Treasure those people . . .
Treasure those people around you.
Treasure the guy with the spiky hair
Treasure every hello
Treasure the co-worker who complains all day
Treasure the partial conversation you hear as you pass by folks you don’t know very well
- try to fill in the missing pieces in their conversations as you walk past
Treasure that friend who roots for the same team you do . . . or for your team’s rival
Treasure every conversation
Treasure the compliments you get (whether unspoken or just thought)
Treasure the answer to your question
Ask a new question to somebody today
- How many brothers and sisters do you have? What job do/did your parents have?
Treasure going to new places with those around you
Treasure seeing the kids playing outside – and even join them for a game of kickball
Treasure singing in church with those around you and treasure hearing their voices – no matter how good or off-key they may be
So what does it mean to treasure all this? Realizing that all these people you see around you every day are treasures. Even if they are , family close friends, acquaintences, or people you rarely talk to. Think back 20 years. Think ahead 20 years. No matter what your current age, it’s likely that most of those people around you now (in your home, in your school, in your workplace, in your church, in your community, in your neigborhood) will not be around you in 20 years or were not around you 20 years ago. Circumstances change. You move. You graduate. You get a new job. You retire. OR They move. They graduate. They get a new job. They retire.
We all need to treasure the people around us. Yes, there will be other wonderful people around us in 20 years (when we are lucky, some of those around us will still be around us in 20 years, but many will not) So treasure those people around you today.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday-Monday
Sunday evening / Monday evening
Disney Playhouse Live! On Stage came to town. Tickets were only $20. That’s not too shabby. Let’s go. Let’s invite Grandma and Grandpa. Four shows in one. Mickey Mouse and Friends, Handy Manny, Tigger and Pooh, Little Einsteings were all in the show. How cool is that? And it really was pretty cool. Of course, there were the expected frustrations. Guys, stop jumping and skipping and just walk normally. Wait over here while I get the tickets at Will Call. And there were those moments when we saw utter joy on the kids’ faces as one of their favorite Disney characters appeared live on stage. There was the thrill of seeing the kids do the hot dog dance and trying to do the nature sound song with Tigger and Pooh. Then there were the tears because we weren’t going to buy the souveniers like the $15 dollar light toy (We got one of those at Elmo Live a couple years ago already). We weren’t going to buy the $12 cotton candy that came with a Handy Manny hat. Yes, there were tears. There was some pouting. Overall, the night was enjoyable. It was a memorable evening although a bit stressful.
Monday evening was also just as enjoyable. Instead of costing $160, the required extra supplies cost next to nothing. We needed three pieces of paper and a flashlight. I can’t remember whose idea it was, but we decided to make paper airplanes. My first airplane was a dud. I checked on line quickly and found a cool site. While others may have gone for one of the fancy ones, I just needed to perfect the folds of the simple paper airplane. I did it. I made two pretty good ones. The kids had a ball going up to the landing and seeing how far they could throw them. If fact, I think I saw similar expressions of joy and enthusiasm as their airplanes flew and landed on the Green Bay Packer bear or when it sailed across the living room and it the opposite wall. That’s your best throw yet. Then it was time for the flashlight. They took turns holding the flashlight while the other tried to stand wherever the light was shining. Sure we had moments of fighting over the paper airplanes or flashlights. But it was a fun evening as well.
I wouldn’t go back and undo either evening. Going places with little kids usually ends up being stressful at times. Staying at home and playing can be stressful at times. But every day has its moments of simple joys and pleasures and experiencing them with these two kids is the most amazing gift in the world.
Disney Playhouse Live! On Stage came to town. Tickets were only $20. That’s not too shabby. Let’s go. Let’s invite Grandma and Grandpa. Four shows in one. Mickey Mouse and Friends, Handy Manny, Tigger and Pooh, Little Einsteings were all in the show. How cool is that? And it really was pretty cool. Of course, there were the expected frustrations. Guys, stop jumping and skipping and just walk normally. Wait over here while I get the tickets at Will Call. And there were those moments when we saw utter joy on the kids’ faces as one of their favorite Disney characters appeared live on stage. There was the thrill of seeing the kids do the hot dog dance and trying to do the nature sound song with Tigger and Pooh. Then there were the tears because we weren’t going to buy the souveniers like the $15 dollar light toy (We got one of those at Elmo Live a couple years ago already). We weren’t going to buy the $12 cotton candy that came with a Handy Manny hat. Yes, there were tears. There was some pouting. Overall, the night was enjoyable. It was a memorable evening although a bit stressful.
Monday evening was also just as enjoyable. Instead of costing $160, the required extra supplies cost next to nothing. We needed three pieces of paper and a flashlight. I can’t remember whose idea it was, but we decided to make paper airplanes. My first airplane was a dud. I checked on line quickly and found a cool site. While others may have gone for one of the fancy ones, I just needed to perfect the folds of the simple paper airplane. I did it. I made two pretty good ones. The kids had a ball going up to the landing and seeing how far they could throw them. If fact, I think I saw similar expressions of joy and enthusiasm as their airplanes flew and landed on the Green Bay Packer bear or when it sailed across the living room and it the opposite wall. That’s your best throw yet. Then it was time for the flashlight. They took turns holding the flashlight while the other tried to stand wherever the light was shining. Sure we had moments of fighting over the paper airplanes or flashlights. But it was a fun evening as well.
I wouldn’t go back and undo either evening. Going places with little kids usually ends up being stressful at times. Staying at home and playing can be stressful at times. But every day has its moments of simple joys and pleasures and experiencing them with these two kids is the most amazing gift in the world.
Stages of life
Stages
Elementary to middle school,
What! No more recess?
Middle school to high school,
Feeling so self-conscious.
High School to college,
Moving to a brand new town.
College life suits me fine.
I never want to move on.
Really hits home on graduation day;
My suitemates and I are all moving away.
My first teaching job at a new school.
It’s tough getting students to obey my rules.
This teaching job is at first so tough;
No wonder so many leave saying that’s enough.
Slowly getting better at this teaching thing.
My wife tells me we are expecting.
Becoming a parent is a pretty big job,
But having a daughter is just so cool.
Reading books, making her laugh is a delight
Despite wiping butts and cleaning up drool.
Now our son shares a room with his sister.
It’s fun eavesdropping on their conversation.
Playing ball tag, making lunches, doing laundry
Forget about any time for relaxation.
Our third is due near the end of summer break.
Our oldest in preschool is already five.
This stage of our life will soon pass.
Man, we are so lucky to just be alive.
I’m not yet forty, still quite young.
Many more challenging stages in store.
I’ll try and enjoy each moment to the fullest
Until it’s time to open the next door.
Step out of your life for a moment
Just reflect on all of its stages.
It’s an amazing life we all lead
A book full of memorable pages.
Elementary to middle school,
What! No more recess?
Middle school to high school,
Feeling so self-conscious.
High School to college,
Moving to a brand new town.
College life suits me fine.
I never want to move on.
Really hits home on graduation day;
My suitemates and I are all moving away.
My first teaching job at a new school.
It’s tough getting students to obey my rules.
This teaching job is at first so tough;
No wonder so many leave saying that’s enough.
Slowly getting better at this teaching thing.
My wife tells me we are expecting.
Becoming a parent is a pretty big job,
But having a daughter is just so cool.
Reading books, making her laugh is a delight
Despite wiping butts and cleaning up drool.
Now our son shares a room with his sister.
It’s fun eavesdropping on their conversation.
Playing ball tag, making lunches, doing laundry
Forget about any time for relaxation.
Our third is due near the end of summer break.
Our oldest in preschool is already five.
This stage of our life will soon pass.
Man, we are so lucky to just be alive.
I’m not yet forty, still quite young.
Many more challenging stages in store.
I’ll try and enjoy each moment to the fullest
Until it’s time to open the next door.
Step out of your life for a moment
Just reflect on all of its stages.
It’s an amazing life we all lead
A book full of memorable pages.
Kickball in February
Kick ball in February
I left school, picked up the kids and got home about 4:45. Four neighbor boys were outside playing. Can I play outside, asked Kylie. Me too, said Davin. Davin already had wet clothes clothes from playing outside at daycare. Kylie had nice preschool clothes (and of course, I did too – well, high school teacher clothes). OK, we’ll be out in a few minutes. Can you play too, a neighbor asked me. Well, not today, I said. After all, it was a slushy, muddy mess out in our front yard. Sure, I played a dozen games of wiffle ball and kickball with the kids last summer, but not today.
We zipped inside. No Davin, you can keep your shoes and coat on. We’ll be going right back out. Kylie headed upstairs to change clothes and use the bathroom. It’s amazing how much you can get done when your five-year old is getting dressed and going to the bathroom. I went to the bathroom, changed my clothes, clipped my fingernails, folded a load of laundry, and did my taxes (OK, I may have exaggerated a bit.) During a busy morning rush, it can be frustrating, but at other times, it can help me get stuff done. Before kids were born, I would try to do housework during commercial breaks. Now I use my daughter’s getting dressed times. By the way, our house was and is a mess about 95% of the time.
Anyway, by the time we headed outside only two neighbor boys were still outside. I had my Green Bay packer windbreaker and old faded jeans on. I decided to play – I had to be outside anyway with my two-year old. Why not play? Plus once you start getting into the spirit, it’s kind of fun.
They had already set up the bases. They asked if it could be them against us. So we had the teams. Kylie (age 5), Davin (age 2) and Dad (age 36) against the two neighbors (grades 5 and 3). Kylie pitched and the first three kicks for their team sailed over my head into the street for home runs. We were a little outmatched. On the fourth kick, our neighbor let Kylie tag him for the first out. Then I pitched from the outfield. Kylie wanted to dig holes. Davin was having fun on the patches of snow. With one neighbor on base, I made a pretty good catch and doubled up the runner on base. Three outs.
We are up to bat. Kylie gets to second base. She’s pretty good. I lined out. Kylie ran and got picked off from second base. She had forgotten that rule over the winter to not run if it looks like the ball will be caught. Two outs and our two-year old is up. He kicked the ball and ran straight for the pitcher’s mound despite our yells to run to first base.
Overall it was a fun 30-40 minutes. Kylie and Davin were muddy and wet, but we had fun.
I left school, picked up the kids and got home about 4:45. Four neighbor boys were outside playing. Can I play outside, asked Kylie. Me too, said Davin. Davin already had wet clothes clothes from playing outside at daycare. Kylie had nice preschool clothes (and of course, I did too – well, high school teacher clothes). OK, we’ll be out in a few minutes. Can you play too, a neighbor asked me. Well, not today, I said. After all, it was a slushy, muddy mess out in our front yard. Sure, I played a dozen games of wiffle ball and kickball with the kids last summer, but not today.
We zipped inside. No Davin, you can keep your shoes and coat on. We’ll be going right back out. Kylie headed upstairs to change clothes and use the bathroom. It’s amazing how much you can get done when your five-year old is getting dressed and going to the bathroom. I went to the bathroom, changed my clothes, clipped my fingernails, folded a load of laundry, and did my taxes (OK, I may have exaggerated a bit.) During a busy morning rush, it can be frustrating, but at other times, it can help me get stuff done. Before kids were born, I would try to do housework during commercial breaks. Now I use my daughter’s getting dressed times. By the way, our house was and is a mess about 95% of the time.
Anyway, by the time we headed outside only two neighbor boys were still outside. I had my Green Bay packer windbreaker and old faded jeans on. I decided to play – I had to be outside anyway with my two-year old. Why not play? Plus once you start getting into the spirit, it’s kind of fun.
They had already set up the bases. They asked if it could be them against us. So we had the teams. Kylie (age 5), Davin (age 2) and Dad (age 36) against the two neighbors (grades 5 and 3). Kylie pitched and the first three kicks for their team sailed over my head into the street for home runs. We were a little outmatched. On the fourth kick, our neighbor let Kylie tag him for the first out. Then I pitched from the outfield. Kylie wanted to dig holes. Davin was having fun on the patches of snow. With one neighbor on base, I made a pretty good catch and doubled up the runner on base. Three outs.
We are up to bat. Kylie gets to second base. She’s pretty good. I lined out. Kylie ran and got picked off from second base. She had forgotten that rule over the winter to not run if it looks like the ball will be caught. Two outs and our two-year old is up. He kicked the ball and ran straight for the pitcher’s mound despite our yells to run to first base.
Overall it was a fun 30-40 minutes. Kylie and Davin were muddy and wet, but we had fun.
A trip to Kmart
A trip to Kmart
I took my 1 ½-year old son to Kmart with me to get a birthday card for Opa, whose birthday happens to fall on Valentine’s Day – every year even.
Normally I carry him in and plop him into a grocery cart and away we go. He’s a good little shopping-cart rider. But today I thought – why not let him walk around a bit?
So right inside the store, I stood him on the floor. He froze for a few moments – unsure what to do with this new freedom. He has rarely been given the opportunity to roam around at a department store or grocery store before. After that momentary hesitation, off he went.
We were able to go right to the card section and find a good card for Opa. Since Mom and Kylie were working on Valentine cards at home for family and friends, I was in no rush. I soon decided to not buy the laundry detergent we needed, but instead to just let Davin roam.
He took off with delight for the south end of the store. He turned right and walked to the southwest corner of the store, not even noticing the four toy aisles we passed. After spending just a moment or two in the hardware section of the store, we turned right and headed for the opposite corner of Kmart. (But we would be returning to this section before long). Whizzing past the electronics and books, we soon arrived at the northwest corner of the store – the men’s department. On the way, I heard comments from other families like “I need a big-girl bike” and “Stop whining. Other people can hear you.”
When we reached the men’s department, we took an immediate right and headed for the baby section. Davin noticed Elmo right away on various signs and boxes. But before long we were retracing our steps back to the hardware section. We had hit all four corners of Kmart. That’s a lot of steps for a little guy.
We spent the next 10 minutes in about four different aisles. Davin loved the vacuum cleaners. He loves to follow Mom around when she vacuums. He pointed at the different ones and waited for me to say the color of each one. Then came the storage bins, which were good for drumming. Next he saw the garbage hits, which were also a big hit, because the garbage cans had swinging tops. Then we came across shelf liner. That was a big hit with Davin. Boy, what a ball he had picking up a roll and then putting it back in its place just right. Finally after trying on a wicker basket as a hat and some banging on the metal store shelves, I thought we had better start heading for the exit.
I thought he might try screaming, but it was no big deal. He handed the cashier the $10 bill for the card, but I took the change. And we were off.
It was a simple outing, but it’s a stage in Davin’s life that he won’t be in for much longer. It’s that stage of just pure joy or glee of exploration. He didn’t need toys, games, or candy to be happy. He just loved the adventure of exploring the aisles of Kmart. We all need that -- the sheer joy of life and all of its little adventures.
I took my 1 ½-year old son to Kmart with me to get a birthday card for Opa, whose birthday happens to fall on Valentine’s Day – every year even.
Normally I carry him in and plop him into a grocery cart and away we go. He’s a good little shopping-cart rider. But today I thought – why not let him walk around a bit?
So right inside the store, I stood him on the floor. He froze for a few moments – unsure what to do with this new freedom. He has rarely been given the opportunity to roam around at a department store or grocery store before. After that momentary hesitation, off he went.
We were able to go right to the card section and find a good card for Opa. Since Mom and Kylie were working on Valentine cards at home for family and friends, I was in no rush. I soon decided to not buy the laundry detergent we needed, but instead to just let Davin roam.
He took off with delight for the south end of the store. He turned right and walked to the southwest corner of the store, not even noticing the four toy aisles we passed. After spending just a moment or two in the hardware section of the store, we turned right and headed for the opposite corner of Kmart. (But we would be returning to this section before long). Whizzing past the electronics and books, we soon arrived at the northwest corner of the store – the men’s department. On the way, I heard comments from other families like “I need a big-girl bike” and “Stop whining. Other people can hear you.”
When we reached the men’s department, we took an immediate right and headed for the baby section. Davin noticed Elmo right away on various signs and boxes. But before long we were retracing our steps back to the hardware section. We had hit all four corners of Kmart. That’s a lot of steps for a little guy.
We spent the next 10 minutes in about four different aisles. Davin loved the vacuum cleaners. He loves to follow Mom around when she vacuums. He pointed at the different ones and waited for me to say the color of each one. Then came the storage bins, which were good for drumming. Next he saw the garbage hits, which were also a big hit, because the garbage cans had swinging tops. Then we came across shelf liner. That was a big hit with Davin. Boy, what a ball he had picking up a roll and then putting it back in its place just right. Finally after trying on a wicker basket as a hat and some banging on the metal store shelves, I thought we had better start heading for the exit.
I thought he might try screaming, but it was no big deal. He handed the cashier the $10 bill for the card, but I took the change. And we were off.
It was a simple outing, but it’s a stage in Davin’s life that he won’t be in for much longer. It’s that stage of just pure joy or glee of exploration. He didn’t need toys, games, or candy to be happy. He just loved the adventure of exploring the aisles of Kmart. We all need that -- the sheer joy of life and all of its little adventures.
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