"Merry Christmas, Dad."

Here's my favorite Christmas gift this year, a picture of our three kids which they had taken without our knowledge and on the fiftieth try managed to capture their perfect smiles. I love the picture, but at the same time it made me a little melancholy. Our children are looking less and less like kids and more and more like grownups. Suzanne and I know our time is growing short. Our nest will be empty before we know it. Time goes straight ahead.

Anyway, we couldn't be prouder of our three. And, I'm feeling better about those frustrating moments of parenthood, when capital punishment seemed to be the only appropriate response. I'm glad in hindsight, that I chose other options. I feel very, very blessed.