More from Destin

Madeline is still talking nonstop about the "Figure 8 Pool" in Destin... it is wonderful that she will have memories of this trip. She's just getting old enough to actually remember in the future things that she did now (although right now she can recount with shocking accuracy things that happened when she was two years old... her Dad says he can remember Watergate so maybe she will... but I digress!) I also thought you might want to see a few more pics from the silly face contest :-)

First Night at the Beach

We had a wonderful vacation to Destin, Florida over the last week. My favorite part of the trip was our very first night there, when Madeline and Sophia saw the beach for the first time. This was both girl's first trip to the beach, and it would be an understatement to say that Madeline was excited! It was worth the long drive down, and every moment of stress over plans, money, etc. to see her reaction. Her happiness is obvious in the pictures - it was one of those moments that every parent lives for. All of the pictures you see in the slide show in this post are from that first night. I hope that you can get a feel for the joy that was experienced by all who were there. It was wonderful that Madeline could share that time with her Aunt, Cousin, Parents and Grandparents - although I think it was really us who shared that moment with her, because she was in her own world!

Fun Times, Sunny Days

On the last night of our vacation, after Mom, Dad, Rebecca and Sophia had left, Madeline and I had a silly faces contest. I think it was a tie!

My Sweetie

Who knew in October, 2001, that my Sweetie would be such a wonderful Dad! He is patient and kind, never hurtful or critical, supportive and strong as a Dad. I should have known that first week when I dropped Madeline's baby bath thing (with her in it) and he came bounding down the stairs in panic, that he was going to be a fabulous Dad. As each day passes he is closer with Madeline. He does a great steam roller, and makes her belly laugh. He teaches her about infinity and wombats, and expects her to act like a lady at all times. He doesn't know the depth of the love that her little heart will hold for him one day, because he was a son, not a daughter. But I know that love (see below), and it's everlasting!

Father's Day

My Dad is one of those Dads that has everything. It is extremely difficult to come up with a good gift to buy him, because he has everything you think of already :-) But, this year I thought that perhaps what he might want most is some love from his girls. So, I sat down and thought of 25 things that I love about my Dad. Some of these things only he will understand, but most of them probably apply to your Dad, too. Here's the list, which by no means covers everything, and is in no particular order:

1. Big Bear Hugs
2. Good advice, whether I want it or not!
3. He ALWAYS loves me, no matter what
4. His encouragement
5. The Box
6. You can count on him to get things done - fast
7. "I always have time for my daughter"
8. How hard he worked to provide for us
9. How he loves his Grandkids (he wears Cat in the Hat hats!)
10. He taught us that we had to work for what we got
11. That he cared enough to provide discipline
12. He took us to every historical site he could find
13. He loved us enough to take us along to all of those conventions.
14. Willie Punkslunt, "sit on your fist and lean back on your thumb", and "get out of my face!" (forgive me Dad, I had to put the last one in)
15. Seeing him at work - he's AMAZING
16. How he loves a sad song
17. His love for our country
18. He wasn't satisfied until we did our best
19. He understands me - we are two peas in a pod!
20. He is a great example of what a great man/husband/Dad should be
21. He didn't let us win at board games (you can't win all of the time)
22. He made me feel beautiful when other boys didn't
23. He has rules and lives by them
24. He will always help, any time, any place
25. Did I say HE LOVES ME?

I love you, Dad. You are one of the three men who have loved and supported me most - you, Grandpa Asher and Steven. You could not have been a better Father! Have a great day!

Flag Day

I Am Old Glory

I Am Old Glory: For more than ten score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans.
Born amid the first flames of America's fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states.
Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions.
Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.
They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.
They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men.
So long as men love liberty more than life itself; so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.


Originally written by Master Sergeant Percy Webb, USMC.

FORTY Years Ago Today

Oh my, do I feel badly right about now! My parents were married 40 years ago today. Did I remember this momentous occasion? NO! Not until I turned on the computer and saw Dad's Blog Post - (I'm not good at links - click the link in the right hand column for "Dad's Blog"). Forty years is an amazing achievement! Mom and Dad are blessed with a marriage which is still strong - it's funny sometimes to think of your parents as a "couple". This morning (before she remembered it was her anniversary) Mom and I were standing at their cabin - and she looked up and saw Dad riding up on his 4 wheeler. She got this cute little look and said "Look at him" - I realized that she thought he was a cutie :-) This morning I thought something along the lines of "how sweet" - now that I have registered what a big day today is for them her reaction hits me even more!

Did they have a big party - no. Did their too busy kids remember their day - no. But, they had a day, 40 years after they married, when they hung out with their kids and grandkids, they relaxed at their cabin at the lake, neither of them is sick with a major illness, they have never divorced (or even come close to it as far as I know), and they still love to spend time together. You really can't ask for a better 40th anniversary than that, can you?