The Continuation of George's Story . . .

Remember that eight-year old George has no arms and was adopted from an orphanage in Romania. He has just sat down for his first cello recital in front of a huge audience and will be playing with his feet. The following is the story recounted by his father Mike in a letter:

"There was a feeling of wonder and tension in the room, and at this point my only thought was, 'Please Lord, let him just get through this...' George began, and the very first note he struck was as sour as could be! He stopped playing, got red in the face, shrugged his shoulders, broke into a huge grin and looked up at the teacher. She warmly smiled back and nodded to him that he should try again.

Well, George then proceeded to play the entire song without a flaw, and it sounded marvelous. When he finished, there was a moment of quiet, and then one of the older students (who is the most advanced student in the group) simply stood in his place and began to clap. Many others in the audience stood to their feet and the applause went on for a very long time..."

What a tremendous example of a father's love! We could all learn from Mike and his wife Sharon about supporting our children to reach their fullest potential. And we could all learn from the courage and devotion personified in eight-year-old George.

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All Things Are Possible

Several years ago, Mike and Sharon, a couple in Connecticut, read of a little boy named George in Romania who was born without arms and whose parents could not care for him. A year later, this couple visited Romania and fell in love with George and, with the blessings of the biological parents, adopted him and brought him to America. Mike and Sharon not only taught George how to use his feet to feed himself, they also decided he should learn to play an instrument and a cello at that!

Mike writes in a letter to Ravi Zacharias about George's first recital: "The big night came, and George was nervous and telling us he wasn't so sure if he wanted to do this...to make matters worse, there was a much bigger crowd of people than normal for one of these events...many of whom had never seen George or met George before. Several students went up to the front and played their various pieces, and very soon it was time...George's name was called. You could have heard a pin drop as the teacher walked up with him, carrying his instrument, a chair and a large pillow that she placed on the floor to lift up the neck of the cello. She arranged everything as he needed and nodded for him to go ahead..." Tomorrow we'll have the rest of this story a truly inspirational account of unconditional parental love and bravery.

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A Father's Painful Poem

A father sits in his living room, painfully alone, And stares at pictures on the wall, of children, now all grown. He reminisces, thinking back through all the hazy years. He thinks of how it should have been, and wipes away his tears. While he was staying late at work, trying to get ahead, He missed the chance to tuck his little babies into bed. He didn't show much interest when his kids began to crawl, 'Cause raising kids when they're that young is Mom's job, after all.He wasn't there to see it when his children first learned to walk, And "Mommy" was the only word they said when they began to talk. A man named Dean Sprague wrote this poem...pretty powerful isn’t it? Don’t miss your kids’ early years. You’ll never get them back.

For some great online articles on connecting with your kids while they’re young, click
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Thinking about adopting?

Over 150,000 foster children are awaiting adoption in the United States. And while there are many families who could give them a wonderful home, these potential parents may be unsure of where to begin, or may think that the adoption process is too complicated. It's really not. Click http://www.allprodad.com/9adoption.asp for an online article giving you the step-by-step process. Your adopted child is waiting for you. They need to be hugged. They need to be loved. Start the journey today.

Have you taken our Year of the All Pro Dad Challenge?

What is it you ask? It's printing out our complimentary, customizable certificate, pledging to implement the 10 Ways to be an All Pro Dad, signing it with your kids and posting it somewhere in your house. Do you have what it takes?

Click http://www.allprodad.com/allprodadcertsignup.asp to find out.

Subscribe to the world

TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination with subscriptions to kids' magazines. They're fun, extremely affordable and will unlock their curiosity and creativity. Some of our favorite mags can be found at: http://www.allprodad.com/kidsmagazines.asp or do some of your own online searches. Readers are leaders and leaders are readers. Have leadership qualities delivered to your child at your own doorstep.

Adding to the family

Are you going to have another baby soon or just recently had one? Think about how it affects your other children. It's almost like you bringing home another wife to be loved just as much. It's crazy to think about it like that, but it's what kids perceive. Now they have to share time and love that used to be just for them. Do your best to help alleviate their fears. Here are some helpful tips: wrap up inexpensive gifts for the older child that can be given to her at opportune times after the baby is born. The attention that comes from the gift is usually going to be more important than the item itself. Also, if your older child seems to regress in her behavior, talk to her about all the advantages of being older and bigger. Make sure you show her the attention she needs. She'll try to get it one way or another.

Pick up the Complete Guide to Baby and Child Care by clicking http://www.allprodad.com/newdadeStore.asp

Motherhood is Glorious !

A wonderful woman named Edith Schaeffer had to care for four children, two of whom had major health problems. She writes, "Sometimes when difficult times are being lived through it seems as though the difficulties are simply too mundane to be the least bit worthwhile. Martyrs being tortured or persecuted for their faith at least sounds dramatic. Having to cook, serve meals to two sittings at times without ever sitting down to eat in between yourself, having constantly to clean up spilled and broken things, to empty mounds of garbage, and to scrub a stove that things have boiled over on, or an oven in which things have spilled over and baked to a black crust is neither dramatic nor glamorous." But there is nothing more glorious than being a great mother.

Remember that our culture does not put much value on what mothers sacrifice for us on a daily basis. Make sure everyday you tell your wife how much you appreciate her, don't leave all the household chores for her and make sure your kids express their gratitude. You simply can't thank her enough. Pick up the phone right now to call her and tell her how much you love her.

Find out how to speak your wife’s love language click http://www.allprodad.com/marriageeStore.asp

What is your children's foundation?

At Ohio State University there is a performing arts center that has been labeled, "America's first deconstructionist building." The entire site demands a double take. The viewer encounters angled surfaces that disorient, stairways that lead nowhere, and pillars that protrude without purpose. It's meant to reflect the sense of meaningless that is a very strong undercurrent in 21st century America. Yet upon observing the architect's work at the university, philosopher Ravi Zacharias noted only one revealing question: "Did he do the same with the foundation?" Anything that's built requires a proper foundation whether we want to admit it or not. So what under-girds your children?
Learn the foundation of our All Pro Dad spokesmen click http://www.allprodad.com/nflspokesmen.asp

Your kids should dress for comfort . . .

of others. Kind of a different way to think about it, isn't it? Does the way your children dress make others uncomfortable? Whether it's skirts that are too short, shirts that are too tight or pants that sag too low, immodest clothing today is all the rage and it's distracting at best, offensive at worst. As in all areas, your kids need to be thinking of others, and being properly clothed is an important part of that. Cover up what shouldn't be seen on the outside and let the beauty of your children's inner character shine through.
Are your kids preparing for adolescence? Click http://www.allprodad.com/teenageeStore.asp

Making car trips more fun, is MORE FUN !

St. Augustine said, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." Very true! So as you're thinking about where to travel for fall break and the holidays to get those world pages turning, also consider how your kids will be traveling. You can make a long family car trip seem a lot shorter if you have fun with your kids along the way. Plan ahead with a few car activities, and making the journey can be as much fun as the destination. Click http://www.allprodad.com/6childtravel.asp for some great ideas.

Movies can be your friend

Looking for some great family films that are clean and also teach some character-building principles? Click http://www.allprodad.com/modern.asp and pick up some of our favorites. Laugh. Cry. Teach. Use what you see as a springboard for deeper discussions.