151/365: Father's Day Boycott

Father's Day is tomorrow, and it's nice to celebrate it again.

I boycotted Father's Day for 7 years after my dad died.

When I was sixteen he was killed in a vehicle accident when he was headed to watch one of my games in high school. The accident was obviously horrible, and to make it worse we drove right by the scene on the way home without knowing it was him. It goes without saying that it took me some time to get over what I'd seen and experienced.

The first Father's Day after his passing, I barely made it through church without crying. I went to the cemetery afterward and bawled. If you knew me in high school, you'd know that I hated it when people saw me cry. I started trying to conveniently skip church on Father's Day every year, from then on out. It never fails that it's all about dad, which is great! However it was just a reminder that mine wouldn't be there to stand and be recognized or hear a sermon on how to become a better father, or go to lunch with his family afterward and at the time, it was too much for me. As I got older it got better, but I still dreaded going to church on Father's Day.

Last year was the first time since Dad's died that I felt joy on Father's Day. We now are parents and I'm blessed to have a wonderful and loving father for my children. I guess you could say my Father's Day Boycott has been lifted.


I'm thankful for the limited amount of years I had to spend with my earthly father. I also pray that Jaden and Baby L have many years with their daddy.

{Jaden and Stephen : 2010}

{me and Dad: 1985}

Thank you Lord for blessing me with a father whose love was unconditional. Thank you for my husband who is a Godly example for my boys.

150/365- like dad

Jaden is going through the imitation stage. He takes my sunglasses off and puts them in his head every time he sees me with them. He cracks me up. I love it.

Most sons want to be just like their father at some point. I know I still do in a lot of ways. But we should all take the lesson from Jaden to imitate our heavenly Father. He loves it when we do. I wonder if it even makes Him laugh... I'd like to think His joy turns to laughter sometimes. After all, He created us to laugh... Where do we think that characteristic comes from?

Happily,
Steve

149/365- Sneaky Devil

No bones about it, Satan is hazardous to life. Perhaps, biohazardous? People say that you don't have to worry if things are getting tough as a Christian. It's when things get easy that you need to question what you're doing. They say that (whoever "they" are) because when Satan doesn't view you as a threat, He doesn't need to mess with you. He can. He just doesn't need to.

It's when things get rough, when life seems unbearable and when people criticize you, that usually you're on the right track. James tells us to, "consider it a joy" when trouble comes your way. It's the growing pains of faith. Nothing ever grows in the midst of being comfortable. So I encourage you today. If life is tough. Good. If people are trying to tear you down. Wonderful! Give it to God and let Him grow you. It's in the darkest nights that Christ shines the brightest.

His,

Steve

148/365- Wise carpenter once say...

"...nobody wins in a hammer fight."

Or maybe I said that? Sounds like something I'd say. Random, yet sound advice. I believe I said this after being threatened to be hit with a hammer (jokingly) by a former carpenter employer/friend.

I don't remember all the details, but my imagination remembers something like the following. I made a smart remark to my employer-friend one day at work and he responded with the threat of physical brutality... hammer in hand... smile on face. So, in the spirit of a fair fight, I drew my weapon (hammer) from its sheath (tool belt) and smirked. "Nobody wins in a hammer fight," I quipped. It was like a showdown at the OK corral... only cheesier. Then we both backed down and went back to work.

You may be asking, "What is the point of this story?" Well, my friend, the moral of the story is this. Our words are like hammers. When we attack people with gossip, backbiting, and slander, most people respond in kind. Because hurt people... hurt people... and nobody wins.

-Steve "Confucius" Loeffler

147/365- 7...8....9... and they're UP!!!

Holy Cow!!! What a dramatic turn of events! What seemed to be a sure ten count is saved by an unexpected "tag in"!!! Ladies and gentlemen, it is a Christmas Miracle!!! (in June)

Okay, so it's really not all that dramatic... but as you can tell, MK is quite busy and in need of a temporary R and R from blogging. Since I have been very occupied over the last few months, its only fair that I take over for a while. Stand by for bad photography, lots of misspellings, and some mind numbing thoughts.

146/365: Goodbye

We are failures and I'm feeling the need to put the blog on hold for a while. Since we are now 11 behind, and I'm up to my ears in work this week I don't have the time to grace you with anything interesting to say. My friend Nikki says we should always speak with beneficial purpose, and even though I don't follow this as often as I wish I did, it's unfair to make you all read junk, and that's what it will be, junk, if I attempt to catch up on here, 11 posts, by myself. So, for now 365, you are on hold.

Life has just gotten in the way.

my bad.

Stephen may not be done, but for now, I'm out.

145/365: Bouncing Baby

Just in case you missed this on facebook...

Happy Wednesday.