ForeverWandering.com

This house is empty.

Some people might think that after four years of marraige, and almost eleven months of fatherhood would make a man want some solitude — even for a few minutes. I thought so, too…until now.

Sarah, Josiah, and I flew down to Alabama last week for one of our friend’s weddings over the weekend. Sarah and Josiah are staying there to visit some family (instead of flying down there again this summer) for another week and a half — and I flew back late Sunday night.

Did I mention that the house is empty?

I went upstairs yesterday to look at Josiah’s room. It just didn’t seem right to see the bed empty, to see the toys not played with — and not to hear him crawling and sort-of-walking around the room exploring.

I continue to be astounded at how blessed I am — every second of every day — to have a wonderful wife and son who make me smile, and glad to be where I am. Sometimes only when those things are temporarily missed does one realize exactly what joys they bring. I have always thanked God for these two special ones that He has brought into my life, and now pray for their safe return.

So, in addition to the “countdown to camp,” I have a countdown to my family’s return — 9 days!

And just to give everyone a treat, here are a couple of pictures of Josiah at his fake 1st birthday party (we had it since all the extended family won’t be up in Massachusetts for his real 1st birthday!)

Know what a Wet Willie is?

Well, it’s when someone licks their finger and puts it straight in your ear…and my son did this tonight to me.

Yes, you heard right. Josiah, who will be seven months old on Tuesday, licked his pointer finger and put it straight in my ear.

I have this feeling that his childhood will be full of these kinds of things — bring it on!

One thing I’ve (re-)learned this summer is the power of a simple smile.

Today, for example, was a day full of smiles. I saw my son smile (goofy smile, of course) for five minutes straight just because I was making some silly noises while holding him. When walking from my house to the camp office, two campers came up to me, smiling, to tell me about a funny story a counselor had told them.

So — the moral of this story — are you having a bad day? Look at the children around you.