was at the Post Office with him.

Postal Clerk:  ”How old are you?”

Son:  ”Two and three quarters.”

Clerk:  ”Wow, you must be pretty smart — already using fractions!”

Where does he come up with this stuff?

Humor, Life

Kids are a laugh and my son is no exception!  Yesterday, the 15th, he broke his routine which provided me with both a bit of a shock and a chuckle.

For many months now, when I’ve been carrying him long enough that he wants to get down, The following conversation takes place:

Son:  ”Daddy, can I get down?”

Daddy:  ”Son, please ask properly.”

Son:  ”Daddy, may I please get down?”

Daddy:  ”Yes you may.  Would you like to get down on the count of seven?” (I usually insert some random number between 1 and 10 here).

Son:  ”Count eight!”  (This has always been eight since we started this little ritual many months ago).

Then I gently raise him up and lower him as we count using increasingly larger movements until that final number (eight) finds him held way above my head often with his back touching the ceiling.  Then I lower him to the floor while saying “Whee” until he is again supported by his own two feet.

Now, apparently, my son is a creature of habit.  As I mentioned, the number he choses is always eight.  However, yesterday, he actually said “Count three”.  But, then as if engaged in some tremendous internal conflict, he immediately changed his mind and said “Count four” which he said twice.

I paused for a moment, flabbergasted.  We go through this little routine several times a day and he has never chosen anything but eight.  And when he makes the selection, he only says it once.  Was he feeling okay?

My concerns were put to rest and we were able to cancel the appointment with the pediatrician when, later in the day, it was again time for our little ritual.  This time, his reply, “Count eight”.  Again, all was right in the world.  A major catastrophe was averted.  There was no deviation from the rut so great that we could not, once again, fall into it.

The real question is — who’s the creature of habit?  Him or me?

I love that child!  He is my absolute favorite firstborn son!

And don’t you just love the word “flabbergasted”?  I don’t think it gets nearly enough airplay.  I’m doing my part to remedy that.  Will you help?

Humor, Life

Tuesday afternoon, the 6th, my 2 year old son came to me and said, “ate, peanut cracker”. I really had no idea what he was referring to so I thought I would explore further. I’m thinking that he’s telling me that he ate some peanut butter crackers (which we don’t normally have in the house). It was possible, I thought.

After asking some questions and not really getting anywhere, I asked him to show me what he was talking about. “Okay, daddy”, he said. He hopped down of my lap, walked over to the Yamaha keyboard, climbed up onto the stool, and turned it on. After pressing the ‘Song’ button, I got to thinking that “ate” was actually “eight” so I dialed up number 8 on the keypad. Then he pressed the ‘play’ button and I chuckled as “Mirliton” (from the Nutcracker) began to play.

Isn’t it interesting how when we are predisposed to think in a certain way, we often cannot shift gears to see something from another perspective? This happens to me far too often. I heard “ate” instead of “eight” and when following it with other food words, it seemed logical to me. I was just completely wrong!

In all of what he said, he was only 3 letters off. It was just a simple “Pea” that derailed me. I guess there is something to be said for the importance of the story of “The Princess and the Pea” after all.

Life

Here it is, a list of my New Year’s Resolutions.  Now many of you who know me would find this unusual — and with good reason.  I don’t put much emphasis on one day over another.  For the most part, January 1st is just another day to me.  If I were to focus on dates, I would probably side with the Jewish calendar over the Gregorian because I think the history there is more valuable.  This would mean celebrating the first of the year on Tishrei 1 (in the fall).

However, this year in particular, there have been many concurrent events which all seem to have stopped or been put on hold recently.  This has placed a natural break in my schedule that coincides with New Year’s.

Also, I’m not much for promises and all the hype that goes with New Year’s resolutions.  Optimally, I’d like to believe that one should simply make a decision and execute it with no folderol.  So, with that in mind, I’m going to skip any additional fanfare and get to it:

• Spend more time with family
• Spend more time preparing for retirement
• Spend more time exercising and stretching
• Spend less time being critical of others

Pray for me, please, that I’ll be successful in my endeavors.

Life

Well, here it is roughly a day since I set up this blog and I’m already on my seventh post.  I didn’t think I’d blog much “if I ever got around to setting one up”.  Ostensibly that wasn’t true.

Perhaps I think too much?  Most of my thinking I do while driving and it is hard to type and steer at the same time, especially since my autopilot isn’t all that good.  I just happen to be off work right now which has presented more opportunity for me to post than I would normally expect.

So, I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am.  But please don’t expect me to continue at this pace.  I know, the world is a forgiving audience.  It is nice to know there’s no pressure.

Life

Proverbs 18:22 – KJV
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Fortunately, I found my good thing long ago.  She has only gotten better over the years, a fact I probably don’t remind her of as often as I should.

She had the opportunity to travel to her mom’s house for Christmas this year — an opportunity that I supported because I knew how much it would mean to her.  Both she and my son have been gone almost a fortnight and I long for their return!

The house is quiet.  I walk out the door to work without the pitter-patter of little feet accosting me, carrying the voice of a toddler proclaiming, “Daddy, I have a hug and a kiss for you!”  Who wants to go to work and leave that behind?  Work will start when I get there.  This hug is much more important right now.

I miss my good thing sending me off to work with a homemade lunch complete with gourmet snacks, a kiss, and a smile.

When a colleague asks, “What are you having for lunch?”.  My reply is simple, “I have no idea — but it is good!”  Yes, it is always good.  Perhaps I have grown too accustomed to that fact.

Her undying attention to my needs is portrayed in the work she did for several days before her departure.  She shopped, and cooked, and planned, and cooked some more.  The aftermath?  Prepared meals that I could eat for the duration of her time away from me.  I don’t cook and she knows it.  I’m one of those strange people who eat to live rather than live to eat.  Sometimes, I’ll be wondering why I feel miserable, cranky, and light-headed.  Then I realize I haven’t eaten for 16 hours or something stupid.  My medicine is in the refrigerator.

So, it is true that what I miss about her is her, not what she does for me.  She “did” so much for me before she left that I haven’t had the opportunity to be deprived of that yet.  I miss her radiance which warms the home.  I miss her gentle touch.  I miss holding her hand.

A man separated from his family is less than half the man he once was.

The doldrums are almost behind me now.  They should be back on Saturday.  I can sleep almost that long.

Welcome home honey!  I’ve missed you!  It is so good to be complete again!

Life

Today, at 10:41 am, I received the call.

But let’s start with a little history.  One of my best friends passed away on November 18th, 2004.  We had been friends for a dozen years and I felt a part of his family.

We had the most amazing Bible studies in his home, as I recall, one of the topics lasted for almost a year and a half.  To say that those studies ran deep is simplification.

His two daughters and wife are some of the most joyful people I’ve known.  It was understood that should anything happen to him, I would make myself available to help “his girls”.  Then, just before Thanksgiving Day, I received a call.  It was time to make good on a promise.

That was just “a call” and not the subject of this posting.  His daughters, six and eight when I first met them, are still, in many ways, six and eight to me.  True, they have grown to be extraordinary young women of God, taking their rightful places in this world and answering “the call” that God has placed on their lives.  Still, not the subject of this post.

The oldest is married to a Godly husband with a beautiful daughter.  I couldn’t be more proud of her and the decisions she’s made!  I’m sure her father would feel the same.

Today, the call came from the younger sister.  The “six year old” in my mind.  No, she’s not really six, though I had to ask her age since time passes so fast now.  She’s been a missionary to the Philippines for quite some time now.  Among other things, she was house mom for some orphans.  I believe she began that work when she was chronologically 15 or 16 — herself without a father.

Again, her father would be so proud of her, as am I.

Answering the call, I received what some would call a premonition.  Either God was showing me something or I was protecting myself.  Perhaps I’ll never know which one.

I was sort of expecting her to call in order to schedule a holiday visit.  We had discussed such things prior.

From the moment I saw the caller ID, I suspected something different.  I’m not one for “I told you so”, but I think knowing in advance helped me adjust more easily.

What was the call about?  I thought you might like to know.  My “six” year old is engaged to be married.

I am both elated and heartbroken.

One thing I know… her husband-to-be will be very good to her… or else!

Life