My Haiti Adventure

My life is extremely fulfilling.  I have an amazing wife and two beautiful daughters, who all bring an insane amount of joy into my daily life.  I’m excited every time I enter my house.  And although I would love to spend more time with my family, I also have excitement when I leave the house.  I have an engaging job that lines up extremely well with my heart and passions.  So no complaints on my daily routine whatsoever. 

Yet I knew deep down that I could not pass up an opportunity that was presented to me a few months ago.  “Would you be willing to recruit a team from the Men’s ministry to go to Haiti this summer?”  I was very willing to do that, as I have wanted to see more men engaged in the church, both locally and globally.  But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I might need to recruit myself.  When I brought up the idea to Tatum, it was a short response.  “I don’t even need to pray about it.  You should go.”  Great, now I have no excuses, unless I can convince myself that God does NOT want me to go.  Uphill climb, there.  Then she added, “I think this is exactly what our marriage needs!”  Me leaving for a week?!  Possibly.  But I knew exactly what she was referring to.

Tatum and I love being parents.  Would not trade it for anything.  Yet it comes with loss for us.  We are both driven and passionate people (one of us expresses that a bit more outwardly than the other…), and the freedom in our schedule is quite limited in this life stage.  In the midst of changing diapers and 7pm bed times, its easy to turn inward and have part of your heart become numb.  We start thinking about what school system is the best, and the meal schedule for the week, and when can we justify replacing that piece of furniture.  Nothing inherently wrong, but thoughts disconnected from what is going on in the world around us.  Tatum and I have been longing to have our hearts engaged again.  For our hearts to be broken for those that are in need.  For our perspective to be shattered and rebuilt!  We can objectively know things, but sometimes our hearts and eyes need to see it first hand.  Although Tatum cannot realistically go on a trip right now, a week trip to Haiti seemed to be the perfect answer with a feasible time frame. 

So from July 21st through 28th, I will be co-leading a team of 15 men to Haiti to come alongside a great organization that our church has joined forces with throughout the past few years:  Children of the Nations (COTN).  They are in multiple countries, including the Dominican Republic, which gave them a great opportunity to aid the country after the earthquake.  They are now trying to establish a ministry within Haiti, and our team is going to help them in any way that we can.  This will include:

1.    Container
Flood packaged a shipping container with 150,000 meals and other crucial resources to send to Haiti.  Our team will be helping to distribute those resources to those who need them.
2.    Children
There are many children without father figures, so hopefully the gift of presence will be a huge blessing.
3.    Construction
We are hoping to have some hands-on projects there as well to utilize our biceps.
4.    Casting Vision (needed the “c”)
Hopefully our team of leaders will be able to dream of ways to come alongside of Haiti and COTN in future endeavors.

I have loved the opportunity to invite other men onto this team and to see who God has brought together for this adventure.  A lot of key leaders within our church!  I truly believe we will be a huge blessing to COTN and Haiti, but then also in our church when we return.  If you know me, one of my main passions in life is to see more men engaged in the church.  I think this could be a catalyst to see that happen!

Prayer requests:
1.    Haiti and COTN
2.    The men on the trip, and the men of our church
3.    My heart
4.    My family while I am gone

I will keep you updated.  I cherish all prayers for this trip.  You can also visit my fundraising page if you feel so inclined to give financially.  The cost of the trip is $2235, and I need to raise that by June 20th.  Thanks for considering!

Fundraising Page:  www.Lehman.stayclassy.org
•    100% of the donation goes toward the trip
•    Page has details for credit card, paypal, or check

Thanks!
Eric

Double the Trouble

So I am 10 days away (max) from having a second child, a mere 18 months after having the first one. And by “having”, I am not delusional in thinking I have a major role in this process. Regardless of how miniscule the impact is on my life in comparison to the impact on Tatum’s, it is still a major transition. Tatum and I will now need to figure out how to handle two kids at once. We can trade kids back and forth, but no more taking breaks.

I’ll be honest: I have given very little thought to what is happening. With the second kid, you are so focused on the first kid that you don’t give the same ridiculous amount of energy and focus into watching the stomach grow while talking gibberish to it. It really sneaks up on you!

Here are a few of my ponderings now that we are days away:

• I have been really proud of myself over the past month. I often think of the future, create worse case scenarios, and then try to plan for them. I have realized recently how much time I wasted doing that. Regardless of my preparation, having 2 kids is going to be chaos. And when that chaos begins, I will step up to the plate and handle it to the best of my ability. For now, I’m focusing on enjoying the remaining days that we have as a family of three. I can just sit and watch Avery explore all through the house, and give her my sole attention. I am enjoying my morning routine with her without any crying in the background. I am enjoying my sleep. I am soaking in everything that I will miss.
  
  
• Not knowing whether we are having a boy or girl has made it difficult for me to fully attach to the future reality. I would prepare my heart completely different if I’m having a boy as I would to finding out I’m having a second daughter. I know I’m going to be excited either way, but I don’t know how much that excitement will become a reality until the moment I meet our baby.
  
  
• I really want a boy. Everybody knows that. I want to experience what it is like to be the father of both. Yet it has hit me how much I enjoy cuddling and hugging Avery, and also protecting her in my own pacifist way. With a boy, I’ll probably have to throw him around a bit more. A buddy to teach and mentor into manhood, or another princess to honor and protect. I really can’t go wrong. It’s a win-win.
  
  
• Tatum and I are planning on spending a day alone on Friday to process what is ahead. We both have had an extremely busy year, and have not had the space to fully grasp what this transition means. One of the major losses for me is disrupting something that I find beautiful: how we function as a family of three. Yet I know that our family is not complete, and this 4th member will bring a dynamic that I would never wish away once I have experienced it. I trust the wisdom and experience of others who say my love will expand and be equally strong for Baby #2 as it is for Avery.
  
  
• I must be getting old. It has only been 18 months, but it seems so long ago that Avery was a newborn. I know it will come back quickly, but it feels like I forgot everything. They poop a lot, don’t they?!
  

Overall my excitement is starting to catch up to my anxiety. I’m ready to find out who this 4th member of our family is. I’m excited to see how our family grows and changes with the addition. I’m excited to make up new nicknames, songs, and traditions. I’m excited to see how Avery embraces the role of a big sister (on her good days). I’m excited to be a father again.

Here goes nothing!