Its a game.  Its simple really.  Just shoot to kill.  It requires a nerf gun, nerf bullets and various creatures placed meticulously around the room.  It all started with a bag of “sea life animals” that my nephew, Tristan, gave Ezra.  With it came a dolphin,  killer whale, sea lion, an otter, baluga whale, a scuba guy, several other figurines, and obviously the great white shark.  I’m pretty sure that is why Ezra calls it “shooting sharks.”

Ezra and I quickly realized the joy that comes from arranging countless happy meal toys, aliens, lions, tigers, bears, elephants, gorillas, donkeys, horses, sheep, goats, dinosaurs…even a jelly bean pooping cow (long story, different story) all around his room, climbing to his top bunk (ya know, for the high ground) and strategically taking out all of them until we ran out of bullets.

Until we got a second nerf gun (with big bullets!)…the plan was simply, Ezra call out the name of the creature, and Daddy take it out.  Now that Ezo has a big gun, we both just go crazy!  Its amazing though…the accuracy necessary, especially with the great white shark…

I’m learning that being a dad isn’t easy…I miss the mark all too often…I’m confident I will always be trying to figure it out.  I am completely humbled that God lets me love my wife and our two precious children…that journey together through thick and thin is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I love being a daddy.  It’s absolutely remarkable.  the joy that comes from your child choosing you, running to you, wanting to spend every moment with you…God has to feel so good when we run to him with every skinned knee or song of praise, every valley or victory…Someday, my kids are going to grow up…and I pray I give them what my dad gave me…unswerving love.

Take the time to pour into your children.  Give them your best.  Teach them. Hold them. Love them.  And don’t miss the moments to drop everything and just shoot some sharks.