Live A Revolution... Every Day

Day Off Photos of Kids

Spending some time off with the kids!

One of My Favorite Pics of the Summer / The Small Moments

Each shot is a moment in time. Sounds cliche. But it's true. 

And this is one of my favorites of the summer.

It's not a water park. Or big summer get-a-way to Myrtle Beach.

It's just a small pool that the g-parents have.

Sometimes you just have to pause and live in the small moments.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be ____________ & the Art of Dreaming

There were a number of things I wanted to be when I was growing up. What that was depended on the stage of life I was in. At one point, I would have told you I wanted to be the trash man. I guess riding on the garbage truck looked fun. Baseball player, police officer and ice cream truck driver were on the short list too. 

As I look back, there was an extreme joy in dreaming. It's something I want to do more often, not only in my own life, but with Carter, Morgan and Jami. Dreaming about what could be. Dreaming about the what if's. Dreaming about what God could do in our lives if we just simply take the a first step.

That's what God does with us. And as a father, a parent, it's my (our) job to do that too.

How cool is that.

So, while I no longer want to be a garbage man, I still want to ride on the back of one at least once in my lifetime. :-)

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
 

Kids' Video Summary of 4th of July Weekend

4th of July Weekend - 2010 from Todd Ruth on Vimeo.

My first video created from iPhone 4 and the iMovie app. Good learning experience. Can't wait to do more in better quality. 

Hope your 4th was as good as ours!

My Three Blessings

There's a lot that goes on in life... a lot that I'm striving to be successful at... a lot to stress over. There's a lot of "what-if's"... But even if I fail at everything. There is one thing that remains true... I will always have three blessings.

Thank you.

Happy 3rd Birthday Little Mo

Little Mo's birthday was actually on February 19. She's now 3 years old. I cannot believe it. No matter how old she is, whether she's 3, 33, or 63... she'll always be Little Mo to me. She is one of the most cheerful, giving, loving and ornery little girls I've ever known. She definitely takes after her mother.

From shoes to her lotsa babies, to her mother, father and brother. She loves well. And she loves often. 

And her mother, father and brother love her too. 

Happy Birthday Mo... even if it's a little late on the blog world.

 

Are You the Pride of Your Children?

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. - Proverbs 17v6

This is a haunting verse.

Can your children say, "Ya, THAT'S my mom. THAT'S my dad."

Are they proud of you?

Or a better question is...

Are you putting yourself in a position where your kids can be proud of you? Of the life you're living?

Parents...

BE the pride of your children.

One Thing You Need to Make a Difference

If you want to make a difference...

Have More Conversation.

If you want to better your marriage...

Have More Conversation.

If you want to be a better parent...

Have More Conversation.

If you want to be a better friend...

Have More Conversation.

I think I need to...

Have More Conversation.

You?

 

Our American Idols... Sort Of

TokBox - Free Video Chat and Video Messaging WWSS - What Would Simon Say?

Superman, Batman, Zorro, Wonder Woman Underdog... and Me

 I loved watching superhero tv shows...

Zorro, Batman and Robin, Superman, Underdog, AirWolf, M.A.S.K. and yes... Wonder Woman.

There was even a time in my childhood where I would dress up like Zorro and save the neighborhood from crime and criminals. I even had a special hiding spot in the alley where I would change into and out of my alter-ego. 

I loved the idea of being a superhero. 

And as I've gotten older, I've noticed that the idea of being a superhero has transitioned to being a father.

I want to be Carter and Mo's hero.

There's nothing wrong with that. It's a good goal.

But I've noticed that I suck at being a hero...

And for me, I think there's a better role for me. A role that far exceeds any possible gain I could give or get by attempting to be a hero...

I want to be John.

My efforts, from now on... is to be John.

John's a cool name. Afterall, my dad's brother - my uncle, is named John. And he's a great guy. Other than my dad, he's one of my favorite people I grew up playing catch with at family picnics. 

But he's not the John I'm talking about...

There's another dude named John. Check him out:

John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.I baptize you withs water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!" - Mark 1:7, 8

 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, `A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' - John 1:29, 30

John wasn't a hero. He simply pointed people towards Jesus. That's the role I want to fulfill.

My kids don't need their father to be a hero. My kids need me to be John - in EVERYTHING I do.

I don't want my kids to stand up at my funeral and say, "My dad was my hero." If that's all they say, then I would have failed.

Instead, I want my kids to stand up and say, "My dad was my John." 

I'm sure that will get some "what?" looks!

Growing Up Too Fast

As I was heading to bed last night, I checked on these two one more time. Then it hit me... again. They are growing up. Carter is 5. Mo will be 3 in February. In the blink of an eye, these guys will be graduating high school. They will be moving out. My time to be able to hold them will be done. And I was reminded to

slow down,

give them experiences,

build memories,

and be a better daddy.

Because they will not always be this small. 

We've Got A Date with an Elf Tonight!

 After reading Carlos Whittaker's post about this, I had to get one myself. I know it costs $30 bucks. But really, $30 bucks is cheap to make my kids' Christmas memorable. I want to give them experiences where they can look back and say, "Remember the stupid elf you said did recon of us and told Santa if we were naughty or nice..." I've got stories. And I want my kids to have them as well. So tonight, we start The Elf on the Shelf! I can't wait.

What are you doing to give your kids Christmas experiences?

Little Mo Mo's Pledge

Falling Down and Squeezing It's Guts Out! Pumpkin Fun!

Here's the latest video of our yearly family pumpkin carving event. It's full of near blood and guts.

The Dancing Mo

Cheeto Hand Prints

 

These are the hand prints my little two year old MoMo left on our fridge. What you don't see are the marks she left on our counter, table and wall. She LOVES Cheetos. She loves them so much that she gets them all over - all over her hands, all over her face, and all over anything she touches.

She loves them that much. She can't help it. The Cheetos mark her, and in turn, whatever she touches she leaves their mark.

The same thing happens to each of us. Sure, I may not be covered in Cheetos, but there are things that I allow to mark me everyday. And the things I allow to mark me, in turn, leave their mark wherever I go.

The question is...

what am I allowing to mark my life?

It's easy to get wrapped up in the mess that's tossed at us...

The crap at work.

The anger we experience.

The families we see falling apart.

The hurt we encounter everyday.

But the question remains...

what am I allowing to mark my life?

You see, when my little MoMo eats her Cheetos, she dives in with both hands. And when she comes out on the other side, she's marked. Whatever she had on her hands before is now covered up by the cheesiness of the Cheetos.

I don't know what you've got going on in your life. But I know what I face each day. And I know I have a choice. Because more times than I care to admit to, I allow things I hate to mark me. And in turn, they leave their mark on everything and everyone I come in contact with. So I have to ask myself daily...

what am I allowing to mark my life?

The answer I want to walk away with is...

Jesus.

He's the only One who can cover up the crap at work, the burden of witnessing families imploding, the anger I experience and give, and the hurt I encounter each day. And when He makes His mark on me, in turn whatever I touch, His mark will be left wherever I go.

And so I dive in with both hands...

Because I want to be marked by Jesus - and in turn, leave His mark everywhere I go.

So the question remains...

what are you allowing to mark your life?

  

If the Shoe Fits

Below is a photo of my little girl's feet in her mommy's shoes.

She can walk in them ok... especially for a two year old. But she still stumbles and falls, cause they just don't fit.

When she wears her own shoes, she's on. Cause she's found her fit. Sure she'll still stumble here and there, but not in the same way.

One of my goals in working with students is to help them find what fits. To help them find what they're gifted in and run with it. It's one of the things that makes my heart race fast. And it's something that we're starting to focus on more at Revolve.

That's actually a challenge that all of us face... to find what fits. To discover what we're gifted at and run with it. It's one of the most exciting adventures we could go on.

I can't wait to get started with out students!

More Than Bedtime Stories

I love bedtime for the kids... for many reasons. :-) One of the biggest just started a few days ago. We've been reading short children's devotionals to the kids for many months. But just a few days ago, I committed to read through the Bible with Carter and Mo at bedtime as well. I love my church. They do a super-dooper, bang-up job in children's ministry. But they will not replace mine or Jami's role we play as spiritual leaders in our children's lives. 

I thought it would be a challenge to read through the Bible with a two and four year old. But with this tool above, it's been a blast. I love it!

After being in student ministry in some shape for the last 11 years, it's clear that parents play the largest role in a kid's life. My leadership, or lack thereof, will be either a catalyst for growth and development, or a catalyst for disappointment and hurt. I choose the former. 

There are a lot of things I do day in and day out. But the most important, (and sometimes the easiest forgotten) is to be the father Carter and Mo needs me to be.

I'm not perfect. I fail... a lot. But I'm working on it.

What's the "Cow" in Your Life?

It was a normal day. A day like any other. You know, where hue-mungo cows walk on two legs. Carter and Morgan were so excited to see this cow. They couldn't wait to get up and dance with him, talk to him, shake his hoof and give him high five. Well, at least that's what they said from the safety of their booth.

When it came down to doing it, to actually taking a step towards putting their desire into action, well let's just say fear overcame them. The look on Mo's face when the cow came walking towards her was priceless.

They never actually met the cow - even though daddy gave him a high hoof. They let their fear overtake their desires - to prevent them from doing the very thing they wanted to do.

And in the end, that's exactly how I live my life as well at times. I've got things I want to do in ministry. Things I want to do as a father. Things I want to accomplish as a husband. I've got "cows" in my life. And the sad part is, I let fear overtake my desires. I let fear prevent me from accomplishing and doing the very thing I know God wants me to do. Even though I see others doing the same thing, I let fear control me.

Carter and Mo never met their "Cow". They settled into their fear.

I don't want to settle into mine.

Romans 8v15.

The Life & Death of Dora Balloons

Carter and Mo LOVE balloons. Doesn't matter what kind. They LOVE them. There's only one problem... they all deflate at some point. It's just the natural progression of a balloon's life. It sucks. Some balloons lose their air faster - especially if my kids are kicking and hitting them around the room. Others lose their air more subtly. And at some point, both balloons will end up on the ground. There's no way around it - unless I refill them with helium.

So, as I stood there, last night, watching my kids' Dora balloons dying, I was reminded of my own life.

As I live, day after day, I'm subject to lose my air - to get deflated. Some days I can literally feel it happening as I deal with life head on after hearing about a student who made a poor decision, deal with someone who's rude... etc. Other days, it's more subtle. And over time, I find my attitude and my spirit deflated. As a human being, it's the natural progression of life. There's no way around it - unless I refill with the Source of Life - Jesus.

Check this out:

David said about him: "I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." Acts 2v25-30

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3v16-19

So where are you at? Near the ground... deflated... losing air. Or are you hooked up to our Life Source? Because if we're not, we will ultimately watch our lives - our attitudes - our spirits deflate just like my kids' Dora balloons. But there's hope. Let Jesus breathe life into you... now.

Running Speed Racers

Ready... Set... Go! Then they're off to the races in a dead sprint for a two year old and a four year old. They really can only run back and forth maybe five times at best. Then they're tired and off doing something else.

One of the things I want to teach my kids is what it means to pace themselves. To learn rhythm for their lives. I want them to know that there will be times in life that they'll have to sprint. I want them to know that in order to have a healthy life, a healthy family, they'll have to learn how to balance their lives.

But for the time being, I've got to referee this race. And it looks to be a photo finish!

Little Mo Singing In Car - Cuteness Factor Is Very High

Happy Birthday Little Mo Mo!

Little Morgan Grace isn't all that little anymore. She's 2 years old today. Two years ago, Jami and I were like, "Shut up. We're having a girl!" I still can't believe we have a daughter. She brings so much life and joy to our home. Mo Mo is crazy cool and crazy cute, and insanely sensitive. I hope she never loses that sensitive spirit. 

This is a shot of her and a wet wipe. She loves her wipes. When she's got one, she's constantly wiping her face clean. She knows what they're used for - to make her clean, spotless. Little Mo, when you get a chance to read this, as you grow older, I want you to know that there's another who can make your life clean, spotless - whiter than the wipe you hold in your hand. His name is Jesus. I pray you hold him as tight as you hold on to your wipes.  

And Carter, at 4 years old, your little sister who is now 2, looks up to you more than you can know. I am so proud of how you love on her - of how concerned about her you are. You give so much so she can be happy - from letting her watch Dora before the Backyardigans, to sharing your toys. Carter, I hope you never lose your giving spirit. You have helped mold your sister into the little girl she is today.

So, happy birthday Morgan Grace from mommy, daddy and C-Dawg.

Dating Life Picking Up Steam

One of my regrets of 2008 is the lack of dating in my life. I can count on one, maybe two hands the amount of times I had date night with Jami... PATHETIC. And I'm sad to say that I just started going out on Daddy Dates with C-Dawg and Little Mo. But that's changing. 2009 is a new year. And I'm being intentional about getting my dating life back up. 

I love these guys. And I love dating each one of them... or when it comes to Carter, "hanging out." There, that's masculine enough. :-)

Morgan's Pacifier Withdrawl Symptoms

What you will hear in the following video, is Morgan's reaction when Jami told Morgan her pacifiers are all gone. Ya, getting rid of the pacifiers = Morgan's withdrawl.

Morgan's Pacifier Withdrawl from Todd Ruth on Vimeo.

It's Christmas Eve

I think this will be a new family tradition... making a Ginger bread house - even when they're 22 years old. Although I think they ate more candy then they put on the house!

The Great Pumpkin Carving, a.k.a Killing

After bringing in the Great Pumpkins and breaking out the knives, Carter proceeds to quote the Charlie Brown video: "Oh no. You didn't say anything about killing the pumpkin!"

Mo Mo's Take on Counting...

Our Princess

Can't forget about little Mo. Photo is a bit blurry cause she's on a constant move.

Holy Ears

The best part isn't Morgan in my opinion. The best part is the smirk on Jami's face!

Holy Ears - the Still Shots

I wanna be Dora.

If I could talk, I would be yelling STOPPPPPPPP! Check out the girl in the back who's thinking, "Someone shut that baby up."

Whyyyyy Meeeee?

Mmmmm. That makes it feel better.   

Oh ya. Those are hot. Again, girl in the background thinking, "But not as hot as mine."

 

All done. I got pretties in my ears and I'm all good now. Oh, and can I get my nose pierced next mommy?

Easter Fun

Yeah. I think he had a blast with the Easter grass. Morgan, on the other hand, focused  on something else.

Photo courtesy of grandpa and grandma Ruth. Great shot!

Dora Obsessed

Is that an Alien?

With Morgan waking up multiple times in the middle of the night screaming like an alien being slaughtered, I found this article interesting: Parents with babies need time to reset inner clock. And yes, if I can remember at 3 a.m. I will record the horrendous wail and post it on my blog for all to enjoy.

Kids' Stats

   

C-dog and Mo had doctor's appointments today. There were a few things discussed from how to get Carter to poop, to Mo has an ear infection. The one I think is the funniest... even though Carter is two years older than Mo, he is only six inches taller. I guess NBA supa-star is not in his future ;)

Happy Birthday Mo!

Today is Mo's first birthday. Even after having Carter, it still amazes me how much she has developed over the past 12 months. Here are a few of her milestones: She is walking. She is talking... dada, night night, go cubs... ok, not that one - yet. She is hitting Carter. She gives dirty looks. She gives dirty looks then hits the couch or toy when she is told she can't hit Carter. Ya, she's her mother's kid! I just can't believe it's been a year that I was interrupted in the middle of a guy/student video game night with a phone call from Jami saying that her water broke. I can remember the feeling of nervousness. Happiness. Amazment. Over a life being born. It's got to be close to the feeling of what God feels when someone is born again through Jesus. You say nervous? Really. Ya. I've got to believe that God was nervous when I said yes to Jesus. ;) In any case, Happy Birthday Mo. We love you!

Morgan's Chocolate B-Day Party

I love presents!

Ok. I think I'm ready.

One step at a time.

Oh yeah. That's some good cake!

Thanks to everyone who came to Morgan's first birthday party. And a special thanks for the McMullens for hosting it!   

Tell Me How You Really Feel

Seriously, I have to sit in this seat again? Well this is what I think about that!

Passed Out

This was Morgan at 7:30 p.m. Half dressed. Passed out where ever she could find a spot. With her drink by her side. Better now than 17 years from now.

Morgan's New Talent

She's growing up fast.

Morgan's First Sled Ride

Observation

Eyes tell everything. Or at least a lot. I'v been noticing a lot of different types of looks when people find out that Jami is gone for eight days. I love the looks I've gotten when I'm walked through the mall or taken them to a restaraunt. Some of the looks are "that's cool looks." The kind where they give us a cute smile. But I have to say, a lot of the looks and even responses are the type you might get when you tell people you've only got eight months to live... a mixture of sadness and pure horror. It's the "you poor thing you have to watch your two holy terrors for eight days while Jami is away, what are you going to do." It's a look and response that communicates a message where the person is almost questioning how I'm going to be able to handle it. Now, I could be wrong, but I don't think females get these kinds of looks as often as dudes do. One, it's not sad. I get to hang out with two of the coolest kids on the face of the planet. Two, I'm not flustered, scared or upset that it's two on one. Three, it's time for guys everywhere to step up to the plate and get involved in their children's life. I'm not perfect. And it's in these times where I learn just how much more I could be doing with my gangsters when Jami is here. So here's the revolutionary lesson... dudes, men, fathers... get involved... don't tune out. Our children's future depends on it.

Yo Adrian

Our little Rocky.

Halloween Practice

Child Dedication '07 x 3

Here are three samples of our commitment to Morgan Grace Ruth. Thanks Daryl for shooting some great shots.

This last shot is affectionately known as... MoMo Bowl.

Baby Dedication '07

More photos to come.

Chicago - Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago - Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago - Lincoln Park Zoo

Too Fast

Little Morgan is growing up too fast. She's now pulling herself up to a standing position to look at her brother Carter during bedtime.