For my Dad

Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday. I can't remember how old he is turning (Sorry Dad!) I thought I would write a little bit about him and how much he means to me. :)

Memories
When I was little, my dad was the bravest person I knew. He did things no one else I knew did. He carried big bags of Morton's salt to put on the sidewalk in the winter time. He would heat up the car before we all got in, and then he would scrape the ice off the windshield (all four sides) while we waited inside. My Dad drove me to the hospital to get the glass out of my foot,  and he made me laugh the whole way there. He would stop and buy gatorade to bring home for whatever family member was sick from church. My Dad is also a terrific piano player and he loves to sing to Jesus. When he's at church he is always carrying his bible and some sort of music book, with a pen behind his ear. I would sit in church and my dad would see that I was bored, so he would sit me on his lap and make me bounce. I would also play with the pens in his pocket. (He can attest to losing many that way!)  He used to always wear suspenders and very distinctive cologne. He carried a briefcase (and later a beeper) and set it by the door where we would play with the combination, even though he warned us not to.

My Dad today

My Dad has always worked hard for us. He has given his life to working for his kids and his family. Now he is working hard at what he wants to do, and we're so proud of him. We don't always agree, but my Dad always looks for my best interest and I can talk to him and my mom about anything. Three years ago I thought I had lost him, but God allowed him to stay here with us. I enjoy his laughter, his jokes, and his playing. I love that he is always smiling, and that he loves me as his daughter. 

Happy birthday Dad! I love you! :) From Bright Eyes

Mother's Day Tribute

I have no idea what to title this update. My life is so crazy-in both good and strange ways. Today is Mother's Day so we went to church and took my mom out to eat at Olive Garden. (So yummy!) My sister got the last piece of raspberry cheesecake after I had been talking about it the whole time we were there! O_o But the moose tie cake wasn't bad.(Skip this part is you don't want sad slash sappy) I've also made it sort of a tradition to visit my grandmother's gravesite and place a flower or two in her memory. I was thrown because my Dad and brother kept making jokes but then my mom pointed out that she would be laughing right along with us. I can't believe I didn't think of that, because I know she's right. There are things I don't remember about her that I wish I could. I can't remember what her laugh sounds like-just that she loved to laugh and she did it a lot. She also loved-all of us-more than I can even describe. I wish I could have had all four grandparents love me the way she did. I wish she was still here with us, so that I can talk to her as an adult and have real conversation. I wish she was still here to teach me things because I know she would have. But then I also think that she has been with Jesus for almost ten years and that neither one of them would want me getting angry over a few jokes or living in a constant life of regret. I appreciate my mom so much, even more now that I lost my grandma earlier than I should have. I am so blessed to have my grandma for eleven beautiful years. I am also very blessed to have both my parents and my three siblings, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins and friends who genuinely want my best interest. Happy mother's day. May your heart be filled with the light of Jesus's love to anyone you meet. :)