That's what matters

Well, we had one of those blow ups at our house this week. The kind where everyone in the house gets mad and yells, you think the roof is gonna fall in, then it gets real quiet for awhile and everyone hides in their rooms. One by one each of us creep out and test the waters, sitting around not saying much, hoping no one remembers what took place.

Of course, this happened at a time where I have not been in a good place. I have not been patient lately. Heck, I haven't been patient for 37 years now.....

Anyway, Kathi and I talked and she really made sense to me. This should be one of the happiest times of our lives. Adoptions are final, she can stay home, Caitlyn doing good, getting a new deck and the room completed, we are healthy, etc... It is strange how we get use to our lives to the point we make up stresses and do not appreciate how lucky we are.

What really matters now is sitting with Stephen before bed outside looking at stars and making up stories, giving Chloe a bath and singing silly songs with her, Taking Caitlyn driving and looking at clothes online with her, waking up early to be with Kathi and talk, taking time each month to date my wonderful wife. Thats what really matters.

I read an article online that said "What you choose to do with your children today will be cherished lovingly for decades to come". If we parents are not careful that could say ". What you choose to do with your children today will be hated for decades to come". I have a choice and I want my kids to cherish memories of their dad for years to come. I have to choose to not let stress, pressures, and my baggage to get in the way. For some reason this is very hard for me but I have to remember what really matters....

When I think of this I look back on the memories of my parents and the good far outweigh the bad. I have memories of:

• Dad playing basketball when no other parents ever did
• Youth groups with my parents
• Working (not working) in the yard with dad
• Mom being silly
• Mom singing
• Playing in the pool with the whole family
• Driving to the store with dad
• My parents taking in people in need
• My parents accepting our friends, even when they really knew them..
• Dad and ping pong
• Some talks my parents had as I was older really stuck with my

Not much else to say except what really matters is what is in front of me when I come home from work and I need to somehow put all else aside when I step through that door....