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[ music ]

[ music ]

[ music ]

Echoing Female Voice: Alice.

Alice?

Look at this mess. Oh, look at my kitchen.

Sweetheart, what are you doing?

Oh, you're always making messes.

Let me see your hands.

Okay, go wash up. Stay in your room.

You make a mess out of everything you touch.

[ music fades ]

- Charlie, say something.

- I thought we were safe.

You know, you-you, you had protection.

When did this happen? How far along are you?

- Twelve weeks?

I don't know. Twelve or thirteen.

- [ moans ]

- Which means I'm having this baby in December.

[ laughs ]

Gonna go into my Spring Semester with a--a baby...

Charlie, I'm 20. I don't know how to be a mom.

- Do you even want to think about...options?

- I mean, I--I know I don't want to mess up

some poor kid's life.

- You're not gonna mess anything up.

All right? That's your mom talking.

- But we already screwed up the plan.

This wasn't supposed to happen first.

We're supposed to get married first. We're supposed to--

to have a few years together, you know.

My gosh, my mom's gonna kill me.

Babe, when I tell her, she's never gonna speak to me again.

Do you want to keep this baby?

- Only if it's a boy. - What?

Babe? - Listen--I'm kidding.

Come here. Give me your hands.

Listen.

[ exhales ] Okay.

[ music ] Look at me. Look at me.

Hey, hey. Okay.

This is not the worst thing that could happen, you know?

I'm--I'm--I'm--I'm half way through my 20's.

I think I'm ready.

Yeah. Yeah.

I do. And I think you're ready too.

We can do this. - [ laughing, crying ]

- We got this.

- Kay. - Okay?

- [ sighs, sniffs ]

- Cool.

- When I tell my mom that I'm having a baby

and we're not married, she's...

My parents are not gonna be happy with me.

- Okay.

Wha--let's do that, then.

- I--I wasn't--

- No, I-- - I promise, I wasn't trying

to talk you into anything. - I know, but I'm serious.

Let's get married. Right now.

Justice of the Peace.

- [ laughs ]

- Come on.

- What about a wedding?

My poor mother has been planning the thing

since before I was born.

- I'm--babe, I know. And--

Well, truthfully, I feel like we're kinda past that now right?

I mean, we--you-- we're having a baby.

- [ laughs ]

- And we gotta do it right.

- No, I know. You're right. You're right.

- So...

- But you haven't even proposed yet.

[ sighs ]

We can't just go to the court house.

There's a lot of girls-- - Will you marry me?

- Charlie. I love you.

- I love you. - We don't have to rush into--

- I'm not--um...

I got things a little out of order.

I realize that, but...

[ music ]

I'll be right back.

- Babe. Babe.

- How are you? - Fine.

- Fantastic... [ indistinct chatter ]

[ music ]

Can I have that? Excellent service. Thank you.

Yep. Okay.

- What are you doing? - Give me your hands.

- Babe. - Give me your hands.

- I'll live only for your happiness...

for your love, I would give my last breath.

Alice [whispering]: Not here.

- As long as I live.

I will love you.

I promise you this.

There is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on.

Ali, will you marry me?

- I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.

- Are you saying yes?

Yes, yes, I'll marry you. - Yeah? Ah. Okay. All right.

- Oh, baby, you don't have to put that on..

- This is gonna be great.

- [ laughs ]

- I mean, you're insane. I'm marrying a crazy person.

- Don't get too attached to that. Gonna replace that soon.

I really do love you..

- I really do love you too.

[ music ]

[ music stops ]

Did--did you just propose with Shania Twain lyrics?

- Yes. Yes I did. But you can't take it back n.

It's too late. She said "yes," everybody!

[ clapping ]

[ crying ]

Alice: Is he healthy?

- Mm-hm. Sure is. Sorry about the scare.

You have a nice-sized little boy.

[ laughs ]

And you're due?

- Oh, the doctor says eight weeks but...

I think he'll come early.

- Every first-time momma thinks they're gonna deliver early.

You're like, there's no way I can get any bigger

than I already am, but they do.

- Really? - Uh-huh.

- This scare just made me realize how much

I really do want him here.

- Yeah, there's nothing like the first time you see that baby.

- Oh, you have kids?

- Uh-huh. - How many?

- I have two. I just gave birth to my second.

A few months ago.

- I do want him to be here but then...

at the same time, I don't know what to do when is here, you know?

And more than anything, I just don't want to--

- Honey. you don't have to be afraid of a child.

You're going to a great mom.

You're gonna mess up, yes.

All you gotta do is love 'em.

And put the fear of God in 'em as they grow.

- I don't know.

I don't know what is about motherhood that just has me

so...I don't know.

Second-guessing myself, I just... I mean, I know I need

to get diapers and we need to finish safe-proofing

the house cause we're not done with that yet, but...

- I say you need Jesus more than all that stuff.

Do you go to church?

- I--I did when I was younger but, you know,

it's been a while.

- Tell you what.

Tell your husband that you're new friend Teresa

invited you to church.

Give me a call and tell me what he says.

- Yeah. Um, okay. - All right.

Whispering: Teresa.

- Why don't you finish getting cleaned up and take your time

and you better not forget to call me.

- Bye. - Bye.

[ music ]

Mother: You have to read it. You have--

- I'm not gonna read it and you can't make me!

- Christopher! I'm going to count to three.

And if you don't quit your whining

I'm gonna leave you here at the library.

Christopher: Stop pulling my arm!

Mother: That's one.

- No it's not. - Yes it is.

Woman: Did you get the books?

Your first? - Yeah.

- Exciting.

- You make it look so easy.

[ laughs ] - Yeah, well, it isn't. James?

Grab your sister's hand, stop by the front door please.

But it's worth it.

God gives us grace and strength,

and each child is a blessing.

You enjoy yours. - Thank you. I will.

- All right, kids. Inside voices.

[ music ]

- So, I feel like you got enough diapers for THREE babies.

Is there something you're not telling me right now?

- No. - No? Okay.

- We just have to be prepared.

This is a living human being we're having here.

- Yeah. It's a--it's a baby.

You know, we're not the first people to be parents.

The thing eats and sleeps and then pees and poops

in the first year and that's about it, right?

We got this thing outnumbered. It's like basketball. Right?

There's two of us, we're big people, two grown-ups

against one little bitty baby.

We got this.

- Does it not scare you at all to be a parent?

- Nope. Not really.

Okay, maybe a little bit.

But I figure it will just come naturally. You know?

We'll roll with it.

[ sighs ] - I just don't wanna turn out like my mom.

What if I screw up my kid?

- You are not your mom.

You never will be, and besides, I like how you turned out.

- [ laughs ] Yeah, 20 and pregnant?

Not sure how many people would agree with you on how I turned out.

Besides, doesn't everybody say they're not going to do

what their parents did and then they turn out just like them?

- Ali, moms have been raising babies for centuries

and you have all these books you've checked out,

all the magazines that you've bought

and the horrible talk shows you've been watching.

- Hey. - We'll figure it out.

Okay? And listen, worst case, if we got questions

we find somebody who has the answers.

- Yeah, a nurse who was doing the ultrasound today,

she's a mom of two and she was--she was awesome.

She gave me her number.

- See? Great. Call her. Take her to coffee,

pick her brain.

- She invited us to, uh, go to church.

- Hunh.

- I mean, some churches have mommy groups that

women can go to, or like a Mommy's Day Out program

It--it might--it might be a really good way to--

to get some help.

- Does it start early on Sundays, cause you know

I like to sleep in.

- That's not all you like to do on Sunday mornings.

[ laughs ] - Hey, look, I'm not the onl-

- Anyways, your days of sleeping in are coming

to an abrupt halt, mister.

I can't do this alone.

I really think it might be a good idea

if we start going.

[ music ]

- Okay. - Thank you, sweetheart.

- I do have to finish this crib, otherwise this kid's

not gonna have a place to sleep.

- It looks like you're pretty much done to me.

- Yeah, does it? - Mm-hm.

[ music ] Alice: Hey, I need you to install the car seat...

[ music ]

- [ grunting ] - You all right?

All right, take some breaths and let's push it out.

- Push, push... Male Doctor: Push hard! Push hard!

You got it! That's it.

[ baby crying ]

[ soft breathing ]

- Ronnie.

[ music ]

Charlie: He's beautiful.

[ music fades ]

[ music ]

- Hey, Christie, I'm here to pick up Kate, uh, Morris.

- Um, I'm afraid--Katie was a little out of hand

this morning. [ kids crying ]

She hit two of the other children with wooden blocks.

[ crying ]

- I'm so sorry.

- We tried to get her to calm down but she doesn't seem

to understand that you cannot throw wooden blocks

at other people, including me.

So I thought you might want to address that.

- Of course. Yeah.

- You know our policy is if kids keep hitting

then we have to have a parent stay with them

during the service or else the child has to sit

with mom and dad in, um, the big church

until their next birthday.

- I completely understand.

Um, I'll talk with my husband and--it won't happen again.

- Thank you.

[ music ] [ child crying ]

Boy: Mommy, mommy, I want to be an assassin when I grow up.

And then, I'm not gonna have a name so the police can't fid me,

and then I'm gonna hack into the computer

and I'm gonna steal all the government's secret plans,

and then I'm gonna blow up a Death Star,

and then [ child crying ] destroy all the monsters in e ocean.

Hey, mommy, what do you want for your birthday?

- For you to not be a complete screw-up

for one day, Ronnie!

[ child crying ]

[ somber music ]

[ door slams ]

- Ali, you okay? [ crying ]

Alice: I just need a minute.

- Okay, hey, buddy. How you doing?

Kate's got poop on her back.

Alice: Yeah, well when is she not covered in poop?

- Daddy. Alice: Can you please just change her

so I can have five minutes alone.

Katie: Momma! - Okay.

Let's give mommy a second.

Let me go change her real quick, okay?

Then I'll come check-- oh, that's, that's awful.

Katie: Momma!

[ music ] [ Charlie groaning ]

Wipes... where...

[ Katie whimpering ]

Oh, Kate.

Stop. Stop moving. You've done enough.

- Hey. I'll do it. I'll do it.

- I got this.

- I don't want you changing when you're upset.

- Yeah, well you locked yourself in the bathroom

and said you needed help so I'm helping.

- I just needed a minute. I can do my job, thank you.

[ crying ]

Hey.

Hey, Teresa and Kenneth are gonna be here at 6:30.

How long do burgers take?

- [softly] Perfect night for company

[louder] Like 30 minutes, I'll get into it.

Hey, one more thing.

Can you come back here for a minute?

- Sure.

Tonight we need to talk about Kate.

She was--I guess hitting other kids in church yesterday

and they said that they might actually have to kick her out of nursery.

- Kick her out of nursery? That's crazy. She's two.

That's what 2-year-olds do-- - Yeah well, let's just talk about it tonight

after they have left.

Kate and Ronnie have been running the house lately

and it is--it is wearing me out.

- I'm sure it's a phase. She'll grow out of it.

Talk to Teresa about it.

- I don't think it's a phase.

The other kids are not hitting each other.

We are her parents. We're supposed to fix things like this.

I don't want to talk to Teresa. I want to talk to you about it.

I want to talk to my husband.

I want to hear your ideas.

I cannot do everything by myself.

- Okay, we'll talk about it.

- Great. I'm so glad you're interested in your kids' lives.

- Quiet out here.

- Yeah, I know--kinda nice, isn't it?

- Heh, tell me about it.

With three under six, the sound of nothing can be pretty sweet.

- I honestly don't know how you guys do it.

Ronnie and Kate are almost too much for Ali as it is.

- What about you?

- Oh, I'm fine with two.

- No, I'm talking about the stress.

Does it get to you?

- I just tune it out.

I know, man, but hey, I work and come home--I gotta unwind.

- You don't think Alice is tired, too?

- I'm sure she is, but I don't know, quick trips--I just--

I don't know, it takes it outta me, man.

- Well look, man, I get it, all right?

When it comes to raising kids, the days are long

but the years are short.

- Not short enough, if you ask me.

- You remember the challenge that Pastor Mark gave us on Sunday?

- Nah, I was outta town. - You were outta town.

Well, look--he, uh, quoted some guy that said,

"Children are the living messages that we send forth

to a time that we will not see."

- Hm.

- You should get the tape.

He talks about giving a vision for what God might have for your kids.

Something more than hoping that they grow up happy and healthy

and get a good job and get married.

- Ooh--I think I burned these.

Yeah, I hear you, man.

- It got me to realize that... our kids aren't the problem.

It's us, man.

Yeah, uh, you and me-- that's right.

- I'm the problem?

- Remember that verse that says,

"Without a vision, the people will perish?"

- Can't say that I do.

- Well, it applies to the family as well.

You can't run around living life one day at a time.

You gotta know where you're going, and then lead.

[ music ]

- All right.

- All right.

- Gimme that ball.

- Unh.

- Literally pulls up from half-court and he makes it,

just actually, this is something I do all the time.

It was ridiculous.

- I saw the replay of that on the news.

- Did you? - It was unbelievable.

It was, it was crazy. - Excuse me--yes, son?

- I finished my food. Can I get a popsicle?

- Ms. Alice, John David has a question for you.

- Yes, John David?

- May I please get popsicles?

- Of course you can.

They're in the freezer, on the bottom shelf.

[ Kate babbling ]

Your little man has become quite the gentleman.

- I want a popsicle too.

- You can have one when all of your food's gone, buddy.

- But I can't eat it, it's too much food.

I want a popsicle like John David.

- Son, your mother gave you an answer.

You cannot have dessert until you finish your food.

Sit down, finish your food.

Do you--mind if I try something?

- Go ahead.

- Now, Ronnie, you know, your plate has to be empty

before you go get dessert, right?

Right?

- It looks like your plate's all empty, hon.

I guess that means you get dessert.

- Can I get a popsicle now?

- Yes, you may. Thank you for asking.

Kenneth: My dad did that with me once.

I never forgot it.

"That's the picture of grace," he would say.

Getting what you don't deserve because somebody else

did what you should have done for you.

Charlie: You just wanted to eat more hamburger, man.

Don't be--don't get all spiritual on me over there.

[ laughs ]

- You just remember that the next time

you're making these hamburgers out there.

- We got more if you need it. [ laughter ]

You don't have to eat my kid's food all the time.

Bring him a popsicle. [ laughter ]

Steal my kid's hamburger.

- Just five more minutes and I'll help you with those dishes.

- Oh, no, no, no, no. You sit and rest.

- No, I can't have you doing all that extra--

- Why do you wanna sit-- - Did you hear us talking?

- Excuse me, momma.

- You're excused.

- Ronnie wants to know can I--

- May I-- - May I play Frogger with him?

- What's that?

- Oh, it's just this little video game with frogs trying to, like, cross the road.

It's--it's totally harmless.

- Yes, you can play Froggy with Ronnie.

[ laughs ] - It's "Frogger," Mommy.

- Well, whatever it's called, yes, you can play

for about 10 minutes, and then we gotta go.

- Thank you. My mom said I can play!

- [ laughter ] Kids.

- Hey, I'm sorry about Ronnie tonight.

- What for?

- His manners, or his lack of manners, I should say.

- Well, how does he normally act?

- I don't know, I guess--I guess I just don't notice it,

you know, when it's just him and Kate.

But I--I don't know why he just seems to always decide

to act up whenever we have company around.

- John David used to be just the same.

- Really?

- Mm-hmm. It took us weeks to get him to learn

basic table manners.

- Because there ain't no kid gonna say things like

"please" and "thank you" on their own.

[ laughs ]

- Yeah, well, you're gonna have to, uh, lend me

whatever book you used to train him.

- Oh, you already got it, honey--and it's all in there.

In The Bible.

- Oh, well, I guess I missed the chapter on manners.

- Well, how much time do you spend reading Proverbs

or memorizing verses?

I mean; I have all my kids learn Proverbs 23:13-14

as soon as they old enough to talk.

"Do not withhold discipline from your children."

"Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines."

- Yeah, but I just--I don't know that I can intentionally hurt

my child, though?

- Alice, listen--some of the greatest lessons in life

come amidst pain.

If there's no sting, then what you get is a spoiled child.

And I know you don't want that.

[video game gun fire]

- Hon, your son is watching you play that game.

- Can you take him in the other room with you?

- I have--I have to run a bath for Kate.

Can you not just pause your game and please deal with him?

- Hey, bro, why don't you go put your pajamas on

and brush your teeth, and I'll-- I'll come pray with you in a minute, okay?

- But why?

- Because it's time to go to bed.

Got it--got him.

- But why can't I just watch for a few more minutes?

- Buddy, this is a grown-up game, okay?

I told you that before.

Now please, you gotta go to bed.

- Why?

- [ loudly ] Son, go to bed, now, please.

[ crying ]

- Honey. Charlie, I cannot believe you.

Come on. [ video game gun fire ]

[ music ]

[ drops controller ]

- I'm sure that you both realize that Ronnie's very bright.

We've been tracking his test scores over the past four years,

and he's in the 97th percentile in reading and language.

He's in the 99th percentile in math,

he's in the 99th percentile in science.

So even though Ronnie's a freshman, we would like

to encourage you to have him start taking the SAT now,

and once a year, every year.

I don't wanna create any false expectations, but students

with these kinds of early scores often go on

to become National Merit Scholars.

I'd imagine he will have his pick of college options,

and many of those options will likely come with some very

generous scholarships attached.

You both should be very proud.

- Ninety-ninth percentile.

Did you have any idea he was that smart?

- I knew he got good grades and didn't have to work at it very hard.

- Whew. - What do you think?

Free college? I--yeah, I'm into it.

- You know how he's been skipping youth group,

saying that he needed to study?

This whole time I thought he was making excuses

because it's boring and the--the leaders tell him-

treat him like he's in sixth grade.

But he's actually been studying.

Like, he's really smart.

- Yeah. He's "free college" smart.

I'm not sure we'll get that lucky with Kate--

or Josh or Faith.

- See you at home. - Love you.

[ music ]

[ clattering ]

- What are you doing with my mastazord set?

- Mom said I could use the Legos to build a fort for Freckle.

- That doesn't mean you take apart a mastazord

to build some stupid fort.

- It's not stupid, and Mom said I could.

- She didn't say that. Now give it back.

- Mom said I could play with it.

- She's not your real mom anyway.

- Yes, she is.

- Nuh-uh--your real mom couldn't handle you.

- That's not true!

- That's what mom told me when we got you.

- She did not! - Uh-huh.

- Here, take your stupid Legos. They're stupid anyway!

Mom!

[ ring tone ]

[ clattering ]

- Hey. You on your way?

- No, I'm not. I'm still at the office.

Hey, how was your day?

- How late?

How was your day is code for "I'm going to be late,"

so just tell me how late.

- Okay. Well, I--I do have another couple hours of work

to do on the Wilson project, and then I--

I should be able to get free.

- Charlie, really?

- Listen, I know, but, uh, if I work hard, I can get it done

by Friday and then no more late nights for a while.

- Yeah, well, I think this is, what,

the 10th project you've said that on now.

- Hey, are you okay?

- No. No, not really.

- Josh and Faith had a big fight today, and Josh

said some really horrible things to her.

- Like what?

- Like that I'm not her real mom.

She's not little anymore, and I--and I don't know

how to talk to her about her mom and why she ultimately gave her up.

I need you to be home before Josh goes to bed,

so you can talk with him.

He ignores me. He needs to hear it from you.

And I--and I don't know what to say to Faith either.

So maybe we can do that together?

- Yeah, okay--love you. [ typing ]

[ music ]

- Kids, dinner!

- Is Dad home yet?

- Um, that was--that was him on the phone.

Um, he's--he's stuck on a project, so he's not

gonna be back until late.

- He was supposed to take me to the mall tonight.

- Yeah, well, I don't think that's gonna happen, sweetie, I'm sorry.

- Can I call Dad and see if we can go?

- Yes, but, um, we need to eat dinner first.

Please go get the others. Tell them that it's time to eat.

Kate Yelling: Ronnie, Josh, Faith--dinner!

- Laundry belongs in the bin, not next to the bin.

[ sigh ]

I seem to make babies faster than I can pick up their laundry.

- How DO you make babies?

- What? - What?

- We're not talking about this. Go get your PJs on.

- But I need to go potty.

- Then go potty.

[ knocking ]

What you reading?

Something for a class?

- Nope, just for fun.

Hey, on Saturday, um, I was planning on going to a concert

downtown with some friends.

- What show?

- Uh, it's a band called Nihil Fit.

- Are they Christian? - Kind of.

Their band name is Latin for "Nothing Comes,"

and their music has some spiritual themes.

- Okay. Who would you be going with?

- I don't think you know them--Justin Booth

and Franklin Hauser?

They're juniors, so they can give me a ride to the show.

- I think that should be fine, but let me just--

let me just talk with your dad before I let you know, okay?

- Okay.

- Night. - Goodnight.

[ music ] [ phone ringing ]

- Hi, Daddy, it's Katiebug.

It's okay.

I know you have really important things to do.

I know the fair is Saturday. Do you think we could go?

Thanks, Daddy.

She's putting everyone to bed.

I love you too, Daddy.

- Okay, turn it off. - Okay.

- Put it up. - Okay.

- Now here you go.

So I wanna talk to you about the things that you said

to your little sister today.

- I was just kidding with her.

- Honey, it's--it's not kidding if you tell her

that I'm not her real mommy.

- Well, you're not. That's what you told me.

- Well, I'm not her birth mom, yes, but I am her real mommy.

God her planned for our family before she was even born.

- Well, why didn't he put her in your tummy?

God just has different plans sometimes, that's all.

Look, sweetie, I know that having a sister can be very,

very frustrating, but Faith needs you

to be a good big brother.

- Well, me and her don't even like the same things.

- Well, that's okay.

Maybe you can help her with things, you know?

You could maybe teach her cursive, because you're really good at your letters.

Or you could show her games on your iPad, or maybe show her

pictures and tell her stories about our family.

- I can show her the place in the garage Dad put

a hole in the wall when we were moving in.

- [ laughs ] Yes--yeah, you could--you could definitely

show her that.

You know what you need to do first, though?

- What?

- You need to tell her that you're very sorry and ask her

to forgive you for the things you said.

Do you remember how to do that?

What do you say first?

- I say "sorry."

- You say, "I'm sorry for--"

- I'm sorry for what I said.

I was wrong.

Will you-- - Will you please forgive me?

And then what do you do?

- Then I give her a hug.

- [ laughs ] Perfect.

We'll do that first thing in the morning, okay?

- Okay. - Night, little buddy.

- Good night, Mom. - Sleep good.

Alice: Josh, your shoes are by the door, hurry up!

Sweetie, we gotta leave in five minutes.

I've got an appointment at the office at 9:00.

Is your lunch almost packed?

- [ distracted ] Almost.

- Who are you texting this early in the morning?

- It's a friend. - And her name is?

- His name is Adam, Lauren's older brother.

- Hey, Adam can wait five minutes until your lunch

is packed and we are in the car.

- Hey, hey. Morning, baby.

How you doing?

Did you sleep good? Did you sleep good?

Did you sleep good? [ laughter ]

Hey, sweetheart.

- Hi, Dad. - Hey, baby, I gotta run.

Um, I know I said I'd pick up the kids later,

but I'm--I'm probably gonna have to work late.

- Babe--

I know. I'm finishing it, though, so this'll be

the last time for a while.

- Yeah, well, you said that last weekend.

- I mean it today.

- Okay. Well, just be off tomorrow.

The girls are counting on you.

- Oh--I wouldn't miss the fair with my girls.

You excited? - Yeah!

- Faith is coming?

- Yeah--Dad and the girls at the fair.

It's gonna be great.

What do you think, Faith?

You think we should get Kate to ride the teacups with us?

- Yeah.

- You up for-- - You know what, you guys

can just go ride the teacups together.

Um, I'm gonna just go with some friends from school.

It's probably a better idea anyway.

Mom, I'll be in the car.

- What's that about?

- Teacups?

- She loves teacups.

- Do you realize that she is 12 now?

Faith, come on. Let's go.

Josh, we're in the car!

[ music ]

[ birds singing ]

[ ring tone ]

- Yeah, I had them checked yesterday, they said they're fine.

Yep, spare too.

Yeah, I know. We can Skype.

I'll be home in like 11 weeks.

Mm-hmm. [ water pouring ]

All right, you too--see ya.

- Was that Dad?

- Mm--yep.

- You know, he tried to take an later flight so he could be here.

- No big deal--he was here for the party last night.

- Yeah, well, I can't believe that they wouldn't let him

miss a meeting so that he could be here to see

his firstborn son off to college.

- Mom, it's no big deal.

- Hey--you need help with your stuff?

- Got it.

- You know, your dad and I keep thinking that Dunwood ia mistake.

You had your choice of a dozen schools.

I--I don't see why you had to pick the most extreme.

- Mom, look, I know this is hard for you, letting go--

but you've done your job. You raised me, okay?

I stayed out of trouble, I got the grades,

I got the full scholarship, tuition, room and board.

You did good, okay.

- Where do you want these?

- Um, passenger seat.

[ music ]

Hey, are you looking through all my stuff?

- I was just looking at your baby picture, and--

- It's just a book, okay?

I mean, you--you can't really know what you believe

until you've read all the sides.

And he teaches at Dunwood?

- I'm not gonna do this again with you, okay?

The decision is made.

Classes start on Thursday.

Would you let it go?

- Ronnie, what are you-- - Mom, let it go.

- Okay.

Do you have your registration and everything

in your glove compartment?

- That belongs to Matt. He put it there the other night.

He just asked me to keep it for a few days.

- And you were just going to drop it off by his house

on your way out on Monday morning?

- Exactly, so--

- You are not leaving this driveway with drugs in your car.

Do you have any more of this stuff in here?

[ music ]

- Are you done?

- When your father finds out about this--

Yeah, okay, whatever. [ laughs ]

[ sighs ] Hey, you guys know where to find me, all right?

Look me up sometime.

Reed Hall--room 517.

[ engine starts ]

Bye, Mom. [ door alarm chime ]

Close the door.

[ music ]

- Ronnie--Ronnie!

[ music ]

Katie: I had fun, Mike.

- I did too, Katie.

- Uh, I should probably go before my parents

suspect anything.

- Oh--just stay a little while longer.

- I don't know, I just don't wanna get caught.

- Your parents are probably in bed.

- Uh, yeah.

- Come on.

- I just--I should probably go.

- You know he hasn't lost his phone.

He just doesn't wanna talk to us.

- It's been three days.

He'll cool off and call us back.

- Yeah, well, I think he's an atheist,

and it's not just about the book.

- He's a teenager, he's confused. [ distant shouting ]

I read all kinds of books when I was his age.

- [ distant screaming ] Help!

- You hear that?

- Hon, should I-- should I call the police?

[ suspenseful music ] - No, I'll check it out.

- [ distant shouting ] Mike, let go!

Let go! You're hurting my arm!

Please--ugh!

Charlie: Hey!

[engine revving, tires squealing]

Hey!

Kate!

[crying, gasping]

What happened? You all right?

- I'm fine.

- You okay? Who was that? - Yes, I'm fine.

- Who was that? Did he hurt you?

Hey, look at me--are you okay? - Yeah.

- Are you okay? - Yes, I'm fine--Dad--

- No, you're not. - Yes [ crying ]

Come here, come here. [ panting ]

[ crying ]

[ footsteps ]

- Honey? What's going on?

Katie?

Katie, what are you doing out?

- Sit down. - What is going on?

- Sit down. Answer your mother.

- Kate? - I snuck out on a date.

- What else? - Excuse me?

- What else happened?

She snuck out on a date with a boy who pushed her out of his car.

- He did what?

Who is this person? What--

- You don't know him.

- Oh, I'm gonna know him.

- That is not what I asked, missy.

Who is he?

Katherine.

- His name--his name is Mike. He's in college.

- College? Child upstairs: Mommy, I need water.

- Katie, he's in college? [ coughing ]

Katie, I am not happy about this. - I need medicine.

- We're not through. Come on. Where's your cup? [ coughing ]

I had your medicine right by your bed. Did you not take it?

- This isn't the first time you've done this, is it?

- No.

- Well, it's the last time.

You're grounded.

Your mom and I will talk about for how long.

- Typical.

- What did you say?

- Look, Mike's a good guy.

This is the first time anything has happened.

- Good guys don't push people out of their car, Katie.

- Yeah, well, I can take care of myself.

- Really? Like tonight?

- Yeah. - Well done.

- Like tonight, and like every other night

when you're at "work" and Mom's at home taking care of Faith

and Josh by herself. I'm fine.

I picked you up off the sidewalk, Kate!

Does that sound "fine" to you?

- You know what, this is going nowhere.

Sit down! - Look, can you just leave me alone!

- I'm not done talking to you! - Just leave me alone! Ugh!

[ distant arguing ]

[ somber music ] [ arguing, door slams ]

Charlie: How come I didn't know about this boy?

- Because we've been giving her space.

I feel like all I've heard for the past two years--

"Mom, gimme space."

- Yeah, well, look where "space" got us.

How did I not...

- We need help, Charlie.

- I can fix this.

- Okay, then. What's your plan?

- I'm gonna spend some time with her.

Some one-on-one time, some real time, with Kate.

And the other kids.

I can, you know, really make an effort, which I haven't.

But I can cut back.

- Babe, we've tried that.

Please, we need something that's gonna last more than two weeks.

- It will. I'm serious.

- Honey, the only reason that Kate is still here

is because she is too young to leave.

She's gonna brush you off just like she does me.

She wants less of us in her life, not more.

Honey, we have got to get help.

We have two more coming up after her, and she's following

right after Ronnie, and they're gonna follow right after her.

- He started drifting away and--and doing his own thing,

and I just thought it was normal young adolescence stuff.

- I know our jobs as parents is to make sure our kids

are well taken care of and-- and keep them out of trouble, right?

- Yeah. - Teresa and I began to realize that maybe we had

our priorities all wrong.

Look, we were looking at the spiritual development

of our children as only a part of their lives,

but not the centerpiece.

Man, we cared about more about how they acted than we did

about teaching them what loving and trusting

and walking with Jesus every day looks like.

What they learned from us was how to stay away from sin.

Don't mess up, and if you do, don't--don't--don't tell anybody

or else you'll be in big trouble.

Man, we taught them how to hide their sin

rather than confess it.

They never saw us confessing anything.

- I can't get my kids to talk to me, let alone confess anything, so--

- Here is your catfish and fries for you,

and catfish and slaw for you.

You guys need anything else?

- We're good, thank you. - Okay, enjoy.

- Teresa and I were talking the other night,

and she thinks that--WE think that maybe it'd be a good idea

for the, uh, four of us to get together

and go to that new parenting series at church.

- I just--

- I know--I know we'll probably be the oldest ones in the group, all right?

But it can't hurt to sit in on a few sessions, now can it?

[ exhales ]

- Okay.

- Yeah? - Yeah, I'll do it, let's do it.

- Good. Good.

Now--now can you pray over the food so I can eat my catfish, please?

- Sure. [ laughter ]

God, thank you for the food, and for friends,

and our kids.

- Thanks for doing this.

- Hey! - Excuse me.

[ low chatter ]

Host: Okay, come on in. It's getting started.

We wanna welcome you to the Art of Parenting

video series, presented by FamilyLife.

Here's what the schedule's gonna look like.

We're gonna watch a video for about a half an hour--

- Hey--here we go. Host: take some notes, and we'll break out

into some mini-sessions.

I think most parents in America say, "I want my kis

to be happy," and/or "I want them to be successful."

Woman on video: And I feel like, oh my gosh, that's not good enough.

Happiness is just an emotion that comes and goes.

Man on video: What does happiness look like?

Um, it's kinda difficult to answer.

[ music ]

[ music ]

[ music fades ]

- Kate, can you come down here for a minute?

- Yeah. Uh, one sec.

Yeah, what's up?

- Have a seat.

Okay. [ clears throat ]

Well, your mom and I, um, have come

to realize that our faith and believing in God needs to be

more than just going to church on Sundays or praying

before we go to sleep.

That God doesn't just need to be a part of our life,

but that he needs to be the center of it.

- What does that mean?

- That's a good question, and honestly, um, we're still

trying to figure that out too.

- Well, I think for most of our marriage we have--we've tried

to do the right thing, and we figured that if we were--we were

doing that, if everything was going okay,

that--that we were on track.

- Yeah, we--we just--we thought we just had to do our best,

and turn to God when things aren't working or you get stuck.

But that's not the way it is.

We've been learning a lot about this book-The Bible--

and that this is what God wants us to spend time in every day,

so that we can learn more about him.

This is how he teaches us about himself,

and this is how we learn his plan for us.

Jesus said that we-- we need God's word

more than we need food. - Nuh-uh.

- Yeah. yeah, I know--it's--it's-- it's hard to believe, but it's true.

You know, our souls hunger for these words the way

that our body hungers for food.

I want us, as a family, to start spending time every single day

reading the bible together.

- I try to read my bible sometimes, but there's a lot

of words in there that I don't know what they mean.

- [ laughter ] I under-- you know, there's a lot of words

in here that I don't know what they mean either.

But I bet if we dive in together, we can figure it out.

Okay? I tell you what.

Why don't we start-- why don't we start now?

Go get your bibles and we'll dive in and just read

a few versus, and--and-- and go from there, okay?

Go ahead.

Well, we'll see if this does any good.

- Hon, you're doing great.

We just have to remember that our job is to be faithful.

Change is up to God.

- Yeah.

[ music playing ] [knocking]

Charlie: Hey, you got a minute?

- Mm-hmm.

- Kate, I messed up.

Um, I haven't been as involved in your life

as I should have been.

You have grown into a beautiful young woman,

and somewhere along the way I quit being your dad.

[ music ]

You know, when you were little, I knew what to do.

We would go get ice cream, I'd just push you on the swing

while you said, "Higher, Daddy, higher."

And then you stopped wanting to go to the park, you know?

And I guess I just--I starting thinking maybe my job was over.

That was wrong.

That was really wrong.

[ music ]

You were on that sidewalk the other night

because of me.

I wasn't here for you, and I stopped protecting you.

Will you forgive me?

I'm so sorry.

- I forgive you, Dad. [ crying ]

[ music swells ]

I have something to say to you too.

- Okay.

- Um...

I'm sorry I snuck out with Mike.

I knew that it was wrong, but I just--it was nice

to have a guy paying attention to me, making me feel special.

I know it caused you guys a lot of stress.

Can you forgive me too?

- Of course.

Buds?

- Buds. - Pals?

- Pals. - BFFs?

- Okay, nobody says that anymore.

[ laughter ]

- What do they say now?

- Uh, I don't know, like, "Dudes."

I don't know. - Dudes?

- Don't call me that.

- Ice cream date?

- Mm. - What do you think?

- I'll have to check my calendar.

- Gotta check your calendar--okay.

- Yeah. - Pencil me in. [ laughter ]

- Here, try this.

- Okay.

That's amazing. - Thanks.

- Yeah--no, I'm actually-- I'm really impressed.

- I still need to try it with less garlic, I think.

Or add it in earlier.

- How old are you?

- I'm ten, Dad.

- You're ten--oh, that's right, that's right.

Because you're talking like you're 35.

[ laughter ]

You know, I think we should find a way for you

to make some money doing this.

- For real? - Yeah.

- How? - Well, I have an idea.

You know how Mom goes to bible study on Monday nights

at the church? - Mm-hmm.

- What if you made dinner for the family every Monday?

- That'd be awesome!

- Yeah? Now we'd have to plan ahead, make sure

you have what you need. - Okay.

- But I'm thinking if you cook for everybody and then

you clean everything up, I'd be willing to give you

five dollars a week to do that.

- How about $10 a week?

- [ laughs ] Are you negotiating with me already?

- Yeah. - No, no, no, no--

I'm gonna stick at five.

- Okay. - For now.

But if you made extra, then we could take some

to Mr. McBride from church as well.

I bet he'd love to have a meal cooked from you. Okay?

- Mm-hmm. - That sound good?

- Yeah. - Yeah? Are you excited?

- Yeah.

- Okay. Keep going, I wanna--eat more.

- Good, man.

Number five: What have you done to show your children

that they are special and unconditionally loved?

- Hm--well, I been spending some time with Josh,

helping him with his cooking.

He's pretty good.

- How's it been for you?

- Hard--at first.

You know, he, um, I guess I never really looked

at cooking as something that men did.

But I--I am learning that I can't make him

what I want him to be.

- Well, how's it been for him?

- He's--he's really opening up.

It's been really good.

[ music ]

- What are you working on?

- Katie's Arrow. - Hm.

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You're not gonna--you're not gonna copy off of my work.

- Thought we were supposed to do this together.

- Uh, ultimately, yes, but I would really--I think that we

should each do our own first draft.

And I see what you're--I see what you're doing here.

- Whatever--whatever you come up with, I'll be so fine with.

- Mm-hmm, yes, but that's-- you're not gonna get

outta your homework that easy.

- Gosh, you're no fun. - I'm fun sometimes.

Alice: I wrote that she's considerate and sensitive,

and something that I wanna work on her with

is cultivating a sense of belonging.

Charlie: I have that Faith is inventive and persistent.

Alice: That she is. Charlie: She is.

♪ Oh, it's the most important battle we will fight ♪

♪ We've gotta give 'em more than words ♪

♪ Let's give our lives ♪

♪ Oh, it takes patience, it takes courage, it takes heart ♪

♪ We may be broken, but it's not too late to start ♪

♪ Pray on through this crazy life ♪

♪ Then watch them fly straight to ♪

♪ The target that we're aiming for--it's you ♪

♪ The target that we're aiming for is you ♪

-- Okay. Science, though--mm.

♪ To the ends of the earth they will take this life ♪

- I'm not gonna let a video teach you how to tie a tie.

♪ Like a torch that's burning through the darkest night ♪

♪ Lift them up, pull back the bow ♪

♪ Say a prayer and let 'em go like arrows... ♪

- Oh, thank you very much, appreciate it.

- You're welcome. Have a good afternoon.

- I have some news for you.

- [ gasps ] Kate--Kate, oh my goodness!

Honey!

- I know, isn't it beautiful? - It's beautiful.

[ kitchen chatter ]

Josh: Yes, sir.

♪ Like a torch that's burning through the darkest night ♪

- There you go--yeah, there you go.

A little higher, a little higher--right there.

There it is--there you go, very nice. Good job, Josh.

♪ To the ends of the earth they will take this life ♪

♪ Like a torch that's burning through the darkest night ♪

♪ Send them off like arrows ♪

[ music ]

- So, uh, your handsome son is nowhere to be found,

so I guess you have to call me in on my day off?

- Kenneth!

- How's it going?

- It's good. No, Josh actually is doing all of the food

for the wedding.

- Is that right? - That's right.

- [ laughs ] That's great.

- He's just making pasta, but he's very excited about it.

- Yeah, you know, he's always been the best cook

out of both of our families.

I don't know why I didn't see that.

Don't tell Teresa, though. - [ laughs ] Okay.

- I heard you got three summers left with him.

- Not enough time, if you ask me.

- Zero left with Kate. - Thank you.

- [ laughs ] Well, you--at least you got two extra summers

out of it with her.

- God has restored beyond repair.

- That, heh, is his specialty.

- You're telling me. - [ laughter ]

[ music ]

- Hey, sweetheart. - Hey. Get everything unload?

- Unloaded, set up--looks good.

- Thanks.

- Hey, I wanna show you something.

Kate was the one who found it.

- Is that Ronnie?

Who's the little guy?

Is that-- - He looks just like you.

- [ voice cracking ] Is that his?

[ sighs ]

[ hoarsely ] He has a son.

Well, what else do you know besides this picture?

- Kate was looking around, and, um, from what she could tell

it looked like Ronnie didn't even know

he was a dad in--until, like, a couple weeks ago.

Looks like the mom dropped the little guy off with him at his place.

- Where's that?

- Someplace in Oregon.

- Did you call? Did you call him?

- Yeah, I left a message. - What'd you say?

- Nothing--nothing out of the ordinary.

You know, I didn't--I didn't let on, uh, that I had seen

a picture or anything.

Hon, are you okay?

[ hoarsely ] I have a grandson.

[ sniffing ]

We're grandparents.

- Those are the only pictures that we have.

- Any reason to think that he'll be--

is he gonna be there at the wedding, do you think?

- No. No, I--I don't think so.

[ music ]

[ sniffs ]

[ sighs ]

- Father...

[ sniffs ] we pray for our-- we pray for our boy.

We don't know where he is, Father, but you do.

And God, we thank you for the blessing of a grandson.

A grandson.

And we pray that you will protect him from any harm

or evil that may come his way.

God, somehow--

[ whispering ]

Somehow, that he will come to know you at a young age.

That he will learn to love you and to walk with you

and to trust you with his whole life.

Father, we pray again for our boy, Ronnie, Father.

[ hoarsely ] My boy.

Bring him home, Father. Bring him home.

Help him see the folly of his sin, Father, and the reality

of your love, and the reality of our love.

It's in your son's name we pray.

Amen.

We have a grandson! [ laughter ]

Oh! Oh!

[ voicemail greeting ] Uh, hey, this is Ronnie.

I can't get to the phone right now. - Honey--

[ voicemail greeting ] Leave me a message.

-Honey, if you're gonna talk to the bride, you need to go do it now.

- I don't think he's coming.

[ music ]

- Just remember, you're on the left, he's on the right. [ laughs ]

- Come here. Mm.

- I'm not supposed to be touching your dress.

- It's okay.

Listen.

Today is a big day for Daddy.

He probably won't show it, but on Monday, when you guys

are back at home and I'm not there, he'll probably

try to act like he's not sad.

But he'll be sad--a little sad.

He only has one little girl at home now, and that's you.

- But I'm not a little girl anymore.

- You are to him.

Even though you're 13, he's still gonna need

those hugs from you.

He needs to know you haven't gotten too cool for him, okay?

- Mm-hmm. [ laughter ]

And when you get to be my age, and you meet a cute boy,

just like Rick, who loves Jesus, and he asks you to marry him,

you make sure you get Daddy's blessing before you run off

and get married.

And remember, whoever you marry has to wanna live

no more than 30 miles from Mom and Dad.

- Really?

[ knocking ]

- [ laughter ] I'm kidding. But help your dad.

- Ladies?

Excuse me, miss--um, have you seen my daughter Kate anywhere?

[ laughter ]

No, no, no, this can't-- this can't be her.

This is an angel.

You look gorgeous.

- Thank you, Daddy.

- Hey, um, Faith, can you give us a minute?

Why don't you go see if you can help Mommy?

Okay.

Are you ready for all this?

Because we can call this thing off right now.

- Dad, Dad--

So Ronnie--I don't think he's-- - Dad, I know. It's okay.

We'll just keep praying for them--for both of them now.

- Kate, I just--I wanted to--

- Dad, I'm not going to let this steal the joy of this day,

and you shouldn't either.

- Hey--sorry to interrupt.

Kate, honey, they need you out front before the guests arrive.

- Tell them I'll be right there.

- No, you go.

- You sure? - Yeah, we can talk later.

- Everything look okay, Mom?

- You look perfect, honey.

Come on, I'll walk you out.

- Love you. - Love you too.

Love you too.

[ music ]

[ congregation murmuring ]

- I love you, Daddy. It's okay.

- Phew. I love you so much, Katie.

Charlie: Katherine Grace Morris, now Katherine Grace Johnson,

is a testament to the saving grace and mercy

of our lord Jesus Christ.

Having received this blessing from the Lord 20 years ago,

I have faithfully taught her to love God with all of her heart,

soul, and strength.

Katherine has proved herself to honor God and authority,

to live responsibly, to hunger and thirst for righteousness,

to be a proper helpmeet,

to seek reconciliation and forgive quickly,

to obey the Lord and all His holy will.

I hereby give thanks and praise to God for this blessing,

[ voice cracking ] and in the presence of our Lord,

I declare to God be the glory.

I also declare that on this day, Katherine Grace Johnson

I know--given to me by God as an arrow in my quiver,

is hereby released into the world,

now in the hands

and the direction of her husband,

on mission for the Lord, by the Lord,

and of the Lord, to make a difference for him

and our generation.

May she be the mother of tens of thousands, and her legacy

continually bless future generations

for the glory of God.

Amen.

[ music ]

I love you.

- [ voice cracking ] I love you too, Daddy.

And I got my eye on you. [ laughter ]

[ phone ringing ]

[ automated voice ] Incoming call.

[ phone ringing ]

- Ronnie, it's Kate again.

Just calling to see if you're going to make it

to Mom and Dad's 50th next week or not.

I talked to your son Tim and he and Elizabeth are coming.

Ronnie, listen--you don't want to get a voicemail

at some point and learn that one of them is gone

and--and you never-- I don't know.

Just come, okay?

[ music ]

- What in the world have you done? [ laughs ]

- My internationally acclaimed strawberry French toast.

Made from an old family recipe that I dug up online

about 20 minutes ago. - [ laughter ]

- I bet the kitchen is a disaster.

- Ah, in a half-hour it will be spotless.

- No, I'll take care of it once I eat this beautifl breakfast.

Your son would be so proud.

- [ laughs ] Josh would be surprised that I can cook

anything for breakfast besides Pop Tarts.

- Do they still make those things?

- I have no idea.

Well anyway, this looks a lot better than Pop Tarts.

Whatever inspired you to make me such a special breakfast?

- I have no idea.

I was just sitting at the kitchen table, reading Joshua 9.

- Oh, is that so?

- Happy 50th--to the only woman I've ever loved.

- Oh, my Charlie.

[ tearfully ] You're the only man I've ever loved.

- Well, you should go ahead and eat before, uh,

my world-famous French Toast gets cold.

- [ laughs ] Okay. Mm.

[ music ]

- That looks great, guys.

Let's put it out the first 30 or so.

We'll ice the rest of them, and pull them out of the fridge as needed.

- Okay. - All right.

[ music ]

Girl: Is that her? [ laughter ]

- Hooray, you're here. - Hello.

- Oh, Faith, it is so good to see you.

- You too.

- Oh. And you guys are so grown up!

- Say hello to your Aunt Kate.

- Hello. - Hi, Auntie.

- Hello Aunt Kate! - Oh.

- When we're done, we're gonna put all these in the freezer.

Dad! Hey, it's good to see you.

- Hi, honey. - Hi, Mom. Oh, you look great.

- Aw, thank you. - Look at all this food.

Josh, we could feed everybody for a month with all this.

- Well, we're gonna have some leftovers,

but that's no problem, we'll take care of it.

- I think you may have gone over the budget that I gave you.

- Well, actually, uh, we are far under budget.

This is my gift to you guys.

- Oh, Josh-- - Yeah.

- Now, son, I--

- No, no--listen, how often does a caterer get to serve

his parents on their 50th anniversary?

Now Dad, I know you did something special

for Mom, right?

- He brought me breakfast in bed this morning.

- Oh, really? That's impressive. Cornflakes?

- I'll have you know I made Strawberry French Toast.

And your mom gave the meal a 10.

- [ softly ] I gave it an A for effort.

[ laughter ]

I really think the reason he cooked for me this morning

was because he knew he was gonna be accountable to you today.

- Not so. Not so.

[ laughter ]

[ music ]

[ chime ] - Ronnie's calling.

[ chime ] Ronnie?

- Hey, sis.

[ clears throat ] Um...

I missed the first flight but got on a follow-on.

Sorry I missed your calls.

- But you're on your way?

- Yeah, I'll be there.

Kate on speaker: Ronnie?

- Yeah--Kate, I'm sorry that--

- Don't mind any of that.

Uh, today it's about Mom and Dad.

I haven't even told them you're coming yet.

- I'll surprise 'em.

- Okay. I'll see you soon. [ chime ]

[ music ]

[ chatter ]

Charlie: It wouldn't have been the same without you.

Kenneth: Hey. Charlie: You guys fly or drive?

Kenneth: Well, we ended up flying.

Flying ain't what it was 10 years ago.

Charlie: Better or worse?

- Have you seen him?

- Rick's waiting for him at the door.

We should probably get started soon.

These kids aren't gonna last all night.

- Yeah, you're probably right.

- I'll get Dad to do the blessing.

Okay, thanks.

- Cold out there.

- Hey--Ronnie? I'm Rick. I'm Kate's husband.

- Guess I missed the dinner?

- [ laughs ] Trust me, there's plenty of food left over.

Everyone's inside and they're just now starting

to share their tributes, so come on.

- Um, listen, I--I don't wanna interrupt what's going on.

Is there a place where I can listen in

without all of a sudden being the center of attention?

- [ laughs ] I'm way ahead of you--got the perfect spot picked out.

- So in honor of your amazing 50 years together,

your children decided to take a minute and let you know

just how much you mean to us.

We thought it best to find a way to preserve

our thoughts for you.

Kate: We decided to go in age order from youngest to oldest.

And this is what Faith wrote.

[ music ]

- Mom and Dad, I have had many years to think of what my life

might have been if you two had not made me

part of a forever family.

I've read about the lives of the children

who spend their childhood in orphanages.

Chen and I know firsthand that even the best orphanages

can never give a child all the things you gave me.

Your whole life was about giving to our family.

You gave us so much.

But today, I wanna thank you for the three most

important things you gave me.

First, you gave me the gift of security.

As a child, I knew that whatever happened in my day,

even if it was a pesky, bratty brother tormenting me [ laughter ]

I would always have a mom and dad

that would show me unconditional love.

I remember the time when I was eight, when I packed

my little suitcase and I told you I was moving back to China.

I remember you telling me, Mom, that you would leave my room

the way it was, just in case things

didn't work out for me in China.

That's all I really wanted to hear.

I never made it out the door.

I had a home.

You gave me a place to belong, and a family to belong to.

When people who could tell I looked different

from my siblings would ask how long I'd been in the family,

I remember you telling them, Dad,

that God had determined I would be a Morris long before

any of us were born.

Even when I struggled with my identity as a teenager,

you kept reminding me of what is true--that my identity

isn't found in the color of my skin, or the city

where my birth parents lived.

You taught me that my true identity is as a child of God.

[ tearful ] And that's the third gift you gave me...

[ music ]

You gave me the gift of a living faith.

You made sure we were all in church.

You were, Dad, you were faithful to read

the bible to us. [ sniffs ]

But the loudest sermon I heard growing up was the one

both of you preached by the way you walked.

I learned what it looks like to believe in God and walk with him

every day by watching how you walked with him.

I know my siblings were stunned when they found out

that their adopted sister was actually

your favorite child. [ laughter ]

But I wasn't surprised at all.

I knew it was true.

So thank you, for all the gifts you've given me.

Chen and I pray that heritage you've given us

will become a mighty legacy that will live

for generations, through our children

and our children's children.

I love you, Mom and Dad.

Your daughter forever, Faith.

[ music ]

- Well, I originally was going to title mine

"A Tribute from your Favorite Child."

But, uh, I didn't wanna crush Faith with the truth,

so I ended up calling it "Here's to my Imperfect

but Faithful Parents, from your very imperfect son."

In the bible, the apostle Paul said, "I am who I am

by the grace of God."

And I can say the same, except I have a second part

to that phrase--I am who I am by the grace of God,

and because of the faithfulness of my mom and d.

My parents learned early that their third-born was stubborn

and strong-willed.

Dad, I remember you used to love telling people

that when I was a child I drew a circle around myself

and called myself the Lord of the Ring.

But we both knew that there was more truth there

than either of us wanted to admit.

But I think the biggest lesson I learned from you as you tried

to redirect all my rambunctious impulses was that in the end,

people matter more than things.

Relationships matter more than always having to be right.

And love matters most.

And you both taught me that by how you faithfully loved

your sometimes hard-to-love son.

[ voice cracking ] So in the end, that will be your legacy,

and there could be no greater legacy

than a legacy of faithful love.

I love you two very much.

"Your son, Josh."

[ music ]

- I'm proud of you, Son. - I know, Dad. Thank you.

Alice: You make it sound harder than it was.

- Your memory's failing you, Mom.

[ laughter ]

- So I decided not to include in my tribute about being

the favorite child, because you know, that was our secret.

[ laughter ] And I know how to keep a secret.

So Faith and Josh, I am sure you are really

the favorite children.

My tribute is called "My Two Moms and Dads."

When I was 15, I got a new mom and dad.

My--my old mom and dad, um, they were loving and kind,

caring and gentle.

My new mom and dad, um, well, they were also loving and kind,

but I didn't realize it at the time.

I, in fact, didn't care for my, uh, new parents all that much.

They, uh, put new boundaries in place.

They said no to things that they normally said yes to.

But there was something about this new set of parents.

They, uh, didn't rattle easy.

They had an inner peace.

They had new priorities.

And they calmly and quietly went about reshaping our family,

and in that process they showed me what it means to live my life

in Jesus, instead of trying to find a place for Jesus

in my life.

Mom and Dad, I can't express to you how grateful I am

for all the fun times, the love, memories, and most of all,

the model that you showed me how to walk humbly with your God.

I love you. "Your daughter, Kate."

Alice: That was beautiful.

[ music ]

- Well, before we cut the cake, there's something

I wanna say about it.

Uh, we wanted to do something very special

for Mom and Dad...

- Josh, I realize I'm kinda late--here tonight.

Like about, uh, 30-some-odd years late.

And Kate said something, uh, about tributes

when I talked to her last.

I guess I probably didn't listen all that carefully to her.

That's been an issue, uh, of mine over the years,

not listening to what other people were telling me.

Oh, but I don't wanna take the spotlight off

where it belongs-- on Mom and Dad.

Um, I think I remember

reading once,

"Hear, my son...

"your father's instructions...

"and forsake not...

"your mother's teaching.

[ music ]

Back then, I didn't listen, uh, to--well, to much of anything,

other than my own perceived intelligence and upperclassmen,

or my instructors, whose approval I was craving

at the time.

Um, I am glad that my own son Tim and his wife Elizabeth

are able to be here today.

I guess it's about time that they met y'all,

and you all met them.

Uh, especially since Tim has just taken a new job at Fort Mill.

And son, I'm--

glad--

that you're gonna finally get a chance

to meet your grandmother and grandfather,

and get to--know them.

I should have, years ago.

[ music ]

[ chatter ]

- Night, guys.

Mom, what are you doing?

I have someone coming on Monday to do this.

It's your anniversary.

- Well, I'm just rinsing a few dishes.

You know me, I can't leave a dirty kitchen.

- [ sigh ] Okay, I know I'm not gonna win an argument with you.

- Mm-hmm.

- Are you okay?

- Mm-hmm. Ronnie's gonna stay at the house.

This is a good thing?

- Yeah, it's good. It's really good.

- Okay. Well, listen, if you're gonna do dishes, then, uh,

you need to do 'em right.

- Oh. [ laughter ]

- We're about to head home.

I just wanted to say goodbye, and how thankful we both

are to finally get to meet you and Grandpa.

- Well, you just don't know. Oh.

- You two have no idea how thrilled your grandma and I

are that you're gonna be moving just right down the road in Fort Mill.

We're gonna have to have you over.

- Mm-hmm.

- Better yet, we need to give you two a night off

and get to know your kids better.

- Yes.

- Wow, that's very kind of you--thank you.

- Truth is, I have so many questions I'd love to ask you.

Sometimes I just don't know what to do with the little ones.

- Oh, honey, I understand.

When Ronnie was born, I was so scared.

I didn't have a clue what I was doing.

Bye bye. Say "bye." [ baby babbling ]

Bye bye.

[ music ]

- So they took the baby Jesus and they wrapped him

in swaddling clothes, and they laid him in a manger.

[ laughs ] What are you doing?

Tell them the story.

- Now, there were shepherds abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And suddenly, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,

and they were so afraid.

The angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy."

[ music ]