success? depends on how you measure

I would guess that how you measure your success depends on what you do.  We talk about it a lot around Calvary’s staff–different metrics for determining positive movement, growth, success.  If you’re a blogger, maybe you look at your stats (hits, new visitors, etc).  If you’re in sports, then you talk about your wins, batting average, yards-after-catch, or ppg.  Politicians count votes, lawyers count convictions/acquittals, writers count things published.  Teachers count…days until summer vacation?  I jest…

Tonight was a success at the Sublett hacienda.

We were all in the living room, watching American Idol.  Sadie and Annabelle had been draped on either side of me, at least until we broke out the ice cream.  A few minutes later they disappeared.  From behind the couch came the biggest gigglefest you ever heard.  Annabelle had Sadie on the floor, completely incapacitated in the throes of a tickle war.  After a nifty escape, Sadie led Annabelle on a house-wide chase, squealing as she ran from room to room.  Annabelle had her hands poised in full-on tickle-mode, ready to strike at the first possible moment.

Kim and I snuggled up together to try (in vain) to listen to Simon et al rip most of the contestants apart.  No matter…our kids are having fun playing together.

As I tucked the girls in bed, I read an extra chapter in our book.  While I’m reading Sadie’s book in English, Annabelle is reading in her new children’s Chinese/English story Bible (THANK YOU JOYCE!)  When I finished the extra chapter, Annabelle read me the part about God creating the world in Chinese (the reading, not the creation), then I read it in English.

So good.

As I tucked them in, I asked the girls: Who is your best friend?

Without hesitation, Sadie said:  Annabelle.  Annabelle replied:  Sadie.

And that, my friends, is how I measure a success.