It's SUPER Moon

Only every 18 years or so, the full moon appears on the moon's perigee. This perigee marks the closest distance from the earth in the moon's orbit. Pseudo-astronomers call it a Super Moon.

As family leader, I pull us toward nerdy activities. My wife, though glamorous and fantastic, has the heart of a nerd, too. So all day Saturday we talked up the Super Moon to our 2 children. We together worked them up into an almost Christmas Eve frenzy of anticipation and expectation.

As the sun sat, we all began looking eastward. As heavenly shades of night were falling, we loaded into the fam van and crused around looking for a high place to see the moon above the beautiful, but obstructing West Virginia hills.

We drove to one high point but could not see the moon. We drove to another. Still no clear view of the moon. Momma had googled that the moon appeared biggest when just breaking the horizon or tree line. But it was still behind the hill and we were now Bedtime minus 10 minutes! The static charge of tension was palpable in the famvan -- and growing...

...then on the last hillock, we spied through the trees the Super Moon. Momma and I "o-o-o-h-e-d" and "a-a-a-a-h-e-d" dramatically. The kiddos strained to see. Then the excitement faded as the moon did not appear in any way "Super."

Later that night, about 10pm, we could easily see the Super Moon from our kitchen window. We laughed about our family adventure and how un-super the moon turned out to be. Like so much we experience...

Sweet Sixteen

Sixteen years ago today, I started my day standing on a wooden folding chair hanging clear Christmas lights on a tent pole with one hand and eating a Junior's cream-filled powdered donut with the other.

This morning I started my day taking out garbage and finishing some dishes I left from last night's supper.

And in between I have had the best time of my life.

You see, May 28 is the day my love became my wife. We were so young and idealistic. We were so poor. We were so in love. We decorated the church ourselves, planned the reception and I even wrote the service/sermon.

I still get weepy when I hear "How beautiful the radiant bride..." She looked beautiful -- take my breathe away beautiful. I was so nervous I could not look her in the eye. Until we laughed hysterically when the used white unity candle would not light for several long seconds.

But as wonderful as that May 28th was, this one is even sweeter. Lisa is even more beautiful today, our bond is even more strong, our love is even deeper. We have shared -- sometimes enjoying, sometimes enduring -- life together.

I so understand the sacramental view my RC family has on marriage. Even from my Protestant perspective, I can say it is a means of grace. It is the chief way God has matured my faith and improved my behavior.

She still takes my breathe walking into my view. She still is the focal point of my passion. My greatest accolade is her smiling approval. She still completes me. My greatest pleasure is her embrace. My greatest goal is to be the man she deserves.

Sweet sixteen, Lisa! I love you more!

Whoa Momma! It's Father's Day

What an unbelievable day!

First, I got a super T-shirt, two books, 2 packs of IBC Root Beer, 3 pair of Scooby Doo boxers from my amazing E and G (with the help of Momma.) E couldn't stop telling me the secret Momma had in the van so I actually got these gifts a few days early.

Then, Momma made sure I got to sleep in til 7:30 Saturday morning!

Then Sunday afternoon Momma made the best meal I have ever eaten--in my life! She grilled a summer medley of veggies and a special salmon. She grilled it on a cedar plant, with lemon and dill. It was tender, moist and smoked! Then to top it off, she grilled some thick slices of sesame-seeded bread! The meal could not have been better at the Tide-Water!

I am definitely blessed beyond measure! I thank E and G for making me a Dad and Lisa for making me a whole man!

Still the One!

May 25, 1994...

...FIFTEEN years ago today...

I became the husband of Lisa Renee. It seems like just yesterday I was standing on a folding chair hanging strands of white lights in a tent and eating a JR's cream-filled powered donut.

I really didn't comprehend what was about to happen to me. The shared joy and sorrow, the shared comfort and pain, the shared life. It is definitely the best part of my life having shared it with Lisa. We have wept at the gravesides of a niece and dear friends, wept with frustration and resignation during the infertility years (especially Mother's and Father's days), wept with fear and pride 9-11-01, wept with joy at the miracle birth of Eli and Jillian, wept at the bottom of emotional talks in the van in a parking lot.

We have held each other in passion's fire, the cold of disappointment and when we didn't know what else to do.

She is my joy, my love, my soul-mate, my life partner. Her beauty, wisdom and imagination endear her to me. I cherish our talks, walking and holding her hand and her smile.

She asked me recently, "Where will we be in 15 years?" I don't know what the world will be like, but if I'm alive I will be with her.

She's still the one!

The Derby

It was a Kentucky Derby weekend. I was driving toward the center of the state where the bluegrass grows. I was driving a borrowed, two-tone Ford station wagon. I was thrilled!

It was the first time I went to date my Lisa. I showed up in a shirt and tie for the Friday Formal dinner at Kentucky Mountain Bible College. Looking at the pictures now, I looked like such a geeky little boy. She looked as beautiful as anyone ever could.

So every Derby weekend I get a little spark of romance warming my heart. And I look at my Lisa, who still eats Friday dinner with me and smile with contentment. Life is full and so is my heart.

Momma is Coming! Momma is Coming!

Tonight my love will return to me. She has been gone on a business trip to CA. We have made it, but missed her terribly. I am so glad she will be home tonight.

More details to come...

She's Leavin' on a Jetplane...

Lis leaves today for a FOUR-DAY trip to CA! Ugh!

I tried to put a few little notes in her stuff -- in her purse, carryon bag and etc. She caught me once. Then she emptied her purse to clean it out!!!!! Then at 4am her suitcase broke and she had to empty it out too!!!!!! She is impossible to suprise!

I REALLY miss my girl when she has to be away. I honestly mark my days by the time I get to go home and see her (and the kiddos, too.) I don't function well when she's gone. I don't sleep.

I love my wife totally!

The Gift

Lis is under a lot of pressure right now with work and other responsibilities and her impending trip to CA. So much so that I think she really just wanted to come home from work and crash in the bed to recharge her batteries. Then Eli had a plan.

Let's go to Bob Evan's. So we did.

When we arrived we were seated near two very young parents and a VERY young baby. Lisa engaged them in conversation to learn the baby was only a week old and they were just venturing out for the first time as a family.

While we were entertaining our kids waiting on our meals, she slips me a note written on the back of a paper placemat: Let's pay for their dinner.

So at an appropriate moment, I excused myself from our table and went to find their waitress. She gave me their ticket. I payed for it and returned to our table.

Later when the lady asked for her ticket the waitress informed her that an anonymous person had paid for their meal. She seemed shocked.

I know Lisa is stressed right now. I know she has a lot on her mind. But I wish you could have seen the sparkle in her eyes as she hatched up this plan and saw it executed. She was beautiful and peaceful and happy.

Seconds later the moment passed as the realities of life with us and the responsibilities crept back into her consciousness.

She is a wonderful woman and I know this season of pressure will pass. Even in it, she has such a beautiful spirit and generous heart. It is that inner glow that makes me fall in love with her over and over and over and over...