Where Is the Happy Ending?

I am the father of two young daughters who are now of an age in which playtime and imagination consist largely of princesses, princes, and other fairy things. The older child is also developing a sense of the happy ending, the resolution to the crisis encountered in the tale, the promised chaste kiss awakening to [...]

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Kansas Spring

Springtime in Kansas is fecund with verdant grace. January calves follow their mothers. The coyote brood wends its way over the Flint Hills. It is a time of joy and expectation, and a promise of merciful work to come. Into this bright joy, a father comes, his own daughters, like little lambs, skipping before him [...]

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Happy Sixth Birthday to Our Little Girl, Sofie!

Born at 18:40 on this day in 2003. One of the loves of my life. As I’ve related before: An answer to the prayers of the Theotokos for us. On retreat 11-13 October 2002, at a Benedictine monastery, I prayed the Akathist Hymn and asked for Mary’s intercessions for us. Seven weeks later we found [...]

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Yeah, It’s Kinda Like This in My Car . . .

. . . except I have stereo. One time the lil pixies were doing their chatterbox thing, and I was getting irritated, but I didn’t want to yell at them, so all I could get out was, “Ya’ll’re chatterin’ like . . . little birds!” Of course, that sent them into gasping giggles, and didn’t [...]

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Travel Day Greetings and Gospel Meditation

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The Fatherhood Chronicles CXX

Post-Liturgy Belly Laughter and China What a wonderful morning we had this morning. It was capped off by a deliriously-giggly, joy-filled ride home from Church. The girls each have two small stuffed puppies, who, when their left ears are pressed, alternately bark, growl and pant. I don’t know how or why, but somehow for some [...]

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The Fatherhood Chronicles CXIX

The Family that Prays Together . . . I just had a most wonderful and heart-warming experience with my younger daughter, Delaina. I had come home mid-morning so that I could watch her for the rest of the day. We played and had some lunch, and while Delaina colored on the floor, I went to [...]

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The Fatherhood Chronicles CXVIII

Struggling to Rest I think most parents know the difficult challenge of the naptime struggle. The little ones are still learning how to release all the energy they’ve got pent up inside them. They need, even unconsciously yearn, for sleep, but they cannot enter into the rest that is waiting for them. Parental skills are [...]

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Happy Third Birthday, Delaina Rose

Three years ago today, our younger daughter, Delaina was born. I love being a dad! [Historical note: The 29th of June, 2007, was to have been the due date of our baby who died in utero during Thanksgiving week November 2006.  So, unfortunately, there wasn't a tiny tot to celebrate with us.]

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The Fatherhood Chronicles CXVII

Domestic Dad We had a good weekend, the girls and I. Lots of cuddling, playing, praying. New routines, old routines. As we’ve done every two weeks (on payday weekends) since the first of May, the girls and I headed to our nearest Trader Joe’s to buy groceries for the fortnight. The girls thoroughly enjoy our [...]

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