Sunday = "Son"Day...

Hi Max!

We've fallen into a pleasant pattern. Sundays have become "Son"days. A full day of daddy and you playing, learning, eating, goofing, and everything in between. Today, we continued our fun:

I got up, got the paper, let Lucky out for his morning ritual =0), made some coffee, and got a cup of water. You were ready to get up soon thereafter. After changing you, we ate eggs together. That was fun. We played a little bit and read the paper together - you LOVE the car section and this week was THE AUTO SHOW so of course you got ink all over yourself (and me). I'm sure we are breaking a parenting law there, but you LOVE the cars. "Car?" Yes!

After the paper, it's JOEL! We love Joel. He was inspiring this morning talking about God's ability to accelerate our success. You sat still through the whole thing - you know how much daddy loves to watch Joel. You seem to watch him and understand as well. Do you? =0)

Dishes were next, but of course we had to play before we made it there and BAM! We knocked a picture off the table. It had glass in the frame and that broke. Why do I have glass in any frames?! So you got to watch me sweep up and throw away the glass. We did the dishes and you REALLY helped. You handed me the spoons and forks and I put them away. Not ready for you to help me with the glass, but cups and silverware were perfect. That was fun!

We played some catch with the soft football your aunt Joyce gave you. You cackled for a while, and then you were tired. Just like that! Like a switch went off, you were ready for your nap. You are napping now so I have time to post.

What a great morning as we celebrate another super Sonday! I love that Sundays have become Son-Day. Let's keep this ritual forever. Okay? =0)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

The Father's Love Letter

My Child

See the original at http://www.fathersloveletter.com

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in My image. Genesis 1:27
In Me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are My offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, all your days are written in My book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts of you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Ps 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father and I love you even as I love My son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of My being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of My son Jesus, you receive Me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from My love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is - Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad,

Almighty God

Hi Max!

I ran across this when I was doing some research for a meeting with James Nellis, Kristan Cole, and a few other CyberStars in Phoenix. I miss you tremendously - you're now in the 1-year old (BIG BOY) room at day care, you are learning sign language (milk and more), and this was a big week for you. Also, when I kissed you goodbye at the airport, you leaned over and reached to me with both your arms - AWW! It crushed me, tugged at my heart. Tough to leave when I have to be away from you. I love you with all my heart.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

You had a great 1st Thanksgiving!

<-- Max conks out on Aunt Susan's lap.

Hi Max!

I can't wait until you can read this blog. We are getting tens of thousands of hits per month! People like to "hear" our conversations. :)

You had a great Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend. We went to mom's for lunch and Sheri's aunt and uncle's for dinner. I've found my place in the pecking order now.

We went to mom's and when we walked through the door, it was "Hi Michael, Hi Sheri, where's Max?" Aunt Lisa (OK) immediately put you in her arms and was off to the back room to sit with you. Sheri and I were like, "hi, good to see you too." We sat down to eat and the topic of conversation was of course, "How's Max?" I am now Max's Dad and Sheri is now Max's Mom. We've lost our identities, or is it that we've gained a new one?

For the rest of lunch, you were tossed between another Aunt Lisa (MO), Aunt Susan, Grandma, and cousins Marisa and Elizabeth. You slept through the whole thing bless your little heart. It was like watching a bunch of women at a K-Mart blue light special on soft fuzzy sweaters. There was more grabbing, pulling, dirty looks, and mini-tug-of-wars than the last piece of chocolate cake at a Jenny Craig convention. Crazy. How you remained composed and cooing with so many beautiful women doting over you I have no idea? No really, I have no idea. =0) And we still had another Thanksgiving to go to!

10 minutes later we are at Sheri's uncle and aunt and it was a replay of the Maher's Thanksgiving. Another Aunt Lisa (KS) sat her daughter down and immediately took you off Sheri's hands. She's so nice. The food, packages and bags we had would have been nice to have help with as well, but for some reason, she helped with you. =0) All the great-aunts were on you like a duck on a Cheeto. Geez, what is it about ladies and cute little babies?

Sheri and I ate in silence at a table in the dining room. We could hear the crickets chirping. The room was cold and dark. In the next room, it was light and sunny. The women were cackling, yes cackling. Is that even a word? If it's a word it has to mean the sounds mother hens make over a new chick. If it's not a word, it is now a word that means "sound mother hens make for a new chick". I've always thought Sheri's family was weird, but in this case, they were just like my family.

{Side story: We were driving to my mom's and talking about this that and the other and Sheri asked, "If a herd is a group of cows, a flock is a group of seagulls, what is a group of turkeys? Is it a gaggle?" I said, "It's called a soetaert." By the way, her maiden name is Soetaert. I'm witty if you didn't know it." =0) She didn't laugh, but I thought it was funny.}

Max, you handled it all like a pro, but when you got home, you were exhausted from being "on" all day and immediately conked out. You sleep like an angel.

On a day called Thanksgiving, Sheri and I were the most grateful parents in the world. We are so thankful for having you in our lives. You are the sun of our solar system - energizing us, lighting our days, and the center of everything we do - truly a sun of a son. And the aunts would agree, you are a hottie. =0)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)