Love in the Face of a Loss

Our church family lost a member yesterday when a young man was killed in a single-car accident. While there's a lot to lament in losing someone who was such a good hearted person and who was inspirational with his recommitting to the Lord, there's more to it than that. As a Christian I am able to look at the situation and feel a measure of comfort about where his eternal destiny lies.

But as a parent I ache. We prayed as a family for his loved ones left behind then I snuck into Aiden's room while he was asleep and prayed over him while I cried. God bless anyone who has lost a child. I cannot fathom the depth of that sorrow, nor do I ever want to.

So today I want to say two things. One, I want to publicly (as public as this blog is) say that I am exponentially grateful to God for my family. I don't know how I could be more blessed than when I look at my daughter or my son or my wife. Praise, honor and glory to a loving God for blessing me beyond reason. Two, I want to urge anyone and everyone to love your family a little more today and hopefully from now on.

God rest the soul of Nathan Vincent and comfort his family.

2008 Christmas, Part 1

'Twas the morning of Christmas, and all through Plano
The ground was all wet from rain storms, not snow
But the Christmas tree lit with multicolor lights
We all awoke to breakfast after quite restful nights

Aiden had Cheerios, bananas and milk
We had enough pork product to stuff a large elk
With biscuits, gravy, and beverages besides
It's Christmas miracle we didn't all double in size

Then came the part that made Aiden eager
He'd open his presents with the zeal of a beaver (you try rhyming eager)
With so many presents, could he go the distance?
Opening so much would require persistence

And me with my camera and mom as his aide
Aiden set about the task for which Christmas was made
Opening each present with awe and with glee
He made a very good Christmas for Liz and me

And now for the pictures, I know you're all pleading
Hope you had a merry Christmas, and thank you for reading...

Isabel with her stuffed doggy from Papaw.

Bigger than her and really soft. Perfect.

Checklist:

Santa hat? CHECK

New toy? CHECK

Pants? CHE....oops

All bundled up and nowhere to go.

Aiden's modeling career seems to be over before it began. Here he's trying to show you his new pajamas his Auntie Ester got him. You see them right?

Aiden and his presents. As you can see, he was very tired. Clothes, board games, a Smart Cycle, a digital camera, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree (not pictured.)

Having the first granddaughter makes you like a hero to your parents. So we accepted all the lavish praise and adoration we got from Aiden and Isabel's Grandma Soledad.

Catching up

The above picture is why you become a parent. Look at how sweet that is. Doesn't it just give you a toothache? What? You don't get that? You know, because they're sweet. It makes your tooth ach....Forget it.

We were delighted when a young, caucasian version of Stevie Wonder stopped by the house recently. Although he wasn't quite the musical talent we expected, he was a delightful house guest.

Christmas is just three days away, so this will probably be the last post until after the holidays. If you're reading this, have a wonderful holiday season, be very safe, and give thanks to God for the gifts he gives you all year long.

If you're not reading this blog, then Bah-humbug to you.

Thanksgiving Pics (and others)

The Renfrow's enjoy WKU's close loss to Duke in women's basketball at E.A. Diddle Arena. (photo by Liz, in case you thought we left her in the car)

It's a terrible shame that the kids can't get along. Just look at the anger they have for each other.

Aiden likes extreme close-ups.


Here's the children swimming in a vat of buttercream when we went to Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. (ok, it's really a blanket at Nana's house)

More buttercream.

Thanksgiving Recap

No pictures yet, but I'll add them in later.

Thanksgiving was good this year. After some flip flopping, we finally settled on having it at my mother's. We initially wanted to have it at our house with Liz's brother and sister coming in along with some others. When her siblings bailed on us for various reasons, we regrouped and went to Mom's.

The food was good and abundant, as it always is. The dressing was the best she has ever made (and I should know because I am an expert in MomsDressingology.) Aiden really enjoyed the time with his distant cousin (it's my cousin's granddaughter, and I'm not sure how that plays out in terminology, so I'm calling it his distant cousin.)

Aiden, being still untrained in country culinary consumption, ate chicken nuggets and fries. Poor boy.

I also wanted to clear up a little something about the last blog entry. I had flippantly said that presents lure relatives to Christmas. I think some certain people took that personal and I really, truly regret that. I had no one in mind when I wrote that comment, but I am responsible for not thinking it out. I think making the comment that showed very little forethought on my part.

So if that caused any offense, please understand it was not at all directed at anyone. Words matter, and I know that. So please accept my apology for my poor choice of words.

Here's hoping that everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving with so much food that you slipped into a tryphtophan induced coma temporarily. God bless you all.