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!