Fireworks

You know you're not single anymore...when coming home from a vacation to Florida, you get the idea to stop and get some fireworks...And knowing your 13 year old son is as much as a pyromaniac as every 13 year old boy is, you go ahead and let him set up the first firework that evening...You realize that it is not even the 4th of July yet, but you knew you could not wait another evening...Meanwhile your son picks the firework that effectively wakes up the neighborhood...You even notice that you have an audience as cars slow down and watch the show...Yet before you and your son go back and get another "big one" you have enough restraint to remind him that the largest fireworks are for the 4th of July...He agrees and you do a few more bottle rockets just to help ease away both of your fascinations with things that burn and explode!

Music Preferences

You know you're not single anymore...when you kids say the music you like from the 80's is "oldies"...You know that's not true because "oldies" are the songs your parents grew up listening to...You do try to listen to your kids' music but for the most part you don't understand the need for all the "rap" music...Of course when you look up the lyrics on the internet you know that you will have some interesting conversations with your kids regarding their music preferences...Usually the conversation goes like "we listen to the beat and not the words"...so you ask your kids to explain what the lyrics mean...amazingly your kids now change the song every time it comes up on the radio!...In the end, you pray your kids will have discernment over the music they listen to on a regular basis.

Devotions

You know you are not single anymore...when you take your son to get a new Bible and devotion book because he tells you he wants to have devotional time with you...The new Bible is because you are now a Pastor and he wants the same translation that you are preaching from each Sunday...He even asks for a new notebook so that he can take sermon notes each week...You are excited that he is starting to grow in his faith and he wants to learn more...Your goal is not that he mimics you, but that he develops a personal faith that is real and actually independent of you in the long run.

Lost Glasses

You know you're not single anymore...when you lose your glasses in the ocean when a wave knocks you down while you are trying to hang out with your son...Of course, ironically you had just given your son a lesson on how important is it to wear a strap with his glasses in case his comes off...Instead you figured you were not planning on going under water at any time...You realize how important your wife is when you can't see far off distances...She immediately gets on the phone and works her magic to get you an emergency pair of glasses in a day...Meanwhile you actually can wear sunglasses for the first time in your life!

A Different Vacation

You know you're not single anymore...when you realize vacations are no more about your personal relaxation but rather making positive memories with your family...You used to enjoy the solace of the beach with naps, a good book, and little physical activity...instead your son wants to play with you in the ocean, throw the ball and in general hang out... Your daughter wants to shop and sight-see with the family...Your wife does not mind a slower pace for the week, but she loves a good conversation...So you try to be with your family as much as possible and enjoy the blessing of having uninterrupted time with them.

Sweet 16

You know you're not single anymore...when you have a 16 year-old daughter in your home...You celebrate her sweet 16 by taking your entire family and one of your daughter's best friends on a week-long trip to a Florida beach...Out of the short time you've been married with children, you never would have dreamed that having a daughter would have been such the joy to have...that you would do anything to protect her heart from harm and that any boy that looks her way will have to go through you because you want to protect her!...You just know that you enjoy every day with your daughter and you can't wait to see the woman of God she will become.