SeizingMyDay

Our Weekend in Tahoe with Micah and Jeremiah

What a blessing...and a challenge...to spend a weekend with our favorite grandchildren, Micah and Jeremiah, in favorite spot, Lake Tahoe! That describes it well. It was a blessing and a challenge.

First, Lorie and I are reminded of how all-consuming it is to have young children. There is the quantity of clothes and stuff you have to take with you just to get by--child seats, extra clothes, snow clothes, toys, movie players, DVD collections, medicine, "time-out" carpets...and earplugs! Yes, we drove from LA to Cooperopolis for a big surprise--Jeremiah and Micah were going to their first visit to Tahoe with Grandma Lorie and Papa Abba...alone! Yes, mom and dad were getting a two days off, and we were getting our first grandparent survival test!

We loved almost every minute of the experience. There was the three hour drive to Tahoe with high-decibel discourse coming from the back seats. There were kicks, blaming statements, intermittent tears and, of course, a series of warnings from the front seat--"Are we going to have to stop the car?" We didn't. Like all parents who point out the beautiful scenery; they didn't seem to care about what was going on outside the car. They wanted to know when we get there, and whether there would be plenty of snow.

There was quite a bit of snow for this time in the season and a threat of more to come that weekend. It did during the night before we had to drive out in that snow! But that is yet to come.

Within moments of arriving at our shared home in Stateline, the boys had their clothes and toys all over the house. We were trying to establish order; they were trying to create chaos. Lorie and I are still not sure which side won. We learned the importance of "getting kids tired" by hiking them, letting them play at playgrounds in the park and at McDonalds. Micah and Jeremiah, to their credit, play hard and get along well with other kids. They make friends and they race through every tunnel, every slide, and every swing set. We were proud of them. They enjoyed their hike to the lake through the reserve at Stateline. I took turns putting the boys on my shoulders...which will never be the same. We raced; we threw snowballs at each other; we laughed and we loved. They touched Lake Tahoe for the first time. We added that memory to our past joys associated with the hike. We used to take Runner and Sunshine to this area and watch them run. It was their favorite place. We hope the kids felt the same thing.

The first night was a challenge and a joy. There was the nightly reading to settle them down. Micah, who is now reading well, did most of the reading. He has made so much progress and loves to read and sing. It was a blessing. We then went to the rooms for stories. I told them stories, and they told me their own. They tried to stay in the same room, but that was not working. We split them up and put music in the hallway. They went to bed at 8:15, and we were in bed by 9:15. No TV, and barely time to get online to check e-mail. I can see why parents have a hard time keeping up with news or life! I was up twice during the night to put the kids back to bed and encourage them when they were afraid. I was suddenly glad that we went to bed early.

Saturday, we took a hike near the home by the creek. We went further than Sean and I had ever gone when he was a child. These kids are "true boys;" they love to take risks and take on the world. later we hiked at Emerald Bay to Eagle Lake with Micah leading the way. We then went back to McDonalds for food and more play time. Again the boys made a new set of friends. We went from there to the movies...to rest the grandparents...and take in the only "G" movie playing--"Meet the Robinsons." We loved the movie. It was a positive movie about adoption and the importance of "Keep Moving Forward" instead of getting stuck on past failures. We loved the movie...but like the scenery...we fear the message was lost on the kids. I guess that is what parenting is all about--thousands of such messages over and over again with the hope that some sticks. Lorie and I came to appreciate how great a job Sean and Nicole were doing to give the kids positive, faith-filled messages instead of just letting the kids watch anything. We tried to hold to those standards. It seems to be paying off for these two wonderful boys.

The final night brought more reading and more stories...and a great nights sleep with not a single interruption. Unfortunately, the great snow we wanted came when we were leaving. We had to drive through it instead of play in it. That was not as much fun, but thanks to four-wheel drive, we made it without chains back to Cooperopolis and...rest...for grandparents.

We not only survived the experience. I think they had fun and a new set of memories. We certainly have memories we will treasure. It was challenging but worth every minute it took to make it happen. After all, that's what grandparents are for--breaks for parents, memories for kids, and love...lots of it! What will I remember most, the moments I had with each boy to say how special they were and how proud we were to have them in our family.

A Perfect Weekend with our Grandkids and the Family of God

What a great weekend in Copperopolis and Murphys! I guess any weekend with your grandkids has to be that way. Papa Abba and Grandma Lorie are in town--tackle the old man and don't let him up! That seemed to be their opening game plan from the moment we entered the house. Participating in energy in overdrive is fun, even when you are the target of all the actions. Arms grabbing my head, the other boy leaping onto my back, and little boys seem to call this love.

Unfortunately, Nicole was not feeling well and had retired to their bedroom to try to get some rest...highly unlikely any sleep with the noise coming from all the action in the living room. Sean cooked the meal, and we gladly ate it. The boys are still a handful but you can see such progress. The need structure and respond to it. Just when you feel they could get out of control, there may be a brief time on their carpet square or a calming story. They do respond. Micah is talking much more clearly, and Jeremiah is just talking...period...all the time. His engaging smile makes him hard to resist; he's got a little spark in his eyes that lets you know fun is coming whether you like it or not. His mind is a steel trap. One of the words I often use as an exclamation is "Chiwawa." He remembers it--Papa Abba says "Chiwawa." We can look forward to some fun years ahead as they both grow into young men.

It was also a week of affirmation in the power of the family of God wherever you are. Whether it was dinner Friday night with Sean's mentor and his wife, Dave and Jill Kinney, a men's prayer breakfast in a ranch bunk house next to a roaring fire and pond, or worshiping for the first time with Sean's new Copper Canyon Baptist Church, God's Spirit was evident throughout the weekend. God is so good.

There is nothing more exciting than to feel God moving in a mighty way in this new church. Every Sunday, new people come to see the new pastor. It's contagious. Instead of being comfortable, people are challenged to make it their church and to keep it alive and growing. Even more exciting as a father is to watch your son being used by God, and to sense that he has found his calling. Whether it's the relationships you see him build or the sermons he delivers, you sense he is tapping God's Holy Spirit in a strong way. There is much I can learn from my son's journey. I look forward to a time we can spend more time with him and his family, our grandchildren and the family of God Sean is helping to shape in Copperopolis.

It's back to LA, but part of our heart remains in the Gold Country Sean now calls home.

Passing the Grandfather Test and Dealing with the Loss of a Dog We Love

What a joy to spend time with Micah and Jeremiah! I'm reminded of the importance of giving yourself to being a grandparent instead of trying to fit it in with the "important things of life" that I just "have to get done." On a scale from one to ten, grandchildren are a clear ten! They are the future, and it takes the present to launch that future.

After two days of swimming, sliding, playing and talking with two very special young men, I'm in love, I'm bruised and a bit tired, and looking forward to the rest I will get flying away to speak to old folks in an audience who will sit quietly and listen to what this old man has to say. This isn't work to leave; it's relief.

Micah is a bundle of energy. He's fast and strong and ready to take on any challenge. His mouth gets moving as fast as his feet, and I have yet to master his dialect! Seriously, he's improving in speaking and I work at listening...but we both have far to go. He is a sensitive boy who can get on a "bad attitude roll" and just as likely be a loving and gentle brother. He makes friends easily and loves to play. He loves video games and is good at them. Of course, when his competition is his grandfather, this is no competition at all. All my victories are happy accidents!. It will be exciting to watch him grow up before our very eyes. He knows we love him. He thinks I'm silly, and he is right.

Jeremiah is also full of energy, but his mouth is more engaged than any other part of his being. He is quick to speak his mind. At the church service, he was the only boy to talk during my children's sermon. He talked about water sticks; I learned later that they are the plastic animals you throw in pools that sink so that you can dive to retrieve them. I'm not sure how they related to God, but Jeremiah felt there was an obvious connection. During the prayers, the congregation would respond to a sentence prayer with "Hear our prayer." Every time the congregation responded, Jeremiah was the church echo repeating "Hear our prayer." to the delight of everyone including God. I took time later to tell him that God may call him to be a preacher like his dad or a speaker like his papa Abba! He thought that might be true. He's a thinker.

If you haven't guessed, I love being a grandfather. My son and his wife are doing the hard work parents have to do with consistent love, limits and discipline and we can see that the children are already better for it in less than a year! God is good, and so are they. We are on their team forever.

Now, I got to leave town before they left. Lorie had the challenge of babysitting one final night. She was tested and challenged but passed the test as well. I think in the future, it will take both of us to keep order. We will get better at this.

In the sadness side of life, we have decided that our Dalmatian Sunshine is fading badly. Her heart murmur is getting worse. She has a growth on her back and a cyst in her throat area that keeps filling with blood and saliva. Most importantly, her hind legs are giving way to a neural breakdown. It's like she doesn't know what they are doing. She can walk, because in movement, the back legs perform their function. But when she stands still, her back legs slowly give way. She can't feel them. It is sad to watch. She can't hear, and only her walks, food and love for us keeps her going. After our vet visited us today, we decided that we would make an appointment to put her down in mid-August. I want to be there with her. Just telling that to Nancy today, had all of us crying. We love her so. She has been a wonderful dog, but she is failing. I don't want to be away, and have others have to put her down.

Contrasting the life-giving force of being a grandparent to watching age take its toll on our family dog is one of the tensions of life that keeps every day a strange blessing.

Making Grandchildren Feel Special Is a Grandparent's Job

At the 2006 National Speakers Association Convention in Orlando, it was great to reconnect with all our speaking friends...if you could find them in 1700 milling attendees! there were the usual great performances, good food and plenty of KEEPERS to put into action on my return.

But with Micah and Jeremiah coming to visit tomorrow, it was the comment of two speakers on some very special grandparents that got me thinking about my own role. How do you leave a legacy that lasts?

Phil Van Hooser's grandmother would make it a point of introducing each grandchild to anyone who would listen. She would go from child to child, placing her hands on their shoulders. With Phil, she would proudly announce that he was "Phil Van Hooser and he was a going to be the first Van Hooser Baptist Preacher!" Phil did not become a preacher, but he sure watched them as they preached. He watched how they used their voice and gestures. If he was going to be the first preacher, he was going to do it well. Phil never felt the call to the ministry, but he did feel God's pleasure as a speaker. I'm sure she is smiling down from heaven at his "ministry" as a speaker.

I have decided that I need to do the same with my grandchildren. My introductions might go like this:

"This is Micah and he's gifted with energy and athleticism and will be a great athlete. He's so good to his better that he will be a great team player making others better."

"This is Jeremiah and he's got such an active mind. He loves to talk with enthusiasm. He might be a talker or preacher some day."

Dr. Wayne Sofile, a psychologist who spoke on work-life balance, also was impacted by his grandmother and her sustaining love. Every time Wayne would see his grandmother, she would say, "Sit down next to me. Hold my hand. Let me look at you!" Even at forty-five, she did the same thing. There was a quiet assurance of love in a hectic world.

May I take the time to do the same with Micah and Jeremiah. After all, we do grandmothers always leave the legacy? What special things did your grandparents do that made a difference to you?

Dedication Day for Micah and Jeremiah

When you add Mothers Day and Dedication Day for our two new grandchildren, Micah Dale Paulson and Jeremiah Michael Paulson, you have one special weekend. We drove to Sean and Nicole's new rental home in Murphys, just 10 miles from Angels Camp. The move has turned out to be a blessing with more of a set schedule for Sean's ministry and more of a secure home for Micah and Jeremiah. Each boy has their own room and the yard is a fun place to play.

It was Nicole's first Mothers Day, and she deserved all the accolades she received. Her love, patience and warmth are part of why the boys have grown so in the last few months. Their vocabulary and diction have both improved. Jeremiah has made the most progress, but Micah is making strong strides. This new family is a gift for all involved.

The dedication service was moving...and the boys kept moving throughout! Boys will be boys, and these two are certainly boys. You always have to keep your eyes tuned to a surprise attack, but at the service, they were excited.

At the brunch after the service, we gave both boys their silver dog tags with their names, birthdays, Bible verses and the verse itself (Bible according to Terry in order to fit in the space provided). The dog tags were a big hit claiming these young boys for God..

Micah Dale Paulson, October 7, 2000, Micah 6:8-“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Jeremiah Michael Paulson, December 30, 2001, Jeremiah 29:11-“I have plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

We wrote in their letters that they were very special children of God and that we looked forward to watching and helping them grow into strong men of God. We let them know that we loved them, and that we would be in their corner supporting them all the way with love and prayer.

It is now our jobs to live up to the dedication promise we have made by living footprints of faith for these two young boys.