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thoughts on parental involvement

A lame request: If you read this blog often, could you click on "Follow" at the side? It's not simply for vanity (though that might play a role) but also because I like to know who reads these musings. It makes it a little less anonymous. I start to type Read More...
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2010 01 17

John Spencer

9 Comments

faith of a child

My wife sent this to me a few minutes ago (please don't try to look too far into it and criticize his theology): During lunchtime today I gave Brenna a kiss. Joel looks at me and asks, “Mom, do you know who gets the most kisses?” “Brenna?” I answer. “No, Read More...
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2010 01 8

John Spencer

8 Comments

a few conversations with a four year old

Joel: I'm going to throw it higher so that I can win. Me: Throw it as high as you can. Joel: Do you know why people want to win? Me: Why's that, Joel? Joel: So they can feel better than everyone else. Minutes later we're playing baseball. Joel: Daddy, Read More...
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2009 12 24

John Spencer

8 Comments

a Micah story

I'm posting a comment I left on one of my favorite blogs: We made everything into a commodity. Time, space, air, light - all quantified for consumption. Two nights ago it rained in Phoenix. It's rare to get a rainfall here. Micah opened the door right Read More...
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2009 11 30

John Spencer

3 Comments

random Joel quotes from this weekend

"Dragons became extinct when people stopped living in castles." "Well, actually Joel, dragons are just make believe." "Maybe people saw pterodactyls and thought they were dragons." *** "A diamond is just a square that can't stand up straight." *** "Joel, Read More...
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2009 11 22

John Spencer

1 Comments

it's like a two year old designed it

I often hear people mock abstract art with the comment, "It's like a two year old created it." I realize that much of what is abstract is planned well and contains elements of design. But I also want to point this out: it's way too hard to be random, Read More...
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2009 10 14

John Spencer

0 Comments

acting like my dad . . . in a good way

I make it a habit to define myself by defining what I'm not. I'm a teacher, but I'm not a packet master and I'm not a hang-in-there-kitty-poster guy and I'm not a standardized robot. I'm a Christian, but I don't run around handing out yellow booklet advertisments Read More...
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2009 09 22

John Spencer

4 Comments

the body

Perhaps the creepiest thing I've seen in years. Even scarier than Trovolta in drag in Hair Spray. Yet, a random example of an eighties kid's memories of the obsession with bodily perfection. Micah started singing a song he learned in Sunday school. "I Read More...
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2009 08 1

John Spencer

3 Comments

four year old logic

As I leave to take out the recycling, Joel asks to walk with me. "Joel, it's one hundred and fifteen degrees outside," I explain. He stares at me confused. That's right, four year olds don't have an accurate view of the farenheit system (or for the matter Read More...
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2009 07 19

John Spencer

4 Comments

stolen dance moves

My son thinks the Wiggles stole all their dance moves from The Charlie Brown Christmas Special. I think he's onto something here. Read More...
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2009 07 12

John Spencer

22 Comments

Does parenting make people happy?

Micah calls me outside to look at the moon. It's been ages since I looked at it, I mean really looked at the moon. I stare for awhile, but the beauty isn't up there. It's in his face, lit by the lunar rays (or the solar rays reflected off the moon or Read More...
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2009 07 4

John Spencer

5 Comments

innocence - another Joel dialogue

Joel pulls me aside with a serious demeanor. "Daddy, this is a toy gun. We can shoot it, but we never shoot a real gun, okay?" "Good point, Joel," I respond. "Why do people have real guns?" he asks. "To protect their home. They have a gun just in case Read More...
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2009 06 3

John Spencer

4 Comments

another Joel story

We're walking to the park when Joel hears a dog bark. He and Micah start barking and, in turn, the neighborhood is a loud cacophony of various dogs. Both of them smile, delighted in the simple act of cause and effect. "Hey Joel, you shouldn't do that," Read More...
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2009 02 22

John Spencer

8 Comments

a morning dialogue between Joel and Micah

Joel: Spiderman is a good man and so is Barack Obama. He's our president. Can you say President Barack Obama, Micah? Micah: Present Bock Bama Joel: No, not a present. President. Say it again, Micah. Micah: Why? Joel: He's our president. He's a good guy. Read More...
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2009 02 14

John Spencer

4 Comments

four short Joel stories

These four stories have happened in the last two days. I don't want to forget them, so I'm recording them in the blogosphere. #1 Joel sits down with his stuffed animals while I clean the kitchen. Buddy the Puppy says to Sprocket, "I'm sad, Daddy." "What's Read More...
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2008 11 16

John Spencer

1 Comments

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