The Best Day Ever

We arose shortly after 6am this morning (not an easy feat to get the boys up early, but they did well). Then we headed to the Mall of America (one of my least favorite places to be). So why do these things I don't like to do on a Saturday (getting up early and going to the mall)? It was all in the name of supporting family friends of ours and their son (Anders' "first best friend") who has Type I Diabetes (diagnosed last spring right after turning 6). Were were a part of "Noah's Needle Ninjas" at the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. It was never a question to not be there.

We spent a while walking around the mall, then waiting for the Lego store to open (which is the only reason the Mall of America exists to us--and our friends' kids happen to be Lego-maniacs as well). We also got to enjoy lunch with their family which was a wonderful way to end the morning--we love time together.

This afternoon we decided to take in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at a local cheap theater we hadn't gotten to explore yet (we loved the mod look of The Riverview). It was the first time we've all gotten to go to the theater together in almost two years (which Nils was too young back then to sit through a movie), and it was nice to enjoy it all together. On the way there Anders declared, "This is the best day ever." Yeah, I guess helping good friends work to end juvenile diabetes and enjoying a movie together on a snowy day is a good way to spend a Saturday.

Sledding on the Plains

This last weekend the boys and I went to my parents' house in Iowa for the weekend for my dad's 60th birthday. One of the things we like to do on the farm in the winter is sled behind the tractor since our hills are long and gradual and not great for sledding. Dad went into town to track down a hood off an old vehicle to use; he found one from an old truck that wasn't the most ideal, but it worked. It got tied behind the tractor and placed upside down. Several layers of blankets were put on top of it along with some ropes to hold onto. With the grandkids he'd go slower, with the adults faster (fast enough to try and get people to fall off--and fast enough that they returned with a several-inch layer of snow). It was beautiful weather for it (if anything, a bit too warm, making us all wet).

Identity

Confession: I think I'm struggling some with my identity (again).

I remember over the years encountering stay-at-home moms who were having similar feelings: not knowing who they were because society didn't put value on them without a paying job. Whenever people meet you or get to know you the first question is: "What do you do?" Admittedly, it's not always easy "I'm a stay-at-home dad."

Part of it is not knowing what's next. I've been in ministry, but we've bought a house so we're not likely to move anytime too soon--and mobility is often needed in finding a job in ministry. And I'm not sure what else to do. Part of me would like to write, but I know it's a long shot to make it as a writer.

No matter, the issue isn't so much about what I do--as long as I do what I'm doing to the best of my ability. The issue is about knowing who I am. And I know who I am (most of the time): a dad, a husband, a sinner & a saint, beloved by God and much more. Sometimes I just need those reminders. Sometimes I need to remember that my worth isn't in what I do but in who I am. Maybe we all need those reminders.

The Winter Carnival

On the way to the zoo today (we hadn't been out for a while and wanted to get some warmth in the conservatory), we decided to take a slight detour and check out the snow sculptures at the fairgrounds from the Winter Carnival. It was a bitter freezing day, so we didn't spend a lot of time looking around, but Nils had fun going through the snow maze. We hope to go back before everything is gone. On a nice winter day, it's a fun place to check out.

The Tom Sawyer sculpture.

Nils trying to find an exit in the snow maze (we found it!--he wanted to go back through it again).

The favorites: A triceratops and a couple T-Rexes.