Church leadership can be a thankless job; but sometimes, someone can come along in certain circumstances and provide a special boost of encouragment in a very unexpected (and sometimes even extravagant) way.

I made a friend this past summer who's proved to be just such a boost in my life.  His name is Dani, and we met at a Meeting of the Mighty Men from our church community.  His face had been vaguely familiar to me (from having seen him at church worship gatherings), but we never really got to know each other until that day.  And while I recollect that most of that day was kind of discouraging -- because we didn't get as many men to turn out as I might have hoped for and because I ended up coming down with some kind of gastro-intestinal virus -- Dani was a bright spot.  He was enthusiastic, friendly (both to me and to Elliot, who had come along for the Mighty Men festivities), and it was obvious that God was at work in his life.  We had some good interaction on that day, in between sports activities, group discussions, and personal conversation, and I felt encouraged just to see some of the spiritual fruit that our ministry in Amsterdam was producing.

But the real encouragement came a few weeks later, when Dani sent me an e-mail.  In this message, he shared more about his life and his experiences as a part of our church, and he invited me and Elliot to be his guests at an Ajax game.  Ajax is the big professional football (soccer) club here in Amsterdam -- and it turns out that Dani works as a steward at the ArenA, where all the club's home games are played.  This season, it just so happens that Ajax is not just participating in the Nederlandse Eredivisie (the Dutch national league), but also the UEFA Champions League (where all the top teams from across Europe compete against one another for Continental bragging rights).  And after some further communication via e-mail, Dani ended up securing tickets for me and Elliot to watch a Champions League match against AC Milan (one of the top clubs from Europe and also, coincidentally, the team that Ajax beat to win its last Champions League championship in 1995).  To roughly paraphrase the context for Americans, this would be like getting tickets to watch a game in a game of the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox... Seriously big time stuff.  Sold-out stadium.  Absolute pandemonium.

So on Tuesday evening, Elliot and I made our way out to Amsterdam Zuid-Oost to see the game.  Dani met us just outside the stadium and ushered us into the rapidly-filling stands.  He pointed out his post in Section M and then proceeded to guide Elliot and I to our seats... and we were absolutely stunned when we discovered that our seats were actually in the front row of the stadium, about ten meters from the goal-line!  The seats were amazing!  We could see individual blades of grass on the field.  We could see beads of sweat on the foreheads of the players.  We were within spitting distance of great players like Maarten Stekelenburg, Luis Suarez, and Robinho.  I've never had such a privileged vantage point for any sporting event in my life!  And yet here, Dani had personally arranged for these seats for us.  And before he left us in our seats, so he could get back to his post, he gave us ArenA cards with which we could purchase food and drinks at the concession stands -- and even pre-paid cards to take the metro home at the end of the night!  It was an extremely generous gift, but he wouldn't even consider the possibility of letting us chip in for some of the costs.  It was pure generosity.  Pure kindness.  Pure encouragement.

What's craziest of all is that Dani never made it seem like he was doing us a big favor (though he totally was).  He actually made it seem like we were the ones doing him a favor by coming to the game, seeing where he worked, and enjoying an unforgettable experience that forms an ongoing part of his day-to-day life.  He continually spoke words of respect and encouragement, affection and affirmation.  And in everything, he ministered to me and Elliot in a special way that just cannot be put into words.

Ajax totally dominated the game, though they ended up with a 1-1 draw against AC Milan.  But we weren't disappointed by the outcome in the slightest.  We had gotten to experience an unforgettable evening, and we were unspeakably appreciative.

I'll admit that I come into Mac vs. PC debate as something of a cynic.  I'm critical of the hipster fanboy fanaticism that seems to be generated by any and every Apple product.  I'm bothered by the extra cost associated with Apple products.  And I'm generally annoyed by the whole "great divide" between Mac users and PC users.

But I actually see that the Mac market share seems to be continually growing.  Their marketing is genius.  Their prices are even coming down a little bit (relative to PCs).   They have a lot of young, loyal users.  And I'm genuinely starting to wonder when they will be taking over as the "standard" computer producer.

I don't have any problems with Macs from a design standpoint or a usability standpoint (though it is kind of like learning a new language, figuring out the way different functions are done on the different machines). I used to use them back when I was doing video editing, and I think they're fine computers. But I still hold back from personally investing in new Apple stuff because of cautions about any kind of "lemming effect" and because of the considerable financial investment:  not just in getting new hardware, but new software as well (i.e. my version of Adobe Photoshop -- a fairly expensive program -- suddenly becomes obsolete).

The issue is being forced because I'm currently in the market for a new smartphone, and I'm actually considering the iPhone.  I realize, of course, that an investment in a phone does not mean I have to go "all the way."  But it certainly could be some kind of tipping point.  Any wisdom, warnings, or advice?

I haven't been able to do much blogging this week because of a conference that I've been attending... But I figured that this video was a great little bridge between more substantial blogging opportunities.  The video combines several elements that, individually, are already of pretty significant interest to me -- Ben Folds (one of my favorite musical artists), Pomplamoose (a unique internet sensation that my sister introduced to me), fascinating factual and statistical trivia, and introspective thought on the struggles of writing... But put all together, and it's truly splendid.

Dear Olivia,

Happy Birthday!  It's so special to be able to celebrate the life of such a special little girl as you.  I count it as one of the great privileges in my life that I've been able to watch you and worry for you and wonder at the miracle of a person like you -- for six whole years now.  I was there when you were born in yonder bedroom, getting to be one of the first to kiss your downy-soft head... I was there when you learned to walk and talk... I was there when you went through the process of surgically removing the strawberry of a hemangioma from your sweet little head... I was there when you had your first day of school (what an intrepid adventurer you were!)... I was there when you stubbed your toe last week and had a good long cry about it... And I am here now, celebrating the day that my little Chippy-Chuppy is turning six.

I love you so much, Olivia.  I marvel at the ways you reflect the beauty of God, your Creator.  Your smile has a spectacular radiance.  Your jumps and skips and twirls show your grace and exhuberance.  Your keen attention to colors and patterns and textures of clothing demonstrates a special care for beauty.  And I've noticed you several times, recently, noticing yourself -- beautiful and unashamed.  Just this past Sunday, I saw you catch your reflection through the sheer curtains in the full-length mirrors at the front of the H88, just after our church's worship gathering.  You went up to the wall, parted the curtains so you could see yourself more clearly, and you practiced your smile.  You raised and lowered your eyebrows.  You adjusted your hair and the position of your neck, and you practiced your smile some more... And then you bounced off to frolic again in the big pillow pile with Amke and Aude and Cor.  It was a unique moment to observe -- and it brought two particular thoughts to my mind:  (1) What a beautiful person you really are, Olivia; and (2) How aware you're becoming of yourself and your appearance.

It occurs to me, Olivia, that your beauty is both a great asset (a very good thing) and a great liability (something that could be dangerous, if you're not careful).  So as your father, I want to both affirm you and advise you in the utilization of your God-given beauty.  Without a question, Olivia, you are beautiful.  You're breathtaking, actually, with those blue eyes and that honey-colored hair of yours.  Your smile totally lights up the room.  You move with grace and joy.  So believe me:  people notice you and your beauty.  I certainly do!  And we all appreciate you for the beautiful person you are.  But this is where it's important for you to listen to my fatherly advice, before any other voices of distraction try to crowd us out:  Make sure that the beauty is not just the parts of you that can be examined in a mirror.  Don't let your physical appearance become a means for manipulating others or allowing them to manipulate you.  Be strong in the way that God made you!  And then let the hair and the posture and the smile be wonderful extras.  Remember what it says in the Bible (1 Peter 3:3-4) that "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  If you can learn to walk this line, Olivia -- balancing inner beauty and external beauty in a healthy way -- you will make your father a very happy man, indeed.

You know one of the other things I really appreciate about you, Olivia?  It's your kindness and consideration for others.  I'm so proud to see the way that you take care of your little brother, for instance.  You offer practical assistance in getting up and getting down from high places, in buckling his seatbelt for him in the bakfiets, in looking at books with him (and imagine how much more of this you'll be able to do, when you've really mastered this reading thing that you're learning so well these days!), and in helping him to find clothes for school and for your special track meets, running races through the house... But I've also noticed that you offer key emotional support to Cor as well:  making him laugh when he's tempted to cry, being a friend to him, and sticking up for him when he's getting pushed around (albeit inadvertently) by other kids at school or church.  It's amazing to me that you do these things naturally -- that me or Mom never really had to teach you.  You just do it because you're that kind of person.  A kind kind of person.  And I really respect that and appreciate that about you.  Keep it up, my girl.  This sort of kindness is exactly the sort of "inner beauty" thing that I was just talking about.  At times, your kindness may create challenges for you -- when people try to take advantage of your kindness.  But it can also be one of your greatest means of influencing others and leading others to a better understanding of Jesus.  This reminds me of another passage from the Bible (Philippians 2:5-11), where it says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" -- who made it a point to serve others, help others, and sacrifice for others, ultimately allowing for others to truly understand and worship God.  I see this in you, Olivia.  And I hope and pray that you can continue to grow in it and develop it over the years to come.

You've got so much promise, Olivia.  So much possibility.  You're a great big bundle of potentiality! (This comes from an old song that I used to sing when I was a kid; ask me about it sometime and I'll sing it for you).  Anyway, here's the important point:  if you listen, you can hear God's voice, and He will help you to make the right choices.  I genuinely believe that you can be anything that God wants you to be, Olivia.  But for now, I'm just glad that you're my little girl.  Happy Birthday to you, Sweet-heart.  I love you very much.

Lovingly yours,

Daddy

I've recently noticed an interesting fashion phenomenon here in Amsterdam:  a surprising number of young men wearing Atlanta Braves baseball caps.  Does anyone know why this particular cap seems to be so predominant?  Could it be that the script letter "A" has been adopted as an informal symbol of Amsterdammers?  Or could it be that some particular subculture or group in the city has picked up this fashion accessory as its own for some other reason?  I honestly don't know why this particular cap seems to be so popular -- but it really does seem quite a trend.  From my uneducated perspective, it seems like the people who are expressing themselves in this way might be associated with the hip-hop scene here in Amsterdam... But again, I really don't know.

I'd be very curious if anyone knew any more about this phenomenon.

Slightly less popular, but still noticeably present is a number of people (also from the same general walk of life, as far as I can tell) wearing ball caps for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.  These caps seem to exist in varying color sets; that is, they're not always black hats with a yellow "P" -- whereas the Atlanta Braves hats all seem to be standard-issue, official-style Major League Baseball headwear.  But they do all have that distinctive pointy "P."  And again, I have to wonder why this particular ballcap is so popular in Amsterdam these days.

To me, it's kind of funny to see these particular ball caps associated with these urban youth.  In my mind, the Braves cap is a symbol of staid conservatism -- worn by a successful but fairly conservatively-run ball-club in a very conservative region of the United States.  And the Pirates cap is a symbol of mediocrity -- worn by a low-budget club that hasn't fielded a truly competitive team for decades.  And I don't see either Atlanta or Pittsburgh as being particularly "cool" cities (though I'm sure they're lovely places to visit, in their own right); they just don't exude the same vibe as a New York or Los Angeles, which would seem to more typically appeal to Europeans and to people within the hip-hop scene.  And it's not like the design of the ball caps themselves is all that arresting.  I can think of several other ball caps that have a more appealing design (i.e. the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Francisco Giants, the Washington Nationals, or the New York Yankees, for example), regardless of the connotations of their particular city or team.

So what am I missing here?

We've been talking it up for weeks:  Cor's first day of pre-school.  At first, he was really excited about the idea of going to school, just like his big brother and sister.  He liked the idea of wearing a backpack, eating special school snacks, and playing with other kids...

But about three weeks ago, fear surfaced.  Cor would start to cry whenever we had to bring him along to school, to pick up or drop off Elliot and Olivia.  He refused to walk through the section of the school building where his classroom was going to be (we had shown him the room when Elliot and Olivia first started school this fall).  He repeatedly told us that he had decided not to go to pre-school anymore...

But then, about a week ago, things started coming back around.  He got to play in the classroom by himself a little bit, while his mother talked to the teachers at the pre-school for a sort of in-take conversation.  He really enjoyed playing with their pretend kitchen.  He really liked the wide variety of toys and books and puzzles that were available to him.  He started warming up to his teachers.  And he started to talk about "play-school" (his adaptation of the phrase "pre-school") in a more positive way:  again excited about the backpacks, the snacks and drinks, the toys, and the friends at school.  In fact, over the last couple of days, he's even been practicing his good-byes to me and Marci!

This morning, the time finally came.

The whole family went along for the occasion (it is, after all, likely our last first day of school for someone in our family!).  Except for a bicycle tire with a slow leak (that we just started to notice yesterday evening), which needed to be pumped up before we could ride to the school, everything went very smoothly.

After weeks of anticipation, Cor was finally able to walk into that school building on his own accord, as a member of the (pre-)school student body!

He didn't seem to be fazed in the slightest by the whole thing...

But we'll see how it goes from here on out.  Now he's going to be really learning Dutch.  He's going to be making some of his own friends.  And he's going to start learning his own way in the world.  I'm sure there will be some difficulties that will present themselves in the coming days, weeks, months, and years... But it's neat to see our little boy growing up!

By the time I left (knowing that Marci was going to be staying for the whole morning), Cor was already starting to play with some of the other kids and assimilate himself with his new environment.  If only I could make adjustments in life so quickly!

So for better or worse, the adventure has begun...

Speaking of the flow of linguistic and cultural phenomena...

Our church has been continuing to study the New Testament book of Galatians.  One of the interesting bits of trivia associated with this book of the Bible relates to its original audience.  The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to people living in the part of the world that is now central-Turkey -- but was then called Galatia.  There's some debate about whether the recipients of Paul's letter were ethnic Galatians or Greco-Roman citizens of a particular province in the Roman Empire... But I think it's fascinating to note that the Galatians eventually migrated onto mainland Europe.  In the northwest part of the Continent, they came to be known as Gauls (a word which is still strongly associated with French culture).  And then on the British Isles, they came to be known as Gaels -- a word which then became further modified to Celts.

Did you know that?

I think it's fascinating (though, honestly, not particularly meaningful) to consider that the book of Galatians was, in a sense, written to the Gauls and the Gaels/Celts who eventually became so dominant in this part of the world.  The Gallic influence even crept into the southernmost part of the Netherlands at one point -- so you could say that Dutch people are among the descendents of the original audience for Paul's letter to the Galatians!  Cool, huh?

I think it's absolutely fascinating to see the way that language and dialect works -- particularly in a society as young and relatively-homogenous as the United States.

What stands out to you from this particular case study (discovered via 22 Words)?  I think it's really interesting to see the distribution of the greenish colors (people who use the word "soda") -- mostly on the coasts but also strangely, inexplicably, bunched up around St. Louis and eastern Wisconsin.  I'm also amazed by how sharply the ridge of the Appalachian mountains apparently serves to separate these preferences in dialect (clearly a geographic distinction) -- but then out west, the preferences change almost automatically across the Arizona - New Mexico border (where the distinction is clearly a man-made straight line across the map).  And somehow Alaska manages to run the gamut of preferences in dialect.

I always grew up calling these types of drinks "pop."  On the one hand, this makes sense based on where I grew up.  But on the other hand, there's nothing about this map that makes any sense at all.

I usually hang out with my kids on Tuesday afternoons -- giving Marci some "time off" from her job as full-time mother and embracing the opportunity for some fun "Daddy time."  The past two Tuesday afternoons have been spent exploring the Zeeburg region, in the easternmost part of Amsterdam.  I pick Elliot and Olivia up from school, and then we set out for adventure, equipped with just a few snacks, a bakfiets (the mini-van of bicycles), and a Canon 350D camera.

It's been a lot of fun -- hanging out with the kids, exploring new places in this very old city, and exercising some atrophied photographic muscle in capturing our adventures.

Yesterday, we hung out along the Ertshaven, an area of newer, more avant-garde architecture and a lot of water.  The skies were gray and the temperatures were cool, but it was truly beautiful to explore the area's bridges, docks, and public spaces.  Most of the time, it felt like we had the neighborhood completely to ourselves.  The silence and the mists were heavy on us, like a heavy velvet curtain, but we had a lot of fun.

We watched the boats navigating through the harbor.  We let our voices echo from the top of the tall, serpentine "Dragon Bridge."  We tried to convince the coots to eat little twigs and leaves that we threw from the dock in their direction.  We ran and jumped and climbed and sung.  And we took lots of pictures.

Last Tuesday, we did some similar adventuring along the banks of the Rijn Kanaal:  climbing up underneath the A10 Highway overpass, skipping stones out over the water, getting the passing barges to honk their heavy horns at us... And yes, taking lots of pictures.

In case you're interested, more photos can be found in the Amsterdam Pictures section of the website.

I usually try to post a review of my Proverbs 365 project on the first day of each month -- but I'm only now getting around to posting August's review (not to mention the fact that I never managed to post a review for July!).  In any event, I'm now two-thirds of the way through this adventure in which I'm taking a Proverb for each day of the year and then considering it and applying it for 21st Century living.  It's been a significant challenge to keep up with posting, especially in the midst of a busy work season with lots of travel -- but I'm glad to say that I'm still going!  That being said, I'm highlighting three of my personal favorites from the past month (always withthe hope that I might encourage some cross-over readership).  So here are my top three from August:

One of the interesting evolutions in the Proverbs 365 project has been the shift more and more towards short-form fiction as exposition of Scripture (as opposed to more standard devotional writing or essays, which had dominated the earliest entries in the project).  One example of this approach to the Proverbs can be seen in the post entitled P2213 - Lions Outside.  It's a character sketch based on Proverbs 22:13, which says, "The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! or, "I will be murdered in the streets!" So I took this Proverb and created a story about an old man who's shut himself into his house, out of fear for the dangers of the modern world.  Perhaps you've met someone like this old man and can relate to the piece on that level.  Or even better, maybe you might benefit from considering the implications of such a scenario for your own life.

It just so happens that I know a lot of people who are getting married very soon, or who have just recently gotten married -- and, of course, I know a lot of people who are single, too.  Thus when I read Proverbs 18:22 -- "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD" -- I was challenged to consider its meaning both for newlyweds and for singles (I believe, by the way, that the verse is not just written for newlyweds).  After meditating on the Proverb for awhile, I wrote my reflections in an essay entitled P1822 - Finding What is Good.  It proved to be a very valuable reminder for my own life, and I would submit that it's good stuff for anyone to think about, regardless of marital status.

And then there was an Ohio-inspired entry.  While visiting my home state, of course it's natural that I would have reflected upon the Proverbs in that context.  Even so, I especially enjoyed the opportunity to interact with my grandfather-in-law, who shared some wisdom from his decades of farming and working the land, which helped to illuminate Proverbs 12:3 - "A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted." I wrote about the interaction in P1203 - The Lesson of the Wind-Strengthened Tree.  And if I do say so myself, it offers some great insight into the development of character.

For a more comprehensive listing of August's content, here are the titles of all 31 entries, along with direct links to the rest of the content.

• P117 - Not-So-Secret Agents
• P221 - Land Issues
• P324 - Sweet Dreams
• P403 - Teaching Our Kids the Really Important Stuff
• P501 - Talking about the Birds and the Bees
• P630 - A Human Thing, Not Just an American Thing
• P726 - Cliches and Throngs
• P824 - Better than Water
• P910 - The Beginning of Wisdom
• P1009 - The Tell-Tale Heart
• P1112 - Tongue-Hold
• P1203 - The Lesson of the Wind-Strengthened Tree
• P1316 - Lost in Folly
• P1401 - A Seven-Year-Old's Perspective on Home Remodeling
• P1501 - Teaching the Snippers a Thing or Two
• P1610 - Beware of Nostril-Sized Alligators
• P1709 - To Repeat or Not to Repeat
• P1822 - Finding What is Good
• P1917 - Hundreds and Hundreds of Little I.O.U. Notes Scrawled by the Hand of God
• P2026 - Leadership Lessons from the Zaanse Schans
• P2116 - The Way, the Truth, the Resurrection, and the Life
• P2213 - Lions Outside
• P2315 - How We Really Should Be, Do, and Believe
• P2417 - Sports as a Window to the Human Soul
• P2507 - Eyes and Intuitions
• P2610 - Cupid Gone Postal
• P2709 - The Oasis of Earnest Counsel
• P2817 - Fugitive's Freedom
• P2905 - To the Readers of FlashFantasyFiction.Blogspot.Com
• P3004 - Job and Jesus
• P3102 - Caught in the Juxtaposition

I feel like I've finally made it over the hump in my Proverbs 365 project -- that it's really starting to become more and more realistic that I will complete the full project!  I'm excited about that idea, but even more excited to think about the possibilities for pursuing further publication beyond the end of the blogging project.  Check it out for yourself at http://proverbs365.ericasp.com. Please feel free to spread the word, too... One of the distinct advantages of the Proverbs is that it's easy to tune into them, whenever one might so choose. It's not like if you missed the first six months, then you're "behind" or anything like that. The Proverbs are just like these little power pellets that can be consumed and digested immediately. It's never too late to start enjoying them!

Happy Birthday, Treaker!

Did you know that you're the only kid in our family who actually invented his own nickname (and a reciprocal nickname, at that!)?  It seems to me that this says something about you... With your brother and sister, it was just random, silly trial-and-error:  "Can I call you Floogy Scrooter?" or "Can I call you the Mishawaka Matador?"  And only after several silly attempts over the course of several years -- only after so many suggestions had been denied without any alternatives offered -- were we able to settle on Charlie Bogantz and My Little Chippy Chuppy.  But with you, Cor, it was so different!  You were still just learning to talk when I asked if I could call you some totally nonsensical name, and you immediately said no.  But when I asked my standard follow-up question -- "Well, what should I call you, then?" -- you didn't just shrug it off or state your birth-certificate name.  Instead, you confidently replied, "Treaker."  And when I went into your room to wake you up the following morning, you greeted me from your crib by saying, "Hello, Treaker!"  And in that moment, I knew that we had discovered the perfect nickname for you, and indeed for each other.

So at any rate, from one Treaker to the other, I wish you a very Happy Birthday!

You've really come into your own, over the course of the last year -- your third year of life.  It's not just dictating your own terms for nicknames, either.  In all different kinds of ways, you've learned to assert yourself as the wonderful person you are.  I can imagine that it's something of a survival skill for a third-born kid like you.  You tend to push back, when you get jostled around.  You tend to yell out-loud, when someone tries to pull something over on you.  And you tend to hold your opinions, even in the face of the most persuasive arguments.  You're your own person.  You're not just a little kid.  You're not just "Elliot's brother" or "Olivia's brother."  You're not just some little blond kid in the crowd.  You're Cor William Asp, and you stand on your own two feet.  You're strong and tough, even though you're still small in stature.  And I respect that about you.  I appreciate that about you.

But I will say that you need to be careful with such strength, Cor.  Use it wisely!  As time goes on, you'll see that you can use such strength and toughness to push others away and distance yourself, or to throw yourself headlong into the thick of things -- to become an embracer and wrestler and protector of others.  You can use it for your own glory or for the glory of God.  You can use it for folly or for wisdom.  Your mother and I are doing our best to teach you the ways of wisdom, so please listen well!  Like wise King Solomon instructed his little boy:  "Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you" (Proverbs 2:11)... "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil" (Proverbs 3:7)... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  I know that I'm slipping into preacher-mode here, a little bit, but I'm just saying:  I recognize great power in you, Cor -- even at the tender age of three -- but I also recognize a great need for guidance in the application of such power.  I've been reading and meditating on the Proverbs a lot this year, usually just before that beautiful moment (one of my favorite moments of the day!) when I come into your room to wake you up in the morning; and it's occurred to me on multiple occasions that the Proverbs have a lot to offer you, Cor, as you grow older and stronger.  I pray that, in time, you will adapt the wisdom of the Proverbs as your own -- adding your strength to it and channeling it well.

But enough of this seriousness!  This is your birthday, and a time for celebration!  We need to play some Michael Jackson songs -- maybe "Beat It" or "The Way You Make Me Feel" -- and let you show us how to feel the music and enjoy the moment.  You're a fun kid, Cor.  Wherever you go, there seems to be laughter and music and dancing.  You bring such passion and conviction to your music -- whether it's on the computer, playing your guitar on the brown chair, or belting out the theme to the Muppet Show from your crib after you've been put in bed for the night.  Your joy gives us joy, and I'm glad to say that there seems to be a lot of that to go around these days.

I love you, Cor!  I love you more than words could ever say.  I'm proud to have you as my boy -- and it's abundantly clear that Olivia, Elliot, and Mommy feel the same way.  Thank you for being my Treaker-Boy.  I hope you know that I am and will forever be...

Lovingly,

Your Treaker-Daddy