Emily Merritt, Age 7, and Her Fairy Party!

I don't remember my seventh birthday party. What I do remember about my early birthday parties was it was "my choice". I got to say who came, I got to say what we did, what we ate, and who got to cry. I remember the power bequeathed to me, even for that one day, was intoxicating and irresistible. The lure of it would start about 15 minutes after the current year's party finished. This year, I may have proven that this lust for birthday tyranny is genetically distributed to the next generation. Which leads to today's blog entitled: Emily Merritt, age 7, and her fairy party.

Emily started preparations just after her Auntie Momo, Uncle Bobo and beloved cousins, Jake and Ryann left Beijing in early January. She hand wrote the invitations, order of activities, personalized the wands for "Pin the Wand on the Fairy", made place setting labels, blew up balloons, baked cakes (yes, multiple), helped make bingo balls for "Fairy Bingo", set the menu, and decorated the house in preparation. I had intended to give her $40 and have her go buy and wrap her own birthday present, but I couldn't get myself organized enough to get her the money.

As you will see from the photos, the addictive power of "running the day" has not been lost on Emily. Consequently, she has been getting her fix with each of the 52 days following her birthday. Some many wings, so many wands, so much pink magic, it is hard to capture it in three photos, but here it is. I think you get the feel of the afternoon. Enjoy, and if you need a party planner, especially a fairy party planner, let us know.

Home on the Range

I'm a proud father. I admit, there are times when I wonder what it would be like to have a son. To walk around the woods and pee on things together. Someone with whom to watch the Ms. World Beauty Pagents, look across the couch, and share that "aw, yeah" look without saying a word. It does cross my mind. But not very often.

See, the way I see it, I've got the two most talented, funny, and beautiful little girls the world has ever seen. They rarely fail to surprise me with their fresh outlook on the world and honest take on things. I also want to give them every opportunity to be whatever person they want. I know all fathers say that, but I truly believe that, save one thing, they can choose whatever path they desire. I know that Hannah will choose a couple paths, or travel down a few at the same time, before choosing one, but that too, is perfectly fine with me. So what is the one thing? Yep, golf.

Now golf might seem a strange "one thing" to insist upon, but when you think about it, it makes sense. Golf opened a lot of doors for me that I may have never been able to go through. Golf paid for much of my schooling, golf introduced me to some of my very best friends, and golf is a game that I can play my whole life. A game that Liz and I can play together when we are old and grey, and how else am I going to get my future teenage daughters to hang out with me, unless I lure them out on the course with me.

Golf teaches patience and humility. Golf is a game of honor and respect, for yourself and your opponent. It is a game that is all about the exact things I want the girls to value and cherish. It is a game that everyone has tried, but not very many people are good at. And everyone wishes they started playing when they were younger. See, it is all about them and all for them...and a good excuse to get a couple swings in myself. :-)

Attached was my best birthday present. An afternoon on the driving range with my girls. An hour that will stick with me for a long time and all it cost was a couple range balls, a couple minutes of video tape, and the discipline not to laugh too hard and shake the camera wildly. Enjoy, I did.

Back in Jak

Last weekend, I had a chance to attend an Inquiry Educational Conference in Bandung, Indonesia with Kath Murdoch. First thing I did? Look up how far Bandung was from Jakarta. Second thing? Look up who Kath Murdoch was. The conference was great, but the two hours from Jakarta was an added bonus as I got to see the old stomping grounds, soak up some sun, and reunite with old friends. Thanks to Butch for signing me up for the best meal I have had in ages (paid for by JIS PD funds). Thanks to Sue and Jurrien for "putting up with me" for a night and planning a great gathering. Thanks to Noah for teaching me how to lose at driveway football.

First Entry

Dear Friends and Family,

For years, I have tried to send out occasional photo albums in order for you to keep up with our adventures. Then it occurred to me, people need my humor. Ironically, this didn't occur to anyone else I spoke to about it, but it did occur to me. So I am going to give this new-fangled "blog" a shot. Best of both worlds, really - my picture with my voice. Don't worry, I will get Liz to post, too.

Enjoy,
Matt