Well, I can hardly believe it, but little Hannah took several steps last night. See for yourself…
It's 3:23 in the morning. Not now. A year ago. I can't believe it's been a whole year. Hannah GraceAnne Ferrin showed up on August 26th, 2008 at 3:23am. All nine-pounds-seven-ounces of her.
And here we are...a year later. The Ferrin Four is now The Ferrin Five. And it may be a cliché, but it's oh so true - we can't imagine life without her. I don't know that I have ever seen a baby who laughs as much as Hannah. Of course, she's always being entertained by her dancing, singing sister, and her wild and crazy jokester of a brother. They are quite a team.
She's into everything right now. Crawling. Climbing stairs. Opening drawers. Putting everything (including handfuls of dirt from our houseplants) into her mouth. I am convinced that all it will take for her to walk is the realization that walking will get her places faster. Speed. It's all about speed. She eats fast, crawls fast, drinks fast, grabs fast.
And sadly for her mom and dad - she grows fast. Happy Birthday Hannah. We love you.
In the van the other day, a guy rode by on a bicycle without a helmet on. Here’s the conversation that ensued:
Me: Hey Sarah, that guy needs to borrow one of our bike helmets.
Sarah: Daddy, if I was (long pause) the principal of everything – you know, Barack Obama – I’d make a rule that anyone who rode a bike would have to wear a helmet.
Me: That would be a good rule.
Caleb (from the way back seat): If I was Maraca Bama…
Sarah: BARACK Obama!!!
Caleb: If I was Barack Obama I’d make a rule that everyone would have to believe in God.
Me: That’s another good rule.
(long pause)
Caleb: Sarah?
Sarah: What?
Caleb (with a smirk): I’d make a rule about the most important thing.
The most important thing indeed…Well done Caleb.
It was 15 years ago today that I met this beautiful blond with great legs who loved Jesus and who – 23 months later – would become my bride. And if you can believe it, there is an even greater reason why I’m celebrating today.
One hour ago, we were all upstairs in Sarah’s room, finished reading the story of the resurrection and started walking through what “believing in Jesus” means. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Do you know why Jesus died on the cross?
Caleb: For our sins.
Me: Do you understand what “sin” is?
Caleb: Um…no.
Me: Do you think you ever do, say, or think things that make God not happy?
Caleb: No.
Me: Really?!? Like when you hurt your sisters or say things that are mean or not true…Does that make God happy or unhappy?
Caleb: Oh yeah…unhappy.
Me: Well, God is perfect. He wants to be with us, but since we’re all not perfect, something had to happen to take our sin away. The only way that could happen was for someone to die. Jesus said that He would die so that we wouldn’t have to. Then He rose from the tomb so that we could live with Him forever. Anyone who believes He did this for us can ask Jesus to live in their heart and we tell Him that we’ll live our lives to make Him happy.
Caleb: I want to do that!
And so he did. I prayed. He prayed.
Wahooo! His mother hooted and hugged him. I wish I had a picture of his face when Kari said, “Everyone in heaven is having a party right now because you asked Jesus into your heart.” He beamed. So excited.
Before being tucked into bed, Caleb asked, “What do you think our house is going to be like in heaven?” “I don’t know, Caleb. But I think it’s going to be better than you or I could ever imagine.”
Sort of like this day…
I know you’ve heard that girls and boys are different. Some say “nature.” Others say “nurture.” I say “yep!”
Sarah and Caleb were playing with Legos and I was in another part of the room. The sweet voice of my daughter called out from the other room, “Daaaaadddy. Look at the house I just bu
ilt.” Barely had the words left her lips when my son stands up and shouts, “Hey Dad. Look at my monster! Wanna make a monster so we can fight?”
And again I say…”Yep.”
Just got back from a family walk. Partway into the walk we came to a bench with one of the “In Loving Memory” signs. As we looked at the picture and read the plaque the tender moment took a quick detour when Sarah asked…
So…did that guy die under this bench?
Sentimentality squashed. On with the walk.
The scene last Friday night: Sarah and I walk up to her school for her very first all-school dance. The place is packed with kids and parents. A few parents are on the dance floor, but mostly it’s clusters of kids dancing around to the instructions of the guy on the stage with the mic in his hand. At one point he says, “Okay, we need more parents out there. Go grab your mom or dad and get them out here.” Sarah left her group of friends, came over to me with a huge smile, grabbed my hand and said, “Come on dad.”
Out on the dance floor she’s twirling, laughing, dancing much better than I, and we’re in our own little nothing’s-better-than-the-father-daughter-relationship zone. At least I thought we were. Halfway through the song, she stops, looks at me, and says, “Okay dad. You can go back over there and stand by yourself.”
Heavy sigh…
Last night we took the plunge. Hannah has been staring us down every night while we eat dinner, so we thought we’d give her a shot at it. Expectations were low. Two…three bites…max. Boy were we wrong. She loved it! Wanted more. Actually got a little frustrated (after the video ends) when Kari wasn’t getting the spoon refilled and back to her mouth fast enough. It’s been four years since we’ve done this, but if I remember correctly…the diapers are about to change….and not for the better.
It started with the sound of my daughter screaming and crying in the other room – obviously in pain. I looked over to see Sarah holding her hand and her brother, Caleb, with the typical “I’m 4 and I’m guilty” expression on his face.
Come to find out that he threw one of his toy dinosaurs at Sarah and nailed her. (Never said he didn’t have a good arm and good aim.) I asked him if he did it and he shocked me by confessing immediately. Then came the famous parent question: Why did you do that?
His reply?
“Sarah threw one at me first and the Bible says, “Do to others as they would have them do to you” so I thought she wanted me to.”
Well played, Caleb. Well played.
