Growing Up Facebook

This book is my tribute to my family and to all families. It is a collection of quotes and events I have shared on Facebook based on the lives of my children and things that have happened in our home, while traveling, and even at church. When my wife Mary and I tell people about our four children and our plans to have more, we are usually met with looks of surprise and confusion. This often leads to a conversation about the enormous costs involved in raising children: the money, the time, and the loss of freedom. From the outside it may be hard to see that the cost is well worth the sacrifice. Yet after having children, I believe it is quite true. Any sacrifices made on behalf of our children are paid back hundredfold. Their sweet and funny words can melt away the weight of sacrifice: they are priceless. "Mary was upstairs putting baby Anthony to bed for what seemed like the tenth time (he was teething). He was screaming at the top of his lungs, and Mena was sitting downstairs next to me, listening to all of this go on. She turned to me. ?Daddy, baby Anthony is frustrated with his life!?" "For a long time, I have been able to get away with telling my kids essentially the same bedtime story over and over again. Eventually, I was asked for a new one. Mena: Daddy, why do all your stories have monsters? Can you tell us a different story? Me: I can?t think of one. Ask me again tomorrow. Mena: It?s easy, Daddy. Just think and talk at the same time. Like this: ?Once upon a time, there was a unicorn and her friend the pig.? See? Like that, Daddy." "Mena asked Mary, ?Mom, what machine will they use to get baby Cassidy out?? Mary told her the doctors would not use a machine, and explained that she has to push the baby out. ?What?? Mena asked. ?Why will you have to push her out?? ?God made it that way,? Mary responded. Mena gave her a look of disbelief and exclaimed, ?But it?s not like she can just fall out of your mouth or something!?"