Category Archives: The Godparents

The people we love…and who love our kids

The Godparents

Lincoln’s Godmother

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First off, who would invite 50+ people to their house for a birthday party for a kid that wasn’t their own? And the majority of the kids are 3 and under and into EVERYTHING. If Becky asked me this question in 20 years, I’d just start laughing.

Anyway….

We chose Mrs. Andrea Maguire to be the godmother to our son, to help us guide him in the teachings of Christ. And it may be the best and most immediately validated decision we have made in a long time.

She has been a Godsend to us on more than a few occasions recently. We met her through her insanely talented son Andrew who was in Becky’s theater productions for all 4 of his high school years. He had starring roles pretty much from the time he was a sophomore. The kid just has IT. Not to mention, our daughter fell “in love” with him. I can still hear her during Pippin when he fell down (on purpose) on stage. “Oh no, Andrew fall down”.

Anyway, I first met Andrea on an IHS theater trip to Chicago. A bunch of high school kids, some parent chaperones, a long bus trip … Good bonding time. I could never have imagined how big a part of our life she would become.  Just in 2017 alone, we have had celebratory dinners for mine, Andrea’s and Becky’s birthday with our families. We spent Thanksgiving with the Maguire family and friends. If there is even a major storm in the area, guess whose basement we have an open invite to use?

Andrea and her husband Martin are just big, warmhearted people. They work well off each other. They have raised kids who are free to be themselves, able to speak their mind and kids who know they are loved.  Becky and I hope to replicate some of these traits. They are selfless and always willing to lend a hand. They had our kids for one of our few overnight getaways we’ve taken and it’s probably the most comfortable we’ve ever felt because we knew they were in good hands (even after we had a stupid car break-in that blew up our plans for the day and caused a lot of unnecessary stress but enough of that nonsense). The kids have gone to church with them and Emerson will even let Andrea do her hair (a BIG deal). Lincoln Maguire, anyone? I chuckle sometimes when I think of our multiracial children just “showing up” with them at church one day 🙂

All that to say….Andrea is just a special, special person. Andrea truly loves our kiddos and they adore her in return. She’s one in a million and we are so fortunate to have her and the entire Maguire family in our lives. When we visit their house, it’s not like going to a friend’s. It’s like being home.

 

(And Martin is pretty cool too)

Family, General, LCW, The Godparents

To Lincoln’s Godfather

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Godparent Series – Kid #2

This was an easy one. It’s about my best friend for over 20 years. Man, has it been that long. I am the godfather to his firstborn son and he’s the godfather to mine. Even though he has to travel a lot for his job, he made the time away from his wife and kids to come visit us in Nashville  a few months and meet Lincoln (and give this dad some MUCH needed family getaway time).

Seeing how Travis has transformed into such a family man, lowered his temper, raised his game and become such an amazing father has been nothing short of amazing. He has helped make me a better man, shown me how to do things the right way and given me honest and solid feedback when I ask him for advice (and given me a love for trying to grow my own food). A best friend isn’t one who just blindly agrees – we all need some challenging. Check and check.

I love his family and he loves mine and we are pretty much brothers, probably closer than many real life ones. It’s amazing we have lasted 19 years (senior year at GHS) since living in the same city with maybe a visit or two a year to actually hang in person. The app Voxer has helped a lot along with social media and texting. It’s a challenge but we make it work.

There’s a thing about life-long friends. As you get older, you forget about some of the adventures you had. Travis made me a video for my 37th birthday and looking through them, I can’t believe all the life we have lived. I forgot even BEING in some of those places. It’s a beautiful life and an awesome friendship with him as my bro-pilot.
To my Cubs-loving, movie-watching, Memphis Tigers bball fan and fellow Germantown High School thespian, I love you…man. And my son is lucky to have you in his life.