Press Week, as we call it, is always an exciting time at The Christian Chronicle.

Our assistant managing editor, Erik Tryggestad, spent the first part of the week in Southern California, reporting on church relief efforts after the recent wildfires.

However, Erik’s absence didn’t really affect me or the production of the Chronicle too much.

Laptop computers, e-mail and cell phones being what they are, Erik can do his job as masterfully from 1,350 miles away as he can from the office next door.

I was jealous that Erik got to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and spend time at Pepperdine University, that slice of heaven in Malibu that must rank as the most beautiful college campus in America.

But the staff member’s absence that really threw a monkey wrench into my week was that of the Chronicle’s online editor, Tamie Ross.

Tamie flew to Honduras to work on a future feature on medical missions and left me to care for her three children.

Granted, my name is on all three of their birth certificates, too.

But these kids — Brady, 14; Keaton, 10; and Kendall, 8 — really need a mother.

You’d be surprised at how often kids that age are accustomed to eating. In the case of my children, I learned that my wife has conditioned them to expect a minimum of three meals. That’s every day, mind you.

When Tamie is home, I usually do the dishes, which is to say that I spray them off and stick them in the dishwasher. That’s one small miracle that God granted my wife at some point along the way of our 17-year marriage.

Generally speaking, though, Tamie decides the menu and cooks the meals. Under extreme conditions, I can make chili or spaghetti, but I try to avoid such circumstances.

Therefore, with the knowledge that my wife would be away for five nights, I faced a dilemma: Eat out every meal or do the responsible thing and cook at home.

Devoted father that I am, I enlisted my children’s help and input in making this important decision. Suffice it to say that we enjoyed Pizza Hut on Monday night, Wendy’s on Tuesday night, Arby’s on Wednesday night, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant on Thursday night and Whataburger on Friday night. (At this point, I am really hopeful that Tamie is so exhausted from her trip that she forgets to read my column this month.)

Seriously, my wife is much too accomplished a reporter for me to get away with any of what transpired in her absence.

To prove my point, here are real quotes that Tamie passed along from her extensive interviews upon her return:

• “The only vegetables eaten all week were by the guinea pigs.” — Keaton
• “It was past my bedtime and I was still up. Dad never really said anything. He just walked by and gave me a weird look.” — Brady
• “No one was here to make me comb all the tangles out of my hair every morning. Those were good times.” — Kendall
•“The worst part was having to make my lunch every morning. The best part was eating whatever I wanted for breakfast, though. One morning, I had cake and Powerade.” — Keaton
•“When was your last shower, Keaton? Was it after (insert name of TV show from a few nights before)?” — Dad, in response to a query from his wife at the airport

Kidding aside, Tamie’s trip proved professionally and personally rewarding for her. Her story will bless many Chronicle readers when it’s published.

As for the Ross children and me, we were reminded just how special a woman graces our home — and just how much we miss her when she’s gone.

Welcome home, honey.

CONTACT BOBBY ROSS JR. at bobby.ross@ christianchronicle.org. Check out his personal blog at www.therossnews.com.

Dec. 1, 2007