7's Featured Music This Week

I've been struggling to choose a song to share this week. I haven't really listened to much music in the last couple of days, so nothing felt really inspiring.

Until today.

I had a doctors appointment in the city today, so that's about an hour drive there, and another hour home.
NORMALLY I listen to kLove, a national Christian radio station. But I took the minivan today instead of the car, and the minivan has become daddy's work transportation instead of the family vehicle, so it was tuned to an old rock station. I do enjoy about 90% of old rock. There's a few particular artists I can live without, but for the most part the average hour of song listening I not only enjoy, but can sing along to.
After listening for about 20 minutes headed down the highway, the following song came on, and I just about had to pull over because I became so emotionally overwhelmed I thought I was going to break down crying.

The song is called: Cat's In the Cradle, originally by Harry Chapin. (It's been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, Ugly Kid Joe, and more I'm sure.)
Lyrics:

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch
And bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it
And as he grew
He'd say, 'I'm gonna be like you, dad
you know I'm gonna be like you'

Chorus 1:
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue, and the man in the moon
When you comin' home, dad, I don't know when
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned 10 just the other day
He said, 'Thanks for the ball, dad,
come on, let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?"
I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do."
He said, "That's OK"
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed, and said
"I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him."

Chorus 1:
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue, and the man in the moon
When you comin' home, dad, I don't know when
But we'll get together then

You know we'll have a good time then


Well he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later, can I have them please?"

Chorus 2:
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue, and the man in the moon
When you comin' home, son, I don't know when
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you, if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu.
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

Chorus 2
And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue, and the man in the moon
When you comin' home, son, I don't know when
But we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then




If you're a parent, or if you had a parent who couldn't be there for you 100% of the time as a child, you can probably imagine why I got so emotional.
We're expecting our 5th child in about 10 weeks. That means I currently have to split my time between 4 children, and soon, with an infant, who is going to consume more time than any of the older ones. And 1/5 the money to spend on each of them for their birthdays and Christmas's.
I sometimes wonder if it's fair to my older children that we continue growing our family. So I try very hard to do special things with each child, and give each child the chance to be involved in activities once they are old enough to do so. And very very fortunately, their daddy is the same way. He tries hard to spend as much time as he can with them when he's not working. We plan fun trips together specifically for the enjoyment of the children, he makes every ball game he can- work permitting. We go camping/RVing, fishing, boating, and do other small vacations when we can. Last year we drove out to Kentucky, this year we'd like to go to the Grand Canyon. Here shortly we're planning on going to Salt Lake City to Disney on Ice. So we try to do what we can to make what time we do have with our children memorable and exciting.

Unfortunately we're a blue collar family. I'm working to build the doggy spa, and Daisies, so that we can have a little extra income to, at some point, own our own business. But in the mean time, daddy has to work to pay bills, feed his family, and pay for those fun trips we love to take. Thankfully, the children understand that daddy has to go to work. The younger ones don't really understand WHY yet, but they will. Our daughter does. She knows that without daddy working she doesn't get to eat, she doesn't get toys or new clothes. So she enjoys the times she gets to snuggle on the couch with daddy, or work out in the garage with him.

And I'm so blessed to have a husband who does his best to make time for his children like he does. Yes, life is busy. Yes, he has to work long hours, and doesn't always get to make every game, but he makes it count when he can be there. God really gave me a good man to be these babies' father.