Brody is my only son.  Today is his 12th birthday.  There are times of special occasion where Brody and I do a sleep-over in my bed; just me and him.  We put Big Mama on the couch or she goes to Jazzi’s room.  Because today Brody’s birthday, we did a sleep over last night.

   I think sleeping is a huge waste of time and vastly overrated.  Perhaps this is fueled by the fact that I’m a Baptist sleeper “once awake; always awake.”  It matters not when I wake up, once I’m up, sleep is over no matter if it’s 10,2 or 4 (in the spirit of Dr. Pepper). 

   Brody contorts his way through the night.  I’m not kidding, sleeping for him is an exercise in cardio just from kinetic struggle.  He is constanly changing position, rolling over, flopping his arms on my head, kicking me in the groin with sniper accuracy, etc.  You get the picture.  Thus, when he and I have our “sleep-overs,” he is “asleep” and mine is mostly ”over.” 

   This morning at 2:12, as I was replacing the covers on him for the millionth time, I learned something about being a parent; that’s what we do, we keep them covered.  And it never stops.  We keep them covered.  At night, we keep them covered with sheets and blankets and by day with prayer, love and money.  That’s what our kids cost us, 24 hours a day, because the price of keeping them covered never ends.  And, as a parent, it is an absolute bargain.

   Happy Birthday to my 12 year old son whose dividend of kind blue eyes and heart stopping smile outweigh in one day the cost of covering him for a lifetime.  Brody, you have taught me more about my Heavenly Father, by being your father, than $100,000 of Christian education.  Thanks for the bargain!  I love you!

   In light of the impending holiday season, I want to suggest a must read.  A few years ago I went to the Sugar Bowl to see Ohio State Play Texas A&M.  On my return flight I was trapped in an airport for a day due to a snow storm.  While waiting and waiting and waiting, I was reading David Sedaris’ “Holidays on Ice,” a treatise on holidays that should be canonized like scripture.  I was laughing so hard everyone around me, ergo, on top of me in the airport lobby continually inquired, “What’s so funny?”  After the 15th comment, I simply began reading it out loud for everyone to enjoy.  To this day, it is my fondest memory of being in an airport, a feat which doesn’t require much to top the list.

   The book is a collection of short stories chronicling Sedaris’ sarcastic memories of the holidays while growing up in a New York City home that redefines dysfunction.  This reading is not for the faint at heart. David is an award-winning satirist (read: perveyor of cynicism) who is New York rude and San Francisco gay; however, his writing is so uniquely insightful, you can’t help but laugh.  The first story is by far the best.  He describes his short-lived job as a Christmas elf at Macy’s while trying to sustain himself as a struggling writer.  This story alone, catapulted David into stardom that eventually afforded him the luxury of a home in the south of France with his significant other.  By the way, according to Triumph, the insult comic dog, do you know the most frequently translatated French phrase?  “I surrender.”  Ha, I couldn’t resist.  See, even thinking about Sedaris’ book puts me in a sarcastic mood. 

   If you’re looking to buy it, and you should, go to www.half.com where you can purchase almost any book new and used for next to nothing.  This one is running around $2 right now.

    Happy Holidays.  Read this story and you’ll laugh out loud every time you see an elf in a store from here on out!

   Me, Vic, Teffticle and my brother, John, went to see a movie last night.  Well, we actually went to see buttered popcorn but the movie was an added treat.  It was the new Jesse James movie entitled, “The Assassination of Jesse James By That Coward Robert Ford” which is one of my all time favorite movie titles.  To me, it’s right up there with Willie Nelson’s song title: “At 2 I went home with a 10 and at 10 I Woke Up With A Two.”  That is brilliant.  Anyway…

   In the opening scene the narrator offers a brief dialogue giving us personal insight into Jesse James.  Amidst the brief comments, there was one that caught my attention.  The narrator alluded to Jesse’s love of nature.  In the opening scene it shows him standing in a Missouri wheat field gazing at the beauty of creation with a comment citing Jesse’s love of nature.  Me and Jesse have that in common

   The Bible cites 3 areas of revelation that I know of.  God speaks to us through His Word, the scriptures; through revelation by His Spirit, and the revelation of Himself in creation.  I don’t always know what God means in His Word and am frequently confused by His Spirit.  I also wonder about His meaning in creation too.  For example, what could God possibly reveal to us about Himself by creating mosquitoes?  Teffticle, my friend who is a Biology/Physical Science prof at a nearby college, and, fellow admirer of nature, says that God created mosquitoes as food for other parts of creation.  I say there are better ways to make food than creating ones that carry disease and ruin great summer parties near the water.  And I know I’m right about this one.  I mean come on, we have french fries.  I’m certain God could’ve been more creative on food source than stupid mosquitoes.

   As you can see on this site, I love sunrises especially viewing them out of my home office window in the morning.  I could write every single day something about the dawn of a new day but then most of you would be bored with my meanderings and instead turn to internet addictions more sinful than that of reading into the lives of others via blogging.

   What I love most about my mornings with the Creator amidst His creation is simple: peace.  When the morning light finally crests the trees of my woods to illuminate my pasture and pond, there is a sense of peace that resets my soul.  I can’t explain it nor should I have to.  You either understand what I mean or you don’t.  For those of you whose soul needs a reboot, try the morning sunrise.  If that’s too rough for you, and this is for you Brian Hall, then try a late night moon.  The lunar reset is not as powerful as a sunrise but it does provide peace.  And, it is one of those natural home remedies for insomnia often discussed by women who don’t wear deoderant or shave their legs.  Try it.  Some night when you’re having trouble sleeping, go outside…yes, even in winter, and stare at the moon for 30 seconds.  God’s Divine Nature revealed via creation will bring your body a sense of peace that will allow you to slip back into slumber with relative ease.  Then you’ll know what I’m talking about; you’ll understand, and a peace that passes understanding will clothe you.

This was sunrise on Freedom Farm (my house) yesterday.

This was sunrise this morning. 

What a difference 24 Ohio hours can bring…I love it!