Stealing Moments
I had to change the blog. It started to look too much like my life.
Self inflicted crap and confusion. Too complicated when what I want (and need) is simplification and peace. For crying out loud, I’m the father of 11 children now…peace has suddenly become a Holy Grail in my life.
So I hurt the feelings of my sweet wife, who wants me to come to bed and get some rest, so I can sit here and type out my thoughts to you nut jobs. Casting my thoughts into the blogsphere for someone to catch.
Then again, I’m not sure there’s anything unique about an artistic father of 11 who talks to himself and believes in Gnomes, Elves and senile old wizards afraid of fat women in spandex.
Read MoreBaby -vs- Novel
As hard as we are working to finish this first novel, my beloved editor and translator to the world is too close to having the baby to spend any time thinking about writing. I don’t blame her. Arguing about points of Iskari History and whether to include the mating rituals of the Blue Bumbleback Hornswallows doesn’t apeal to me right now either.
I’m going to be a daddy again and I’m excited.
So this is notification that the Wanted Hero novel: Prelude to a Hero is on hold until the baby comes and Kathilynn can get settled in. I know that throws off the May 27th date for publication, but I will make it up to those great readers who contributed to it’s printing with an extra signed copy for the wait. It’s baby versus the book and I’m not shy to say the book loses out for the moment.
It has always been my blessing to be at home for the first two weeks with my wife and to take care of her and the baby. Not going to stop now. Life happens and we roll with it. I’ll keep you all up to date.
God Bless.
Jaime Buckley
Read MoreA Fathers Pride.
Dear Children,
I cannot tell you enough how proud I was of you tonight. Each and every one of you, down to Simon and Carley. Spending the time with Cindy and Roger Anthony was enjoyable, but you proved to me altogether that my faith in you was well placed. The way each of you conducted yourself and took care of the little ones. Not that it was unusual, but it felt as if I watched you through different eyes tonight and it touched my heart. You made me smile in all you did and I felt a deep pride in my family.
In short, I was honored to be your father.
Not many parents can say such a thing. It’s an aspect of society that I fear will never change until parents learn that their own children should not rule over them and they gain the respect and obedience of their children. Not that they should be tyrants, but can any of you deny my love? Can any of you deny my deep devotion and protection, even though I rule by a strict standard? Do I raise you without compassion? Without joy and laughter? Without considerable freedom and privileges?
I know it’s hard to see why there are so many rules…that is, until you find yourself in those situations in life which make your knees shake and you heart faint. It’s then that you find the rules of our family keep you safe as a natural consequence of your obedience. Just know that it’s always hard, even as an adult, to know why some boundaries are placed.
I can see the impression you make on others when you behave like you did tonight. Not just on the adults, who envy your mother and I and encourage their children to befriend you, but also on your peers. As you openly adhere to your family standards and bring honor to your parents they feel drawn to you. They marvel and yet, when they see the pride and the appreciation your mother and I have for each of you, many of them seek that same relationship and that same experience with their own parents and they are happier for it.
Did you realize you have that power and influence for good, simply because you truly honor your father and your mother?
There are times I worry for your welfare. I wonder if you’re really listening to what your mother and I are trying to teach each of you. Then we have an activity such as this, where you have free reign to be open, boisterous and you unknowingly do me such honor and touch my heart by proving yourselves to be the children every parent wish they had.
I love you. I thank you.
It is so amazing that God would send my best friends to me as my children.
With all my Love,
Your Father
Read MoreDaughters…God’s Gift to Fathers.
The bets have been going on for ages. All the kids have been praying for the results, and guess what?!?
It’s not a monkey! WOHOOO!!!
Can’t tell you how relieved I was to put that fear to rest. I now know for sure that we ARE having a 100% perfectly human female child! Got the call a few hours ago and though I don’t think I reacted at the moment of impact like Kathi was hoping I would…he excitement has been sinking into 
my mind minute by minute. There’s never been a gender preference in my mind. Ever. Oh, the exception this time was we had been praying for twins for nearly 19 years and that didn’t come to pass yet again….but past that, I just wanted to know all was good: that both Kathi and the baby were healthy.
Yes, the boys are feeling just a tad out numbered now, being only three boys to seven girls, but if you could watch them behind the scenes, all this whining is for the public drama. besides, the three of them have enough testosterone to compensate for a dozen sons (heaven help 
me). What they don’t say out loud is that they idolize their sisters,…and those girls have no greater pride than in their brothers. Besides, most of these girls can hold their own and clobber their brothers faster and harder than most young adult men could (they pick up martial arts rather quickly). The boys just want to have the tables leveled out.
What is it about girls that makes life so wonderful in my mind? Well, I know they don’t swear and break things in a devious manner or huck loogies. I also know they can’t bench press a Buick or pee standing up like the boys, but they do fill my home with song, give their father hugs and kisses as I come and go to work. They notice the things of the heart and when they smile, life is just…better. Yeah, I’m smitten by my daughters, but they give me a stronger desire to change the world. I know, I know, it probably sounds corney, but I’m serious here. They make me want to roll up my sleeves and bend this world into a better shape than i
t is…or burn my life out trying.
Why? For them.
You see, my view of men and women has always been the same: The females are just as noble, strong (in their own unique ways), intelligent and filled with talent and passion as men. But to me, they bring a special light, a refinement and a joy to the soul that another male just can’t create. Not in my mind, anyway. Oh, I’m not so foolish to know there aren’t exceptions, but my daughters have been raised to be something I feel is lacking more and more in this wide world: good, virtuous, noble, pure women. We are the ones who should be beating the snakes and smoothing the road so that they can walk, unmolested in this world.
Maybe that’s why I’m so blessed: because I’d skin any male who tries to tarnish that purity. Who knows. I dearly love my girls and they are the pride of their father’s heart.
Just my opinion, but then again, they’re are my daughters.
Read MoreGrateful for another day.
Don't give up...no matter what.
When my mother died in 2004 I simply gave up in many aspects of my life. Not on Kathi or the children, but for some reason I didn’t care about myself anymore. Now, I understand how this is detrimental to Kathi and the kids, because I’m a husband and father. Yet something in me ‘broke’ and I don’t know how to fix it.
At the end of 2006 I had a minor stroke and have had intense chest problems ever since, with increasing shocks of overwhelming stabs into the left side of my skull. Enough to knock me over and shut down my left eye for a few minutes.
Last night I woke up and after a while, started to cry.
Mortality set in with a fierceness I’ve never experienced before. Kathi lay next to me silent as can be as tears ran down my face, thinking of my children, of all my mistakes and wrong choices in life. The things you wish you never had to experience, or worse…the things you wish to God Almighty you could take them back and save a broken heart…or twelve. The only thing I have done of any worth is marry Kathi and have those incredible children. The rest I seem to screw up no matter what I do. That’s what it feels like, anyway.
I woke feeling very humbled this morning.
All I can do is start from where I am, right here, right now.
I know that’s all anyone can do, but it just feels so…not enough.
Here’s to walking the path of another day and hoping you end up in the right pace at its end.
Ok, I’m done being a big baby…
Read MoreMy Latest Book
