Nothing like it

I have taken this week off to relax post summer stuff and to restore for the fall. Although I'm still tired (but no where near as tired as my wife who nurses our often sleepless youngest 2 times a night, thank you Wendy!), I've had just amazing times with my wife and kids. It's not like we're vacationing in Hawaii (oh how I wish), we're just home hanging out, swimming beneath piles of laundry, dishes, and diapers, but we're just home together, eating together, doing errands together..It's good! Often, I literally find myself saying in my head, "Thank you God! I love being a husband and a dad," as I chase my oldest around the house and listen to my youngest squeal with baby delight as she watches. Last night I was out for a few hours and when I came home the girls were sleeping but I just had to go in and see them. I just watched my daughter sleep. I put my hand over her and prayed. Thanking God and asking him to continue to bless her, protect her, and grow her into the person he has created her to become. There is nothing else in the world like this. Gratitude, pride, fulfillment, and hope..even in exhaustion, there is nothing like it. Nothing. I'm so stoked to have this awareness and realization come often! It's needed because honestly, there are just as many tiring/difficult times competing with those beautiful moments, that I could easily forget God's goodness and find hundreds of things to complain about. Here's a few shots of those times of joy...

Here's my daughter Isella sitting in a tub ("Look at me, Papa,") we are using to collect school supplies for our friend Autumn's class in EPA. Her 1st graders who got no crayons and barely any supplies because of CA budget cuts. If you'd like to contribute let me know! She and her co-workers are in huge need.


And here's Lulu, just smiling as usual non-stop with her amazing chubby cheeks, while we got to enjoy some downtown RWC.