Merry Christmas!

Happy 2016 Christmas from the Riedls!

Delaney's Christmas Tree Disaster Story

On the night we brought our Christmas tree home, Delaney was being contemplative. While we were eating dinner, she asked, "What if you were driving in the snow, and you fell off of your car, and your Christmas tree hit the ground, and exploded, and all the ornaments would break, and you'd be really sad."

Nolan responded, "Yeah, then your entire house will be glass."

They both laughed hysterically, and of course Jen and I joined in the laughter as well. 🤣

Bigger Mustache

"Wow! Daddy, you're eating that pizza fast!" said Nolan.

I replied, "Yep! That's because I'm bigger than you. I have bigger teeth, I have a bigger mouth, and I have a bigger stomach. So I eat it much faster."

"You also have a bigger mustache," he said.

:-)

Delaney is Sick Too!

"Mommy, what are you doing?" Delaney asked.

"I'm getting Nolan some juice because he's not feeling well," Jen replied.

"Why are you doing that?"

I said to her, "Because it's good to have liquids in your body. We want him to drink juice since he's sick."

"It looks like I'm sick too," Delaney said.

:-)

Where is Jesus Sitting?

We were setting the table, preparing for dinner...

Nolan: "Who is going to sit there?"

Delaney: "Jesus!"

Nolan: "No, he's not sitting there because He's in our heart."

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

Nolan's version, which he heard from kids at school and altered to make it his own:

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
Catch a tiger toes.
If he lets go.
If my Mom will poop in her pants then that will be it.

Grown-up Stuff

Jen: "I don't feel like doing grown-up stuff right now."

Nolan: "But Mom, you have to."

[Jen and Aaron laugh]

This Girl Needs A Man

Delaney turned 3 years old today! She is fun, goofy, and spontaneous. She loves dressing up as a "superhero dancer girl with glasses."

I am amazed at how much this girl wants to be held, snuggled, kissed, and looked at. Sometimes I just stare at her, just a few inches from her face, and she stares right back at me. She craves attention from her daddy.

And I know, as her father, that I need to give her that attention. I need her to feel loved and cherished by the man in her life. Me. I show her what it is like to be a woman based on how I treat Jen, and I show her what it is like to be loved in a way that Jen cannot. I set her up for a future, feeling safe and secure knowing that there is a man in her life who loves her, protects her, and makes her feel like I would do anything for her.

As I stare into her eyes, inches away, her smile beaming brighter and brighter the longer I hold her gaze, I see a teenager. I see a young woman. I see a future wife. When Delaney says "Kiss me again, Daddy!" I immediately think about how many dads neglect their little girls and then they look for love in other men out there willing to give it to them. The difference is that other men want something in return, whereas I just love her because she is my daughter. So I kiss her again.

This little 3 year old will not be a goofy superhero dancer girl with glasses forever. She will develop into a butterfly and flutter out of my grasp at the time when God says "it's time." And I'll have to let her go. I just hope and pray that God will give me the strength to be the best dad I can be for her. That I will give her enough kisses that she will not need to look for them in men who want to take advantage of her. That I will balance love and discipline in a way that God balances it perfectly with us, His own sons and daughters. That I will be a diligent father with the limited time I have with her and trust in the path God has for her with the rest.

I love you, Delaney-Bug! Happy birthday!