Monthly Archives: July 2008

Saturdays With Daddy!

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A few weeks ago, I started taking Jack to IHOP for “Saturday Mornings with Dad”. For details of last Saturday, check out millettkids.com. In this post I want to share my thoughts and motivation behind Saturday mornings.

Before we had kids I always imagined going on frequent dates with my kids. Now I can, and I’m thrilled. It’s a lot of fun and very important. I think every family member benefits from me taking the kids out on a Saturday morning.

First, my kids are blessed by time with daddy. I have to fight off selfishness every night I return from work. I only have about two hours each night with them. When you add dinner, Bible studies, and having friends over, bath time or an evening stroll around the “lake” is SO valuable! The opportunity for them to be with me for an unhurried, extended period during the day is rare. Although conversation is slim to none, considering Jack’s vocabulary is extremely limited to “mom”, dad”, “dude”, and various grunts and head nods, I know that the time is special to him. He gets pancakes, scrambled eggs, apple juice, and daddy all to himself. When Katie is old enough to enjoy pancakes she will join us, but for now she is content to lie there looking at her mobile. I look forward to when Katie will join us.

Second, I am blessed by quality time with my kids. Throughout the week I see pictures of fun things the kiddos do with Mommy and the memories they make. While I enjoy my job, it is hard to be away from the family. This is my opportunity to make memories with them. It also gives me perspective and appreciation for what Jamie accomplishes every day.

Third, it blesses Jamie. Of course she never wants to miss out on a memory, but being a mom is hard work. Being a MOMMY is even more tiring. Giving her a few hours of solitude every weekend is a practical act of love. It allows her time to rest, rejuvenate, and refocus. Sometimes that will look like an uninterrupted nap, an extended time in the Word, or running errands. She is free to choose how she uses that time.

As the kids get older this time will allow us to strengthen our relationship. While Jack and I cannot discuss questions he has right now, he is a smart boy, and I know he recognizes the consistency of this activity. I trust that the fun he has and the regularity of it will communicate love to him.

A Lesson in Not Delaying a Post

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Right before July 4th I was sharing with a staff member some of the recent music I had downloaded. Great worship stuff. She shared with me an artist I was not familiar with named Brooke Fraser. I went to her myspace music page and was instantly hooked when I listened to her song “Albertine”. I also watched the video on youtube. Visions of Invisible Children flooded my mind! I downloaded the entire album on itunes for $5.99 and shared it with a friend who just returned from India. When I got back from visiting family in Grass Valley I read this from Josh Harris. Then I saw this from Francis Chan. This made me even more excited! It is a great cd and I highly recommend you buy it. And when you listen to that song, think about what you are responsible for.

Sadly, it is no longer $5.99. Bummer. Lesson learned.
Here is the song:

I Get Paid to Play

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When people ask how work is going there are so many possible answers. I’m trying not to say “fine” (or anything remotely close to that) anymore. It’s too easy and it’s a conversation killer. ELABORATE! The reality is that I have a very unique job. At times it is hard to explain. Not many people my age, trying to support a family, can say they played basketball, Guitar Hero, and spoons at work and got paid. Granted, that is not all I do everyday, but there is that element and I am thankful for it.

Summer Camp is a blast, AND TIRING, and I am right in the middle of it. Had you asked how work was on Wednesday, I would have described the following clip. We took the kiddos to Knott’s Berry Farm. I got to walk around the park with two other directors. I am not a huge rollercoaster fan but I wanted to be a good sport, so I found myself on the first row of “Xcelerator“. Luckily for us the cameras were rolling. Let me set this up for you even more. On the drive down I listened to a sermon by C.J. Mahaney on Humor (more on that later) and he pointed out that you should be comfortable with people laughing at you. Well, here you go! And yes, that is the face of sheer fear!

Why Do I Like (Love) Conferences?

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Many of my family and friends joke with me and tease me (in an uplifting way, of course) about how much I love conferences. Well, apparently John Piper feels the same way I do. Obviously he says it better than I ever could, but he echoes many of the thoughts I have toward God-honoring conferences. The challenge for me in the weeks following the conference is to evaluate what I have heard and prayerfully ask God to break into my life. Resolved 2008 is a perfect example. I encourage all of you to attend a conference once a year so you ask yourself “what are we here for?” and “what are we doing with our lives?”. But what about the teaching I receive at my church every Sunday? It seems that God can use conferences in a unique way to make “life-changing adjustments”. John Piper believes conferences are important and explains why. Check it out!