Author: Wick

Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, Writer, Poet, Friend, reader, coffee enthusiast, hockey Wing-Nut, musical participator, etc...
Posted in Different Moments

daddy daughter dates

Posted on by Wick

We’re learning that just as important as regular “date nights” with each other, my wife and I should have times with our daughters as individuals.  It gives us time to talk, and gives them an opportunity to have some one-on-one time with a parent – which is great for both of us.  (Also, it’s more than a little fun to be able to wake THEM up in the morning….:P)

Recently, I took Addie out for a “Daddy Daughter Date” on the morning of her 5th birthday.  I will confess, I wasn’t ready for what she shared with me.  It was almost too much, and I gasped as the gravity of what she shared hit me full force.   We were talking about random things, just enjoying being together and waiting for our food.  When finally she said, “Daddy, I had a funny dream last night!”

“Really?” I smiled.  “What was it about?”  I was expecting a short story about a talking chipmunk, or her flying through the air and into the water as a Mer-Fairy (don’t get me started on Mer-Fairies).  Boy, was I wrong.

“I don’t want to say it loud, I’ll come whisper it to you.” She said.  I smiled back at her again.  Such a cute five year old.  She grabbed her cup of chocolate milk, and scooted out of the booth.  Sliding up next to me on the bench, she cupped her hands over her mouth and leaned in close…and shared a “silly” dream where in it…she kissed a boy.

I wish I could go back in time, and change my immediate reaction.  It was not a laugh.  It probably wasn’t even a smile.  It was a large eyed, slack-jawed, gasping for air…whoa-ment.  (that’s short for a “whoa” moment)  Did God and all of creation conspire to force me into a new level of parenting on the exact date my daughter turned 5 years old?  How in the world….?

Quickly I realized she may be embarrassed (she was), and I put on a huge fake smile, hugging her close while fighting back any fatherly tears that might threaten the moment.  “Boy, that was a silly dream, eh?  You’re not a married grown up!!  Haha!!” I said, probably through too much enthusiasm.  She bought it.  Her smile back confirmed that yes, that was a bit of silliness, and it’s nothing she’ll be pursuing anytime soon.  Crisis averted.

Yesterday I took our middle child, Sophie, out for a “Daddy Daughter Date”.  I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous when it came time for conversation.  What new comment that screamed “I’m growing up!” would she launch my way?  Thankfully, it was all smiles and talking about playing with her friends.  Whew.  Though I did learn that the McDonalds with the “Hangerburger Chairs” also has a small video game screen for kids.  That means we probably won’t be going there anytime soon for a date.  Which is fine, because I found a small place close by that has fresh donuts, and opens at 6am.  We’ll have “Daddy Daughter Donut Dates” from now on, hopefully.  Unless a free birthday meal is in order. 🙂

Imagine the emotional roller coaster God must be on, watching you and I learn and grow!

Posted in Uncategorized

i am an author.

Posted on by Wick

I remember in college, I was determined to prove that a certain “Poetry” contest was a scam. I had too many people who’d bragged about writing a piece of poetry that was “chosen to be included” or “won a spot within” a volume of selected writings (available for a large fee). So I found a brownie recipe, and went to work. I copied that recipe, word for word, even including some of the numbers. I snickered a bit, thinking there’s no way this would actually work.

A short while later, I received my “Congrats!” letter in the mail. Sure enough, my “poem” had been chosen above many entries to be included in a collection of poetry by new authors just like me! So did I call my mom and excitedly announce my dreams as a creative author had finally become actualized?? Nope. I smiled a bit, thankful I wasn’t going to shell out the money to purchase my poem within a book. Though the wooden plaque with my poem mounted upon it might be handy in the kitchen someday….I decided against it. The cost of a joke should never outweigh it’s value in humor. And this was more sad, than funny. I became skeptical of anyone saying they’d been published in a book, if it didn’t involve a contract.

I may have not mentioned it before, but my daughters are professional artists. Seriously. You should see them draw my likeness: Giant round head, and arms that stick out like twigs from a dying bush. They’ve been offered contracts at museums in New York and Chicago, but we really want to keep them well-grounded. So for now, it’s the giant rolls of paper from IKEA on our mini-easel.

Okay, so they may not be able to sell much to even our local art auctions…but when you watch my daughter lean into that paper with a half-crayon with no paper left to pick away…you know artistic genius is at work. I love watching her, and I pray she continues to feel the creative freedom she exhibits in that moment. As she creates on paper, she is reflecting God into a world that needs His image.

It also challenges me.

Since March, I’ve been sitting on a fully written book about how God can use parenting to transform us. I’ve been waiting for a publisher to take a chance on me, and move toward publication. I’ve always subconsciously felt that self-published books were a sign that the material inside wasn’t worth a publisher’s attention. So I continued to wait.

But why did I write? Because God has used parenting to change who I am, and I believe He’s only begun. Because I wanted to put some of that into words, so that others may realize what He could already be doing in their lives as well, and offer new hope to those expectant parents learning Lamaze, still eating bad cookies and punch. But my daughters won’t wait to show people they love, a drawing they’re proud of – they’ll grab it and place it on the highest mountain (or fridge) they can reach!

So here we are. I don’t have a physical book published (yet?). But I’ve written words that I believe are only possible because of God’s work in my life. I’m proud/thankful for them, and believe they can offer much to those beginning this journey of parenthood. It’s available for $2.99 via electronic download (you don’t need a Kindle, you can use your computer using the free software they offer!!) until some publisher decides it’s worth putting into a larger market. But in the words of Lamar Burton, “You don’t have to take my word for it…”

Posted in Different Thoughts

i am an author.

Posted on by Wick

I remember in college, I was determined to prove that a certain “Poetry” contest was a scam.   I had too many people who’d bragged about writing a piece of poetry that was “chosen to be included” or “won a spot within” a volume of selected writings (available for a large fee).  So I found a brownie recipe, and went to work.  I copied that recipe, word for word, even including some of the numbers.  I snickered a bit, thinking there’s no way this would actually work.

A short while later, I received my “Congrats!” letter in the mail.  Sure enough, my “poem” had been chosen above many entries to be included in a collection of poetry by new authors just like me!  So did I call my mom and excitedly announce my dreams as a creative author had finally become actualized??  Nope.  I smiled a bit, thankful I wasn’t going to shell out the money to purchase my poem within a book.  Though the wooden plaque with my poem mounted upon it might be handy in the kitchen someday….I decided against it.  The cost of a joke should never outweigh it’s value in humor.  And this was more sad, than funny.  I became skeptical of anyone saying they’d been published in a book, if it didn’t involve a contract.

I may have not mentioned it before, but my daughters are professional artists.  Seriously.  You should see them draw my likeness: Giant round head, and arms that stick out like twigs from a dying bush.  They’ve been offered contracts at museums in New York and Chicago, but we really want to keep them well-grounded.  So for now, it’s the giant rolls of paper from IKEA on our mini-easel.

Okay, so they may not be able to sell much to even our local art auctions…but when you watch my daughter lean into that paper with a half-crayon with no paper left to pick away…you know artistic genius is at work.  I love watching her, and I pray she continues to feel the creative freedom she exhibits in that moment.  As she creates on paper, she is reflecting God into a world that needs His image.

It also challenges me.

Since March, I’ve been sitting on a fully written book about how God can use parenting to transform us.  I’ve been waiting for a publisher to take a chance on me, and move toward publication.  I’ve always subconsciously felt that self-published books were a sign that the material inside wasn’t worth a publisher’s attention.  So I continued to wait.

But why did I write?  Because God has used parenting to change who I am, and I believe He’s only begun.  Because I wanted to put some of that into words, so that others may realize what He could already be doing in their lives as well, and offer new hope to those expectant parents learning Lamaze, still eating bad cookies and punch.  But my daughters won’t wait to show people they love, a drawing they’re proud of – they’ll grab it and place it on the highest mountain (or fridge) they can reach!

So here we are.  I don’t have a physical book published (yet?).  But I’ve written words that I believe are only possible because of God’s work in my life.  I’m proud/thankful for them, and believe they can offer much to those beginning this journey of parenthood.  It’s available for $2.99 via electronic download (you don’t need a Kindle, you can use your computer using the free software they offer!!)  until some publisher decides it’s worth putting into a larger market.  But in the words of Lamar Burton, “You don’t have to take my word for it…”