Into a Headwind

The headwind never let up. Not a gust here and there, not some squall that blew through and passed. It leaned against us the whole way out. A headwind slows you down and keeps you from getting where you want to go. My wife sat up front. Our son was tucked in the bow ahead … Continue reading Into a Headwind →

Shoes to Fill

You found my boots by the door the other day. My big boots, the ones without laces because I had just finished cleaning them for another season at camp. You climbed in before I could stop you, both feet swallowed whole, and stood there grinning up at me like you’d done something amazing. “Dada!” You … Continue reading Shoes to Fill →

Can’t Wait to be Your Friend

Today we went down the slide together. You didn’t hesitate or overthink or test the edge with one foot. You just went with reckless abandon.You’re fearless in a way I used to be and want to be again. I watch you climb up things too big, run toward things too fast, and trust my arms … Continue reading Can’t Wait to be Your Friend →

Forward To The Far Horizon

Weddings have a way of slowing time. Everyone else was talking, laughing, and toasting, but I found myself crouched low, watching my son crawl across the hardwood floor. The sunlight poured through the curtains, throwing long shadows of a man bent low and a boy moving forward. And in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about … Continue reading Forward To The Far Horizon →

Still.

A year ago, I limped into the mess hall—bruised, pale, and unsure of how much of me was still intact. Some of you were there. Some of you carried me. Some of you prayed when I couldn’t pray. I had nothing in the tank. Just pain, and the sinking sense that maybe I had finally … Continue reading Still. →

The View from Up There

He has no idea how high up he is. Strapped into a shoulder carrier with a seatbelt around his belly and ankle loops cinched tight, my son rides above the world without a single ounce of fear. He doesn’t know about gravity. Doesn’t know that one wrong step could send both of us crashing down. … Continue reading The View from Up There →

The Way We Learn

I thought I was doing okay. I had watched every video I could find on how to swaddle. There are a thousand different methods, and I tried most of them. Eventually I found my rhythm. Got pretty good at it, actually. So good that Cassie stopped wanting to try, worried she’d mess it up. That … Continue reading The Way We Learn →