dishes hold secrets

In the past few months I have become a stay at home Dad. I knew I had a lot to learn. Not just as a father since I would be spending more time with my daughter than ever before , but I had a lot to learn around the house. I knew from being married for 8 years that my wife and I folded laundry different and early in our marriage I had this crazy idea that she liked doing laundry. In 8 years of marriage my wife did teach me some secrets around the house. She informed me for one that the toilet seat enjoys being down better than up and placing my dishes in the sink after dinner does not qualify as doing the dishes. So now here we are 8 years into our marriage with a 2 year old little girl and my wife trusts me to be a stay at home Dad. To prove to my wife and myself I took on my new job like Muhammad Ali. I was doing laundry before it could hit the laundry basket and dinner was hot and ready when she got home. I made it look easy because I was the champ, fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Then the champ was hit with a left hook that he was not ready for. My daughter was to attend an event that night when I received a text from a mom asking us to bring a pan of Brownies to the event. This was no problem, I grabbed up a box of brownie mix and read the directions. Here came the left hook, duck champ duck! Directions said to use a 13 x 9 pan, what? Now I know any woman that can cook could walk into the kitchen and pick out a 13 x 9 pan on the first try. This champ did not want to take a knock out, so after looking at 10 different pans I did what any champ would do. I went to the garage and got my craftsman tape measure, I could almost here the crowd roar as I was holding the trophy over my head. The chant in the kitchen continued to grow as I cooked, champ! Champ! Champ! It wasn't until later when the left hook caught me on the chin. I made a joke in a Facebook post about my greatness, when my dad's secretary saw my post. Being an amazing cook she let me in on a little secret about dishes, the size of the dish is inscribed in the bottom of the dish. Wow, thank you dish makers everywhere what a great idea. I am still flying like a butterfly, but I may have lost a little of my sting.
From the beach..........The Champ!

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Crowd finishes National Anthem for 8 year old

Just when you think there is no hope left in America, when the President is speaking at a memorial service and it sounds more like a pep rally. Eight year old Elizabeth Hughes does an amazing job singing the National Anthem when her microphone cuts out. You can hear a few giggles from some rude women, but they are hushed quickly by some fans and they sound of thousands of fans finishing the National Anthem for 8 year old Elizabeth Hughes. The video clip shot by a ticket holder of the Norfolk Admirals has become a sensation on YouTube. If you listen to CNN or Fox News you will feel as if the world is crashing in upon us and you will feel like climbing in a hole. But then you see Norfolk, VA come through and show some small town atmosphere that makes you proud to be an American again. If  the Norfolk Admirals did not get enough attention with Elizabeth Hughes first National Anthem singing debut, they have now invited her back for an encore performance on February 5th, 2011. I will admit that I have not followed the the Norfolk Admirals season, but I am going to guess that they will see possibly their first sell out crowd on February 5th. I imagine that the National Anthem and Elizabeth Hughes will hear one of the largest cheers the National Anthem has seen since 9-11. Norfolk Admirals I think it is classy that you have invited 8 year old Elizabeth back to let her complete the National Anthem, but please do not try to capitalize on this touching moment. At the moment I feel that Norfolk and the Admirals are a classic American town and team, but if you invite Lee Greenwood in to sing a duet with 8 year old Elizabeth Hughes........Well, that just may squash it for me.
From the beach........Brian

My daughter, my little stranger

Originally posted November 6, 2008......

My daughter, my little stranger.

So my wife is due to deliver our first born which is going to be a little baby girl according to doctors tests. Having no preference I was excited and shocked when they announced that we were having a girl. Also a little nervous because of the fact that I feel I will need to be more of a protector than with a boy, but excitement is what I am feeling.

It hits me as we are drawing near to the due date that I am about to meet a perfect stranger. In just a few short weeks I will meet a little person whom I have never been introduced to. My first introduction to this little person will be at the exact same moment she takes her first breath of this air that I breathe here on the planet that I call home. She has never been to this planet that I take for granted, her first moment on planet earth, USA, Indiana, and I will be there to greet her. She is a little stranger that God has given to me and she will call me Dad, a name that I have never been called. This little stranger that I have never seen will be so new to me and in the same moment seem so familiar because there will be traits in her that I will recognize from before. Will she have my goofy laugh, will she smile like my wife whom she has not met but she will look a lot a like. What a moment this will be when for the first time ever we will meet because God has granted me the opportunity to be called Dad. God has so kindly smiled upon me and will be intrusting me with a little stranger that he has created. A little stranger that will take her first breathe in this world she does not know and at that moment I will lover her instantly. In this life my wife and I have dated, been engaged, married, and grown to love each other more each day. The longer we are married the more our love has grown and will grow, but this has happened over time. Amazing enough this little stranger that will be entering the world on this special appointment God has set for us called "the delivery date" and I will love her like I have never loved someone before. In the blink of an eye, the tick of a second on the clock in the delivery room, in that instant I will be filled with the deepest of love for a little stranger I have never seen before. It is at that moment when she takes her first breath of her life and she will know me as Dad and I will call her "my daughter."
Can't wait to meet you little one.
With Love,
Soon to be called Dad