Josiah is at a stage right now where he is saying stuff that makes us laugh so hard. He was hitting on all eight-cylinders during our ski trip. I had actually forgotten some of this, so thanks to the inlaws, Joel and Nina, for jogging my memory!

We wanted Josiah to take skiing lessons because he’s only been one time. But Josiah was a little nervous about the lesson. I was trying to draw on all of my psychological skills as a parent. I was trying to motivate him but do it in a way that it seemed like his decision. But he finally said “no.” I said to him, “You might change your mind.” To which Josiah replied, “No, I never change my mind on Fridays.” Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious! By the way, Josiah did take lessons. When all the psychology fails, you just make them!

At one other point, Josiah was having a tough time with the big boys. His brother and cousins are all older. So I told him he had to defend himself. Josiah said, “Dad, you are the only strong one in our family!” I told him he was probably stronger than I was when I was six. To which Josiah replied, “But dad, I have never even been to the gym!“

By the way, a little known fact about yours truly. In our family, my left arm is known as rock. My right arm is known as Gibraltar. And, yes, I am still the undisputed heavy-weight champion of the family!

I have a feeling that one of these sayings might become a Batterson family catchphrase. And every family ought to have them. One of my funny and fond memories as a kid was pulling out of church one Sunday and my mom said to my dad, “Don, the gas tank is on empty.” My dad said, “We can make it another 63 miles.” We didn’t make it a hundred yards! I’m always quoting my dad: we can make it another 63 miles.