Turning 40....

I will post more about this wonderful adventure when I get the o.k. that all parties involved don't mind me posting about them:)  Stayed tuned!

Run! Run! Run!

My awesome niece and I participated in my first 5K run at the beginning of the year and we finished it! We did not stop to rest, we kept on running!  Yes, make fun of the outfits, but we so rocked them and the race.  Carissa's mom and I have been BFF's forever and I have known Carissa her whole life.  I will talk about them in another post - don't have time too at this moment:)  

I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life.  I look forward to many more runs and times filled with laughter:)

Hot mess!

Mommy was getting her nails done and Anistin Grace felt like she needed some pampering too!  

I am so glad that Anistin has her hand on her mouth, she is covering a huge stain on her shirt.  On her cute, gymboree shirt.  

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and we joked about how when we dress our girls in cute outfits for school, they always come home with stains.  But when we dress them in outfits that we don't mind messing up, they come home spotless!  What is up with that!?!  

Anistin attends a great child care facility and we would not trade the school, director, and teachers for the world.  I would like to mess up the not so cute outfits though:)  Anyone else in our boat?  LOL!  

Daddy's Hands

The song Daddy's Hands by Holly Dunn is only half the story of my dad's life.  He went to heaven in February of '98 and I have missed him every day since then.  I was Senior in high school when he was diagnosed with cancer and it took his life in only four short months.  I have never really opened up about him and maybe some day I will.  For now though, I will just share and reminisce.  Some of the words in the song say that "daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin' and hard as steel when I done wrong"....."they were not always gentle, but I have come to understand - there was always love".... I can tell you at the time of my consequences, I could feel the steel, but the love not so much.  Afterwards though, I did understand the love and I did understand the kindness he offered and the lessons I would pass onto my own children.  My dad was a man of few words (I did not get that from him - lol) but the lyric, "one could read quite a story in the callouses and lines," if only those lines and callouses could talk, I am sure we would all get an ear full and then some.  I know my dad was not the perfect man, but I do know that he tried and that who I am today is because of him.

With this being said, I came across some pictures of him and my grandpa.  I never knew my grandpa but as I look at pictures of him, I kind of do.  My dad was identical to him.  The way they stood, their hands and even some facial features.  My hope is that I can get more pictures and more information into a past that existed and a better understanding of my family.

These pictures are from family members and friends who have graciously shared. 

My grandpa is the one on the right holding a guitar.

Here is a picture of my dad.