Do as I Say, Not As I Do?

I'm starting to understand a ton about myself by raising 4 kids. I've learned that its hard to consistently blog, getting any personal work done and rest. However, the greatest challenge is setting the right example for my kids.
Paris has been struggling making the transition from elementary to middle school and it has been quite difficult for Tasha and I to take, especially with the gifts that Paris possesses. However, as I sat down with her to help out with her homework I was mystified by the frustration level I reached when Paris couldn't put the pieces together to solve the problem. Normally, I'm not angered, but the I was getting heated until I looked at her, I mean at myself and realized how much of a bad example I was setting. I always tell my kids that getting angry, frustrated and mad is a waist if time. Those are emotions that are a deterrent to coming up with a solution. However, here I was, portraying the opposite. We always want our kids to react in the most positive manner to any potentially difficult encounter. Therefore, I need to exemplify that behavior in front of them at all time. Saying is not enough, if you don't plan to live it.


-posted by Mocha6 on the move!

Daddy BALLOONS!

Family Fest

People always tell me to enjoy my kids while I can and that's always the best advice. Today I got to see exuberance in its purest form. The Mocha 6 went to the Plano Ballon Festival to watch hot hair balloons launch into the skies. Im always promoting family outings and this is one that I endorse. However, Jericho and London had a blast. While, I'm thanking God that I chose to go to the opposite side of the park to avoid paying for parking, London is screaming with excitement has the colors fill the air. Jericho is finding extreme joy in counting all the balloons.

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Location:Plano, TX

The First Week, 39 More To Go

Ok, summer vacation is over and it's time to get back to the reality of living the busy life. Mom and I are back to work, and we now have. 3 out of the 4 in school. Jericho started Pre-K, BJ is now in the 3rd grade and Paris entered her first year of Middle School. However, that's 3 kids in 3 different schools. We are blessed enough to have some help as you know, Grammy stays with us and does the transporting to and from school.

So far so good, the kids had a great first week. Each night at dinner, everybody had a chance to talk about their day. Paris talked for ever the first night, which was probably intentional in order to extend the evening so she didn't have to go to bed. However as the week went on, we had to shorten the comments to the most exciting moment in the day. By Friday, the best part of everyone's day was coming home to share. What a great week!




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Picking Their Friends

Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(NIV) My oldest, Paris, turned 11 this week and it has taken me this long to recover from the swimming/slumber party. Now, I don't tolerate noise very well, but I promised my wife that I would not say a word about the noise level with the understanding that 11 tweenie girls will romp around my house for nearly 36 hours. Ok, I had to promise twice because when I first mentioned it to Tasha, within 90 seconds I was already fussing. So, on my second go-round I went into my observant mode. As Paris has gotten older, Tasha and I have tried to allow Paris to hang with her little girlfriends more often. Be it via Skype or actual visits, we want to be more comfortable with it. We are the kind of parents though that has to know who the child is, who their parents are, where they live and have been to their homes to ensure that things are on the up and up. So, all the girls present checked out initially. However, we had to sit Paris down after the party and talk about choosing friends. 2 of the young ladies my daughter will not be able to hang out with any more due to how they treated Paris and my home. Now, some people think that I'm cruel for this demand, including Paris, but my daughter is my responsibility and God has put me in charge to train her up in the way she should go. Paris doesn't have the insight that Tasha and I have and I'm not in this gig as Dad to necessarily do everything to please my kids. We do things for our kids to teach, protect, guide and support them. Sometimes it may be hard and they may get upset, but I will always try to make decisions based on the Word of God regardless the reception from my children. Funny thing is, after thinking about it for some time, Paris is now in complete agreement with the decision. That's nothing but the Holy Spirit working within.

LondonTurns 2 Today

When the wise folk she us walking through church with out lovely 4 children they mention without fail that Tasha and I better enjoy them while they are still young. I always laugh because I can't wait until they are old enough to get a job. Actually, I'm beginning to understand why the wisdom is so profound. 

London turned 2 today and it seems that these 2 years were a blur. From walking to potty training, to talking to playing to conversing to now feels as if it all just took place yesterday. With having these 9 years between the oldest and youngest, it is vital that we take the time to live in the moment of each of our kids and take the time to sit back and enjoy it all. 

Daddy, Will You Play With Me?

Ok, as I was sitting at my laptop trying to get some work done I noticed my son BJ walking in circles around the kitchen island. Now, you have to understand that in the summer, my kids are required to do something productive throughout the day instead of playing video games. However, BJ had already read several chapters in his latest book and completed his chores...he was looking for something to do. After his 10th pass around the walls of Jericho, I finally spoke with a loud cry to ask what in the world he was doing. He told me that he was waiting to play with me but I was on the computer. I immediately logged off and we began to play UNO. I pulled out a bag of chips and we sat and had a great time.
The most important thing to understand in parenting is sacrifice. People always say to enjoy the kids while they are young, but why do so many parents think that a television program or FaceBook post is more important than playing hide-and-go-seek with the kids? I don't want these years to pass by and my kids to say I was never there for them even if it means turning off the computer, sitting on the floor and getting my UNO on.

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Tweenies, Ugh!

I was reading 1 Timothy 3 today and Paul was laying our instructions concerning leadership. I got to the point in verse 4 where he mentioned a leader being one who keeps his children under control and I thought of my little tweenie Paris. For those that don't know, a tweenie is a person not quite the age of a teenager, between the ages of 10 to 12. Paris would rather spend all day upstairs secluded from the family while texting (from her ipod of course, not quite ready for a phone), watching YouTube videos or Skyping and Voxing with her friends and cousins. She wakes up with attitude, especially if the sun is still up and complains vehemently if she has to go to bed before sun up. Paris is going through that stage of not wanting to be treated like a child, but refuses to raise her maturity level beyond that of a child. Well, actually, she is a child. The true problem is what she sees in the world. Her friends have this, watch this, listens to that. Her friends talk like this, dress like that and get to do whatever they want to do. She hates anything that is not technology driven with the exception of reading. However, ask her to clean her room or empty the dishwasher and she thinks that world has ended. 

So that is what we deal with, but the key is to approach her with the mindset that I was once in her shoes. I've learned to realize that Paris is the reincarnation of myself. I guess that's why I stay on her so much. I try to give 2 positives to every negative when conversing with her, but more importantly, I try to point everything back to the Word of God. As I continue to grow as a Kingdom Man, the Holy Spirit reveals to me how to nurture Paris through this stage she is going through. I have learned to apologize to her when I approach her interesting actions incorrectly. I've learned to allow her to talk, and yes, I listen. Most importantly, I have learned to waver. I've accepted that my first born may not like my decisions very much, but as long as I continue to put her future first in everything I do, she'll learn to understand. We will get through the tweenie stage only to reach the teen stage, but if we tackle this stage now, maybe the teenage years won't be so bad... wishful thinking. Gotta love being a parent.  

Getting Back To The Blog

Ok, raising 4 kids is tough. I haven't been able to get on this blog due to having to be a good daddy to the my little Mocha6. However, I'll get back to posted regularly as I'm pondering my week without the oldest 3. Yes, Paris, BJ and Jackson Jericho are visiting their Meme and PawPa Smith for the week. Little Ms. London stayed with me, oh yeah, Tasha is away at a conference, so the little munchkin just has me to hang with.

Family is so huge... I believe that the support of your family is necessary to raising wonderful kids. We used to live so far away that our kids did not get to see their family very often. Hence the move to Texas. However, just being a few hours away from the Grand Parents is a plus. Normally, the kids spend an entire month away. They attend the local Vacation Bible Schools and make all the local kids jealous with their bible skills and musical talents. PawPa is always showing them off, but the Paris, BJ and Jericho love it. They get to eat fresh watermelon, pick berries, swim, and their all time favorite, burn trash. BJ loves the smell of burning trash and my father has built a pit just do so. He'll actually save up the trash until the time the kids get there just to see the delight on their faces when the flames decorate the sky. Nothing like good ole country fun.

On the flip side, I utilize this time to get things done around the house, reconnect with the wife and just relax. However, with Tasha gone, I have had the time to bond with London. She is definitely a mommy's girl, but she has no choice this week.

So, next week the fun starts all over and I'll be sure to post the exciting adventures of The Mocha 6 and hopefully  be able to encourage everyone raising kids that the sacrifice, if you are making it, is surely worth it.

Early Saturday Mornings

As Tasha and I get older, our biological clocks have automatic snooze built in on the weekends. Unfortunately though, Jackson and London, the youngest, clocks have a spring forward affect that doesn't coincide without our snooze. Every Saturday, they are up early...before 6 AM. "Mommy I'm hungry!", "Can I play the X-Box?" or "Can you get up and play with me?" are normally the first words out presented by Jericho. However, today was quite different. London was already in the bed, and Jackson just wanted lay with us. We didn't have to get up, do anything to stop the noise; We were allowed to just lay there. This was how Paris and BJ were when they were little. They are 3 years apart and Jericho and London are 2. However, the closeness that the pairs share are uncanny. I believe that this is one of the raising 4 kids has been so enjoyable, the ability to split them in pairs. We are able to meet all their needs with this thought process. While Paris and BJ are involved in something, its not as if all 4 of the kids are busy and we are able to manage the chaos. We try to have everyone involved in something at the same time; that would be ludicrous. Two at a time however is very manageable. Also, it gives all the kids an opportunity to be supportive of one another because they do not have their own thing going on. Today however, nothing is going on so I will enjoy this moment with the little 2 as long as I can. Don't forget to enjoy your moments, as little as they come!

Sport No. 4

Okay here we go sport number 4 This time I'm actually a nervous dad. Paris is trying


out for softball for her first time. She's never put a hand in a glove before, she's never gripped a softball, she's never held a bet that was harder than her head; yes I'm nervous!
Paris is truly my artsy child she's very gifted in the classroom. Very gifted musically and artistically, she's the kind of girl that really wants to be athletic but God genuinely touched her in the fine arts way. However she wants to play. Therefore dad is going to sit here in the bleachers and watch her without saying a word looking anxiously as she crouches, waiting as the ball approaches her, then she quickly jumps out of the way realizing that softball is not played with a soft ball. This is going to be fun as we support her to the fullest. I'm sure she'll catch on quick. Actually, this may be fun playing catch with her and teaching her to hit and slide and get all dirty. Maybe this is the sport she needs. I spent my time trying to make her into the girly girl that she desperately rebells against, it's time to let her be her. I have always told my wife that we have to meet her where she is in order to reach her. Can't wait to see how this works out.
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Potty Trained in 48 hours...Part 1

Ok, Saturday my wife came home with great exuberance exclaiming that a lady of the birthday party claimed to have potty trained her triplets in 48 hours before the age of 2. Holding in my typical "yeah right!" comment, I notice the sparkly in Tasha's eyes...and then she said it. "Honey, I want to try it!" fast forward to Monday evening when I came home from work. I walked in the doors and immediately tried to run back out. the area rug in the family room had been pulled up and thrown into the dining room while revealing the hardwood floors that were decorated with puddles. I hear London running and screaming and then I see her high tailing it out of the room while "bucket naked" as my grand mother would say. Tasha thought it would be prudent to have London go without underwear to make going to the potty more accessible. The house is in chaos, Tasha looks like she's been through a tornado and I'm ready to turn around and go back to work for some sense of sanity. This is going to be interesting!However, I have all the confidence in the world that this is going to work. Let you know later on if we survive.

How They Hear...

Last year, my son played quarterback for his flag football team. He was responsible for knowing the offensive plays and the positions each player should be in during a particular call. He managed the game well, and developed a take charge attitude on the field. Unfortunately, BJ did not translate this attitude very well into his 1st grade classroom. He had many fits of anger with the teacher to where he would literally yell at her whenever he felt that she was out of place. Needless to say, BJ didn't play football this year as we attributed much of his anger issues to the game he became unnecessarily attached to. However, the anger did not subside. For the most part, he was back to the lovable, mild mannered BJ that we all have grown to love, but he still had lapses of yelling at his teacher. I became so livid with his display of disrespect that I began to yell and I'm not a yeller at all. This goes on for a period of time and I become overwhelmingly frustrated and I couldn't get through to him. I didn't know what I was doing wrong as a parent to where my son would come out of himself and behave in such a manner. Then it hit me, well, Tasha pointed something out too me during our latest discussion of his conduct. He misses me! Now, I know that sounds crazy, but I all of sudden realized that while BJ was out learning those plays, conducting the offensive routines, I was the encourager...the coach. However, I was not only coach, I was the videographer for the team and I spent a ton of time video taping and editing, which took me away from him. I wasn't getting paid for doing this, I simply volunteered because video is a passion of mine, but my greater passion should be my kids. So BJ could't here me when I would try to correct him because I wasn't speaking his language anymore. I'm not talking about English, I'm referring to BJ's Love Language. Tasha discovered a book some time ago entitled "The 5 Love Languages of Children" and we had come to realize that BJ's Love Language was "quality time". He simply desired to be close to me and I wasn't giving him what he needed. See, the football was supposed to be our time, just him and me, but I had invited the entire football organization into our moments and that didn't translate very well. I thanked my wife, prayed for forgiveness and hugged my son then began to speak his language once again. After that, the conduct marks just stopped, well at least for yelling at the teacher. The other issues require a different language! Don't forget to spend time with the kids learning how they need to be spoken to. It will only make your relationship that much stronger.

The Table

When asked about how we manage dealing with 4 kids and grandparents in one house, I simply say..."The Table"! Our daily schedule is chaotic to say the least, taking one kid here, another kid there, trying to get to church on time, choir, dance, soccer, football, friends....aaahhhh! However, the table is where we find our peace. As busy as I am with my own dealings, I try really hard to make sure that we have dinner together...at the table. This is where Tasha and I get the chance to slow down and talk with our kids and each other. I may have to run as soon as dinner is over, but it is extremely important to me that we sit at...the table everyday to love on each other. I'm trying to incorporate the Word of God more in our conversations, but with a talkative 3 year old and a 18 month old, it's hard to get the point across. My older two understand a bit, but the goal is to just feed them more than just bread. (Matthew 4:4) No matter how much is heard, we still have the opportunity to enjoy one another and bring sanity to the hustle and bustle that we call our life. It's at the table where we make our house into our home.

They grow soooo fast

Spent the weekend with 2000 other families trying to make sure that our children's academic future is secure by ensuring they get into the best schools. Yes, they are growing up and the path we send them on today impacts tomorrow's decisions and opportunities. Well, we really did this because Paris is going into middle school next year and it is a tough decision on what to do for placement. Paris is a GT student destined for pre-AP classes, but we want to make sure that her experiences in school are not only beneficial but rewarding to her outlook of what the future has in store. So we stood in lines, sweet talked our way through some and name dropped our way to the front of the rest all to put our faces on the forefront of the decision makers. However, we will ultimately have to stand in line along with everybody else who will, camp out the night before just to get their application in first. Wow, the things we do for our kids.

While looking to make decisions on our little pre-teen, we realize that we should start now shaping the academic path for BJ and Jericho. We are looking to get them both in the new fine arts academy where BJ can add media production to his academic rigor and Jericho can take Suzuki Instruction on the strings. Train them in the way they should go is what I was always taught and we plan to follow that creed to the fullest. Wow, I guess I'm growing up also!


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Location:Swainsons Hawk Ln,Grand Prairie,United States

From The Mouth of Babes

Having four kids and having to schedule dentist appointments, we figured it is best to find a dentist that had a large enough office to take all four at once. We are blessed enough to have a great office that is within walking distance of the house. We pray before we go that no one has any cavities because making sure everyone brushes their teeth day and night is a task. See with a busy family, we have a tendency to rely on the older to do what they are told, but... they don't always. Hence the no cavity prayer is apropos.

Paris and BJ seem to enjoy the trip to the dentist, while Jericho only goes because he gets to play with the iPad while he waits his turn. London on the other hand, hates the dentist. Well, she is so attached to her mom these days, she would hate the ice cream man too. So, Tasha has to sit London facing her and lay her down in Dr. Blake's lap and he gingerly assesses the collection of teeth that London seems to be forming in her mouth. London, kicks and screams while getting her gums massaged and immediately calms because she gets a taste of the bubble gum flavored tooth cleaner that is being applied. Anything that tastes like candy automatically soothes any child, especially ours. I guess that is why we go to the dentist regularly.



Paris and BJ once again handle the visit like champs. They love bragging about how many teeth they have lost since the last visit. Paris also realizes that she doesn't have any baby tooth to loose. So she holds that over her brothers head.

They both have gorgeous smiles, and look even better after the cleaning. However, BJ was clearly upset that he was unable to have something to eat for the next 30 minutes and no sweets for the rest of the day.


Jackson Jericho did well also. No issues with is teeth and he simply adores the attention from the dentist. He did have issues with the light shining in his eyes and the glasses that BJ wore didn't fit his face. So that made him a little upset until he tasted the bubble gum flavored cleaner. I have got to get some of that stuff... shuts them right up.

Overall, we left the dentist with our sanity intact and 4 beautiful smiles. Just like everyone else, our dentist asked how we do it, considering they just had their second child, and simply respond, "we just do." God gave us the children in the first place so we trust Him enough to give us the wherewithal to handle it. Just a little faith is all it takes. 

When Loosing Is A Great Thing.

Funny how your kids automatically take after you without you having to say a thing. I grew up a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan in the late 70's and early 80's before really getting into my Kansas City Chiefs. My son has become enamored with the Steelers with great passion. So, as he and I were cleaning the kitchen Saturday night, we were watching the playoff game between the Broncos and the Steelers. We were both left with our mouths wide open as Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas on a post route for an 80-yard catch-and-run to score the game winning TD in overtime. As I quickly got over my shock, I turned to look at BJ who who was slumped over the broom. He was crying! Well, crying may be an understatement, but I could have definitely used the amount of tears as dish water. My initial thought was to point out that these things happen and to not set your affections on things of this Earth, but I caught myself. Instead I chuckled a bit and told him that God must have some sort of plan for this platform that Tim Tebow has been given. Here it is a man, ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and displays his unwavering faith without hesitation. Then I told BJ that I had heard that he has been wanting to go forward during Children's Church and accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, but he has been to afraid of the people watching him. We had the chance to talk about how God uses those who are willing to say yes to him, even when they may seem a little embarrassed and that God wants to come into his heart if only he would ask. Wow, from football to Christ; I'm a blessed father. I love the moments with my kids where God just shows up and uses whatever is going on to teach us something and bring us closer. BJ is just about ready to make that move, I think he wants to do it at church, but I'll be there with him every step of the way. Man I love football!

Taking The Time

Wow, a night out without the kids! We received an invite for a private screening of Joyful Noise with Queen Latifa and Dolly Parton all sponsored by Warning Bros. hosted by Kirk Franklin. However, before we left the house, we had to leave the kids in good spirits, but that was the challenge. Paris, who sometimes poses as a certified genius, was having some difficulty with her math homework. Yes, I know, homework on the weekend and my kids were doing it on Friday, not Sunday...Wow! Anyway, Paris gets so frustrated with a couple of problems to where she screams "This doesn't make sense!" Now, we don't allow yelling and whining in the house, nor do we condone quitting, but it was obvious that she was in a desperate situation. So what do you do? I didn't want to be late for our event, but I easily and quickly came to the conclusion that this was not normal for Paris and she needed me more than that seat in the theater. So I sat down with her in the calmest manner I could muster and began to share with her how Satan can easily use these two simple math problems to throw us off of our path with Christ and that I don't want her to give Satan that opportunity. I hugged her, and we took a look at her problems. The first was a simple solution that involved an additional step that she just forgot to apply. However, the second problem was a doozy. I could't figure it out myself and that immediately made Paris feel better. Even though we eventually figured the problem out, well actually Tasha did, but my daughter saw me as human and got the chance to see the way I dealt with potential frustration. No matter how many times I looked at that problem I couldn't figure it out. So I just explained to her that we will look at it again later, maybe we just need a break from it to allow new ideas to form. In other words, we need some intervention. Tasha and I went to our engagement, enjoyed ourselves immensely, but better yet, my daughter was able to handle her situation without worry because she believed that we would eventually find the answer.

That's how God works with me and my life. I don't have the answers all the time, well, most of the time, but I'm learning that if I simply trust and wait on the Lord, the answers come, and that come right on time. I'm grateful that my daughter is learning that as well, more importantly, I'm thankful that I took the time for that lesson to occur.

Can We Talk...Really!

When your 3 year old runs to you and asks with puppy dogs if he can have your phone so he can call all his friends is the day you realize that your social life as an active parent is about to become interesting. Today, Jackson Jericho just wanted to talk. He grabbed the house phone and begin dialing numbers. After several tries at just randomly selecting numbers to dial, he then asked me for my contact list to find someone to call. Well, as many already know, my kids are not strangers to technology, but how my 3 year old knew that I keep numbers in a contact list is beyond me. However, I give him my mother's number and he calls her. They talk for about 5 minutes and then he was ready for the next number. He then holds a conversation consisting of exciting events of his day with his cousins and then decides he wants to call someone else. He was just in a talkative mood! How do you manage that, when you come home from a long day of work, where people are talking non-stop, pulling on you for information, asking you this and that, and you walk home and all your kid wants to do is talk some more? Well, let him talk! Freedom to express yourself as a child is a lost joy. Nowadays, kids are left to their devices as their mode of communication to where the art of having a face-to-face conversation is foreign. Texting and Facebook keeps us off the phone so much that we forget the voice of many of our family and friends. So to hear my son yammer was a pure delight especially as he proceeds to tell me that he can't talk much to London, the 16 month old because she can't talk very well. Enjoying them while I can.