Out of Africa

Returning from such a wonderful trip to South Africa, I am obviously a wee bit tired and ready to just love on my kids. We had not even completely pulled in the driveway before I jetted out of the taxi and ran up the driveway to a dozen pairs of waiting arms. I didn’t put Verity down until bedtime and Stone was uncontainable once he got his new “rugby football.”

My they have grown. How they have changed in the 13 days and 12 hours since I left! Stone is now speaking in full sentences! Ransom lost two teeth and Verity got her top two teeth in! Kemper, Glory and Trin became the “big three” while we were gone and stepped up their game in terms of running this household in ways that even Kristine was amazed by. The trip was awesome, but there truly is “no place like home.”

Kristine and Jesse really did a fantastic job holding down the fort. I never once worried about the children while we were gone–although I constantly missed them. I asked Kristine what she learned while I was gone. She said three things:

“First, I learned that you’re my freakin’ hero. But I already knew that. Second, I learned that you can’t do this job without the Holy Spirit. And I also learned that there really isn’t a lot that can’t be fixed with some love and affection.”

Well, I don’t know about “hero,” but the Holy Spirit part and love and affection is definitely true. Moms and dads, your job as parent is not easy, but it is simple. If you are muscling or strong arming your way through it, then you are not calling upon the Helper and Wisdom that God has given you in the Holy Spirit. I pray that today, you decide to make use of the best parenting tool I can think of–His guiding Spirit that gives us light when the path is dark, wisdom when we feel we’ve made some dumb mistakes, and Help and boldness in our time of need.

God bless you all! I have missed you and look forward to sharing some of the lessons I learned while I was away with you!