All the things in this life that aren't politics.
 |
| Fifteen years of Winnie the Pooh.... |
Aren't newsworthy.
Aren't on the television. Or social media. In font sizes over 48.
That aren't the Cubs......
That still make life rich, memorable, vital, and individual.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phillippians 4: 8
Think on THESE things.
Lizzie. At the helm of the auger wagon, bouncing over the bean field on her dad's lap, steering and singing in her pink t-shirt and John Deere green french terry pajama pants. Pure happiness.
Abbie and Josh. With armloads of fake autumn leaves and weeds, stringing a garland here, setting a pumpkin there, every vase with its flower, every bowl with its gourd. Finally, the TA-DA moment as I'm led (close your eyes, Grandma!) to the dining room to ooh and aaah over their enterprise. Lovely, indeed.
Ryan and Lee. Lee with her foot bound up and her big toe stitched. Ryan taking the laundry downstairs, bringing her drinks and ibuprofen and making brownies. Putting dishes away. Lee: "That's not where those g....oh....just put them where ever you want to!" When your wife is laid up, where ever those clean dishes are stacked is the definition of commendable....
Gabe and Abbie, Aaron and Lizzie, Josh and Annie. After school and after work, the "knackers" come help clean up the leftovers of the fall mum crop. With high spirits and a Tom Sawyer attitude (make work fun!), they give the dead plants the old heave-ho into the back of the green pickup, roll up the irrigation lines, make big nosegays of fragrant bronze blooms, and stack up the used pots; all for a 6 ounce Sunkist orange pop! Well, except for Aaron, who takes advantage of the opportunity to practice his mad manual transmission driving skills in the '95 Dodge Ram five speed....Worthy...worthy of praise!
Aaron. First junior high basketball game. His mother calls..."Keep moving...use the backboard!" Aaron, to his credit, not only meets his mom's eyes, but mouths.."I know". I remember junior high basketball....and the girl who shot the basketball just so her dad would shave off his beard.... Whatever is honorable....Whatever is just.
Josh. A font of information and a sponge for knowledge now that he's in kindergarten. "I can count to 100, Mom." from the back seat. "Yes, and I'm so proud of you..." from the driver's seat. From the back seat...."One zillion and one....one zillion and two....." Absolutely true...
Levi. At a fall hayride with his parents. Riding the skid loader, checking out the John Deere tractor, watching the cattle in the pasture: "If this were a real farm, there would be a combine...." Excellence...in story telling anyway!
Think...and smile....at THESE things....
Abbie and Josh. With armloads of fake autumn leaves and weeds, stringing a garland here, setting a pumpkin there, every vase with its flower, every bowl with its gourd. Finally, the TA-DA moment as I'm led (close your eyes, Grandma!) to the dining room to ooh and aaah over their enterprise. Lovely, indeed.
Ryan and Lee. Lee with her foot bound up and her big toe stitched. Ryan taking the laundry downstairs, bringing her drinks and ibuprofen and making brownies. Putting dishes away. Lee: "That's not where those g....oh....just put them where ever you want to!" When your wife is laid up, where ever those clean dishes are stacked is the definition of commendable....
Gabe and Abbie, Aaron and Lizzie, Josh and Annie. After school and after work, the "knackers" come help clean up the leftovers of the fall mum crop. With high spirits and a Tom Sawyer attitude (make work fun!), they give the dead plants the old heave-ho into the back of the green pickup, roll up the irrigation lines, make big nosegays of fragrant bronze blooms, and stack up the used pots; all for a 6 ounce Sunkist orange pop! Well, except for Aaron, who takes advantage of the opportunity to practice his mad manual transmission driving skills in the '95 Dodge Ram five speed....Worthy...worthy of praise!
Aaron. First junior high basketball game. His mother calls..."Keep moving...use the backboard!" Aaron, to his credit, not only meets his mom's eyes, but mouths.."I know". I remember junior high basketball....and the girl who shot the basketball just so her dad would shave off his beard.... Whatever is honorable....Whatever is just.
Levi. At a fall hayride with his parents. Riding the skid loader, checking out the John Deere tractor, watching the cattle in the pasture: "If this were a real farm, there would be a combine...." Excellence...in story telling anyway!
Think...and smile....at THESE things....
 |
| Bob the Builder circa 2005 |
 |
| Construction guy circa 2016 |
 |
| Froggie suit circa 2014 |
 |
| Froggie suit circa 2011 |
 |
| Froggie suit circa 2004 |
That is one of my favorite scriptures and one, like you, I've reminded myself of for all the same reasons...
ReplyDelete