Friday, January 27, 2012 = Day 27 - Guy Time, I Smile

I made it to Friday!  Exhausted but so so happy.  I took the boys out for some guy time tonight. They needed haircuts but *NEWSFLASH* they ALMOST didn't get them because the place I wanted to take them was closed up tight.  So I took them along with me to pay a bill, check on a part for the car and then ice cream at Marble Slab.  These boys have some crazy ideas about what to put in their ice cream too.  Jonah got Bubble Gum ice cream with Gummi Bears and Chocolate Chips not that crazy right?  Well it gets better:  Jared got Cotton Candy ice cream with Gummi Bears, Marshmallows, M&Ms, Chocolate Sprinkles,  and Rainbow Sprinkles. Well I guess that's not that bad but Gummi Bears?  Ewwww.  I ordered a Sweet Cream cone. NICE!  As we drove away from MS I noticed Pro Cuts was still open so I hightailed it over there and two stylists were open and they took the boys right away.  Jared got his head shaved and Jonah got a little trim.  What was really nice was that the ladies said, "Your boy (talking about Jared) seems like a good boy.  They both seem like good boys!"  Wow,  what more could a dad ask for?  I told them, "They are good boys."  We talked about Autism a little bit and how the doctors told us Jared would never speak and I remembered God's grace and mercy because as most of you that know us and know Jared know that HE TALKS!  He talks a whole bunch of a lot to be honest!  We wouldn't have it any other way! Jaredisms abound on a daily basis.  

As I sat there in the driver's seat of my vehicle on the way home I contemplated my life.  I picked up a few chili dogs and corn dogs for the familia and I came home smiling.  I pulled out my computer to get ready to write after we had our little snack and I put a song on called I Smile by Russ Lee.  This song makes me think of my kids a whole lot. When I was a teen I never thought I'd be a dad or have kids or be married or be half as blessed as I am but you know what?  I SMILE!  This song reminds me of the day my daughter was born and the blessing that God gave me in her being my first child.  I get choked up thinking about it.  I don't deserve the life God has given me.  I deserve much worse but by his grace I am redeemed and I have my family. I have a wife who loves me and I have three wonderfully unique children who make my life an adventure every day.  You know the song really sums up my life.  Here are the lyrics right after a few more lines.  Read them and ask yourself this:  Am I a person who can dream big enough to see what God has for me?  Am I a person who could have a whole different life if I let God take over and lead me?  Has my life been nothing but pain and confusion?  God can change everything and make it so much better than you'll imagine. I Smile:

Lost and all alone
Looking for a reason for being
In this crazy world
Trying to go on
Looking for the answers
To the questions
And there You were

From the moment You appeared
Everything became so clear
I'm so glad that You're here, Lord

I smile when I think about
The way You've turned my life around
I smile when I think about
The happiness in You I've found
I'm so amazed at what Your love has done
And when I think the best is yet to come
I smile!
I smile!

Wandering the dark
Lost in the confusion
I thought I was losing my mind for sure
I searched with all my heart
Looking for direction
Something to believe in
And there You were
And You were reaching down to me
You were everything I needed
I'm so glad You found me, Lord

'Cause You've turned all my gray skies
To the brightest blue, yes, You did
And my life feels like sunshine
And it's because of You
All because of You.. I smile

Give yourself a chance to smile!  God truly makes a difference! God can turn all the garbage into newness and joy.

Much Love,

Mac