New Shoes

Yesterday I got home a little early from training class. So I decided I needed to go to Home Depot, and Target. Of course, b/c today is our 9 year anniversary. So something I've decided I'm going to pass on as wise fatherly advice is, take your kids when you go run around. Its good time to be with them. I took Blakely.

We went to HD, to look at some bricks and such, holding hands, walking in the parking lot. Then, of course by her choice, she wanted to go to Payless shoes to look at flip flops. We did.

We spent almost 30 minutes in the shoe store looking at shoes, trying on shoes, trying on flip flops, sandles ... just plain looking. It is very easy for us dads to get tired of that sorta stuff, right? Shopping, but not really having any idea what we're shopping for? I go into the store, find what I want, and leave. Actually, before hand, I dream about what I want, look it up online, research it, make sure thats it, and then I go to the store and buy. Then I leave. Any extra time spent wondering around seems to be a waste. (Well except in stores like Lowes, Cabelas, BassPro). So then I realized, we all have our toy store and our leisure time activities. And for my 4 yr old daughter, she loves to shop for shoes. Gee, wonder where she got that from. Next thing you know we'll have to get another purse.

Lessons learned from yesterday, that I'd like to share:
Don't think time away from family is "free time" for you, see it as quality time with your kids.
Don't think time wasted on stuff I don't want, is a waste to your children. They are important, and so is there dreams and wishes and of course, shopping.
Sometimes, begging for something pays off. Especially when you are a 4yr old girl and your daddy is named Steve Eller. ha... sucker.
Sometimes its good to tell your kids how much things are, and why we can't buy something. I told her one pair of shoes was too much money, but then the pair of flipflops we bought ended up being $4. I let her know I was very happy that she decided to get the cheap shoes (so happy, that she could have bought them with her own money).
Don't pass up the chance to be with your kids. Share your life with them and their dreams.

Blakely's ballet recital on Saturday was the most boring joyful moment of my life. Its amazing how something so cheesy, can mean so much to a dad. It was funny to look around at the end, while I went to the front to carry her off the stage, to see other dads with tears in their eyes. How silly I think, but oh how real. My little girl did such a good job, she was the best one up there.
steve

Questions of a child

From Blakely:
I want to know, does God and Jesus live in the Puppies hearts?

I want to know, is Jesus in the Old testament?

I want to know, what do you like about God?

I want to know .... they keep coming. Jennifer looked at me and laughed last night while I was trying to explain how God and Jesus were the same, except there was also the Holy Spirit, so really all 3 of them are the same... but they are all God. She probably understands it now more than she ever will. Ha. I'm not sure the ways of the Lord are meant to be understood or known, just trusted. Of course, in our lives, I dont learn that as quick as I wish I did. Why do you have to melt gold to make it more beautiful? Why does the forest have to burn to promote life? Why do you have to die to self, to live?

I praise the Lord for our children, because they make me better. They bring me joy, and they share my love for their mother. I look forward to our conversations of life and the devil and of spiritual warfare. And I look forward to the things I will learn from them. But right now, its fun to just share in their childhood.

Like sitting at Blakely's ballet recital with Jackson saying, "I want to go home". He has no care who hears. So he says it again at VBS during the play, "I want to go home"

Don't we all!!!
steve