To: Tricia and Danny

Today this post is dedicated to a dear couple, brother and sister in Christ, and a family who will seemingly walk through a difficult time. Tricia's husband Danny who is in the Navy, and is suppose to be on shore duty, has been deployed to Iraq for a year. The are newly married and have a beautiful baby girl. Danny will miss his baby's first thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, Easter, Their anniversary, and baby's second thanksgiving. While this may sound sad and my heart hurts with them as they must endure this. I am encouraged in the promises of the Lord.

Do NOT grow weary in well doing. God will extend grace, favor, mercy, love, compassion and peace. He is your All in All. I am so thankful Tricia that you will have a great family, friends, and church support and love, but most importantly your heavenly Father will walk with you and hold your hand through every step. In Psalms 37:23&24 (NLT) The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Just as a mother holds the hand of their child who is just learning to walk so that if they stumble Mom can quickly pull up and keep them from falling. God is holding your hand and Danny he is holding yours too. Please don't take this in a way of correction for that is not how I mean it. When you guys feel like all is lost and the weight that you individually are carrying becomes too heavy and you feel you might stumble take heart for God is holding your hand and he will not let you fall.

He knows that you must walk this journey and he doesn't give us more than we can handle. He will equip you and make you strong. In the night season when the tears may flow or the heart make ache God once again makes many promises to us through his word. 1.) Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. His first promise is to renew your strength and keep you going. He will not let you faint under the pressures of life. You are not alone!! God will sustain you. 2.) Psalms 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Parental Terms #3: C-a-n-d-y

C-a-n-d-y is a term well known by almost all parents of toddlers, and is invaluable.  It has the same meaning as "candy," but most toddlers can't spell.  Most parents can't either, but they learn the pattern pretty quickly.  Parents who actually want to eat "candy," but don't want to be tackled by multiple ravenous children, must use this term.

Parental Terms #2: Yah Yah Yah!

This is a game, a quite popular game at that. It has a number of minor variations, but in all it's forms it involves Daddy pretending to be a horse with a little boy riding on his back. It has only one rule: The horse will not move unless the rider calls out, "Yah Yah Yah!" Dawson actually says "Yu-Yah!" but that's acceptable too. Normally the horse gets "tired" after a short time of galloping and stops for a moment to rest. The rider then has to call out again to resume galloping. After giving three boys successive turns, the resting periods become more and more necessary and much more frequent.

Some variations include the horse being on all fours, the horse standing and the rider sitting on the horses shoulders, the horse standing and rider riding in "piggy-back" style, and the piggy-back style with the horse hopping instead of galloping. The hopping version is the most popular, at least with the riders.