Shuttle Service

You know you're not single anymore...when you realize you have a second job as a shuttle service...Your kids are at the ages where they want to be active in sports and be with their friends but they are too young to drive...So after work and in between activities at the house, you find yourself taking the kids to ball practice, picking them up from practice, dropping them off at a friend's house, picking them up from their friend's house, taking them to Walmart, etc....You begin to notice that you can get more accomplished by taking work with you and waiting during ball practice...You also are grateful for the invention of smart phones so you can work online...You're glad your kids are active but you realize quickly that you're active with them.

School Schedule

You know you're not single anymore...when you have to take your daughter to go register for her classes this upcoming school year...You remember back to how excited you were to get your schedule for the next school year...You know this will be a special year because your daughter will be riding with you each day to the same high school that you will work...You recognize that you will have one hour a day in the car with your daughter just to hang out on the way to school and back...You just hope she's not too embarrassed to get out of the car with you when you arrive each morning!

Hug

You know you're not single anymore...when as you are eating breakfast, your daughter comes up from behind and gives you a big hug around the neck...You realize that for all of your adult professional life, you've never allowed a teenage girl to give you a full hug...at best maybe a side hug at one of your students' graduations...You've always guarded that area of your life (and you will continue to do so)...but today is different...in this brief moment, you really do feel like you're a Dad to a young lady who is longing for a father in her life...You're happy and yet a little sad at the same time...You wish you could have been there for her when she was younger...but you're grateful for the time you now have with her for these last few years before she leaves home for college...You cherish the moments and thank God for your daughter every day.

Lawn Tractor

You know you're not single anymore...when you buy a lawn tractor for your new yard...You take your son with you because you want to make sure he can handle the tractor with his current size...After your son takes a few test rides and learns the basics, you put an offer on the tractor...Later that day all he talks about is how excited he is that we have a tractor...He talks about all the things he can haul around the yard...You remind him that the tractor can actually _mow_, too...Still, you are glad he's excited to mow the yard...and your wife is very happy that the lawn will be mowed soon... Now if only he would be excited to brush his teeth without you reminding him each day then you would have accomplished amazing feats.

Growth Spurts

You know you're not single anymore...when you realize how quickly your children are growing...Your son's growth spurts over the last 9 months has progressed him through 2 sizes of shoes and 4 sizes of clothing...which means if he wears an outfit that fits today it will be too small tomorrow...At times you wish they would slow down a bit just so you can enjoy them at this stage a little longer...and to save the budget of the family a bit!...But even more exciting than the physical changes are the spiritual and emotional changes your children are going through...You are seeing glimpses of the man and woman of God they are becoming each day...and you are grateful you are there to guide and mentor them through these turbulent times in their lives.

All Star Softball

You know you're not single anymore...when your daughter makes All Stars in Softball and it means the both of you have to go back to your home town for one more week...you are excited for the adventures of this week and the time you will spend with your daughter, but you also already miss your wife and son...You realize it's just not right until everyone in the family is under one roof...Meanwhile you expect quite a few trips to your daughter's favorite coffee shop, Starbucks, in the near future.