My boys, Frodo and Sam

When the movie series,  The Lord of the Rings, came out several years ago,  my boys were so, so captivated.  I remember when they would get dressed up and act out the movie scenes over and over.  They had the swords and costumes and quite the imagination.  I cherish those memories but those days are forever gone.  For some time now I have been encouraging the boys to live their own story.  Just like Frodo and Sam, they have quite a journey ahead of them.  Some days they will encounter wonders, some days they will encounter dangers. Some days the sun will shine, some days there will be storms. To a large degree we can't control what happens, but whatever happens it will be their story.

And stories are so important to us.  We are so attracted to movies and books because stories nourish us.  Stories give us the "stuff" that we need to help us understand our own story.  They shed light on our own lives.  Through stories like The Lord of the Rings, we can see what life may require from us.  As Daniel Taylor has written, "Our stories tell us who we are, why we are here, and what we are to do".

So Frodo (Spencer) and Sam (Josh), please bear with me as I try to have conversations with you about what is important in life.  Please try to listen as I talk to you about passion, and focus, and using your God-given talents.  I am simply living this part of my story by trying to help you live your story the best you can.

Love you.