And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
Welcome to Friday!
Checking in on you... I just wanted to check in with you and see how things were going with you this week and to see how you have been. How are you doing? How did things go for you this week? Did you get around to all the things you had planned? Were you able to enjoy some of the many blessings that flowed your way this week? What kind of projects and activities were you working on this week and how did they turn out? What brought joy to your life this week and made you thankful? What people, events, or things made you smile and laugh during the week gone by?
As always, I wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts, on my mind, and in my prayers. I have prayed that the Glorious One will continue to wrap you in His arms, drench you with love, and grant you peace in the midst of your circumstances. I have prayed that the Almighty God will defend, protect, and still the storms when they rise up in your life. I am asking and continue to ask that the Lord draw nearer, pull you closer, and make your heart overflow with the knowledge of just how much you mean to Him and how endless is His grace for you. May God, the glorious, splendid, powerful,... magnificent, excellent, holy,... righteous, just, gracious,... loving, compassionate, merciful and everlasting King unload your worries, and replace every worry with the assurance of His promises and the gift of daily bread. Welcome to Friday!
I have had a full and good week. I've had trials, troubles and storms, but I have also had the presence of the One who calms storms, walks on water, gave death the beat down, and is the everlasting Rock! So, this week I am thankful for:
- Laughter; real stomach busting, teary eyed laughter
- Joy
- Gladness
- Storms that wipe away the pretend and remind me of the rock
- I was not thankful for the storm, but thankful that it ended
- Thankful that when it was gone I was reminded of the greatness of God
- Children
- Siblings
- Awesome parents
- Avoiding an accident today on the way from lunch
- Dates with Trish
- We had lunch today
- We managed a dinner date last week
- Dinner at the house with the family three times this week
- We had Sunday dinner (Trish fixed Macaroni and meatloaf)
- Last night I fixed the girls chocolate chip waffles with sausage (no chocolate chips)
- I fixed Trish and omelette
- Sharing our lives together
- Finishing Fearless by Max Lucado
- It was great
- We serve the Almighty God and He loves us; fear less and be Fearless!
- Bible Study Preparation - Luke 14
- Reading a book on Jesus' parables (Luke 15)
- One chapter is called the Prodigal Son
- One chapter is called the Parable of the loving, gracious, forgiving Father
- One chapter is called the Son who felt rejected (he wasn't rejected, only he felt that way)
- Having a job
- Solving a tough problem at work
- Finding a critical issue and its root cause during product testing
- Spending time with Sydney
- Watching a few quarters of various sports games
- None of my team's won
- Paige's awards including "A Honor Roll" and a reading aware fro reading over 120 minutes per week every week
- Grade reports and encouraging progress
- All the good that took place in this week
- Losing all 3 games on Monday as the underdog team
- Winning all 3 games on Wednesday as the favorite
- Finally getting back to the YMCA for a workout
A few more details of the week:
I had one the deepest, most satisfying belly laughs this past Saturday. Trish took the girls to choir practice and to prepare for worship service. I stayed home with Ava and Emma. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get dressed before Trish and the older girls pulled out the driveway. So, I came down to where Ava and Emma were sitting at the breakfast table. I looked at Emma and she was behaving well, trying to eat breakfast. Ava was playing a game on the iPad and also eating. So, I said, "Ava I'm going to get dressed, behave and keep an eye on Emma." I was not prepared for what came next, but it made me smile, still makes me smile and led to a deep belly laugh. Ava squinted her eyes, tilted her head and replaced her concentrated expression with a confused one. Then looking up she said, "You... want me... to babysit Emma? I can't babysit Emma!" The look on her face, and her the follow up response of "I'm too little to watch Emma," was priceless. It reminded me of when Matt told Felicia, "Uncle Cassius, Uncle Cassius can't watch us... he's just a kid!"
The girls are funny and beautiful. They are teaching me to let up a little, and to remember that laughter is a blessing. I used to remember that so well. I can remember when Vincent or Felix would get on a roll and they could make you laugh until your side hurt and tears were coming down your eyes and you couldn't breathe... I sure hope someone makes you laugh like that every week. Ava sure made me laugh.
Sunday I got the true worship experience. Without Trish in the building (Gabbi was home sick), I had Ava and Emma treat me to the real show. Emma started service off by standing just out of reach and tossing her coat in the air. While the pastor prayed, while the choir was singing - Emma was active and I was having to struggle to get her under control. It is amazing how she knew to stay out of arms reach. Ava was close by, so after a stern look and a slight pinch she behaved. Emma didn't calm down until much, much later. I think the second bathroom break Emma seemed to be settled. The second break was so stressful. Ava was pinching and squeezing and I was certain she wouldn't make it. To make matters worse, when we got to the men's room (cause we don't have a family bathroom yet) it was occupied. We had to go back upstairs and get Betty to take them to the bathroom. After that workout in worship, I was so thankful for the benediction.
I have got tremendous laughter out of the girls this week, including Emma. On Monday morning she insisted that she wear her pink dress and pink cowboy boots. Not any ordinary pink dress, but a very beautiful (think Easter) pink dress with lace, flowers, and all the frill. I knew she wouldn't be a fan of the blue khaki style paints, but I was not prepared for her response to seeing the pants. She ran from the outstretched pants, straight to the closet and stood pointing and begging for her pink dress. I'll have to admit, the dress was cute - but she was definitely overdressed for a trip to drop Sydney off at school. Then, earlier today, when I was getting dressed to go to Paige's school she told me, "Here is your shirt... Come on Daddy, I take care of you!"
Paige and Ava continue to make the morning drop off line at school eventful. One morning Paige gathered all of Ava's supplies up in one hand so Ava could just get out the car. However, it didn't speed things up at all. Ava took her sweet time, even longer than normal, so much so that a line had formed and those kids had exited before she made it to the sidewalk. The one day I saw her get out with great speed involved a water puddle and a teacher trying to keep her from getting out into the puddle. Paige received the "A honor roll award" today, along with some other awards.
Sydney has notched numerous accomplishments, so many that I seem to forget about her being in student government, getting sworn in, serving faithfully in her morning meetings, and still doing awesome in class. This week she taught me SLANT (sit up, lean in, ask questions, nod and turn in to the speaker) a technique for better listening. She also made the A/B honor roll. She was upset about her first ever 'B'. I am proud of her effort and her grades, and I shared with her that my first ever 'B' came a lot sooner than 6th grade.
Cassarra is deep in the throws of being a senior. She got an acceptance letter from one school, I'll let her tell you about it. She has another couple of applications in flight, and is starting to see the picture forming in front of her eyes. I'm trying to speak encouragement to her, so feel free to jump in and give her encouragement as well. She did well on her report card. She has one class that continues to give her trouble, but I couldn't be prouder of how hard she works at bringing it up.
Gabbi is doing okay. She took the PSAT this week. Her takeaway, "It was long!" I am confident she did well, so long as she didn't get frustrated. She was very excited this week about dressing the other kids up for the 31st. She was also proud of going the extra mile in Spanish class and being ahead of the pack and earning extra credit. Over the weekend she got her hair trimmed and started making plans for a new look. She was also trying to make plans to get the new Jurassic World movie, but I wasn't taking the bait. In school she has brought up one of her two tough areas, and managed to hold steady on the other. I am proud of the work she has done to keep the other grades in the A/B range while she starts working on Math and History.
I have got tremendous laughter out of the girls this week, including Emma. On Monday morning she insisted that she wear her pink dress and pink cowboy boots. Not any ordinary pink dress, but a very beautiful (think Easter) pink dress with lace, flowers, and all the frill. I knew she wouldn't be a fan of the blue khaki style paints, but I was not prepared for her response to seeing the pants. She ran from the outstretched pants, straight to the closet and stood pointing and begging for her pink dress. I'll have to admit, the dress was cute - but she was definitely overdressed for a trip to drop Sydney off at school. Then, earlier today, when I was getting dressed to go to Paige's school she told me, "Here is your shirt... Come on Daddy, I take care of you!"
Paige and Ava continue to make the morning drop off line at school eventful. One morning Paige gathered all of Ava's supplies up in one hand so Ava could just get out the car. However, it didn't speed things up at all. Ava took her sweet time, even longer than normal, so much so that a line had formed and those kids had exited before she made it to the sidewalk. The one day I saw her get out with great speed involved a water puddle and a teacher trying to keep her from getting out into the puddle. Paige received the "A honor roll award" today, along with some other awards.
Sydney has notched numerous accomplishments, so many that I seem to forget about her being in student government, getting sworn in, serving faithfully in her morning meetings, and still doing awesome in class. This week she taught me SLANT (sit up, lean in, ask questions, nod and turn in to the speaker) a technique for better listening. She also made the A/B honor roll. She was upset about her first ever 'B'. I am proud of her effort and her grades, and I shared with her that my first ever 'B' came a lot sooner than 6th grade.
Cassarra is deep in the throws of being a senior. She got an acceptance letter from one school, I'll let her tell you about it. She has another couple of applications in flight, and is starting to see the picture forming in front of her eyes. I'm trying to speak encouragement to her, so feel free to jump in and give her encouragement as well. She did well on her report card. She has one class that continues to give her trouble, but I couldn't be prouder of how hard she works at bringing it up.
Gabbi is doing okay. She took the PSAT this week. Her takeaway, "It was long!" I am confident she did well, so long as she didn't get frustrated. She was very excited this week about dressing the other kids up for the 31st. She was also proud of going the extra mile in Spanish class and being ahead of the pack and earning extra credit. Over the weekend she got her hair trimmed and started making plans for a new look. She was also trying to make plans to get the new Jurassic World movie, but I wasn't taking the bait. In school she has brought up one of her two tough areas, and managed to hold steady on the other. I am proud of the work she has done to keep the other grades in the A/B range while she starts working on Math and History.
Trish is doing well. I think she is amazing. She keeps the calendar lined up and somehow makes sure that everything from morning hair appointments, to afternoon homework works out with clock like precision. In addition to the usual, I think she has been working on some family cards, and some calendar details. A week or so ago I got a sneak peak, and the second book is just as good as the first. I told her about Sunday and she just smiled, as if to say, "Welcome to my World!" Thankful we have a church that understands the little people and come alongside us to help, advise and guide.
Well, I've gone on too long. I truly hope that you are doing well. I truly pray that God continues to smile down on you and draw you deeper into His love. And I truly wish you a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. May the Spirit, the Son, and the Holy Father bless you in all of your days and as always...
Welcome to Friday!
With love (& in triumph),
Cassius
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