And then there were four... the adventures of Bek, JR, Annie, and Jude: 2011

Okay, so more than just from Thanksgiving; I'm sneaking in some other, belated pics, too. Sue me. Or, alternatively, realize that 1) Scripture strongly advises against that and 2) I don't have any money, and let it go. Deep breath. Let it go.

Bek and J-Bear. Pre-Turkey Day.

I made this scarf for Annie, to match the one I made for Bek.

Unfortunately, Annie won't wear it, so for the time being it's a stuffed animal accessory.

Annie's first piggies. (She helped me make them!)

Bek and I got an ice cream maker as a b-day gift. This is our 1st batch (vanilla!), mixed up for the Sat. after Thanksgiving.

Post-Turkey-Day stupor.

Advent 1 fire with A-bear.

She readies her belongings.

With our "bear hats." Good end to a blessed day.

Today I celebrated my 31st birthday. The Shane Battier birthday (he wears #31). Aside from the deluge of facebook well-wishes (thank you!!), the day itself was wonderfully ordinary. I woke up to Annie's wake-up noises from down the hall. Bek heard me getting up and wished me a quick happy birthday, with Jude sleeping soundly on her chest. I dressed Annie and after a lazy morning of cuddle-time with Mommy, Annie led the mosey into the kitchen for breakfast.

After breakfast, Annie and I went off to the park down the street. We stripped off our sweaters and undershirts once we got there because the South Texas weather was winning over any wishful thinking we had about how it's "supposed" to be late fall. Slides and swings and the tunnel. Then the short walk back home.

Bek had laid out presents on the dining room table while we were out at the park. Cards from family, a CD from Bek's folks, and 12 old-style foam dinosaur capsules from Annie. We had some errands to be on to, but we stopped to watch the Plesiosaur break through his plastic capsule confines, though of course we had no idea until afterwards that it was the Plesiosaur we were watching.

Then Annie and I strapped into the car, off to Walmart for a yarn needle I needed in order to finish off Bek's belated birthday present, a scarf I've spent the better part of two weeks learning how to knit. Annie and I were only moderately distracted, picking up some Lil' Smokies and crescent rolls for Thanksgiving Day morning and some ice cream for today. The lady at the check out asked if the girl behind me was my daughter. I said, "yes," realizing only then that Annie had taken to walking four steps or so behind me. The lady smiled and said she looked like me; I stared back blankly, without knowing it, wondering to myself how a bearded man could look like a sweet two-year old girl. Sensing this, the lady said, "the mannerisms - it's uncanny," to which I can only apologize to my daughter.

We got home for lunch and feasted on leftovers. Chicken, broccoli, and potatoes for me. Annie had rice and beans with "extras," and I think Bek had a cornbread, veggie mix. Then the nap.

While Annie was napping, I did my best to scratch out the sermon thoughts that had been patiently waiting in my notes, readings, and dreams until now. I have this frustrating recurring dream that hits on Wednesday nights of weeks in which I haven't yet begun the print copy of my sermon. In the dream, my preparation time is over and it's me and the people and the moment to preach, but I don't have any notes. This time, even in the course of my dream, I was able to articulate two or three surprisingly lucid sermon points that, without notes, I would be able to "ad-lib" around. Incredibly, the dream countered by taking me back to the house to pick up a key (for what, I don't know), at which time someone parked behind my dream-car, blocking me in the house, semi-prepared, still unable to preach. I get it, Unconscious Self - I need to write out my notes. So finally today, I did.

After sermons and naps, Bek and I got snacks for the kids, I showered, and we went for a walk. The first with our double stroller. 3,500 aerobic steps on my new pedometer. Good stuff all around.

Then time for dinner: rib-eyes with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and salad with mandarin oranges. And a mighty fine beer Dr. Baker left with us the last time he was here. I talked with my mom on the phone while I grilled, only knocking the phone off the grill one time. Bek hit dinner out of the park. Her pumpkin pie - with the chicken pie crust - was a stellar finish.

Showers and stories, always a blur, and finally this moment of quiet just now. A thankful moment for days like these and opportunities to watch foam dinosaurs, scratch out sermon notes, grill peppered steaks, and share God's love with my family and friends. What a gift. Here's to the year of Shane Battier.