St. Patrick's Fun!

This morning, the family loaded up and went to one of IHOP's major outreach events in the spring. We march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Kansas City. There's a massive float with a mountain on the truck bed and at the top of the mountain stands St. Patrick himself preaching in 30 second "sermonettes." At the close of each speech, the worship band (loudly amplified) plays a rousing chorus of the Amazing Grace version done by Todd Agnew. We then walked behind, with all the others fron IHOP and sang and danced behind the float. It was a sight to be seen, and as the 75 degree wind was blowing, I was amazed and struck at the simple opportunity we had to preach the gospel. We had many "Amen's" as we passed by, almost as many as beer glasses raised in our passing. Either way, it was a blast and we walked the 1.2 miles with smiles shining (or sleeping as you will see). And, as my friend Candace says, here's the numbers.

Number of estimated people watching the parade: close to 100,000!



Number of IHOP participants: close to 1000!



Number of Happy Harrigans: 4!



Number of hungry little boys. . . . 4 (though you can't see them all here)




OR Number of sleeping boys: 3



Number of good friends: 2 (this is my friend Jody, she and her husband Beau were the first couple we met at IHOP)





Number of happy daddy and Benjamin moments: countless (don't they look cute?)

Camping Fun with Daddy

Okay, so there's alot to say in one day, but the computer wasn't reading the camera card for like three weeks, so now there's been a ton of fun stuff going on. Hopefully after a couple of more of these, I'll get to the things in my own heart (though there is always some of that in everything).

Benjamin and Daddy are truly beginning to value their time together, without mommy. And sometimes, I am just as glad to see it come! I am also beginning to value my time with just Samuel. I guess this is the all-time dilemma of parenting, especially when you move from man-to-man defense to zone defense (having more than 2 children). Right now I think we are doing okay, but I figure at some point we'll have to make a new game plan.

I also find it really amazing that my Benjamin has a heart much more like mine, and he and his daddy have a special connection, while my Samuel has a heart just like his daddy's, and he and I have a special connection. The Lord has such wisdom and he knows us so much better then we know ourselves. I walked down the aisle to my wedding terrified, not knowing myself very well, and only knowing a bit about this man he had paired me with, and the Lord has blessed us over and over. He truly knows. I am always amazed at the fun they have together. And at the fun we have together. :)