just stuff

I've got three things. One is an explanation, one is a somewhat humorous story, and another is something I would like your prayers and input for.

First, I've been asked no fewer than a dozen times, what does Skeeter mean? When I went up to York College in Nebraska to play basketball I picked up the nickname. One of my first practices I was guarding this guy from Arkansas. He was your true backhills hillbilly. Amazingly he wasn't a bad ball player either. Keep in mind, I use to be in real good shape and fairly quick. Anyway, during that practice he said to me, (remember, real hillbilly accent) "you like one ov' them skeeter bugs, always buzzin' round me." Of course he meant mosquito. Anyway, it stuck. Which is even funnier now since I am a bug killer. So there you have it.

Second, somewhat humorous story. I 've built a dog run/pen for my lab, Max. I finished it up Monday afternoon. As long as I am around, Max will stay right with me. In finishing my project I had all the gates wide open. When I finished, I hurried to put things up because Wendy had supper ready and we had to start taking kids places. Follow me here, I just built a dog pen, do you think I would maybe put the dog in the pen I just built? No....I leave him out. When we all finally get back home it had been a good 2-3 hours. I go in the backyard to feed Max.....he is gone. I searched for a good solid hour for that dog and couldn't find him. I had left the gate unlatched and he got out. How stupid can I be? I put everything up in its place except latching the gate!!! I found it somewhat ironic though....build a pen for him and runs away within 30 minutes of it. Kinda funny...he was like 'no way man, you ain't pinning me up....I'm out if here!' We found the knucklehead the next evening. He had took up shop with a family that didn't have a dog pen. There may be a lesson in there somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.

Third, Wendy and I are wanting to start a ministry, program...not sure what to call it. Should have been done years ago, but now is the time. We are wanting to start a Dad/daughter ministry. I got the idea from a group of mothers from church who have a mother/daughter ministry. The idea I have for this is to have times where dads and daughters meet with other dads and daughters for meetings. Be it banquets, hiking Palo Duro Canyon, fishing, retreats, going to the movies, whatever... Then having the dads meet once a month for a time of prayer where we pray for our daughters. Of course the real work needs to be done at home one on one. But my idea is this...How empowering could it be for the girls to know they are not the only ones. To know their friends dads feel the same as their dad. To have the confidence and knowledge they are not alone in this struggle to be a daughter of Christ. The peer pressure put on these girls today is stronger than ever before. I want to be a dad that my daughters look to for safety, security, leadership, and love. I do not want them looking for it from some punk. And not all the boys are punks they will find it from. Us guys remember how we were at that age. NOT GOOD!!! Which is why it scares me even more. Good kids make bad decisions all the time. I know good men who provide financially for their families, who are at church, who provide a good example, but who do not get it when it comes to their daughters need for love and affection from their dad. To me, that is what being a dad is...loving on your kids, be it son or daughter. Telling them you love them instead of showing them by how hard you work. Big deal! "My dad works hard, I know he loves me", but do we as dads ever take the time to tell that to our daughters? The more I think about this the more fired up I get about it. To me, just to know there are other men with daughters out there who have the same concerns, cares and desires would be a huge block to lean against when times get tough. My dear wife has always told me about the desires my daughter will have. She has been the best coach for me ever. If it were not for her, I would have no clue what-so-ever. Another area for this will be to teach men how to be a dad for girls. I will be the first to admit it. When it comes to females..........who knows? If you think you do, just wait a day. If you have any ideas to add to this, let me know. If you'd like to be a part of getting it going, please join us. But I ask everyone to pray about it. Pray God will bless and honor our desire.