This last week an esteemed brother minister was telling me that, in speaking to a man who professed to have been converted, he asked him which sin remained as a load upon his mind. “Well,?” said the man, “I have to see after cows, and I have often beaten the cows very badly.” “What do you do now?” “Oh, I coax them instead of beating them.” Now, I have no doubt, that in his peculiar calling, cruelty to animals would be most strikingly laid upon his conscience, but the pastor had to say to him, “Yes, quite so; but the great sin in your fault is, that the cows are God’s creatures, and that he is angry if we treat his creatures unmercifully.?’
Spurgeon (May 16, 1868)
Photos From Our Christmas Vacation
Here’s a collection of photos from our 2011 Christmas vacation in Alabama. Jenn and the kids were there nearly an entire month. I joined for close to 2 weeks. It was a trip with it’s ups and downs, but the photos capture some of the best times. The photos are collected from Jenn’s iPhone, my iPhone, a Canon S95 used by both Jenn and I, and my Canon 1D Mark II. It’s set to music that we currently enjoy.
Password: LombardiSpot
To One of Her Favorite Songs
I found this video by The Band Perry on the Palladium’s HD Video Hour and showed it to the family. It was the first time we ever heard or saw this band and everyone immediately liked it, especially Claire. She learned to sing the song and frequently requested us to play the video. She also got the CD for Christmas this year. We listened to it in the long car rides while we were visiting Alabama.
This video is of her dancing and singing to the song. Pardon her outfit, looks like it’s at the end of life. Enjoy.
A Slide in South Pittsburg
How do they effect a four year old girl?
This evening we were discussing with Matthew his progression through the grades and then onto college. Claire inserted comment at the end saying, "I don't want to go to Kindergarten
Jenn replied, "Yeah, I'm going to teach you how to read."
Claire said, "I don't want to get a shot."
Matthew had previously had shots prior to Kindergarten and Jenn had mentioned that they are needed before Kindergarten. So, here it is, perhaps a year later, she is realizing that Kindergarten means gettings shots. Boy, she must really dislike getting shots!
Claire added, "I'll just be stupid."
Of course, Jenn and are are simultaneously laughing and shocked. I said, "Claire, you are smart. We'll teach you how to read and you can be smart."
Claire cried, "I don't want to get a shot."
Claire asked, "Tomorrow I get a shot."
Jenn answered, "No."
Claire concluded, "Shot stupid!"
Our four year old Claire is so intent on avoiding shots that she's willing to throw out her education. Good thing we aren't letting her decide her educational roadmap.
We bought 54lbs of Legos for Mathew's birthday and have been sneaking a bit at a time into his tiny collection of Legos. We started telling him that they were coming from the Lego fairy.
Last night he said, "Dad, I think it was you."
I said, "No, it was the Lego fairy."
He said, "There is no such thing as Lego fairies, maybe there's Lego fairies with Jesus, but not here."
Ha! Well, in a child's world, heaven would have Lego fairies wouldn't it?! 
