Two Years Old!

Maddie turned two yesterday.  I can't believe it!  We celebrated over the weekend with our family.  Maddie was the center of attention, of course.  But it doesn't really take a birthday for that!

We tried teaching her to say "Thank you so much.  I love it!" when she received a gift.  What came out was, "Thank you, so I love it!"

The Steelers happened to play the Bengals over the weekend as well.  Em's family (including me) are Steelers fans while my family (excluding me) are Bengals fans.  Unfortunately, the Bengals came out on top.  But we had a good time.  Here's Maddie with her best friend Dindy (Em's Aunt Cindy).

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is SOCIAL.

• In 2007, for the first time in history, the majority of people lived in urban areas.  Throughout most of the developing world, this results in larger slum populations.
• Nearly 30% of women worldwide give birth before age 18.
• Some 200 million women who wish to space or limit their childbearing lack access ton contraception.
• Nearly one in five parliamentary seats in 2008 were held by women, bringing the percentage to 18% -- with the highest percentages being in Europe and the Americas.  Out of 189 governments, women hold only 13 of the highest positions of state.
• Young peoples ages 15 to 24 represent close to half of the world's increasing number of jobless people -- estimated at 192 million in 2006.  This number is expected to increase by 50 million by the end of 2009.  In many countries, youth are more than three times as likely as adults to be seeking work.  This presents an especially urgent challenge for developing countries, home to 85% of the world's youth.
• Over one-third of all Internet users in the world live in developing countries, whose share of the world's "Internet population" grew by nearly 50% between 2000 and 2003.
• An estimated 20 million children worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and human rights violations.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children?

Are you kidding me? 40 good reasons not to have children. That's the title of a new book by Corinne Maier. Here are the 40 "good" reasons:

• The "desire for children": A silly idea
• Labour is torture
• You avoid becoming a walking pacifier
• You keep having fun
• Rat race plus rugrats: No thanks!
• You keep your friends
• You won't have to use the idiot language when talking to kids
• Open the nursery, close the bedroom
• Kids are the death of desire
• Kids are the death knell of the couple
• To be or to do: Don't decide
• "The child is sort of vicious, innately cruel dwarf" (Michael Houellebecq)
• Kids are conformists
• Kids are a treasure, and will cost you one
• Kids are unbiased allies of capitalism
• A brain teaser: How to keep kids busy
• The parent's worst nightmares
• Don't be fooled by the "ideal child" illusion
• Your kid will always disappoint you
• The horror of becoming a merdeuf
• Parent above all? No, thank you
• Keep the experts at bay
• The family: a horror
• Don't revert to childhood
• It takes real courage to keep saying, "Me first"
• Kids signal the end of your youthful dreams
• You can't stop yourself from wanting your kids to be happy
• You can't get away from your kids
• Get used to it: School is a boot camp
• "Raise" a child...but toward what?
• Avoid benevolent neutrality like the plague
• Parenthood is a sad, sweet song
• Motherhood is a trap for women
• Motherhood or success: Pick one
• When the child appears, the father disappears
• Today's child is the perfect child: Welcome to the best of all possible worlds
• Danger, child ahead
• Why wear yourself out for a future that doesn't include you?
• There are too many children in the world
• Reject the ten absurd commandments of the "good" parent

I might be bias, but I think the title should be changed to 40 Selfish Reasons Not to Have Children. What do you think?

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is on RELIGION.

• Religion around the world is broken down like this: 33% Christians; 21% Muslims; 13% Hindus; 6% Buddhists; 2.3% atheists; 0.4% Sikhs; 0.2% Jewish; 0.1% Baha'is; 12% other; 12% nonreligious.
• Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world.
• Women make up 56% of the adult born-again population.
• Born-again Christians are more likely than the average adult to have volunteered their time to help their church in the past week (32% to 22%, respectively).
• Nearly half of all Americans who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and two out of three born-again Christians(64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday.
• Approximately 69% of Americans believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect Creator who rules the world today.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

It's safe to say Maddie enjoyed herself...

This is in response to my last post. I think it's safe to say Maddie enjoyed herself last night. My apologies for the amateur video footage.

We left the house in disarray. When we got home, Em said, "Oh, I should have cleaned the house before we left." To which Maddie responded, "It's OK." and put her head on Em's shoulder. Hugging Em, she said, "Love you so much."

I took Micah upstairs to get ready for bed and heard Maddie singing, "Dory (Glory) to Dod (God), Dory to Dod, Dory to Dod forever!" while Em was putting her to bed.

Thank you God, for these precious moments!

Maddie's New Song

We're (including Maddie) going to see Fee tonight, so we thought we would teach Maddie a new song.

"Take my life and let it be
All for You and for Your glory
Take my life and let it be Yours"

"Glory to God
Glory to God
Glory to God, forever"

We can't wait to worship with her! Thank you, Fee, for lyrics so simple (yet so profound) an almost-two-year-old can learn them!

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is on CHARITABLE GIVING.

• In 1970, wealthy nations agreed to a goal of spending 0.7% of their gross national product on assistance to developing countries. Through 2007, the amount of aid has been around 0.2% to 0.4%.
• More than 92% of Americans participate at come level of charitable giving.
• Low-income working families are the most generous group in America, giving away about 4.5% of their income on average, compared with about 2.5% among the middle class, and 3.0% among high-income families.
• Top five reasons why people give: (1) Because they are asked to or are presented a giving opportunity; (2) Compassion for those in need; (3) Personally believe in the cause; (4) Affected by the cause; (5) To give back to their community.
• Total giving to charitable organizations increased to $306 billion in 2007, up 3.9% from 2006 (when adjusted for inflation). That accounted for 2.2% of U.S. domestic product.
• 32% of U.S. adults have less than positive feelings toward America's charitable organizations. And only one in 10 strongly agrees that charitable organization are honest and ethical in their use of donated funds.
• Younger donors are more likely to respond positively to messages that focus on the global impact of an organization's work, while older donors are more likely to give to groups that highlight services they provide that the government does not.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

Whose birthday is it?

Unless someone told you, you never would have known I turned 28 today (see below). Yes, I was born on 09/09/81 (mathematical) and today's date is SUPER cool -- 09/09/09.

Em made things festive this morning with candles in our breakfast. Notice it's Maddie's second birthday and my first!


Maddie loves the candles SO much she took one out of her bag (in her lap under the table) and stuck one in her chicken nugget! Wait a minute, whose birthday is it?


She's becoming a pro at blowing them out. Good thing, because she turns TWO in a few weeks!

This has been one of the best birthdays ever. Maddie is at an age where she understands what is going on. I've heard "Hap burt-day to dada!" a number of times and even got two homemade birthday cards covered in Disney princess stickers!

Oh yeah, thanks Em for the "guest post". I know how much you HATE to write and how much more you hate someone to read what you write. I love you so much. Thanks for making this birthday extra special as well!

Happy Birthday to DaDa!!!!

Well, I've got to do this quick, and I really don't know what I'm doing. I'm trying to sneak into your account and do this before you get out of the shower......Plus, you know how much I love to write and even more how much I love for people to read what I write. So sorry no nice long sweet blog from me. Just a simple --we hope you have a great birthday and thanks for being the best dad and husband. Love ya!

Samuel's Memorial Service

The Apinis' posted links to Samuel's memorial service. It was moving, not only because of their loss, but because of their faith. CLICK HERE to check it out. And please, keep them in your prayers.

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is on EDUCATION.

• An estimated 130 million of the world's 15- to 24-year-olds cannot read or write.
• There are 781 million illiterate adults worldwide, and 64% of them are women.
• Nearly 75 million children worldwide are out of school. Some 55% of these children are girls, meaning that for every 90 boys out of school, 110 girls are in the same situation.
• Of the 22 countries where more than half the population is illiterate, 15 are in Africa.
• Only 4.4% of GDP per capita is spent by the public sector on education world wide.
• About 17% of children in developing countries never finish primary school. Household studies show that children are less likely to attend school when they come from poorer families.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

I was the happiest man alive!

I first noticed Emily at Southland Christian Church's Day of Service in June 2003. We were at the same site clearing brush. I recall being taken back by her beauty, but more importantly, her desire to serve.

At the time, I was in one of those started-dating-in-high-school, on-again-off-again relationships. The relationship finally came to an end in April 2004. I found myself sitting through a service one Sunday night. The pastor mentioned his prayer that men would search for a woman like that in Proverbs 31 and that women would strive to be like that in Proverbs 31.

Never having read Proverbs 31, I did so immediately. I was amazed. It was exactly what I had longed for and more importantly, what God longed for me. Now knowing what I wanted and having just ended a long-term relationship, I told God I was willing to wait...a year...five years...ten years. It didn't matter. I knew what I wanted and I was willing to wait. In the meantime, I prayed for her.

Shortly thereafter, I found myself in the same circles as Emily. I hadn't seen her since the day of service. Having remembered what went through my mind that day, I took an interest. She was quiet, didn't talk to "boys" and hadn't dated anyone for a NUMBER of years (the same number of years I had been in a relationship as a matter of fact). She believed God would bring "Mr. Right" into her life, so why fool around? Her family always felt if she was going to go (i.e. get married), she would go quickly -- and she did!

It didn't take long for me to realize she was "the one". There was only one problem -- she was "rooted" in Lexington (i.e. had started her career, her family was in town, etc.) and I was moving to Atlanta. I wrestled with whether or not I should tell her how I felt. I didn't want to say "Hey, by the way, I REALLY like you." and then move several hundred miles away. But at the same time, I didn't want to move without tell her how I felt out of fear of "what could have been".

So I took a chance. I put myself out there and let her know how I felt. I believe we were in the cookbook section of Joseph-Beth. I think I said something profound like, "I have something to tell you. I REALLY like you." As you can imagine, she was shocked. We "stepped outside" to discuss the "bombshell". Than God the feelings were mutual!

Knowing I was moving to Atlanta, we didn't want to waste ANY time. My parents had taken off the week I was moving, so we decided to get married that Thursday night. I actually moved everything to Atlanta, got the apartment ready, and drove back the day of our wedding!

It was an intimate affair -- 15 people in all. It was somewhat of a whirlwind, but I'll never forget how badly my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I was the happiest man alive!

Our "reception" was at the Merrick Inn. They had a room that fit us perfectly. After the dinner, Emily and I drove off to the Cumberland Inn. Our drive to Atlanta was one of the most memorable moments as well. I'll never forget Em sitting with her back against the passenger door, her feet on my lap, smile on her face, sun shinning, country music blaring and the two of us looking forward to starting our lives together.

If I had to do it all over again, I would -- and I wouldn't change a thing! I'd take a wedding on a Thursday night and a honeymoon in Atlanta any day of the week.

I love you sweetheart.

Happy 5-Year Anniversary!

Life is short, God is in control, and He's still good -- SO good!

A year after our friends suffered through a stillbirth (Brooks), I find myself reflecting on the brevity of life again.

Samuel Erik Apinis died after four weeks. Samuel is the son of Bryan and Kathryn. Bryan is on staff with North Point Community Church and is the Director of community groups in our area.

As a group leader, I meet with Bryan on a quarterly basis. We've met three times since our group launched in January.

At our first meeting, Bryan revealed Kathryn was pregnant.

At our second meeting, Bryan revealed "the baby" had a heart condition and would immediately require surgery. Although concerned about the surgery, he seemed more concerned about Kathryn's concern she wasn't going to be able to hold the baby in the days/weeks immediately following the surgery. With Emily pregnant and recalling how it felt not holding Maddie for over six hours after she was born, the news hit close to home.

At our third meeting, Bryan revealed "the baby" wasn't going to require surgery until it was older. We celebrated the news and looked forward to the birth. Micah was a few weeks old at the time. I had forgotten what it was like to have a newborn and reminded Bryan of what was to come.

If you've followed their blog, you're aware of what has happened. I believe Samuel, as well as Bryan and Kathryn, have had more of an impact on the lives of others in four weeks than I have in 28 years.

Their testimony of faith is amazing and I can only hope that Emily and I would respond to tragedy in the same way.

For me, Brooks and Samuel are reminders that life is short, God is in control, and while the outcome can be tragic, he's still good -- SO good.

"I don't know what to do with the fact that God answered all my little requests but did not answer my big one. I am thankful for His faithfulness in the small things, and I continue to trust that He is good and loving. He is my comfort in this new day without Samuel. But I don't know why God didn't save the day and heal my son. I will probably never know. What I do know is this: what God asks of me is my trust in Him, my continued faith, my obedience to Him, and my heart. He wants me to come to Him in the dark times and continue to proclaim His goodness (He IS good!), and He wants me to love Him. Those things I will seek to do with all my heart, but I know some days it will be harder to do than others. I know I can rest in His unchanging grace, and I know on the harder days, He can handle my sorrow, anger, and lack of faith. I will strive to authentically walk this road of grief before me and let God, who did not heal Samuel's heart, now heal mine."