Embrace the Fall: Make Lasting Memories – The Thankful Challenge

There is something wonderful about the expectation and anticipation that comes with each new season. I am always ready for the changing temperatures, the landscape’s natural redecoration, and the gathering of friends and family that go along with each season. Sometimes nature gets a little tricky, teasing and taunting us with glimpses of the next season before reminding us it’s not quite time yet. Even if it is just a glimpse, I know the new season is right around the corner. I bask in those warmer temperatures after a cold winter or find relief in the cooler temperatures after the dog days of summer.

Winter delivers the cold crisp air and the snowy (or mostly icy in NC) landscapes. Spring brings with it all the beautiful flowers and more moderate temperature (also pollen for which I am not so thankful, achoo!). Summer brings with it perfect beach weather. I really love the beach. Each season has its own unique character but there is something special about the Fall. The family gatherings are sweeter (Pumpkin pie? S’mores? Yes please!) and the warm tones of the season seem to wrap you like the snuggliest blanket. Everything about fall gives me feelings and memories of home, family, and good food.

In the busyness of life, the Fall season urges me to slow down, to take it all in. Go for a walk and watch the landscape as it transitions from brilliant green to vibrant red, orange, yellow, and purple. Fireplaces billow for the first time shaking off the dust that has settled since their last fire of winter. Scents of pumpkin spice and apple spice waft from every corner coffee shop. All of these scenes and scents together bring back so many memories from my childhood.

My friends and I loved going on hayrides under the backdrop of the beautiful fall trees before spending nights by the campfire. Who can forget the sticky s’mores, followed by the debate of who roasted the best marshmallow. (The slow roast to golden brown marshmallow is definitely the best.) Warm apple cider warmed our hands as we sat by the fire in the chill of the fall evening. Of course, someone had to tell a scary ghost story while their accomplice friend jumped out of the woods. But that was all part of the fun. I always expected that jump scare but somehow was never prepared for it. Some of my best memories were made spending time with friends by the glow of the campfire.

I am so thankful for all the memories of Fall from my youth. I am even more thankful for every chance I get to make new memories with my children. Now that my children are growing up and moving out of the house, I feel a new sense of urgency to make the most of every moment I have with them. It makes me think of the leaves falling off the trees urging me to make the most of fall memories before the winter arrives. Realizing time was growing short, we built a fire pit in our yard so friends can come over and create lifelong memories around their own “campfire.” The colorful leaves provide the perfect backdrop for the campfire as the sun begins to set. We’ve lost a few marshmallows to the fire pit but overall it’s been a great success. Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars are always on hand to make sure we are ready at a moment’s notice.

When you have a moment, I encourage you to take some time to build your own campfire. Make your own fall memories. Even if they are not memories that last a lifetime, you will have a wonderful time making the most of time with friends and family. Enjoy Fall! Enjoy the sights and smells of the season. Make the most of the beautiful landscape before it disappears. How many memories have you made so far this fall? How many more can you make before the leaves are gone and winter is here? What is your favorite fall memory?

Please leave a comment with your favorite fall memory or ideas to make new memories.

Honoring Veterans: The Importance of Listening

Today was the day to thank a veteran. The day we appreciate their service to our country. What if we extended this to more than just a day? What if we recognized veterans out in public, offered a word of encouragement, bought them a coffee, or just sat down to have a conversation with them.

One day, instead of thanking and moving along, I took a moment to stop and listen. What I heard was both enlightening and heartbreaking. The following is from a conversation I shared with a Vietnam Veteran.

If I see a veteran (or active military), I always make an effort to say, “Thank you for your service.” I hope veterans hear that phrase a lot and with sincerity. I was at the lake one day and was going to the front office to sign out our boats. I noticed a man wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat signing out his fishing boat. “Thank you for your service,” I said. He smiled politely and said, “Thank you.” Then he proceeded to tell me a story that made my heart sink.

He shared a story with me that was heavy on his heart. A story he had been continuously recalling since the Vietnam War. I am certain other Vietnam Veterans have similar stories. After he said, “Thank you,” he paused for a moment and followed with, “You know, it wasn’t always this way.” I had not intended to keep him from fishing but he needed to share so I needed to listen.

At first, I wasn’t certain what he meant, “It wasn’t always this way.” Then he proceeded to tell me about his return to the States after the Vietnam War. Instead of being greeted as a hero people were aggressive toward him; spurred on by the war time protests. On more than one occasion, people spit in his face, and shouted at him because he so dutifully served his country. They didn’t understand what sacrifices he made to go to Vietnam or maybe they did and didn’t care. He was proud to serve his country but the grief and aggression he faced when he came home, “Made (his) life hell.” The horrors he faced during the war only to return to the hate of his own countrymen must have been unbearable.

We talked for a little while and I was struck by his composure. He was stoic but I could see the hurt in his eyes, like he was reliving the moments as he was telling me his story. He spoke about a heart-rending time from his past that he could never forget. I could not take back what had happened to him so many years ago. All I could do was apologize that he was ever treated that way and make sure he knew I was grateful for his service.

The conversation was brief but impactful. I wish I could have talked with him longer. I had so many questions but I could see that his fishing boat was calling. (And who was I to stand between a veteran and his day of fishing on the lake?)

I learned a very important lesson that day. Listen. Don’t just say, “Thank you for your service,” and move along. Veterans have stories to tell. Stories I cannot even fathom. We are privileged to live in this great and free country because of the sacrifices they made. The very least we can do is take a moment to listen to their story. I am thankful this Vietnam Veteran chose to share his story with me, no matter how brief it was. I haven’t seen him since but I sure hope he had a wonderful time fishing on the lake that day.

23 Years After 9/11: Inspiring Acts of Kindness

9/11 was a tragic time in our history but also an amazing example of the human spirit and the capacity for people to care for others. I pray no one ever forgets the contributions of the men and women who made so many sacrifices for people they didn’t even know. The people working inside the buildings guiding others to safety, the first responders running toward the danger of the burning buildings, the search and recovery efforts, and all those who refused to give up showed superhuman strength and compassion.

Twenty three years have passed since that terrible day but it is still fresh in my mind, as I know it is for many. I remember watching the TV as the news anchors realized they were seeing a live feed of the second tower fall instead of a replay of the first tower going down. There was silence on air for a moment as everyone composed themselves. I watched in disbelief as I thought of all the people that would be affected by this attack. I remember frantically trying to get in touch with my parents in North Carolina to let them know I was safe. (My husband and I lived a short train ride from NYC and would visit often. We were not in the city that day but had been a few days before.) The phone lines were not functioning, cell phones or land lines. Outgoing calls were nearly impossible. There were no planes in the sky. Everything was grounded. The silence was unsettling.

My heart was breaking for the families of those that had loved ones in the city and around the towers. As I watched the media coverage over the next few days and mourned for our country, I began to notice something else, the amazing human spirit on display. The first responders, hospitals, clergy, and many others, were “just doing their job”, as they would say, but this was on a level that none of them had experienced before. They worked tirelessly many refusing to stop, standing in the rubble of the towers searching for the sound of anyone they could rescue. The bucket brigades were in full effect as they cleared the rubble bucket by bucket and one bucket at a time. One hundred and ten stories of each building piled on the ground. A seemingly insurmountable task but the rescuers and rescue efforts did not stop.

As the country began to pull together and resolve not to be bullied into submission by these terrible acts, something happened. There was an air of compassion for and from all those around us. The country was united, standing tall in our pride for country but also looking after each other. It is hard to put into words the feeling of knowing we all had each other’s backs. I was proud of our country knowing we were strong enough to rally together and care for each other instead of letting tragedy send us into a downward spiral.

We all still have this capacity to care for one another. We do not need a national tragedy to bring that caring to the forefront again. We are 23 years removed from the tragedy of 9/11 and our sense of community and pulling together as one nation has fallen down, tripped by our own good intentions. We may all have big ideas of what would work best to bring this country back together but what if we start at ground zero? What if we start small like the bucket brigade, clearing one bucket at a time, taking those small steps to clear the way for bigger action. The act of caring doesn’t have to be met with huge fanfare, laud, or praise. Start with a kind smile at the grocery store or simply hold the door for someone. Check in with your neighbors to see how they are doing or have a genuine conversation with someone to let them know you care. It can start by simply volunteering at your local soup kitchen, or taking a meal to a family that is in need. We can show each other we care by the simplest acts of kindness.

Let’s work to bring back the incredible spirit that was exemplified 23 years ago. We can all start small and lead the way to bigger things together. Let’s show we can all have each other’s backs again. I believe in us! I know we can do it!

If you have a moment to leave a comment on ways to show kindness, or mention your own acts of kindness, that would be wonderful. The more ideas we share, the more ways we can show we care.

The Thankful Challenge – The Morning Sky

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful. Week 5 – Post 1

There are few things that invoke a sense calm more so than the sunrise. Watching the day wake up as I am getting the day started brings with it a sense of serenity. The beach is definitely my favorite place to watch the sun rise up over the waves but we have some pretty epic sunrises at our house as well. We live in a wooded area and the sun peeking through the trees is quite a wonderful way to start the day. I’m not up for the sunrise every day but the days I happen to catch it just beginning to peek over the horizon are some of my favorite starts to the day.

Each sunrise has a different character. Some are very colorful and bright. Other sunrises are slightly muted by the clouds. Sometimes the sun just rises without any big fanfare or flare. It’s just sun and horizon. Other times the sun is completely obscured by thick cloud cover, a bashful daybreak for the sun.

No matter the forecast for the day, how many clouds fill the sky, if it’s rainy and cold or hot and dry, the sun always rises. With every morning, the sun is ready to lift over the horizon in all it’s glory. Nothing can stop it from rising. Each morning I can peek out the window and know the sun is there, whether I can see it or not, bringing light to the morning, dependable and consistent. There are few things in life as reliable as the sunrise. I can think of One.

I am thankful for the sunrise, a reminder that the One true Giver of light is always there. Ever dependable and consistent, a beacon of hope. It reminds me of God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. What can you find in your day today that reminds you of the promises of the God?

The Thankful Challenge – Recurring Themes P2

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful! – Week 4, Post 2

On Monday, I wrote about a recurring theme that had been weaving in and out of my daily life for quite a while, yet I chose to ignore it. I have learned my lesson and know if I see something popping up over and over again, I need to take notice. Since the start of this new year I’ve seen the words “mercy” and “grace” repeated over and over again. When I was a kid, I always heard the two words lumped together “grace and mercy”or “mercy and grace”. I honestly always thought they meant basically the same thing.

When I started hearing those two words on repeat I thought I better take heed. Grace and mercy showed up in the message at church on Sunday, my morning study, several videos, as well as a few readings. I wasn’t even searching for those specific words, they were just there. Someone was trying to get my attention. The alarms were going off, “DO NOT IGNORE!”

From my morning study, The Bible Recap withTara Leigh Cobble, TLC gives a great definition of these two words. “Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve… Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” At first it was a little hard to wrap my head around these two definition. The words for both definitions are so similar, however, when the words are slightly reordered, grace and mercy convey opposite meanings. While Tara Leigh Cobble is referring to the words as they relate to our relationship with God, it is important to note that we can extend grace and mercy to each other. Heaven knows I need all the grace and mercy I can get.

As an imperfect human, I mess up…a lot. I don’t start my day thinking about all the mistakes I will make in the day. I do my best to be the kindest, most honest person I can be but sometimes my humanness gets the better of me. If I get frustrated, sometimes I may say something I really didn’t want to say. When I was a kid, my Mom always said (mostly in reference to the interactions between us siblings), “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I still try to live by that standard but sometimes the little soldier standing guard over my words takes a little power nap and out flies something that should have never been given breath.

If a friend, hearing those words, chooses to reprimand me, they have every right to do so. However, if they choose not to reprimand me, they have shown mercy. They didn’t give me the “what for”, which was probably well deserved. In contrast, if they choose to buy me some tea (I don’t drink coffee) and help me work through my frustrations, they have extended grace. I don’t deserve the tea or their company but they are being very gracious. My friend exercised mercy because instead of giving me what I deserved, a stern talking to, my friend chose grace, and gave me time with them and some thirst quenching sweet tea. As a southern girl, there isn’t much a cold glass of sweet tea and good conversation cannot fix.

Like a southern girl and sweet tea, it’s almost hard to have mercy without grace. While the words have opposite meanings, they go hand in hand, a positive partnership. I am so thankful for the mercy and grace partnership extended to me on a daily basis. I know I do nothing to deserve the grace and am on the receiving end of endless mercy. I want to make sure I extend that same mercy and grace to others because we have a legacy of mercy and grace. Christ showered us with the ultimate mercy and grace at the cross.

The Thankful Challenge – Recurring Themes P1

A 365 Day Challenge to focus on being thankful. Week 4 – Day 1

Do you ever have those moments where the same phrases or ideas keep appearing in your life? You are not looking for them, they just keep showing up. Whether it’s a speaker at a conference, your daily devotion, reading a friend’s social media post (cheesy or otherwise), or maybe it’s just an inspirational poster on the wall (Hang in there Kitty!), those recurring moments keep coming around again. It’s almost like a kid on a carousel, waving every time they round the bend to make sure you notice them. If you are looking away or not paying attention even for a moment, you may miss the kid on the carousel, you may miss the recurring theme.

Sometimes it takes me a little longer to recognize the recurring theme. Other times I think I am blocking it out, especially if it is something that makes me uncomfortable or makes me look a little too hard at my current place in life. Often I think those recurring themes are intentionally calling me out waving as me as if to say, “Pay attention!” with flashing red arrows and fireworks in the background.

The last few years (yes years) one recurring theme kept showing up over and over again. At first I ignored it and “wrote” it off as coincidence but the recurring writing theme, that kid on the carousel, kept on waving! “What if you can write a book in a month?” “Why do you hesitate on what brings you joy?” “Face your fears!” Then as I was working through one of my daily readings and the accompanying video, I heard, “How many books are buried because people were afraid to share their writing.” That one hit me to the core. I am not planning on “going anywhere” anytime soon but it shook me.

The recurring writing theme finally shone like the sun, impossible to ignore. The kid on the carousel finally seemed to be making some headway. While I had been cataloging all the reasons why I couldn’t write or shouldn’t write, I was also subconsciously compiling a list of reasons why I should write. I don’t have time to write/I’m sure you can carve out some time each day. What if people won’t read it/but what if they do. I haven’t really written anything in over 3 years/there is no time like the present. It was a strange struggle. A battle royale in my brain and I wasn’t entirely sure which side was winning…until finally, the word “WRITE” was emblazoned on my mind.

I could not ignore it any more. The “prose” finally outweighed the cons. The dizzying carousel ride had come to an end and the frantically waving (and now motion sick) carousel kid was thinking to themselves, “Finally! She listened.” Sorry it took me so long, kid. I am thankful that, even though I was stubborn and didn’t pay attention as well as I should have, the kid on the carousel kept on waving. I am thankful for those recurring themes that won’t let go, those divine interjections into my life that keep making themselves known. Thank you for not giving up on me.

The Thankful Challenge – Shadow

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful.

As the challenge goes along, I don’t have a great system for organizing these posts. I take them day by day and look for things to be thankful for each day. It keeps my mind churning and looking for the good in all the situations. Sometimes that little nugget of gold is a little bit harder to find than others. Or sometimes it reveals itself at the resolution of a stressful situation.

This past week, the second was true for Tuesday night into Wednesday. We are still not sure what happened but our sweet Shadow fell ill on Tuesday evening. He was fine all day and then at supper time, he wouldn’t even approach his food bowl to eat. He stayed on the other side of the room and would walk away if we tried to approach him with any of his favorite treats, like bananas. Shadow loves bananas so much, sometimes I think he is part monkey. If you are eating a banana around Shadow, you better hold that yummy goodness as high as you can or it will be removed from your hands faster than you can say lickety-split. When he wouldn’t even entertain the thought of scarfing the banana down, I knew something was really wrong.

He was walking around panting and very uncomfortable. I was worried it was twisted stomach, which is not uncommon in big dogs, but he hadn’t eaten since the morning. He finally laid down, a good sign, but was still very uneasy. He couldn’t get comfortable until he finally rolled over onto his side. He was shivering with every breath. I’m not certain if he was shivering because he was cold or because he was in distress. We covered him with a heated blanket and he finally seemed to settle down. As the evening went on, he was having trouble standing up and he kept looking at me with pain in his eyes.

I was worried we were going to lose him Tuesday night. Everything was happening so quickly, the same way it did when we lost one of my childhood dogs. I called the emergency vet but they didn’t seem to think it was an urgent situation. I wasn’t so sure but wanted to trust them. I was told to monitor him and let them know if anything got worse. He slept in the room with me that night. I kept waking up through the night to make sure he was still breathing. Usually I can at least hear him breathing but this time I had never seen him so still. He didn’t move throughout the night. No puppy dreams, no kicking his feet, no whimpering, nothing. I was preparing myself for the worst.

As the daylight came I could see his chest rise and fall and knew he was still with us. He lifted his head to look at me as if to say, “I’m going to be ok”. He was fighting back from whatever had gripped him the previous night. It was a slow start to the day. Shadow was still very weak but he was gaining his strength back. For breakfast, he ate a little bit of chicken and rice and was very happy about it. His tail started to wag again instead of being lowered in pain. We went on a very short, controlled leash walk so he didn’t decide he needed to take off after the deer. All seemed to be getting better with every step. After a quick trip to the vet, they didn’t seem to know what had happened either but said if it happened again, call them right away.

Even though it was a very long and scary night, without much explanation of a cause, he was getting stronger and better with every hour of the new day. It took a few days for him to be back to his old self but he has been standing in his resilience ever since. I am so thankful Shadow made it through the night!

Shadow is a Great Dane/Lab rescue. When we adopted him, his name was Patrick but we decided Shadow suited him much better. He has truly been my Shadow since he joined our family. He follows me around the house wherever I go. Sometimes he anticipates where I am going next and leads the way. He knows my patterns and has picked up on cues for when I am moving from room to room. He loves playing outside and sometimes does a sneaky hide and seek when we let him out at night. He is all black and when the moon is not bright, he can be difficult to see. He is a quiet dog, he doesn’t really whimper or bark (unless he sees a deer then all bets are off). He is the sweetest boy and loves to snuggle like a giant 75lb teddy bear. I am so thankful Shadow accepted us as his family and am especially thankful he is still with us.

The Thankful Challenge – The Little Moments

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful. – Week 2, Day2

When looking for things to be thankful for, I sometimes find myself looking at the big picture. I focus on the stand out moments instead of looking for the details in the smaller moments. There isn’t a wrong or right way to look for ways to be thankful but I do think we sometimes miss out on the joy of the little things because we are looking for the big life changing moments. Today I want to focus on some of the little moments.

I am incredibly thankful for the time I have with my kids. They are growing up so fast, with one already in college and the other one soon to follow. I don’t know what I will do when they are both out of the house. For now, I will cherish each moment I have with them. There are definitely big moments in both of my kids lives but I love the time I have with them in the little moments, time spent playing family games or car rides to and from school. In all honesty, I thought I would be relieved when I didn’t have to drive my kids to school anymore but when the time came, I realized that was our very special one on one time. We could talk in the car about whatever, a lot of times leading to hysterical laughter.

My oldest is off to college now. Can someone please tell me why is it so hard every time he leaves home to go back to school and does it get any easier? I miss him so stinking’ much! I do cherish every single time he calls from school. Thankfully he does call me a few times a week so we can keep in touch. I know I am a lucky Mama. I’ve heard a lot of stories from Mom’s with kids in college that never call home. If you are a college kid reading this post…call your Mom. She misses you!

When my daughter was little, we had a live skit we would do in the carpool line each morning. We had a tiny following but we had fun. I’m a little biased but I thought we were pretty hysterical and creative. When she moved up to the next school we had to stop doing the skits because her bell schedule changed and our morning live skits were no more. I still go back and watch them sometimes. I am thankful we had that time to spend together in the little moments while waiting for school to open.

As we move forward through the days, weeks, and years, I will continue to look for the little moments nestled in between the big moments. If we are only ever looking for the big events for joy, we miss so much of life. Life happens in the little moments. Do you have any favorite little moments?

The Thankful Challenge -Reconnecting with Friends

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful – Week 2, Day 1

Well, I made it through last week with my posts…sort of. I started this challenge on a whim without much preparation so I am working it out as I go along. I learned a lot from last week and I am certain I will learn even more with every passing week. Aren’t we all a work in progress anyway? Moving forward I will plan for 5 posts per week and I’m toying with the idea of adding a weekly video as well. Crazy, I know. I’m not entirely sure what has a gotten into me. This time, I did think about the vlog a little bit before I put it out in the world. (A whole couple of days at least.) I haven’t committed to the vlog yet but I would appreciate your feedback. What do you think about a weekly video to go along with “The Thankful Challenge”?

I started another thankful post for today but I wanted to clean it up before posting. It was another one of my midnight musings and a bit of a mess. I think it will actually take more time to fix the other post than it will to write this entire post. Sometimes my brain just needs a fresh start. Regrouping!

**Reconnecting with Friends**

Recently I joined my old gym again. (Not a New Year’s resolution kind of thing. Although I know the timing is suspect.) I’d been a member at this gym since just after the branch opened. When a certain pandemic (that shall remain nameless) descended on us, we dropped our membership and joined the thousands of others setting up home gyms with weights, bands, and a spin bike. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the convenience of having equipment at home and the spin bike was/is pretty fantastic. It was a good way to get through the quarantine especially for my kids when the school gym was not accessible. I didn’t realize it at first because we were all so secluded, everyone was staying at home, and we were all hyper focused on staying healthy. I didn’t really expect to see anyone. As time went on though, I realized how much I really missed my friends. (However, I did selfishly love having my kids at home with me all the time.)

As we were emerging out from under the giant shadow of the pandemic and life was sort of getting back to normal, I decided to try joining a gym again. I tried a different gym because it was a little cheaper and I wasn’t sure I how much I would be able to go. It was fine for what it was but there was still something missing. I decided it was time to leave that gym and go back to the place where I knew I would fit right in.

Last week I walked in the front doors of the gym that was my home for at least 10 years before the pandemic forced me to leave. Walking in those front doors felt like home. So many of the people I knew from before were still working there and they greeted me and welcomed me in. I got to see some of my friends from the gym and each day I go to workout I see another person I knew from before. I didn’t realize how much I missed those connections until I was able to reconnect. Even though it has only been a week, I am so happy to be home.

Today I got to see some of the fabulous women from my workout group. Those happy meetings made for a wonderful start to my morning. The women I used to workout with were always such a positive group of women. Never any judgement just an incredible support system as we all moved along our fitness journeys. I hope as the days go on, I am able to reconnect with more and more of the women who helped me through some of the toughest times and cheered with me through the best of times.

I cherish those friendships and I regret losing touch when everything went haywire a few years ago. I am so thankful I now have the chance to reconnect with my friends from my gym community, my peeps.

The Thankful Challenge – Day 5

A 365 day challenge to focus on being thankful.

Ok, I made it to day 5. Woohoo! I know it seems silly to celebrate such a tiny milestone but we have to celebrate the little victories along with the big. Some baby steps that will hopefully lead to leaps and bounds.

Yesterday I wrote about Mom. Today I think it is only fitting to follow it up with a thankful post about Dad. I’m so thankful I had two wonderful parents who loved me and always wanted the best for me. I know that is not always the case for everyone. Dad is no longer with us but there was never a dull moment when he was around.

There are so many anecdotes and stories about Dad, it’s hard to narrow it down. I will say that he provided for us and worked insanely hard to make sure we had everything we ever needed as well as some things we didn’t necessarily need. He loved to travel and wanted to make sure we had experiences that would last a lifetime. We had some really entertaining and adventurous family trips, all in our Econoline high top van. Dad loved loading up and jumping in that van for an outing. I can still see him sitting up in the drivers seat, whistling along, as we headed down the highway. We listened to the Kingston Trio A LOT. It was one of his favorite bands. I still listen to the Kingston Trio because of Dad. Listening to his music also helps me remember some of the very vivid memories I have of my Dad.

When I was a kid Dad loved playing in the ocean with us. I don’t know how many hours he spent holding onto me while I floated on rafts in the ocean. I was a little nervous about the fish and, in full disclosure, the seaweed. I would lose my mind when the seaweed brushed across my legs and would go running for the raft. I spent hours on those blue and red rafts (if you are a 70’s/80’s baby you know the ones I’m talking about). Dad held onto that raft and never made me feel silly for being a little afraid of the ocean critters and things drifting in the water. My brothers and I always had the best time in the ocean with Dad. He transferred his love of the ocean to me and to my kids as well. It is my happy place and I always feel a little closer to Dad on the beach.

On a side note, I was looking for a picture of the blue and red rafts to add to this post. I saw one of the rafts marked “vintage” and now I feel old. It was also for sale for $59.99. What in the world!? I don’t even know how someone owns a raft from that long ago that survived this long. We went through those rafts like fish went through the water and they were only about $5 each. The new $59.99 price…must be a victim of “inflation”.

Even though Dad has gone on to Heaven, his memory is still very much alive here on Earth. When we get together as a family, there is always some fun story of Dad that finds its way into the conversation. The Dad stories are the best and always get us laughing. I think about him every day and miss him terribly, but more than that, I am so thankful that he was my Dad!

andthisreallyhappened

True stories to inspire you, make you laugh and let you know you're not alone.

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