Its life unusual...and full of glory

Can't say that life is ever predictable, although they say when you have children things get to be routine...or at least it's good to have a routine. We definitely have a routine, yet amidst that there is constant change. I guess there comes a time in life where people get so comfortable in their routine that change is rare and difficult, we aren't there, we are at a place that I think people throughout the world experience, and that's building a family. I really think we are doing just fine adapting to the change that comes with this wonderful time in our lives. So, lots has happened in the past two years, which I think its just about been since the last time Viv or I have posted on this blog. I'll highlight all the big stuff: Ben has been born (that was a big one), he's now almost 11 months old. While Viv was on maternity leave I took a day job at the Cancer Clinic, which proved to be quite enjoyable. I had health problems and today I'm a remicade junkie. Vivian is pregnant again (changes...big changes!) and has gone back to work on her second maternity leave. I took the last ten weeks of her first maternity leave to be at home with Ben. Factor in camping, a cruise, christmas, road trips, etc etc....and that's pretty much what we've been doing. Today we were breaking fast (denny's had their annual free breakfast), and while talking we decided it might behoove us to occasionally jot down all the seemingly minor but very enjoyable life experiences surronding one Benjamin Sheppard. I think it was his third tooth that brought this on, you'd think it would be his first step, or his first word, or even his first tooth. Nope, we are intrigued by this third tooth. Its in a weird place. I mean, it's in his mouth, but he has these two bottom teeth, perfectly centered in his gum, side by each (newfie expression), but this third tooth sits about two spaces lateral on the right side of the gum. So he's going to have those two teeth centered, and then this other tooth way off to the right...not over top the first two. I won't dwell on this any longer except to say that he's going to have a ridiculously funny smile. He's taking this teething thing in stride, doesn't seem to bother him much, he's a little restless at night, but otherwise a happy little fella. I have to laugh at myself sometimes, I find these small things just so big and important...to me. Not so much to those around me, and I send a special thanks to friends and family that indulge my excitement over a first haircut or strange tooth. I quickly realize people aren't as intrigued as I am when I start sharing all this excitement and I see this kind of bland expression on their faces, and they politley laugh. A friend just sent me a video of him scuba diving with a rather large ray in Thailand...pretty cool and it looks like loads of fun and a great experience. And yet, my day to day life, living with my wonderful wife, and watching this tiny miracle of a child, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, living and growing and developing this wonderful and charming personality...we are blessed, I am blessed, and Joel if you ever read this you are blessed, because God's glory abounds and it's our greatest joy when we get to experience it, be it in the face of a child, or a giant manta ray. Benjamin is just a little bundle of God's glory...haha...I realize the bundle of glory may not always be so easy to appreciate, but I have to say, my little family makes me happy and God is very good.