So, John says he wants to change careers.  I don;t know if he is pulling my leg or if he s being serious.

He is a contractor right now, and he loves working with his hands.  He now wants to be an organization-guru.  Personally, I think he has found his calling.  He is the most organized guy I know.  Not including his dad. 

When I meet people whose home he has done, they ask me if he is as neat at home as he is at work, and they expect the standard " No, he saves that for work, at home he is a slob"  But they get an honest "Yes".  Usually people don't know how to respond to that. 

I have never had to pick up a sock, never had to put his toiletries away. His business books are immaculate, it is an IRS agent's dream.  He does his own laundry, as well as anyone's who happens to be in the laundry room at the time.  I am not allowed in his closet for he has everything organized, and I am not an organized person.  He fears that I may mess something up. 

You may think this annoys me.  It doesn't.  What annoys me is that I will never be like him.  I try so hard to be organized, but the best I can seem to do is presentable. Anyone can come to my home, and it will be decent.  I am not a slob, but I am not like him.

I think he should go for it.  He would probably make a fortune.

This is the hardest week we have had in a long time.  It was not an easy holiday, and in fact, it didn't even feel like a holiday at all.  And this makes me sad, as Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday ever.

I pray that it gets easier, or better, or at least more bearable.  It is one of those moments in our faith when you cannot even drag yourself anymore.  You just lie there until you realized Jesus is cradling you in His arms, and doing the walking for you.  I just don't know how non believers survive life.

So,  I am thankful to be alive, to have health, to have hope, to have family and to have friends.  I am thankful for the future, the past, and even for the crummiest Thanksgiving ever.  I am thankful for Jesus and all He is and all I hope to be in Him.  I am thankful for the sadness and heartache, for it makes the joy ever so much more sweet.  And I am thankful for His plans for our lives.

Yes, maybe this Thanksgiving is not as crummy as I first thought.

Tomorrow is Samuel's 8th Birthday!!  I doubt that I will have the time or energy to tell you about our baby boy tomorrow.  We have a church wide mission study, that I am in charge of.  So I will take today to wish him a beautiful year.

Samuel was name so, because he was an answer to prayer.  There is a 10 year difference between Samuel & Chloë, and 13 years between him & Lance.  Yup he is our answered prayer.

Here he is starting his academic career.  Which will last a LONG time. lol

And the end of that first year.

As I was browsing through the pictures, it amused me how many pictures I found of Samuel & Joe.

They even lose their teeth together.

Today, we had his birthday party.  He had 8 little people here, and the party's theme was of course.....FOOTBALL!!  A boy after my own heart.  Here is the crew:

Here are the Eagles.  They tied with the Steelers, which was the rest of the kids.

No matter how a quaterback asks the football to go in a specific direction, he has to remember that it will go in the direction he threw it in. 

I think the kids had a great time.  I could only go out for about 5 minutes, but I watched out the window alot of the time.  It seems like so much fun, and the kids are worn out from running and the crisp weather.

Well, my dear son.  You are beginning a future with Jesus in your heart and a hope for your life.  This past year saw you stitched up (again), a tennis star, your first piano recital, and the only homeschooler left in the house.  It saw you learn how to read incredibly, and write your own books, discover a love of science, and a tolerance of math.  It saw you  learn so many verses, singing worship with a joyful heart, and most importantly, make your own choice to follow your Savious and be baptized.

When I pray for you, my heart thunders at the excitement of the plans our Lord has for you.  Conquer the world with humility and and reach out to His people with grace and mercy. Remember not to waste your life away by living for yourself, remember that your life is not about you.  You have bought this family so much joy and yes we are also exhausted.  In a great way.  You have kept us young, and reminded us that children truly are a blessing from the Lord. Whatever you do, where ever you go, be in the shadow of His love and grace.  Seek Him in the mountain and in the valleys. He will use your fearlessness and your zest for life if you let Him, and He can accoplish such works if you obey.   We love you so much.  May you be a blessing to Him all the days of your life!  Happy Birthday, dear son.

As a parent, when one of our children falls down and scrapes their knee, we run and kiss and fix the boo boo.  When they bonk themselves on the head, we cuddle and make sure they don't go to sleep for a long while.  When they break a bone, we rush to the hospital and get that cast.  Stitches hurts us, as we are watching them go in, as much, if not more then it hurts them.  Cuts are patched up with neat little bandaids.

But....

How does a parent fix a broken heart?

It is like dying 100 little deaths of the heart as you hold them when they cry on your shoulder.

And there is nothing you can humanly do about it.

So we reach to the heavens and pray.

And give that brokenheart to the One who will use it to His glory.

And we cry.

Chucks.

Coming out of church tonight, I was talking to my friends , you know, solving the world's problems, and then I got into my car, put the key in, and......nothing happened. 

Nothing.  Like nada.  Like why put the key in??  Like get your sneakers on, lady, you are walking home. Like of course it is raining and your car won't start.  Like.....just smack your head into the streering wheel because you are officially stuck right where you are. You get the idea.

And this is not the worst of it.  I just got my car from the mechanic on Thursday last week.  It cost $1,100 to fix.  Not a dime in the bucket mind you.  But you figure, after speding that much, this is not on the schedule of life's fairness.  I know, I know.  Life is not fair. 

John said its the starter.

I say, bummer.

Its okay, though.  Life is good and God is great.  And in the end, thats all that matters. 

So, yesterday was the loveliest November 10 in quite a few years here in NJ.  It may have been in the low to mid 60s!!

So, I decided to take Samuel to Jockey Hollow.  Since going to this historical site may be alot more fun with friends, we picked up Joe & Gabe, and headed out for some fun.

Jockey Hollow is where Wahington's troops hung out in 2 of the most bitter winters since recorded weather. Its not far from us, but we don't go there enough.  It a Revolutionary War park, and it is just amazing.

When we go there, the boys saw this hill, and asked if they can run it.  I said of course, knowing they had no idea what they were getting into.

Yup, about 1/2 way up, they pooped out and walked the rest of the way.  Then they ran it down, and tumbled most of it because the speed was faster  then their size 2 feet could take them.  Then tried running up it again, and this time, they rolled down.  I got a headache just watching them.

Next we found this fallen tree.  Fallen trees and boys means, well....

  You know....

This is inside the soldier's hut (replicas) and the boys thought it was so cool.  Until I explained the bitter, raw, nasty cold with one blanket for 4 -5 months thing on a hard wooden platform bunk.  They thought they could handle it.  Maybe.

It was fun climbing and exploring it anyway.  Then they proceeded to start their battle play.  For a LONG time.  Those boys ran and hid and strategized, and conquered and were shot and a whole bunch of stuff I am not even sure of.  They pulled out their map ( that fact that it is a Florida map is just a technicality)  And figured out the next plan.

A while later, I found Samuel hiding out and pooped.  But still on guard.

We still had to hike back a mile and a half to the car, and they had to run the hill one more time. The other 2 boys , I heard were out like a light at a good hour.  Samuel eventually went to sleep sometime after midnight.  Yes, thats  because he was tired.  If he wasn't tired, well... you know.  My non sleeper.....

It was such a great day, we need to do more of them.

RUTGERS WON!!!!  WHAT A MIRACLE!!!!

I wonder if the nation has caught on to Rutgers football fever like we have, here in NJ?

John went to Rutgers, and now Lance in going to Rutgers.  In fact, we used to live about 10 minutes from the stadium, 15 from the campus.  Now we are about 20 minutes away.    We drove by it 2 nights ago, and they were setting it up.  Had it all lit up and what-not. It is exciting times and kick off is at 7:30 pm tonight.  I almost don't want to watch the game.  It is so nerve racking.

John and Chloë are Notre Dame fans, while I am a Texas Longhorns fan. ( Hook 'em horns baby  )We enjoy each other's teams, as long as they don't play each other.  Following Rutgers football was like following your local high school, who had a mediocre team. We kind of read about the game in the paper the next morning and groaned. 

My how times have changed.  I read in the paper that the self same tickets you couldn't give away 2 years ago, are going for $900 on ebay.  900 DOLLARS!!  A PIECE!!  Do you know how many books one can buy for $900!!!!  Or even how many month's worth of gas???  Amazing.

So, I am off to watch the team, hopefully win.  I may be back later because I can't take the excitement. 

Go Scarlet Knights!!!

PS  Did you know tailgating started @ a Rutgers / Princeton game in the late 1800s.  Yup. A little piece of sports trivia you can now brag about knowing. lol. 

My second born voted for the first time last night!!

She was so excited to turn 18 back in August, the first thing she did was register to vote.  Last night, Samuel, Chloë and I walked down to our local school and voted. Okay, so Samuel "voted" by pressing all the buttons for me, but I think its good training. Anyway, she was so excited!  She informed herself, and even wrote a research paper for college on voting and all the parties in order to be ready.

On another note, I can't believe it is November 8.  Time has flown by so quickly.  It seems the older I get, the faster it flies!! And don't get me started on the fact that we are behind on our schooling.  ALREADY!!  SHEESH  and I only have 1 child for crying out loud!!  Not that I am crying out loud. lol. I need to hunker down and discipline myself better.

Well, speaking of discipline, I am off to clean this house.  Again.

So, last night John came up behind me to give me a hug while I was doing the dishes.  I turn around, and for the first time in a while, I just looked into his face.  Wow, I had forgotten how handsome (in my humble opinion) my husband was!!  Is!!  Granted his hair is too long, and he is growing a beard,(for me) I love his face!! He was looking at me all worried-like after a while.  Thinking there was something wrong.

You see, he will be 41 at the end of this month.  He is quite a good, kind,holy and generous guy, but his one worry in life, is looking old.  I was looking for a picture of a close up of him.  This it the best I could find.

This was at our nephew's graduation this past June. 

I keep telling him not to worry, he will always be young & handsome in my eyes, or at least my heart. .  He is okay,well maybe more not anxious, except on his birthday month.  Then he panics. 

BTW, for the record, I am 2 years, yes 2 years younger then he is.

OK, so, this is the same guy who was a size 28 pants when we first got married almost 22 years ago.  Now he is a size 29.  Yeah, I am embarrased to say, that didn't happen to me.

This is the same guy who can run a race after training for like less then 2 weeks, and win.  If I tried to run down the block, you would have to scrape me off the street.  He can pick up a tennis raqcket after not having played for 10 years, and win!!  Sheesh.  He can join a group of high school aged kids playing football, and his team will win.  When we take the youth of our church to camp for a week, all the kids want him on their team.  He is usually picked before the real teens get their chance.

This is the guy who has 2 modes in life.  Active or sleeping.  He can't sit for 5 minutes.  He has to be doing something at all times or he falls asleep.  I am the other hand, can sit for quite a long time and have no fear of sleeping.  All our friends know to save a good amount of room on the sofa for John.  They are all used to him falling asleep if the conversation last too long without activity.  aka a game or eating, or something.  He tries, he really does.  And to him, watching a movie is not considered an activity.  He usually makes it to the beginning credits before he is out.  Now watching football....thats a different story.  He has yet to fall asleep throught that.  He actually stands and paces the whole game, sitting for about 1 minute at a time every so often. 

One of our good friends is the same way.  She can't sit still.  She is actually our co-op coordinator.  They are both about 112% irish. 

Hmmmmm...coincidence.  I think not!!LOL. 

Chloë and Samuel are just like their daddy.  Samuel more then Chloë.  The boy can't sit for more then a few minutes at a time.  And as my older kids say, Samuel gets more of a work out watching a movie them most people get at the gym.  They are right.  Lance is more like me.  Bummer.

All to say, I sure do love that man. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I worry too much.

My friend just called me, and I was going through all the things I have to worry about today,(though as I was going through my list, I didn't realize thats what I was doing....going through my worry list.  I didn't even know it WAS a worry list) and she told me to knock it off.  I was shocked!!  She was right!! She told me that if I was worrying that much, I wasn't praying enough.

Ouch .

Okay, so I will not worry today.  Okay, okay, I will TRY real hard not to worry today.  Sheesh, I was even worrying about if Samuel practiced enough this week, so his piano teacher won't give me "the look".  lol.  I am such a fool.

God is so good to me  to smack me in the back of the head every so often, which shamefully is usually what will get my attention, to remind me that yes indeed, He is God. 

And I am not.

So, I am off without a worry..........right?

This weekend we went to our family annual pumpkin pickin', but this year, we waited for a weekend to do our apple pickin' so John could join us.

It was cold.

It was bitter to the bones raw cold.

But it was fun and we got the best pumpkins.  First we went to the apple farm, where most of the apples were gone because we went so late this year.  But still, it was good.  And it was cold.

Here is Chloë giving Samuel a piggy back ride.  Notice the team spirit. It was the day after the day after the game.  Still makes for a funny picture.

We then went to our regular pumpkin patch, and it took them FOREVER to find the perfect pumpkins.  We have a rule, you can pick whatever pumpkin you want, you just gotta be able to walk it back to the car.  Chloë and I opted not to get a pumpkin this year.  The patch was way out there, and it was cold.  We didn't want to carry a pumpkin, but tried to help John & Samuel pick one.  They didn't take our advice.  They found some good ones inspite of not listening to us.  Go figure.

On the walk back to the car, I saw this, and it was so pretty.  Chloë took the picture. I don't know what the purpose of it being in the middle of a field/farm was, but I think I will go with the basic, "Its a cross, 'cause we love Jesus around here"

It was a cold overcast day.  The rest of the family was walking so very fast.  My knees were killing me, and my feet were almost numb.  Plus I was enjoying the view of all the pretty colors.  It is peak, fall color season here in NJ.  The family got to the general area about 5 minutes before I showed up.  I found Samuel & John wrestling.

I took this picture and kept walking to the car.  AND THE HEAT.   They guys stay outside playing for about 1/2 hour longer in the maze, the haystacks, and all the fun stuff they have there.  After we went to the mall because JoAnn's Hallmark was having 20% off Vera Bradleys that day only.  So, the thought of missing out on that was almost ridiculous.  We got some stuff. . 

So now it is a new week.  I pray we become more like Him everyday.  And enjoy His blessing of every moment.

We were up quite late last night, watching the game. And of course, since the Mets lost, we were even later conforting one child, and congratulating the other.

John has been a Mets fan since he can remember.  That love has passed down to his older 2 children.  Chloë being the die-hard.  For some bizzare reason, Samuel started liking the Cardinals last year.  Ordinarily, this is no big deal.  We try to encourage their tastes, as long as it doesn't interfere with their faith. This year, it was a nightmare.  How could it be that they had to play each other for the privilidge to go to theWorld Series?? How could this happen to us??? I don't know, but it was not pretty in this household last night.  I have one kid crying, one kid brooding, and the other jumping up and down in delight.  The 3 kind of trying to be good about the other, but not really achieving the point.  This may well be used to His glory, in being graceful inspite of your circumstances, but it doesn't make it any prettier, easier, or pleasant. 

But isn't that how we are refined for His glory?

Last night we also had our homeschool support group meeting.  We had a Tea Time meeting, just for the moms to be encouraged, for prayer, and for wisdom.  I was the oldest homeschooler!! Not oldest in age, but in homeschooling.  People look at me for advice, and I have to gently remind them, I survived these past 16 year, I am by no means an expert, just a survivor. lol.  I am always highly encourage by the new moms, though.  I love their enthusiasm.  I love it when I see a mom who doesn't even have school age children yet, but is there getting prepared for when the time comes!! 

 See, many moons ago, I started homeschooling kicking and screaming, and being dragged into it by the biggest chip on my shoulder.  I had no desire to go into this venture.  It was on obedience to my husband, and to my God.  I hated it with every fiber of my being.  I looked for any excuse to get out of it. And to make matters....more interesting.....my oldest son challenged me in everything every glorious day.  I mean, who the heck wants to spend 24/7 with a kid like that??? Not me.  By the time he hit 5th grade, I had the application to the Valley Forge Military Academy filled out.  Yes siree, I didn't even want this kid coming HOME from school.  God is good, and He gave us all the grace we needed for that moment.  Hindsight, I LOVE the fact that they was home.  I love the fact that He saw us through, I love the fact that I now have a good relationship with my son.  Not great, but real good.  I love that fact that ultimately, this truly was God's choice for us. 

So, all you moms out there who are struggling, who are discouraged, who are doubting.  Keep on dear sisters.  The blessings are out of this world!!  My regrets are from the lost stubborn first few years, the moments when I dreamed of the school bus, the moments when I thought the school moms who were room mothers were the lucy ones.  I didn't realize till later, I got to be the ultimate room mom!!

The moms who are coming to me to ask questions and think they are getting blessed don't realize, they are such a blessing to me.  Such a joy, such an example. I am far more interested in what they have to say, then anything I have to offer.

PS, I put some Christmas music on this morning!!  No one was awake yet, so I sneaked it in.  lol.  We usually don't start it till sometime in November, but I was in such a mood, it was lovely.

Its been a good week. 

The other day, I was having a hard day.   I was at a red light on the highway, just stressing and going through all that needed to be done, and how cold I was, and how my arthritis was acting up and hurting something awful.  And it isn't even winter yet.  And how I need to get to a Jiffy Lube and get the oil changed on the car on top of everything else that needs to be done.  And then I look up and car accident happened right there in front of my own four eyes!! Talk about stress on top on stress.  I thought I was going to cry.  Instead, I started quietly singing a hymn.  Which usually gets me praying and praising because it reminds me of all my blessings and who God is.

And later that day, I was once again at a red light, reflecting on the day.  And guess what I saw?  A BUTTERFLY!  Right there!  Just flying beautifully in front of my windshield, just floating on by.  In 48 degree weather!  Several people honked their horn at me ( yes this is NJ) because the light had turned green and I wasn't 1/2 way down the street already,  but I totally ignored them and just watched the butterfly.  It was like God just put it there, to remind to enjoy life, inspite of itself.  

Life is good. And God is great.

This was a big, exciting weekend for us.  Not only did Trent come, and it was Lance's 21st birthday, but Samuel got baptised!!!  He had been wanting to get baptised for about a year, but was waffling back and forth. About 2 months ago, he made a perfectly clear decision, and today, it happened!! 

Here he is with Pastor Bill.  Evidently the water was cold, and his teeth were chattering!!  And this picture came out dark.  Bummer. (about the picture)

Here are Lance, Samuel & Chloë.  I wanted to take a picture afterward the baptism, and they plopped themselves down, right in the middle of the sanctuary!!

Here is a picture of me & John with Samuel.  I am sooo fat!!!  My tummy is not that big I promise!! lol I think it was the way I was standing.  I look pregnant!!     I mean if I was pregnant it would be a lovely thing, but I am not!!!

Chloë & Trent with Samuel.

Speaking of Trent, he went back home late this afternoon.  He is such a gentleman.  His momma did a good job with that boy.  He & Chloë went to the city on Thursday.  Or maybe it was Friday.  They had a beautiful time, and here is one of the pictures of the 2 of them @ Central Park.  Interesting color for water, huh?.

She was terribly sad when he left. He was too, for that matter.  The two of them were just pathetic, in a sweet kind of way.  Sometimes I wonder how wise this all is.  Is she too young?  Is this the right thing?  They really are getting to know each other in a good way, him being so far away.  And he seems to adore her.  They are both so prayerful about their relationship.  Its hard to know the right answer.   And she is so honest and trustworthy.  Well, we will just continue to pray about them.

So anyway, the whole family came tot he baptism.  It was a great time. I cried. 

Thank you precious Lord for Your promises and Your faithfulness!! 

::::SIGH:::::

When your children are young, and you get no sleep and you think life is so busy,  and sometimes tough, and there seems to be no time for personal basics, and you kinda wish that they would just hurry up and grow up....; they up and have their 21st birthday, and you realize you were a fool.

Our first born son turned 21 today.  He is our delight, and a joy, and because we had him so young, he was also our fire. You never did meet a more stubborn, opinionated, strong-willed creature in all of your life.  Yet, nothing is as great as that loud boisterous laugh, those tender moments, the struggles that were conquered with sheer will, determination,and the grace of God, and now, a young man who is learning to love our Lord with all his being.

Meet our 21 year old son:

He loves his Mets games.

Playing frisbee with John.  Only father and son can make Frisbee competitive, and yet laugh with each other while doing it.

This is the first time he had ridden a bike in about 10 years.  He decided he was going to practice being a knight.  (with a broom)

Samuel & Lance. Yeah, don't ask, we don't know either....

I don't have any pictures of him when he was young.  I need to get some scanned onto the computer sometime soon.  I could cheat and put some of Samuel's pictures, and make believe.  And see, everyone would believe it.  The moment they put Samuel in my arms, I was SHOCKED at the similarities. They are spitting images of each other.  People who don't know them, like when Lance takes Samuel with him on errands, or to the park, they think they are father and son.  I keep thinking to myself, wow, thats what Samuel will look at that age! But allow me to say, that is where the similarities end.  Their personalities and as different as night and strawberries. 

Anyway, we wish you, my dear son, the Lord's blessing on you.  Grow in His grace and truth.  Use your talents and personality to His glory.  Walk in His ways, and cling to His mercies.  May He bless you with a beautiful life.  We sure do love you!! Happy 21st Birthday!!!

I got my shoes!!!!   They are exactly what I wanted.  Ok, so I have been eyeing them for a few months, so its not like I "just found" the perfect pair.  My friend had a $10 off coupon, and the store had buy one get one 1/2 off all shoes.  (Marty's Shoes) So needless to say, I got another pair.  One pair was way too much, even with the coupon, and the other pair cost me $11.  Did I mention I love shoes?

On another note, we had our Sunday School class over to the house yesterday.  They all brought their kids with them, and it is the most joy-filled sight, to see a whole passel of children just running, laughing, swinging, and playing in the back yard.  They all LOVE the tire swing, and they were all lined up for a turn whenever John would swing them.  John swings them nice and high, giving all the moms a small heart attack, but the children shrieks of delight.  I think by the time everyone left, there were tired children, and refreshed parents from all the good fellowship. AND, I got to just hold babies, which is my favorite thing. 

I have to go food shopping today.  Costco food shopping.  The kind where I have to drag Chloë with me because I need at least 2 carts.  Big time bulk shopping.  When you have 3 college students, and a kid who eats like a college student, and 2 adults, you just have to buy in bulk. 

Plus Trent comes on Wednesday.  He is a college student also.  He will probably want to eat when he is here.

Random thought for this day:  I need new glasses.  I wear contacts for the most part, so even though I have a new prescription for glasses, I didn't buy them because I hardly ever use them.  And I have been using my old ones whenever I did put my glasses on. BUT.  My dogs chewed my old ones up.  .  So I will probably order new ones today.   Picking out frames is the pits.

You all have a good week!  Be holy ~ madeleine

Sometimes my heart goes out to Samuel.   I get the feeling he got cheated out of a childhood.  Being born into a family of adults, and almost adults, he doesn't know anything else.  He totally can't get why he has to play with kids his age, when his sibling's friends are so much more interesting.  Its a little hard.

Chloë' s, well, boyfriend for a lack of a better word, is coming next Wednesday.  He lives in Texas.  He called John a few months ago, to ask permission to get to know our daughter.  John told him that he is not interested in a dating kind of relationship.  His daughter is much too valuable for that.  Trent expressed a common agreement, looking at this as long term.  Since he lives in Texas and we live in NJ, it makes it a bit easier for them to really get to know each other without any " goofy" things happening.  Well, he comes out in less then a week to meet us and spend some time with her.  We are continually pray for that relationship.  May He be glorified.

I need a pair of shoes.  I know that is random, but my everyday pair from the past few years have been put to rest.  In fact, they should have been put to reat last year, but I made them keep on keeping on. I need a good pair both for the cold and for my knees. And yet they have to look nice enough to wear with skirts/dresses.   I usually have to spend alot of money, but in the end they are worth it because they last me for years and years and years.  I think I will bite the bullet and buy them tomorrow.  I love shoes. 

So, back to school.  Life is good and God is great!! ~ madeleine

Your life is not about you. 

I have been saying this to my children since my almost 21 year old was about 4.

So, I remember last year reading this article in SI.  We are SI ( Sport Illustarted) readers.  Specially during Football/Baseball season.  But during the rest of the year, when they have like, ....golf, we just kind of glance through, but we faithfully read Rick Reilly.  Our dog is actually named for this guy!  Anyway, I ripped out this article and have it in my prayer journal to read every so often. It seems to important to me to just throw out.    Then today, my friends sent me this email.  Its the article, and then there is a video.  It is one of the most powerful case of your-life-is-not-about-you, you will ever encounter.  During the video, I was crying.  I hope you enjoy it.   P.S.  Its not written by a Christian for Christians, but its good in spite of itself.

[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]

I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans.  Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots.  But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?  And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.

This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. ``He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an institution.''  But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.''  "Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.  Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate.  First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.'' Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried.  ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says.  ``I was sore for two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''  And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon. ``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially:  In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''  How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.  Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think? 

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own?  “No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time'? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''  And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race.  Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' one doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.''  So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.  That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.  ``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once.''

Just look at the dad's face at the end of the race.  The love is priceless.  Enjoy. ~madeleine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryCTIigaloQ

So, last night as I was getting Samuel ready for church choir, I ran outside only to be hit with a wall of cold!!   YES!  It was cold outside.  Not cool, not crisp, COLD!!  And its only September!  I ran back inside to make sure Samuel didn't wear his Crocs.  Made him put socks and real shoes on, and then I went to get some sweatshirts out for him, only to realize (remember) I GAVE THEM ALL AWAY LAST SPRING!!!  He had had them for 2 or 3 years already, and they were barely hanging on.  My reasoning was, I'll just get him a whole new batch in the fall.  Helps to remember to buy them before you need them.  Poor kid, had to go to church in a tight Sunday church sweater.  I don;t know why it was still around, but I was thankful.

So, today, off to the store with my checkbook in hand. 

Chloë's boyfriend comes out to visit, from Texas, in a little under 2 weeks.  So much for the hoped for Indian summer. John is still wearing shorts to work.  He will wear them until November probably.  He will wear a t-shirt with a thermal  shirt, and a turtle neck, and a sweater.  But he will have his shorts on in denial of the cold.  Don't ask. 

All to say.  Welcome Autumn.