Daddy...you awake?

I love my lil Megan. She's 4 years old and loves to dance. Often times, while at the dinner table, she'll have me announce her name so she can walk into the room while doing ballet. She's a sweet lil girl who is kind and funny. However, our lil Megan has a bad habit.....she enjoys waking me up. My wife is convinced that she isn't doing this on purpose however I tend to think that this is a plot laid out by the children of which she is the master mind. On this particular occasion she got into bed with me....tapped me on the head...and whispered, "daddy, no wake up...it's me Megan....ok...daddy...can you hear me? No wake up ok?" I have to be honest..the urge to wake up the children to the sound of air-horn is huge...but that just means that I would need to deal with 6 grumpy kids....ugh...the kids won this round....

You got....no class.....

Sunday...the morning where getting the kids ready for church is almost as difficult as ...well...getting 6 kids ready for church! This particular Sunday Connor walks up to me and says "daddy, you need to change your shirt." I was curious...so I probed further. "why" i asked? Connor looked at me perplexed. Apparently I was not aware that Connor moon lights as a fashion consultant for some type of 7 year old clothing magazine. After giving me the "dummy" stare he said "daddy, you got no class...." and he walked away. Hmm...never thought I would be relying on my 7 year old for fashion advice.....

Bill Avila
The Hispanic Crusader

Good bye to one of my best friends...

It was 9 years ago in January that Lauren, Ashley, and I ventured up to the great state of Ohio. The goal... to pick up my dog. He was a new born chocolate lab pup. I was so excited as this was my first real pet since leaving home. I had his name picked out...Maximus. If you looked at his AKC papers you would see his fully registered name was Maximus Decimus Meridius....yep...after the movie Gladiator. During his life I taught Max sign language and he could respond to commands with a simple gesture. He especially loved the children. If Max noticed they were getting to far from the house he would run around the child until they moved closer to the house. He was in all aspects a wonderful dog. When it came to me he wasnt just a dog but my closest friend. He followed me everywhere I went. I could count on Max to hang out when times were down or play catch outside. To describe Max would quite honestly not do him justice. He was in all respects a family member whom I will miss. He was one of my closest friends. Today we noticed Max could not move. His breathing was heavy and he wouldn't move. We took him to the Vet to find out he had a Liver disease and any options were slim. We sat by his side and the kids gave him their last hugs. In the end he demonstrated the greatest love he had for the children....Having no strength he got up...legs wobbling....and walked toward the children collapsing in front of them. I will miss my friend.

Bill Avila