My Father's Retirement.....

I got a letter from my Father telling me that he was retiring.  At first, not much thought was given to the topic because I knew

this day was coming in the very near future. But as the day went on and I was thinking what this milestone in his life

meant to me.... I decided it really had much more to do with me than I thought. As the day progressed I decided to write him

a letter, this is what it said~

Dad...

Let me personally say thank you! Thank you for the hours and years of work you did on my behalf! Thank you for being a good man and supporting our family. Thank you for always having a roof over my head and food on the table. The Water District was a great job for you and allowed you to do many things and grow all along the way. I remember bringing you down Sunday dinners dozens of times and playing around the rooms and touching buttons I wasn't suppose to. I remember going with the older kids to take pictures down there and all of the many changes that have taken place with construction of the water district. I remember visiting you and thinking it was so great that you worked so close to Grandma's house. I think that always made mom feel good to know you were so close if they ever needed anything.


I sure love you dad and so very much appreciate all of the selfless hours you worked on behalf of our family. Now that I have a family of my own.... I get it! Its a hard job that is rewarding and tiring!


I hope this will give you more freedom to visit us....we would love it!!!


~~~CONGRATULATIONS~~~

I am so very thankful for these memories I was able to have about my Father's working and providing.  It has been over 23 years since I lived under his roof....so to blessed and reminded of all that he has done for me was truly a sweet tender mercy.  I am thankful for

my Dad, I love my Dad, admire and respect him. He always has sound advice for me and is always willing to talk ideas out

with me. He has taught me to be a hard-worker, care for others, to get off the bench and get into the game and one of the

biggest thing he has taught me is to think out of the box....ask questions, even uncomfortable ones and to never just believe

 what I am told, but to do the work and find out for myself!

Thanks Dad!



She's my Sister!

She's My Sister!

One rule at my home has always been....if you can't get along with your own siblings...you can't play with your friends.  Many times, I have had unhappy children because they had to stay home and play with one of their siblings.  I have always had a strong desire to raise children that liked each other...not just tolerated each other!

Well, it was around Christmas time this past year when I started noticing Makayla and Breanna were not tolerating each

other well....in fact, I am pretty sure they were not liking each other at all!  My heart breaks every time I hear a mean thing

said to each other...I knew it had gotten a little out of hand and it was time for me to step in...but how does one make

them like each other. I thought for a few days on this and came up with a plan! 

We got them into the car and told them they needed to go do some service! We told them that we were going to drop

them off at a family members home to clean. I think they would have been ok with doing some service, but the fact that we were dropping them off to do it...did not make them happy. Especially, Makayla who doesn't like to ask for ketchup at

McDonald's...she still sends her little sister to do that! I told them that I had to stop and pick up something at the mall

 real fast before we went. When we got right in front of the mall doors....we handed them an envelope each and a camera

 and said "Get out" we told them there was instructions in the envelope.  They hesistantly got out of the car and walked

into the mall.  It couldn't be too bad right....we thought we were going to clean and now we are at the mall!!!

Inside each envelope was a note with $10. The note explained how much I loved them and how I felt about

how they had been treating each other and that it was important to me that they were friends with each other. I told

them how I felt they were lifelong friends....and should treat each other better. Our sisters can be our best friends when

we grow up and realize what is important in life! Their instructions were this....

1. Pick an outfit out for the other person, try it on and take a picture in it.

2.  Take a picture of each others favorite Christmas decorations in the mall together.

3. Buy dinner for the other...something you think they would like to eat.

4.  Spend the rest of the money on the other person...such as a earrings at Claire's etc.

5.  Spend all of the money...even if you have to find someone to give it to.

6. Don't call for a ride home....until you have had fun together and are friends again!

When we picked them up...they were both happy and laughing and seemed to have had a great time!  The funny thing about the evening was that they actually both walked around the food court without each other and ended back up at the table with the same food for the other!  Breanna bought Makayla her favorite lipgloss and Makayla bought Breanna a cute wallet.

I am glad that they had a good time together and during the next few weeks....

I could really tell they were trying to get along better....

even if it was just to make me happy!  I will take it!!!!

About 4 months after this experience as we were all sitting and visiting after eating dinner...and Makayla states

 "I like our family, I mean I really like it. I like how we all can talk and get along and have fun together."

 Those are the quick moments that flee by if we don't take the time to absorb the feeling and spirit of the moment.

MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER JUST SAID SHE LIKED US!!!!

That moment may not come again....ha ha! But it is definitely these time that we can sit back for a brief moment and think...maybe I am doing something right!