“This man named Noah” was her answer.

Sarah asked, “what did Noah do?”

“He built a ship” she said.

“Why did he build a ship?” Sarah asked.

“He took a bunch of animals on a trip” was her reply.

Sarah asked “why did he take them on a trip?”

Danielle responded, “I don’t know…he just wanted to I guess.”

So then the whining began. “I just want to watch a movie… sniff… sniff.” Followed shortly by “I never get to watch my movies… sniff… sniff.” Conveniently forgetting that she had just finished her third episode of Strawberry Shortcake.

I then informed her that we were not going to listen to the whining any more. And, if she said one more thing about watching a movie, she would get a spanking. So, she stopped whining, said yes sir, and that was the end of it… Nice Wish!

The very next second was a stomp on the floor, and the statement, “I… Want… To… Watch… A… Movie!”

I looked at Sarah and she looked back to me with that look of “alright dad… what are you going to do now?”

I tossed a glance toward Danielle, and calmly said, “Danielle, Daddy told you I was going to spank you if you said anything about watching a movie, so let’s go.”

“NO!” she said with a stomp.

I calmly replied, “Then that’s two.” Which meant that she had earned a second swat.

“NO!” she said with another stomp.

“That’s three” I said with a slightly less calm tone.

“NO!” she said with a series of stomps.

“That is FOUR” came my reply. “Unless you want to make it a whopping five, I suggest you get in the room now!”

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!” came her response.

It took one last look, and the slowly glaring word “NOW” between gritted teeth, and she headed to the room holding the back side of her pants.

I followed her to the bedroom where I took her paddle (an old ball and string paddle), and began to explain why Daddy had to spank her. She was not very compliant, and began fighting me. She had climbed up on the bed by this point. So, I did the only thing I could think to do.

Now, if you have ever changed a diaper, you will understand what I am going to tell you. She was on her back, and I did not want to catch anything but hind end, so I grabbed both of her ankles with one hand, and lifted up. Her backside was in the air, so I gave her the five swats she had earned.

As she was sup supping, she climbed on my lap. I sat down and held her close. She began to bury her face in my neck, and tell me she was sorry. Then I began to explain to her the importance of listening and obeying. I tried to help her understand that God was proud of us when we obey our parents.

I never want our children to think we give spankings just for the fun of it. So, I explained to her that it hurts Daddy’s heart to spank her. As she started to calm down, and I asked her if she remembered why she got the spanking. She said she did, and that it was because she had disobeyed by asking for the movie again. I reaffirmed her, and told her that the next time Mommy and Daddy say no, to not argue it. But, to just say “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am.”

She said okay, and then gave me a hug. I told her to go apologize to her mother for throwing a fit. She did, and then she looked at me and said…

“Can I watch a movie?”

Ya just gotta love ‘em!

Now, I know that some people have issue with certain forms of punishment, but as for our family, we practice the lost art of spanking. That’s right…we spank our children. Now, if spanking offends you that is your own personal right. You raise your children the way you choose, and we will raise ours in the way we see fit. Then, when our children grow up and become fine upstanding citizens, they will be as kind as they can be while placing your little criminal into the police cruiser.

I have trained a couple dogs in the past, and the dog trainer gave some great advice. “Never give the dog more than one chance.” What he meant by this was not to say “sit…sit…sit…sit…” but to give the dog one chance and then a correction. This was hard at first, but it makes sense if you think about it.

If my dog is running toward the street and there was a car heading toward him, I would not want to have to say “stop…stop…stop…” but to be able to say it one time and for him to stop. This is the principle. The dog must learn to obey on the first command. It is for their safety. This cannot be on only certain commands, but it must be a pattern of their training. They must sit on the first command, lay down on the first command, and this will give them the habit so that they will stop on the first command.

I am not a fan of the whole count to three practice. I have used it in the past and all it does is teach the child they have 1 & 2 before they have to obey. If the child is in danger, you may not have time for 1&2. Well, that brings me to my story.

The other day, we were getting Danielle ready for bead, and she had been giving us fits for a week of nights. Go to bed…get up…go to bed…gets back up…GET IN BED…gets back up. You get the pattern. We hate to spanking, but sometimes that is the only way to get through to her.

Well, I had reached my limit, and I refused to spank her once more. Instead, I decided to take things away. I started with turning her music (she listens to Patch the Pirate at bed time) off and told her I would take her stuffed animals away next. That made her sad, but obviously not enough.

Within just a few short minutes, she was at it again. Playing in her room which woke her brother up. Since Gabriel and she share a room, if she makes a lot of noise, he wakes up. I went in and calmly, but sternly, told her to get back in bed. I took the stuffed animals and left her in bed with no companions. I informed her I would take her blankie next.

Within 3 minutes, she was up again. Now, I take her blankie and have to decide what I am going to take next. Not much left, and surely this is the last time…right? I mean, it is almost midnight! I tell her I will have to take her pillow if she gets up again. I plead with her to stay in bed. But…you guessed it, she was back in her toy box within just a few short moments.

I went in and took her pillow from her and told her that the only think left was her blanket. “Please stay in bed” I said. I left her room and muttered a small prayer under my breath. “Lord, please put that child to sleep.”

I went into the living room, and picked up my computer. Then I heard it… The toys were out and a pretend picnic had begun. I walked in the room and she bolted for the bed. I calmly walked to the bed. And took the quilt. She laid there and broke my heart saying “but I will be cold.”

“If you stay in bed, I will bring your blanket back” I said. So I went to the living room and made a mental note of what time it was. I went back in the room 10 minutes later, and she had remained in bed. I gave her her blanket back and told her that next time I came in, I would give her back her pillow.

It worked, and before you knew it, she had her pillows, blankie, and stuffed animals. I was so happy that something finally worked. The next night, I put her in bed. We said our goodnights, and gave hugs and kisses. I went to sit down with my wife, and…you guessed it…out came the play food.

Oh well, maybe this time I will have to take her mattress…

Ya just gotta love ‘em!

I went ahead and got it the other day and it arrived today. While she was out I set it up and turned it on… She came home to a literal “Christmas in July”.

Oh yeah… Who says chivalry is dead?

Well… several hours later, I had a week, and a chewed up block of wood. Now, your normal dad would probably say “I’m sorry honey, but not this year.” Perhaps, he would go to Hobby Lobby and buy one of those pre-cut cars. But, I am not a “normal dad.”

I went back downstairs to see what I may have to use. Then I spotted it… my Dremel! Keep in mind, that we didn’t really have the money to go buy the right tools, and Dremel bits can be as expensive as buying the tools to do the job right. That didn’t stop me… I grabbed the sanding wheel, and started to go at it.

Have you ever tried to sand away 30 percent of a block of pine? Let me just say that it is time consuming.

Now its time to paint… Remember, we poor and cheap. Danielle wanted a purple car, so we used purple craft paint, and she picked out some stickers. Just for a bit of added shine, and to keep the stickers on, Sarah coated it with clear fingernail polish.

I know… but don’t forget, we are from the country, and hillbillies are very resourceful people.

Now we have the “Purple Pony”

I BEAT THE COMPUTER!

You know… when I was a kid, I can remember going to camp. I remember the counselor asking us who our heros were. While the other kids were saying things like superman, Cal Ripken, Jesus, etc… my response was simple. My dad. I did not say it because he would hear, I said it because it was true.

What happens between that age and teenage that makes us want to be the complete opposite of our parents? What takes place during those adolescent years that makes us lose sight of our heros? Looking back, as a teen, I was not a huge fan of my father. His rules, expectations, and punishments were not looked upon as very heroic. How dare he expect me to get good grades and obey his rules?

I find it interesting that the when we are kids, we adore our parents. When we are teenagers and young adults, we loose that adoration. And, when we are adults, we come back full circle and again your father becomes a hero in your eyes.

I thank God for the father I have. Both heavenly and earthly. I thank God that He gave me a father that I can look upon as a hero. Not one that I am ashamed of, but one that I, once again, adore and aspire to be like.

Ironic, isn’t it.

I would have to say, the most intriguing verse in this little book is verse 2:

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

As you read this, you wonder. Was Gaius (the guy to whom John was writing) sick, or had he some ailments? Had he recently undergone some injury? What caused John to write this phrase? Whatever the reason, I cannot help but think to myself, “would I want someone praying this for me?”

If I were to be honest, would I really want my physical health to be a mirror to my spiritual life? As we walk through life, we must be ever vigilant to ensure that our relationship with the Lord is ever growing. We cannot allow ourselves to become stale in our walk with Christ.

Would you be glad if I were praying for you that your help would prosper in the same manner that your soul prospers?

Just a thought.

So, I went into the restaurant, took about 2 steps in, and I noticed the entire wall-o-beer nestled across from the table-o-drunks. Well, since I wasn’t “packin” I came back out and kindly suggested that, while as respectable as it may be, we rethink the idea of eating at this particular establishment.

We decided to head to Perkins instead. Gotta love the breakfast menu.