We had a surprise car repair today. The water outlet, or its gasket, failed. This is a cooling system issue and so required immediate attention. Kyle and I noticed it this morning after running out to look for something. I really didn’t have CAR REPAIR on my agenda today but after identifying the likely culprit and watching a video with Kyle he thought we could do it. He’s been working on an old car in the driveway so he’s learned something about turning a wrench. So together we tackled the repair and it looks like it worked. It’s much nicer doing an ugly job with someone by your side. Thanks, son.

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4 KJV

I first read this verse in Proverbs a couple of years ago. There have been a few ideas that leaped from the page and almost like a key fitting a lock opened up wisdom to me.

With five children life is chaotic much of the time. There is friction in my spirit because I want a clean crib. A place of order, solitude and less messy. What I have is untidy, always in motion, and too noisy to my liking.

When this verse entered my heart I saw my family for what it is. It’s the blessing that increases our household. We are a team and have one another as a resource to lean on a helping hand, and a Three Musketeers spirit.

The Lord, through Proverbs 14:4, taught me that day the true measure of my blessing.

In uncertain times there is nothing better than a messy, smelly crib full of oxen.

Here is a  video discussing some of the ideas in Proverbs 14:4. Use this time to get closer to the Lord.

I started using Micheal Sealey’s tracks a few months ago when I started hacking my limbic system. People can use this right about now.

Coronavirus 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eta1jAQaRuE

pic.twitter.com/tScTpZyK5y

— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) February 18, 2020

In slow motion, you really get an idea at how violent that accident was… Thoughts going out to Ryan Newman and his family. pic.twitter.com/d2Sg2PgxbV

— PDaley Productions (@PDaleyProd) February 18, 2020

Ryan Newman has been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center pic.twitter.com/J0twhGgQm7

— Roush Fenway (@roushfenway) February 19, 2020

So glad to reveal this secret. She has ridden many many miles having outgrown her current bike. She’s the one child who works for her alone time with me, her father. I don’t know who was more excited, Talon or Daddy?

Thanks to everyone at Elite Cycling and especially Marcelo and Debbie. Today was a special.

Thank you Lord for the day that you provided.

This is my Father’s Day gift. A set of silverware. An odd gift for Dad you might say but you see we have a strange metric to measure our success as a married man and woman with five children. In other words, a God made, natural family.

When Yané and I decided to marry we chose this set to place on our registry. My sister Donna and her husband Joseph delivered the goods. We have enjoyed countless meals with our original set.

Over the years, as we’ve added to our quiver and they learned to clean up after meals, many pieces were accidentally thrown into the trash and delivered to Mt. Trashmore. It’s become one of those inside jokes you share with your spouse alone.

We measure our marriage’s success by how many lost pieces of our original set of silverware have been lost as we build up the next generation.

Man and woman marry. Children follow. Husband and wife, Mommy and Daddy, sons and daughters with a sprinkle of twins. We are intact, not broken just as the Lord intends. Tonight we all eat with the same silverware once again.