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Have you ever walked through the grocery store and felt that everyone was staring at you?  You never see their eyes, but you know they are checking you out.  When you pass by, you get a second glance or a raised eye.  This happened to me on Friday.

My dear friend Brandon Carrier

came to stay with Jennifer and I for a couple days.  Friday was his 29th birthday and we were having a get-together that night with a bunch of college friends.  So on Friday, I had to get some errands done.  Most importantly, I needed to pick up the food at the grocery store.  Now Jennifer works on Friday, so I had both Isaac and Ethan with me.

So picture this:  Brandon and I are walking through Kroger pushing two grocery carts.  Mine had Isaac in the seat and Ethan in the basket.  Brandon was following behind me putting all the groceries in his cart.  We were obviously shopping together as he would talk with Isaac as I ran to grab an item. 

On the surface, it appeared that Brandon and I were domestic partners.  And I was definitely the girl, since I was pushing the cart with the children.  Even at the checkout line, the clerk was looking at us really funny.  It got a bit worse when Brandon and I argued over who was going to pay for the groceries.  It was like we were having a “quarrel.”

Just one of those funny occurrences that happen in the course of the day and you never really think about what others are thinking.

I heard about a London Times article that absolutely rocked my world.  This picture was on the headline.

Can you read the print on the t-shirt.  A cute little toddler is promoting a shirt about his DONOR father.  Instead of “I love my daddy” or “daddy’s little boy,” we have “my daddy’s name is Donor.”  What does this say about the times in which we live?

It says we have lost a sense of reality when it comes to family values, family morality, and the definition of marriage.  It says we have embraced technology so much that we are now considering it, not people, the primary means for happiness and fullfillment.  Its says marriage between a man and woman is under devastating attack by gay and lesbian groups and reproductive technologies.  It says that a boy or girl who wears such a shirt will grow up never having a man to call Daddy. 

Never having a man to help them learn to tie their shoes or ride a bike or how to open a door for a lady.  While this is terrible for little girls, it is even more destructive for little boys.  Little boys need men in their lives.  Little girls need men in their lives.  This is how God designed it and it is the best method.

As a young father, my heart aches for these issues.  Fatherless children.  Men giving birth to children they will never meet or love.  And for what reason do they give this life but for a some pocket cash while in college.  One recent lawsuit had a 17-year old teen seeking money from their sperm donor for college.  The donor, now a successful businessman, had to hire a lawyer to protect him from his responsibility to the teen.  Despressing. 

The “My daddy’s name is Donor” t-shirt is a statement on the culture in which we live.  A sad statement.  A painfully real statement. 

Jennifer has been purging our closets lately trying to thin things out.  We have gotten rid of baby clothes, maternity clothes, t-shirts, shoes, and things we don’t wear anymore.  She has been either donating the stuff to the CARE Ministry or selling them at a consignment shop. 

Well, I put together a box of button-down shirts and polos from my closet and took them over to sell.  Probably 10 shirts in all.  I dropped them off at the counter and the attendent said it take about 45 mintues to look them over and determine the resale value.  Then I could come back and collect my money.  So we left, did some shopping, had some Starbucks, and came back.

When I came in, they put the whole box of clothes right back in front of me.  I asked the worker, “Were these no good to sell?”  The girl’s response was hilarious.

“Sir, your clothes are too basic.  We can’t use them.” 

A used clothing shop that specializing in reselling USED clothing told me that my USED clothes were TOO BASIC!  How funny is that.

3 days and 2 nights in sunny southern Florida…in December.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  Well the convention I attended was very helpful and worth the trip.  But being in the land of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy without my family did stink quite a bit. 

My hotel was right next to the Wet-n-Wild water park.  Can you believe the park was packed everyday?  Many holiday travelers from England and Scotland love to come to Orlando in December.  They fill the waterparks and swimming pools.  Now it was warm (mid-70’s to low 80’s), but not my kind of swimming weather.  But for them, it was hot and perfect.

On the conference side, I learned a ton on school accreditation and improvement.  My new role at church with the Christian Education Center will demand I have some training in school development.  I learned much.  Networked with other KY educators and had a pretty good time.

The only thing missing was my family and those must-have Mickey ears.

While on my little journey to Florida, I got a chance to go to the movies by myself.  So I went to see Beowulf 3D IMAX.  I did like the amazing 3D stuff, but the movie was not good, nor was the acting.  I think I wasted my money. 

I can remember the last 3D movie I went to see: JAWS 3D 1983.  Can you believe my father took my brother and I to see that movie when we were just 6 and 7 years old.  I will never forget the killing of the shark and the pieces of flesh flying at me through those glasses.  Beowulf’s 3D parts were simply amazing.  I was dodging and ducking throughout the movie.  But in the end, I should have stayed with my memory of Jaws.  Better movie.  Better music.  Better lead character, aka the Shark.

These pictures came from Jennifer’s camera.  Some from the birth, some from Thanksgiving.  Good variety.

My backyard this morning.  Winter has arrived.  Eventhough I despise cold weather, this is a beautiful display of God’s glory and majestic creativity.

I feel very much like this man right now.  I have several very HUGE things going on, which I will explain., but because of all these things, I have neglected the blog with new pictures, videos, and commentary for my readers.  I am very sorry.  I will try to do better, but until Dec. 31st, I can’t promise much.

Here is what is going on, so you can feel my pain:
1.  Ethan is a 1 month old.  Very fun and sweet, but very exhausting.  Jennifer is heading back to work next week and we are trying to get everything ready.  With one, you are playing 2 on 1.  With two, it is man-to-man defense.  The boys may be winning?!

2.  It’s December and it’s Christmas time.  Christmas with a two year old who is taking the tree apart and asking to sing Christmas carols all day long.  That is crazy enough.  We did go see the Cincy Train display downtown which Isaac absolutely loved.

3.  My role at church is getting ready to significantly change.  Starting at the first of the year, I will be transitioning to our children’s ministry and our Christian Education Center (Christian school, preschool and daycare).  I am trying to get up to speed on a ton of new stuff.  I am even traveling to a national conference to learn how to get a school accredited.  Basically, I am starting with a new slate of responsibilities and I am trying to get through the learning curve.

4.  AND THIS IS HUGE.  I have my Comprehensive Exams in less than 90 days.  I have to finish up my assignments from this last seminar and then kick butt to get ready for COMPS.  Comps are the real deal and I want to be ready when they come the first week in March. 

So that is my life for now. Don’t you feel sorry for me.  Whaaaahhh.  Woe is me.  Just kidding.  I like the challenges of family, ministry, school and the holidays.  It makes me appreciate how Mary and Joseph felt as they were young, pregnant, traveling, and displaced.