That could create a crazy-looking picture. Dont’ worry. No one has peanut butter stuck in their ears, at least I didn’t see any after lunch today. But Micah and Evan do enjoy saying, “Pea-Bu.” Thank God for George Washington Carver.

But they don’t so much like their ear infections. But they have medicine, the infections will be gone by Easter, and just in time for our roadtrip to Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and everywhere in between.

Sometimes I have as much of an idea of what is going to happen tomorrow as the local weatherman. They had predicted as much as 16 inches of snow for us a few days ago. Yesterday morning it was down to a foot. Last night it was more like 5-10 inches. And this morning they said 3-8 inches.

We barely got one lousy inch of snow.

Any of your future plans ever evaporate like snow on their way to reality? My plans seem to do that pretty regularly. In fact, I love to plan my days, schedule out the week, the month, or even the year and prepare myself for what to expect each day. That’s the part I love.

But I don’t love interruptions. I’m sitting down, accomplishing tasks, checking off my to-do list, and then someone wonders in aimlessly, or so it seems, into my life. They interrupt. They want to talk. They actually care about me. But don’t they see I’m trying to get things done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slowly I’m realizing that life is actually happening in the interruptions. These interruptions aren’t planned, but they are purposeful. And I’m thinking so many of the things I pray to God about are being answered…in the interruptions.

So say it with me, “I love interruptions! I love interruptions! I love interruptions!”

I love interruptions…at least I’m trying to love them.

So we got even more snow yesterday, just about 2 inches. But it was light and wet, and very good for snowballs. And Micah and Evan and I went outside for about an hour and played in the snow yesterday morning. But the snowman didn’t exactly come together so well, and I can’t exactly blame it on the boys. Well, tell me what you think of our snowman.

And by the way, Micah knocked over the snowman just a few minutes later. I can’t believe he destroyed this masterpiece of fine art.

You know what they say about the month of March: “In like a lamb out like a lion” or vice versa. Well, for us and for a lot of the Midwest that means “out like a lion.” We had about 13 inches of snow yesterday and blizzard conditions. It took one of our neighbors 5 HOURS to drive home from work yesterday afternoon and evening.

Today the boys got to go outside and enjoy it a little bit. But they are a little hesitant to just jump right in the snow and have all kinds of fun. Enjoy these pics and the weather wherever you are!

Okay, so not every family is like the Duggar Family but I think there is a great benefit in having a family. It is the ultimate “life together.” And coming from a family of 5 children I tend to think of more children as more fun.

And Jackie and I are taking that to heart…she is pregnant and due October 7th! No twins this time but still so much to learn ahead! Enjoy the journey!

On Friday I was talking with my friend, Linda, and she was telling me about the joys of being a mom and a grandparent. Linda has noticed that when she spends time with her grandchildren now that she doesn’t have all the stresses and concerns watching young children like she did when she was a young mother.

“Real nice!” I thought. It would be a pretty good gig to watch children for a few hours or even a few days and then return them to their parents. It would probably be nice to do the same with students that we teach and just warn them not to let the door hit them on the way out at the end of the semester. And it would maybe be the most wonderful thing of all to let the people we lead do whatever they want (perhaps even preferably some place else).

But I don’t think that is what Linda is trying to say. I think she realizes it is really hard work to parent, to lead or to teach, especially when you are in the midst of it. But there is great joy to know that your labor (for mom’s quite literally) was not in vain. In fact, seeing the results of your hard work months, years, or even a generation later is really rewarding. And I think it’s even more rewarding to to envision how rewarding the work you are doing today will be in years to come.

I would even argue that the more we envision the positive results of our hard work today as parents, teachers, and leaders in the years to come the more meaningful our labor and struggles today become. In other words, let us teach like we can see what life is like when we are retired teachers, live like we have spent years as learned leaders, and enjoy the life of being grandparents because WE CAN actually see that today.

Live like grandparents.

The idea of parenthood and leadership is to raise up children and leaders to be better than me. I know that seems pretty simple, but it also means that I need to make that happen today. So here’s what I’m doing…

1. Prayer: I’m praying every day for Micah and Evan that God would raise them up to have a much greater impact in the world than I ever will. I’m praying that they remain faithful to the Lord and also content with all that he provides. I’m praying that every day they will experience anew the forgiveness of Jesus Christ in their lives. I’m also praying the same things for the people I have the privilege to lead.

2. Together: I’m doing life together with them. I spend as much time as I can, but commit to at least 2 hours daily with Micah and Evan. I live life with them on their level: build block towers with them, chase after them, tickle them, and read books with them. And I let them live life with me: eating breakfast together, blogging together, and playing the guitar together. As much as I can I experience life with the people I’m leading: meeting monthly, sharing our dreams and frustrations, and leading different service opportunities together.

3. Breakout: I’m not an expert, but I’m learning to take great joy in Evan or Micah spilling my oatmeal on all of us when they take the spoon and try to eat the oatmeal by themselves. It’s only when I give them the freedom to break out on their own that they can experience what comes with the successes and failures of trying something new. And they get to try these things in a safe environment (almost every stain comes out somehow). After doing life together with leaders, I need to let them breakout too, to soar, and to lead on their own. I’m letting go and watching people soar, and I must say it’s pretty amazing.

I don’t think there is much more rewarding of an experience than to see my children or the people I lead become better than me. Any other ideas about how to make everyone better than me?

I’ve decided to change the blog title to “parent/leadership” because I’m noticing so many similarities between the two. Plus, I took a vote to see if I should change the title and the decision was unanimous.

So hear’s the deal…it’s hard work to be a parent/leader. I know you’re thinking, “Thank you Captain Obvious.” (That was for you, Molly.) But you can do things in two different ways or go down two different roads. Both take up a lot of time. Both keep you very busy, but only one road gives the results you want.

You can be a manager instead of a leader. You can start all kinds of programs. Give yourself all kinds of things to do. Even let others do tons of things. And then you will not take the time to invest in people, not apprentice them in the areas that they will lead, and  not release them into leadership. You can die right along with your organization because you have no vision and nowhere to lead people. That’s the easy road.

You can be an assignment giver instead of a teacher. You can give all kinds of homework or maybe none at all. You can read through the day’s assigned reading for the lecture and bore every student to tears. You can ask no questions and get no answers. And you can have no goals for yourself or the class and see how you will reach every one of them. That’s the easy road.

You can be a babysitter or a parent. You can let them stay up as late as they want and fill their bellies with candy every day. You can watch your children and not really care for them. You can ignore problems and pretend to be upset. You can let bad habits develop and not discipline them. You can let your children turn into the child you wish you had never become. That’s the easy road.

Don’t take the easy road. Realize your purpose in life. Understand the vision God has for you and your organization. See the potential in other people. Add value to their lives. Spend time with students. Challenge the typical learning process. Change your children’s diapers because you would do anything for them and know they may be changing your diapers one day. Discipline your children with love because you only want the best for them. Care for them because there is no greater joy.

Don’t take the easy road.

If you’re a parent, or even if you lead people, do you ever think this? My children (followers) are teaching me more than I could ever teach them. Being a parent or leader is a humbling thing. I realize time and time again that I don’t know what I’m doing at all. I’m just going on instinct, which at times isn’t so great, and at other times (only thanks to my wonderful parents and my wonderful wife) actually works really well. Every day I’m constantly being taught by Micah and Evan about how to be a better Dad. Here a couple thoughts…

1. I am selfish. Being a parent teaches me not to be. I’m not saying that you should give up your hobbies, dates with your spouse, or anything else necessarily. I’m just saying as a parent or leader you have to be willing to give, to be unselfish, to sacrifice, and to actually enjoy it. I have grown to love eating my oatmeal every morning and drinking my orange juice knowing that I will be able to share it with two wonderful boys. They are wonderful teachers.

2. I need to be one step ahead. I don’t know even close to everything about parenting. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’m a .5. But I have discovered that to be a good parent or leader I simply need to stay one step ahead of Micah and Evan, to hunger for knowledge in parenting, and to talk to other parents. I’m learning every day. I have to.

3. I say I’m sorry a lot. I don’t normally intentionally try to do things to hurt Micah and Evan, but sometimes I say or do or don’t say or do things that cause them pain or show off my selfishness again. But I ask God or Micah and Evan or Jackie to show me where I’m wrong and ask for forgiveness. It’s a good thing. Plus hugs and kisses from cute little boys are absolutely great!

Parenting and leading bring humility to the front of my life every day, and I’m learning to love it.

How about you?

Evan gave me a great idea about our next blog series. He insisted that we go out and play on the playground outside our home today since it’s about 60 degrees and sunny. Don’t want to rub that in too bad! Okay, yeah I do. But it could snow here tomorrow too.

He thought it was so great that I would lift him up on to the playground, then climb up behind him, let him go down the slide first, and then follow him down the slide. He just laughed, talked, and smiled so much. It was great.

So I guess I’ll let Evan and Micah write this blog series since it seems at times they know more about parenting than I do. Let’s just say this won’t come from an expert’s point of view–more like a novice.

And don’t just assume if you’re reading this and you don’t have kids that you should take a pass. There’s a lot to learn about relationships, self-control, and love that would help any reader that our boys want to share this time around. And if you have any suggestions for topics or questions to cover in this series…you know what to do.

Be on the lookout for some good blogging.