Graham's First Thanksgiving

Gathering 'round the board at the Childs' house.
Baby Graham is the center of attention. As well he should be.
Quite pleased with the entertainment.
Three boys named Graham. For all the latest photos from Graham's first Thanksgiving, click here.

GPoD: 11.22.2005

Rest well, little Graham.

Over the River and Through the Mountains

Here is where we'll be spending our Thanksgiving holiday. My wife's sister's fiance's parents have invited us to their place in Knoxville, and we have decided to brave the possibility of six hours in a car with l'enfant terrible. Each way. Actually, this is more a recognition of Graham's increasing maturity. Besides, we bought him a new car toy for the trip.

Test Your Knowledge of Graham's Family Tree

Here's a little guessing game for all you Graham afficianados out there. We all recognize the little cherub on the right; who is the babe at left?
a. Grandma Fink
b. Grandpa Slinger
c. Daddy Dearest
d. Graham himself, retro style

GPoD: 11.21.2005

Aw, cut it out, dad. No one wants to see my big milk gut.

The GrahamCam: Fun with the Bouncer

Here's Graham trying to figure out his bouncer. He bounces a few times, which seems to please him, but then he forgets why he's there. Mommy has to provide some laughs before he remembers to kick his legs.

The View from Above

I discovered a website this morning that shows satellite imagery of any address in the country. Here's an aerial view of our house, taken in 2002. Of course, we've done quite a bit with the place since then...

Which illustrates the risks one runs in playing Superman too shortly after dinner. At least he hadn't been eating tacos.

RetroPod: Three Months Ago Today

My, how you've grown, little one.

Underwhelmed: On God and the Tsunami

I just finished reading David Bentley Hart's new book on the so-called "problem of evil," The Doors of the Sea: Where was God in the Tsunami? Hart has quickly become one of my favorite younger theologians since I discovered him in the pages of First Things not long ago. He combines erudition and panache in searing critique of the decadence of Western culture. This book was rather disappointing, however. He frames the issues brilliantly, but in the end his argument seems to be little more than a rehash of the freewill defense, with a bit of name-calling against "Calvinists" thrown in for good measure. He really doesn't say anything he didn't say in his FT piece, "Tsunami and Theodicy" back in March, which is disappointing, as a book-length treatment ought to provide more than superficial engagement with other points of view. For Hart in much better form, read him explain why there really is no "culture war" going on right now in "Freedom and Decency."