An Application for Dating My Daughter

A few weeks back, Lydia wrote a letter to her future husband. She was quite please with it and as I a dad who loves his daughter, I was thankful to see that she is beginning to think about these important matters even at such a young age. But, as a dad who loves his daughter, I saw the letter lacked in key areas. It wasn't as strong as it could have been. So, here is my application for dating/courting my daughter:

Application To Date My Daughter

1. Name_________________________ Date of Birth____________

2. Height _________ Weight________ IQ________ GPA________

3. Social Security # ______________ Driver’s licence #__________

4. Boy Scout Rank_____________________________________

5. Home Address_____________ City/State ____________ Zip____

6. Do you have one male and one female parent? ____________

If no, explain answer _________________________________

7. Number of years parents married ________________________

8. Do you own a van? _______ A truck with oversized tires?______ Do you have an earring, nose ring, or belly button ring? _______ Do you have a tattoo?_________ (if yes to any of #8, discontinue application and leave the premises)

9. In 50 words or less, what does LATE mean to you? ____________ ____________________________________________________.

10. In 50 words or less, what does “DON’T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!” mean to you? __________________________________________________________.

11. Do you love Jesus? __________ Church you attend _______________ How often do you attend? ______________________

12. When is the best time to interview you father, mother, and pastor? Father ____________ Mother___________ Pastor__________

13. Answer by filling in the blank: please answer all questions freely, all answers are confidential (that means I won’t tell anyone ever — promise)

A. If I were shot, the last place I would want to be wounded is in the __________________

B. If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my ____________

C. A woman’s place is in the _________________________

D. The one thing I hope this application doesn’t ask is________________________________________

E. When I first meet a girl, the thing I notice about her first is ______________

14. What do you want to be “if” you grow up? ________________

15. Are you willing to wear an electronic tracking device? _______

I swear all information supplied above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge under penalty of death, dismemberment, crucifixion, electrocution, Chinese water torture, and red hot pokers.

Signature ________________________

Thank-you for you interest. Please allow four to six years for processing. You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write (since you probably can’t, and it would cause you injury). If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentlemen wearing white ties carrying violin cases.

(HT: Anyabwile)

All God's Critters

Every couple of weeks, mommy and Lydia go to the library. At the library, mommy picks out five or six different children books. This time mommy checked out "All God's Critters", a song-picture book. Tonight, daddy had a chance to read it to Lydia and she really enjoyed it. When daddy was just finished, mommy found the song on youtube. It is a fun, knee-slappin' song!

ALL GOD'S CRITTERS

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws
Or anything they got.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big to-do
The old cow just goes MOOOOO

The dog and the cat pick up the middle
While the honey bee hums and the cricket fiddles
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
And the old coyote howls

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws
Or anything they got.

Listen to the top where the little birds sing
On the melody with the high note ringing
The hoot owl hollars over everything
And the jaybird disagrees

Singin' in the night-time, singin' in the day
Little duck quacks, and he's on his way
The possum ain't got much to say
And the porcupine talks to himself

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws
Or anything they got.

It's a simple song of livin' sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear
Grumpy alligator and the hawks above
Sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands, or paws
Or anything they got.

Lydia: Eight Months

We're a few days late posting this Month Update. Our little girl is keeping us busier and busier as she interacts more, demands puppet shows and takes a really really long time to eat (solids, that is...she has nursing down to an efficient science).

Lydia has started to communicate in a variety of ways. She rubs her eyes when tired, waves at passing cars, and flaps her arms which means (as far as we can tell) "pick me up", "I'm excited" and "I'd really like to grab that cat's tail". Verbally she was running with "dadadada" much to Brian's delight, but has recently added some "mamama" and a whole lot of "babababa" sheep style.

She is currently not yet mobile, aside from rolling over, but you'd be surprised how quickly she can reach for and grab things! Her hair continues to be spiky and crazy. Her eyes are Daddy-blue and those chubby kissable cheeks remain.

I suppose we say this all the time, but Lydia is a really fun baby. She is so great to be around, lighting up our home and anywhere she goes (the grocery store and library are much happier

places when she's visiting). Praise our Heavenly Father for this wonderful gift made in His image.

Happy 29th Birthday Mommy!!!

We love you!!! Thanks for being an awesome mommy! Here is a little gift for you!

Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Last Friday, Lydia got to visit Daddy at work, the newly named-changed Reinhardt University! Apparently this was a very fertile year for the faculty and staff of Reinhardt, so they decided to get all these new babies (and their parents) together for a brunch and photo shoot.

As you may imagine, that many babies in one room at 930 am...well, not everyone is gonna smile for the picture. Nevertheless, the group shot turned out just fine (notice our little gal not looking at the camera...along with almost all of the other babies).

After brunch, Lydia toured the campus visiting all Daddy's friends and co-workers. She was quite a hit (of course) and loved spending time with her very favorite Reinhardt alum...Daddy.

Lydia & Co.

As a Stock Household blog reader you probably already agree, Lydia is a very popular gal, even at the age of just 7 months. Each week Lydia and Mommy have the opportunity to play with/babysit several of Lydia's pals around the area. Each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning little Addyson comes over to our house. She is 3 months younger than Lydia. They have so much fun playing together (mostly watching each other chew on toys...although Lydia's starting to want everything Addyson holds). Their favorite time is just facing each other and "talking".

On Thursday afternoon we go to our friends' house to watch this sweet pea and her brothers who come home from school at 4:00. "H" (3 years old) and Lydia entertain each

other and laugh together. "H"'s favorite Lydia adventures include watching Lydia eat (she helps feed her), dancing together (wearing out Mommy in the process) and performing puppet shows for the eager audience (usually ends up in a giant pile of stuffed animals). She recently started calling her by her nickname "Lyd" since she's convinced she knows Lydia well enough to be on a one syllable basis!

Fridays are the most dangerous (in Brian's opinion) for our little girl. David (almost 2 years old) basically says "Lydia" all day long and goes in for hugs and kisses (which she does not object to) at leisure. Protective Daddy is ready to sit down with this boy for a long talk! :) Lydia likes watching him run around the room and takes advantage of his cool "exersaucer".

All in all, Lydia and I have a great week playing and seeing her interact with kids at various stages. I think she enjoys them all and they don't seem to mind their weekly visits from Lydia.

Photo Shoot #439 (approximately)

"Excuse me, Miss Stock."

"Yes, we are ready for your photo shoot."

"Yes, more like this. Great!"

"NO! Please don't grab the camera!"

"Hey, where did this guy come from? Is he with another agency?"

"Yes, I love this angle. Very nice."

"And I see we're done."

Shepherding A Child's Heart (Part 4)

Here is the next installment of "The Shepherding A Child's Heart" series. In this video, Dr. Tripp teaches parents how to give kids an understanding of themselves which is deep, thorough, and biblical. Simply, we learn how to help kids understand their heart, "the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23). This lecture will help parents go against teaching behaviorism and moralism.

What do the Stocks do on a Friday night?

Last Friday, as Lydia was fast asleep in her farm-themed crib, daddy and mommy had some fun! Yes, we had an in-home date packed with looking at pictures and EAR-WAX candles. They say that the ear is a self-cleaning organ. Q-tips aren't really the best as they shove most of the wax down into the ear canal. So, every once in a while, we use ear wax candles for a good clean and a good laugh.

Mandy started. The flame is lite and the wax is coming out!

Now, its Brian's turn. There is nothing like a quick nap and an ear-wax job!

The results are in and they are... gross!